I recently visited Bologna, which lays claim to being one of the oldest universities in the world, and, by extension, one of the oldest university towns.
For me as an academic, such towns have an immediate appeal: their tone and bearing feels familiar and filled with calm, purposeful energy. Universities face many challenges at the moment, and the Humanities are frequently said to be under attack. At the same time, visiting university towns helps to remind me of longer timeframes and an enduring presence.
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| Tübingen, Germany |
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Heidelberg, Germany
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Oxford, England |
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| Halifax, Canada |
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Basel, Switzerland
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Centre for Arts & Creativity, Banff, Canada
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| Bologna, Italy |
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Durham, England
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| Bangor, Wales |
