- Shaping the Future of History: A Discussion with Chris Evans, member of parliament, will include a keynote lecture by the Labour MP
- The event marks the launch of a new single honours History degree programme at Aston University
- The free event will take place on the Aston University campus on Wednesday 2 October 2024.
Aston University will mark the launch of its new single honours History degree programme with a talk and panel discussion on Wednesday 2 October.
Shaping the Future of History: A Discussion with Chris Evans, MP, will include a keynote lecture by the Labour member of parliament to discuss the current landscape and the role of history at university and beyond.
Mr Evans will reflect on his own degree in History and how this helped him pursue a career in politics. He will also discuss his work as chair of the Archives and History All-Party Parliamentary Group. Mr Evans’s talk will be followed by a panel discussion of experts on how history education can best serve students, communities, and society in the future.
Attendees will be encouraged to participate, bringing their own questions to the table. The event offers students, academics, and members of the public with a passion for history the opportunity to contribute to a broader conversation on the significance of historical study.
The launch comes following a successful period for the University’s History Department, after its existing History programmes, which started in 2018, were ranked 8th in the UK in the Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.
Chris Evans MP said:
“History is a subject which continues to fascinate me. To me historians are like detectives trying to unravel the mystery of what went before. In a world where everything is questioned, the study of history and the use of archives and records to back up arguments now have a special importance.
“That is why I am delighted to help launch Aston University’s single honours History programme. As has been said before, unless we understand and learn from our past, we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes in future.”
Dr Volker Prott, Programme Director History at Aston:
“Chris Evans is a passionate advocate for historical awareness. His perspective promises to bring fresh insight into how political leaders see the role of history in shaping policy and society.”
“The new programme embeds collaborations with partners from the region in the curriculum, engaging archives, practitioners, businesses, and the professions in the region and beyond.
“It places front and centre the ways in which students can make use of their historical skills, such as fact checking, critical thinking, and looking at issues from multiple perspectives, not only for their careers but for the benefit of society.
“I look forward to welcoming everyone to our programme launch.”
The event will take place at Aston Business School on Wednesday 2 October 2024 from 1730 to 1900 hrs and opens with a drinks reception.
It is free to attend but places must be booked in advance.
- Notes to Editors
About Aston University
For over a century, Aston University’s enduring purpose has been to make our world a better place through education, research and innovation, by enabling our students to succeed in work and life, and by supporting our communities to thrive economically, socially and culturally.
Aston University’s history has been intertwined with the history of Birmingham, a remarkable city that once was the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and the manufacturing powerhouse of the world.
Born out of the First Industrial Revolution, Aston University has a proud and distinct heritage dating back to our formation as the School of Metallurgy in 1875, the first UK College of Technology in 1951, gaining university status by Royal Charter in 1966, and becoming The Guardian University of the Year in 2020.
Building on our outstanding past, we are now defining our place and role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world.
For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Sam Cook, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44) 7446 910063 or email: s.cook2@aston.ac.uk
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