The royal visit included a tour of the Riverside Building, where he was treated to a dazzling display of musical theatre, artefacts, and practical demonstrations that charted the university’s rich history.
The University of Chester, founded by a group of Victorian philanthropists, has set new standards in education and has become an internationally-acclaimed institution.
The Riverside Building houses the faculties of education and children’s services and health and social care, which are directly related to the university’s mission of preparing students for public service.
From its Riverside and associated hospital sites, the university trains nurses, midwives, and teachers who serve communities both locally and globally.
Professor Tim Wheeler, the university’s vice-chancellor, expressed delight at the visit, stating: “As both a university chancellor and a Cambridge history graduate, his royal highness has an insider’s appreciation of higher education.
“We were absolutely delighted to welcome him to the university and he was wonderful with the students and seemed genuinely interested.”
Professor Wheeler further noted the significance of the university’s heritage, saying: “The university was the country’s first institution with the facilities to provide professional training for teachers and among the first to offer structured higher education.
“So in commemorating the milestone of our 175th anniversary, we are also marking the blueprint for the UK’s teacher education as we know it today.”
During the visit, Prince Edward toured various facilities, including the skills laboratories for adult and midwifery care, which provide simulated learning environments.
He also observed art therapy students at work, who explained the significance of their treatment methods for mental health issues.
The tour featured clinical artefacts from the faculty of health and social care museum, including a letter from Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War.
Additionally, the faculty of education showcased 175 years of teacher education in Chester, with current students, staff, and alumni present.
A highlight of the visit was the operatic promenade theatre production, “On Chester On,” co-written and performed with local primary schools and Manchester Camerata, which illustrated the university’s educational history.
This article was first published in the Chester Standard on May 21, 2015.