university of wolverhampton enterprise
By 1903, an educational foundation had firmly been established with over 1,300
students studying courses including coach building, house painting and pattern
making. In 1905, the first student scholarships were awarded. As student numbers
continued to grow, expansion became necessary. In 1912, the ‘Deanery House’ in
Wulfruna Street was bought and in 1920 itwas demolished, making way for the
iconic Wulfruna building you see today in Wulfruna Street. The foundation stone
of the major new buildings in Wulfruna Street was laid by Prince George in 1931.
The foundation stone was laid by HRH Prince George in 1932 and in 1933 the
Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Technical College was born. With further
education traditionally accessible only to the wealthy, the College vowed to
ensure that even the most under-privileged men and women would have the
opportunity to study a higher education – an ethos nurtured and sustained to the
present day. In 1933, the Wolverhampton Local Authority annual report states:
"The college makes ample provision for the general education of young men and
women not privileged to obtain their higher education by residence at a
University. Particularly it is the local home of higher scientific and
industrial studies." Courses included science and engineering, and with the
creation of a Women’s Department, over a third of the College’s students were
women, bucking the traditional all-male trend typical of higher education
establishments. Research was also on the increase, with the College welcoming
graduates from universities as honorary members. By 1938/9 we recorded 2,921
students on our annual statement to government. One third of those students were
women.
