Sunday 13th April 2014 - Clocking up universities visited

I was out of the country for nearly a week at an international conference, so I've been catching up on recent copies of the Times Higher in  recent days.  This morning I came across an item, derived from a blog, about the numbers of universities that some colleagues have visited.  The original writer had  been to around 55.

This set me thinking about how many I have been to, and with the help of the complete list of UUK members I have tried to work it out.  I think in my case it comes to about 61 UK universities - and I have not been trying to clock them all, unlike some 'completists' who have that ambition.  I've not started trying to count the numbers of universities outside the UK that I've been to - they are almost all elsewhere in mainland Europe - but I guess that probably comes to another 20 to 30.

So how come 61 universities, when I've only ever worked in one UK university (Sheffield) in my life (although I did study at another - Oxford)?

Looking through the list I reckon the three commonest reasons in my autobiography for visiting other universities have been as follows:
1. Examining duties.  There are at least two places on my list that I have only been to for the purpose of undertaking a PhD examination. And the total of PhD and undergraduate examination duties comes to quite a few.
2. Conferences.  Apart from invitations to speak at various conferences, visits to other universities were occasioned for many years by the practice of my academic association - the Institute of British Geographers (now part of the Royal Geographical Society).  Until about ten years ago the annual conference was held in a different university - always in January (and thus not the best time to visit, often resulting in a test as to whether the heating system in the halls of residence had failed over the Christmas break).  Since the annual conference has now moved to London permanently, and in August, I haven't attended.
3. Giving guest lectures and seminars to schools, students, and research seminar groups.

More recently, during the time I was Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching (I need to get used to that past tense now I've moved on to being Deputy Vice Chancellor) the PVC network of the Russell Group moved from university to university.  But in most cases this didn't add a new institution to my list. 

So what are the highlights in my memory from this set of visits?

Most impressive buildings - Royal Holloway, University of London; although Queens Belfast is also rather impressive.
Most impressive setting - Cambridge stands out; but the sight of the clock tower above the main block of the University of Glasgow is pretty good; and I do rather like the lake at York (although it's not what you'd call 'impressive')
Best accommodation (for conferences etc) - Keble College, Oxford (the NEW block!)
Worst accommodation - perhaps I should draw a veil over that, but I expect things have improved since I stayed at D.......
Best food (admittedly this relates to the quality of formal dinners or conference events rather than the food in cafeterias) - Sheffield (when Tracey Carr is cooking) and York run close.
Most inaccessible - Aberystwyth and St Andrews are both awful places to have to get to, at least if you are starting from Sheffield.
Oddest object - the effigy of Jeremy Bentham at UCL
Most thought-provoking picture - 'Women of the University' in one of the main meetings rooms at Queens Belfast - a real celebration of equality.

I'd be interested in others adding their own highlights list, based on their personal experiences.