"Our students are keen to vote over EU" says DMU Vice-Chancellor in national magazine

The Vice-Chancellor of De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) has argued that students now have ‘renewed passion’ for politics and the decision over the EU.

In a piece published in the Times Higher Education magazine, Professor Dominic Shellard outlined the importance of young people using their vote in this month’s referendum.

In the piece, Professor Shellard argues that in his experience DMU students are defying the conventionally-held belief that young people are apathetic and disengaged from politics.

He wrote: “The general perception is that modern students are a shadow of their forthright, politicised ancestors of the 1960s and 1970s.

“And polling suggests that 18- to 34-year-olds are significantly less likely to vote in the referendum than older people.

“But in my experience, the apathetic label frustrates our students, and what I see on campus suggests that they are discovering a renewed passion to engage with current affairs and politics.” 

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He looks at why this is, mentioning the emphasis employers are now placing on familiarity with global skills, awareness and cultures and the opportunities offered by #DMUglobal to allow students to learn these.

He mentions some of the ways in which DMU has engaged students in the debate, hosting Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan, when the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign brought its tour bus to the campus and holding debates, including a Q&A with pro-EU campaigner Alan Charlton, former British ambassador to Brazil.

DMU is hosting two polling stations on campus, and giving out specific advice on how to vote by post, as most students are away from Leicester on 23 June.

Prof. Shellard ends by reinforcing the idea that: “This referendum is the most important question asked of the UK in years.

“Ask any group of students and you will get a very clear idea of what the answer should be. Put simply, they are thinking big – and leaving Europe is the very definition of thinking small.”