02 - Iron Kingdoms W.. - Captain Spud Is Amazing

114 Iron Kingdoms
108.1.141.197
Universities
All nations have some kind of institute of higher
learning, but not all of these are universities. There
are several important differences. Firstly, universities
staff several specialist fields, whereas institutes tend to
focus exclusively on one area. Secondly, universities
typically award degrees by royal charter. Thirdly and
perhaps most importantly, universities see themselves
as having a civic duty—they exist for the betterment of
Some question the methods I use, but I persist.
The art of teaching is simply the art of awakening
the natural curiosity of young minds, and learning
from experience is a faculty with no peer.
—Professor Viktor Pendrake (male Midlunder Rgr5/AdvSch9),
Department of Extraordinary Zoology, Corvis University
society even if the ways in which they better society are
often rather vague.
Whatever their status, institutions operate in a
similar manner. They are staffed by scholars who
have struggled for many years to establish a name for
themselves often at their own expense. These scholars
are appointed to salaried academic posts, given a
room, and then expected to commence. They are led
by senior colleagues, typically appointed either by a
vote among all academic staff or by appointment from
the funders. Other staff members include the small
numbers of cleaners and manual laborers who keep
these places together along with one or two secretaries
privately employed by affluent individuals.
All academics are expected to undertake their
own research, to supervise junior researchers, and to
teach—usually in the form of lectures. Lectures are
public events; attendees do not have to be registered
as students. Sometimes they charge an entry fee, but
often there is a free gallery “for the betterment of
the poor.” Lectures are on topics of the academic’s
choice that often begin as formal presentations and
sometimes end as fierce debates between the presenter
and a colleague (or heckler) from the audience.
“Undertaking research” covers a multitude
of activities. For some, this is a simple matter of
philosophizing and debating. Others spend hours
pouring over ancient texts to decipher, interpret, or
synthesize the wisdom of the past. Some undertake
fieldwork seeking out rare specimens or artifacts for
study. Others build and test all manner of devices.
In order to pay the expense for many of these tasks,
academics can bid for the limited funds available
within the institution, but most are beholden to
investments from industry, the church, or wealthy
benefactors. Needless to say, academics who can bring
funds into an institution are warmly welcomed and are
likely to find many more opportunities for research
than their impoverished colleagues.
Winds of War
enrollment in higher eduCation has deCreased With the
advent of War. many students, feeling an obligation to king
and Country, have abandoned their studies to enlist in the
military. these neW junior offiCers, as green as the day is
long, are trained as quiCkly as possible before reCeiving their
oWn Command. With forCes spread thin throughout the
kingdoms, every available man and Woman is needed to fill the
ranks and lead brave soldiers into battle.
Caspian Royal Academy
Although it prides itself on being a finer
establishment than the Royal Cygnaran University,
popular opinion is that the Academy is a finishing
school for rich dilettantes. Many nobles do pay for
their offspring to attend the Academy simply to get
them out of their houses, and the area around the
Academy is particularly ‘lively’ as a result. However,
the Academy does have many scholars of note. It is
particularly strong on the arts, and its department
of music boasts both the famous singer Godwin
Bannister (male Caspian Exp7) who is reputed to be a
foremost scholar of trollkin fell calling, and the multiinstrumentalist
Kaelin Sorleagh (female Thurian
Exp9). Its impressive concert hall abuts a gallery for
art and sculpture where many fine artists have begun
their careers.
Ceryl University
Ceryl University has an ominous reputation
among Cygnaran centers of learning. Its scholars
and professors are particularly merciless to their
students, and its failure rate is extremely high. The
stupid, lazy, or even marginally competent are soon
crushed intellectually and encouraged to pursue
other avocations.