Students Get More Than They Bargained For When MP Visited Lecture

Students studying for a BA in Contemporary Media Design and Production at East Riding College invited Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness, Graham Stuart to attend one of their lectures in order for them to gain experience in engagement with politicians.

But the students got more than they bargained for when the campaigning MP, who is also the Chairman of the Parliamentary Education Select Committee was requested to be interviewed by the BBC over the publication of GCSE league tables on the same day as his visit to the College.

The BBC sent a satellite broadcast unit and conducted a pre-record interview in their class-room. The interview was then broadcast on BBC Look North later that evening.

Commenting on the visit, Graham said, “The students I met at East Riding College were very enthusiastic and demonstrated a genuine interest in politics and how it fits into their media studies.

“I was pleased to have the opportunity to address the students and tell them more about what I do and encourage them to engage more with politics. At the last general election only 61% of the UK population voted; we need to get more young people involved with politics as they are the future of our country.”

Course Tutor Adam Corkett said;

“Graham delivered a passionate message of the importance of young people voting. I’m very grateful he was able to take time out to visit the College and motivate the students with their media studies.”

“The BBC interview was an extra bonus, which really added relevance to our subject specific area; it can be incredibly hard to arrange those kind of extra value experiences so the students got so much more out of the visit than they were expecting.”