Rebels, Refugees and Radical Ideas: How UCL Revolutionized Language Learning, 1826-2026

About the lecture

What do political revolutionaries and modern language teaching have in common? At University College London, quite a lot. When UCL opened its doors in 1826, it broke with centuries of tradition, not only by welcoming students of all faiths but by introducing subjects unheard of at British universities: modern foreign languages. And the first professors? Exiles and activists who had fled uprisings across Europe. From Antonio Panizzi, an Italian revolutionary who went on to design the British Museum’s iconic circular reading room, to Ludwig von Mühlenfels, a Prussian liberal turned England’s first Germanist, these scholars brought radical ideas and global perspectives to Bloomsbury. This lecture uncovers their extraordinary stories and shows how UCL’s commitment to openness and cultural exchange shaped language education worldwide. Join us to discover how a university became a haven for rebels, and why that matters today.

About the speaker

Ulrich Tiedau is Professor of European History in UCL’s School of European Languages, Culture and Society (SELCS). Recent publications include: The European Unity League: Sir Max Waechter and the idea of Europe, 1904–1924 (London: Bloomsbury, 2026) and, with Stijn van Rossem, eds., Pieter Geyl and Britain: Encounters, Controversies, Impact (London: University of London Press, 2022).

About the chair

Christine Sas is Associate Professor (Teaching) and Language Coordinator at the UCL School of European Languages, Culture and Society (SELCS). She is also president of the International Association of Dutch Studies (Internationale Vereniging voor Nederlandistiek, IVN).