Ruskin students have frequently gone on to work in education, in social work and social care, in the media, in trade unions, in management and in politics. A large proportion of our students progress to the next levels of higher education, here at Ruskin or within other institutions - including many of our most famous universities. Founded in 1899 at a time of ferment in political and educational ideas, Ruskin College aimed to provide university-standard education for working class people to empower them to act more effectively on behalf of working class communities and organisations such as trade unions, political parties, co-operative societies and working men's institutes.