Bangor International April 2016
Top 10 UK University for Teaching Quality Times University League Table 2016
Bangor University subjects make the grade in world table
Bangor University Wins UK Awards
Newly published analysis of the 2016 edition of the influential QS World University Rankings, which saw Bangor University soar 60 places to 411th position worldwide, now provides further information on rankings for different subject areas among the world’s best universities. Outstanding subjects at Bangor University appearing in the world rankings include Agriculture & Forestry, placed in the top 150 worldwide and 6th in the UK, Environmental Sciences, placed in the top 200 worldwide and 20th in the UK and Psychology, placed in the top 200 worldwide and 26th in the UK. The subject rankings consider research and international reputation, and universities need to meet strict criteria to be included in the tables. This year, 26 subjects taught at Bangor, met those criteria. This is eight more subjects than 2015 and 16 more than 2014, a substantial increase for Bangor University.
Bangor University has received a prestigious Award as a direct result of excellent reviews by the University’s own students. A total of 125 universities in the UK competed for the 2016 WhatUni Student Choice Awards. Bangor University was nominated in 7 out of 10 categories including one for overall University of the Year, and won the Award for Best University Accommodation. The University was also placed second in the UK for Courses and Lectures, third in the UK in the Student Support category and fourth in the overall University of the Year category. The latest accolade is a further endorsement of the quality of the courses, accommodation, facilities and students support provided by Bangor University and follows www.bangor.ac.uk/international
another remarkable year which has also seen it retain its position as best in Wales and in the top ten in the UK in the National Student Survey for student satisfaction. Professor John G Hughes, the University’s Vice-Chancellor, welcomed the news saying: “This is the second year in a row that Bangor University has won a national Whatuni Award. I’m delighted that the University has again won a category award, and achieved top five placings in a number of other categories. This win reflects our focus on providing an excellent education and all-round student-centred university experience. I’m grateful to our students for their support, and very pleased that they appreciate their time in Bangor. I would also like to thank all our staff for their fantastic efforts.”
Bangor University signs 10-year partnership agreement with Oxford International Bangor University is delighted to announce a new partnership with Oxford International Education Group. The partnership will launch Bangor International College (BIC), an embedded college on our university campus, which will teach the first stages of a range of integrated undergraduate and postgraduate degrees for international students at Bangor University. The partnership is anticipated to double the university’s current international student body within the next four to five years, starting with an inaugural intake of around 50 students in September of 2016. Vice-Chancellor of Bangor University, John Hughes said:
“As a University with a strong international focus, we look forward to working with Oxford International. The partnership to create an International College at Bangor will bring the University’s excellent degrees to a wider audience of students. “The University provides an excellent standard of teaching and student care. With research informing our teaching and over three-quarters of our research rated as either “world-leading” or “internationally excellent”, students can be assured that studying at Bangor University through this partnership will have access to the best of UK higher education.” Joint –CEO of Oxford International, David Brown added:
“We are thrilled to be announcing this partnership with such a reputable and globally recognised university as Bangor. Bangor University already enjoys critical acclaim and is positively received
L-R: Mr David Brown, CEO and one of the founders of OIEG with Bangor University’s Vice-Chancellor Prof. John G. Hughes
in a large number of international markets, not least due to its long record of academic excellence and its stunning setting in north Wales. We strongly believe that our partnership will allow more bright, motivated students to join the Bangor community. And through their success we can enhance the university’s global reputation.” The partnership with Bangor University to establish Bangor International College represents the third such collaboration agreement with a UK Higher Education Institution for Oxford
International in the UK, who also run Leicester International Pathway College (LIPC) was in partnership with De Montfort University and Canterbury Christ Church University International Pathway College. Bangor International College will be offering Year 0 in a range of courses in the areas of Business, Law, Media, Social Sciences, Computer Science and Electronic Engineering. Bangor International College will also offer an incorporated Masters route in Business. www.bangor.ac.uk/bic/
Bangor University’s satisfied students
Bangor University continues to rise in popularity among its students. The University again retains its place at 14th in the UK and is second in Wales in a new university experience survey (Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2016). The survey, conducted by YouthSight for the Times Higher Education magazine, asked current students to rate their university experience according to several academic social and general measures, ranging from the educational content of their degree
courses to include facilities and the general atmosphere and whether they’d recommend the university to a friend. Bangor University is among the top performers in the ‘helpful/ interested staff’ measure, coming equal fifth in the UK, while the measure for high quality staff also scores highly, both excellent endorsements of the high standard of teaching and student care from the University’s lecturers. The overall responses of Bangor University students reflected the
high educational quality of the learning experience, and the support to such as a good library and good library opening hours, to underpin students’ academic experience at the University, while factors such as good security, accommodation, sports and general facilities all score highly. Bangor University students also appreciated the good environment around the University, the good social life and the good community atmosphere, scoring these highly. Vice-Chancellor Professor John G Hughes said: “I am once again very pleased with this excellent performance which underlines the fantastic experience students have at Bangor University. This follows a remarkable year for Bangor which has also seen it ranked in the top 100 Universities in the world for its international outlook, and rated in the top 20 in the UK for student experience.”
Prize for best ‘Yarn’ awarded to Bangor University student Maisie The UK Higher Education International Unit-sponsored prize for the best ‘Yarn’ was awarded to Bangor University student, Maisie Prior. Maisie a Bangor University School of Modern Languages and Cultures student, won the award with her entry “My feisty bilingual tongue” for originality, sense of personality, structure and wit, as well as demonstrating the diversity of international experience available. The Year Abroad Awards 2015 are designed to celebrate UK students who have spent time working, studying or volunteering abroad during their degree. Commenting on the International Unit’s sponsorship of the 2015 Year Abroad Yarn Award Anne Marie Graham who heads the Unit’s Go
International Programme said: “These awards are a great way to recognise the creativity, bravery and ingenuity that students bring to a wide range of international opportunities.” In addition to an exclusive blog post on the Go International website, the Yarn Award prize includes the opportunity to present alongside experts on a student panel at the Go International Conference in London on the 28th of April 2016.
About Bangor, she added: “I love the family feel of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures, the lecturers are very friendly and approachable. I also adore outdoor sports such as surfing and snowboarding so I was attracted to the surrounding environment as well as the free, vibrant societies.”
Maisie, 22, from Enderby, Leicester, who’s studying for a BA Spanish with International Experience degree said “The international experience component is what allowed me to do two years abroad as part of my degree, and it's something I believe is unique to Bangor” Maisie Prior
Bangor Business School PhD Studentships for September 2016
A new record for Bangor’s School of Ocean Sciences?
The School invites applications from suitably qualified individuals wanting to pursue doctoral studies. We are offering PhD Studentships for research projects in the following disciplines:
Financial Studies Business Management The PhD bursary provides a total annual allowance of £14000, plus tuition fees at the Home/EU rate. International applicants must pay the difference between the Home/EU and International fees*. Bursary holders are required to contribute around 100 hours teaching and/or research support per annum focused on a supervisor / research team as part of their development as an academic of the future. Bursary holders for the Financial Studies research degree may be required to provide teaching supports at our partner institution in Changsa, China.
*As a guide, Home/EU fees currently stand at £4052 p.a. (2016/17 fees tbc), while International fees are £14000 p.a. Successful International applicants will therefore be required to pay tuition fees of approximately £ 9948 p.a. (final figure to be confirmed in due course).
Closing Date: Applications must be submitted by 1st June 2016 For further details including how to apply, visit: www.bangor.ac.uk/business/ phd-studentships
Martyn Roberts and a Mozambican student working on the boat during the survey. The tube behind them was used for taking pictures of the water colour
Professor David Bowers of the School of Ocean Sciences at Bangor University along with some of his colleagues believe they can now make a reasonable claim to a new record for a Secchi depth. A Secchi depth is the depth at which a white disk lowered into the ocean on a marked rope is no longer visible. The Secchi disk is a simple and robust instrument for measuring the clarity of the sea. This depth imparts useful ecological information – for example, the maximum depth of benthic algae (which rely on sunlight) is thought to be about three times the Secchi depth. Because the measurement
is easy and requires only cheap, easily constructed equipment, there are thousands of recorded examples of Secchi depth measurements throughout the world’s oceans including some long time series. There are several claims for the shallowest ever Secchi depth in muddy fresh water, however, during a recent trip to Mozambique, the Bangor team measured what may be the shallowest recorded Secchi depth in salty water. The disk disappeared at a depth of just 15cm in the Bon Sinais estuary near the city of Quelimane on the south-eastern coast of Africa.
PhD student Miyoung presents paper at South Korean conference A PhD student was recently invited to present a paper at a major conference in South Korea. Miyoung Ahn travelled to her home country to deliver a paper entitled ‘Social Engagements as the Key Factor for Students’ Sense of Belonging to University’. The paper co-written by Professor Howard Davis was delivered at the 2016 Asia-Pacific Conference on Education, Society and Psychology (APCESP 2016) in Seoul last month.
The conference was attended by researchers, educators, academics and psychologists from all over the world. “The whole experience of attending an international conference was absolutely fantastic”, said Miyoung, who is in the fifth year of her doctoral studies. “I met many researchers who were like-minded, inspiring and knowledgeable. Sharing my research with them and getting their feedback was really precious.”
Partnership Signing Ceremony with The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission funds 10 MSc Tropical Forestry scholarships at Bangor University Following an extremely competitive bidding process against other top UK universities, Bangor University’s School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography (SENRGy) has been awarded 10 scholarships for its MSc Tropical Forestry (distance-learning) beginning in September 2016.
Pictured above from left to right, are Mr Akin Morakinyo (Group Head, Capacity Building and Certification), Mrs Tanya Keith (CBMBA), Dr Deacon Ajibola, PhD, FCIB (First Vice President), Professor Ted Gardener (CBMBA), Mrs Otunba Debola Osibogun, FCIB (President and Chairman of CIBN Council), Mr 'Seye Awojobi, FCIB (Registrar/ Chief Executive), Mrs Lisa Jones (CBMBA)
We were delighted to welcome and host The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria to Bangor University to attend a signing ceremony to formalize our collaborative Partnership and representation of the Chartered
Banker MBA and presence in Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. The senior delegation comprised Madam President/Chair of Council, First Vice President, Registrar/Chief Executive and Deputy Director of CIBN.
Success for Bangor in national advocacy competition
The team pictured in Bangor University’s moot courtroom Bangor Law School has triumphed in the first round of the Blackstone National Criminal Advocacy Competition. Students are required to prepare pre-trial applications and undertake a series of mock trials, both of which expose them to the vital skills required for a career in advocacy.
Awarded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), these scholarships are exclusively for scholars from developing Commonwealth countries. The scholarship includes international tuition fees, a study grant to help scholars with the costs of distance-learning study (such as internet data) plus a travel scholarship for a Tropical Forestry Study Tour in July 2017. MSc Tropical Forestry (distance-learning) Course Director, Dr James Walmsley, said:“The School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography have been running part-time forestry-related distance-learning courses since 2002 and the first intake of CSC scholars was in 2011. Since then, our CSC scholars and graduates have become tremendous ambassadors for Bangor University and for the CSC. Many of our distance-learning students are people who would otherwise not have had the opportunity to study for a postgraduate degree and many go on to a number of interesting, exciting and challenging careers in forestry.” Further information about the scholarships and how to apply can be found here: www.bangor.ac.uk/senrgy/csc_in fo.php.en
Research News Ocean Oases: How islands support more sea-life
Informing climate-friendly farming in Costa Rica Representatives from the Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture, CATIE, the British Embassy, the national Beef Producers’ Association and Bangor University at a project workshop hosted by CATIE
A 60 year-old theory to explain why seas surrounding islands and atolls are particularly productive has just been proven by a marine biologist from Bangor University’s School of Ocean Science, working with a colleague at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Senior author of the paper Gareth Williams, of Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences said: “The hypothesis was generally accepted, but had never actually been proven, beyond studies of single islands. Having proven the hypothesis, we have also established valuable baseline data about the abundance of marine life around these islands, some of which are the most remote in the world. From an understanding of the drivers of phytoplankton production in the tropics, we can begin to explore how this productivity may become altered under future climate change scenarios such as altered ocean circulation patterns and what the biological knock-on effects may be, particularly to local fisheries.” Further information: Gareth Williams, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Tel: +44 (0)1248 382588, Email: g.j.williams@bangor.ac.uk Read the full story here: www.bangor.ac.uk/news/ research/ocean-oases-howslands-support-more-sea-life26115
A team of researchers from Bangor University has successfully completed a collaborative project evaluating “Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions” to help Costa Rican farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The project, funded by the British Embassy, was led by Dr Robert Brook from Bangor University’s School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography, and by Dr Adriana Chacon from CATIE (the Tropical Agriculture Research and Higher Education Centre) building on a partnership that the two institutions forged over two decades ago, and have maintained through a joint doctoral prgramme. The Costa Rican Agriculture and Environment Ministries, and the
national Beef Producers’ Association (CORFOGA), collaborated on the project. Findings will inform the Costa Rican Government’s ambitious greenhouse gas mitigation strategy. On 2nd and 3rd March, a workshop hosted by CATIE was attended by approximately 100 stakeholders, including over 70 farmers. Presentations by representatives from CATIE, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, CORFOGA and Bangor University provided a diverse range of perspectives, and were punctuated by fruitful workshop discussions about the most practical and effective management options to achieve climate-friendly farming.
Bangor University selected by British Council to host group of Chinese journalists Bangor University was one of only eight British educational institutions selected out of 40 to host the British Council Education Media Tour for Chinese Journalists in February.
Sciences, including a guided tour of the Prince Madog, tour of the School of Sports Science and a visit to our Botanic Garden and Research farm.
It was a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our impressive facilities to the journalists who visited a number of schools and colleges in the UK with a view to writing about the UK as a study destination on their return to China. The day was spent showing our visitors the School of Ocean
The journalists with our ocean going research vessel, the Prince Madog in the background
Culture Challenge
Research News Safety=Design: Saving thousands of lives and millions of pounds
Dr Subbe working on the project
The Winning Team from L-R:Hui Zhang from China, Taylor Smith and Ruby Ettle from the UK and Michael Solski from Poland
In December 2015 the International Student Support Office ran its regular Culture Challenge student competition with the first prize being a trip to China. Teams made up of four Bangor University students of different nationalities were required to deliver presentations on the subject of culture and take part in a quiz. During the Easter break, the winning team took the two-week trip around China visiting Beijing, Shanghai, Changsha, Chengdu and Tianjin. The group consisted of: Ruby Ettle, (BA French and Linguistics with International Experience) and Taylor Smith (MZool Zoology with Molecular Ecology) from the UK, Michael
Solski, (BSc Zoology with Animal Behaviour) from Poland, and Hui Zhang (BSc Accounting and Finance) from China. They were accompanied by Katerina Videnskaya, International Student Support Officer. Over the course of two weeks, the students visited five partner universities and Bangor University’s China campus in Changsha. The team gave presentations about their lives at Bangor to Chinese students studying on partner programmes and also participated in cross-cultural exchange activities. They also climbed the Great Wall of China and visited the Giant Panda reserve in Chengdu.
The winning group with Katerina Videnskaya, at Bangor University’s Beijing Office
A project launched in collaboration with Bangor University has the potential of saving thousands of lives by simplifying the way symptoms are identified by healthcare staff and patients. ‘Safety=Design’, finalised in September 2015 and headed by Dr Chris Subbe, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Medical Sciences and a consultant at the Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, helps signpost risks by adopting a traffic lights system to guide behaviour of carers and patients at the bedside. The aim was to develop a series of icons that condense complex information into simple visual prompts. The project is now enrolled at the Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, and is also being trialled at the Glan Clwyd hospital, Rhyl, Wrexham Maelor and the Royal Gwent in Newport. Professor John Parkinson, Head of Psychology and a Safety= Design researcher, believes the findings will have a positive impact on healthcare. He said: “I think Safety=Design will significantly improve how we spot symptoms and administer treatment. This cutting-edge multidisciplinary research will impact North Wales, the NHS more broadly, and hopefully the wider world."
Chinese New Year in Bangor (Anglesey); and further afield, Ysgol y Gader (Dolgellau) and Denbigh High School. Regular Mandarin classes also take place each week at Coleg Menai and, in addition, the Institute is currently running Chinese Mondays at St Mary’s Site; a special evening class for Bangor University students.
Two Dragons procession culminates in the city centre
Throughout February and March, Bangor University’s Confucius Institute celebrated Chinese New Year 2016 – the Year of the Monkey – with all sorts of exciting events in and around Bangor. Chinese cultural workshops were delivered to 15 local school and community groups, and the Institute put on a number of hugely successful family events including a Chinese film and crafts day at Theatr Colwyn on Saturday 6 February, and a special dragon puppet workshop at Penrhyn Castle on Saturday 27 February. The highlight of this year’s events was undoubtedly the Institute’s awe-inspiring Two Dragons Parade on Saturday 13 February; a vibrant procession through Bangor city centre, created, performed and puppeteered by schoolchildren from Ysgol Hirael. The parade was followed the same afternoon with a drop-in calligraphy workshop at the Deiniol Shopping Centre Gallery, and the New Year season drew to a close on Sunday 6 March
with a second calligraphy workshop at Pontio to accompany the screening of new Mandarin language film The Assassin (12A). The Confucius Institute continues to run regular Chinese classes with local schools including Ysgol Friars, Hirael and Our Lady’s (Bangor); Ysgol Kingsland,
Outreach activity continues in earnest with Chinese language and culture sessions delivered to schools, community groups and individuals across the region, and there are plenty more public events to come later this year including art exhibitions, music performances and a third Kite Festival in the summer. This year the Confucius Institute will also be offering free Chinese lessons to University staff travelling to China for work. A series of fun, informal short courses will teach some of the basics of Mandarin as well as touching on elements of Chinese culture and social etiquette.
Two Dragons procession through the streets of Bangor
For more information about any upcoming events or activities from the Confucius Institute, please visit the below for updates: Website: www.bangor.ac.uk/confucius-institute ~ Email: confuciusinstitute@:bangor.ac.uk Facebook (Sefydliad Confucius Bangor Confucius Institute)
Newly launched Health Research Institute at Bangor University set to have a big impact foundation of research excellence, the new Bangor Institute for Health and Medical Research (BIHMR) will facilitate more interdisciplinary research that spans discovery in the laboratory through to research that solves complex health problems in the real world. In this way, BIHMR will contribute to improvements in local health and healthcare, as well as making an impact across Wales, the United Kingdom and internationally. The Welsh Government’s chief scientific advisor Professor Julie Williams
Bangor University launched the new Institute of Health and Medical Research on February 25th. Building on an established
The University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor John G Hughes opened the event and was joined by several prominent figures including the Welsh Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor Julie Williams, CBE and Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ruth Hussey,
OBE. Prof Williams will outline the current state of Health Research in Wales and Dr Hussey will outline the Health Challenges Wales faces in the future. Prof Jo Rycroft Malone, Chair of the National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research at the University, will discuss the University’s success in health and medical research recognised in the last evaluation of research across UK Universities. Professor Malone will highlight the ways in which BIHMR will contribute to the nation’s health agenda. Read the full story here: www.bangor.ac.uk/news/latest/ bangor-institute-for-health-andmedical-research-launch-26231
Courses at Bangor University MSc Public Health and Health Promotion The MSc Public Health & Health Promotion is an advanced academic programme that provides opportunity for students to extend their knowledge and develop their skills to enable them to manage change, lead public health programmes, and to work with individuals, groups and communities. The programme aims to develop people who: • Have public health and health promotion knowledge and skills. • Understand the relationships between the factors that influence health. • Can critically analyse and reflect on public health and health promotion theory, research and practice. • Can present evidence on the basis of underpinning theory and understanding. • Have the necessary skills, motivation and commitment to engage in lifelong learning and continuing professional development.
Career Prospects: The programme content enhances students’ employability and career prospects by equipping them with a range of advanced transferable skills, as well as enhancing learning skills and personal development.
Quick facts: l l l l l
Duration - 1 year full-time September intake Qualification - MSc Tuition Fee - £12,250 Entry Requirements - 2(ii) Undergraduate Honours degree (or higher) in a related subject, alternatively, possession of a suitable qualification and work experience will be considered l English Language Requirement - 6.0 (no element below 5.5) For full details on the Public Health and Health Promotion MSc course please visit the link: www.bangor.ac.uk/international/courses/postgraduate/public-health-andhealth-promotion-msc-pgdip-pgcert
Dr Jaci Huws, Programme Leader
www.bangor.ac.uk/international
Karen Jones
Ali Khan
Maggie Parke
Tel: +44 (0) 1248 388207 Email: k.m.jones@bangor.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1248 388874 Email: a.khan@bangor.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1248 388416 Email: maggie.parke@bangor.ac.uk
Responsible for:
Responsible for:
Responsible for:
China Hong Kong Japan Philippines
South Korea Taiwan Vietnam
Bangladesh India Indonesia Malaysia Maldives Nepal Pakistan
Singapore Sri Lanka
The Americas: Brazil Mexico Canada USA Chile Colombia
Sarah Jones-Morris
Noor Al-Zubaidi
Michael Rogerson
Tel: +44 (0) 1248 388843 Email: s.jones-morris@bangor.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1248 382879 Email: n.al-zubaidi@bangor.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1248 383648 Email: m.rogerson@bangor.ac.uk
Responsible for: Thailand & Brunei Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon Central Asia - including Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine
Responsible for: Middle East and North Africa including: Bahrain Oman Egypt Saudi Arabia Iraq Turkey Iran UAE Jordan Qatar Kuwait Libya
Responsible for: European Union Countries
International students in the UK
Upcoming Visits for 2016 We shall be visiting the following countries between February and March 2016: Chile - April Saudi Arabia - April Japan - April Ghana - April Taiwan - April
China - April Gambia - May USA - May & June Nigeria - May & June Cameroon - June
Visit our country visits page for more information:www.bangor.ac.uk/international/visits.php
Please do contact us if you would like one of our international oďŹƒcers to visit your school or if you need any advice. W: www.bangor.ac.uk/international E: international@bangor.ac.uk
www.facebook.com/BangorUniversityInternational
For further details about country visits please contact the relevant Country Manager.