SPACE October 2014 by Bath Spa University

SPace

Bath Spa Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monthly magazine OCTOBER 2014

MA degree show

Dancing in Namibia Do your ears deceive you?

FEATURES 14

Spotlight on... Stephanie Hoddinott, Widening Participation team

Talking Point

My Student Experience... Charlotte Cooper

Forensic musicology with Professor Joe Bennett

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Review In conversation with Nathan Filer

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contents 6

Update from the Vice-Chancellor

Graduates secure book deals

Sickert lay figure

Visit to India

MA Education programme

12 MA degree show and honorary degree presentation 14 4

Spotlight on… Stephanie Hoddinott, Widening Participation

Talking Point… Do your ears deceive you? Forensic musicology with Professor Joe Bennett

My student experience… Charlotte Cooper, third year BA Dance

Review: In conversation with Nathan Filer

In the News - Vice-Chancellor’s blog on University Business - Phonics - Windows 10

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SPACE magazine is published every month and is aimed at staff and students of Bath Spa University. SPACE welcomes contributions from all members of the Bath Spa community. Want to get involved? Contact Anya Clifton – a.clifton@bathspa.ac.uk

Editor Anya Clifton Features Writer Rob Breckon Design and layout Lorna Harrington

Development and Alumni Relations -Ambassadors’ Circle

What’s On

International Update

Staff update

Contributors Abigail Herbert Charlotte Cooper Professor Joe Bennett

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Front cover Vilas Silverton MA Design Photography Red Rabbit Photography (page 8) Marc le Galle (pages 12 and 13) Christopher Wakefield (page 12)

Professor Christina Slade, Vice-Chancellor

Update from the Vice-Chancellor Welcome to the latest issue of SPACE. October saw us celebrate ten years of the unique, specialist MA in Writing for Young People. The course began in 2004, with eight students. We now have more than 30 studying each year, including part-time and full-time students, and more than twenty of our alumni have become published children’s writers. Several of them appeared at the Bath Children’s Literature Festival 2014 with their own events (Che Golden, Gill Lewis, Rowena Fowler and Janine Amos), as well as joining a celebratory anniversary event. The course has established an outstanding reputation and attracts interest every year from literary agents and publishers. Having celebrated the last ten years of one course, we have also started to look to the future as we prepare for our vision and strategy to 2020. We are nearing the end of our current strategy and we have started to consult with staff and students on what is next for Bath Spa University. There will be plenty of opportunity to have your voice heard. I encourage colleagues to take this opportunity to contribute and to build on our current successes. Looking ahead, the University will once again be sponsoring the Bath Film Festival from 13 - 23 November 2014. Patron and Bath Spa honorary graduate Ken Loach says of the festival “Bring an open mind and prepare to be engaged: Bath Film Festival is not somewhere you go to be neutral, it’s somewhere you go to participate.” I would encourage you all to take his advice and to participate. The University has its own strand at the festival covering scriptwriting, art and feature film, http://www.bathfilmfestival.org.uk/strand/bath-spa-university.

Professor Christina Slade Vice-Chancellor

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UNIVERSITY NEWS Graduates secure further book deals Two more graduates from the University’s MA Writing for Young People have secured publishing deals, building on the success of this course which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. Eugene Lambert graduated in 2013 and the manuscript he produced during his course, The Sign of One, was shortlisted for both the AM Heath Irish Children’s Prize 2013 and the Bath Novel Award 2014. The success of this meant Eugene was signed up by Ben Illis of the BIA Agency, who secured him a three-book deal with Egmont UK. The first book in his Twisted Blood trilogy will be published in spring 2016 in Egmont UK’s Electric Monkey imprint. The Sign of One is set on Wrath, a dumpworld for human outcasts where identical twins are feared. Only one is human, the other a monster with ‘twisted’ blood. The penalty for being a Twist is death. When 16-year-old loner Kyle realises he’s a Twist, he flees for his life with the help of a girl called Sky, a daring windjammer pilot. To survive, he must confront what he is and who he is ... The Sign of One is a science fiction thriller for readers aged twelve and over.

Eugene Lambert

Laura James graduated in 2012 and has secured a three-book deal with Bloomsbury for a series for 5- 7 year old readers called The Adventures of Pug. The first book, Captain Pug, will be released in spring 2016. Each adventure involves Pug (who as you may have guessed is a pug) rather reluctantly taking on a new occupation. Pug would generally prefer to take a nap or maybe have a snack but his enthusiastic owner, Lady Miranda, is always pushing him into some kind of adventure or other. Lady Miranda is just a young girl and Pug’s unswerving devotion to her means he can usually get them out of trouble in the end! About her time at Bath Spa, Laura said “I know for sure that I wouldn’t be in this position without the course. I would recommend it to anyone seriously interested in becoming a published author.” Laura James, photo by Red Rabbit Photography

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University’s lay figure in Cambridge University museum exhibition A lay figure (or artist’s mannequin) which belonged

Sickert’s lay figure

to the artist Walter Richard Sickert (1860-1942) is currently on display at the University of Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum as part of a major exhibition. One of the best known artists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Sickert taught drawing, etching and painting for almost fifty years. Towards the end of his life he taught at Bath School of Art and Design, now part of Bath Spa University. The figure, which dates back from the eighteenth century, is approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall and is made of stained wood with articulated joints. Sickert reportedly used the figure for the inspiration of his painting The Raising of Lazarus. He instructed a local undertaker to wrap the figure in a shroud and had it photographed, with the artist himself portraying Christ, and his model Cicely Hay in the role of Lazarus’ sister. A video about the lay figure is available here http:// youtu.be/OhSWvBfLHs4 Silent Partners: Artist and Mannequin from Function to Fetish is at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge from 14 October 2014 to 25 January 2015. Admission is free, and information can be found on the museum’s website www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

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UNIVERSITY NEWS

Visit to India Dr Richard Johnson and Dr Esther Edwards visit Sahauli village

Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography Dr Richard

Johnson and Senior Lecturer in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Dr Esther Edwards have just returned from a research, teaching and international recruitment visit to Northern India. Dr Johnson explained: “We flew to Delhi and then on to Kullu in the Indian Himalayas to visit Dr. J. C Kuniyal at the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development. The trip was in support of both research and teaching, adding a new dimension to our existing research links with Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla and the University of Manitoba, Canada.” “We explored new opportunities to develop research-led teaching resources for our Level 5 ‘India’ fieldtrip working alongside Indian postgraduate students at the GB Pant Institute, further enhancing the international experience and cultural exchange for both sets of students. We couldn’t resist a brief visit on foot to a number of mountain villages giving us further insight into the impacts of natural hazards on the lives of remote communities. 10

From the Kullu Valley Dr Johnson and Dr Edwards drove back down to the Punjab where they visited a number of schools as part of BSU’s international recruitment effort, presenting our exciting array of undergraduate degree courses. The welcome in the Punjab was both warm and generous, and it was easy to see that the appetite for a university education is huge in this highly educated and affluent state of 28 million people. Whilst in the Punjab, they also visited an intensively farmed area suffering from groundwater depletion and pollution issues with the aim of introducing this important societal challenge as a project focus for BSU students on the next scheduled Geography fieldtrip in April 2015. Dr Johnson concluded: “A visit to nearby Sahauli Village School, the recipients of the BSU Kahani book collection, gave us the opportunity to further develop our working relationship here and we have arranged a ‘project day’ for BSU students to work alongside the senior students at the school - an international ‘one day’ cricket match will probably be on the agenda!”

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MA Education programme The School of Education is very pleased to welcome 22 students to its MA Education programme this year. Students from Belgium, Colombia, Denmark, Ghana, Nigeria, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States are pictured here with Dr Peter Jones who leads the International Education programme and teaches these students on their core module Education: Economics, Politics and Society.

The MA Education: International Education offers the opportunity to work with researchers who have developed leading perspectives in understanding comparative and international education policy and practice. The programme is particularly relevant to students from developed and developing countries who plan to work in professional, management, and education roles in both national education systems and internationally. In addition to the core modules in International Education and Globalisation; Economics, Policy and Society; and Social Science Research, students have the option of choosing from options which examine what is known and understood about Education and Development; Education, Conflict and Peace; and International Higher Education. If you are interested in finding out more about this Mastersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; course please visit http://www.bathspa. ac.uk/schools/education/courses/postgraduate/international-education or email MA International Education Programme Leader Dr Peter Jones at p.jones@bathspa.ac.uk

Students on the MA Education programme with Dr Peter Jones

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MA Degree Show and Honorary Degree presentation This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MA Degree Show at Bath School of Art and Design was held in September and

celebrated the achievements of our MA students in Curatorial Practice, Design: Ceramics, Design: Fashion and Textiles and Fine Art. In addition, esteemed ceramicist Takeshi Yasuda received an Honorary Degree for services to ceramics and education.

Bonnie Phillips MA Fine Art

Carole Wadham MA Design Fashion and Textiles

Takeshi Yasuda pictured with Vice-Chancellor Professor Christina Slade

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Llio James MA Design: Fashion and Textiles

Lucinda Burgess MA Fine Art

Catherine Gray MA Design: Ceramics

Rosie Venables MA Design: Ceramics

Vilas Silverton MA Design: Ceramics

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spotlight ON...

Stephanie Hoddinott, Widening Participation Outreach Officer

For most students reading this the decision

Stephanie Hoddinott

to come to university may have been an easy choice, whilst for others it may have been one of the hardest choices that they have had to make so far. However, some young people regardless of their ability will never even consider experiencing the many challenges and highs of studying at university. One of the main aims of the University’s Widening Participation (WP) Team is to address this very issue. Stephanie Hoddinott works as an Outreach Officer in the WP Team and explained the objectives of WP professionals.

spotlight on...

She said: “Widening Participation refers to a commitment to raising people’s awareness of and aspirations towards higher education (HE). It aims to help people who wouldn’t normally follow this pathway by helping them to increase their academic attainment to make studying in higher education a reality. “Anyone who has the ability and the desire to go to university should have the chance to do so, whatever their economic or social background. The government wants to widen access to university for people from groups that are currently under-represented in higher education.” The WP team sits within the Department of Marketing and Communications and plays a key part in engaging with young people who could benefit from a university education, but perhaps don’t realise it.

developing, delivering and evaluating a range of awareness, aspiration and attainment raising outreach activities and programmes for groups of people who are currently underrepresented in higher education. Examples of groups we support include those who have no family background in HE, people from a care background, people who have a disability or specific learning disability and pupils who are eligible for free school meals. The WP Office engages with a number of schools, sixth forms, colleges and community groups. I also recruit, train, supervise and support the student ambassadors and tutors who work with the team on widening participation programmes and activities.”

Steph explained: “In my role as a WP Outreach Most universities have WP provision but why is Officer I am responsible for planning, the work Steph and WP team do so important? 14

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“Widening Participation is important for social mobility, as well as social justice. By widening access to Bath Spa University, we are contributing to the diversity of the student population,” she said.

at GCSE level in local secondary schools to help raise academic attainment as well as being a positive role model for the University.

“My favourite outreach initiative has been working with the third year BA (Hons) Acting students to develop a play to take on tour around local secondary schools. Students based the play on the story of Malala, with the aim to help raise school pupils’ educational aspirations as well as showcase some of the creative and fulfilling opportunities that the University can provide. In addition we also work collaboratively with the University of Bath on a tutor scheme. Our students tutor History, Geography and English

“Despite it being sometimes quite frustrating, I really enjoy my job because I generally feel like I am making a difference towards social justice. Building good relationships with the local schools and colleges and working with over a thousand young people each year is very rewarding. I really enjoy working with our Student Ambassadors and Student Tutors. Every day in my job is different albeit sometimes challenging, but it can be great fun and it is always purposeful.”

Whilst Steph’s job can be quite challenging it is something she thoroughly enjoys, as she Attempting to raise awareness and attainment explained. of underrepresented groups in HE sounds like quite a challenge. Steph explained the types of “It can be quite difficult and frustrating sometimes activities the team run in order to engage with its trying to engage with and motivate young people who have the ability but simply don’t have any target audiences. aspirations to further their education, don’t She said: “We work closely with school and college believe in themselves or think people from their staff to create a tailored plan of awareness, background generally go to university. aspiration and attainment-raising activities designed to meet their students’ needs. Some “In addition many young people and their parents examples of activities include university Visit Days can sometimes be put off by tuition fees and don’t where large groups come up to see the University know much about loans, grants and bursaries and work with our Student Ambassadors to find available. My role is integral in encouraging young out about Bath Spa through a number of different people to realise their potential and ensure they activities. We also run subject-based events with receive all of the relevant information to make an informed decision about their future. various departments in the University.

Class taking part in the Widening Participation programme

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talking point Do your ears deceive you? Have you ever heard a song and thought: ‘That

reminds me of something’? If you have, then you have stumbled, perhaps unwittingly, into the world of the forensic musicologist.

talking point

While the concept may seem unfamiliar, the foundation of it, essentially the examination of musical plagiarism, won’t be. There have been many successful and unsuccessful claims of musical plagiarism against the superstars of the music world from those who feel they have had their music unfairly taken without the correct recognition or recompense for it. Into this arena steps Bath Spa’s Dean of the School of Music and Performing Arts, Professor Joe Bennett who explains: “Forensic musicology is a multi-disciplinary activity incorporating physics, law, creativity studies, popular music studies and sometimes even psychology and philosophy.” Professor Bennett describes the ‘necessary pedantry’ of the forensic musicologist, who is often Professor Joe Bennett brought into discussions or court proceedings in order to examine copyright claims and untangle the truth. Analytical techniques such as waveform comparison, music score analysis, spectrograms and detailed listening are used to investigate whether any part of a piece of music is unlawfully copied from someone else’s composition or recording. One of the most well-known instances of copyright infringement is George Harrison’s 1970 release My Sweet Lord which turned out to be the ‘subconscious plagiarism’ of The Chiffons’ He’s So Fine , and culminated in Harrison having to pay out around $1,500,000. A more recent example is the alleged similarity between Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines (2013) 16

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and Marvin Gaye’s Got To Give It Up (1977). Thicke was accused, along with his co-writers Pharrell Williams and Cliff Harris Jr, of copying the bass line of ‘Got To Give It Up’ and the ‘defining funk of the cowbell accents’ in the earlier song. Professor Bennett has put together his own analysis of the two tracks and explains that “ If Thicke’s team actually ‘copied the bass line’, then they changed most of the pitches, moved lots of notes around, and deleted some notes. Or put another way, they wrote an original bass line.” The Thicke song also uses a cowbell accent, however as Professor Bennett’s analysis shows, from a compositional perspective it isn’t the same as in ‘Got To Give It Up’. Ultimately a key part of this case was whether or not combining a disco beat, a cowbell accent and a bass line on an electronic piano constituted a creative act, which Professor Bennett notes would have had “massive implications for the future creators of music.” This is not to say that musicians can’t be influenced by the music of those who went before them. Many artists resurrect older songs and genres and bring them to a new generation of listeners, and there are plenty of musicians who will give due credit for doing so. But the lessons learned by George Harrison and others should be a salutary reminder that there is a difference between being influenced by others and copying from their work. So, if you do hear a song and think it sounds familiar, you may well be hearing a musicologist’s input. Professor Bennett points out that “It’s in everyone’s interest to resolve disputes amicably. And sometimes musicologists help to prevent a dispute in the first place. You know when you hear an advert with music that has the feel of a famous song but isn’t exactly the same as the original, such as the 2014 Diet Coke ad that makes a musical nod to Pharrell Williams’s Happy? Often you’re hearing a musicologist’s advice, translated into careful note choices by the composers, and approved by the ad agencies’ legal teams.” A more detailed article by Professor Bennett on forensic musicology is available on his million+ blog

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MY STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Charlotte Cooper, dance placement with Namibia’s first professional dance company

my student experience

Dance troupe

In October last year I was invited by the Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO) Dance Troupe,

Namibia’s first professional dance company, to apply for an internship with them in August 2014. I was very interested in this so I applied and was lucky enough to be accepted, though one of the conditions of the place was that I had to raise a minimum of £500 to cover the costs of my time out there and help raise awareness of the company. The OYO Dance Troupe aims to create social awareness in young people through contemporary dance, and physical theatre. They hope that by developing their creative skills, young people will be able to make better choices and improve their quality of life.

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During my internship I spent the weeks doing a mixture of technique dance classes and choreography tasks which helped to build a new dance work. The piece we created was on the social issue of ‘passion killings’. Unfortunately this is a growing problem in Namibia, which was once known to be one of the most peaceful countries in the world. Passion killings tend to occur when a woman wants to end a relationship and the man, for whatever reason, disagrees, and retaliates with violence, which often results in the death of the woman. We performed the dance across the local community at two universities, the city prison and the community hall in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia.

Charlotte Cooper visiting Sossusvlei sand dunes

Despite the somewhat gruesome topic of the choreography, whilst out in Namibia I completely fell in love with the country and the people, everyone was so friendly and the dancers all became a second family which made it a lot easier to be that far away from home. I also had some free time with the other interns so we went on safari and also visited Sossusvlei which has some of the oldest and largest sand dunes in the world, including ‘Big Daddy’ which is 380 metres high. During the trip I learned a lot about myself and found some confidence which I have struggled to find for some years. I have decided to write my dissertation on how dance is used to communicate, with a focus on how OYO use dance to educate the local community. I’m also sure that I now want to pursue a career in teaching after I finish my degree. For more information about the OYO Dance Troupe visit www.ombetja.org

Dance troupe

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Review In conversation with Nathan Filer Competition winner Kathryn Hind with Nathan Filer

The MA Creative Writing course at Bath Spa University is renowned for helping budding writers to

develop their ideas into fully-formed novels. It has helped numerous writers begin their career and one of our most well-known Creative Writing alumni is Nathan Filer, who graduated in 2011. Nathan worked on his debut novel The Shock of the Fall whilst studying at Bath Spa University and everyone was thrilled when it was announced in January that it had been named the 2013 Costa Book of the Year. On 1 October the Development and Alumni team held an event called ‘Nathan Filer in Conversation with Professor Slade’, which held a dual purpose: to allow members of the Bath Spa community and invited guests to hear Nathan speak and also to launch the Ambassadors’ Circle, an exciting new opportunity to support the University. The event was very well attended, with a mixture of staff, 20

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students, governors and members of the Bath Spa community gathering in Commons for a drinks reception and talk. Professor Slade asked a variety of questions about the origins of the book and how the story developed and Nathan was a very charismatic and engaging speaker. By a show of hands it was revealed that a large portion of the audience had read the book, so Nathan delved quite deeply into the reasons behind the characterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actions and the turns in the plot, which made for very interesting listening. He also spoke about how beneficial he found the MA course, as he went into the programme with a clear sense of The Shock of the Fall and the year he spent at Bath Spa really gave him the time and space to develop the story. During the event Nathan very kindly read an extract from the book, Hypertonia, noun, a state of reduced tension in muscle, which was very memorable as he did this in the voice of Matthew, the protagonist of the story, and gave an insight into how he as the author perceived the character speaking. The question and answer session was also very lively, with members of the audience posing some very thought-provoking and probing questions. In response to a question about the focus on mental illness in the book, Nathan spoke about his time as a mental health nurse and about how this influenced the story which gave a real insight into how the plot had developed. He also spoke about the process of publishing the book and the relationship that he had with the publishing house, how he thought the novel would translate onto the stage, as well as several other topics. At the end of the evening Kathryn Hind, the winner of a competition featured in the summer publication SPARTAN and a Bath Spa MA Creative Writing graduate, got the chance to meet Nathan and receive her signed copy of his book. If you missed the event, or you would like to see it again, the full video is available online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tQPbGSjMjU

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In the News Vice-Chancellor’s blog on University Business Professor Christina Slade recently wrote a blog for one of the sector’s leading publications University Business. In her blog, Professor Slade advocated the benefits to students of receiving a global education. Professor Slade also emphasised how her own personal experiences have shaped her ambitions for the University and the initiatives she has already introduced such as GALA. Read the blog here

The significance of teaching children to read with phonics The Conversation Head of Initial Teacher Education, Pat Black has written an article commenting on a recent set of statistics highlighting the success of school children in meeting the expected levels on a phonics screening check. In the article Pat discussed how there are still big disparities in how children perform on phonics tests based on region, gender and whether they qualify for free school meals. Read the article here

Head of Initial Teacher Education

Analysing Microsoft’s new operating system Windows 10 – The Conversation Deputy Director, Centre for Creative Computing, Professor Hongji Yang recently wrote an article for The Conversation looking at the first taste of the new Microsoft operating system, Windows 10 which will be released next year. Read the article here

Deputy Director, Centre for Creative Computing Professor Honji Yang 22

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DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI NEWS

Dancing couple

Development and Alumni To ensure further support to students, the Ambassadors’ Circle was launched on Wednesday 1 October at a special event which celebrated one of our many highly successful MA Creative Writing graduates, Nathan Filer. The Ambassadors’ Circle is dedicated to enabling students to fulfil their potential, access new experiences and develop their skills through funding awards and prizes, such as the Enterprise Showcase Fund and the Greatest Need Fund. It aims to provide funding to showcase their talent and improve their knowledge and fund equipment, facilities and support where it is most needed.

The Ambassadors’ Circle is also about creating a relationship with our donors. We understand that one of the most satisfying elements for our donors is the relationship with the University and seeing the students that they have supported thrive and flourish. Members of the Ambassadors’ Circle are vital to ensuring that every one of our students has the opportunity to follow their dreams.

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What’s on Madeleine Mitchell: Violin Recital – Michael Tippett Centre Wednesday 5 November, 7:30pm Tickets: £10; Concessions £8; BSU Students £5; Free to members Madeleine performs a concerto repertoire from Vivaldi to contemporary, and has played with major orchestras such as the St Petersburg Philharmonic, Czech Radio Symphony, the Royal Philharmonic and the Welsh Chamber Orchestra. She will be accompanied by Charles Wiffen.

Madeleine Mitchell

Moonfleece – University Theatre Thursday 13 November to Saturday 15 November, 7:30pm and 2:00pm (15th Only) Tickets: £12; Concessions £10; BSU students £6; Free to Members A bruising, humorously spiky and lyrical play that tells the story of Curtis, a leading member of an increasingly popular racist party, who is haunted by the memory of his dead brother. When Curtis starts seeing his brother’s ghost a chain of events is set in motion that leads to the unearthing of a family secret.

Moonfleece 24

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Pickled Image

Pickled Image – Little Shop of Horrors – University Theatre Wednesday 19 November, 8.00pm Tickets: £10; Concessions £8; BSU Students £5; Free to Members Albert Grimlake sits in his cobwebbed shop surrounded by his puppets, each face lovingly crafted by his own hand. But Albert is growing old and time is running out to find someone to keep the shop open; to breathe life into his creations. Enter Eric, a young Muppet fan, eager to learn

Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld – Michael Tippett Centre Wednesday 26 November to Saturday 29 November, 7:30pm Tickets: £12; Concessions £10; BSU Students £6; Free to Members This satirical retelling of the legend of ‘Orpheus’ sees Eurydice whisked away to the Underworld by her lover Pluto. First performed in 1858, Offenbach’s parody of high society scandals was originally judged to be vulgar, profane and highly indecent – all qualities that have ensured it remains loved by performers and audiences the world over today. Orpheus in the Underworld SPACE OCTOBER 2014

Students visiting Stonehenge

international UPDATE

International Update Exchange

Please remember that the deadline for applications for exchange is Friday 5 December. There are opportunities available in China, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, Mexico and USA. If students are interested, please contact international@bathspa.ac.uk

Erasmus Processed on a first come, first served basis, we have over 27 partners for students to choose from for Erasmus placements. Funding is available for students on the Erasmus programme. For more information, please contact erasmus@bathspa.ac.uk

International social programme International students are taking part in a fun-filled social programme through the International Relations Office. So far students have enjoyed a tour of the Fashion Museum in Bath, followed by English Tea at the Regency Tea Rooms in Bath as well as a trip to Stonehenge. Students will be visiting Cardiff and Cardiff Castle as well as London in the coming months.

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Commons Programme Students from across the University are invited to take part in the International Relations’ Commons Programme. The next session will be •Wednesday 12 November Commons 105 11:00am-12:00pm “Bath and Beyond.” Learn about the city that is now your new home. • Thursday 27 November Twiverton 101, 1:00pm – 2:00pm “Student Wellbeing.” With deadlines approaching, ensure you are keeping yourself well with top tips from Student Support. • Tuesday 9 December Twiverton G17, 3:00pm -4:00pm “Christmas Party”

The Mayor’s International Student Reception Full time international students from across the City of Bath are invited to the Mayor’s reception at the Roman Baths on Tuesday 18 November. The Mayor will welcome students from Bath Spa University, University of Bath and City of Bath College to the city from across the world. Martin Suarez, a MA student in Education from Bath Spa University will be making a speech at the Mayor’s reception on behalf of all of the new students to the city. The evening will begin with a drinks reception, followed by speeches, and then a torch-lit tour of the Roman Baths. For more information, please contact international@bathspa.ac.uk

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Sustainability and Environment Staff and students are invited to join the Sustainability and Environment and Catering teams to

celebrate two recent successes; the re-accreditation of Fairtrade University Status, and the Refectory receiving the Silver Food for Life Catering Mark from the Soil Association for its breakfast and main counter lunch menus. The event will be held in Main House on Thursday 6 November from 4.30pm to 6:00pm, and will include presentations of the awards by representatives from the Soil Association and the Fairtrade Foundation. In addition, there will be a selection of the delicious healthy, sustainable, home-made light bites that have helped us win these awards. BSU first achieved Fairtrade status in 2012 and confirms the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to supporting and using Fairtrade products, as well as raising awareness of Fairtrade and the benefits it brings to producers in developing countries. The Food for Life Catering Mark provides reassurance to students and staff that the food they are eating meets high standards of traceability, provenance and freshness. BSU is one of only eight universities in the UK to achieve the Silver award. Please fill in this form if you wish to attend. Information on the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fairtrade and Sustainable Food policies is available online.

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Starters and Leavers In October we welcomedâ&#x20AC;Ś Nicola Price, EU and International Research Support Officer, Research and Graduate Affairs David Jarman, Head of Enterprise and Employability, Enterprise and Local Partnerships Sampath Karunaratne, Digital Marketing Officer, Marketing and Communications Abdu Smai, Resident Tutor, Student Services Amy Riddle, International Relations Assistant, International Relations Isabella Streffen, Research Assistant, Research and Graduate Affairs Alistair Henden, Cleaner Caretaker, Domestic and Portering Services Kerry Bivand, Student Support Advisor, Student Services Abigail Cross, Administrator, School of Humanities and Cultural Industries Melissa Newall, Library Assistant, Library and Learning Services Lisa Harrison, Administrator, School of Education Kate Lawson, Senior Lecturer in Primary English, School of Education Montana Sheikh, Receptionist, School of Humanities and Cultural Industries

We also said farewell toâ&#x20AC;Ś Hanna Gruszczynska, Student Housing Services Advisor, Student Services Jennifer Tennant, Resident Tutor, Student Services Matt Feast, HE Liaison and Recruitment Officer, Marketing and Communications

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SPACE is brought to you by the Marketing and Communications team