SPace
NOVEMBER 2013
Bath Spa University’s monthly magazine
poetry success
alumni news children in need
FEATURES 24 56 20
Front cover: Graduation - Ben Langdon Photography ff
Supporting Education in India: Kahani Collection Front cover: Graduation - Ben Langdon Photography ff
Queen of cupcakes
Front cover: Graduation - Ben Langdon Photography ff
My student experience... Heather Wald , BA (Hons) English Literature SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
Article on Amanda Goode and her tea towel collection
14
Spotlight on...
Amanda Goode, Course Leader: Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
08
30
NEWS 06 Update from the Vice-Chancellor 08 Newton Park Campus Development update
18
Talking point: Why part-time and mature students are key to the UK
20
My student experience...Heather Wald
10 Research Celebration week 11 Creative Computing 12 Children in Need 13 Student Health App
22 David Almond wins Eleanor Farjeon award
14
Spotlight on‌ Amanda Goode
24
Supporting education in India: Kahani Collection
27
Clarinet Classics release new CDs by Roger Heaton
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
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 Jane Wakefield - j.wakefield@bathspa.ac.uk
38
Editor Jane Wakefield
Features Writer Rob Breckon
Design and Layout Sampath Karunaratne Matthew Lochrie
Contributors Heather Wald
Front cover Sabbatical officers: Emma Weskin, Amy Dawson, Holly Jenkins
56
Photography Creative computing - Marc Smith, Computer History Museusm, CC license, Terrestrial Laser Scanning - Sam Farr, Amanda Goode, Rob Breckon, House of Lords - Loz Flowers, CC license
28
Venturefest 2013
46
Review section
29
Poetry Success
50
Enterprise & Local Partnerships
30
Studying Buddhism in China
54
Students’ Union
34
Terrestrial Laser Scanning and Indian Himalaya
56
Queen of Cupcakes
36
House of Lords
58
BSU: In the news
38
Alumni news
59
Staff news
42
International news SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
Professor Christina Slade, Vice-Chancellor
6
Update from the Vice-Chancellor We celebrated research at Bath Spa this month, showcasing the excellent work of staff across the
themes of creativity, culture and enterprise. Events were open to the university community as well as to members of the public. The “Drying to Know” exhibition of tea towels has proved to be a quirky, yet popular story, achieving coverage from across the globe this month. At the most recent Board of Governors meeting the redevelopment plans for the Students’ Union were discussed and approved. We will be supporting the Students’ Union in their efforts to modernise the building and the services on offer. This will all be in place for September 2014. I would like to congratulate those staff and students who have won awards this month. There is a lot of talent at Bath Spa and I hope you enjoy reading about their successes. Finally as we draw closer to the end of this academic term I encourage everyone to become an audience member at one of the Bath Spa Live events. I attend the recent performance of The Marriage of Figaro and thoroughly enjoyed the show. Visit www.bathspalive.com to find out what is on in the coming weeks.
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
7
Newton park campus d Academic Building The lightboxes on the outside curve of the digital studio were lit for the first time this month with stunning
results. The artwork and colour of each lightbox changes gradually making the building stand out in the landscape. This is one of the most striking aspects of the building. Work is progressing on schedule inside the building as many staff and students witnessed when they visited the site on 1 November. The contractors Skanska have also begun work on the landscaping the area around ‘Commons’ and this should become more apparent in the new year when the solid hoarding fences begin to be removed.
Lightboxes switched on 8
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
development update Residential development Work is progressing well on the new student residential ‘houses’ at the top of the campus. Windows have
begun to be installed in a number of the blocks and the block nearest to Stanton now has a completed roof. The contractors Miller also welcomed a group of children from Oak Tree Day Nursery to the site. They enjoyed a walk around and saw various machinery in action including a crane, cherry picker and dumper truck and Miller hoped this visit would promote a safe attitude towards construction. The Parish Council of Newton St Loe were also given a guided tour of the site by Project Director Adrian Smith. You can follow progress of both developments via the webcams which are available here If you have any questions or queries about any of the developments, please email the team: npdevelopment@bathspa.ac.uk
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
9
Research Celebration Week The inaugural Research Celebration Week took place at the University and a number of public venues from
11 to 15 November. Its aim was to involve the University community and the public through a programme of specially devised talks, workshops, performances and seminars. Activities were widely varied, ranging from a field demonstration of the terrestrial laser scanner; a talk by Iain Webb, Professor of Fashion at the Royal College of Art; a Performance Research Centre showcase; to a conversation between writers Hilary Mantel CBE and Professor Fay Weldon. Activities took place primarily at Newton Park, Sion Hill and Corsham Court. Events that were specifically open to the public included Representations of Difference, which was held at Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution and attracted an audience of 45 made up of police officers, representatives from the regional community and voluntary sector and local government. A discussion-led event on Geography Research in the A-Level Curriculum focused on specific international case studies and attracted an audience of 110. The conversation between Hilary Mantel and Fay Weldon sold out in advance with around 200 attending, and took place in the lavish environment of Bath Assembly Rooms. A total of 17 activities took place during the week with the aim of bringing different strands of the University’s research together, in order to engage staff and students, and also reach out to the University’s external communities. The University’s research focus is on creativity, culture and enterprise with established strengths in Art and Design, Music and Performing Arts, Humanities and Creative Writing and Education. These are the institution’s priority areas through which it fosters partnerships, maximises impact, and stimulates engagement.
10
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
Creative Computing A new course BSc Creative
Computing has been launched and is taking applications for September 2014 entry. This is the second course in the new University-wide Centre for Creative Computing being developed and led by Professor Andrew Hughill along with Professor Hongji Yang. A new four year integrated masters’ in Creative Technologies and Enterprise welcomed its first intake of students in September. These courses build upon our expertise in courses such as Computer History Museusm, Califonia, USA Creative Music Technology, Creative Media Practice, 3D Design and Publishing, but introduce aspects of Computer Science and Engineering into Bath Spa for the first time. These courses combine creative skills with technological expertise and enterprise capability and are co-designed with industrial partners from the digital technology sector. Students are based at Hartham Park near Corsham and benefit from a well-equipped suite of teaching labs with some exciting new technologies, including game authoring machines, hardware hacking tools, a range of interactive devices, even brainwave readers! This is all underpinned by a speed-of-light digital network and unlimited storage capacity. Hartham Park is also home to a number of hi-tech businesses which are keen to work in collaboration with students on these courses. The aim of the new Centre for Creative Computing is to develop courses that exploit the inherent creative potential of digital technologies. It is important that Bath Spa meets the needs of the Technology sector by producing well-rounded graduates who have both the computing skills and the creative flair necessary to make an excellent contribution to the digital economy. SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
11
Children in Need Well done to Student Services who recently dusted off their aprons in aid of Children in Need with a charity
cake sale. Every year staff from Student Services put their chef’s hats on and get baking, raising fantastic amounts of money for Children in Need. This year an impressive £575 was raised so well done to everyone.
In addition to cake sale there was also a raffle with a variety of great prizes. Thanks go to the many businesses that donated prizes, including the Theatre Royal, the Holburne Museum and Newton St Loe Farm Shop. Speaking of the money raised, Laura Cary, Student Admin Advisor said: “Every year
all of us in Student Services really look forward to our charity cake sale. It was great to see so many people trusting our cake baking skills and we are really grateful for everyone’s kind donations.”
Staff from Student Services raising money from cake sales 12
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
STUDENT HEALTH APP UniBathHealth is an app designed to provide Bath Spa University students with key health infor-
mation so that you can quickly access the most appropriate healthcare for your specific needs.
Whether it is access to emergency care, maps of local health facilities, concerns about an illness, or your ability to cope at University, this app puts the right advice at your fingertips. Download the app by scanning the QR code below today and answer our five minute online survey
and you will receive a ÂŁ10 lovetoshop voucher!
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
13 13
spotlight ON... Amanda Goode, Course Leader: Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors It’s been a busy time recently for Amanda Goode with her highly popular tea towel exhibition taking centre stage at Bath School of Art and Design. The exhibition ran from 8 to 22 November and attracted a wide range of people to the University’s Sion Hill campus. As Amanda recalled, she was delighted with how well the exhibition was received. She said: “I’ve had so many wonderful responses to the opening night and to the show itself.”
spotlight on...
Police Dog Hogan, who opened the show posted an image online and wrote: “With just one of the AMAZING T Towels at the Drying to Know show at the Bath School of Art and Design at Sion Hill, Bath. We had the great privilege of declaring it open yesterday afternoon. We urge you to go if you’re in the area. They’re all fantastic.” The exhibition was called Drying to Know and celebrated the humble tea towel and the ways it can be used to communicate. An array of informative and instructional tea towels were on display with over 200 shown on the opening night. 14
The exhibition drew viewers’ attention to the idea that a practical and necessary item can also be a work of art, a form of advertising, an instructional guide, and, by default, a celebration of all things British. Amanda described how she came to have collected so many different tea towels. “I have no collection policy other than I specifically look out for ones which offer instruction or information. Oh, and they must be British,” she said. “Over the last five years the design of tea towels has become far more ‘knowing’ and the target market has shifted. It is all really fascinating. Well to me it is! Seeing the new generation of designers responding to class and cultural aspiration is intriguing.” Students, staff and members of the public came through the doors on the opening night and were treated to tea and cake following Amanda’s request that people kindly bring along a cake they had made using a recipe from one of her tea towels.
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
“I was inspired to show the collection because I wanted to explain design, pattern, colour, message, atmosphere, printing and style to the first Textile Design students. It seemed silly not to share.�
Amanda Goode
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
15
spotlight on...
She said: “It was fantastic to see so many people respond to my call to bake a cake. It was a perfect addition to the exhibition’s opening night with guests able to have some tea and cake whilst enjoying the exhibition to the sound of live music by Home and Dry. We had a sea of sponge!”
As course leader of Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors, Amanda explained what is so special about the course and how her students can use their degree after graduating.
With such a variety of tea towels collected over an impressive number of years, where did the inspiration and idea come from to present such an exhibition?
the future of design, but also where concepts and design ideas have originated from.
“I was inspired to show the collection because I wanted to explain design, pattern, colour, message, atmosphere, printing and style to the first Textile Design students. It seemed silly not to share.”
16
She said: “We have enquiring, intelligent students who are keen not only to learn about present day and
“They leave Bath Spa University informed and capable of putting their work into context. This is appreciated by the very many fashion or interior studios which employ them.”
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
With the Christmas and New Year period just around the corner, Amanda looked back on a busy year and was excited about what 2014 would bring. “We have exciting plans to develop the course in the New Year,” she said.
“We have our sights on working with an American university on a joint project in Iceland and staff members are visiting Poland to exchange good practice, share ideas and prepare the way for a good working and collaborative programme.” If you would like to recommend a fellow student or colleague to be interviewed for ‘Spotlight on’ please let us know by emailing Rob Breckon: r.breckon@bathspa.ac.uk SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
Drying to Know exhibition 17
talking
point Why part-time and mature students are key to the UK A recent Universities UK report (October
2013) highlighted how heavily the UK relies on part-time higher education to up-skill the population, in order to meet fast changing skills needs in a fast changing world.
talking point
Over a 12 month period in 2011/12 there were nearly half a million people in the UK studying part-time at undergraduate level. That made up more than a quarter (29 percent) of the UK’s undergraduate population at the time. Part-time and mature students seemingly come hand in hand with most part-time learners being in full-time employment and studying vocational and skill-based degrees, with the vast majority aged between 21 and 65.
18
However, whilst enrolment onto full-time undergraduate course has risen over the last decade, the part-time equivalent has gone down and this is especially true with female and mature learners. Despite this trend, Bath Spa has a higher than average proportion of mature students with much of this down to the efforts of the University’s Widening Participation Team led by Dr Sally Griffin. Dr Griffin is an Age Champion and part of the Equality and Diversity Steering Group that is a dedicated first-stop helpline for mature and Access to Higher Education Diploma students. The Universities UK report highlights strong evidence of the social and personal benefits for lifelong learning and Dr Griffin regularly deals with over 250 enquiries from mature and parttime learners annually.
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
The University’s ability to provide education for mature and part-time learners is not something that has happened overnight. Bath Spa has supported Access Student (courses and entry routes into Higher Education specifically designed for mature students) since the mid 1980s, initially through the work of Dr Kay in the School of Education and then from the late 1990s through the Widening Participation team. Many employers and potential students are not sufficiently aware of the value of parttime Higher Education and do not always fully understand the options, including financial, open to them. However, earlier this year Dr Griffin delivered a two-day Return to Learning Summer School event just before the start of the academic term. The aim of this event was to help over 50 students prepare themselves for university-level study. The programme was a resounding success with 94 percent of participants finding it ‘very useful’ and the remaining six percent finding it ‘useful’. The University has close links with a number of partner colleges including City of Bath College. When it comes to widening participation outreach programmes, Access diploma students at Bath College have the opportunity to sit in on one of the University’s undergraduate lectures to reflect on how subjects are taught at university level.
On Thursday 5 December, an interactive, free regional conference focused on aiding teaching practitioners to support mature students into and during studying at Higher Education level is taking place in Exeter. This conference will be an opportunity for experts and adult learner professionals to take part in interactive workshops, network with colleagues, and learn about best practice and the current issues affecting mature students. A number of notable speakers with be presenting including Professor Eric Thomas, President of Universities UK and Dr Tracy Johnson from Brainbox coaching.
The Universities UK report highlights strong evidence of the social and personal benefits for lifelong learning and Dr Griffin regularly deals with over 250 enquiries from mature and parttime learners annually.
Dr Griffin’s work is on-going and she is continually looking to help mature students find appropriate routes into Higher Education.
Graduation Day
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
19
my student experience... Heather Wald , BA (Hons) English Literature
As a third year student facing the prospect of graduating this year, I frequently get asked that dreaded question
my student experience
‘what are you going to do after university?’ Having absolutely no idea, - and I know I’m not the only one - panic began to seep in after shrugging my shoulders in response to this question for perhaps the twentieth time. I’ve only been thinking about working hard and passing my degree, but it steadily dawned on me that I have to grapple with ideas about life after University too. I started to feel like I was headed into an abyss of unemployment, with no precise goals to aim for. I’ve always known there are several options for students graduating, but to be honest, I didn’t really know what those options were. Sometimes too much choice is a bad thing, especially when you don’t know what you want to do with your life.
20
One day, I received an e-mail from University, telling me about upcoming workshops. Suddenly I saw a light at the end of the tunnel that was my future prospects. I thought, instead of crying in a corner and avoiding the issue until it’s too late, I should actually check out what the University has to offer. I should start to think about it early on, so that when graduation comes, the future isn’t so terrifying. So, feeling calmer, I booked myself onto a graduate schemes workshop. I’d heard many people were applying for graduate schemes, but, quite frankly, I didn’t really know what they entailed, how to go about applying, and if a graduate scheme was right for me. I went with friend who is in the same predicament as me. We banded together as two English Literature students who don’t know what to do with their lives beyond University. I had no idea what to expect when I arrived. I was sat in a room with over a dozen students who felt much like I did, and had come for much the same reasons as me; it became increasingly apparent that I wasn’t the only one dealing with this issue. The workshop was friendly, informative and very insightful. It was even quite fun. We were shown a presentation, telling us everything you ever wanted to know about graduate schemes. From what the best graduate scheme websites were, to what might be expected in an application or interview. We were asked to think about what was important to us, was it a big pay check at the end of the month, life experience or working with a company that meant something to us. It was a great opportunity to flesh out ideas about what we were looking for in a job, and what schemes were best suited to us. The workshop was so insightful that I returned to my flat, feeling content in the knowledge that there are many opportunities for graduates out there.
20
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
Heather Wald and her dilema
After attending this workshop, I couldn’t believe how terrified I had gotten myself about the future so early on. I began to realise that the University knows many, many students are in the same predicament as me, so are helping by offering these workshops. Once I’d had this revelation, I knew I should keep checking for other workshops I could go along to. The University offers a huge variety, from networking - how to make the most of social sites like Twitter and Facebook - to Industry Insights, which allows you to meet and hear from people who have done your degree and gone onto a variety of different careers paths.
Now graduating doesn’t seem so terrifying. Even though I’m going to be very sad to leave University life behind when the time comes, at least I know there is so much out there for us. Who knows what the future will hold, but at least I know it holds something.
Just having a friendly one-to-one meeting with the careers team helped me in my quest to discover what it is I want to do when University is at an end. They told me what my options were, asked me what I enjoy doing, and really helped me assess where my passions lie.
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
21
21
David Almond wins Eleanor Farjeon Award
David Almond
Congratulations to Professor of Creative Writing and award-winning novelist David Almond who has been named winner of the annual Eleanor Farjeon Award. The Award is made for distinguished service to the world of children’s books, and is given to a person or an organisation whose commitment and contribution is deemed to be outstanding. David won this award having been shortlisted alongside author/illustrator John Burningham, publisher David Fickling, Little Angel Theatre and The National Literacy Trust. He joins a prestigious list of previous winners including Quentin Blake, Malorie Blackman, Jacquelin Wilson and Philip Pullman. Commenting on receiving this award, David said: “I am of course really delighted. This is a real honour. The award comes from the heart of the children’s book world, a world of great creativity and optimism, a world in which people genuinely believe that books and all forms of art can and do change people’s lives. I am proud to be part of it.”
22
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
Best Show for Children & Young People Award Congratulations to Christopher William Hill, a lecturer on the MA Scriptwriting course who has won a 2013 UK Theatre Award. He received the Theatrical Management Association (TMA) Best Show for Children and Young People Award for a play he wrote, entitled Mister Holgado.
The play is based in the fictional dark city of Schwartzgarten and is about a boy named Conrad. Conrad tells his parents there is a tiger living on top of his wardrobe, but they do not believe him. However, when Conrad’s parents suddenly welcome a mysterious stranger, Mister Holgado, into their home, Conrad suspects he is more of a threat than any tiger ever could be. The production has already received some excellent reviews with WhatsOnStage.com describing it as: “One of the most striking children’s plays I’ve seen in a while. Four stars” and The Guardian: adding “Eating children is wrong, but the attempt turns out to be gloriously ghoulish fun in Christopher William Hill’s mouth-watering fantasy for the over-eights. Four stars.” As well as being an award-winning playwright, Christopher is also an accomplished fiction writer with novels such Osbert the Avenger, the first of a four novel series Tales From Schwartzgarten. Commenting on Christopher’s award, Dean of the School of Humanities and Cultural Industries, Professor Steve May said: “We are very fortunate that Christopher has joined our teaching team. His wide experience will be of immense benefit to our students.” Established in 1894, the TMA is a leading trade association representing the interests of and providing professional support for the performing arts in the UK. Since 1991 the TMA’s annual Theatre Awards have celebrated the creative excellence and outstanding work seen in UK theatres each year. A short film about Mister Holgado can be viewed here
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
23
Supporting Education in B ath Spa University Geography
The team is asking for gifts of good quality books
Society, Students’ Union and staff and
written in English, on any story or reference
students from the School of Society,
topic, suitable for primary and secondary school
Enterprise and Environment, are working
children (aged 4-16). Collection bins are located
with tour company GeoIndia to collect
across the Newton Park University campus and
and distribute books to two schools in
gift drops can be made until 31 December 2013.
the Punjab, Northern India.
The books will then be collected, packaged and delivered to partner schools in Sahauli and Dhariwal.
24
School children met by Bath Spa staff and students
India:Kahani Collection It is important to the children and their
GeoIndia is a small, independent
families that these books are gifts to them,
company specialising in educational
sent in friendship, so please can you inscribe
tours to Northern India. In early 2014
a personal message inside the front of the
they will begin distributing the books
book about where the book has come from
to the schools they have links with in
and your connection to the book or interest
Northern India.
in the theme. Indian students appreciate this personal touch and it helps make an important link between the sender and recipient. SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
25
Mr Tars Sandu from GeoIndia commented: “We have called it the Kahani Collection as Kahani means story in Hindi/ Punjabi …The inspiration came from Surinder Singh Litt, a retired Air Force Officer in the village of Sahauli. Every evening he would have a different group of students come to his house clutching newspapers and old school text books in their eagerness to learn how to speak English more fluently. They would spend the evening reciting their passages whilst he listened, interrupting only to offer advice on grammar and diction. But Surinder was desperate to have access to books and story books in particular, to allow the students to not only learn the language but to learn how to express themselves.” Students on the Geography degree course at Bath Spa undertake a fieldtrip to Northern India in their second year and this project has evolved based on their learning experiences, with their desire to give something back to Indian communities in return for their hospitality. Students who have taken part in the field trip have spoken about their experience:
“I loved visiting the village. Meeting school children and their teachers and a wide variety of other villagers.” “I have learned a lot about Indian culture, development and the physical environment.” “A major highlight was talking to villagers, hearing first-hand accounts and being introduced to Indian communities.” Books are a much needed resource for schools in the region and Mr Brij Mohan, Principal of the Indian Heritage Public School in Dhariwal, Punjab said: “Many of the children come from poor families who are unable to afford books for study – especially those written in English. The gift of a book will provide children with a valuable source of knowledge; indeed good books are the best friends of the student.” If you would like to make a personalised gift to a child in India, please look to see what spare books you have that would be suitable for primary and secondary school aged children. Book collection bins are located in the Students’ Union and Refectory at Newton Park. All contributions will be gratefully received.
Bath Spa students with school children 26
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
Clarinet Classics release new CDs by Roger Heaton Professor of Music Roger Heaton has had two new CDs of his work released by the music label Clarinet Classics. Magnets, Lava, Crystals, a clarinet quintet by Mihailo Trandafilovski and performed with the Kreutzer String Quartet, was written for Roger and first performed in London in 2011.
The second CD The Inner Time has three solo works by Boulez, Scelsi and Radulescu. Both include specially made films about the pieces. You can see the full 30 minute film of the recording of Radulescu’s extraordinary piece here
Album covers from Roger Heaton’s latest release
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
27
Venturefest 2013 The School of Society, Enterprise and Environment recently exhibited at Venturefest 2013, a business and
entrepreneurial focused exhibition.
Venturefest 2013 was an exciting event for the South West business community that united entrepreneurs and innovators from across the Bristol and Bath region with investors and professional service providers. The aim was to bring technology and business ideas together with potential funding and support to help commercialise new ideas. The event attracted a wide range of technology entrepreneurs and businesses, investors looking for new business ideas to invest in, business service providers, and universities seeking to commercialise the outputs of their research activities. The festival also included a showcase of business ideas based around emerging technologies. Dr Anil de Sequeira, Subject Leader: Food and Nutrition, who represents Bath Spa on the Science City Bristol steering board said: “This was an exciting opportunity for Bath Spa and the other universities in the Bath and Bristol region to come together and tell the world and business community in particular, what great places Bath and Bristol are for businesses to exploit the intellectual property generated in Universities.
“Universities such as Bath Spa can help these local businesses to innovate and create the products and services for tomorrow’s world and in turn enhance the lives of people that live in the local communities.”
28
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
Poetry success Two graduates from the MA Creative Writing course have
been recognised in this year’s Bridport Prize. Daisy Behagg was named winner of the prestigious Bridport Prize for Poetry 2013 for her poem The Opposite of Dave. Daisy who graduated in 2011, won the £5,000 prize having come runner up in the Edwin Morgan Prize and Highly Commended in the Bridport Prize in 2012. Daisy currently lives in Bristol and is completing her first collection of poetry. Her work has previously been published in The Rialto, Poetry Wales, The North, Ambit, The Warwick Review, Poetry Salzburg Review and New Linear Perspectives. Judge Wendy Cope said of the poem: “The Opposite of Dave made me laugh out loud the first time I read it and smile every time I thought of it. They say that funny poems don’t win competitions. Well, this one did. But it isn’t just a funny poem. It is saying something about women and their relationships with men that many readers will find recognisable.”
The Bridport Prize is one of the top competitions for new writing, with entries coming from as far afield as Eritrea and Estonia. Patron of the Bridport Prize and Professor of Creative Writing at Bath Spa, Fay Weldon CBE, spoke of its significance saying: “Mention the Bridport Prize and the eyes of writers everywhere light up. It’s not just the money - though that’s not to be sneezed at - it’s a prize really worth fighting for in terms of prestige and genuine literary accomplishment.” Commenting on Daisy and Virginia’s success, Dean of the School of Humanities and Cultural Industries, Professor Steve May said: “This University has long been recognised as nurturing top quality new novelists. These awards clearly show that our poets are now getting the recognition they deserve, and signal the growing importance of poetry at Bath Spa.”
In addition to Daisy’s success another graduate, Virginia Ashley was Highly Commended by the Bridport Prize and also won the Dorset Award. The Dorset Award is specifically for Dorset writers and awards £100 to the highest placed Dorset writer in the Bridport Prize each year. Guests rub shoulders at the Bridport Prize ceremony
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
29
Studying Budd Three Study of Religions students Beth Jeffcoat, Amber Norris and Sean Spain had a wonderful opportunity to visit China and study Buddhism. The program organising this experience was the Humanistic Buddhist Monastic Life Program (affectionately shortened to the Woodenfish Program), run by a Taiwanese Buddhist nun, Venerable Yifa, and Secretary Officer of Woodenfish Michael Paone, along with an ever changing selection of staff. The aim of the visit was to give Western students the opportunity of learning
REVIEW
about Buddhism and experiencing monastic life in practice.
30
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
dhism in China
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
31
One of the students, Amber Norris, described the experience: For the month of July this summer I found myself living the life of a Buddhist nun deep within the heart of China. This curious turn of events came about following an email from Mahinda Deegalle offering the chance of free food and board at the Fuyan Temple, Changsha, in the Hunan province, and in return I would immerse myself in Buddhist life twenty-four hours a day. Only a few days into the program we were required to change location, and were flown to the Shengshou Temple, Wenzhou, in the Zhejiang province, where the bulk of the programme took place. Here, daily life consisted of a 5:00am wake up call, followed by 5:20 silent line up, 5:30 Tai-Chi, 6:30 breakfast, 8:00 lessons, 11:00 lunch, 13:00 lessons, 15:00 free time, 16:00 chores and cleaning, 17:30 medicine meal (dinner), 18:00 Amber Norris walking meditation, 19:00 discussions and chanting, 21:30 lights out. This routine was observed for the first two weeks, and it was during this time that my knowledge of Buddhist thought, doctrine and history was broadened through a variety of wonderful lecturers and through the observation of the monks and nuns sharing their home with us over the month. The third week was given over completely to a silent meditation retreat. No talking, no eye contact, and almost constant meditation in place of lessons and free time. This was an invigorating experience for almost all of the other participants, and I realised, after a week of silence, how much we like to communicate to one another on a daily, hourly, and minute by minute basis, yet have no real need to do so. We finished the silence with a knee bleeding pilgrimage through the temple to the main shrine, which consisted of three steps and a full prostration on the ground. This took the better part of two hours to complete. It gave us all a true experience of pure devotion to the Buddha!
REVIEW
During our time at this monastery, many of us truly learned how much we took food for granted. It may have been invigorating for some (like myself) to sit amongst great piles of aubergine, string beans and watermelons and help with the daily food preparation, but many had a difficult time adjusting to a diet consisting of oily vegetables and rice. I spent most of my time in China, aside from meditation and lessons, in awe of the beautiful landscape. My aim in going to China was to experience a more raw form of nature, and surrounded by beautiful mountains, insects and fauna, I was not disappointed. The last few days were spent on a cultural tour, where we travelled by coach back to Changsha so that the participants could catch their various flights home after the programme was complete. This tour included visits to a few other monasteries, a large display of Buddha statues, and many tea houses where we were treated to numerous ceremonies and treated like royal guests, being graciously received wherever we went. 32
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
I cannot speak for the other participants on the programme, but I found this to be an enlightening experience. I applied to go to China because I believe that people should be open to all cultures, and immerse themselves in them whenever possible in order to be truly accepting. I believe that I efficiently achieved this, as one only can when agreeing to get up at the crack of dawn for meditation, tai chi and three hour lessons! Fellow student Sean Spain gave an equally impressive review of the experience: Our first stop was Fuyan temple, the monastery of the seventh patriarch of Chan (Zen) situated on Hengshan Mountain, the southern mountain of the five most sacred mountains in Chinese Buddhism. Our second destination was equally beautiful Shen Shou Chan Temple in Wenzhou. Our programme there consisted of a mixture of meditation sessions and lectures. In between these academic and spiritual activities we had breaks to reflect upon, read and socialise with our peers. I applied for this programme because of intellectual curiosity of Buddhism and to broaden my self-understanding through meditation practice and to immerse myself in the rich Chinese culture. What was unique about this programme was the opportunity to see and experience Buddhism in China from ‘within’ from the eyes of empathetic insiders.
Monastic procession SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
33
Terrestrial Laser Scanning and Indian Himalaya Terrestrial Laser Scanning at the Combe Hay Lock Flight: Industrial Heritage Meets Scientific Modernity
During Research Celebration Week in November the Changing Landscapes
Research Group (CLRG) within the School of Society, Enterprise, & Environment put on two events that proved very popular!
Terrestrial Laser Scanning at the Combe Hay Lock Flight: Industrial Heritage Meets Scientific Modernity So it all started on a damp and murky morning, from raising gazebos the hard way, to getting the stove lit for a cuppa, all as a precursor to shining a 21st century light onto Bath’s 18th century industrial and engineering heritage. Dr Andy Skellern and Dr Richard Johnson (both Physical Geography staff) gave a demonstration of the research frontier capabilities of our Leica C10 Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS), at the equally impressive Somersetshire Coal Canal’s Combe Hay Lock Flight (below), just south of Bath. These 22 sequential stepped locks (i.e. flight) were designed to help take coal from Dr Andy Skellern and Dr Richard Johnson the Somerset Coal fields down valley to industrial and urban centres, and are now in need of restoration. The TLS is a high definition survey device (left), that can measure up to 50,000 points a second with integrated real-colour digital photography to produce 3D models of the surveyed scene, and therefore could assist in restoration efforts. There are numerous other applications of this technology that can benefit all sectors of society, and in this vein CLRG are actively engaged in a series of collaborative projects with other UK HEIs and government agencies using these powerful survey capabilities. If you are interested in finding out more then take a look at the SEE-CLRG research webpage for more information.
Somersetshire Coal Canal’s Combe Hay Lock Flight 34 34
3 2013 SPACE OCTOBER NOVEMBER
Hazard, Vulnerability and Risk in the Indian Himalaya: An RGS-IBG Event at the BRLSI
Geography’s CLRG staff, Dr Richard
Johnson and Dr Esther Edwards, have been heavily involved in a series of collaborative and interconnected teaching and research aligned ventures in Northern India. To give you a flavour, these involve the ‘India Book Collection’ initiative (see page 24 for more information) to help gift educational resources to village communities empowering them in their learning and development of resilience. A ‘digital stories’ research project concerned with mountain flood hazard, community vulnerability and risk is underway in collaboration with staff and student colleagues in Creative Writing, History and Geography. This involves research in both India and the UK. Concerning this digital stories project Esther and Rich gave a presentation of hot-off-the-press multidisciplinary research findings, to a group of 110 A-level Geography students and their teachers at the prestigious BRLSI, as part of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS-IBG) regional lecture series.
Dr Richard Johnson and Dr Esther Edwards in India
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
35
Jazz Night: Corey Mwamba Trio Fri 6 Dec, 8:00pm, Burdall’s Yard Professional musicians and student performers collaborate for an evening of small band jazz. The Corey Mwamba Trio is: Corey Mwamba vibraphone, Dave Kane bass, Joshua Blackmore drums. The Corey Mwamba Trio improvise collectively to create an open, living music. Their music is a free-wheeling, spontaneous mixture of styles. This trio has developed a process entirely focussed on creating highly expressive music that’s full of grooves. How it all works is not always clear; but the process is always fascinating to hear, and the results can be truly moving. Tickets: Full price £5, Concessions £3, free for Bath Spa Live members.
Rise Sat 7 Dec, 2:30pm & 7:30pm, University Theatre Bath Spa Dance and the Karla Shacklock Company join together to present a programme of physically challenging dance work. The work includes the premiere of a newly commissioned group piece created by Karla Shacklock and Year 3 dancers, and the powerfully visceral solo dance Buttercup. Tickets: Full price £10, Concessions £8, BSU Students &U16s £5, free for Bath Spa Live members.
Comedy Cavern feat. Miss London Thurs 12 Dec, 7:30pm, Burdall’s Yard Join a host of hilarious comedians and experience ‘10 in 10 minutes’, where 10 student comedians take to the stage for their first minute of stand-up comedy. Featuring: Harriet Kemsley, Pete Dobbing, Becky Brunning, Dan Ross and Miss London. Tickets: Full price £8, Concessions £6, BSU Students £5, free for Bath Spa Live members.
36
house of lords
Richard Parker, Director of the Centre for Education Policy in Practice, and Mike Gorman of B&NES, were
invited to participate in a round table discussion at the House of Lords on Monday 28 October about providing common foundation training in child development/attachment/emotional factors in teaching and learning for teachers. This is in recognition of the Bath Spa University and B&NES partnership which has already produced the ‘In Care, In School’ and ‘Attachment Aware Schools’ programmes. Richard explains: “We have been working for several years on ‘In Care, In School’ and on developing emotion coaching in schools, led by Dr Janet Rose. Our local project on attachment awareness – also led by Janet, with her team - has now been taken up by the National College for Teaching and Leadership, and will be published as part of their core leadership programme in the New Year. We hope that this conference will build support for our approaches among national politicians and major national organisations, and enable us to have a real and lasting impact on teachers and schools.” By a happy coincidence, this seminar was held a year to the day that ‘In Care, In School’ was launched at the House of Lords. That event was attended by the Vice-Chancellor, senior members and officers from B&NES, Don Foster MP and the Minister for Children, Edward Timpson. SPACE OCTOBER 2013
37
Alumni News Here is a small selection of recent alumni successes. We welcome alumni stories from all Schools. If you have a story to share, contact Ruth Russell at alumni@bathspa.ac.uk
Desiree Goodall (MA Design (Textiles) 2012)
Tabitha Stewart (MA Design (Textiles) 2012)
Linda Row-Care (MA Design (Textiles) 2012) Penny Wheeler (BA Hons 2009, MA Design (Textiles) 2011)
Four MA Design (Textiles) alumni have founded a contemporary textiles collective - seam. The group found that they
ALUMNI NEWS
missed the total immersion in textiles they had during the MA and wanted to continue working together; so seam was created. Now, four further Bath Spa alumni have joined them: Joy Merron (MA Design (Textiles), Penny Seume (MA Design (Textiles) 2011), Anna Glasbrook (BA Hons Textile Design for Fashion & Interiors 2010) and Lyn Snow (BA Hons Textile Design for Fashion & Interiors 2010). seam is about coming together and supporting each other by sharing knowledge, holding regular creative reviews, finding ways to work, both individually and collaboratively, Members of the collective Seam focusing on local opportunities, local production and forging local bonds, and sharing their best work and their love of textiles through two group exhibitions each year. Their Christmas 2013 exhibition runs from 3-8 December at 44AD artspace. http://seamcollective.wordpress.com/
3838
2013 SPACE OCTOBER NOVEMBER 2013
Frances-Anne King (BA Hons Creative Writing 2008)
On 12 November, Frances-Anne King launched her
Tim Liardet; poet, critic and Professor of Poetry at Bath Spa said: “Frances-Anne King’s Weight of Water strikes a beautiful balance between mystery and disclosure, bravery and tact, the kind of tact which nonetheless keeps her zeal in place. What underpins the whole collection is not a commonplace ‘accessibility’, but her dignified restraint; the line is balanced and controlled, the vision never in question. It is a memorable first book.”
Frances-Ann King
debut poetry pamphlet, Weight of Water, at a special event at Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution.
http://www.poetrysalzburg.com/king.htm
Fleur Isbell (BA Hons Graphic Communication 2011)
Neville Brody, has chosen 2011 Graphic Communication alumna Fleur Isbell to design the prestigious D&AD 2013 Annual. Fleur was selected as one of the top 100 creative graduates by D&AD back in 2011, and awarded a place on its Graduate Academy. She also featured in Creative Review and Design One blog. Being charged with designing the annual is an amazing achievement for such a recent graduate. We can’t wait to see the annual when it’s published in December.
Designed by Fleur Isbell
Internationally renowned designer and D&AD president,
http://www.fleur.isbell.net/
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
39
Terry James (Cert. Ed English, Newton Park College 1974)
Newton Park College alumnus Terry has co-written The
Taz Pollard (MA Design (Ceramics) 2013) Keith Varney (BA Hons Three Dimensional Design: Ceramics 2011)
Ceramics alumni Taz Pollard and Keith Varney have both
been short listed for the confessions of a design geek bursary 2014.
The Regency Detective
Regency Detective, a novel set in Regency Bath during the time Jane Austen was staying in the city. The novel chronicles the adventures of Jack Swann during the early 1800s and, excitingly, there are currently talks to turn the novel into a TV series.
Only one designer can win the bursary, which includes a stand at Home London, their product stocked at the Southbank Centre Shop, a photo shoot and film shoot, mentoring from seven industry experts and more – a once in a lifetime opportunity worth over £10,000. Good luck Taz and Keith!
Flow by Keith Varney
Taz Pollard: The panel was immediately captured by Taz’s truly distinctive designs and her bold use of colour and materials. Inspired by a broad range of historical influences, she has created something utterly contemporary. Taz said: “My pieces offer a fantastic way of introducing colour into the home with accent pieces without having to change the entire interior of your home.”
Keith Varney: The panel loved the simple yet geometric form of Keith’s vases. They also admired his love for the making process and the intelligent balance his product range strikes between the commercial and the creative. Keith said: “I have a deep need to make and enjoy becoming completely lost and absorbed in the process.” http://www.keithvarney.co.uk/
40
Pancheon by Taz Pollard
ALUMNI NEWS
http://tazpollardceramics.wordpress.com/
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
Jan Knibbs (MA Design (Textiles) 2010)
Textile Design alumna Jan Knibbs has
been declared first runner up in the prestigious international Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery Design. Jan took second place (and $1,000) with her gorgeous Versailles inspired design, which uses silk shading, shisha mirrorwork and a myriad of other skillful techniques.
Design by Jan Knibbs
http://www.janknibbs.com/
SPACE OCTOBER 2013
41
INTERNATIONAL The International Relations Office (IRO) is now a busy team of seven: Jeremy White
Director of International Relations
Nancy Cooke
Director of International Student Recruitment
Jiemin Tomita
Senior International Marketing Manager
Missy Beal
European Recruitment and Marketing Manager
Samantha Short
International Relations Administration Manager
Fran Nix
International Relations Officer
Ieva LÄ kute
International Relations Assistant
The IRO has been extremely busy with high targets to increase the number of international students at the University. In September 2012, the University welcomed 46 undergraduate and 29 postgraduate students and this year that student body grew to 92 new undergraduate students, 95 new postgraduate students and an additional 54 international students through our Erasmus, Exchange and Study Abroad programme.
international
The Team has so far concentrated recruitment efforts in China and the Far East, Germany, India, Taiwan and the USA. The BSU China Office opened in November 2012 and was soon followed by the BSU Taiwan Office. The University now has a representative in Delhi, India, recruiting Indian students as well as a representative in Colombia. Targets for 2014/15 have now been set and it is expected that there will be approximately 400 new international students joining Bath Spa in September 2014. The University’s current target markets include: Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, the Far East, Mexico and the USA. There is also additional recruitment in the European market including Azerbaijan, the Baltic States, Germany and Russia which is being led by the European Recruitment Manager Missy Beal.
42
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
The IRO has also been making sure that international students already at Bath Spa have been getting the most out of their experience by providing an active social programme to engage students, offer support and guidance as well as working closely across the University with other Schools and Departments.
Mayor’s Civic Reception
Tea and Cake with the International Student Rep
All international students were invited to meet
with Ivan Hui, the International Student Rep, on 13 November. Ivan welcomed all the students and spoke about social activities and opportunities that are available through the Students’ Union and the importance of international students integrating in the University. Ivan also offered his support and advice to students who are new to England. Ivan hopes to run the same event at Sion Hill and Corsham Court on a regular basis.
Bath Spa students at the Mayor’s Civic Reception
All full-time new undergraduate and postgraduate
international students were invited to a Civic reception on 19 November by The Right Worshipful The Mayor of Bath and The Mayoress, Councillor Malcolm Lees and Mrs Pat Lees.
This event took place at The Pump Rooms for all international students from Bath Spa University, Bath University and City of Bath College. This was a fantastic event to which some international students wore traditional dress. Speeches were made by The Mayor and an international student from the City of Bath College. The Civic Reception was then followed by a torch lit tour of the Roman Baths.
Meeting with International Student Rep Ivan Hui
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
43
New Partnership
The University is delighted to have signed a new Study Abroad and Transfer agreement with Middlesex
international
Community College, Boston and Northern Essex Community College, Boston. The Vice-Chancellor and Jeremy White visited Middlesex Community College at the Lowell campus to sign the agreement on 11 October 2013. It is anticipated that there will be approximately 15 to 20 students joining Bath Spa in September 2014 from both these colleges.
The Vice Chancellor and Jeremy White meet representatives from our new partner institutions
44
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
Events Internationalisation at the University
With the growing number of international students joining the University over the last year, the IRO feels it
is important to invite all staff and students to a series of ‘open forums’. The aim of the forums is to help engage everyone with the workings of the Department; its partnerships and programmes as well as provide an opportunity to raise issues, ask questions and offer feedback to the team. The first ‘staff forum’ will take place on Tuesday 3 December from 12 to 1pm in room NE.G02 at Newton Park and staff are encouraged to attend. To express an interest, please email Missy Beal - m.beal@bathspa.ac.uk
Fantastic Opportunity for students
Would you like free accommodation for one year or a semester? To have a significant reduction in your tuition
fees? Be absorbed in a new culture? Boast a CV that will stand out from the rest?
An opportunity has arisen for Bath Spa University students to study in China at one of our partner institutions: Communications University of China (Beijing), Shanghai Finance University or Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. Students are encouraged to apply for this opportunity in groups of two and three and will be supported by Bath Spa University staff in our office based in Shanghai. For more information, please contact international@bathspa.ac.uk
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
45
REVIEW Hilary Mantel and Fay WeldoN Fay and Hilary in discussion
14 November, Assembly Rooms, Bath
This event was the third in a new series of Professorial Lectures at Bath Spa and was a unique opportunity to listen to and ask questions of two exceptionally talented and much loved British authors.
Hilary Mantel CBE is the Man Booker Prize winning author of Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies the first two books in a trilogy about the life and times of Thomas
writers see themselves as introverts, but regularly find themselves talking at literary events. Fay gave some advice to aspiring writers by saying that when presenting yourself as a writer she has always found it easier to simply tell the truth.
Cromwell, Chief Minister to King Henry VIII. Professor Fay Weldon teaches Creative Writing at Bath Spa and is a well-known author and screenwriter best known for her historical and period writing.
This sold out event joined Hilary and Fay in conversation to talk about a variety of subjects including writing for television, how to research a story as well their memories of the first time they met. Hilary was also presented with an Honorary Doctorate by the Vice-
REVIEW
Chancellor, Professor Christina Slade.
“simply tell the truth” Fay and Hilary drew upon their many years of experience as successful writers who have had to deal with being in
Amongst the literary debate a personal touch was added when Fay and Hilary shared memories of the First time they met. Fay described how she had always held Hilary in such high regard due to her genuine nature and how she offered to help Fay in the very beginning. Humorously, Hilary added the thing she remembered the most was that Fay ordered butter chicken in the café they met in. The Professorial Lecture series will present one lecture a month to share the expertise of new and established Professors at Bath Spa. They are open to everyone and details of forthcoming Lectures can be found here
the public eye. Hilary noted the paradox that most
46
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
“Hilary was also presented with an Honorary Doctorate by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Christina Slade”
The Vice-Chancellor with Hilary Mantel and Fay Weldon
Premiere of the Opera Dorian Gray 8 November, New York Times Kate Pullinger, Professor of Creative Writing and
Digital Media has written the English-language version of the opera Dorian Gray composed by Lubica Cekovska. The opera opened on 8 November in Bratislava and was reviewed in the New York Times which stated: Ms. Cekovska’s easily grasped, mildly dissonant style, with lyrically oriented vocal lines, underscores, as far as it goes, the unsettling nature of Oscar Wilde’s sinister novel. Tension is created by steady drumbeats, insistent rhythms and swelling chords. Yet, Ms. Cekovska’s music at times was too tame for Wilde’s chilling tale — depraved, some
would say — of a painting that mysteriously ages to reflect the increasingly twisted soul of its subject, the beguiling Dorian Gray, while he remains eternally young. The Canadian author Kate Pullinger solidly crafted the English-language libretto. Eric Fennell, dressed in velvet, sings Dorian’s seductive vocal lines with a honeyed tenor voice, and Katarina Jahasova-Sturova brings an iridescent soprano to Sibyl Vane, the actress who kills herself after Dorian reneges on his proposal to marry her. The theatre’s orchestra plays well under the conductor Christopher Ward’s accomplished leadership.
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
47
You, Me & Everyone in Portsmouth 29 October, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth
Portsmouth was lit up by some amazing illuminations
between the people of Portsmouth, digital art and writers sharing their craft. We are not aware of any other project that shares the same scale and reach as this.
REVIEW
courtesy of digital artist Anthony Head from Bath School of Art and Design and creative company ReAuthoring. Local people were asked to submit stories and memories of Portsmouth and over 1,000 of these were then projected We are also very proud of the onto Portsmouth Guildhall over two evenings in late ‘liveness’ of the event. Our October. digital artist, Anthony Head, could have created the Anthony’s ‘Illuminate Bath’ projects have been incredibly final projection on successful and this new project took this amazing spectacle his computer and to the people of Portsmouth. Producer of the event projected this Samantha Holdsworth commented: onto the Guildhall “For us, You, Me & Everyone represents an amazing collaboration
The name of the game is lightworks 48
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
and it would have been the same each night, however, we thought creating a live event would be much more interesting. With this in mind, Anthony, created different animations that were controlled from the projection booth live on the night. It was up to him when he wanted to phase different stories and effects in and out. This meant each night a new and unique artwork was created. This isn’t a new idea, but combine it with the literary component of the project, the extensive outreach activities we developed and the strong social media focus and you have a very rich and intricate process unlike any I know of”.
Close up of the lights
Lights fantastic
“We are not aware of any other project that shares the same scale and reach as this“
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
49
Enterprise & Local Partnerships
Enterprise & Local Partnerships
50
Supporting employability in the curriculum
Supporting our partners and the business community
A two hour business planning workshop
Our partnership with The Guild co-working hub
was provided for Food and Nutrition students, introducing them to the principle elements of a business plan and sharing tips learned from former winners and finalists. The session also involved students constructing an elevator pitch, getting a taster of the Business Start Up Basics workshop, and receiving advice drawn from practical experience of writing business plans for his company and being a competition judge from guest speaker Richard Jones of The Real Olive Company. The session concluded with an open clinic for students to discuss their own enterprise ideas and competition entries.
in Bath was strengthened by using the city-centre venue as the forum for an informative and engaging lecture to The Guild’s members, guests from Creative Bath, staff and students. Bath Spa Presents at The Guild ... Fraser MacLean ‘All the world’s a screen’ took place on Wednesday 13 November. The audience were taken on a guided tour of the history and development of the animation layout process, an often-neglected area of commercial animation production.
“Thank you for the fantastic business planning session you did yesterday. I saw a number of students later in the day for tutorials and they all said how much they enjoyed the session and how helpful they found it.” Tracey Lewarne, Course Leader: Human Nutrition
Forthcoming Events
The employer liaison team represented the
University at the launch event on Thursday 21 November of the Employer Partnership Network project, which is being set up by Sirona Care & Health in partnership with B&NES. This brings us into contact with businesses who are willing to consider ways in which they may be able to contribute to improving the employment opportunities for individuals with learning disabilities.
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
Making connections and generating opportunities
Further to Paul Hyland’s appointment on behalf
of the University as a Trustee of BRLSI in Bath, the Enterprise & Local Partnerships department is providing a supporting role to this partnership by keeping an overview of the University’s overall engagement with BRLSI across Schools and departments. This partnership has rich potential for mutually beneficial opportunities, such as student projects/placements, research, lecture series, events and exhibitions, and volunteering for students. If you have a reason to engage with BRLSI, or have a good story about working the organisation, get in touch with enterprise@bathspa.ac.uk The RSPB has been linked up with the Drama department for students to undertake site specific performances at Ham Wall on the Avalon Marshes near Glastonbury. This project will help RSPB reach
new audiences, raise awareness about the ‘State of Nature’ in the UK, connect people with nature and inform visitors about the rich archaeological history of the site. Having this experience on their CVs will also enhance the students’ employability. Networking at Digital Day Bristol on Monday 4 November ensured Bath Spa University was a visible element of the local agenda looking at how arts and cultural organisations can develop their uses of digital technology. With 70 creative SMEs launching new or improved products and 52 firms involved in collaborative R&D projects, there are plenty of opportunities for the University to be an active part of this community. Innovative R&D projects are being explored with Complete Control, The Bath Food Company, sharedlocker.com.
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
51
Enterprise & Local Partnerships The Media Buddy scheme in action
Buddy mentoring
Bath Spa University’s two Buddy
mentoring schemes were launched to new cohorts of students for the start of the academic year. Buddy schemes are designed so that students experience real studio/agency life, receive specific feedback about their work, gain a deeper understanding of what’s really needed in the industry, make new contacts and grow in confidence. Design Buddy has run each year since 2011 for graphic design students, in collaboration with the West of England Design Forum. This year 22 students will be receiving oneto-one mentoring from senior designers, creative directors and agency owners from Bath and Bristol. This year’s Media Buddy scheme was launched at the new The Engine Shed in Bristol - as Bath Spa University is a founder member of the Business Lounge - and 20 Creative Media Practice students were introduced to their Buddy mentor at a facilitated training and networking event. “Design Buddies continues to provide students with valuable real world experience. Design Activity had a great student this year, who used us to the max. She has gravitated to London where she is being courted by world class agencies. We are proud to have helped her achieve this and are looking forward to our next experience.” Pat Starke, Creative Director, Design Activity.
53
Students’ Union November is a busy month for student fundraising and the Students’ Union has been super busy this month raising money for various charitable causes. From Movember to Children in Need, our students have been coming together to raise money for charity and support worthy causes. The Comedy Society the ‘Idle Playthings’, Bath Spa Rugby team and many other students have all ‘given into the ‘tache’ to raise money for Movember, a charity which supports men’s
students’ union
health issues encouraging men and women to grow or wear a moustache. Most are sporting impressive moustaches, and the month-long charity event culminated in a night of comedy, live music and DJs in the SU bar on 29 November – Well Done Boys! Also this month, the group of students planning to travel to Cambodia next August with Challenges Abroad met for the first time to discuss future fundraising plans. These students will be travelling to Asia next summer to volunteer and support The FutureSense Foundation. Cambodia is a developing country that faces many social issues and marginalised groups, particularly children, often don’t receive the care and support they need. Institutions are poorly funded and ill-equipped to deal with the many social problems that people face. The FutureSense Foundation works with selected local NGOs on behalf of the most needy and neglected to improve lifestyles. Volunteers will take part in an unforgettable hands-on experience of a lifetime. Previous Challenges Abroad volunteers have built football pitches, redecorated libraries and run sports tournaments. The group is eager to get fundraising so watch this space for more details about future events.
Volunteers will take part in an unforgettable hands-on experience of a lifetime. Previous Challenges Abroad volunteers have built football 54
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
BBC Children in Need filming the action
This month the Students’ Union has been getting into the fundrasing mood. If you would like to get involved or have an idea contact: bathspasu@bathspa.ac.uk.
Sabs in onsies!
“From Movember to Children in Need, our students have been coming together to raise money for charity and support worthy causes.”
November also hosted Children in Need. Every year the SU makes an extra special effort to raise money for the national cause and this year was no exception! On a cold, frosty morning your Sabbatical Officers braced themselves for what has now become an SU tradition – ‘Splat-A-Sabb’. ‘Splat-A-Sabb’ involves a concoction of beans, porridge oats, paint, sour cream – you name it we’ll add it! The mix is then splatted all over your Union Sabbatical Officers for a donation to Children in Need. The event is great fun, for those involved it’s slightly disgusting and wet, but the SU raised a fantastic £118 in one hour for a very worthy cause. Luckily BBC Points West captured it all and we appeared on regional news in all our ‘gunky’ glory!
were also lucky enough to be invited to the BBC Points West filming event at the Roman Baths and we hope all of our efforts have helped to make a difference to those less fortunate than us.
Splatted Sabbs’ in Their ‘Gunky’ Glory
pitches, redecorated libraries and run sports tournaments.
The SU rounded off our Children in Need fundraising with a ‘wear your onesies’ to work day, a cake sale by the Baking Society and the final heat of Bath Spa’s Got Talent with all donations going towards the cause. The Sabbatical Officers SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
55
Helen with just some of her marvels
Queen of cupcakes Many congratulations to Marketing and Publications Officer Helen Bollen who has been named as a winner at this year’s National Cupcake Championships. Helen is also owner of cake making business Mrs B’s Cakes. Having been shortlisted to compete at this year’s finals at the Birmingham NEC, Helen won the Themed Cupcake of the Year award at the fifth National Cupcake Championships.Her cupcake was judged by royal wedding cake designer Fiona Cairns and she was presented with her award by baking legend and Bath Spa Alumni Association President, Mary Berry CBE. Her ice-cream inspired Summer Sundae was created to offer the taste of a glorious ice-cream dessert, wrapped up in a cake. The biscuit base case held a rich dark chocolate sponge, layered with chocolate ganache, raspberry jam and vanilla buttercream, topped with raspberry sauce, pistachios, grated chocolate, grated dark chocolate and a cherry. Commenting on winning this prestigious award, Helen said: “I was lucky enough to get through to the finals in last year’s competition as well but I still can’t believe I won my category this year! I can’t stop smiling!” The National Cupcake Championships is the UK’s biggest cupcake competition and serve to celebrate and reward the talent in the cupcake industry. Helen’s success in this competition is a testament to her cake making abilities and culinary skills. www.mrsbscakes.co.uk The winning entry 56
Splatted Sabbs’ in Their ‘Gunky’ Glory
Helen with Mary Berry
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
57
BSU: IN THE NEWS Dr Alan Marshall
Head of the Department of Humanities, Dr Alan Marshall discussed Bonfire night and the Guy Fawkes Plot with
BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Radio Bristol. Dr Marshall discussed the possibility of the plot being non-existent and commented on why he believes people still celebrate it today.
Dr Iain Haysom
Dr Iain Haysom, Course Leader: Diet and Health featured on BBC Breakfast about food wastage and sell-by dates, having been filmed talking about how quickly food decomposes and the different types of bacteria produced that are damaging to health.
Professor Andrew Hugill
Professor Andrew Hugill, Director of Creative Computing was interviewed by the Sunday Times about big data. Professor Hugill discussed how in many organisations and businesses, data gets placed under the control of IT departments and explained the problems this can cause. The full article is available to read here
Professor Iftikhar Malik
Professor Iftikhar Malik, Senior Lecturer in History recently featured on two prominent radio stations – BBC
Radio 5Live and BBC World Service. Iftikhar was interviewed about the death of Hakeemullah Mehsud, the leader of Pakistani Taliban in North Waziristan by a Hellfire missile fired from an unmanned predator aircraft operated by the CIA. Iftikhar was also asked about the nature of this group of Taliban, the life and politics of Hakeemullah Mehsud, and their future course of action in the region following the death of their 37-year old charismatic and fearsome Pushtun leader.
58
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
staff news Starters and Leavers
In November we welcomed‌ Sarah Couzens, Senior Lecturer SpLD/Dyslexia and Inclusion, School of Education Ivana Kirnerova, Academic Data Analyst, Planning Support Marije Gent, Research Administrator, Corsham Centre Michelle Burton, Cleaner, Domestic Services Paulo Costa, Cleaner, Domestic Services Gerrard Berney, Cleaner, Domestic Services Thomas Magnusson, Server Analyst, Computing Services Richard Grafton, Developer, Planning Support John Edwards, Graduate Affairs Administration Manager, Corsham Centre Devanka Pathak, Software Quality Engineer, Planning Support Justine Blass, Postgraduate Administrator, Corsham Centre Paulo Costa, Cleaner, Domestic Services Agata Vitale, Senior Lecturer in Abnormal/Clinical Psychology, School of Society, Enterprise and Environment
We also said farewell to‌ Andy Leahy, Student Money Advisor, Student Services Rachel Howard, Nursery Support Worker, Day Nursery Christopher Kelly, Widening Participation Outreach Officer, Enterprise and Local Partnerships Ian Byers, Ceramics, Bath School of Art and Design
SPACE NOVEMBER 2013
59
SPACE is brought to you by the Marketing and Communications team