SPace
SEPTEMBER 2013
Bath Spa University’s monthly magazine
BSAD MA Degree Show
My student experience...
Writing success
FEATURES 20 16 28
Front cover: Graduation - Ben Langdon Photography ff
Talking point
Ambitious growth Front cover: Graduation - Ben Langdon Photography ff
Spotlight on...
Holly Jenkins, Students’ Union Vice-President Activities Front cover: Graduation - Ben Langdon Photography ff
BSAD
MA Degree Show
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My student experience... Ben Knight BA (Hons) Music
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NEWS 06 Update from the Vice-Chancellor 08 Newton Park Campus development update 10 12
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What the Georgians did
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Writing success
New and familiar faces
39 Students’ artwork to adorn five star hotel
Shiny Happy People
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Porthleven Prize
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Winning fashion designs
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What’s On
14 Car parking 14 Bus service
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Artspace for Bath
SPACE magazine is published every month and is aimed at staff and
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Attachment Aware Schools
members of the Bath Spa community. Want to get involved? Contact Jane
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Alumni news
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BSU in the news
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Students’ Union
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Staff News
students of Bath Spa University. SPACE welcomes contributions from all Wakefield - j.wakefield@bathspa.ac.uk Editor Jane Wakefield
Features Writer Rob Breckon
Design and Layout Sampath Karunaratne
Contributors Amy Lamborn (photographer ‘New and familiar faces’) Emily Ceurvorst (photographer Professor Green)
Front cover Alison Shanks MA Design Ceramics
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Pic: Professor Christina Slade, Vice-Chancellor
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Update from the Vice-Chancellor I welcome you back as we start the new academic year. Looking back on my introduction from 12 months ago, I was pleased to announce the arrival of new professors and work had begun on the new academic building. Back to the present, the building project is on track and making its mark on the Newton Park campus and our professors are launching a new lecture series. I hope that you will take the time to book to attend at least one of the lectures in the series – www.bathspa.ac.uk/pls I am delighted that our National Student Survey results have risen, continuing to recognise the importance the University places on the student experience. Over the summer we have invested in the campuses and reviewed the comments made by students. I welcome feedback from students all year round and not just at survey time. You can put forward your ideas at http://thehub.bathspa.ac.uk/suggestions. Finally I am pleased to announce that the team behind SPACE is growing as we welcome a number of new student writers. This publication is for staff and students and I hope to see the bank of contributors growing in the future. If you would like to write for SPACE please contact Jane Wakefield – j.wakefield@bathspa.ac.uk.
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Newton park campus d Academic Building The building has been named ‘Commons’ and most of the works are now taking place inside to lay flooring,
construct walls and install lighting. If you would like to take a look, you can! On Friday 1 November between 1:00 and 4:00pm the building will be open to anyone who wants to look around. There’s no need to book, just turn up at the site entrance between 1:00pm and 4:00pm. Although you will not be required to wear safety equipment as the site will be made safe, it is important that you please remember to wear sensible shoes. You will be walking around a building site and it is not advisable to wear heels. If you haven’t been able to visit the building on any of the open site days, you can continue to follow progress via the webcams which are available here
Pic: Walled gardens with new netball courts
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development update Residential development The new student residential ‘houses’ are making their presence felt! Work continues to progress at a good pace and all of the outer shells of the buildings are now constructed. Miller also installed temporary car parking around the hoardings which are adorned with artwork by Graphic Communications graduates Eleanor Holmes and Andrew Penn. The Walled Garden now has a brand new netball court as well as new benches and plants along the boarders. The gates of the Walled Garden have also been opened to allow easier access from the temporary car parking through to the campus. 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
Pic: Residential buildings taking shape
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new and familar faces
Pic: Ne
After a nice and surprisingly sunny summer, the new academic year is upon us. Things picked up pace in the
last few weeks of August and early September to make sure that everything was ready for the start of term. Throughout the weekend of 21 and 22 September our new Freshers arrived looking eager and bright. Newton Park was buzzing with activity for registration and there were plenty of Freshers Angels on hand to help. On Friday 19 September new international students enjoyed an orientation day and Student Support took students on an open top bus tour of Bath. Freshers’ Week was busy with the Students’ Union running a full events schedule including Freshers’ Fair, a silent disco, Sports Taster Day, Twitter Scavenge and Professor Green! Welcome back to all our returning students and hello to all our new students and staff. Enjoy Bath Spa!
Pic: Freshers’ Angels waiting to help new arrivals
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Pic: Fre
ew arrivals at Newton Park
Pic: Online registration
eshers’ Fair
Pic: Pro Green in action and tweet
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O
ur students are a happy bunch and continue to be satisfied with their
student experience. The University scored 87 per cent overall in the National Student Survey (NSS), an increase from 83 per cent last year and higher than the national average of 85 per cent. Bath Spa also saw improved scores for teaching (89 per cent), personal development (83 per cent), learning resources (83 per cent), academic support (81 per cent), organisation and management (77 per cent) and assessment and feedback (74 per cent). All were above or around the national average. In total, students scored Bath Spa higher in 20 out of the 21 questions asked compared to last year. We will continue the good work and look at how we can further improve the Bath Spa student experience.
Shiny
happy
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people SPACE SEPTEMBER 2013
Pic: Bath Spa Rapids putting on a performance 13
CAR PARKING
BUS SERVICE
There is a new car parking layout at Newton
The feedback from students and staff about
Park to replace the spaces lost by the residential accommodation development. Clear signage is in place directing drivers to the car parking which now spans around the back of the walled Garden.
the Service 15 route provided by First Group has been very valuable. A review of this feedback showed that the key issues with the service were frequency, reliability and capacity of the buses currently provided.
The Newton Drive (the one that runs through the fields on the right as you exit into Newton St Loe village) is one-way, exit only. There is no entry to the campus from Newton St Loe village for motor vehicles. Cyclists and pedestrians can continue to use the Newton Drive in both directions. The main Corston Drive will remain two-way for all vehicles including buses.
Over the summer the University and the Student’s Union took the feedback from the bus service consultation to First Bus. As a result of this feedback, First have implement some changes to the 15 service. These include: • New double decker buses on the revised 15 route, starting 21 September. • A new service serving Oldfield Park (15A), starting 23 September. • New timetables and revised bus stops with immediate effect. • Bus pass prices frozen for a third year running.
New parking permits for the 2013/14 academic year must be clearly displayed in your vehicle windscreen. If you fail to display a valid permit, you will be liable for a Parking Charge Notice and/or a Parking Contravention Charge of £60.
More information about the 15 service route is available here
Around 85 per cent of Parking Contravention Charges issued in the 2012/13 academic year were for failing to display a valid permit in a vehicle. A permit holder will also be provided to help ensure it is displayed and reduce the number of charges issued for non-display.
A bus service will also continue to run between Charlton and Waterside Courts to Sion Hill every morning at 8:30am Monday to Friday.
The revised car parking Terms and Conditions will be enforced from 9 September 2013. The full Terms and Conditions are available here If you have any questions, please email: parking@bathspa.ac.uk 14
If you have any questions, queries or feedback about buses, please contact: bus@bathspa.ac.uk
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Pic: Vintage cars SPACE SEPTEMBER 2013
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spotlight ON...
Pic: Holly on her graduation day
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Holly Jenkins, Student’s Union Vice President Activities As another academic year resumes and the influx of new and excited students come through the gates of Bath Spa University, we caught up with Student’s Union sabbatical officer, Holly Jenkins.
“We have just had Freshers’ week which has been really great”, Holly said. “It’s nice to see all of our new students
coming onto campus for the first time and making new and potentially life-long friends.”
For many students, coming to university is the first time they have lived or been away from home and it can be quite a daunting experience. Current students have been acting as Freshers’ ‘Angels’ and ‘Buddies’, which as Holly explained can make a real difference to new students. She said: “The angels and buddies are invaluable and do such a good job. They are the people who are there the minute our new students arrive and help with things like unpacking cars, showing them to their rooms, speaking with parents and reassuring them that their son or daughter is in safe hands. Ultimately they are just a friendly face in a strange and new place.” For many graduates who look back on their time as students, many think back to their Freshers’ week as one of the highlights. So what has been on offer for our Bath Spa Freshers?
“My advice would be to simply enjoy it and make the most of every opportunity you get. Most people only go through university once so it really is a once in a lifetime opportunity where you can make friends for life.”
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“I would say however, the highlight of the week was the party at the end of the week where we had Professor Green headlining our party at the Students’ Union bar. He was amazing and it was great to see so many people enjoying themselves.”
Pic: Holly - happy to help!
“The Students’ Union worked very hard over the summer to ensure Freshers’ Week was as good as it could be. We kicked off the week with a huge welcome party which was really good fun and created a fun space for everyone to get together over a couple of drinks. During the week, there were events such as a Silent Disco, a ‘Fresh-tival’ for our freshers based at Sion Hill, Commercial fairs, as well as our sports and societies day with demonstrations.
As the sunshine remained, Freshers’ Week was blessed with generally dry and warm weather. Over the summer, the ‘Walled Garden’ based at the top of campus next the the Students’ Union, has been transformed into a relaxing a welcoming space for both students and staff – something Holly is really pleased about.
Pic: Holly with fellow ‘Sabs’ Emma Weskin and Amy Dawson
“The Walled Garden is such a fantastic area and the Students’ Union was delighted to be able to utilise the space during Freshers’ Week. We had some quite warm and sunny afternoons which made it a perfect place to sit down, relax and chat with all of the new students and see how they were all settling in.
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“Not only has it been re-landscaped, a brand new netball court has been added in as well as numerous new seating areas and place for a temporary bar making it arguably one of the best social areas on campus.” After three enjoyable years at Bath Spa and completing a degree in Media Communications, Holly opted to stay connected with the University and became a Sabbatical Officer. But how strange is it to now be a member of staff and not a student? “It is very strange”, she said. “As Sabbatical Officers, we are full time so working during the summer when there were no students here at all. To now see all the students arriving at once brings back some great memories!” SPACE SEPTEMBER 2013
And what are Holly’s most memorable moments as a student? “To be honest I enjoyed all of my three years as a student but my most fond memory is of my very first night in halls where I met my now best friend. The first time we met she managed to fall down a whole flight of stairs, then simply got up and said ‘right, come on then, we’re off out’, and from that moment on we hit it off.” People say it is always best to get advice from those who have already done it, so what advice has Holly got for those students who have just joined us her at Bath Spa? “My advice would be to simply enjoy it and make the most of every opportunity you get. Most people only go through university once so it really is a once in a lifetime opportunity where you can make friends for life. I really loved my time as a Bath Spa student and I hope our new students, as well as our second and third year students feel the same as I do when they leave. “And of course, if any of students have any problems, the Students’ Union door is open so please come and see me!” 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
EastÊWingÊCoffee Go through the Rabbit hole East Wing Coffee is an independent speciality coffee shop hidden away in the EAST WING of the Main House. That means using coffee cherries which are carefully grown, harvested, directly traded and roasted. Then we complete the process by grinding and brewing delicious coffee. We’re a well-kept secret..however you can find us on Twitter @eastwingcoffee, Facebook ‘East Wing Coffee’ and, of course, hidden in away in our barista-lair surrounded by coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cakes and sandwiches.
talking
point Ambitious growth - the rapidly evolving international education market In July the Government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills announced its target of attracting almost
90,000 extra overseas university students by 2018.
This 20 per cent increase over the next five years is part of the Government’s new International Education Strategy and Business Secretary Vince Cable explained: “Overseas students make a huge contribution to Britain. They boost our economy and enhance our cultural life, which is why there is no cap on the number of legitimate students who can study here. “Thanks to our world-class universities, our network of UK alumni who are now in positions of influence around the world is impressive, opening doors that would not otherwise be possible. This strategy will help build on this success ensuring we continue to attract international students and promote the UK’s expertise in education.” Drawing from data two years ago, the UK was the second most popular destination for international higher education (HE) students, with 13 per cent of the global total in 2011, just 3.5 per cent behind world leaders, the USA. A hefty £10 billion of the £17 billion that’s generated by universities worldwide each year comes from overseas students, demonstrating that international students are a valuable group not just to the education sector, but for a growing economy. In the UK the number of international students has swelled from 88,005 in 2007/8 to 126,295 last year. This rise has been steady despite complaints from institutions that the Government anti-immigration drive is putting off potential recruits, something Vince Cable has recently addressed at the Liberal Democrat autumn conference.
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Mr Cable has called for the removal of students from immigration figures and wants more high-achieving overseas graduates to be allowed to stay in the UK to work after warning that international students receive a “warmer welcome” in rival nations such as the USA and Australia. Bath Spa is also following this growing trend of international student recruitment and we have recently entered into a partnership with US education provider, Shorelight Education, to help us increase the number of international students who study here. This new partnership will involve the development of a ‘Pathway College’ for international students, as well as a ‘Global Business Leadership College’ that will offer a portfolio of business and management-related degree programmes. The first intake year will be 2014 and it is estimated that an additional 300 international students will enrol. The aim is to then increase the number of students to 2,000 over the following four years. “The UK has a great reputation for providing worldclass higher education, and this partnership will enable more students from around the world to achieve a UK degree, as well as helping the University to grow, and invest in the future,” said Jeremy White, Director of International Relations. “Additionally, we anticipate it will provide an economic boost for the local community here in Bath, from job creation to additional spending in the city centre.”
UK history and culture, and (subject to passing the first year) will join established degree courses in their second year. The incoming students will initially study at the University’s Newton Park Campus, and will live in some of the new residential accommodation currently being built there. The first pathway programme on offer in September 2014 will be in Business and Management and students will progress onto the University’s BA (Hons) Business and Management course in their second year. In 2015 we will celebrate over 160 years as an educational institution and ten years as a university. The Vision and Strategy for 2015 shows how we will expand our educational offerings and develop research in our areas of key strength; notably creativity, culture and enterprise. This exciting new partnership with Shorelight Education is a key part of this strategy, as Vice-Chancellor, Professor Christina Slade explained: “Our ambition at the University is to nurture creative socially engaged global citizens with entrepreneurial flair. This partnership will help us to achieve that by providing a pathway for international students to our degree courses and enriching the culture of student life at Bath Spa. “We are investing in the future and expanding our vision of creative, engaged academic communities.”
Students coming to the University via the Pathway College will study an intensive first year that includes language tuition, academic instruction and
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my student experience... Ben Knight, BA (Hons) Music
A classical, operatic singer studying music, Ben is looking forward to this, his second year at Bath Spa. Why?
“Well, there are some modules coming up that are really going to push me in terms of promoting myself and will help me think about how I might earn a living from my singing” he explains. Originally from Dartford in Kent, Ben’s journey to Bath Spa began when he opted to take music technology at A Level. “My teacher said ‘choose A Levels you really enjoy’, so I did. I was at Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London for two years studying classical singing, so it seemed like the right choice for me” he said. Ben was diagnosed with dyslexia when he was about to start his A Levels and suddenly some of the problems he had been having made sense. “In my GCSEs, especially in English, I was quite strong. But as soon as I hit A-Level and the reading was a higher standard, I started to struggle. “I’d put the hours in and work hard, but as soon as I sat an exam, I found I didn’t have time to finish it. “My teacher kept saying, ‘you’re really good in class, why aren’t you finishing the papers?’ I didn’t have an answer except I just kept running out of time. It was really frustrating because I was putting in the time and effort and getting high marks for my coursework, but I kept struggling with the exams.
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Pic: Riding a bike...for the first time!
“I was eventually tested for dyslexia and it really helped. I was tested again just before coming to Bath Spa and the University contributed to the cost which was great!�
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“I was eventually tested for dyslexia and it really helped. I was tested again just before coming to Bath Spa and the University contributed to the cost which was great!” The University has also given Ben support in other ways. As well as an allowance for a computer and Dictaphone (“the most useful thing because I can record my lectures and listen back”) he has sessions with a one-to-one tutor to help him with written aspects of his course.
The Writing and Learning Centre is a great resource and something I think all students should look to use. “The tutors in Music are really great! They are always happy to talk through lectures and assignments in more detail. They don’t give me any answers, just explain what the essay question is and what they are looking for.” So, does he think he made the right decision coming to Bath Spa?
“It really helps having my one-to-one’s with Lucy (his tutor). She helps me read through my essays and also helps me interpret books or articles. I found a really interesting book about how to look after your voice, but it had a lot of long and complicated words in it, so I took it along to one of my sessions and Lucy helped me understand the meaning. Without Lucy I’d have to rely on the internet, but that’s not often as good.”
“Bath Spa is definitely the right place for me to be. I auditioned at a number of conservatoires, Trinity, Guildhall and the Royal College and I got some really great feedback, but they thought I was too young at 17. Your voice needs time to develop, especially a male voice, so it probably was a bit too early. Here I’m around the right people, the right tutors and I think it’s a great place to live.
Ben made sure that his tutors were aware of his dyslexia when he first joined Bath Spa, so they would understand why he records his lectures and often needs them to explain assignments in more detail. Ben thinks being open and asking for help is vital.
“I’m looking forward to this year because I get to go on an industry placement which will hopefully help me decide what I want to do after university. I’d quite like to go into music or teaching singing, but I’ve got to learn to play the piano first!
“I’ve been proactive and told my tutors that I’m dyslexic, but I don’t know if every student with dyslexia does. I don’t think everyone with dyslexia is confident enough to talk about it.
“The first year went by so fast, I think because of the support, enjoyment and exciting challenges I’ve faced. So far, my course has been a nice balance and you need a balance at university, especially on a music course.”
“We don’t have a student group dedicated to dyslexia support, but it is something that would be good to set up, so that we can share our experiences and help each other.
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Pic: Dressing up for the occasion!
What the Georgians did In September we had the chance to step back in time and discover what the Georgian residents of Bath did for pleasure. At two-day public conference Georgian Pleasures, new and established academics, period performers and musicians came together for a lively conversation exploring the concept and practice of pleasures in the eighteenth-century.
The event which was co-sponsored by the University’s Centres for History and Culture and Musical Research as well as the Regional History Centre at the University of the West of England, explored what it was that people of the period enjoyed and what we can learn about society and culture through a better appreciation of pleasure, Georgian-style. Professor of British History, Elaine Chalus was grateful for all the support the conference received, she said: “On behalf of the co-sponsors of the Georgian Pleasures conference, I would like to thank everyone who helped to make the event such a success.
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“In particular, I would like to extend special thanks to the undergraduate and postgraduate History students who volunteered their time so generously. The conference was intended to be an interdisciplinary public engagement event and attracted a truly interdisciplinary set of papers, as well as a diverse audience of around 70 people. “Attendees ranged from students and academics, performers and re-enactors, writers, Blue Badge guides, heritage professionals as well members of the general public. We were delighted to have such a variety of people attending.” The conference was concluded with a special evening of authentic Georgian entertainment, organised by Dr Matthew Spring of the University’s Centre for Musical Research. For one night only, the gardens of the Holburne Museum were alive with all of the delights that made this the place to see and be seen in Georgian Bath. The evening featured Georgian music performed by The Vauxhall Players, with all manner of other historic amusements including a comedic band of players who performed The Death & Resurrection of Punchinello, strolling entertainers and illuminations.
Pic: Sheltering from the rain, Georgian-style. 26
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Writing success
Creative Writing Masters graduate and now PhD student Jack Wolf has made the Polari First Book Prize shortlist with his novel The Tale of Raw Head and Bloody Bones! Set in the mid-18th century, The Tale of Raw Head and Bloody Bones is the story of a young man, Tristan Hunt who, at the age of 20, goes up to London to study anatomy and surgery at St Thomas’s. Since childhood, Tristan has been subject to sudden, explosive episodes of extreme violence. Considered a genius and a physician of extraordinary promise, he is also, alas, psychotic. Torn between the body (his uncontrollable lust for causing pain) and the mind (his insatiable intellectual curiosity) Tristan’s struggle for self-control mirrors and personifies the contradictions of the Enlightenment, and the emergence of reason as the absolute standard. A lost, motherless boy, a sadistic monster, a philosopher, fantasist, visionary, Tristan’s story is funny, moving and frightening. With touches of both Patrick Suskind’s Perfume and Brett Easton Ellis’s American Psycho, The Tale of Raw Head and Bloody Bones will never be forgotten by those who dare to read it.
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Pic: Jacdk Wolf
produce talented and successful writers as demonstrated by the number of them securing publishing deals for their books. This month we are pleased to report that two more graduates are celebrating success.
Creative Writing Masters graduate, Clare Donoghue is to have a novel published in 2014 as part of a two book deal with MacMillan. Her debut novel entitled The Watcher, which she worked on during her MA comes out in March 2014. This London thriller combines psychological suspense with a gritty whodunit crime story. Meticulously plotted and skilfully drawn, The Watcher fizzes with tension as a complex criminal pulls off crimes terrifyingly close to home. A heart stopping finale paves the way for a sequel, Entombed, her second book which is scheduled for release in March 2015. The Watcher is available to pre-order on Amazon here
Pic: Clare Donoghue
Our Creative Writing course continues to
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Kate Nobel MA Fine Art
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BSAD MA Degree Show SPACE OCTOBER 2013
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Joy Merron MA Design Fashion & Textiles
triumph. The variety of creativity, subject, medium, shape and size was remarkable and the whole was strikingly curated. Here is just a sample of
BSAD MA Degree Show
Anna Gravelle MA Design Fashion & Textiles Mayumi Kaneko MA Design Fashion & Textiles
This year’s MA Degree Show at Bath School of Art and Design was a some of the delights visitors enjoyed.
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Amanda Cornelius MA Design Ceramics
Alison Shanks MA Design Ceramics
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BSAD MA Degree Show
Mary Edwards MFA Fine Art
Agnesse Matteini MFA Fine Art
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Vera Boele-Keimer MFA Fine Art
Lucy Francis MFA Fine Art
Tracey Jones MFA Fine Art
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Zanne Andrea MFA Fine Art
BSAD MA Degree Show
Vera Boele-Keimer MFA Fine Art
Samon Yechi MA Design Fashion & Textiles
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Anna Gravelle MA Design Fashion & Textiles
Joy Merron MA Design Fashion & Textiles
BSAD MA Degree Show
Julia Morgner MA Design Fashion & Textiles
Students’ artwork to adorn five star hotel Students Stefanie Clark (BA Fine Art), Agnese Matteini (MA
Fine Art) and April George (BA Creative Arts) have been selected to produce artwork for the new five star Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel. The hotel, which is owned by YTL Hotels, commissioned New York-based Champalimaud Designs as their interior designer. Following a meeting between the University and Anthony Champalimaud, a competition was agreed to give Bath Spa students the chance to create artwork for the hotel. The initial proposal included only one commission for the wall of the hotel’s restaurant and five students were shortlisted to present their work to a ten-person panel of the hotel’s stakeholders. The panel was so impressed with the professionalism and quality of the students’ work, they decided to commission three students to produce three works of art. Commenting on being commissioned, Agnese said: “I am thrilled to be undertaking the work for this commission. I am aware of the potential visibility offered by this prestigious location and grateful for this opportunity that may hopefully open up new possibilities for my professional future.” Daniel Allen, Head of Art and International Activities at Bath School of Art and Design, added: “We are delighted and very proud of Stephanie, Agnese and April in their commissions. These competition winners are evidence of the standard of work being produced alongside the professional attitude of so many of our students at the Bath School of Art and Design.” Pics: (From top to bottom): April George ‘Metamorphoses 2012’, Stefanie Clark, Agnese Matteini‘BigHorses’
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Porthleven Prize Following their successful residency at Porthleven in Cornwall
a group of students saw their work form a contemporary art exhibition The Nearness of Gold. The exhibition has travelled form the O3 Gallery in Oxford to the iconic Guildhall Building in Bristol for the duration of October and will conclude with an exhibition at the Bath School of Art and Design in November. In May, this newly created prize gave five Bath Spa artists the chance to spend a ten day fully-funded residency at the Porthleven Lifeboat Art Studio to develop and exhibit a body of multidisciplined collaborative artwork. On a journey from one history-rich location to another, the artwork in this exhibition communicated the essence of Cornish maritime existence, both in modern terms and historically. Taking inspiration from local Cornish folklore tales to the stories of current inhabitants of the harbour village, as well as referencing the physical materials of the site, the participating students skilfully wove together all aspects of their Porthleven experience to produce a contemporary and creative vision of this special location. Commenting on her residency experience, BA Creative Arts student Kilda Meadows said: “The Porthleven Prize was a great opportunity to work collaboratively and create work that responded to Porthleven in a contemporary context, and to explore new materials inspired by the rich natural resources of Porthleven. “I was inspired by the legends and stories of local people and wanted to interpret them through fresh eyes and create new works that present a different perspective on old stories.” The Porthleven prize is funded by the Trevor Osborne Charitable Trust in association with Bath Spa University. It is an excellent opportunity for students to gain professional artistic experience and promote their own work and practice to commercial galleries, prospective customers and clients.
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Pic: Stephanie Kitchen with Simon Ward of the British Fashion Council
Winning fashion designs
Fashion Design graduate Stephanie Kitchen has won the Textiles Institute ‘Design Means Business’ exhibition,
held at Durbar Court at Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the heart of Westminster. This follows her success at the 2013 Fashion Awareness Direct (FAD) competition in February.
Stephanie took part in the exhibition along with three students from the Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors course. She was awarded a prize of a three to six month paid internship with The Pentland Group which own brands such as Berghaus, Speedo, Lacoste, Boxfresh, Red or Dead, Hunter, Ted Baker footwear, Ellesse, and Kickers UK. Stephanie faced tough competition from students from Kingston University, the Royal College of Art, Central St Martins, London College of Fashion, De Montfort University, and Nottingham Trent University. She was selected as the winner for her sportswear design, the professionalism of her portfolio and accompanying promotional material, as well as the consistent attention to detail within her designs. Both Sir Harold Tillman, ex-Chairman of the British Fashion Council, and Simon Ward Chief, Operating Officer of the British Fashion Council, were impressed with Stephanie’s work and congratulated her on her win as well as offering her advice about a future career in the fashion industry. Commenting on Stephanie’s continued success, Louise Pickles, Course Leader and Coordinator of Fashion, said: “We are all extremely proud of Stephanie having won the FAD competition in February, her inclusion in the ‘Best of Graduate Fashion Week Gala’ where the best 25 out of a possible 400 collections - as selected by a team of industry professionals - were showcased in the final gala show, and now winning the ‘Design Means Business’ exhibition. “Stephanie has worked tirelessly throughout the year, and the depth of research and investigation into every aspect of her work is of an extremely high level, which has been rewarded by her ongoing successes. I am sure Stephanie will have a long and exciting career in the fashion industry, and we wish her every success for the future.” Some of Stephanie’s designs for this range were showcased at the first ever fashion show staged in June at the Houses of Parliament, hosted by GFW, the UK Fashion & Textiles Association, George, and Damian Collins MP, to promote graduate talent. SPACE SEPTEMBER 2013
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what’s on William Scott: Simplicity and Subject Until Sun 17 Nov, Tues to Sat 10:00-5:00, Victoria Art Gallery, Bath William Scott CBE RA (1913-89) was a key figure in European and American art and is considered one of the most influential British painters of the 20th century. To mark the centenary of his birth, the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath, where Scott lived for most of his life, is holding a major loan exhibition which has been curated by Professor of Art and Design Mike Tooby who also wrote the main essay for the catalogue. Tickets: Full price £3.50, U16s free. Drying to Know – an exhibition of Information Tea Towels From 8 Nov, Bath School of Art and Design The exhibition will bring the traditional tea towel into the modern arena, and celebrate this everyday item. Using the tea towel, as the focal point of the show, Amanda Goode, Course Leader for Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors, will create an amusing way to look at communication. The exhibition draws the viewers’ attention to the idea that a practical, but 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. Tickets: Free entry
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Artspace for Bath A new Artspace initiative has been given the support of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA). The project will receive
ÂŁ2,000, non-financial support for the venture as well as an invitation to apply for larger additional grants in the future.
The aim of the project is to make creativity visible in Bath by creating a four day contemporary arts event for all ages to demonstrate the growing need for a permanent new space in the city. It is hoped that Artspace will inspire and engage a new audience linking the hidden creative life of the city with young people, many of whom feel that Bath has little to offer them culturally. Following a meeting between project leader and Senior Lecturer in Arts Education at Bath Spa, Penny Hay and the RSA, the panel were particularly impressed by the ambition of the project and the number of partners and RSA Fellows that the University has already engaged with. RSA has also invited the initiative to be part of their crowd funding area on Kickstarter. This will provide the project with the opportunity to utilise the wider Fellowship network and mobilise more resources for the initiative. You can find out more here
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My Romantic History Fri 11 Oct, 7:30pm, University Theatre Office romances are tricky. One minute you’re colleagues, the next you’re downing pints, having a quick grope and then you wake up to find yourself in a relationship. DC Jackson’s play premiered at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it won a Scotsman Fringe First. Tickets: Full price £10, Concessions £8, BSU Students & U16s £5, free for Bath Spa Live members. Young Apollo Festival Fri 11 – Sun 13 Oct, Michael Tippett Centre Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of England’s greatest composers, Young Apollo bring together every aspect of Benjamin Britten’s creative life, including Britten the Composer, Britten the Educator and Britten the Performer. Surrounding the Composition Competition concert, there will be weekend of recitals, masterclasses, talks and a film, hosted and led by musicians who knew and worked alongside Britten, including the illustrious baritone John Shirley-Quirk, the celebrated Bruno Schrecker, former cellist of the Allegri Quartet, and the internationally regarded educationalist Professor George Odam. Tickets: Various prices, please check Bath Spa Live website Best of BE FESTIVAL Wed 16 Oct, 7:30pm, University Theatre BE FESTIVAL is Birmingham’s international theatre festival, that brings together Europe’s most daring and delightful new performances. Best of BE FESTIVAL presents three of this year’s award-winning festival favourites in one night. The shows, from France, Hungary and Denmark, are each 30 minutes long and can be enjoyed by people of all nationalities. Your ticket includes a chaired post-show discussion with the performers. Tickets: Full price £10, Concessions £8, BSU Students & U16s £5, free for Bath Spa Live members. Comedy Cavern Feat. Alan Francis Thurs 17 Oct, 7:30pm, Burdall’s Yard Comedy Cavern returns to Burdall’s! 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 Andrea Andrassy, Sister Shirley Divine, Trevor Tokabi, Daniel FitzHenry and Alan Francis. Tickets: Full price £8, Concessions £6, BSU Students £5, free for Bath Spa Live members.
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Attachment Aware Schools A partnership between Bath Spa, Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES), and the National College for
Teaching and Leadership launched a new programme on Attachment Aware Schools and Settings.
Attachment Aware Schools is a comprehensive programme of whole school training, bespoke support and networking delivered by lead attachment practitioners over a 12 month period. The programme promotes positive learning outcomes and wellbeing for all children whilst supporting the needs of children who have unmet attachment needs and those who have experienced early trauma and neglect. It will provide schools with new approaches to managing and responding to children’s emotional and behavioural needs, based on recent research in brain functioning. It will help all children and young people understand and regulate their own behaviour. Ten schools across B&NES and the City of Bath College are participating in this pilot programme to trial a new training pack for teachers on attachment awareness. The pack, which was jointly put together by Dr Janet Rose, Louise Gilbert and Felicia Wood of the School of Education, with Lucy Sweetman of Creative Writing, and Julia McDonald and Mike Gorman of B&NES, is similar to the successful In Care, In School materials published last Autumn. The pack consists of training materials, illustrative dramatised scenarios and talking head interviews with leading figures in this field, such as Dr Maggie Atkinson, Children’s Commissioner for England and Camila Batmanghelidjh of Kids Company. Dr Rose, who led the team, said: “Once we have piloted and evaluated the pack we will be publishing it for national use. We are working with a number of other organisations, both local and national to develop a robust evidence base for work of this nature, as well as a national quality standard for attachment aware schools and settings.”
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Now is the perfect time to consider a postgraduate qualification and Bath Spa University offers a wide range of exciting courses starting in February and October 2014. Out-think the competition with a postgraduate degree at Bath Spa University.
alumni news Here is a small selection of recent alumni successes. If you have a story to share, contact Ruth Russell at
alumni@bathspa.ac.uk.
Josh Partridge (BA Hons Creative Media Practice 2013) Freelance film-maker Josh Partridge has been working with the crew making chart-topping Rizzle Kicks’ latest music video. Josh was one of nearly 100 young people selected from 2,000 hopefuls to gain work experience on the set of the two-day video shoot in London. The video for their latest single Lost Generation has been viewed more than four million times on YouTube and Vevo. Penny Wheeler (BA Hons Fashion and Textile Design 2009) Penny’s work was featured in Portal 2013, an exhibition featuring the work of this year’s top UK graduates in the applied arts. The show will run at the Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre in Cwmbran until 9 November 2013. Andy Burnett (BA Hons Dance and Drama Studies 2011) Andy is performing in the Orbit Theatre’s production of musical classic A Chorus Line during October, playing the role of Mike Costa. Rebecca Jackson (BSc Hons Business Studies 2004) Racing driver and motoring journalist Rebecca is on a quest to compete at one of the world’s most toughest endurance races, the Le Mans 24 hours. Rebecca is in no doubt she will succeed. And with five podiums and a race victory under her belt last season, who can blame her? .
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Pic: Sounds of Harlowe in action
Sounds of Harlowe Sol Ogunmefun (BA Hons Graphic Communication 2013) Andrew Binnington (BSc Biology 2013) James Patrick (BA Music Class of 2014) Mike Gill (BA Hons English Literature 2013) Jamie Aubrey (BA Hons Creative Music Technology 2013) Kenroy Medford (BA Hons Creative Music Technology) Luke Thorpe (BA Hons Music and Textile Design Studies 2013) Melise Djemal (BA Hons Drama Studies and English Literature 2012) Christopher North (BA Hons Music and Textile Design Studies 2011) Big, loud and a whole bunch of fun, meet Sounds of Harlowe, an 8-piece hip-hop collective made up entirely of BSU alumni. The past year has been somewhat of a breakout period for the band, performing in front of crowds of 2,000-plus, releasing their debut EP Making Waves and performing at numerous festival line-ups with artists such as Devlin, Aluna George, and Gentlemen’s Dub Club. Despite being a relatively new band, Sounds of Harlowe have proven they can hold their own with the very best of the UK’s live acts.
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Elliot Kruszynski (BA Hons Graphic Communication 2013) Elliot’s work featured in the D&AD New Blood 2013 graduate design show at London’s Spitalfields Market. D&AD represents the global creative, design and advertising communities and celebrates brilliance in commercial creativity. His atmospheric piece was picked out as a ‘favourite find’ in the Amelia’s Magazine review for Best Graduate Illustration and Graphic Design.
Pic: Elliot Kruszynski ‘Save the forests and the animals and the wizards’
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BSU: in the news Dr Pete Etchells
Pete is Lecturer in Biological Psychology and recently launched a blog in The Guardian along with Chris Chambers from the University of Cardiff, Molly Crockett from University College London and Thalia Gjersoe from the Open University. The blog is called ‘Head Quarters’ and is available here
Professor Elaine Chalus
Elaine is Professor of British History and was interviewed on BBC Radio 4 Saturday Live on 24 August to talk
about the ‘Georgian Pleasures’ conference which took place in September. Elaine was also interviewed on BBC Radio Bristol. The conference was a resounding success.
Professor Andrew Hugill
Professor of Creative Computing, Andrew Hugill, featured on the BBC World Service Business Matters programme on 15 August talking about future jobs and the University’s new Creative Technologies and Enterprise Integrated Masters course.
Joanne Turney
Senior Lecturer of History and Design, Joanne Turney featured in a BBC Four knitting documentary called
Knitting’s Golden Age. The first episode in the three part series aired on 18 September.
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students’ union And the winner is… This year we launched Bath Spa’s first ever Teaching Awards. The idea was that this would be a fantastic way to celebrate the amazing teaching that happens here. We wanted to show the University what students value in teaching and help encourage these techniques and methods to become more widespread. There was an overwhelming response to the awards with over 700 nominations made. It was a difficult job for the team to narrow these down to 50 and then just three! The judging panel was made up of our School Reps, a number of Department Reps and Amy Dawson, SU President. The awards were judged on the quality of the nomination – those that displayed a range of innovative teaching, good quality feedback and inspiring methods. Student Reps spent the last five weeks of the summer term delivering 50 mugs to shortlisted lecturers and tutors. We also held a hugely successful awards ceremony to award the three final winners. The ceremony was held in Main House at Newton Park with live music, champagne and strawberries! We are currently in the process of analysing all data from the nominations and writing up a report which to be taken to the Learning and Teaching Committee as well as disseminated amongst staff and students. The final three winners were...
Most Innovative Teacher Lisa Thomas, Lecturer in Biology A few examples of her nominations: “Lisa always puts a brilliant amount of effort into making subjects interesting. If a topic can be taught outside, in the field, then with Lisa it will be!” “One time, we had waded part-way through the many graphs and figures and she just stopped and said ‘you know what, let’s go and DO this instead of just reading about it.’ So, at every opportunity Lisa will get the class out of the classroom and making use of as much of the department’s equipment as possible. This approach is fantastic for the environmental topics in particular.” 52
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Best Feedback Richard Riddell, Senior Lecturer in Education Studies Richard was commended by students for the thorough and detailed feedback he gives during assessments. It is this support that has allowed students to identify areas for improvement and continue to improve their grades. As well as constant quick contact, tutorials are offered willingly as well as paper feedback in which essay marks are thoroughly explained and practical ways to improve are suggested, resulting in a huge confidence boost for students. What made this nomination stand out was both the value he has for students and the reciprocal nature of feedback identified by students. One nomination stated: “I find it motivating when he informs us that he learns from our essays. He does not position himself above us and instead treats us as equals who are learning in the same way as himself.� SPACE SEPTEMBER 2013
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Teacher of the Year Nicola Presley, Lecturer in Digital Publishing Students said: “Working above and beyond what is expected of her, providing support, a careful editorial eye and a kind face to all the students who know her. She helps with job applications, gives advice even if you aren’t her student and best of all inspires confidence in those who come to her for help.” “Nic works tirelessly for her students! Well worth the increased student fees! She went out of her way to ensure I didn’t transfer university last year and has really helped me on deciding a career choice. She ensures all her students are happy with the course and enthusiastic with their time spent in and out of class.”
“She is a huge inspiration.”
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staff news Starters and Leavers
In August and September we welcomed‌ Neil Adams, Senior Lecturer in Secondary Science, School of Education Caroline Barry, Jobshop Assistant, Enterprise and Local Partnerships Jamie Bradbury, Placements Officer, Enterprise and Local Partnerships Helen Barnes, Enterprise Officer, Enterprise and Local Partnerships Kelly Buckley, Lecturer in Sociology, School of Society, Enterprise and Environment Helen Curran, Senior Lecturer in Education: SENCO, School of Education Gordon Dossett, Senior Learning Development Advisor, Library and Information Services Claire Edwards-Evans, Lecturer in Sociology, School of Society, Enterprise and Environment Kirsty Folan, Resident Tutor, Student Services Catherine Foxwell, Student Support Advisor, Student Services Christina Fritts, Resident Tutor, Student Services Sarah Goodwin, Resident Tutor, Student Services Caroline Harris, Lecturer in Publishing (Editorial), School of Humanities and Cultural Industries Sarah Hollingworth, Shelving Assistant, Library and Information Services Jim Hordern, Lecturer in Education Studies, School of Education Pamela Kay, Partnership Administrator, School of Education Jennifer Kinloch, Lecturer in Psychology, School of Society, Enterprise and Environment Amanda Lampard-Drew, Wellbeing Advisor, Student Services Ye Liu, Lecturer in Education Studies: International Education, School of Education Carol Owen, Senior Lecturer in Primary PGCE, School of Education Sarah O’Shaughnessy, Senior Lecturer in Primary Education, School of Education Inna Pomorina, Lecturer in Business Economics, School of Society, Enterprise and Environment Edward Prior, Resident Tutor, Student Services Luke Rawlings, IT Helpdesk Technician, Computing Services Jessica Reed, Library Assistant, Library and Information Services Paul Richardson, Senior Lecturer in Primary PGCE, School of Education Elen Russell, Student Support Coordinator, Student Services
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Samuel Taylor, School of Education Administrative Assistant, School of Education Catherine Tideswell, Partnership Administrator, School of Education Nasir Salari, Lecturer in Marketing, School of Society, Enterprise and Environment Martha Skinner, Administrative Assistant, Student Services Shirley Steinberg, Professor of Education, School of Education Amy Stringer, Recruitment and Events Assistant, Marketing and Communications Stephen Vaughan, Senior Lecturer in Photography, Bath School of Art and Design Lindsey Ware, HR Administrator, Human Resources Matthew Wilkins, Lecturer in Human Geography, School of Society, Enterprise and Environment
We also said farewell to...
Andy Bord, Head of Education and Childhood Studies, School of Education Sam Ellis, Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Acting, School of Music and Performing Arts Catherine Flint, Partnership Administrator, School of Education Helen Goldsworthy, Peer Mentor Coordinator and Retention Advisor, Student Services David Harsent, Professor of Creative Writing, School of Humanities and Cultural Industries Pauline Hudson, Senior Lecturer in Health Studies, School of Society, Enterprise and Environment Ffion John, HR Administrator, Human Resources Bronach Kane, Lecturer in History, School of Humanities and Cultural Industries Sarah Le Butt, Library Assistant, Library and Information Services John Lee, Senior Lecturer: Secondary Science, School of Education Julia Morgner, Resident Tutor, Student Services John Newsinger Senior Lecturer in History, School of Humanities and Cultural Industries Anny Northcote, Senior Lecturer: Education Studies, School of Education Rhiannon Phillips, Admissions Officer, Student Services John Robb, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography, School of Society, Enterprise and Environment Robin Shields, Programme Leader: Certificate in Global Citizenship, School of Education Dylan Spicer, Resident Tutor, Student Services Lucy Street, Resident Tutor, Student Services Yael Tischler, Resident Tutor, Student Services Kerri Watson, Lead Server Analyst (Windows) Career Pathway, Computing Services Indaka Weerasekera, Partnership Administrator, School of Education Please let us know if you have any interesting news for the next issue by sending your stories to j.wakefield@bathspa.ac.uk Deadline: Friday 18 October
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