BLSS Bulletin Summer 2015 by Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences

BLSS Bulletin

Summer 2015

Rooftop milestone for The Curzon Building

Birmingham City University’s £260m campus investment programme took a major step forward with the ‘topping out’ of The Curzon Building, a state-of-the-art facility opening to students in September 2015.

The £63m project, housing a new library, student hub and the University’s schools of Business, Law, English and Social Sciences, includes the complete restoration of a Victorian pub, The Eagle and Ball, which will offer a unique new home to the Students Union. The topping out ceremony was led by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Shafique Shah, Birmingham City University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Cliff Allan, and Peter Owen, Willmott Dixon’s Managing Director for the Midlands - the company developing The Curzon Building.

Mr Owen said partnership with Birmingham City University had enabled 140 students to gain practical experience of construction and architecture, with two graduates now employed permanently by Willmott Dixon, and “adding a lot of value to our business”. Professor Allan welcomed the learning opportunities for students and graduates to get high quality employment experience, and added: “This, and the other recent developments, are more than just buildings. They will help us to transform the experience of everyone who will be occupying

• There have been no reportable accidents and only 8-10 cuts and bruises • 10,000 cubic tons of concrete have gone into the building • 300,000 bricks have been used • £28m has been spent on the local economy – within a 25 mile radius of the site • 140 Birmingham City University students have had practical construction • Four students have just finished summer placements • Two Birmingham City University architect graduates are now full time Willmott Dixon employees

them, students and staff, enabling us to transform the way we teach and learn and undertake research. “This whole area is coming together and will truly become an Eastside learning quarter at which Birmingham City University will be at the heart.” Mr Owen also offered a swathe of facts about the construction of The Curzon Building: • There are around 350 operatives on site at any one time – that’s around 4.5 million staff hours over the course of the 12 month project to date

• Young people have had a combined 900 weeks of employment experience, through partnerships with the Construction Youth Trust and Budding Brunels. About the pub’s restoration: • The Eagle and Ball pub was built between 1840 and 1850 • It was known as The Moby Dick when it closed in 2007 • Its old name will be restored and the Students’ Union will become the main tenants when it reopens in 2015.

Photographic exhibition puts famous sons of Birmingham centre stage

The Curzon Building, June 2015

Celebrity chef and restaurateur Glynn Purnell joined a host of well-known Birmingham names on 11 June at BCU’s City Talk: What Birmingham means to me, highlighting a photography exhibition hosted by Birmingham City University. Photographed and curated by Birmingham City University lecturer Emma Love, the ‘Mr Birmingham’ exhibition celebrates the work and achievements of some of the city’s most celebrated personalities, including Trevor Francis, Jasper Carrott, Glynn Purnell and UB40’s Astro. Passionate about the city and its people, Emma embarked on the project as a means of showcasing some of the personalities that make Birmingham so distinctive. Glynn Purnell, Michelinstarred owner of Birmingham restaurant Purnells, said:

Glynn Purnell

“This exhibition of photography and the debate afterwards will offer a great chance to focus on just some of the ways people from Birmingham have contributed to British life. “Birmingham is a terrific and often under-recognised city and I look forward to being part of an event that will continue the work going on all across the city right now in shifting perceptions of what we have to offer.” Emma Love said: “I love Birmingham and am conscious that we Brummies are generally very humble

people, all too often unable or unwilling to celebrate how great we are. I decided I wanted to change this and decided to track down and take the portraits of men who, in a variety of ways, have achieved great things in the name of the city. “This wasn’t about promoting the personalities themselves but was and always will be about the great city of Birmingham and the amazing, diverse people who have come from here. It’s a work of love and loyalty for a place I believe is the best city in the UK.”

Inside:

Biggest Test Match Series, page 3

Law student awarded prestigious law scholarship, page 5

Graduate lands role with MTV, page 6

National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain, page 7

Student Services awarded quality mark, page 11

A note from the Dean Welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter from the Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences at Birmingham City University. This news update comes at a particularly exciting time for the Faculty as we move into our new home in the Curzon Building, at the City Centre Campus. This is the latest phase in the development of the University’s facilities in the centre of Birmingham, and helps to consolidate our position at the heart of this great city. With Birmingham identified as one of the UK’s leading locations for new business start-ups, with the fastest economic growth rate outside London, it is little wonder that its profile as one of the country’s most dynamic cities continues to grow. If you are from here, you will have witnessed this transformation for yourself

and if you’re from further afield, I would strongly encourage you to wander around the city, exploring some of the rich industrial heritage that you will find mingled with leading luxury brand retailers and Michelin starred restaurants. We take enormous pride in our position as one of the UK’s leading practice based and professionally oriented universities, where we strive continually to add real value to the learning experience of our students. Advanced learning that draws on the latest research, as well as established theoretical insights, is an important part of this experience. So too are our unrivalled links with the world of practice and the professions, where our students meet and are informed by practitioners as a regular part of their study. We take pride in our emphasis on preparing students for their future

employment, embedding an employability focus across the curriculum, right from year one. We now invite you to read more about who we are, what we believe in and what we do. We are passionate about our role as educators and take great pleasure in working with our students as they explore new areas of study, challenge thinking and develop new knowledge. They take this into the world of practice, where they will play their part in developing and shaping our world. Enjoy taking the time to find out more about us, and never hesitate to ask us about what we do – we look forward to speaking with you. Professor Keith Horton Executive Dean Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences

Keith Horton, Executive Dean for the Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences

Sweeping success at the Extra Mile Awards 2015

Students and staff from the Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences won in four categories at the Extra Mile awards with two others bringing in runner-up prizes.

One of the biggest nights in the University calendar, the Extra Mile Awards are a celebration of the achievements of University staff and students over the course of the year. 2015 saw the largest number of nominations ever received and the biggest turnout for the event. The ceremony took place outside the Parkside Building at the new City Centre Campus on Wednesday 13 May. Keith Horton, Executive Dean commented: “Very many congratulations to all of you that were nominated, and especially to those who received awards yesterday evening. A great achievement, and one for us all to be very proud of.”

Vladina Chira, winner of Engaged Student of the Year

Extra mile awards

The Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences have over ten accreditations awarded by professional bodies they include:

Award winners: Engaged Student of the Year Winner, Vladina Chira - BA (Hons) Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations

Researcher of the Year Winner, Professor Jon Yorke, Director of the Centre for American Legal Studies

Entrepreneurial Student of the Year Winner, Belise Niringiyimana - LLB (Hons) Law

Student Academic Leader of the Year Winner, Radhan Chauhan - LLB (Hons) Law Runner-up, Belise Niringiyimana - LLB (Hons) Law

Personal Tutor of the Year Winner, Alan Robson - Senior Academic in Technology, Risk and the Environment, Centre for Internal Audit, Governance and Risk Management Runner-up, Dr Katerina Kantartzis - Lecturer in Psychology 2

Student in the Community Award Runner-up, Sophie Rowe - PhD Social Sciences

Birmingham loves food

Independent Birmingham Independent Birmingham celebrates local independent businesses in Birmingham. Their online blog highlights a variety of bars, restaurants and coffee shops which offer unique and quirky dining experiences. Independent Birmingham offers a 12-month membership card for just £15, entitling you to a year of fantastic discounts at over 65 of the best independent cafés, bars, restaurants and shops in the city.

The Birmingham Independent Food Fair is back and Business, Law and Social Sciences students will be closer than ever to the action when it takes place at Millennium Point on 12-13 September.

The event is dedicated to showcasing Birmingham’s independent food and drink sector, with over 60 local businesses taking part – from restaurants and drinks merchants to bars and street food traders. As an addition to this year’s fair, traders will expand across Eastside City Park, creating a street party atmosphere with communal dining areas, outdoor stalls and live music from local artists. With a wide range of food and drink available, ranging from craft beers, wine tasting and cocktails to soul food, Malaysian street food and bakeries, the festival promises to be a feast for the taste buds. To find out more and get your tickets, visit www.bhamindfoodfair.co.uk

Find out more and read the blog at www.independentbirmingham.co.uk

The biggest Test Match Series in the world returns to Birmingham

The England and Wales Cricket Board has confirmed that Edgbaston Stadium will host England v Australia in the Third Investec Ashes Test Match. Over five days of play, 100,000 spectators are expected to be at the ground between Wednesday 29 July and Sunday 2 August 2015.

Digbeth Dining Club

Digbeth Dining Club takes place every Friday and showcases unique street food vendors in an up close and personal approach to dining. With a wide range of dishes for £5-£6 each, you can sample the varied cuisine on offer at an affordable price – perfect for a student budget! As it is just down the road from the new Curzon Building at our City Centre Campus, it is the perfect Friday night treat. Find out more at www.digbethdiningclub.co.uk

Credit B Harvey Photography, Digbeth Dining Club

Find out more and buy tickets at www.edgbaston.com

Made Birmingham returns to Digbeth for 2015 with a host of live performances and DJs confirmed for Saturday 25 July. Nominated for ‘Best Metropolitan Festival’ at the UK Festival Awards, Made is returning for its second year. New for 2015 is the addition of a second date, run in collaboration with Digbeth Dining Club, combining live music, award winning street food, retro gaming and local artistic talent in the form of City of Colours street artists. The weekend promises to be lively and unique, cementing Birmingham’s reputation as a ground breaking, innovative and diverse creative hub. Tickets and the line-up for the weekend can be found at www.madebirmingham.com

Moseley Folk Festival For something a little more relaxing and chilled, Moseley Folk Festival returns to Moseley Park to celebrate its 10 year anniversary. With a mix of traditional, contemporary and experimental folk and acoustic music, the festival offers unique and exciting performances. The festival also ventures out into pubs in Moseley village, where intimate gigs are hosted by other live musicians and performers. Coming to Birmingham from 4-6 September, Moseley Folk Festival is just in time for the start of our students’ first academic year in the city centre. Tickets and more info can be found at www.moseleyfolk.co.uk 3

Business students commended for charity project

Vanessa Clarke and students from the Business School who worked on Project Bizzbeats

Students from the Business School have impressed after raising over £500 for charity, as well as writing, performing and recording three original songs, soon to go on sale on iTunes.

Project leader Vanessa Clarke, Director of Leadership Development Programmes, explained: “The project, Bizzbeats, is part of the Leadership Challenge initiative and is an Apprentice-style day of activities designed to test the students’ skills. “The event is the perfect opportunity for students to enhance their employability by working for a real life client on a live project, as well as delivering on a challenging task with a tight time frame. Bearing in mind that these students are not professional musicians, writing and recording three songs in just one day is a fantastic achievement.” The hard-working students raised a total of £509.69 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital, while student Jaspreet Singh won himself an iPad Mini in recognition of his exceptional leadership during the project. First year student Aamir Khalil also took part in a live interview

with BBC Radio WM as part of the event. Vanessa added: “A huge thank you to everyone who made a donation, all of the money raised has gone to support the fantastic work of Birmingham Children’s Hospital.” Vikki Calcutt, Deputy Director of Fundraising for Birmingham Children’s Hospital, said: “It was a real pleasure for us to be part of the project. The creativity, energy and enthusiasm of the students was incredibly infectious and everyone involved had a brilliant day. “As well as being hugely enjoyable and a great way to use and develop a whole host of skills, the group also succeed in raising funds to support the Let us Play appeal at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, funding brand new play rooms on our wards. Thanks to Musikscool ‘BizzBeats’ our young patients will be able to enjoy quality play times in bright modern spaces.”

Business School recognised with top accountancy accreditation The Business School is celebrating after being recognised for their work by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICEAW). The University has received the Partner in Learning accreditation from the organisation thanks to the high standard of its work. The ICAEW is a world leading professional membership organisation

that supports over 144,000 chartered accountants worldwide, providing qualifications and professional development. Staff will also be invited to attend a free higher education conference which is run each year by the organisation, along with a range of other benefits. The accreditation also means that University students will get to gain exemption from a number of

University academic appointed as government advisor A member of staff has been appointed to a Government Cross Working Group set up by the Deputy Prime Minister. Imran Awan, Deputy Director of the Centre for Applied Criminology, has been appointed as an independent member of the government’s Cross Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred, based in the Department for Communities and Local Government. The group is made up of a mixture of civil servants, academics and members of the Muslim community and looks to tackle problems caused by marginalisation as well as examining the role of the media in preventing anti-Muslim hatred.

Imran leads on a number of modules for the University such as Hate Crime, Cyber Crime and Terrorism Theory and has commentated on terrorism related issues affecting the Muslim community for television channels including BBC Midlands Today, ITV Central News, Al Jazeera English and Channel 4 News.

ICAEW certificate and professional level papers. Chris Turner, Senior Lecturer in Management Accounting, explains: “We have been awarded the Partner in Learning status thanks to the school meeting a number of targets set by the organisation. Thanks to the accreditation, the ICEAW will be sending student recruitment teams to the University to run careers and employability sessions.”

Academic receives recognition from British Medical Association

A Birmingham City University academic who specialises in workplace and occupational health, has had his contribution to one of the major international textbooks of occupational medicine recognised by the British Medical Association.

Professor Craig Jackson’s chapters on Psychosocial Hazards and Management of Hazards in the workplace were part of the Oxford Handbook of Occupational Health (2 edition) which won first place in the Primary Care category at the BMA Book Awards ceremony in London, the awards take place annually to recognise outstanding contributions to the medical literature. Professor Jackson said: “It was a really important marker that a book on Occupational Health should be included in one of the bigger awards categories at the BMA book awards, that of Primary Care, which hopefully shows the recognition of the importance of this branch of medicine - of

which a substantial amount is often practiced by non-specialists - emerging from the shadows of the more ‘glamorous’ areas of healthcare.” He paid tribute to the books editors and fellow contributors in for including the more recently understood psychological aspects of workplace health and talking therapies, and placing them on a par with more traditional aspects of industrial medicine and practice. “We understand that the workplace should not be a source of ill-heath or distress for workers, yet each year in the UK alone, hundreds of thousands of people are made ill by the work they do, or have their health conditions worsened by their jobs, and this is morally wrong. If this book can help all stakeholders, from general practitioners and specialists, through to managers, organisations and small businesses improve the health of workers, then the award is truly deserved.”

Professor’s book explores benefits of franchising An expert from Birmingham City Business School has co-authored a new book on the opportunities offered by franchising. ‘Franchising - How Both Sides Can Win’, written by Professor Chris Edger and ex-Domino’s Pizza Executive Director Andrew Emmerson, examines what it takes for both franchisors and

franchisees to succeed in this rapidly-growing international market. Franchising involves a firm licensing its business model and trademark to an independent operator, as opposed to building their own chain of outlets. The system is particularly popular in such fields as fast food and convenience stores.

The book is packed with real-life case studies from companies including Domino’s, Costa, TGIs, McDonald’s, Haagen Dazs, Spar, Budgens and Citroen. Chris Edger has extensive industry experience, with over 20 years of experience in the leisure and retail sectors. He joined Birmingham City Business School as

Professor of Multi-Unit Leadership in July 2010. He said: “This is the essential contemporary guide for newbie franchisees, aspirant franchisors and franchise operators who want to drive growth!” This is Professor Edger’s fourth book in a six book series on multisite service businesses. The fifth book ‘Area

Management - Strategic and Local Models for Growth’ is out in March 2016, to be followed by ‘Building Service Brands - Be Different. Stay Different. Or Perish!’ which is being written in conjunction with Tony Hughes, a board member at the UK’s largest multi-brand casual dining company, The Restaurant Group.

Professor Chris Edger

Law student sets the bar with scholarship win

Joshua Longhorne, School of Law student

A student from the School of Law has received a prestigious scholarship in recognition of his potential as a top barrister of the future.

Third year LLB (Hons) Law student Joshua Longhorne has received a Lord Harmsworth Scholarship from Middle Temple, beating dozens of candidates to be named as one of the best young law students in the country. He has also made a name for himself as part of the University’s awardwinning mooting team, beating competition from the likes of Coventry University, University of Hull and University of Bedfordshire in the English Speaking Union’s (ESU) National Mooting Competition.

Mooting involves hypothetical legal case argued by law students in a court room, helping students to hone their skills in a practical setting. Sarah Cooper, Senior Lecturer in Law, comments: “This scholarship is fitting recognition of the excellent work Joshua has done in his time at the University. “This is the second major scholarship win for our students this year and reflects how well our students can compete at a national level.”

Business School Professor wins national research award

Professor Hatem El-Gohary

An academic from the Business School has won a national award for his research on viral advertising.

Professor Hatem ElGohary, Professor of Marketing, was one of the winners at the Institute for Small Business Enterprise (ISBE) Awards, taking home the gold award in the Creative Industries Entrepreneurship category. His paper, co-authored with PhD student Antonius Raghubansie and Dr Chris Lewis, is titled An Empirical Study of Innovation in the Digital Advertising Process among SME Advertising Agencies in the UK: The Case

of Viral Advertising. The ISBE is one of the world’s leading organisations for small businesses and entrepreneurship, with this year’s national conference welcoming over 400 attendees from more than 40 counties. Professor El-Gohary said: “To be recognised by the ISBE for our research is a fantastic achievement and the first time, to my knowledge, that the University has won an award from the organisation.”

Ellis Isherwood, School of Law student

Law student more than passes the Bar by being awarded prestigious law scholarship Ellis Isherwood, a final year School of Law student at Birmingham City University, has been presented with a full Lord Denning Scholarship worth £15,500 by The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn. After a rigorous application and interview process, Ellis beat hundreds of other candidates to become one of very few to be granted the scholarship to study for a Bar Professional Training Course. The scholarship can be used to pay for her course at any BPTC provider. Intellectual strength, complete integrity,

excellence at university and commitment at the Bar are amongst the qualities expected by the judges when deciding the winners. Ellis has demonstrated these qualities and strengths throughout her degree and as a member of the Mooting Society has made a name for herself in other competitions. Ellis said: “I am extremely pleased and excited to be one of the few people awarded a Lord Denning Scholarship from The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn. Obtaining a scholarship from an Inn of Court helps you financially and also does wonders for your CV, as scholarships

are highly prestigious; they act as a means of demonstrating your abilities as a prospective barrister. I’m thoroughly looking forward to starting the BPTC.” Sarah Cooper, Senior Lecturer in Law and Director of Mooting at Birmingham City University said: “This scholarship reflects Ellis’ drive, intellectual strength and enthusiasm for succeeding in the legal profession. The School of Law is very proud of Ellis’ achievements and wish her well for the future. Her success demonstrates how this School can support students to be the very best.” 5

Prison partnership will see greater opportunities for students

Graduate lands role with MTV BA (Hons) Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations graduate Jadean Taylor (pictured left) returned to the University to share her experience of working for major broadcaster Viacom, best known for TV networks MTV and Nickelodeon. Joining her was manager Laurie Scott (pictured right) who

explained that Jadean’s involvement in cocurricular opportunities at University gave her the competitive edge to beat hundreds of applicants for the role. Jadean credits her success to the experience she gained with The Link; our student-run marketing agency that works alongside reallife external clients on various projects.

International competition win for Birmingham business students

Winners of the International Entrepreneurial Brains Made on Campus, from left to right: Andrei Tiu, Ally Hirji, Martin Seppam and Sukaina Al-Husseiny

Birmingham City University has entered into an exciting partnership with G4S and HMP Birmingham, and have developed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations, that will provide excellent research and study opportunities for Birmingham City University psychology students. HMP Birmingham made headlines in 2010 when it historically became the first UK prison to be completely transferred from Home Office rule to the private sector. The collaboration between the two partners will allow students on the accredited BSc Psychology and MSc Forensic Psychology courses to develop better research links and undertake more projects involving offenders, prison officers and the wider criminal justice system at large. Some psychology students have already visited the prison as part of their first semester of activities on their programmes. The link will also allow G4S to undertake their own internal research projects, specialist training and needs analysis with methodological support and ethical guidance from university academics. Professor Fiona Church, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education, Law and Social Sciences (ELSS) at Birmingham City University said: “This arrangement will no doubt provide challenges and opportunities to both partner institutions that will ultimately contribute to the quality of the student

Students from Birmingham City University’s Business School emerged as the winners of an international business competition in Germany, fending off competition from a host of European countries. The four students won the International Entrepreneurial Brains Made on Campus 2015 Competition, hosted in Stuttgart. Their business idea beat off rival entries from Austria, Hungary, Germany, Scotland and Switzerland, securing votes from a judging panel made up of figures representing successful start-up companies, large multi-nationals and the Stuttgart Ministry of Finance. The Birmingham City University team, Sukaina AlHusseiny, Ally Hirji, Andrei Tiu and Martin Seppam, had previously won a UK heat in order to make it to the European event, held at Stuttgart Media University. Their business idea centred on a website that would allow students to sell their text books once they are no longer needed, an idea now being discussed within the university.

experience, as well as increasing our valuable research outputs and knowledge base. This local community partnership echoes the successful relationship developed previously between the Faculty of ELSS and HMP Grendon in Buckinghamshire”. Professor Craig Jackson, Head of the Psychology Division at Birmingham City University said: “The challenges faced by HMP Birmingham and the wider current prison system are important to Birmingham, to the local population, the prison staff, the families of the men inside, and the students who are studying in this city, and we are looking at the many ways we can provide useful help to HMP Birmingham while at the same time learning from what they do best too”.

Speaking after picking up a trophy for the win, Martin Seppam said: I can’t believe that we have won. It has been such a great experience and I know that I’ve learnt so much in such a short time. It’s great to put the theory into practice. Ron Brown from BCU’s Enterprise Innovation and Business Engagement team accompanied the team to Germany. He said: “Winning such a prestigious European competition is a real credit to our students and demonstrates the transferable entrepreneurial skills they have learned while studying at Birmingham City University Business School. “It is also a great example of the entrepreneurial games and programmes Birmingham City University offers our students, as well as graduates and staff.” Dr Hartmut Rösch from Stuttgart Media University, said: “Every year the competition gets better and better and this year was the best yet. All the way though there were a couple of teams that could have won it. We didn’t know until the very end of the competition, which team would be announced as the winners.”

PhD researcher wins prestigious award Research student Ilaria Di Gioia has won a prestigious award at the annual Edinburgh Postgraduate Law Conference.

Ilaria Di Gioia, award winner

“I was so excited to see people engaged by my talk and answer their questions,” Ilaria said. “All of a sudden I saw my dissertation taking shape and my efforts compensated.” The conference, which took part at the University of Edinburgh, had 12 panels, with three speakers for each panel. In total, there were 36 presentations, with awards for Best Presentation and Best Blog.

“My presentation discussed whether US states can lawfully declare federal laws void within their state’s boundaries,” Ilaria said. “It has been the cause of debate since the country’s very inception.” Ilaria, who is also a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Law of the European Union, was thrilled with the feedback the panel gave her. “It really helped me to recognise the strengths and weaknesses of my work,” she said. “Presenting is an essential moment of PhD projects.”

What’s on… 2 Apr-10 Sep 11am-11pm Jewellery exhibitions at Pure Bar Price: Free Entry Venue: Pure Bar and Kitchen, 30 Waterloo Street, Birmingham B2 5TJ www.purebarandktichen.com As part of the School of Jewellery 125 anniversary celebrations, our Artists in Residence and staff members are showcasing their contemporary jewellery at Pure Bar and Kitchen, located in the heart of the city. Please note exhibitions will only be accessible during Pure Bar and Kitchen opening hours.

4 Jul 7pm Junior Conservatoire End of Term Concert Price: £6.50 (£4) Tickets available on the door Venue: Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire Conductor Daniele Rosina Conductor Timothy English Lauren Zhang piano Shostakovich Piano Concerto No.2 in F major, Op.102 Soloists, chamber musicians, choirs and orchestras from the Junior Conservatoire join together in a fitting finale to the end of term.

7-11 Jul National Festival of Music for Youth Tickets available from THSH Box Office on 0121 780 3333 or from www.thsh.co.uk Venue: Birmingham Conservatoire

18 Jul 7:30pm Let’s Celebrate – Sutton Coldfield Choirs Price: £11 (£8 students) Tickets available via www.suttoncolffieldchoirs.weebly.com Venue: Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire Guest Conductor Suzi Digby OBE Sutton Coldfield Choirs: Four Oaks Cluster Choir Sutton Coldfield Youth Voices The Accidentals Enjoy an eclectic mix of music, ranging from choral music by Will Todd and John Rutter, to modern arrangements from legendary band Queen and hit musical ‘Chicago’. Directed by Richard Jeffries and Liz Birch

31 Jul 7:30pm National Scout and Guide Symphony Orchestra 40th Anniversary Concert Price: £10 (£3 students) Tickets available on the door Venue: Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire Conductor Lee Marchant The National Scout and Guide Symphony Orchestra represents the very best of the musical talent within Scouting and Guiding. Following a week of masterclasses and professional coaching, this concert promises to be a lively celebration to mark the orchestra’s 40th year.

The MFY National Festival takes over central Birmingham for five days in celebration of musicmaking, which brings together over 8,000 performers, from all over the UK, all aged 21 and under. Throughout the week expect all styles of music from classical, choral and chamber music, through to jazz, folk, junk percussion and grime! Plus a whole host of other activities to delight the festival audience.

6-31 Jul 9am-7pm Portrait Salon Exhibition Price: Free Venue: The Parkside Building, City Centre Campus, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG

8 Aug 7:30pm National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain Price: £14 (£8 students) Tickets available on the door Venue: Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire Conductor Dr Matthew J. George Camille Saint-Saëns Occident and Orient David Maslanka Give Us This Day Kit Turnbull Scenes from Childhood David Stanhope The Little Ripper March Philip Sparke A Savannah Symphony Michael Markowski As Midnight on a Moonless Night Hear some of the UK’s finest young woodwind, brass and percussion players perform interesting repertoire including works from two living British composers, conducted by Dr Matthew J. George.

14 Aug 7:30pm Joe Francis – Swing Easy Price: £21.50 (£19.50) Tickets available from Ticket Web on 0844 477 1000 Venue: Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire American singer Joe Francis has teamed up with the British Philharmonic Big Band. The Great American Songbook is the product of some fantastic, legendary songwriters such as Gershwin, Berlin, Porter, Arlen, Warren and many others. Joe Francis sings the songbook in his own inimitable style with his unique phrasing, vocal inflection and timbre. Hear some of the great songs from Joe Francis’ new album Soliloquy, recorded with 17 of America’s finest musicians.

Junior Conservatoire End of Term Concert

The Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize is one of the most prestigious photography prizes in the world, attracting entrants from professionals and amateurs alike. Last year 4,193 images were submitted by 1,793 photographers, with 60 chosen to be in the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. We seek to show the best of the rest. The Parkside Gallery will be the last stop on a nationwide tour of Portrait Salon.

National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain

National Festival of Music for Youth

Another victory for the BCU Mooting Society Students from the School of Law have won a mini-pupillage at a Lincoln’s Inn firm after coming first in a mooting competition at the Bedfordshire University Invitational Moot. The Mooting Society were pitted against the University of Cambridge in the competition final and came out on top.

Anna Hajilari and Ali Kazi, School of Law students

Second year Law student Anna Hajilari who brought the trophy home along with student Ali Kazi, said: “This year I had the amazing opportunity, along with Ali Kazi, to partake in the first Thirteen Old Square Chambers Invitational Mooting Competition, which was hosted by the University of Bedfordshire. “It was a brilliant experience, which turned out to be beneficial for both of us as we emerged as the overall winners. We were proud to be representing Birmingham City University and bringing back the trophy. While preparing for the day, the wonderful Sarah Cooper and Scarlett McArdle

helped us by giving step by step advice on how to tackle the moot problem and advice on how to prepare the bundles and skeleton arguments.” After the winners were announced, the team were presented with trophies and certificates, followed by pictures with the judge and the runner-up team. The main prize of the day was a mini-pupillage at a Lincoln’s Inn firm. This academic year the Mooting Society has competed in three national competitions, received invitations to specialised mooting competitions, and guided the internal mooting competition to a final at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Sarah Cooper, Director of Mooting commented: “I’m delighted Birmingham City University won the competition, beating off the University of Cambridge in the final moot. This is an excellent achievement for the society and rounds off a great academic year.”

Law student named ‘Entrepreneurial Student of the Year’ at University award ceremony A student from the School of Law has been awarded a flagship prize at the University’s Extra Mile Awards for her work in the local community.

Students debate how to change the world Our Law students have recently enjoyed the first annual ‘Change the World’ event, organised by our Mooting and Debating Societies. To help to develop key advocacy skills, students were given three minutes each to articulate their case of how they would change the world – for better or worse. A prize-giving ceremony celebrated the winners from each year group. The winners were first year Harry Llewellyn, second year Ashleigh Shevron Grant and third year Jack Wilson. These students won Faculty Certificates of Excellence in recognition of their achievements.

Belise Niringiyimana, a final year LLB (Hons) law student, was named the winner of the Entrepreneurial Student of the Year and was the runner-up for the Student Academic Leader of the Year at the ceremony on 13 May 2015. The Extra Mile Awards is a project run in partnership by the University and the Students’ Union to celebrate the achievements of the best students and staff. Belise has used the entrepreneurial skills from her degree to set up a business to help her community. Over 30 young people have received accredited qualifications thanks to her work in the Sandwell area of Birmingham. She has also appeared on BBC News as an advocate for social enterprise and has helped to provide opportunities for young people out of education or employment. Belise also works with Unity Trust Ltd to provide services for their partner schools. She has also set up independent dance and fitness provision

Students reach the final at Capgemini Super Techies competition Two students from Birmingham City Business School reached the national final of the Capgemini Super Techies UK competition. The competition, which had entrants from universities across the country, saw students work in teams of two on a business solution for a company, which they then presented to a panel of Capgemini experts. The teams had to design and discuss a digital strategy, how the company can use digital technology and an outline of the technology architecture. Second-year students Ravi Verma and Jaspreet Singh, who formed the team BizMinds, made it through to the final after impressing judges. Business Management student Ravi and Business and HR Management student Jaspreet beat competition from Oxford and Bristol universities in the semi-final heat. 8

“It gave us a cross-cultural and international outlook,” Ravi said. “There were people from all over the world, as well as UK students, competing. It was a very exciting experience and we got plenty of professional insight.” The UK final took place at the Capgemini headquarters in London, with a grand prize of £2,500 on offer. Sadly, Verma and Ravi were unsuccessful in winning, but were more than satisfied to have made it to the final. “The competition really helped us develop our communication and networking skills,” Jaspreet said. “We improved our skills on developing creative and feasible business solutions, and it provided us with a great opportunity to develop professional networks.”

Belise Niringiyimana, Entrepreneurial Student of the Year

within a number of areas in Sandwell, and will soon be expanding into a number of other locations in Birmingham. She currently has two full-time employees and four volunteers working for her business Dance Lyf CIC. One of her nominator writes: “She is a student I really admire and a great example of how students at the University are using their entrepreneurial skills to help others.”

Welcome to Emma Neale

Emma is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing. As a marketing professional with over 15 years’ industry experience, Emma has held high profile roles in organisations such Siemens (formally

EDS Unigraphics) and continues to work closely with industry and professional bodies, in particular Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) in particular. Emma currently teaches on marketing strategy and planning, relationship marketing and marketing management. Emma is also a first year tutor and project supervisor as well as being responsible for CIM integration, ensuring students have both academic and practitioner knowledge.

Students compete in mooting competition at UK Supreme Court Birmingham City University’s Internal Mooting Competition Final was hosted by the UK Supreme Court. A team of 30 students and staff journeyed to London to support our finalists David Meakin, Ali Kazi, Uzma Malik and James Stallard as they competed to be crowned our 2015 Mooting Champion.

According to Supreme Court Justice Lord Sumption, who judged the final, all four students performed “most impressively and persuasively.” Director of Mooting and Senior Lecturer in Law, Sarah Cooper said, “All four students showed great skill, determination and professionalism” in contending for the title.

Lord Sumption chose David Meakin as our 2015 champion and Ali Kazi as runner-up. James and Uzma also received great praise. These four students will lead our national mooting teams next year, supported by an equally impressive set of student mooting managers. Ali Kazi, Uzma Malik, David Meakin and James Stallard

Academic lends his voice to international peace conference An academic from the University has been called on to take part in an international peace conference to help combat the influence of violent extremism. Imran Awan (pictured centre), Deputy Director of the Centre for Applied Criminology, was invited to take part in the second annual forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies. Over 60 leading Muslim scholars, intellectuals and researchers travelled to Abu Dhabi to discuss the key issues and help create online tools to tackle extremism. Sheikh Abdullah bin Beeh, former Chairman of the Forum for Promoting Peace in

Jiordan Thompson LLB (Hons) Law 2014

Muslim Societies, delivered the opening presentation, with the participants presenting in-depth studies focusing on the geography of crises in Muslim societies, correcting and rationalising concepts associated with the promotion of peace in Islam. Imran and his team have helped to design an app that provides short video answers to young people’s questions about Islam. Imran commented: “It was a real pleasure to be able to participate in the conference, peace and tolerance play a vital role in helping to combat the damaging effects of

Having initially been attracted to studying law at Birmingham City University by the chance to undertake an internship in the USA, Jiordan built up further experience with a number of placements in the UK. His talent was recognised when he was awarded a prestigious Lord Denning Scholarship from Lincoln’s Inn to support him through the next stage of his legal training. “One of the main attractions of Birmingham City University was that it

The Black Studies Association presents

Blackness in Britain 2015: The Black Special Relationship: African American scholarship and its impact on Black intellectual life in Britain Friday 30 - Saturday 31 October Birmingham City University

extremism in our society and I hope the work we have done here continues to make an impact.” Imran’s research examines the impact of Islamophobia, antiMuslim hate crime and security upon Muslim communities. He is also an independent member of the Government’s Cross Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred, based in the Department for Communities and Local Government.

offered an international programme where, if successful, you could spend time working in the USA. “I spent two months in Houston, Texas, with a Criminal Defence Attorney, which was an amazing opportunity and the best legal experience in my life so far. I carried out research on a sexual assault case, and observed a capital murder trial from start to finish, which is something I just wouldn’t have had the chance to do back home. “In the UK I also

Confirmed Keynotes: Professor Patricia Hill Collins Associate Professor Barnor Hesse Professor Gus John Professor Denise Ferreira De Silva Early Bird registration for the conference is NOW OPEN! Follow this link to register www.blackstudies.org.uk/conferenceand-events/blackness-in-britain-2015/registration The Blackness in Britain conference series is concerned with the past and future histories and narratives of Black populations in the UK and the wider African diaspora. In our second interdisciplinary conference we invite scholars, intellectuals and activists to examine how Black British intellectual life has been influenced by African American scholarship. Despite the absence of Black Studies programmes in British Universities, Black communities in the UK have a long history of community activism that has been deeply engaged with the scholarship of Black America. For full details of the call for papers visit www.blackstudies.org.uk/conference-and-events/blackness-in-britain-2015

carried out several mini-pupillages and volunteered with the Witness Service in Crown Court during my final year, so I was always getting as much practical experience as I could. “The University had a very supportive environment, and the Centre for Academic Success gave me a lot of help with my assignments. The modules I picked were all exam-based and the University had a large stock of past papers so that I was always well-prepared. “I missed the initial

deadline to apply for a Lincoln’s Inn scholarship, so after I started my Bar Professional Training Course at BPP in Leeds, I applied in the hope that I would receive funding for my second year. “I went through the application process, which involves filling out an application form, then those who are shortlisted are called to interview, where I was seen by two QCs and a Judge. My time at the University really came in handy as I had so much to talk about – a lot of people can say they have had a

placement in the UK but not many can say they spent two-and-a-half months in the USA. “In the end, they backdated my scholarship so I got funding for both years, which has lifted a big financial burden, and will also hopefully help me when looking for work in future. “I’m applying for pupillages at the moment and I want to become a barrister and then, who knows, in 15 years or so, I could become a QC – I want to go as far as I can.” 9

Inspired Festival 2015 Taking place between June and July as part of our Inspired Festival, our graduate shows are a culmination of the creativity, hard work and progression our Art, Design and Media students have shown since joining our institution. The shows will be a celebration of the students and their innovative work, and an opportunity for them to showcase their inventive, fresh ideas to audiences. Inspired will showcase to the city and the region a series of concerts, performances, exhibitions, design, written work and more, demonstrating the high-level skills and transformative experiences that shape and define our graduates. 10

Events include: School of Art Graduate Show 2015 School of Art, Margaret Street, Birmingham FREE ENTRY 15 - 21 Jun 2015 School of Architecture Graduate Show 2015 Parkside Building, City Centre Campus FREE ENTRY 15 - 20 Jun 2015 Fashion, Textiles and 3D Design Graduate Show 2015 Parkside Building, City Centre Campus FREE ENTRY 15 - 20 Jun 2015 Visual Communication Graduate Show 2015 Parkside Building, City Centre Campus FREE ENTRY 15 - 20 Jun 2015 School of Jewellery Graduate Show 2015 - School of Jewellery Vittoria Street, Birmingham FREE ENTRY 15 - 18 Jun 2015

Inspired Festival Alumni Reception The Parkside Building , City Centre Campus FREE ENTRY 17 Jun 2015 (6:00pm - 8:00pm) Birmingham Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra Present Petrushka Birmingham Town Hall £15 (£12, Students £3) 19 Jun 2015 (7:30pm - 9:35pm) Silence The Old Rep Theatre, Station Street, Birmingham £7.50 (Concessions £5, Students £2.50) 20 Jun 2015 (5:00pm) Creative Writing Summer Show Recital Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire FREE ENTRY 24 Jun 2015 TechFest 2015 Millennium Point, City Centre Campus FREE ENTRY 27 Jun 2015

Hard Knock Life mac, Cannon Hill Park Birmingham B12 9QH Tickets £5, Teachers go free. 25 Jun 2015 (1:00pm) 25 Jun 2015 (7:00pm) 26 Jun 2015 (1:00pm) 26 Jun 2015 (7:00pm) 27 Jun 2015 (12:00pm) Baroque Study Day: Music in Transition - Changing Styles and Approaches in the Mid-Baroque (1650-1710) Recital Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire Free admission (a £10 contribution per day towards lunch and refreshments is requested, or £15 for the full event) 02 Jul 2015 (1:00pm - 6:00pm) 03 Jul 2015 (9:30am - 6:00pm)

Hitmen bury their feelings for a successful ‘hit’ Hitmen succeed in contract killing where they successfully bury any feelings or emotions, a study into the psychology of novice assassins has found.

Hired killers who consider themselves strategists or businessmen, doing ‘just a job’ as one hitman described it, can convince themselves they are dealing with a target rather than a person, research by a team of criminologists at Birmingham City University revealed. North London teenager Santre Sanchez Gayle offered a classic example of detachment, shooting Gulistan Subasi in March 2010, as she opened the door for a paltry sum of £200. The 15-year-old, later sentenced to a minimum of 20 years for the crime, allowed no time for his victim to be personalized before leaving the scene calmly in a taxi. By contrast Orville Wright’s commission to execute Theresa Pitkin in 1996 failed when, after breaking into her flat, he engaged her in conversation and subsequently lost his nerve. The study points to Jimmy Moody – henchman for the notorious Richardson gang in 1960s London and later a hired assassin for the IRA – as the ultimate example of a hitman who separated his ‘work’ from the normality of the rest of his life. The researchers, leading criminologists Professor David Wilson and Mohammed Rahman, said Moody was a classic example of a ‘master’ hitman, whose motivation to kill was purely financial. “Moody and the other people in our study show us that when contract killers aren’t as successful in switching off their emotions, their jobs tend not to go to plan,” said Mohammed Rahman. “Moody reframed his victims as targets, seeing getting the job done as a normal business activity. These sorts of killers are akin to ‘criminal undertakers’, who have given themselves ‘special liberty’ to get things done in the name of business. “The motivation for most people who become hitmen is economic, so the reframing shows their resourcefulness as individuals who want to minimise risk and effort in the pursuit of maximising profit.”

Student Services awarded quality mark

Contract killings

• A rare example of a female contract killer, Te Rangimaria Ngarimu, murdered Graham Woodhatch in May 1992. She was paid £1,500 (after being promised £7,000) and shot Mr Woodhatch while he was attending the Royal Free Hospital in London. Ngarimu fled to her native New Zealand but returned to Britain to confess to her role in the murder. It remains unknown why a multi-linguistic devout Christian, who had several degrees, with no previous convictions, agreed to the commit the hit. • At 62, Paul Cryne was the second oldest hitman in the study. Cryne had a lucrative lifestyle in Thailand throughout the 1990s, but ran up debts. He seems to have met up with Sharon Birchwood’s ex-husband, Graham Birchwood, through the expatriate community and accepted the £30,000 contract to kill Sharon. Cryne flew back to the UK to carry out the murder and it would later emerge that Mrs Birchwood’s death would allow her ex-husband to inherit £475,000. Cryne was apprehended after leaving forensic evidence at the scene of the crime and jailed for life. • Despite agreeing a £7,000 fee for successfully completing the job, when Orville Wright broke into Theresa Pitkin’s flat he lost his nerve and failed to complete the ‘hit’ after engaging his would-be victim in conversation. • Jimmy Moody is believed to have carried out contract killings in several major British cities in the 1960s, including for the notorious Richardson gang in London. After escaping from Brixton prison in the company of a senior member of the Provisional IRA, Moody became a hired assassin for the republican paramilitary movement. Despite no political convictions he was described as ‘a perfect secret weapon for the IRA’, torturing suspected informers before shooting them in the back of the head – known for the ‘OBE’, or ‘one behind the ear’. Moody remained on the run until June 1993, when he himself fell victim to a hit, executed in his favourite pub, The Royal, on the edge of Victoria Park in Hackney.

Our Student Services department has been reaccredited with the Matrix standard, the international quality mark for advice and guidance. Confirming the ongoing high quality of the service at the University, assessors noted in particular a clear studentfirst focus, excellent partnerships and networks and a strong innovation and service improvement culture. The assessment took place over three days last week and included interviews with students, staff and partners. Pamela Bell-Ashe, Director of Student Services, said, “In our feedback the assessor highlighted a number of strengths including a clear student-first focus; excellent partnerships and networks; effective signposting and referrals; good allocation of resources; a strong innovation and service improvement culture; strong leadership and direction and good use of CPD. “Thank you to everyone who has helped us to retain this important award.”

University professor to give insight into ‘Killer Psychopaths’ in new TV series Last Updated: Friday, 30 January 2015 A gripping and fascinating new six-part series gives an extraordinary insight into the world and the warped minds of the psychopaths who commit heinous crimes. Presented by leading criminologist and Birmingham City University Professor David Wilson, the series focuses on the cases of seven notorious, cold blooded psychopathic killers. The leading criminologist walks in the footsteps of the psychopaths, living and breathing their movements and speaking to those closest to them as he tries to get inside their twisted minds. The TV series follows Professor Wilson as he travels to the areas where these dangerous murderers grew up and visits the scenes of their gruesome crimes. The programme hears first-hand

accounts from those tasked with bringing these psychopaths to justice, as well as heart-breaking testimonies from the victim’s family members. Professor Wilson also explores some of the early warning signs that the murderers would go on to kill, including their strange fantasies and their ability to lead double lives as they harboured unimaginable secrets from their families and friends, “A psychopath is commonly characterised as a person with a profound lack of empathy and remorse, who behaves in a disinhibited fashion – but not all psychopaths become killers,” said Birmingham City University’s Professor David Wilson. “Indeed, many display the kind of drive and bold character traits which allow them to get ahead in the cut-throat world of business and leadership. This show sets out to get an understanding of what triggers some of these people to kill.” 11

Have you seen the University’s new advertising campaign? The University has launched a new advertising campaign to help positively influence recruitment, primarily to the 2016 recruitment cycle. The University’s new profile-raising campaign launched on Monday 11 May. An evolution of last year’s successful ‘Shaping the World’ theme, it features visually striking outdoor advertising with aspirational straplines including ‘I will make the unmade’, ‘I will do the undone’ and ‘I will write the unwritten’. This concept is designed to put students centre stage, positioning them in the centre of the advert, looking away from the viewer, to suggest that they are ready to take on the world. By leading our straplines with ‘I will’ – strong confident statements that inspire and empower the audience – the audience is encouraged to believe the world is waiting for them to go and shape it.

BLSS Curzon Crossword

The reach of the campaign is further extended through our online channels, highlighting the transformative effect of our courses by providing examples of recent graduates who have already achieved success in their chosen fields. Here, the straplines begin ‘I have…’ using the same visual theme to give real-life examples of what can be achieved. Whilst this is a positioning campaign, the key objective is to positively influence recruitment, primarily to the 2016 recruitment cycle by generating applications and driving footfall to the June Open Day, Clearing and into September. In addition to this the campaign is targeting those yet to apply or make a decision on their application for 2015 entry.

Guess the clues to Business, Law & Social Sciences questions and complete the crossword

Across

1. 300,000 what have been used in the Curzon building? 5. Which organisation has accredited our Psychology courses in the School of Social Sciences? (The acronym only) 7. What company ran the ‘Super Techies’ competition where our Business School students reached the final? 10. 90% of our BCBS students go into this, or further education within six months of graduating. 12. ______ Park is the name of the beautiful landscaped garden in front of the Curzon building. 14. HMP ________ is the name of the prison which our School of Social Sciences have agreed a collaborative working relationship with.

Down 2. In this month in 2015 the Curzon building opens to our students. 3. The name of the street next to the Curzon building describing a knitted item. 4. What is the name of the activity Law students are encouraged to take part in to develop their courtroom skills? 6. We offer these to all of our students to give them experience in the workplace. 8. Which professional body is our Accountancy course accredited by? (The acronym only) 9. _____ Dixon is the name of the construction company building Curzon. 11. The ____ and Ball is the name of the old pub which is being restored as the new Student Union. 13. The ____ Mile Awards is the name of the awards ceremony which celebrates student achievements at Birmingham City University.

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