BLSS Curzon News Winter 2015

Curzon News

Winter 2015

Rugby team show support for breast cancer awareness The men’s rugby team have shown their support for breast cancer by wearing pink socks to a recent match.

The idea came about after Lawrence Marshall, captain of the team, received the terrible news that his mother will be undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Unbeknown to his mother and father, the boys had a cunning plan to surprise them at a home game and in true masculine form, the boys walked out onto the pitch adorned with bright pink socks. The idea touched the hearts of his family, friends and staff at the Students’ Union.

Not only did the boys receive great applause on social media, they also had an outstanding victory against rivals Aston University, winning 41-3. Lawrence, who studies BA (Hons) Business and Management, spoke about the day and the efforts from his team: “We did something a little special and wore pink socks as a mark of our respect and support to not just my mother, but to everyone else that is going through similar circumstances. I’m grateful I have such a brilliant team to work with.”

See, even tough rugby boys are partial to the odd splash of pink in their wardrobe!

Men’s rugby team

From leaving school to leading a courtroom

Koser Shaheen is a Knowledge Management Attorney for Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, a leading international law firm.

She is also General Secretary of the Association of Muslim Lawyers and a member of Cleary Gottlieb’s London Diversity Committee.

Before working at Cleary Gottlieb, Koser did her Legal Practice Course as part of a training contract with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

She graduated from the LLB (Hons) Law course at the University of Central England (now Birmingham City University) in 2007, with the highest-graded First in her year.

Koser decided she wanted to be a lawyer while working at a tax office, as she knew she wanted more from life than a safe but predictable civil service job. Despite a lack of formal qualifications, she was offered a place on the course and was given the support she needed to return to academic study.

The course inspired her to aim high, and she was offered five mini-pupillages from wellknown chambers in London. Seeking to work in more of a team environment, she sent an ad hoc application to Freshfields – which advises national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments – and was offered a two-week work placement.

This meant she was automatically put forward for a training contract interview and, after passing all three gruelling training contract interview stages, she has not looked back since.

“I had left school aged 11 years old and when I started university I suddenly realised I hadn’t even written an essay,” she said. “I am and will always be eternally grateful to the patient Law tutors, who helped me build the foundation skills which are still helping me today.”

“Being taught by lecturers who had practical, on-the-job knowledge also had a positive effect on my key learning experiences. Having a real lawyer in front of you helped visualise the practical effects of the law and its application. Our lecturers brought law to life.”

Koser Shaheen

Inside:

Criminology student seeks to reduce rates of antisocial behaviour, page 3

Where will a placement take you? page 4

International student set for a successful career, page 6

Tallest building, page 10

Guardian column marks David Cameron’s visit to Jamaica, page 12

Mouth-watering dishes, page 14

A note from the Dean

Welcome to the Autumn edition of Curzon News. By now we are all firmly imbedded in The Curzon Building, here on the University’s City Centre Campus.

A lot has been happening this term, with many examples of student success, as well as numerous staff achievements.

In addition to a wide range of staff publications emerging and a number of funding successes for our research, we have also been investing in technology and other resources to support both research and teaching. Drawing upon some of our expertise, we recently hosted the first of our Future Talks, with two colleagues, Professor Jon Yorke (Law) and Imran Awan (Social Sciences), organising and joining a panel of esteemed speakers to discuss the future of the multi-faith society.

This talk saw a packed lecture theatre of guests, students and staff listening and contributing to the discussion. It was particularly heartening to see these members of our academic community demonstrate their thoughts on a matter of such contemporary significance, as well as us further enhancing our close engagement with our city and the wider community.

We have also been working hard over the last couple of months, seeking feedback regarding the use of The Curzon Building as an environment in which to learn and work, and while most things have worked well, you have let us know about a few areas where you would like to see improvements. For example, the building temperature has been reduced slightly to help with comfort. The Library has also installed more computers in direct response to student feedback, and we have ordered more lockers for the use of both students and staff. We have also just received confirmation from the City Council

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

that in the new year they will be installing a controlled crossing on Cardigan Street (at the front of The Curzon Building) in order to facilitate safe crossing between Curzon and the rest of the City Centre Campus. I would urge you all to please remain vigilant when crossing Cardigan Street, not least during these months of reduced daylight hours. I am sure that you will value all of these enhancements to what is undoubtedly a wonderful environment for learning.

At a national level, the Government have just released their long-awaited green paper, which sets out a range of proposals for consultation relating to the future of higher education. One element of particular note is the proposed introduction of a Teaching Excellence Framework, something which I think plays well to the numerous strengths of our University. It will be very interesting to see how these proposals develop, and the paper is well worth reading if you have not seen it thus far. It can be viewed at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ higher-education-teaching-excellencesocial-mobility-and-student-choice.

Finally, may I take this opportunity to wish you all an enjoyable Christmas and a happy New Year.

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

Criminology graduate congratulated on Student Success Advisor job Melindy Brown has been welcomed into the Student Support team after completing her degree in Criminology.

Undergraduate student mentors launch with Aimhigher University students involved in the Aimhigher Mentoring Scheme are celebrating the start of the 2015/16 mentoring calendar – after the first school launch took place at Smith’s Wood Sports College this week.

With 34 mentors being placed in local schools and colleges over the coming weeks, they will be working to deliver activities on a range of aspiration-raising topics, from revision and study skills to career pathways and applying to university.

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Overseeing delivery of the mentoring scheme is the role of our Schools and Colleges Liaison Team – as part of the University’s commitment as a founding partner of Aimhigher West Midlands; supporting outreach, social mobility and widening participation initiatives around the region.

Throughout her years as a student, Melindy became a student academic leader, worked as a note taker for disabled students and is currently continuing her voluntary service as a New Bridge befriender. She recently became one of the first students to win a debating competition at HMP Grendon in nine years, debating with 44 other students from applied criminology courses. Melindy and her colleague Dan Rusu challenged HMP Grendon’s prisoners by arguing for the case of ‘is the penal system in crisis?.’

Her victory and hard work led to greater awards, with Melindy winning Excellent Faculty Member to the Outside World at the Dean’s Awards.

After a competitive application and interview process, Melindy secured the Student Success Advisor role for Social Sciences students, beating 37 candidates. “I am enjoying the role and feel I am settling in well,” Melindy said. “I have started to get to know the staff and students, and am slowly making the role my own.”

Melindy Brown

Graduate to reduce rates of anti-social behaviour

BA (Hons) Criminology and Psychology student Vicki Hamilton has been granted the role of Anti-Social Behaviour Co-Ordinator for Stevenage Borough Council. This new job has given Vicki the chance to work in an area she is particularly interested in.

Vicki, who graduated from Birmingham City University with First Class Honours, has relocated from her home in Northamptonshire, and will be able to incorporate her degree and put her knowledge into practice. Vicki previously worked as an ambassador for the University, developing the skills that have helped her bridge the transition from education to career.

Her new role will see her work alongside the emergency services, senior policy officers and external agencies, developing plans and strategies to reduce crime in the area.

“I’m currently working on a project to reduce alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and aggressive begging tactics in the town centre,” Vicki said. “The University has taught me to adapt to the working world, and has provided me with a solid foundation of knowledge and skills. I’m very grateful to the Criminology lecturers for helping make this a reality.”

Vicki Hamilton

Sri Lanka volunteers receive praise for mental health placement Two students from the School of Social Sciences have received great praise from Sri Lanka Volunteers (SLV) for their hard work on the mental health placements.

Nikki Molloy and Gurpreet Ghuman worked on a multitude of projects in the southern province of Sri Lanka, teaching English to members of the local community and running therapeutic activities for people with various disabilities and mental health issues.

“While working as a volunteer, I gained a lot of confidence,” Gurpreet said. “The patients that I spent time with were dealing with severe mental

illnesses and/or physical disabilities, but most of them brightened up when SLV came through the door.

It was a challenging but rewarding experience.”

Nikki aimed to work in occupational psychology upon graduating, and after finishing her placement, she achieved her goal. “I undertook an MSc in Occupational Psychology and subsequently landed a job as a consultant analyst at Saville Consulting, where I will hopefully become a full-time occupational psychologist! Doing the SLV placement definitely helped secure my place on my MSc course, and helped discover where my talents and interests lay.”

Nikki Molloy

PhD student receives Travel Award Law School PhD candidate Ilaria Di Gioia has been given an Alan Grant and Ros Davies Memorial Research Travel Award of £750 by the American Politics Group of the UK’s Political Science Association.

Ilaria was presented with the award at the American Politics Group Colloquium in London on Friday 13 November. She will use her award to assist with the cost of travel to Denver, Colorado to meet Richard Cauchi, Health Programme Director at the National Conference of State Legislatures. She wishes to discuss state legislative initiatives that seek to get around or undermine the implementation of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, which is the focus of her doctoral research.

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Where will a placement take you?

Twentieth Century Fox

Amy Hall, BA (Hons) Marketing, Advertising and PR “I always knew I wanted to do a placement, as there would be so many benefits from undertaking one. So far, the placement has been really valuable; I have made a lot of useful connections and learnt many new skills, both of which I will be able to use in my final year of study. Just being in a working environment allows you to learn something new every day, and you have the advantage of being able to put theory into practice, gaining real-life experience in the process.

“I work within marketing, promotions and publicity, working in a small team with three other people. I am heavily involved in meetings, as well as helping to plan events. It is great to work with people so closely in the industry, and I was recently able to attend the film premiere of ‘The Martian’.

“In terms of the application process, it’s important to get your CV and covering letter updated as soon as possible. Helen and Karen from the

Microsoft

Bianca Ravindran, BA (Hons) Economics and Finance

University checked over mine, and once I’d secured an interview they made time to run through possible interview questions, giving me advice on everything from interview preparation to my PowerPoint presentation. They were really helpful and supportive.

“The placement has given me an idea of where I want to be in the future when finishing my degree at Birmingham City University.”

Hewlett Packard

Charles Kemp, BA (Hons) Business and Marketing “I am currently taking my placement at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), a new branch of Hewlett Packard. I have been involved with a number of events all over the country, witnessing first-hand how the business works.

Since starting my placement, I have been lucky enough to attend business meetings and lunches with managers and shareholders.

“I undertook a Finance Placement Year at Microsoft UK HQ in Reading.

“The application processes are not easy.

Having said that, if you do really want to get a placement, you will! The more you apply to, the better you will get at the online tests, assessment centres and interviews. One thing I will say is to never be afraid of applying. It doesn’t matter how big the company is, if you don’t apply, you don’t get! Never in a million years did I think I would end up as part of the finance team at Microsoft!

“Helen was so helpful and supportive throughout the whole of the application process. From continuously reminding us of how many applications we should have done by now, to the constant emails of vacancies and being there to run through mock presentations – she was really a key part to understanding the benefits of a year in industry and guiding us through the process.

I had such an amazing year at Microsoft. I attended the annual 4

company conference at the Excel where CEO, Satya Nadella, spoke. This was such an incredible event where Microsoft announced lots of exciting new ideas to customers. I was also nominated for a Worldwide SMSG Finance Award and presented with an award for Personal Leadership and Impact from the UK CFO which was a personal highlight!

“I can honestly say that this placement year was one of the best decisions of my life. I have now secured a graduate role at PwC within the first few months of my final year and I believe that the knowledge and confidence I gained from my year in industry had a key part to play on this.

“I am still in touch with many of my colleagues from Microsoft and believe that the connections I made there will be useful to my professional life in the long run. 14 months in a professional working environment really adapts and prepares us for life after university and I cannot wait to get back to work now!”

“The experience and contacts that I have gained so far have really enlightened me to how crucial a placement year is, and how important it will be for my future. I am constantly learning skills which will not only give me a good work ethic for my final year, but will also help me get into a graduate scheme. Currently, I have been voted to sit in the charity committee. We support the Prince’s Trust and are constantly taking part in numerous activities to help raise funds and awareness. I recently took part in a 45 mile bike ride from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Palace, next on the list is the Three Peaks Challenge.

“For my interview and application process, I had to prepare a 20 minute presentation, as well as perform a group task and do an interview. The whole day was tough and the experience was invaluable, regardless of whether or not I had been successful. Luckily, Karen and Helen at the University were a relentless team who gave me constant guidance to what I would expect.”

Bentley Motors

Marks Hawkswood, BA (Hons) Business and Finance “My placement year was spent at Bentley Motors, working as a purchase representative at Volkswagen Slovakia.

“During my second year, I made full use of the opportunities the University have to offer, attending various workshops which included mock assessment centres and psychometric testing.

“During my placement I managed 10 suppliers, varying from medium to high risk, predominately within Europe and China. The suppliers manufactured components for all three of Bentley’s platforms, and the parts consisted of carbon fibre body kits to pressed aluminium structural components.

On a weekly basis I was required to present the status of my suppliers to the Purchasing Director and various other senior management figures.

“I was fortunate enough to be one of a select few that was granted the

opportunity to work in Slovakia for ten months on the new Bentley Bentayga project. This entailed monitoring the status of high risk body in white components on a daily basis, while working on the development of issues surrounding high-risk parts.

“Bentley Motors has provided me with a range of transferable skills, including an expansion of knowledge within the automotive industry, as well as relative business aspects such as engineering, quality assurance, purchasing and logistics. I plan to return to Bentley Motors in May 2016 and then start the graduate scheme in September 2016.

“My placement was invaluable. I have had the opportunity to build connections within the VW Group and suppliers worldwide, while gaining exposure to the board of directors and CEO at Bentley.”

Canon

Sam Burgess, BA (Hons) Marketing, Advertising and PR “When it came to applying for the placement, the interview and application process was pretty tough, but I knew it was what I wanted to do so I kept positive. The staff at Birmingham City University were incredibly helpful throughout the placement process, and the placement staff gave me great advice for interviews and assessment days.

“My placement year has been a steep learning curve, and I already feel I have gained so much from it. I’ve been involved in some great campaigns, and on a daily basis I am able to form working relationships with journalists, editors and social media influences.

I’ve really enjoying putting what I’ve learnt so far at university into practice.”

“I work within the PR team at Canon UK, covering a lot of media work. I help to ensure Canon receive positive coverage in key, relevant titles, and also promote new products, help plan Canon events and put together ad-campaigns.

I’ve attended a lot of events during my first few months, and was recently lucky enough to attend London Fashion Week, which was a personal highlight.

Solihull Council

Samuel Lamb, BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance “My placement was at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and I was working in internal audit.

“The interview and application process was quick and efficient. The interview included a test which directly related to a real-life situation, which I think is imperative in any job role as it allowed me to show off my ability.

“Helen and Karen were amazing at providing assistance and, pointing me in the right direction on what to expect during the application process and what hurdles may come along.

“Most of the work I did was internal and confidential however. I was involved with the elections process of the Solihull region, which was

definitely an eye opener to the political views the public hold in the area.

“Any day where it was a coworker’s birthday or any reason to celebrate was a highlight as there was always cake involved.

“This was an invaluable experience as I had no plausible knowledge of what graduate employers look for.

The placement has been extremely useful, as due to the nature of my team, I already have connections to other companies who have taken interest in me for graduate schemes.

“I definitely think I have a higher appreciation and understanding of applications and computer programs.”

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International Erasmus+ Study Abroad Programme Students at Birmingham City University are actively encouraged to engage with the Erasmus+ Study Abroad Programme. The Erasmus+ scheme enables higher education students in 31 European countries to study for part of their degree in another EU country.

Erasmus+ offers a unique opportunity to strengthen your foreign language skills, enhance your CV, experience new cultures and make new contacts and friends.

teaching staff, who encouraged me to learn and participate in a class.

“I was renting a room in a flat with another international student, a girl from the USA, and a local girl, who was a young professional. Because of that we spoke both English and Spanish in the house, which helped me to integrate into my environment faster.

There are also opportunities to study in the USA for one or two semesters in your second year.

“I managed to broaden my knowledge in the field I was studying as well, as the teaching methods that were applied in my ‘host’ university differed quite significantly from those that I was used to.

For more information visit www.bcu.ac.uk/erasmus.

“I would definitely recommend other students to take this opportunity.”

BA (Hons) Sociology student Kristina Kolesnikova has recently returned from an exchange trip in Spain.

“For me, the primary reason was to challenge my Spanish language skills. Living and studying in a foreign country is the most effective and fun way to learn any language and experience a new culture.

International student set for a successful career

Danica Apaya, a current BA (Hons) Economics and Finance student, is on track for a bright future. Originally from India but residing in Dubai, Danica has made the move to Birmingham to gain a degree and enhance her skills, helping her become an employable graduate.

Danica has been recognised by a number of staff from the Faculty due to her outstanding grades and excellent achievements. She has continued to impress her tutors with her coursework and exams, with marks of up to 97.0.

Now in her second year of studies, she is working hard to ensure she secures a high degree classification, to help her achieve her ultimate goal of working in investment banking. Danica has now been welcomed into the Faculty ambassador scheme, in which she has represented herself, the course and international students in front of prospective students and their parents at our Open Days. Becoming an ambassador will ensure her communication, organisational and other skills will grow rapidly.

In true modesty, Danica gives great gratitude to her tutors and staff in the international department, which has resulted in her gaining exceptional grades. “The lecturers and the Faculty as a whole were very supportive, by providing me with an opportunity to discuss lectures, coursework or exams whenever I was in doubt. As a result, I secured optimal results in all modules and I have thoroughly enjoyed my first year on the course.”

“I expected three things – language difficulties (which I got in abundance), making new friends from all over the world (my Facebook feed in ten different languages can testify to that) and hot Spanish weather (which turned out to be all lies).

“People at my ‘host’ university were very friendly and helpful. They understood the struggles that I, as an Erasmus+ student, had to face and made a real effort to help as much as they could. The same goes for the

Danica Apaya

Stand out as a student to set off on a study trip

Second and third year students in any Business, Law and Social Sciences course are now offered the unique chance to undertake a two week international study trip during the summer months. The International Office have set up a scheme whereby students are nominated by their Heads of School based on academic grades and achievements.

This unique opportunity to travel to Sri Lanka, Malaysia or China will give you a chance to see the beautiful historical and modern sites and to experience Asian culture. You will also gain a vital awareness of international business, law and social science practices which will in turn broaden your global mind set and skills.

What’s more, the University pay for your flights, accommodation, transport and visits. You will only have to pay for food, personal expenses and travel insurance. There are limited spaces if you wish to join the trip on a self-funded basis.

For more information please contact Monica Chen, C229.

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Have your say in the

Curzon News

What’s NEXT on the BLSS International Agenda?

• Are you a part of a sports team or society?

• Have you recently won an award?

• Want to promote an event or fundraiser?

If you have recently taken part in an activity or event that deserves recognition, then email your story to blssmarketing@bcu.ac.uk.

We want to hear what you have to say

Share your Christmas pics with us to feature in the next edition of

NEXT Campus, located in Sir Lanka, was set up by a group of professionals who hold senior management positions in the country’s corporate sector.

Curzon News

In August NEXT organised a market launch for the BLSS International MBA to be delivered by NEXT on a franchise basis. The very impressive market launch was attended by Vice-Chancellor Professor Cliff Allan, Professor Annie Lu and Professor Shiv Chaudhry, along with journalists, company directors, NEXT alumni and other interested parties from Sri Lanka. In total, there were approximately 200 people in attendance.

The most liked picture will win a Fujifilm camera!

We want to see your dressed-up dogs, Christmas crackers and silly Santa hats!

“When we think about the interests of the BLSS Faculty and the NEXT Campus we see a common thread,” said Dusty Alahakoon, CEO of Next Campus. “We share the same passion to produce employable graduates that industries demand.

“Sri Lanka is progressing fast. Our corporates need business talent that have global, as well as local, skills, which is where Birmingham City University’s International MBA fits in. We are very thankful to the University for their leadership in making the MBA a reality in Sri Lanka.”

Tag @blssinstagrad on Instagram

Become an International Study Buddy Here at Birmingham City University we have been recognised as a global institute. Each year, we welcome students from as far as Sri Lanka, China and Malaysia, and we strongly believe that our students can help ease the transition into university life for our international students. That’s where you come in.

So, what’s in it for you? Here are some details:

This new scheme offers you the chance to play a vital role in our undergraduate and postgraduate international students’ lives. You will have regular contact meetings with your mentor, both individually and as a group, and will act as a first port-of-call with regards to university and student life. You will also provide feedback to and mentor your international buddy, ensuring they settle into the UK and the University as smoothly as possible.

Your role will last throughout the academic year, and you will keep regular contact with the student, from when they accept our offer to when they graduate. You decide when, where and how often you meet, and you are also held reliable to submit your own working hours via a logbook.

• You will have the opportunity to work with a range of students from diverse countries and cultures that you may/may not have experienced before

• You will be paid £9.19 per hour • You will average four hours per week during term • Enhance and develop communication and employability skills • Improve your language skills

• You will receive a certificate and a reference letter from the Associate Dean International • You are given the chance to work in a rare scheme that sets you apart from other students • You have the opportunity to make new friends and contacts To find out more and complete an application, please contact Monica Chen, in room C229 or Barny Morris, room C242, both located in The Curzon Building.

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Meet the new and improved cleaning team Cleaning staff are a friendly face across campus, and are the colleagues that keep your kitchens clean and your sinks sparkling.

The team, who are employed by cleaning partners ISS, work in partnership with Campus Services and have bought in a number of improvements to coincide with the move to The Curzon Building, including new uniforms for all staff.

Gareth Woodward, ISS Contract Manager, explains: “We’ve gone with bright and bold coloured uniforms which are in keeping with the design of the building. It’s about making our staff more visible and easily recognisable.”

Staff and students can recognise senior supervisors by their navy suits and white shirts.

Supervisors wear lime green, daytime janitors wear aqua and daytime cleaners wear purple.

“The changes are about helping to deliver a great customer service, an approachable workforce and a clean, safe environment,” Gareth added. “The team are also on hand to assist in any urgent matters like spillages and reactive work that needs a speedy response.”

Student Support Services – We Are Here For You! University can be a tough time for students. Did you know the faculty has a team of Graduate Student Success Advisers who you can talk to?

They have an open door policy and are always happy to have an informal chat in a quiet place convenient to you. If you’re feeling homesick, having issues managing your time or external problems affecting your studies, we can help.

We encourage you to take advantage of this service. Please contact the relevant adviser who are all located in the same room, C206 The Curzon Building. The staff who work here are all recent graduates, so they are aware of the difficulties you may face.

Melindy Brown

Rohzeena Janjua

Nicole Riley

University wins bid to host international conference The University has beaten institutions from across the country to win the right to host a prestigious international conference.

The fourth International Illustration Symposium was hosted at The Parkside Building this November, with the world’s leading illustrators, graphic designers and other delegates present at the University for two days of presentations, films and networking events.

This year’s symposium took place on Thursday 5 November and featured a range of A-list speakers, including Paul Slater and Graham Elliott from New York.

The University beat competition from Liverpool John Moores University, Leeds Becket University, Stockport College and the London College of Communication to become the host city for the event. The successful bid is the culmination of several years of campaigning by Professor Andrew Kulman and the School of Visual Communication.

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Professor Kulman said: “This was a real coup for the University. It was a fantastic opportunity for both the University and the city to showcase how we have transformed ourselves over the past couple of years. The facilities at The Parkside Building are second to none, so getting the chance to showcase them to such an illustrious audience was great for the University.”

Derek Brazell, from the Association of Illustrators, added: “It’s important that these conferences are hosted by a major city and Birmingham City University represented the perfect venue.” The subtitle for this year’s event was‘Visionaries’, where the event looked to showcase the University’s vision for the future of Birmingham.

English Creative Writing student co-writes horror with Hollywood producer MA Creative Writing student Dan Witherall recently got the chance to co-write a short horror film with Hollywood producer Brian Yuzna.

Yuzna, who has worked on a number of horror movies, spent two days with students on a 48-hour project, helping to write, shoot and edit a horror movie within two days. Three School of English screenwriters made the shortlist – Dan and fellow Creative Writing student John Hunter, as well as undergraduate student Keenan Clarke. All three are taking courses in screenwriting with visiting lecturer Andy Conway, who launched the annual horror film pitch bulletin, SCREAM PITCH. After a hectic pitching session with Yuzna, Dan was selected as the screenwriter, co-writing it with Media student Luke Hamilton. The cross-faculty feature includes the talents of students from a wide variety of departments, and was screened at Millennium Point alongside a question and answer session with Yuzna.

Hear Shakespeare as you’ve never heard him before…

The University welcomed renowned linguist Professor David Crystal OBE to The Curzon Building on Monday 30 November to look at the increasing popularity of period-accurate interpretations of the Bard’s work.

Professor Crystal’s work is part of a movement that looks to present the plays of Shakespeare in their ‘original pronunciations’ (or OP), a linguistic reconstruction of the accents used in Shakespeare’s day. Some Shakespeare scholars have suggested that ‘Shakespeare’s English’ would have sounded like a mixture of Irish, Yorkshire and West Country accents.

The event, titled ‘The Tongue that Shakespeare Spoke’, saw Professor Crystal discussing the impact of OP performances and their increasing influence on the art form over the past decade. He explained the nature of the evidence that led to their reconstruction, and some of the literary and theatrical discoveries that have been made as a result.

OP productions of Romeo and Juliet and Troilus and Cressida have already been performed at Shakespeare’s Globe in London.

Andrew Kehoe, Deputy Head of the School of English, said: “We were very honoured welcome such a key influential figure to our new Curzon Building.”

Professor David Crystal is President of the UK National Literacy Association and received an OBE for services to the English language in 1995.

He became a Fellow of the British Academy in 2000. He now lives in Holyhead, where he is the director of the Ucheldre Centre, a multipurpose arts and exhibition centre.

For news about upcoming events across the University, please visit: www.bcu.ac.uk/ news-events 9

What’s on in Birmingham?

OpportUNIty ­­– Student Jobs on Campus has been established for you.

Look – Birmingham’s tallest office building to dominate skyline

Plans for Birmingham’s tallest office building – set to dominate the skyline around the Bullring – have been revealed.

The 30-storey tower is part of proposals for the Beorma Quarter scheme in Digbeth. If the scheme goes ahead, it would be the city’s third-tallest building, after the BT Tower and Radisson Blu hotel.

Kuwait-based property group Salhia Investments, which is leading the Beorma Quarter project, plans to demolish and renovate some existing buildings and erect three new towers on land bounded by Park Street and Digbeth, next to Moor Street car park.

Paul Garry, chairman of nearby Southside Business Improvement District, said: “The Beorma Quarter is playing a leading role in gentrifying this part of the city and can only encourage further investment.”

The plans include the refurbishment of the locally-listed 135-136 Digbeth and 137 Digbeth, which will be converted into shops.

A later phase would see two more towers built, of ten and 14 storeys respectively, which will front onto Well Lane and also contain a mix of retail, residential and office space.

In total, the project covers 508,000 sq ft and would contain 223 apartments.

We are investing in you by offering you the opportunity to be employed by the University. We will help you build, refine and be able to articulate your skills, knowledge and experience gained by working here to future employers.

By the time you leave university, we want you to have successfully achieved an academic qualification and in addition, we want you to have gained and developed core employability skills and attributes.

How will working for the University help you?

Well, read on and you’ll have the answers.

The key benefits for you are: • You get paid • You become a member of staff of the University • You develop employability skills and learn how to articulate them to future employers • You get to work on campus • You work hours that fit around your studies • You gain experience of recruitment and selection processes and get feedback at every stage of the process to help you improve in areas you need additional support (e.g. CV writing, interview techniques and so on) • You work with the university and shape the way it works.

Don’t waste this fantastic opportunity and register with us as soon as you can on:

bcu.ac.uk/opportunity 10

Proposals for the Beorma Quarter project date back to before the recession.

The scheme represents a show of confidence in Birmingham, after developments including the V Building, in Suffolk Street Queensway, were dramatically scaled back from submissions originally made during the boom years.

The first phase of the Beorma Quarter was completed this summer, with an 180-bedroom hotel, run by French chain Adagio, opening its doors.

Resorts World Birmingham – open for business

Digbeth Dining Club

Resorts World Birmingham has finally opened its doors to the public. The £150 million development, located next to Birmingham NEC, will be a thriving hub for tourists.

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 from £5-6 each, you can sample the varied cuisines on offer at an affordable price - perfect for a student budget! The frills and expense that comes with restaurant eating has been cut out, just quality, flavoursome food cooked in front of you. Digbeth Dining Club takes place just down the road from The Curzon Building; it is a perfect Friday night treat.

Find out more at www.digbethdiningclub.co.uk.

Packed full of retail stores, food outlets and activities, Resorts World Birmingham has something for everyone. Outlets located within the development include Nike, LegoWear, Pizza Express and an IMAX Cineworld.

Genting Casino and Hotel are also situated at the resort, along with bars, restaurants and Santai

by EF Mediaspa, a therapeutic, luxury spa.

Library of Birmingham in £2.1 million conversion for language school The Library of Birmingham is to undergo a £2.1 million conversion two years after it opened, to pave the way for a new language school.

The Brasshouse Language Centre, currently located on Sheepcote Street, will relocate to the state-of-theart library, enabling it to open to the public for longer.

Work begins early next year, with the £2.1 million conversion set to be open from September 2016.

Penny Holbrook, Labour cabinet member for Skills, Learning and Culture, said: “This move is a fantastic opportunity for the library and for the Brasshouse, whose users will benefit from a more modern environment, with an even greater range of resources.

“We have a world-class language service moving into a world-class building.”

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BLSS Academic elected to serve on the British Academy of Management Council Dr Margarita Nyfoudi, Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management and Associate Director BA (Hons) in Business and HRM, has been elected to serve on the British Academy of Management (BAM) Council from January 2016 to December 2019. BAM is the authoritative body of the academic discipline of business and management in the UK and Margarita will be contributing to the BAM Capacity Building Committee developing, organising and delivering interventions for BAM members.

“I am delighted that I have been elected to sit on the British Academy of Management Council for the following three years! I look forward to building on the work I started a few years ago and making a real difference in the professional development of the BAM members,” Margarita said.

Margarita’s first involvement with the BAM Council was through her successful election as a full-time Doctoral Representative for the period from May 2012 to December 2014. In 2015, she was co-opted on the Council so as to continue her work in capacity building, especially with regard to the organisation and delivery of the very successful Annual Doctoral Workshop on publishing, which was hosted here, at the University.

Guardian column marks David Cameron’s visit to Jamaica Staff from The Guardian have called on an academic from the School of Social Sciences to write an article to coincide with David Cameron’s recent visit to Jamaica.

Dr Kehinde Andrews, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, penned the column around the topic of the UK’s role in the slave trade and the ways that authority has rationalised the country’s involvement in the practice. In the article, he calls for the UK government to move away from the ‘myths’ around the abolition of the slave trade.

He writes: “The progressive myth of Britain’s role in the enslavement of Africans is part of a wider historical delusion...Not only did this narrative provide Britain with a positive spin on its involvement, it also undermined the role of black agency in bringing about the end of the slave trade.”

Dr Margarita Nyfoudi

Senior Lecturer attended WWII awarding ceremony in Washington DC

The Prime Minister visited Jamaica in September, where he spoke to the Jamaican parliament about the legacy of slavery and the role of Britain in abolishing the “abhorrent” slave trade, calling on the two countries to “move on from this painful legacy and continue to build for the future.”

“The legacies of slavery are clear to see in the poverty in the Caribbean and racial inequalities in Britain. In any rational analysis, it is clear as day that Britain owes a substantial debt to the descendants of those who were enslaved,” Kehinde writes.

Dr Andrews completed his PhD in Sociology and Cultural Studies, entitled ‘Back to Black: Black Radicalism and the Black Supplementary School Movement’, at the University of Birmingham. He published his first book ‘Resisting Racism: Race, Inequality and the Black Supplementary School Movement’ in 2013.

Dr Kehinde Andrews Chris King

Chris King, Senior Lecturer in Law, recently attended a special award ceremony in Washington DC. The ceremony commemorated the Monuments Men, who were sent to Germany soon after World War Two to recover fine arts and items previously looted by the Nazis. Stolen items included works from Michelangelo and Jan van Eyck.

The ceremony and medal were announced by the US Congress after author Robert Edsel, who wrote the book on which the recent Monuments Men film was based, campaigned for greater recognition of their bravery and hard work.

Chris was invited to the ceremony due to his father, Donald, being one of the Monuments Men. Coincidentally, his research interests include the law relating to art and cultural property, particularly looted art.

Chris was pleased to have the chance to attend the prestigious event. “Although my primary reason in attending the ceremony was to honour the work done by my father and his fellow Monuments Men, I’m hoping it will also serve to further my research interests,” he said.

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Professor Chris Edger

University academic nominated for top literary prize A publication written by an academic from BLSS has been shortlisted for the prestigious Management Book of the Year award.

Professor Chris Edger has already beaten off competition from authors such as Alastair Campbell, Mark Payne and Susie Heath to see make the 2016 shortlist.

The competition, organised by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) in association with the British Library, is now in its sixth year and seeks to award titles that have the potential to transform the effectiveness of working managers or equip students for future management roles.

Featuring case studies from owners and operators of successful franchise systems – including Costa Coffee, Domino’s Pizza, Dunkin’ Donuts, Ramada Encore and Spar – Franchising: How Both Sides Can Win melds 15 years of practitioner insight with academic commentary. Along with co-author Andrew Emmerson, the book provides comprehensive advice on how franchisors and franchisees can achieve success in their respective fields.

Chris Edger, Professor of Multi-Unit Leadership, Birmingham City University said that inspiration from the book has come about from a desire to capture the entrepreneurial spirit of the time: “Franchising is becoming a more popular model in the UK – as witnessed by the recent surge in Costa Coffee, Starbucks, McDonalds and Papa John’s franchises – however, relatively little has been written on the subject.

“Due to our academic and commercial backgrounds, we believed that we could fashion a book that would help aspirant and ambitious franchisors and franchisees fulfil their dreams. We have been delighted with the overwhelmingly positive reaction we have received from the book’s readers so far and are now thrilled to have made the shortlist.”

Professor Edger’s book has been shortlisted in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship category, which focuses on books that inspire innovation, encourage business or product development or support organisational development and adaptability.

During the next stages of judging, five category winners will be chosen, with an overall winner awarded the title of CMI Management Book of the Year. All winners will be announced at an event to be held at the British Library in February next year.

Future Talks presents ‘The Future of Murder’ Wednesday 16 March, 6.15 – 8pm Guest Speakers: Erwin James – Prison Correspondent for The Guardian, convicted double murderer.

Dr Jamie Bennett – Governor at HMP Grendon and Spring Hill, and Honorary Visiting Fellow at University of Leicester Professor David Wilson – Leading criminologist and expert on serial killers Dr Elizabeth Yardley – Reader in Criminology

More information coming soon

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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 75 of the best independent cafes, bars, restaurants and shops in the city.

Find out more and read the blog at www.independent-birmingham.co.uk.

Recover from the January blues with these mouth-watering dishes Ladies and gentlemen – winter has finally arrived.

The cold winds are a-blowing, the leaves are a-changing and it’s high time we put on that everessential layer of fat to see us through the coming months. Indeed, that being said, we plan to stuff our faces with only the best of Birmingham’s comfort food – as we stave off the chilly festive period with plates of moreish lasagnes, lifesaving soups and, of course, mountainous burgers slathered in all kinds of goodness.

Cheeky burger – Nosh & Quaff

New York Wings – The Rose Villa Tavern

Prawns seasoned with chilli and garlic – Comida @ The Tapas Kitchen

The Coney Island hot dog – Chilli Dogdogs

Fish and chips – Ju Ju’s cafe Carrot soup – The Bureau

Five spiced lobster – Itihaas

Cod cheek scampi and chips – The Old Crown

Old Charleston shrimps and grits – The Church 14

Ribs – Low ’n’ Slow (Digbeth Dining Club)

Shin of beef pie – The Lord Clifden

Char sui buns – Chung Ying Central Sticky bourbon wings – The Sunflower Lounge (Sunny’s Soul Shack)

Pancakes – Cherry Reds The brunch sharing platter – Gas Street Social Seasonal crumble – Purnell’s Bistro

35 Day dry aged galloway steak – Meating

How to combat exam stress Nobody likes thinking about them, but exams are just lurking around the corner. Of course, everybody wants to forget they even exist so they can fully indulge in Christmas festivities, but unfortunately, you can’t put them off forever.

Our amazing faculty ambassadors have let us in on their secrets to combatting exam stress and deadlines.

Morola Olatiti-Lawal, LLM International Business Law “Eat loads of chocolate, listen to music, and take a walk around shopping malls. (We think she’s just avoiding revision altogether).”

Danica Apaya, BA (Hons) Economics and Finance “An effective exam tip according to me is to plan a study schedule outlining by when you should complete each topic. This way, you can split the entire portion into smaller and more comprehensive parts, thus keeping track of what of you have completed rather than getting overwhelmed by the task ahead.”

Sunday lunch – The Plough

Asja Ivanova, BA (Hons) Criminology “Sufficient sleep, sufficient water intake and remember to take a 20-60 min chill time. Combine this with my favourite music on my mp3 and I feel so much better. I usually pick the tune that evokes desire to dance, Halestorm seems to work well for me.”

Elio Delgado and Jasmine Harding, BA (Hons) Marketing, Advertising and PR “Always wear comfortable clothes when sitting an exam as this helps you to relax. We find that planning your time well and starting in advance helps. Go to the gym or do regular exercise to take your mind of things.”

Luxshi Jey, BA (Hons) Business and Management “To help calm my exam stress I always plan my day ahead so I know what I’m doing. I find that taking regular breaks away from work and changing the topic of study keeps me alert and focused.”

Nabila Okino, LLB Law “Keep eating. Healthy food preferably. If you get fat, oh well. Always stay hydrated and take naps from time to time. Go on walks to reflect on what you’ve read.”

Sarah Aziz and Ikra Arif, BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance “Check emails (sync to your phone) and Moodle regularly, don’t be afraid to speak to your personal tutor and/or lecturer and we always try and have a group study session – this helps if you are revising for the same exam.”

Kayleigh Swift, BA (Hons) Marketing, Advertising and PR “Post-it notes are so handy – I stuck them all around my room a month before my exam and without knowing it, you automatically take in and remember what you wrote on them. This is a really useful tip for acronyms! Also, remember to keep hydrated – you can easily forget to drink and that’s not good.”

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BCUSU Sports No soggy bottom for our cheerleaders

BCU Burlesque boosted with new beginners

As a sports team or society, you are encouraged to generate your own funds, which then go into your fundraising account.

The Burlesque Society has just launched this term and are wiggling their way to stardom. The society have received huge praise for the sheer amount of new members, with over 50 students turning up every session. The classes have been split up give the boys and girls enough room to shake their bums!

The University’s cheerleaders recently hosted a cake stall in The Curzon Building. They baked and sold their cakes to students and staff, which saw their funds rise with not a soggy bottom in sight. President Nicole Plant was proud of the team’s efforts, saying: “(I am) so proud of BCU Cheerleading, who raised £168.83 from our bake sale.” Well done ladies.

Ayesha Brown has high hopes for the Society and their future performances: “With Pride parades and flash mobs planned, I’m definitely looking forward to what the rest of the year holds for BCU Burlesque.”

The dancers are now in the last stages of rehearsals for their premier performance, a take on Moulin Rouge.

It will be performed at 6 on Broad Street on Wednesday 25 November. Tickets can be bought online via the BCUSU website, while information about the event can also be found on the BCU Burlesque Facebook page.

Congratulations to Team BCU’s kickboxer Anthony Byrne, who won Gold in his category at the ICO Championships in Germany.

Crouch-TouchVICTORY!

Birmingham City University’s men’s rugby team have successfully won their first away match in over 18 months.

Run, Jenny, Run!

Students’ Union President Jenny Watkins is not running out of steam any time soon.

Since early last year, Jenny has been working hard and working out to achieve her goals, and to date her fitness biography is extremely impressive. Her most recent accolade was completing the Birmingham Half Marathon with a broken toe.

She mentions that her sheer grit and determination comes from “wanting to continuously improve myself mentally and physically, and to prove all the people who’ve ever told me I can’t do something that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to.”

Added to her ongoing list of active accomplishments, Jenny has completed the Spartan Beast, Great Birmingham Run, The Wolfrun, Muddy Race, Mudnificent Obstacle Race, Dirt Run Summer Sizzler and the Timberhonger 10K, to name only a few.

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Congratulations to our team, who managed to get a sneaky win against the University of Wolverhampton, winning 33-21. It was the first time the University had beaten a team away since beating University College Birmingham 22-17 on 19 March.

The boys gave it their all and Lawrence Marshall, captain, was incredibly pleased with the team’s performance and victory.

Rugby training is held every Monday from 7 – 9pm at Aston Old Edwardians.