BU Living

Your guide to life and study at Bournemouth University

ent nion Presid U ’ ts n e d son, Stu endel-Wil h c S e lo h C , page 16

ng Volunteeri

Days and nights out Page 04

Global study opportunities Page 24

Out of this world facts about BU Page 35

e m o c Wel iversity is Choosing a un n. a BIG decisio h that.

Actually, scratc It’s a

massive

decision.

out It’s not just ab t to study what you wan

– it’s about the town you’ll be living in for the next three or four years of your life, the kind of lifestyle you like to have, the kind of people you’ll be hanging out with away from your lectures and much, much more. It’s no wonder some people find it all a bit scary but, hopefully, that’s where we come in.

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We’re here to give you a good idea of what it’s like to be at Bournemouth University – the opportunities that would be available, the sort of things you might find yourself getting up to, and the type of people that are already here. Have a read, drop us a line if you have any questions (askBUenquiries@ bournemouth.ac.uk), and maybe come and visit us on an Open Day to see if we’re the right university for you.

14 Placements: In at the deep end

32 Co-create At BU, students don’t just learn from their lecturers, they also work with them on some ground-breaking research projects

We catch up with Scott Wilson to discover how he improved Rolls-Royce’s process while on his work placement

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Life in Bournemouth A quick guide to why Bournemouth is the place to be – whatever you’re into

06 Talk from the top We talk to Vice-Chancellor Professor John Vinney and SUBU President Murray Simpson about what they think makes BU stand out

08 A voice for students

s t n e ont

John Gusman, Students’ Union Vice-President for Education, laid the foundation for our Student Rep system.

In this interview, he talks about the positive impact it will have on your education

16 Make a difference: Volunteer

Some inspirational stories that show how BU students are making a huge impact on their local communities

20 Shrievalty Students: Leaving a legacy for the community

Launched in 2012 by the High Sheriff of Dorset, BU’s Shrievalty students are nominated to work with local charities to help get more students involved

22 Supporting our community

Volunteering is not just a great thing to do to pick up valuable skills and make a difference – it will also help enhance your CV

24 Going global

Find out more about how the system works, and hear from some of those who have been a part of it this year

A degree at BU can take you pretty much anywhere in the world. We explore just some of the amazing places BU students have visited

the student experience

What is it that makes studying at BU different to studying anywhere else? We put that question to three of our Associate Deans (Student Experience) – find out what they had to say!

Going to university for the first time is a big step. BU has a team of Student Engagement Coordinators to help new students settle in and make the most of their university experience

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10 Represent

12 Redefining

34 GROW@BU

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28 Get active with sportBU If sport and recreation is your thing, then you NEED to see what BU has to offer with this whistle-stop guide to keeping active

30 #BUProud Sharing what it is about being part of the Bournemouth University community that makes so many staff and students #BUProud

Bournemouth University is the first university to have been “commended” for the quality of student learning opportunities by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. BU Living magazine features some of the reasons why BU gained this award.

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and of student, d in k ry e v love the ffer e ou. Do you thing to o y e ts m s o s re s te a uisine? th h at in re Asian c ournemou end on wh lo p p e x d e l il to t w an ere outh is surf? Or w your life h , Bournem to re g a in u o rn y a t y le . den arts? Fanc type of stu the place to come to Whatever

B

The party-goers Bournemouth is well known for its night-life.

With many nightclubs and club nights you will easily find the type that suits you: the Old Fire Station – run by the Students’ Union at BU (SUBU) – has nights for indie lovers, house lovers, and most music genres, really, including live nights and events such as Comedy Nation, showcasing the latest comedy; other nightclubs, all in the town centre and near each other, offer different choices over different nights, so there is always something to go to.

The adventurers Bournemouth is surrounded by stunning rolling hills, and the beautiful and

vast New Forest. If you like walking and discovering new places then you will love it here. You can take a walk along the coast to the Old Harry Rocks, take a trip to Swanage and explore the surrounding countryside, or journey into the depths of the New Forest, getting lost along the way among the horses and the wildlife. And if you prefer the beach - we have eight miles of golden sand on our doorstep - there are plenty of surfing and kayaking opportunities, along with other watersports you can try, it’s right there for you to go and discover.

The food and drink lovers Bournemouth also offers an eclectic choice of dining.

Tiien Thai and Indian Ocean on the West Cliff offer delicious Asian foods, and Valentino and Enzee in the town centre serve mouth-watering pizza. If you love cocktails and fancy

dressing up and listening to live music, then 1812 is the place for you to go, where you can enter with an air of sophistication. Or if you still want a drink, but would rather not dress up and instead eat a nice burger with delicious chips, then head to 60 Million Postcards, where (yes, you guessed it) the walls are covered in postcards.

The art-lovers Bournemouth and Poole offer an outlet for every artist. The Lighthouse, the Pavilion and the BIC offer any entertainment you can think of, such as ballets, live concerts, and plays.

The Russell-Cotes museum is just a beautiful house to walk through (and dream of owning), but it is also filled with art-pieces and collected items from around the world.

And if you’d rather just stay outside, there are art-walks and open-air music stands to fulfil your every need.

?

So, what kind of student will you be

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Talk from

top the

We caught up with Vice-Chancellor Professor John Vinney and the President of the Students’ Union at Bournemouth University (SUBU), Murray Simpson, to ask them what they feel really makes BU a great place to work and study.

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In 2013, BU became the first university to be “commended” by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for the quality of its learning opportunities.

What do you think this award means for BU students?

John: The QAA commendation is an amazing achievement and a mark of top quality. It means that BU stands out above all other UK universities for the quality of its student learning opportunities. Put simply this means that, at BU, the provision made for students’ learning, including planned study, teaching, assessment, academic and personal support, and resources stands out from the rest.

Murray: This commendation means students can be confident that the learning opportunities available to them at BU are some of the best out there. This means they are more likely to engage with these activities and leave BU with an unique experience that makes them different from every other graduate in the UK. What is your favourite memory of your time at BU so far?

John: It’s hard to pick one as there are so many - one of my favourites has to be visiting Buckingham Palace with a team of staff and students to collect the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher Education. BU received a nomination for

world-leading excellence and pioneering development in computer animation.

It was a very special moment and one that I will never forget!

Murray: Mine has to be taking part in Raising and Giving - the fundraising arm of the Students’ Union at BU (SUBU) - and being part of the committee who raised over £180,000 for charity.

BU completely encourages taking part in these activities, and it really gives you a unique story to tell.

Lots of BU staff and students have been sharing what makes them proud of their university by using the hashtag #BUProud. What makes you #BUProud?

John: I’m really proud of our commitment to combine research, education and professional practice. It’s so powerful and gives our graduates the edge when it comes to finding employment. We’re really clear on the type of university we aspire to be, and that means we can focus all of our decisions on making our vision of BU’s future a reality.

Murray: It has to be the partnership between BU and the students.

The way the University listens and responds to student feedback is special, and something that will continuously give us more and more QAA commendations in the future.

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A voice for cation, dent for Edu si re P eic V t Rep system n, the SUBU John Gusma of our Studen ce n ie er p ex his education. talks about prove your im n ca it w and ho

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that there is genuine partnership between the university and the students. With fter my first year at BU I realised student experience placed at the heart of that I wanted to get more out of the university vision, staff are very receptive my time at university. I looked to what students have to say about their into becoming a Student Rep and decided courses and life at BU more broadly. This to give it a go, not really knowing what to means that we can have a real impact on expect. When I went to the training day at our education. the start of the year as one of 811 elected Student Reps act as the voice of the student reps, I soon realised how exciting students. Our various forums for students this opportunity was. to provide feedback to the university bring I may be biased, but I truly believe that we together groups of reps from particular have the best rep system in the world here departments, whilst the Education Council at BU. What makes our approach work so looks at issues affecting the whole student well is that it is completely student-led and body. We also run our own student opinion

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r ep of the Yea S Student R U N p ed re d t ar en John was aw k in setting up the stud wor ps together 2012 for his ht all the re ug ro b y et ci so e university society. The es across th su is on m m r the UK. to look at co er, a first fo h et g to k or and to w

survey each term to allow students to tell their tutors what they want them to ‘keep, stop and start’. All of these outlets give us a way to have a dialogue with the university and see that we really are listened to.

I gained so much more from becoming a Student Rep than I thought I would.

truly “I may be biased, but I believe that we have the in best student rep system the world”

The training and experience this role offers you is great for employability, helping to develop communication and problem solving skills, but also giving you more confidence as you start to see what you can achieve.

It certainly gave me a more rounded and enjoyable university experience and led to my first full-time job with the Students’ Union where I am now responsible for all student reps.

You come to university for your education at the end of the day. By becoming a Student Rep you can play a pivotal role in designing that education for yourself, your classmates and future cohorts of students.

John Gusman VP Education at SUBU BU Living

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Represent

It’s your education, and at BU we encourage you to get as involved as possible in how you study. We are home to an extensive Student Rep network, which is organised through the Students’ Union at Bournemouth University (SUBU). It’s one of the best systems in the country, and we’re aiming to be the best in the world by 2016.

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tudent Reps are given lots of training and support (as well as a free purple hoody!) to help them make a real difference to the quality of the degrees at BU. They represent the voice of all students so if you ever have a problem or a concern at BU, you know that by talking to the Student Rep for your course or the person that deals with that particular area, your voice will be heard.

Here, some of our Student Reps talk about what the system means for them.

Inspired to get involved

“

The SU President during my time at BU was very conscious of raising awareness of the power of the student voice, and this inspired me to get involved in the Rep system. It was a demanding role, liaising with students and the university’s executive board, but we really brought about some positive changes, especially with regards to providing extra teaching support to students.

My communication skills were put to the test; gathering student opinions, collating them and presenting them appropriately was tricky, however I received a great deal of support from staff, even up to the level of my School’s Associate Dean.

Beneficial changes

I always wanted to become more involved in student life above and beyond my studies, so I ran for election as a Student Rep. During my time as a rep we made lots of changes which were really beneficial to the students, such as allowing Wednesdays to be free of lessons so that people could participate in sports, and helping resolve deadline and course change issues.

Being a Rep allowed me to contribute directly to the BU student experience, creating benefits for both present and future students.

Thomas Denys MA Tourism

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Andy Yeates BSc (Hons) Forensic Computing & Security

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Students’ best interests at heart

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The Rep system was relatively new, so there was a lot to learn and take on. For me, the most challenging aspect was making sure that every concern was heard and dealt with appropriately, and my main achievement was closing that feedback loop and making sure students were kept updated on any changes.

The staff really had the students’ best interests at heart, and it was very rewarding to realise how much of a significant part the reps played in the overall academic experience.

Annie Hall BA (Hons) Marketing, now SUBU’s Vice-President of Communications

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NUS Student of the Year winner 2012

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It was challenging communicating these ideas to the student population, but I was able to measure my success in the changes I saw as a result of my campaigning. During my time as a trustee the number of Student Reps increased, and I got involved in plans regarding accessibility for the new student union building.

My highlight was winning the NUS Student of the Year 2012 award; I didn’t even know I’d been nominated! I am certain that the supportive environment at BU and my involvement with SUBU were what made me stand out. I was really proud to have been nominated, and winning the NUS award was an amazing, unforgettable experience.

Lisa Marshall BSc (Hons) Psychology

”

See for yourself!

To find out what being a Student Rep is all about, scan this QR code with your smartphone to see a video made by last year’s recruits!

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REDEFINING

experience making the How we’re er erience bett student exp t BU. than ever a

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aking sure students get the most out of their studies is the most important thing a university can do. At BU, we take that commitment very seriously indeed, and we have appointed Associate Deans within each Academic School who have specific responsibility for the student experience.

industry,” she says. “One way of doing this is through getting the students to work collaboratively and we do a lot of that in The Media School. Getting students from different disciplines to work together to deliver their assessments recreates what they would be doing in their careers: working in multi-disciplinary teams.”

They work with students and course leaders to make sure that everything is going well – and any successes in one area are introduced to others. If any problems are identified then it’s their job to work with everyone involved to resolve them as quickly as possible. They meet regularly with the Student Reps, looking at issues from timetabling to academic support and from library resources to bus timetables. In short, if it is something that will impact on your student experience, they’re interested in helping!

Andrew Main thinks that placing learning into context is another big part of a BU education. “An important part of our degrees is the way in which we don’t just teach modules in isolation, but show students how they relate to one another.

It means that they can see the whole picture and helps the lecturers to guide student learning by expanding on prior knowledge over time,” he says.

Three of our Associate Deans (Student Experience) met BU Living for a coffee to tell us more about the ways they help students.

They are pictured from right to left – Fiona Cownie (The Media School), Andrew Main (The Faculty of Science and Technology) and Mark Ridolfo (The Business School).

“We’ve got a really important relationship with our students at BU,” says Mark. “All of our courses are designed with them at the very heart. It’s important to get the balance right between supporting students and giving them the autonomy that they need to study effectively at university level.

We’ve got a great support structure here but ultimately the underlying theme is independence. We want to create graduates who are able to go out in the world and take on any challenge placed in front of them!”

Fiona is quick to agree, adding that creating employable graduates is absolutely vital to all BU degrees. “We try to make sure that the teaching and assessment methods all reflect what students will be doing in

“We’ve got a great support structure here but ultimately the underlying theme is independence” Mark Ridolfo When talking to the trio, it is clear that they are all passionate about making the student experience at BU the best it can possibly be, and all three are quick to acknowledge the importance of listening closely to what students want and need from their education. By combining their experience with the needs of the students, we’ve been able to shape the student experience at BU into an enjoyable challenge that pushes back boundaries and creates opportunities.

Perhaps the last word is best left to Mark.

“We’ve got a really powerful partnership with our students, thanks to the brilliant Student Rep scheme. It makes sure that we can respond quickly to any issues raised by students and that the university is working as hard as it possibly can to make sure our courses are meeting their needs. That’s a big part of what we’re here to do, after all.”

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: s t n e m e Work plac

G I S E D A

ds ands of poun s u o th e c y o olls-R Best dent saved R n the 2013 BU o w d n a – t How one stu n e work placem the bargain. as part of his to in e z ri P t n eme Student Plac

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It didn’t take Scott long to get to grips with his work at Rolls-Royce, thanks to very undergraduate BU student the practical nature of his degree. He was gets the chance to go on a work tasked with making test results from the placement. Many of them last a bespoke engineering department more full year, and you’ll be doing much more accessible to the engineers, and set to work than simply watching what goes on. doing just that.

You’ll have learned enough on your course “The results were recorded in a central to become an active part of the organisation database,” explains Scott, “but it wasn’t you work for. That was certainly the case for very easy to use or access. I developed a Scott Wilson, a BA (Hons) Industrial Design testing matrix to hold summaries from tests, Student who won the 2013 BU Best Student providing links to the actual lab reports. The Placement Prize for his work at Rolls-Royce document is now used as a central planning Motor Cars. tool for the department and is helping to “I knew that the standards and expectations save thousands of pounds a year through would be extremely high at Rolls-Royce,” recalls Scott. “At first, I felt like I was in at the deep end but I soon realised that I could cope with the challenges I faced.”

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more efficient planning and testing. Having such a successful work placement has really boosted my confidence too, knowing that I will be able to cope with whatever is thrown at me in my career.”

Like many of our students, Scott also found that the experience he gained on his work placement has helped him in the final year of his course too. “I’ve been able to apply a lot of what I was doing at Rolls-Royce to my coursework,” he says. “For example, I now use Photoshop to produce all my design images, and I still use the CAD package I was using there.”

The other skills Scott developed have also come in very useful as he prepares to start his career in design. “I really benefitted from learning how to communicate my ideas better,” he says. “I had to work with people across lots of different departments and liaise with suppliers from around the world and this experience really helped me to improve how I present my ideas and share my work. The work placement has definitely strengthened my degree.”

The extra confidence that Scott credits his work placement with giving him is already helping as he sets about fulfilling his ambition – to work as a furniture designer in Sweden. “I recently went to an international furniture design conference in Stockholm to network and learn more about the industry,” he says. “Before my work placement, I would never have had the confidence to do something like that!”

Does Scott have any advice for students considering a work placement as part of their degree? “Just enjoy it!” he beams.

“Don’t worry that you won’t be able to do everything straight away; it is part of your course and you will still be learning. Just get involved in everything that you can, and make the most of it!”

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W h ar ow ea an l d ts iff to ere ma nc ke e?

Ha n up ds

With many applicants chasing every graduate job, how are you going to make yourself stand out from the crowd? Voluntary work can give your CV a real edge when it comes to starting your career, as well as being hugely rewarding. The great news is that we make it very easy to get involved.

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UBU’s volunteering team works closely with the student-led volunteering committee to offer a wide range of opportunities for students to take part in local projects. Not only can you have a positive impact on the local community, you can gain new skills and experience to help you stand out to future employers.

What’s more, by volunteering you can meet new people, have fun and come away feeling fantastic!

(Left) Big Feed volunteers collecting at a local supermarket (below) 5 min volunteering knitting a blanket for Waggy Tails Rescue

Dominique Hopton found the volunteering opportunities at SUBU provided her with a range of new experiences.

“Direct entry into the second year of my BSc (Hons) Archaeology course meant that meeting new people was initially a bit of a struggle. Volunteering at BU is very sociable; the Make a Difference (MAD) Days were a great way to meet like-minded people whilst helping out in the local community. I’ve worked with the National Trust, carried out archaeological projects, and am now Volunteer Co-ordinator for Culture Volunteers Poole. I never would have considered applying for this role before, but now I feel it is where my future career lies.”

BSc (Hons) Sports Management student Peter Briant is a SUBU Beach Champions Project Leader.

“Treading on glass at the beach made me decide I should get involved in helping out within Bournemouth’s local community. I became a Beach Champions Project Leader, and my role involves conservation work as well as budgeting, promotion, marketing and liaising with the council and Marine Conservation Society.

“All the SUBU volunteers get on really well, it’s a great team. Volunteering gives you so many skills, and is a useful addition to your CV. Volunteering has made me more employable, but – most importantly – it’s fun.”

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Grace James, studying BA (Hons) Business and Management, started volunteering by teaching children during her summer travels in Peru: “When I got back to uni after Peru, 5 Minute Volunteering allowed me to fit volunteering around my studies and I loved it so much that I soon got involved in running the programme.

“A particular highlight for me was becoming a student ambassador, and mentoring 15 to 16-year-olds at local schools. Volunteering is definitely addictive; I always find myself wanting to do more, and enjoy seeing the positive effect of my efforts.

“Volunteering at BU has really inspired me, and in the future I hope to set up my own education-focussed NGO.”

In the second year of her BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism Alys Penfold became Media Leader for SUBU’s Volunteering Group.

“I worked on the The Big Feed, which was an amazing event which we used to introduce freshers to volunteering at BU. Overall there were nearly 50 of us spread around seven

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(Top Left) Slades Farm volunteers (Top & bottom right) Beach champions beach clean – a student-led project (Above) BU volunteer picking potatoes at Slades Farm

Chloe Schendel-Wilson started volunteering through SUBU, which led to her position as Volunteering President and now she has been elected SUBU President by fellow students.

“My work with The Chatterboxes, a youth group for 11-19 year olds living with disabilities, kicked off my interest in volunteering and inspired me to run for Volunteering President. SUBU had previously helped me to fund a volunteering placement at a local nature reserve, and I felt that this was my chance to give something back.

supermarkets in Bournemouth, working to encourage people to donate food to The Trussell Trust for food banks.

“My role as Media Leader means that I get involved in a lot of the volunteering projects at SUBU, but The Big Feed was by far my favourite as it helped so many people.

“Volunteering has also helped me in terms of my future career prospects. I work a lot on promoting the events and boosting student involvement, which means that my leadership skills have grown, and I can show employers that I am able to use my initiative. I am now looking to set up my own volunteering project in my final year.

It’s great to give back alongside developing both personally and professionally.”

“We’ve made great progress this year;

by February we’d already exceeded last year’s volunteering total of 2,700 hours, and increased the number of volunteers and volunteering opportunities.

“Volunteering has been the highlight of my uni experience. Last September we ran an event called The Big Feed. Over 1.5 tonnes of food were donated on the day, and we raised nearly £1,000. Loads of freshers got involved, and many of them have continued volunteering.

“I’ve really enjoyed being able to make a difference. I get a lot out of volunteering; knowing I’ve made a difference to someone’s life is great, and I’ve been able to develop my own skills whilst helping out.

It’s definitely been one of the best parts of my time here at BU.” BU Living

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Shrievalty Award: Leaving a legacy for students

In 2012 the High Sheriff of Dorset launched the Shrievalty Award for BU students to help raise the profile of the university and have a positive impact on the local community.

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Annual nominations Three students in their second year were nominated for the award from across BU for their involvement in the university. Preslava Ivanova (BA (Hons) Tourism Management) was nominated as an active student rep whilst Josh Freeman (BA (Hons) Politics and Media) helped to set up the first political society at BU. However, being nominated was just the first step as Ian Jones, Head of Community Engagement, explains: “They each had an interview with me where they had just one minute to say why they wanted this role and who the High Sheriff was. I didn’t tell them what I looked like or where I would be sitting so this really tested how well they were prepared and ready for this role.”

Charitable work This year the students are working with two local safety education charities. For Poole-based Streetwise, Preslava and Josh are working with SUBU to build a stronger relationship between the charity and Bournemouth students; creating volunteering opportunities and involving students in a new safety nightclub launch.

The project with Safewise in Weymouth

brings together students from BU, Weymouth and Budmouth Colleges to develop and deliver social media classes for the local community.

“It is really important that when we finish this project at the end of the year, we leave a legacy so that the work can be continued,” explains Preslava. “It is a unique opportunity to really make this project our own so we want to make sure we can have a long-term impact on the community.”

Josh said: “We do get paid a little and have full responsibility for delivering the project so it is like a job, but it opens up so many more opportunities than working in the local supermarket, for example. I know that this experience will be invaluable when I get to my placement next year.

“It is also really nice to be rewarded and recognised for the work you do. The more you engage with the university and SUBU, the more opportunities are available to you. After all, this is what you come to university for.”

“Universities are very similar now,” added Preslava, “It is the little extras that make the difference. Everyone has a degree so what is going to set you apart?”

The more you engage w ith the university and SU BU, the more opportunities are available to you.

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our comm University is not just a route to a qualification, it is a diverse life-changing experience. Ian Jones, Head of Regional Community Partnerships at BU, outlines how students can benefit from working on projects within the local region.

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mployers today want to see that graduates have talent and experience beyond their studies and that they have broader, transferable skills that are an asset in the workplace. At BU there are so many opportunities for students to get involved with, all you need to do is get stuck in!

Community engagement projects have so much to offer students; developing employability skills, working with a range of different people and simply getting out of your comfort zone to see what you can achieve.

This year our students have been… ...working with local digital agency Adido to provide social media training for six charities in the region. ...invited to Brussels with Julie Girling, MEP for the South West, to shadow her work in the European Parliament. ...invited to work with the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner to help establish Community Justice Panels. ...invited to attend sessions at Poole Council to give their input and perspective on local issues. ...running the “Lock It or Lose It” campaign to encourage students and local residents to lock their homes and keep their belongings safe.

munity

...conducting research to support Kite Right, a local kitesurfing charity that supports people with cerebral palsy, whilst the Students’ Union has led fundraising efforts for the charity.

I think it is also important that we – as a university – play an active role in our community as we can make a positive difference to local businesses, charities and community groups.

...getting involved in the development of a new 5 star hotel in Bournemouth to be opened by property developers That Group. Over 50 students will have been involved in the project by the time the hotel opens including:

When I first started my role here at BU the kinds of projects that I was approached with all focused on addressing the negative aspects of community, like noise and litter. However, now, as BU increases local engagement, more people are realising just what our students can do to help and make a difference.

• MA Marketing students developing a marketing plan to support the launch of the hotel.

• Design students competing to design the Skybar for the new hotel; the architects Scott Brownrigg were so impressed with the calibre of entry that they are now working with all students to combine different elements into the final design

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North Sea

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Greenland (Denmark)

North Pacific Ocean United States of America

Norway

Iceland

Swede

United Kingdom

Canada

Denmark

North Atlantic Ocean

Netherlands

Ireland

Germany

Belgium

France Andorra

United States of America

Spain

Portugal

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Czech Repub

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Austria Switzerland

Slovenia

Monaco

Croa

Monteneg

Italy

Malta

Tunisia Morocco Caribbean Sea

Algeria

Bahamas

Mexico Cuba

Dominican Republic

Haiti Belize

Puerto Rico

Jamaica

Mauritania

Virgin Islands

Mali St Lucia St Vincent & The Grenadines

Gambia

Barbados

Grenada

Guinea

Trinidad and Tobago

Costa Rica Panama

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Senegal

Dominica

Guatemala Honduras El Salvador Nicaragua

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Sierra Leone

Benin

Nigeria

Ghana

French Guiana

Togo

Colombia

Cameroo Equatorial Guinea

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Ecuador

South Atlantic Ocean

South Pacific Ocean Peru

Brazil

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Bolivia

Countries visited by BU students thanks to the Global Horizons Fund

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Nami Paraguay

Chile Uruguay Argentina

Falkland Islands (UK)

The Global Horizons Fund at BU enables students to undertake work or academic placements across the world, giving them an amazing experience and a truly international perspective. This infographic shows you how far some of our students have gone to make the most of their time at BU – turn the page to read some of their stories.

Baltic Sea

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Finland

Russia

Estonia Latvia Lithuania

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Belarus

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Ukraine

Moldova

Kazakhstan

Hungary

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Kosovo Macedonia

Albania

North Korea

Armenia

Greece

Azerbaijan

Turkey Lebanon

Israel Palestine

Libya

Japan

Syria

Cyprus

Crete

Iran

Iraq

Jordan

Kuwait

Egypt

Sudan

China

Pakistan Nepal

Bahrain

Saudi Arabia

Chad

Afghanistan

South Korea

South Pacific Ocean

Bhutan

Bangladesh

United Arab Emirates

India

Oman

Burma

Taiwan Laos

Thailand

Yemen

Vietnam Philippines

Cambodia

Ethiopia Somalia

Indian Ocean

Sri Lanka

Central African Republic

on

Brunei Malaysia

Uganda Kenya

Congo

Singapore

Borneo

Federated States of Micronesia

Democratic Rwanda Republic of Burundi The Congo

Papua New Guinea

Tanzania

Indonesia

Did you know?

Angola

ibia

Zambia

Malawi

Mozambique Zimbabwe Botswana Swaziland Lesotho

South Africa

East Timor Solomon Islands

Madagascar

Our Global Horizons Fund provides grants of up to ÂŁ2,000 to help students fund overseas trips that will benefit their degree

Fiji Australia

New Zealand

BU Living

25

nka

Sri La

Third year Psychology student Hannah Line carried out a voluntary mental health placement in Sri Lanka.

“The placement was, and is, extremely relevant to my course. It has given me a first-hand experience of clinical psychology in a third world country, as well as opening my eyes to the differences between the mental health systems in place in the UK and Sri Lanka.

“I believe that having this experience on my CV will make me stand out from other applicants, and give me a lot to talk about with potential employers. It truly was a unique and unforgettable experience.”

Kenya

Sports Development and Coaching Sciences student Stephen Dewdney took part in the Sports Development Expedition (SDX) in Kenya last year.

“SDX allowed me the opportunity to coach primary school students in Kenya. Our time there was spent coaching, as well as helping with the building and refurbishment of the school’s sports facilities.

“The expedition concluded with a sports tournament between the primary schools involved. It was great to see how much the kids had improved, something that gave me an enormous sense of pride.

The students were consistently keen to learn, and their enthusiasm boosted my confidence in my own coaching capabilities.”

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BU Living

Kosovo MA Multimedia Journalism student Joshua Longmore went to Kosovo for his final project.

“I wanted to visit Kosovo to create an engaging, original and compelling piece of multimedia journalism for the final project of my Master’s. The Global Horizons Fund enabled me to do this, and without it I would not have been able to participate in this life-changing project.

“I definitely think that this project has set me up well to pursue a career in international affairs journalism. By putting myself out of my comfort zone I was able to push new boundaries and challenge myself, great things for a would-be journalist.”

Cambodia Jodie Haslam was able to spend two months of her Occupational Therapy degree volunteering in Cambodia.

“The funds I received from the Global Horizon Fund enabled me to volunteer in occupational therapy, something that not many other organisations support.

I worked alongside other volunteers from a number of countries, including qualified occupational and physical therapists, in a country that has very few facilities or support in those fields.

“Working with the local people was mutually beneficial, as we were able to help them improve their knowledge and techniques whilst learning ourselves.

The BU funding allowed me to take part in this amazing opportunity.”

Japan Biological Sciences third year student Lucie Rivers took advantage of the Global Horizon Fund to help finance a research placement in Japan.

“My interest in genetics led me to pursue a research assistant placement with the genetics department at the International Christian University in Tokyo.

I got to work on unique research which was revolutionary in the field of genetics, which was an unbelievable experience.

“Being thrown in the deep end was daunting, especially in a foreign country, but the placement has been invaluable in terms of my studies and future aspirations.

I now have my heart set on working in genetics.”

Madagascar The Global Horizons Fund allowed Ecology & Wildlife Conservation student Macy Edwards to carry out research in Madagascar.

“My two months spent in Madagascar were life changing.

The country has a significantly diverse environment, and so the research opportunities were endless. As well as working as a research assistant within the outskirts of the Lokobe reserve, I was inspired to carry out my own work, separate to my dissertation.

“Working in Madagascar has inspired me to work towards a career in academia, which will allow me to conduct my own international research.

I couldn’t have asked for a more intellectually stimulating and motivating experience.”

BU Living

27

Get Active with sportBU

Your time at university is about much more than lectures and seminars – though those things are important! To help keep you fit and active during your time at BU, sportBU has something for everyone, whether you are a seasoned athlete, a gym bunny or just fancy giving a new sport a go.

T

he fully-equipped, state-of-the-art Fitness Training Zone offers everything you would expect from a top of the range gym. We also run over 50 fitness classes a week, including Xpress classes designed to fit around lectures.

If the gym isn’t your thing, why not get involved in Social Sport? With weekly classes in netball, table tennis, badminton, football and basketball there is no membership required – you just turn up and play!

We also run a programme called Free Your Fitness (FYF). Funded by Sport England, FYF aims to improve participation in sport by offering the opportunity for students to try new sports - all for free or at a heavily reduced price. We now have more than 1,500 students accessing sport through FYF getting involved in a range of sports including athletics, judo, surfing, rowing and tennis.

If you take your sport seriously, sportBU also offers the opportunity to take a more competitive approach. We have 39 varsity sports teams and numerous individual disciplines giving you the chance to

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BU Living

represent BU in British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) competitions around the country.

Our varsity teams are supported by a wide range of partnerships with local professional and semi-professional clubs.

Get involved Whatever your interest sportBU will have something for you, and with a whole host of sports societies being run by SUBU there really is no excuse not to give it a go!

e Did you know?

A survey from British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) has shown that students who take part in sport and/or volunteering at university earn on average ÂŁ6,000 a year more than their counterparts.

Our focus sports of cricket, golf, tennis and volleyball also receive extensive investment, coaching, training and competition opportunities - allowing BU to compete with the best institutions in the UK. Finally, we can’t ignore the fantastic location that Bournemouth offers in sporting terms. BU acts as a base for the GB Beach Volleyball squad, and our own beach volleyball team won the student competition last year, going on to represent England in 2014. For those of you who like your sport a bit wetter, we also have a great location for surfing, offering opportunities for beginners and experienced surfers alike. BU student Gordon Fontaine won the BUCS Surf Championships for the fourth year running in 2013!

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29

#BUProud

When you come to Bournemouth University, you are joining a community of over 18,000 students and 2,000 staff. Like any community this size, there is a lot going on and many of our staff and students are achieving great things.

T

his can be in academic achievement, in volunteering, in sport and in graduate employment. BU groups these together under the #BUProud banner and around campus there are life-size pictures of students and staff holding boards on which they have written what makes them proud of being part of BU.

Students and staff also send tweets including the hashtag #BUProud and over the last few months there have been over 350 of these; from the Vice-Chancellor to the cheerleading society, the BU Falcons.

In 2014 BU also installed video booths around the University so that staff and students could record a 45 second film saying what makes them proud of being at BU. The responses covered a wide range of reasons, including the facilities, sports, clubs and societies, academics, the Students’ Union (SUBU) and BU’s location.

Many of the video testimonials also focussed on the quality of the education and support that BU provides and are testament to the fact BU was the first university to be “commended” by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) for the quality of our student learning opportunities.

So if you come to BU, what will you achieve to be #BUProud?

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BU Living

“Bournemouth University has excellent courses that have helped to build up the British post-

production and facilities industries, which are helping to create blockbuster films. It is very

good news not only that we are winning Oscars for British films but that British studios are full to bursting point making movies.”

David Cameron, Prime Minister Prime Minister’s Questions, 5 March 2014

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31

Co-creatio No man anis island

I

so we share everything we do

This will provide students with a unique opportunity to get involved in real world n September 2012 BU introduced its new strategic vision – BU2018: research to not only support their degree but to also develop valuable employability skills.

Creating, Sharing, Inspiring.

The main idea behind this is that Here are some things we have been cocreating recently... the university experience is at its best when research, education and A new community newspaper professional practice are Led by The Media School, this project fully integrated.

This is put into practice in what we call ‘co-creation’ – staff and students working together on research to create new knowledge. Each year BU will invest £400,000 to support projects across the university which involve staff, students and business.

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BU Living

established a newspaper targeted at both students and the local community, using students from across the university as the editorial team. The Rock gives students at BU the opportunity to gain professional journalism experience and the university a more visible presence out in the local community.

on An educational nursing game Staff and students from The School of Health & Social Care, and The Faculty of Science & Technology will be working with a range of external partners to develop an education game that will help nursing students gain an understanding of the core competencies of dementia care.

A state-of-the-art research environment Students from psychology, computing, creative technology and animation are coming together in an interdisciplinary team to investigate factors that influence the navigability of care home environments.

The project will create a new state-of-theart research environment that combines eye-tracking, head-tracking and immersive virtual environments technology to help researchers better design care homes.

An online research portal A group of second year media students worked with academics to design and build an online portal to showcase student research and share research activity across the university. BU graduates were commissioned to make a short promotional video for the new portal and a student from The Faculty of Science & Technology was hired to work on the project full time after graduation.

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Jacquie O’Brien, GROW@BU Project Manager, explains how BU helps new students settle into university life

G

oing to university for the first time is a big step.

The first year can be incredibly exciting and filled with opportunities, but for some students it will also be a scary and unsettled time.

Each year a new team of recent BU graduates will take on the role of Student Engagement Co-ordinator to help new students settle in and make the most out of their university experience.

Collectively known as GROW@BU, the team provides a service to support students with any problems or issues they may face.

Sometimes all that is needed is someone to talk to, but in other cases they can direct students to the right specialist services.

As former students themselves, the Student Engagement Co-ordinators know firsthand what it is like to be a BU student and are ideally positioned to open up new opportunities for students who need a little extra support. Whether it is providing advice on how to cope with exams, accessing financial support or simply how to meet other students, they can help you to make the most of your time at university.

Additional support Before students arrive at BU they receive an Arrivals Pack with a Welcome and Events guide to help them plan their own timetable.

Once students arrive at BU, there is plenty of additional support available. This includes: • askBU: a one-stop shop for all queries – timetable, academic processes, finance and visa / immigration

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BU Living

• Additional Learning Support: offer oneto-one study skills sessions and help put appropriate learning support in place for students with learning difficulties and disabilities • iBU (BU’s mobile app): Enables studens to access their timetable, check PC availability in the library, see when the next bus is and more • Library services: text books, online journals and study areas, plus study skills support and guidance • myBU: BU’s online learning community with lecture notes, pre-arrival activities and access to online learning resources • Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL): a community of current students who help new starters with their studies and to settle in to uni.

Did you know... ...BU offers %

100

of all undergraduate students the opportunity to undertake a professional placement, lasting up to 40 weeks

91 18,000

BU graduates will be in .5 ofemployment or further study

% within 6 months of graduation

...the BU community is made up of

students

100

from more than

different countries

...BU has more students on work placement than any other university in Britain (HESA)

...BU has the highest proportion of graduates with work experience on their CV in the UK (graduatejobs.com)

...m

ore

tha

n

750 student reps are elected each year

...BU students raise around

£200,000 every year for local charities

BU graduates worked on the Oscar and BAFTA winning movie Gravity

(89.9 ) %

£138m will be invested 2018 in the campus and IT facilities by

...students at BU give more than

2,700 hours

each year to support volunteering projects run by SUBU

...BU could offer you the opportunities you’ve been waiting for BU Living

35

Open Days Visit us at our Undergraduate Open Days: Saturday 14 June 2014 Saturday 5 July 2014 Saturday 6 September 2014 Saturday 25 October 2014 Saturday 15 November 2014 Saturday 13 June 2015

Register today: www.bournemouth.ac.uk/bu-living

Alternative formats are available on request: formats@bournemouth.ac.uk

速 6307-05/14-SAMP

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