InsideBU Issue 7 | October 2014
Magazine for staff and students | Autumn 2017 | Issue 14
GATEWAY TO THE FUTURE BU’s new estate development gets underway
BU2025
Developing a new vision
Building the brand
Celebration Time!
25 years of BU advertising
BU undergraduates Celebrate our student and staff success this November
Recognised for world-class research
FUSION INAUGURAL PUBLIC LECTURES - SHOWCASING OUR RESEARCH
Welcome to all our new and returning members of the BU community
#belongatbu
Inside Autumn 2017 | Issue 14
COVER FEATURES Cover image – Poole Gateway building 4
BU2025 - developing a new vision
4
BU student recognised for worldclass research in LA
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Gateway to the future
14
Building the brand – twenty-five years of BU ads
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Fusion Inaugural Public Lecture Series 2017/18
REGULARS 4
News from around BU
5
SUBU President’s column
18
We Meet... Zoe Leonard and Simone Barbieri
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By Day By Night with Dr Fiona Cownie
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#BUProud photo gallery
EXTRAS 8
Dinosaurs to Forensics
9
BU Dorset Shrievalty Award
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#BUProud 2017
12
Driving ambition
How to submit If you would like to submit a story for the next issue of InsideBU, please email insidebu@bournemouth.ac.uk. We reserve the right to edit your copy and the editor’s decision is final.
InsideBU -Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Silver award winner for Best Publication 2016. Printed on FSC certified paper from sustainable forests.
Alternative formats are available on request: formats@bournemouth.ac.uk 8402-11/17 SAM
MESSAGE FROM
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John Vinney Vice-Chancellor
This November marks 25 years since Bournemouth University achieved university status. BU has gone from strength to strength over that time and we are now rated as one of the top 150 young universities in the world, according to the Times Higher Education (THE) Young University rankings 2017. This summer, we also received a new Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Silver award for teaching excellence, which alongside the achievements in the last Research Excellence Framework (REF) reflect our commitment to ensuring staff and students achieve and fulfil their potential. Building on the vision of Fusion, our powerful combination of education, research and professional practice, we are now looking ahead to shape the future direction of the university towards 2025. Thanks to everyone who took part in the workshops, helping to grow and develop this vision. You can read more about our new BU2025 strategy on page 4. This issue’s front cover features an artist’s impression of the new Poole Gateway building. You can read more about our exciting plans for both Talbot and Lansdowne on pages 6&7. You can find out about how BU was invited to exhibit at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition (page 8) and take a look at AskBU, who have been providing a dedicated student support service for 10 years (page 17). Plus Professor Iain MacRury and Sophie James take a look at how BU’s advertising has evolved over the last 25 years (pages 14&15). This is an exciting time as we shape BU’s future journey to 2025. Please do continue to share your stories and successes at insidebu@bournemouth.ac.uk
”
InsideBU | Autumn 2017 | 3
News from around BU
Phil Gifford and Quentin Corker-Marin in LA
BU undergraduate students recognised for world-class research in LA
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ongratulations to Teemu Lindborg, Phil Gifford and Quentin CorkerMarin, final year BU undergraduate (UG) students from the National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA), part of the Faculty of Media and Communication, who co-authored (with Dr Oleg Fryazinov, Dr Valery Adzhiev and Prof Alexander Pasko) papers presented at the ACM SIGGRAPH / Eurographics Symposium on Computer Animation Symposium and the SIGGRAPH 2017 – the world’s largest and most influential annual conference in computer graphics in Los Angeles. The students also managed to get into the semi-final of the prestigious global “ACM student research competition” sponsored by Microsoft. Only seven out of hundreds of entries from leading universities from all over the world achieved this, with Quentin selected by the International Jury to give a presentation in the final and gaining second place (the medal and the prize money) in the undergraduate category. Full details can be found on the Research Blog.
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BU2025 - developing a new vision Over the summer, Professor John Vinney and his UET colleagues hosted workshops across BU to gather feedback on their ideas for a new vision for BU2025.
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It is encouraging that staff continue to support our plans to build on the vision of Fusion that we put in place in 2012, bringing together excellent education, world-class research and vital links into practice and industry. We have made great progress across BU in meeting the strategic objectives that we set ourselves for 2018. There is still work to do, including to increase our research income and build on our work in Global Engagement to ensure that students have an international experience. We must also build on our strengths in practice, education and research - as highlighted in our 2017 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) award – to ensure that all staff and students experience and participate in Fusion at BU. The BU2025 strategy will focus on generating impact from Fusion, through the interaction of staff, students and society. The key to this will be the community that we create at BU, allowing us to fulfil our purpose to inspire learning, advance knowledge
and ultimately to enrich society, both directly and through the impact of our staff and students on the local community. Important aspects of the new strategic plan include how we measure our impact – and how we communicate it through our Fusion themes. To support this, one thing we will be focussing on is the learning environment at BU – including the physical environment, infrastructure and resources. We believe that “place” is important – technology will continue to evolve, and as the Fusion building has demonstrated already, students value the opportunity to work together on campus. Work has already started on our inspirational new buildings. Our learning environment is not only physical – it includes the intellectual and cultural environment that we create through collaboration, sharing knowledge and working together. Our participation and contribution to a positive and active learning community are important elements of this.
If you haven’t had a chance to look at the plans, please do, and let us have your views. See the BU2025 pages on the staff intranet for more information.
BU launches new virtual learning environment The start of this academic year saw the introduction of Brightspace to almost half of BU’s students.
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his new platform, being used by both new and returning students, offers a modern, intuitive interface that can be personalised, and any students not included in this year’s Brightspace launch will have moved over by September 2018. A team of 50 staff has been working over an eight month period to ready BU for
the Brightspace launch, using student feedback at each stage of the planning and implementation process – there will also be further opportunities for users to share feedback. For guidance on which VLE to use this year and FAQs on navigating your way around them, visit www.bournemouth. ac.uk/my-vle.
Your New SUBU Officers
Sector-leading and Innovative Practice in Equality and Diversity at BU Bournemouth University has been identified by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) for sector-leading and innovative practice in advancing equality and diversity.
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UBU’s newly elected team of five have settled into post after organising their plans for the year ahead. Daniel, Charlie and Brooke were successfully re-elected to stand for a second year and are now joined by Alex and Ebony to represent student views here at BU. From left to right, the team are: •Daniel Asaya - SUBU President
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report launched in April 2017 included two case studies from BU. One talked about its work to address the stigma and discrimination that surrounds eating disorders through the use of video. The other shared the work undertaken throughout Dorset to raise awareness of autism, dyslexia and dyscalculia.
Commenting on this recognition, Dr James Palfreman-Kay said: “It is really encouraging to see the Equality and Diversity work at BU being recognised as innovative and sector leading. The success of the work has been as a result of partners within and outside BU working together to make compulsory and post-16 education inclusive for all.”
•Alex Hancox - Vice President Education •Ebony Harding - Vice President Community •Charlie Souter-Phillips - Vice President Welfare •Brooke Elias - Vice President Activities Visit the team at any time on the 1st floor of the Student Centre.
To find out more about Equality and Diversity at BU please see the equality and diversity playlist on our YouTube channel or our Storify page at www.storify.com/equalityatBU. Alternatively, you can contact Dr James Palfreman-Kay, Equality and Diversity Adviser.
SUBU President Daniel Discusses A home for all When I first came to BU it was a daunting experience… I was a nervous international student who didn’t know anyone. Fast forward three years and I’m starting my second term as SUBU President, continuing our work to ensure all our students feel represented and see BU as a ‘home for all’.
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e made great progress last year in terms of diversity and inclusion and we’ve seen a much wider range of students taking part in our democratic activities. All fulltime Officers are embedding the needs of Lansdowne-based students in their campaigns and projects, and I’m now working out of the Lansdowne office two days a week. I’m also really proud of the recent launch of SUBU Debates, which has created a platform for students to explore and discuss important issues. Looking ahead to this year, the other union officers and I will be working on some important projects, including offering more support for students with mental health problems and providing more opportunities to get involved with our 100+ clubs and societies. Most importantly we will continue to represent all students at BU and assist in making it a ‘home for all’. Please pop in to say hi to me and the team on the first floor of the Student Centre and remember our Advice team can be contacted there too.
InsideBU | Autumn 2017 | 5
Gateway to the future Estates development update We hear from Head of Estates Development, Steve Cox, about progress so far.
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ork is now underway on the construction of the Bournemouth Gateway Building on the St Paul’s site at Lansdowne. The development will be open and accessible to all BU staff, students and the community and will deliver a unified base for the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences. Comprising 10,000 square metres of academic space, it will act as the visual gateway to Bournemouth, occupying a prominent site overlooking Wessex Way. Facilities include a library, social collaborative learning space, plus staff offices, seminar rooms, lecture theatres, research laboratory plus mock operating theatre, hospital wards, GP consulting room and community flat. Construction of the Poole Gateway Building is scheduled to commence in January 2018. Located at the eastern end of the Talbot Campus, it will create a visual gateway to the campus and the Borough of Poole. Providing high-quality technical facilities supporting undergraduate and postgraduate courses as well as research, it will include facilities for TV, audio studios, sound editing labs, media production spaces, green screen with motion capture suite, PC and Mac laboratories and cross-faculty collaboration spaces. Predominantly used by the Faculty of Science & Technology and the Faculty of Media & Communication, facilities will also be used by the Faculty of Management and the wider student body. Significant improvements have been made to the transport infrastructure at Talbot Campus during 2017. A new link road, joining Boundary Road roundabout to Gillett Road, and a new bus hub by Poole House are due to the completed in the autumn of 2017 and are planned to open by January 2018. The exact opening dates will be confirmed in due course. An extension to car park H also opened in July. As part of our commitment to improve open spaces and enhance biodiversity on campus, landscaping works have been completed between the Sir Michael Cobham Library and Dorset House and to the Christchurch House courtyard. The latter includes a ‘living lab’, a partnership between Estates and The Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) led by Damian Evans, who has designed and planted an area that will be used to inform our students about the use of plants in medicine and food. The Lees Lecture Theatre has been refurbished as part of our ongoing lecture theatre refurbishment programme; and the new Design & Engineering Innovation Centre, managed by FST, formally opened in September following extensive investment and conversion works within Poole House. Chief Operating Officer, Jim Andrews, commented: ‘Since 2012 we have started to transform both the Talbot and Lansdowne sites by delivering new and refurbished spaces that provide innovative, high quality spaces for staff and students to work and learn. This will be enhanced further with the delivery of the two gateway buildings. We have also enhanced our position as a sustainable organisation by investing several million pounds in low carbon and sustainable technology, increased green spaces and enhanced biodiversity. I am extremely proud of the hard work and commitment for all those involved in delivering phase 1 of our vision for the estate. Phase 2 will see similarly exciting developments as we move towards our new vision and strategic plan.’
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It’s been an exciting year as improvement works began at both campuses.
For more information please visit our website www.bournemouth.ac.uk/campusdevelopment which includes an animation outlining the development plans.
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Professor Brian Cox visiting Dr Sally Reynolds and Professor Matthew Bennett on the BU stand
Dinosaurs to forensics Dinosaur footprints, uncovering secrets about history, and enabling police to solve crimes, it’s all in a day’s work for BU academics. Professor Matthew Bennett, Dr Marcin Budka and Dr Sally Reynolds have developed a tool used to analyse footprints of dinosaurs, ancient ancestors and even criminals. The technology went on display as a part of the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition in London in July. For more information about DigTrace, visit www.digtrace.co.uk or for information on the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, visit www.royalsociety.org
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he prestigious exhibition hosted 22 exhibits from universities and charities across the UK, displaying the latest and best scientific breakthroughs from the last year with over 22,000 people visiting the weeklong event.
BU’s research, labelled ‘Dinosaurs to Forensics’, showcases the DigTrace tool, its application for learning about history, and how it is being used by police forces to help catch criminals. The tool enables footprint analysis and has previously been used to learn about dinosaurs and human ancestors but now has a real-world application, allowing police forces to capture 3D images of footwear impressions left at crime scenes, revealing different tread and wear characteristics, unique to the wearer of the shoe. Professor Matthew Bennett says: “For the last decade, we’ve spent a lot of time travelling the world studying fossil footprints; dinosaurs, humans, and ancient people, developing new research techniques. Recently, we’ve translated all of that knowledge into something we can use to help the police and forensic services. “What our software, DigTrace does is produce 3D models from photographs, the same photographs you’d take with a normal digital camera. We can look at dinosaur footprints, making them larger, and exploring them from about 20 photographs. Dinosaurs to Forensics gained significant media interest, with features on BBC Breakfast and Tomorrow’s World, with Professor Brian Cox, the host of the Royal Society exhibition, visiting the BU stand in person.
“What our software, DigTrace does is produce 3D models from photographs, the same photographs you’d take with a normal digital camera.”
The BU Dorset Shrievalty Award is sponsored by the High Sheriff of Dorset running annually between September and March.
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he award provides an opportunity to work on key community projects which give the successful applicants the chance to develop and evidence collaborative working skills, network with other students and community contacts and enhance employability with a portfolio showcasing their experiences.
BU Dorset Shrievalty Award
The three successful applicants for 2016/17, Charlotte Loy, Katrin Mahfuz and Yana Miladinova, worked with the then High Sheriff, Sir Philip Williams, on his chosen topic of homelessness. Charlotte says, “It’s funny to explain that I decided to sign up to an unknown community project where I had no previous experience, contacts or specific knowledge on the subject.” Yana adds “I did not realise how serious the issue with homeless people is in England. In Bulgaria, the issue is not advertised as here”. Working with the homeless, local agencies and charity workers, it became clear that the issue was “infinitely more complex and difficult a subject” than they could have imagined. Katrin observed “I never realised the conflicts that arise between the different agents like charities, churches, the council and the police, who are trying to deal with the issue.” However, all identified the enthusiasm with which all agencies worked. Before making their final presentation, the three, along with other BU students, took part in the national YMCA initiative, ‘Sleep Easy’ where more than 80 people slept out, raising £9,000 for YMCA Bournemouth – an experience which left them feeling very vulnerable as well as cold. The final presentation identified a number of issues and made recommendations to change perceptions of homeless people, develop a more joined-up service with the client’s needs in mind, better communication, better diagnosis and clinical support, and to share positive rather than negative aspects of the issue. All three have developed personally though this project. Katrin has volunteered in China before returning to BU to be a Peer-assisted Learning Intern, Yana is currently on placement as PR & Marketing intern in Brighton and Charlotte is starting a Master’s in Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology at Cranfield University.
To see the presentation please visit www.bournemouth.ac.uk/dsa-presentation
“It’s funny to explain that I decided to sign up to an unknown community project where I had no previous experience, contacts or specific knowledge on the subject.” InsideBU | Autumn 2017 | 9
#BUProud 2017 Our #BUProud campaign tells the stories of successful BU students, staff and graduates, showcasing the achievements that have stemmed from their time at BU.
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ow in its fifth year, #BUProud 2017 features a new series of online case studies and artwork on key buildings around campus. A launch event was held July in Bournemouth Town Centre, hosted at Monty’s restaurant - owned and run by BU graduate, Christian Schneider. During the event fellow graduate, Natalie Page, held a book signing of her debut children’s book ‘Zak and Jen’s Astronomical Adventures’. Current students featured this year include Saskia Sills, a four-time youth world champion windsurfer, Noorin Gulam, a European champion weightlifter, and Chloe Thomas, whose story you can get a taste of on the next page. This year’s #BUProud alumni include Richard Walker, Head of Media Planning at the BBC; Kevin Hough, Head of Talent Acquisition at PepsiCo UK and Ireland, and Claire Timbrell, Founder of the McGuffin Project, an escape room in Bournemouth. BU graduate and now Children’s and Young People’s Nursing lecturer, Katie Ryan, is also featured.
Some BU stats we’re #BUProud about: BU has a consistently high graduate employability rate,
* 92.3% of Bournemouth University students are in work or further study six months after graduating from University.
*Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) in the DLHE Survey 2016
BU is currently in the
TOP3
Ann Fernandez, Director of Marketing & Communications at BU, said, “We are incredibly proud of our graduates and the careers they go on to have – and to hear from so many graduates who attribute their success to their time at BU has been brilliant.
in Great Britain for the most undergraduate students on work placement.
“At BU we pride ourselves on creating global talent – giving graduates the skills and knowledge that employers are looking for. I hope this campaign inspires others to look at BU and the great prospects our degrees can offer.”
Every BU student is offered the opportunity to undertake a work placement as part of their degree
From chalkboards and #BUProud mugs to the back of buses and a video booth, #BUProud has seen our students, graduates and staff stories shared in many wonderful ways. #BUproud is used regularly by the BU community in their social media posts – from sporting achievements and successful research bids, to gaining a place to study here and securing that dream job.
Check out pages 20-21 of InsideBU for our #BUProud gallery - we look forward to seeing your #BUProud posts and celebrating your successes too. To read all our #BUProud 2017 case studies visit www.bournemouth.ac.uk/bu-proud.
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Source: DLHE 2015/16 (published by HESA, 2017).
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Our community is made up of students originating from
different countries and our staff is made up of 85 different nationalities .
The Graduate: Emily Sandford BA (Hons) Radio Radio presenter on Capital South Coast “You’d be surprised how many companies in media recognise BU as the best in the field. BU churns out very talented people.
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eing part of Bournemouth’s Student Radio Station Nerve allowed me to perfect my radio skills and apply for the Student Radio Awards a national awards ceremony that recognises new radio talent in the UK every year. I won three awards: Gold for ‘Best Entertainment Show’, Bronze for ‘Best Female Presenter’ and the Bronze ‘Kevin Greening Award’ for Outstanding
Creativity. It’s really enhanced my career and it was actually the first time a BU student had ever received one of these awards. My degree has been a welcome addition to my CV and has definitely been a foot in the door. My course didn’t just involve production; it involved broadcast history too, which has helped me know my industry in more depth. By the time I had graduated I definitely knew what I wanted to do in life - and that was to work in entertainment and broadcasting. I’ve gained so many amazing friends, really fun experiences and a plethora of knowledge that has set me up for life.”
The Student: Chloe Thomas BSc (Hons) Nutrition Champion Table Tennis Player “I attended Bournemouth and Poole College and completed an Access course in Science over nine months which qualified me to get into university.
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chose Nutrition at Bournemouth because I wanted to do a course which would support and be beneficial to my sport. I attended an open day at BU; everyone was so friendly and welcoming - I just knew it was for me. Juggling my sport and academic studies has been very difficult and tiring at times, but SportBU and
the university have been extremely supportive and helpful at all times. Be aware, if you want to balance sport and education it requires total commitment and self-discipline to complete your degree and to continue playing at a high level. Due to my commitments with sport I travel all over the world almost every month of the year. This means I miss a considerable number of lectures and seminars. But my lecturers, tutors and fellow students have been extremely supportive in keeping me up to date and on track. The sporting fraternity as a whole has been like one big family and it has been easy to make many new friends, with good camaraderie within the sport and the educational group.”
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Driving ambition
BA (Hons) History student Ed Fossey has been racing cars since the age of eight, and is making a name for himself as a rally driver on the national stage. He’s also an ambassador for the Jersey branch of the Teenage Cancer Trust. We caught up with him to find out more.
would stand near the car’s exhaust to get me used to the noise!” grins Ed.
o those that know the Fossey family, Ed’s interest in motor racing will come as no surprise. His 76-year-old grandfather – who still races – encouraged the whole family into the sport, with Ed’s father and uncle also racing cars competitively.
Ed has recently competed in the British Trials and Rally Drivers Association series, winning the championship at the end of the eightrace competition and third in his class in the 2017 Jersey rally. While he throws his 1400S Toyota Yaris round corners at full pelt, Ed is a lot more cautious on public roads – losing his licence would be a career-threatening problem.
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It was no shock then, when Ed began racing in cadet karts at the age of eight. His mother had accepted an interest in motorsport was inevitable even during pregnancy: “She 12 | Autumn 2017 | InsideBU
After moving up through the karting ranks, Ed moved on to sandracing and junior autotest. From the age of 14, he claimed several rally navigator class wins before passing his driving test four weeks after his 17th birthday (avoiding red faces all round had he failed). This allowed Ed to enter the 2015 Jersey Rally, where he received several top twenty stage times. In 2016, his success story continued as the recipient of the 2016 Next Big Step award – securing free entry into a number of rallies and competing at national level.
Away from the track, Ed hits the books as a BA (Hons) History student, and has just
“When Mum was pregnant with me, she would stand near the car’s exhaust for me to get used to the noise!” completed his first year. After leaving his native Jersey to pursue his love of history, he finds the beach reminds him of home, and he loves the university and the local area. To Ed’s delight, the university and his department have been very accommodating when it comes to balancing his racing career with his studies, and he has been allowed time to take part in rallying. Fortunately, the rallies have fitted well with his exam timetables, and Ed is hoping for a repeat next year. If he takes exams as well as he takes highspeed corners, Ed should have no trouble improving his rapidly-growing reputation both as a BU student and a potential rally star of the future.
BU set for historic Invincible project Photo by Mike Pitts
Secrets of maritime warfare are set to be uncovered by BU marine archaeologists, with the excavation of the historic warship, Invincible 1744, lost to the waters of the Solent in 1758.
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U is working with lead partner, Maritime Archaeology Sea Trust (MAST) and the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) on the excavation, conservation and eventual exhibition of artefacts from the shipwreck, revealing important clues to what life and maritime warfare was like in the late 1700s. The ship, built by the French in 1744 and captured by the British in 1747, was used by the Royal Navy until it sank in 1758 after hitting a sandbank in the Solent and has been sitting on the seabed ever since.
The wreck was rediscovered in 1979 by fisherman, Arthur Mack. A small-scale excavation led by Commander John Bingeman then took place during the 1980s. The site has become increasingly exposed due to shifting sands in the Solent, requiring an emergency rescue excavation before all records of the ship are lost. BU, MAST and the NMRN have been awarded £2 million from the LIBOR fund for the excavation of the wreck site, which has now begun. Dave Parham, Associate Professor in Maritime Archaeology at BU, said, “What Invincible has is a revolutionary hull and significant contents of an 18th century warship, from armaments to personal possessions. We are excited to start excavating and studying these rare artefacts and putting them on display for the public to engage in a period of maritime history that we currently don’t know too much about.”
Once conserved, artefacts will go on display at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, alongside other important maritime displays, the Mary Rose and HMS Victory.
“We are excited to start excavating and studying these rare artefacts and putting them on display for the public to engage in a period of maritime history that we currently don’t know too much about.”
More information about the excavation of the historic wreck can be found on the MAST website: www.thisismast.org/projects/hms-invincible.html or at www.bournemouth.ac.uk/hms-invincible
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Twenty-five years of BU ads Story, reminiscence and strategy by Professor Iain MacRury and Sophie James
BU’s history goes back to the early 1900’s, starting out as Bournemouth Municipal College and later becoming the Dorset Institute of Higher Education. Monday 27 November 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the royal charter awarding formal university status to what is now one of the one of the 150 best young universities in the world.
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research project in the Faculty of Media & Communication is assembling a comprehensive analytical database of university advertisements from all over the world. We’ve taken a slice of the archive to look at Bournemouth’s history and to tell the story of 25 years of university status. our advertisements are a lively prompt for our own reflections. In 1964, Marshall McLuhan provocatively wrote, “Historians and archaeologists will one day discover that the ads of our time are the richest and most faithful reflections that any society ever made of its entire range of activities.”
Advertising: past, present and future Our potted history begins with three ads from predecessor institution, Dorset Institute. They are typical of their era. 1978 Ads focus on course-as-product. The visual style owes more to templates for classified recruitment advertising. No logo, no image. Not advertising as we know it. 1986 We have enjoyed the informal calls to action in pre-Internet days, with invitations to telephone individuals, fax, and use answer phones. Applicants were asked to cut out coupons to post A-level results to us. University advertising in the 1980s was information-heavy, reflecting budgets and practices from an era where ‘advertising’ was not routinely marshalled in public-sector communication.
Taking this as a prompt, looking at advertising as a kind of ‘archaeology’ of the present can help us reflect on Bournemouth University in 2017.
1990 There was very little advertising for undergraduate courses until pressures and incentives to recruit started to grow for HEIs. Most advertising in the 1990s highlights the more expensive MBA markets and evening and informal provision from big advertisers, like Birkbeck College and the Open University.
This year marks a notable anniversary – 25 years since the first university students arrived at what had been the Dorset Institute of Higher Education, and fleetingly Bournemouth Polytechnic. This was a shock for some of our applicants. Having applied and been accepted by a Polytechnic, they were now arriving on a university course. Vast, double spread clearing pages in the broadsheets listed the new universities to guide students through the change. Evolving advertising styles What did we look like to the outside world? For HEIs in that era, the idea that image mattered was a contentious one. The visual record is important, but so is organisational history. This slice of advertising history paints an interesting picture. Underneath is a story of continuing organisational adaptation to new environments, notably linked to fees, and recruitment targets. Speaking to university marketing practitioners to get their views, we interviewed Ann Fernandez, BU’s Director of Marketing & Communications, for some memories from key moments. Her time at BU does not stretch back to 1992, but she has shared insights of the development of a more coherent BU brand approach.
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1993 Ads were very informative. There was an appeal to hard-vocational ethos and a list of about 30 postgraduate courses. Design was rudimentary, but a step up from the classified typeset layouts of the 70s and 80s. A pithy headline positioned Bournemouth “Beyond the Degree Qualification. The Career Qualification”
Marshall McLuhan, 1964 1996 The appearance of the Bournemouth University logo indicates development of a more branded approach. The punning slogan moves away from straight-laced recruitment idioms, hinting at a wish to attract. Characteristic of our ads in the 1990s is the assertive placement of business and professional partnerships in the foreground. 2000 By the turn of the millennium, growing consciousness of marketing design and software saw more ambitious layouts. There is a slogan and logo, but still information-led. Web sites were beginning to develop but not routinely carrying live streams of course information and promotion – but not much change in ad styles. Ann explains:
2006 Imagery starts to appear. Even with extra white space, it is striking how text heavy and informationallyrich it is. Fees and a more market-oriented policy environment pushed recruitment up the institutional agenda. Designs begin to reflect the influence of display advertising alongside the standard classified recruitment style.
2015 Text to image ratio is clearly now shifting in favour of imagebased appeals. This ad celebrates the successes of some MCCA students, while highlighting renewed attentiveness to BU as a global location, demonstrating our shifting relationship to place.
“Some of that is also reflective of the fact that usually it was programme leaders driving our advertising strategy, coming to the marketing manager who would place ads in isolation - often because that was what we’d always done well, ‘let’s keep doing it’.” Ann sets this in context, ”There was a growing recognition that we needed a more strategic approach to marketing communications and advertising should be one element of an overall marketing campaign. With that join up between the prospectus and our advertising in design and messaging, you start to get an integrated approach to marketing communications. but it was very fragmented up until then.”
“Historians and archaeologists will one day discover that the ads of our time are the richest and most faithful reflections that any society ever made of its entire range of activities.”
The future: Creating powerful branded content Development of a BU channel, sharing lively rich content, from staff, students and professional practitioners, points to a rich future for the next 25 years of BU advertising. Our Universities Advertising project continues to explore HEI history through advertising examining university responses to shifts in policy, student culture and new mediamarketing technologies.
2017 The end of advertising as a call process in marketing for universities. The student Vlogger tells the story on open channels to other prospective students. Contemporary HE promotion speaks to an interactive generation whose media use diverts them away from print, posters and TV, towards a lively media space for the sharing of experiences. Approachable informality, backed up by analytics and data. The brand matures and online becomes integrated as the core place for brand communications. Ann points out: “there’s nothing more powerful than hearing from the students themselves... our communications now give a voice to the brand and what the student experience is at BU. This is a more sophisticated approach to keep pace with the changing habits of our prospective students who respond to people like them, not marketing speak - and that is why we use real student and alumni stories across all communications...including our advertising.”
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Fusion Inaugural Public Lectures The 2017/18 Fusion Inaugural Public Lectures series is a set of seven free public lectures held at seven different venues across Bournemouth and Poole, showcasing the university’s wide range of research and its impact both regionally and worldwide. For more information, please visit https://research.bournemouth.ac.uk/ bus-inaugural-lecture-series/
F
usion is BU’s approach to combining high quality teaching, world-class research and extensive links with business and professional practise. In the most recent independent assessment of university research in the UK 96% of BU research was rated as internationally recognised or higher (Research Excellence Framework 2014). The series launched in September with Professor Robert Britton, from BU’s Faculty of Science and Technology, who presented his research on invasive species, at the National Trust Visitor Centre on Brownsea Island. Professor John Fletcher, Bournemouth University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation commenting on the new Fusion Inaugural Lecture series said: “Fusing research, education and professional practice is at the heart of what we do at BU and through our Fusion Inaugural Lecture series we invite the public to come and hear BU Professors from across all of our faculties present their research and see how it is enriching the world. We are inviting the public across Bournemouth, Poole and the region to these lectures in a range of different locations from
Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, to the Shelley Theatre in Boscombe, as well as to our new Fusion Building on Talbot Campus and the Executive Business Centre on Lansdowne Campus.” The full series of Fusion Inaugural Lectures 2017/18 is: Tuesday 19 September 2017 – Professor Robert Britton– Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour Wednesday 18 October 2017– Professor Jens Hölscher – Barclays House, Poole Monday 20 November 2017 – Professor Tim Rees – AFC Bournemouth, Vitality Stadium Tuesday 5 December 2017 – Professor Candida Yates – Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel Wednesday 31 January 2018 – Professor Debbie Holley – Fusion Building, Talbot Campus Wednesday 21 March 2018 – Professor Hugh Chignell – Shelley Theatre, Boscombe Monday 30 April 2018 – Professor Jane Murphy – Executive Business Centre, Lansdowne Campus.
“Fusing research, education and professional practice is at the heart of what we do at BU and through our Fusion Inaugural Lecture series we invite the public to come and hear BU Professors from across all of our faculties present their research and show how it is enriching the world.” 16 | Autumn 2017 | InsideBU
Happy Birthday! AskBU is ten
AskBU, the central enquiry service for current students, celebrated 10 years supporting BU students in September. BU was ahead of the curve in terms of recognising the importance of professionally-managed dedicated enquiry teams compared to other HEIs when AskBU first opened for business on 10 September 2007.
T
he original AskBU Current Students Service incorporated the team of two Student Financial Support specialists and were joined in March 2008 by the International Student Support Team. The Base, Poole House has been the main focus of face to face service since opening, alongside a presence in Bournemouth House. During the first year of service, a total of 19,000 face-to-face, email and telephone student queries were recorded. Around 25% of those early interactions related to student financial support, which continues to be a core element of the support offered by the team. Subsequently, enquiry numbers have increased, and at the end of August 2016 was around 57,000 - triple the number recorded in that first year. The team has responded to more than 400,000 enquiries to date. Since 2007, AskBU has become the central contact point for first-line enquiries relating to all aspects of BU life and sometimes beyond! The team also deal with specific
“The team has now responded to more than 400,000 enquiries to date.”
peak-period events – online registration, graduation, and accommodation applications, and can help with practical aspects - providing student status letters, replacement ID cards, council tax exemption certificates and re-setting student computer passwords. More recently, AskBU has been instrumental in developing a new enquiry management system – SID – which allows the team to manage current student enquiries centrally, including a database of FAQs accessible to all staff and students providing answers to common queries. The success of the service is enhanced by the strong working relationships developed with other teams in BU over the years, particularly Faculty administration, Academic Services, the Library (sharing the library helpdesk at Bournemouth House at the Lansdowne Campus), Residential Services, Student Wellbeing, SUBU Advice and colleagues from other areas across BU where enquiries have required referrals or further expert information.
For more information, visit www.bournemouth.ac.uk/student/askBU or contact the team via email at AskBU@bournemouth.ac.uk
InsideBU | Autumn 2017 | 17
We meet... The Centre for Digital Entertainment (CDE) is a Doctoral Training Centre, a joint venture between the University of Bath and Bournemouth University funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The four-year fully-funded
Zoe Leonard
Research Events Co-ordinator, Centre for Digital Entertainment, Faculty of Media & Communication
The new role within the CDE attracted me because of the variety of work. Not having a technical background, it was challenging understanding the diverse research taking place. I focused on creating good relationships with staff and students.
Simone Barbieri
In 2016, I worked on the CDE annual event, ResJam (Research Jam) in association with BUDI. CDE research engineers were given 48 hours to create a game/app or interface to help those living with dementia, or assist in changing public perceptions of dementia. I was extremely proud of the results, the students and local news coverage.
an animation and video games company, in Cardiff
was looking for an experience away from home and heard about the CDE’s fully-funded EngD program. Combining my PhD research along with gaining experience in a company is a great way to build up a solid background with university support.
18 | Autumn 2017 | InsideBU
A
lthough my work is specific to the CDE, I enjoy feeling part of a wider community, with links to other faculties, Doctoral College, NCCA, our industrial partners and the University of Bath. I am proud of the research and researchers that we are supporting and that I help to make their research journey stress-free.
EngD student, currently on placement at Bait Studios,
I always wanted to work in the video games industry. At university in Italy, I developed a love for research, writing my Master’s thesis in a research lab.
I
EngD programme enables researchers to work with and in, some of the most exciting high-tech companies in the world, usually for three years, and offers an outstanding and unique opportunity to students and companies alike.
My research repurposes 2D characters and animation for a 3D virtual reality (VR) environment. In traditional platforms, 2D represents an economic and immediate alternative to 3D animation, but requires as much skill. My research aims to introduce the 2D animation concept to VR, bringing the same advantages it has in traditional VR platforms. After the EngD, I will have a PhD level degree and three years practical experience. I think this will be a huge help to find work in this industry.
By day, by night
With 25 years’ experience and a variety of leadership roles under her belt, Dr Fiona Cownie is now a Senior Principal Academic in the Faculty of Media & Communication. She’s also a working mum, vegan, loves art and sport, and recently stood as a Green Party candidate in Christchurch’s local elections.
By day
M
y research examines how gratitude, commitment and word-of-mouth communication impacts students’ relationships within Higher Education – for example, I’ve just submitted a grant application to the British Academy to investigate the evidence and implications of gratitude within alumni. I enjoy working with students, doing my best to stimulate their engagement within learning, and I value connecting my research with practice by teaching final year and master’s students, supporting their conceptual development and scholarly research. I’ve received ‘You’re Brilliant Awards’ from my students over the years which has been lovely – and it’s really motivating! Over the past seven years, I’ve also been involved in BU’s global agenda and am currently working with universities in Vietnam and Thailand, having established a successful exchange programme with Chulalongkorn University where our students spend a semester studying in Bangkok.
By night
O
utside of work I’m an outdoor person! I love skiing, swimming, running and walking the south west coast with my family. I’ve been a runner since I was at university, completing marathons when I was young and fast. Nowadays I’m a dedicated parkrun participant, pushing my personal best to 23.56 (not too bad for a fifty-something!) and am part of Vegan Runners, one of the biggest running clubs across the country. My passion and concerns for the environment and animal welfare have led me to not only be a vegan for the past 32 years, but to also run for the Green Party in the 2017 local elections for Christchurch. I’m so proud I’ve had the opportunity to provide students with a positive experience they tell me they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.
InsideBU | Autumn 2017 | 19
Anna McNuff @AnnaMcNuff A totally rockin’ day speaking @ bournemouthuni #BUFoL17. Lovely campus, lovely people, amazing vibes. They even got me a hoodie! Honoured. Kristian Ward @KristianWard29 Best of luck to everyone starting at @bournemouthuni - some of the best years of my life. Special shout out to those on BAPR! #belongatBU Conor Burns MP @ConorBurnsUK Delighted to attend the @BFXFestival awards ceremony tonight #BFX17 Dr Emma Kavanagh @EmjKavanagh Super @bournemouthuni open day #BUProud of our sports degrees. Fantastic to meet so many students with their sights set on BU #belongatBU Mohammad Shadab @madshadab At heathrow airport to welcome students from all around the world to @bournemouthuni the way I was welcomed. #buproud #belongatbu Students’ Union @SUBUBournemouth It’s the BU Careers Fair at Kimmeridge House. Find your future role today! #bucareers #bournemouthuni
BU colleague Mel Hayward (right), of Finance & Performance, raised around £900 for the Macmillan Cancer charity, completing a 23-mile walk across the Jurassic coast after she learned to walk again following a stroke.
Dr Sonal Minocha @PVCBU Brilliant evening with over 600 students, staff and dignitaries! BU’s International Commencement Ceremony 2017 #ICC17 #WeAreInternational BUG @BUGlobalEnv Prof Rob Britton speaking on aquatic invaders @bournemouthuni inaugural lecture series on Brownsea Island @nationaltrust @DorsetWildlife bronwenrussell @beepersprout Can’t believe it’s 28 years since I came to @ bournemouthuni (as it became) have loved it so much I never left #belongatbu make it count! Ian Ovenden @ianovenden Fantastically gory stop motion created @BFXFestival. A very inspiring day, thanks to all involved #BFX17
20 | Autumn 2017 | InsideBU
Professor Lee Miles was interviewed by a range of national, regional and international broadcast outlets on Hurricane Irma – including BBC Radio 4’s flagship Today Programme.
#BU Proud gallery A round up of what makes us #BUProud this autumn
BU graduate Annabel Bowman is on a mission to spread the word on the life-changing power of sport, as Communications Manager for Invictus Games Sydney 2018.
The National Centre for Post Qualifying Social Work (NCPQSW) team at Bournemouth University has been awarded an institutional hero award at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute’s annual conference in Harrogate. The award was collected by Dr Lee-Ann Fenge, Dr Sally Lee and Professor Keith Brown.
Frank Bruno Boxing legend Frank Bruno came to speak at BU as part of a series of events highlighting mental health. Pictured with Ian Jones, Head of Regional Community Partnerships.
BU’s Dr Miles Russell has received widespread coverage on his study of King Arthur, claiming he was a composite of real-life warlords, created as a ‘Celtic Superhero’ for the Britons in the 12th century AD.
Star Wars drones, a screening of Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and a presentation on character animation by Disney were among the highlights of the BFX Festival 2017. BU graduates Jamie Wood (Playground Games) and Jodie Azhar (Creative Assembly) were among those inspiring the next generation of visual effects, gaming and animation students.
InsideBU | Autumn 2017 | 21
Dates for your diary
November | December | January | February | March | April
GRADUATION Bournemouth International Centre The biggest event in BU’s calendar sees students and staff celebrate their hard work on the following dates: Tuesday 7 November 10am and 2.30pm Faculty of Media & Communication Wednesday 8 November 10am and 2.30pm Faculty of Management Thursday 9 November 10am and 2.30pm Faculty of Science & Technology Friday 10 November 10am Faculty of Health & Social Sciences www.bournemouth.ac.uk/ students/graduation-ceremonies
ESRC FESTIVAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE Saturday 4 - Saturday 11 November, Bournemouth and London A week-long celebration of the social sciences and social science research and external organisations.
UG OPEN DAY Saturday 18 November, Talbot and Lansdowne campuses Open day for prospective students. www.bournemouth.ac.uk/open-days
VC STAFF AWARDS Thursday 23 November 2017, Talbot Campus An award ceremony that recognises the achievements of our staff.
PG OPEN DAYS Wednesday 29 November, Wednesday 14 March and Wednesday 18 July Events for those interested in studying for a Master’s degree at BU www.bournemouth.ac.uk/pg-visit
DORSET UCAS FAIR
www.bournemouth.ac.uk/ royal-bath
Wednesday 15 April, Kimmeridge House For students across Dorset to explore university options for September 2019. www.ucas.com/exhibitions
FESTIVAL OF LEARNING Saturday 16 June - Wednesday 20 June
FESTIVAL OF ENTERPRISE
www.bournemouth.ac.uk/fol
www.bournemouth.ac.uk/foe
22 | Autumn 2017 | InsideBU
Sun 3 December 7pm Royal Bath Hotel
www.bournemouth.ac.uk/pg-conference
Wednesday 7 March, Talbot Campus
Celebrating its sixth anniversary, the Festival of Learning opens with a vibrant family weekend and continues with a diverse selection of events throughout the week
The festival offers an opportunity to explore business, entrepreneurship, and ultimately turn great ideas into new innovations. Completely free and open to everyone.
UNIVERSITY MUSIC CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Join the University Orchestra, Big Band and Musical Theatre Choir for a musical celebration featuring all your festive favourites.
PG RESEARCH CONFERENCE
www.bournemouth.ac.uk/esrc-fss
Wednesday 15 - Friday 17 November, Talbot and Lansdowne campuses
MUSIC EVENTS
CHRISTMAS VACATION Open access centres and receptions at Poole House and Studland House will be open throughout the Christmas break. Other areas will be closed after Friday 22 December, reopening from Tuesday 2 January 2018. The UNIBUS service will not run between Monday 25 December and Monday 1 January. Services restart 2 January. Full term time services resume on Monday 8 January. www.unibuses.co.uk
A FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS Thursday 14 December 6pm St Peter’s Church Join the University Chamber Choir and Chamber Orchestra for a traditional celebration of Christmas. Joint carol concert with AUB, run by Chaplaincy, Uni Music and OVC. www.bournemouth.ac.uk/ carol-concert
For more information about events at BU, please visit news.bournemouth.ac.uk/events or contact the Events Team on 01202 961018 buevents@bournemouth.ac.uk.
BU’s new virtual learning environment, providing a new platform that offers a personalised learning experience – currently used by almost half of BU courses and coming to all in 2018.
Research and Knowledge Exchange (RKE) Development Framework The RKE Office helps academics at all levels to develop their skills, knowledge and capabilities in relation to research and knowledge exchange
Find out more and book at:
www.bournemouth.ac.uk/rke-development-framework
InsideBU | Autumn 2017 | 23
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