UCS Linked Alumni Magazine
inside 02 Restructuring at UCS 03 New campus developments 04 Graduation 2009 08 Community Engagement
Linked UCS Alumni Magazine
inside 02 Restructuring at UCS 03 New campus developments 04 Graduation 2009 08 Community Engagement
Contents 01
UCS in the news
02
Restructuring at UCS
03
New campus developments
04
Graduation 2009
06
Careers and employability
07
Networking, CPD and postgraduate study
08
Community Engagement Keeping in touch
S Alumni C U w e n e th to e m o lc We e ****** Association magazin To all of our alumni,
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UCS in the News
01
High levels of satisfaction at UCS UCS appoints Turner Prizewinning artist UCS has appointed internationally renowned artist Martin Creed to bring his creative vision to an already ambitious and bold development on Ipswich’s Waterfront. Creed, who won the Turner Prize in 2001, will now work on UCS’ innovative art project for the next two years. This is a partnership project supported by the National Lottery through Arts
Council England, and Ipswich Borough Council. Appointing such an important artist reinforces UCS’ commitment to transforming the Waterfront into a dynamic, impressive and engaging space. Workshops and exhibitions are planned for students, artists, residents and the public from within the region and beyond.
HRH The Earl of Wessex opens Waterfront Building On Thursday 18 June, HRH The Earl of Wessex officially opened the Waterfront building. The day was especially significant for UCS as over 3000 Year 12 students from across Suffolk traveled to UCS for the first ever Higher Education Convention held in the Waterfront building on the same day. During his visit HRH The Earl of Wessex attended the event, meeting UCS, University of East Anglia and University of Essex delegates whilst also taking time to speak to some of the current UCS students helping out on the day, and students attending the event.
Students from across Suffolk were invited to come along and learn more about higher education and plan the next steps for their future careers. Over 100 university representatives and other training providers from across the country were available all day to discuss the thousands of courses and career options available to those considering higher education. Before ending his visit HRH The Earl of Wessex formally opened the Waterfront building by unveiling a commemorative stone at the front of the building in front of staff and students.
For the first time, final year UCS students were able to express their opinions on the quality of their degree courses through the National Student Survey 2009. UCS achieved an impressive overall student satisfaction score of 80%, competing with results obtained by more established institutions across the UK.
Students were asked to comment on a wide range of areas in the survey;
The results show that UCS is in line with the national average for overall satisfaction amongst students studying HE in England (81%). The result has been acknowledged as a great success for such a new organisation still under development and is particularly pleasing as the students surveyed had, in many cases, started their degrees with other institutions and been transferred to UCS during their courses.
Part-time students, who make up a significant part of the UCS student body, awarded a satisfaction rating of 86%
UCS students most satisfied with the quality of explanations from staff (88%) The enthusiasm of staff about the subjects that they teach (85%)
Richard Lister, Executive Director for UCS said “…this is a great result for us all and has confirmed that we are heading in the right direction”. “However, we know we can improve and we are determined to do so. It is our ambition to consistently offer the best student experience we can at UCS and we will be focusing on improving our position in this survey”.
Prime Minister visits Waterfront Building Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, visited UCS back in March to launch the Real Help Now campaign, accompanied by Regional Minister Barbara Follett. In collaboration with GO-East, UCS was pleased to host the event in the Waterfront building. A range of local businesses and organisations from across the East of England were invited to attend a Question and Answers session with the Prime Minister.
During his visit the Prime Minister talked of the pride he feels for the region, the benefits that having a new University Campus will bring to the County, and assured the community that he intends to lead Britain in coming through the global economic crisis with strength and speed.
02
Changing faces
Professor Bob Anderson retires In August 2009 Professor Bob Anderson retired from his post of ProVice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of UCS. Professor Anderson took up his role in January 2006 following a highly successful career in academia and the private sector. In his previous role, he was Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at Sheffield Hallam University. Professor Anderson was at the forefront of the formation of UCS. He successfully led the institution through its critical founding period, overseeing the creation of a vibrant and innovative higher education presence across Suffolk and Great Yarmouth, steering the transfer of students and staff from predecessor institutions, and the development of a completely
new campus along the Waterfront in Ipswich. On announcement of his retirement Professor Anderson said: “It has been both a privilege and a pleasure to lead UCS over the last 3 and a half years. It has been tremendously exciting to be at the heart of such a momentous development; to help shape it and contribute to the setting of its long term strategy. When I came to Suffolk, I said that I wanted to lead UCS through the crucial early years of start up and launch to being a real, functioning higher education institution. This has been done and an enormous amount has being achieved in an amazingly short period of time. UCS is now well set for its growth into the future. “
Re-structuring at UCS The announcement of Professor Anderson’s retirement followed a re-structure of the academic area at UCS to give the organisation a sharper focus, and move UCS towards becoming a more mature organisation. As a result the two Faculties were dissolved and four Schools were created; School of Arts and Humanities School of Social Sciences and Business School of Nursing and Midwifery School of Health, Science and Social Care The Faculty Offices have been amalgamated in to Academic Services. The search for Professor Anderson’s replacement, who will lead the organisation into maturity, has already begun and UCS hopes to appoint a new Provost early in 2010.
New Executive Team at UCS Provost – to be appointed Executive Director (External) - Richard Lister Director of Human Resources - Sarah Meelan Executive Dean (Academic Development) Christine Dobson Director of Operations - Carol MacAskill Director of Finance – Tim Greenacre
Other notable members of staff leave UCS Dr Peter Funnell, Director of Enterprise and Executive Dean Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences, left UCS in June 2009 to take up the post of Chief Executive Officer of IDEA Ltd and to participate in other leadership projects. Neil Jackson, Director of Estates and Campus Development, left UCS in October to 2009 to take up the post of Director of Estates at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Dorothy Kennerley, Executive Dean Faculty of Health, Wellbeing and Science retired from UCS in June 2009.
New campus developments
03
Changes to Campus North In addition to the developments taking place at University Quay, extensive renovation and refurbishment work has been taking place this term at Campus North, the facilities previously shared with Suffolk New College. Alongside the newly modernised library is an extensive suite of computers, open study space and break out areas. Campus North is also home to specialised arts and humanities facilities, used mainly by students from the School of Arts and Humanities. Facilities include performance studios, dark rooms for photography students, art studios, graphic design suites and exhibition space. There will also be new science laboratories, an IT suite and prayer rooms. In the longer term an informal meeting area where staff and students can socialise is also being developed. Following completion of the development programme there will be improved access to the buildings at Campus North with a raised walkway under a canopied area.
Building an exciting future Over the last few years the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has invested £19.6 million in UCS as part of a scheme to enhance the learning opportunities for local people and increase the skill levels of those who have little or no experience of higher education. The investment, the largest amount of funding received by any institution in the UK, has been invested into the landmark Waterfront building which opened in September 2008, and further campus developments. Work is already underway on the second dedicated academic building for UCS, University Quay, which is due to be completed in the autumn of 2010. University Quay is located on the Ipswich Waterfront, a short walk from the Waterfront building. The student experience is the focus of the development and University Quay combines teaching space, alongside social and living space, allowing students to experience a campus environment, with the convenience of being located in the centre of town.
New state-of-the-art clinical skills facilities, biomechanics and physiology laboratories are due to be built, including a specialised blood working area, microbiology and analytical laboratories and an iLab. The building will also offer open study space, new IT facilities, and extensive flexible learning and exhibition space. University Quay will also house the UCS Students’ Union facilities, offering students a new café and bar in which to socialise in between and after their studies. Athena Hall, the new student accommodation at University Quay, is the first purpose built accommodation on UCS land. The building has 600 ensuite study bedrooms, alongside common rooms and additional social space for students. University Quay will continue to develop over the next five years, future modules of the academic building will include an extensive library and learning resources centre.
Other changes across the Learning Network At UCS Bury St Edmunds existing facilities and buildings are being developed through a number of improvement schemes which will make the most of the estate. The newest building on campus is the impressive £1.5 million Arts and Sciences building, Leonardo House. A substantial amount of money has been spent on refurbishments across a whole range of other subject areas and parts of Suffolk House have been rebranded as UCS Bury St Edmunds, giving higher education students a dedicated home of their own. In Great Yarmouth the new £2 million purpose-built building for music and performing arts students has completed the arts hub, Studios One, Two and Three - the centre for media, photography, design and other arts. Fitted to “Mercedes-BMW’ standard the light and airy buildings offer all the specialist features found in professional studios and recording suites as well as performance space, and a theatre. At UCS Lowestoft the campus is currently undergoing a major transformation. The development is set to integrate existing buildings with new purpose built blocks covering all academic areas. The master plan is based on a quadrangle design. The cost of redevelopment is estimated at £50 million and the anticipated completion date is 2012. At UCS Otley new Foundation degrees in Arboriculture and Fisheries are being developed, alongside innovative new Management and Business Studies models enabling progression from the work place. The Otley Centre remains ambitious, with many resources being developed and the intention to look after 150 FTE (full-time equivalent) students by 2012. In Ipswich, Suffolk New College now occupies a new, state of the art, £70 million building situated on Rope Walk, just to the north of the previous college site. The impressive building opened to staff and students in September 2009.
04
Graduation Day
This autumn over 1000 students graduated from UCS, in ceremonies taking place across Suffolk and Great Yarmouth. In Ipswich around 900 students from the Ipswich Campus, UCS Otley and UCS at Suffolk New College graduated at the Ipswich Town Hall and the Corn Exchange. This was the first time that the graduation ceremonies have taken place in the town centre, allowing the community to witness the special occasion and join in with the graduates celebrations. Richard Lister, Acting Chief Executive Officer, said “these graduates represent the heart of Suffolk, so it is only fitting that they should become the focus of the town on their special day.� In addition to the ceremonies that took place in Ipswich, graduation ceremonies were also held in Bury St Edmunds, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft for students graduating from UCS Bury St Edmunds, UCS Great Yarmouth and UCS Lowestoft.
Honorary Graduates at this years ceremonies included Rosie Varley OBE BA MA (Econ), comedian Jo Brand, Sir Stuart Rose, Canon Peter Mortimer MBE TD, Professor David Hall and Professor Chris Green OBE. The awards were conferred by Rob Evans, Academic Registrar at the University of East Anglia and Professor Andy Downton, Pro- Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) at the University of Essex. The Alumni and Development Team would like to congratulate all UCS students that have graduated this year on their hard work and the achievement of their awards.
05
Jo Brand – is one of the most successful female comedians of our time, but started her working life as a psychiatric nurse. Dealing on a daily basis with drug addicts, alcohol abuse and the clinically depressed, it was her sense of humour that kept her going. She started her career in comedy as a stand up comedian and was central to the British alternative comedy movement.
Professor Chris Green OBE – formed Trianon Music Group in 1959 and has been Artistic Director for the last 50 years, he was the Founding Director and Deputy Chair of Essex Radio FM and Breeze AM, Founding Director of the Chelmsford and District MIND Centre and Founding Chair of the Association for Collaborative Provision of Higher Education in Further Education in England. Chris was awarded the OBE in the 1995 New Years’ Honours List for services to communities in East Anglia.
Sir Stuart Rose – started his retail career in 1972 as a management trainee at Marks and Spencer. During the next 17 years he held a variety of roles, and was named Chief Executive of Marks and Spencer plc on 31 May 2004 and became Chairman in 2008. He is Chairman of Business in the Community and a Non-Executive Director of Land Securities plc. Stuart was knighted in 2008 for services to the retail industry and corporate social responsibility.
Professor David Hall - was described by the BBC “as an entrepreneurial and business development guru” and is one of Europe’s leading facilitators of entrepreneurship and innovation. He helps organisations to renew, revitalise and reinvent themselves. David is an entrepreneur and practical businessman who started, grew and sold a £6m consulting business with 120 employees and fourteen offices.
Dr Mike More CBE – is one of the UK’s leading local government officers after helping Suffolk become a top performing authority and earning a reputation for strong managerial leadership and vision, he became Chief Executive of Westminster City Council in 2008. During his time as Chief Executive at Suffolk County Council Mike was a significant contributor to the development of UCS.
Canon Peter Mortimer MBE TD - has been a Member of the Suffolk College Corporation since 1996 and Chair for the past four years, being the first Chair of a Corporation of Suffolk New College when it was established in 2007. Throughout this time he has pursued the twin goals of the creation of a university here in Suffolk along with a state of the art College of Further Education in Ipswich. Peter is an Honorary Fellow of the University of East Anglia and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Rosie Varley OBE BA MA (Econ) – lives in Bury St Edmunds and is currently Chair of the General Social Care Council, Public Guardian Board and Skills for Health Eastern Region. Most recently Rosie has been Chair of the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence. In 2006 Rosie was awarded an OBE for services to the NHS and Healthcare.
Family bridge generation gap: grandfather and granddaughter graduate together at UCS Tony Horrocks and his granddaughter Alison Horrocks, graduated from UCS during the same ceremony on Thursday 29 October. The ceremony turned into a family celebration for the pair who both picked up their 2:1 degree awards at this years ceremonies held at the Ipswich Town Hall and Corn Exchange. After gaining his first degree in 1954 (BSc (Hons) Science from London University), 75 year old Tony returned to higher education with UCS in 2007 and was awarded a BA (Hons) Individual Studies. Alison, who was awarded a BA (Hons) Business Management, wasn’t even born when her grandfather first went into higher education but the 21 year old granddaughter and 75 year old grandfather were together to celebrate their recent success at UCS. The journey of both does not end here, as Tony plans on finishing his studies for an MA in Philosophy of Religion, while Alison is looking forward to embarking upon her graduate training programme at M&S.
06
Careers
Looking for that dream job? Once you have graduated from UCS, remember that as a UCS alumni you can still take advantage of the many services and resources that the Careers and Employability Service at UCS offers. We appreciate that whatever your current situation, sometimes finding that dream job can be quite a daunting prospect, so we are here to help. The Careers and Employability Service offers UCS alumni; UCS Job Shop The Job Shop can help graduates fined jobs on graduation and voluntary opportunities. We also work with local employers to offer Internships.
Access to current careers resources and publications As a UCS alumni you can still have access to many of our online resources available on the Alumni Portal. For further information on the Alumni Portal visit www.ucs.ac.uk Access to Careers Fairs Careers Fairs offer a great way to source paid work or experience, and to network with different employers and explore different types of careers. Careers Fair, Waterfront building, Ipswich Campus – 11 March 2010
Further details will be posted on the Alumni Portal as they become available. Flexible and impartial information, advice and guidance to support your individual needs UCS alumni can access a Careers Adviser via email, telephone or in person for CV advice, to develop self awareness, plan for the future and identify key job hunting strategies.
Careers and Employability Service Email: careers@ucs.ac.uk Telephone: 01473 338400
Alumni Profile I chose to study at UCS after taking a gap year after my A levels. I had considered studying at various universities across the country, but I decided on UCS because of the opportunities I felt I would have there. It was also local and I did not want large debts when I graduated.
David Rice BA (Hons) Business Management Graduated 2008 Ipswich
I chose to study Business Management because I wanted a course that was going to challenge me and provide me with the skills I would need to find a job. The course was recommended to me by friends, who praised the standard of teaching and the knowledge the academics had of the subject due to most of them having worked in industry. The most rewarding part of the course for me was the challenge of writing a dissertation. It allowed me to investigate a particular business issue and put to use all the skills I had learnt over the course and equipped me with the skills required in the work place.
After I graduated I worked in the Marketing Department at UCS for a year as the Student Recruitment and Marketing Assistant. I now work for the University of Birmingham as a Student Recruitment Officer. This role involves me visiting schools and speaking to prospective students about the value of studying at university and what the University of Birmingham can offer them. I also am responsible for recruiting postgraduate students to the University and attend graduate recruitment exhibitions across the country. Having a degree has been invaluable and has provided me with the skills that I need for employment and also the confidence to tackle challenging tasks. In the next few years I would like to study further for a Masters degree so that I am better qualified and able to improve my employability opportunities even more. In each edition of **** we hope to update you on what your fellow alumni are up to. Please update your ‘where are you now’ information on the Alumni Portal.
Networking
Working with Business At UCS we are committed to building high-value partnerships with the business community across the region. Curriculum and research activity at UCS have a strong focus on addressing the needs of business and supporting enterprise, innovation and flexibility. By successfully partnering with the commercial sector, UCS seeks to contribute to regional regeneration and enhancement. The notions of employability, innovation and entrepreneurship are embedded in to all of our programmes at UCS, whether they be Honours or Foundation degrees or postgraduate or continuing professional development courses.
The UCS Business and Enterprise Team offers a range of opportunities for local and regional businesses to be involved with the UCS, including networking opportunities, consultancy, continuing professional development courses and the chance to engage with students and graduates. As UCS alumni you are able to access services offered by the Business and Enterprise Team. Please contact them if you would like any further details. They would also be delighted to hear from you to discuss any ideas you may have for potentially working together. Business and Enterprise Team Email: b.peevska-cutting@ucs.ac.uk Telephone: 01473 338628
Suffolk Leadership Academy Launch The Suffolk Leadership Academy was launched at UCS in September by Jim O’Connell, the Director of Leadership at the Department of Health. He was joined by senior figures from many of the organisations which provide services to the people of Suffolk. Suffolk is the first place in the country to develop a partnership approach to leadership development across the health economy. The Academy has been established through a partnership between all eight of Suffolk’s NHS organisations and UCS, using £1.5 million in funding specifically designated for leadership by NHS East of England. The Academy will focus on developing leaders through high quality education, support and training. It will offer leadership development to people employed at all levels, from the board room to the bedside, with the majority of learning events delivered at UCS.
Continuing your studies at UCS At UCS, the development of postgraduate, professional, and continuing professional development courses is an important part of our growth. Our aim is to develop a suite of programmes that allow graduates to continue their studies, and to develop personally as well as gain additional formal qualifications. We are currently in the process of pulling together a collection of short one day continuing professional development courses, which will be rolled out next year. We are also able to work in conjunction with individual organisations in order to tailor programmes to meet their specific business needs. As alumni of UCS, we would value your feedback on the types of postgraduate programmes you think would be useful for us to develop; whether they are full-time Masters programmes or specific shorter training courses. Please email your comments and feedback to alumni@ucs.ac.uk
07
Executive Master Class Programme The Business and Enterprise Team has recently launched an Executive Master Class programme, designed for ambitious Executives and Senior Managers who want to lead tomorrow’s public sector businesses. Delegates develop leadership capabilities and a greater understanding of how to develop the strategic direction of their organisation, ultimately preparing them for the role of Chief Executive. The master classes offer excellent opportunities for networking and joining a community of practice.
MBA students visit Boston In May each year, students from the MBA programme visit the Sawyer Business School, part of Suffolk University, Massachusetts in Boston, for their annual residential study week. The week is said by many alumni to be the highlight of the MBA at UCS. Boston is at the hub of New England business, with many of the world’s top companies in commerce and industry located in this compact area. Students get to visit the British Consulate and learn first hand how Britain and British interests and businesses are promoted in New England, and how inward investment is sought to boost the UK economy. Students take in special classes set up by the Sawyer Business School, as well as joining with Sawyer’s Exec MBA’s at the weekend for classes and socialising. Visits are made to the companies who set the projects, so the learning and networking opportunities are huge.
08
Careers
Engaging with our community A significant number of universities across the UK are taking more time to consider the role they play in their local community, and how they can work with community groups beyond that of being a provider of education. Here at UCS we aim to actively engage with the wider community across Suffolk and Great Yarmouth through a range of partnership projects, community activities and outreach work. We are currently establishing a Community Engagement Team, who will provide a link to the local community, facilitating projects and events, making UCS accessible to everybody. The Community Engagement Team is currently in the process of mapping all community activities currently undertaken by staff and students at the Ipswich Campus and in each of our centres. We are also pulling together an events calendar, listing all the community events which we are involved with over the next 12 months.
At time of writing we are busy preparing for our first Christmas Fair on the Ipswich Waterfront. We are working with other waterfront community organisations to bring a traditional Christmas market, Christmas lights and carol singers to the Waterfront community on Saturday 6 December. We hope that this will be the first of many community events that we will be involved with on the Ipswich Waterfront. Please see the website for further details.
local community were invited to come and exchange old clothes, DVDs, CDs, vinyls and books with other members of the community; the Creative and Cultural Summer School for local students; Macmillan Coffee Morning.
Other community events that have recently taken place at UCS include; a Swap Shop event where members of the
Community Charter UCS has recently signed a Community Charter with Willmott Dixon Construction and Ipswich Borough Council. The Charter has been signed to show the commitment these organisations have to the continued development and regeneration of the Ipswich Waterfront. The Charter forms part of our community engagement agendas and will ensure that the partnership provides local employment opportunities, use locally sourced materials where possible, and generally work to benefit the local community economically and socially.
Facilities for the community UCS has state-of-the-art facilities across Suffolk and Great Yarmouth that can be accessed by local businesses and community groups to improve education and training, to bring individuals together and develop cultural and community projects. The Waterfront building also offers members of the public access to an impressive exhibition space, which regularly showcases talent from UCS students, local artists and those from further a field. The space can act as a venue for local groups, public sector bodies and students to communicate plans and host events in a highly visible and busy location in Ipswich. Further information about community engagement activity at UCS is available on the website www.ucs.ac.uk To contact the Community Engagement Team email community@ucs.ac.uk
Keeping in touch The UCS Alumni and Development Team helps alumni stay in touch with UCS and each other once they have graduated. It is important that you keep your current contact details up-to-date. You can do this via the new Alumni Portal, which can be accessed at www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni
All this information will help us to understand our alumni community better and ensure that we provide the services you need.
We are always keen to hear what our alumni are doing. On the Alumni Portal there is an area where you can tell us where you are now and update your information. We will start to publish this information in future editions of the magazine, so you can find out what your former friends and colleagues are up to.
We look forward to hearing from you.
You can always email us at alumni@ucs.ac.uk if you have any ideas on how you would like your Alumni Association to develop.
The UCS Alumni and Development Team
University Campus Suffolk: T: 01473 338000 E: info@ucs.ac.uk W: www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni