Building a better borough
Issue 17
Local impact from an international institution
NEWS | UNIVERSITY UPDATES | RESEARCH | MEET THE TEAM AND MORE INSIDE
Hello
Contents
Welcome to this latest edition of City News In a city like London it can be hard to feel a sense of community and belonging. We lead busy lives, juggling the demands of work and family, commuting and socialising. We’re never in one place long enough to feel a definite connection. However, I increasingly feel a greater sense of affinity for the area around where I work, perhaps more so than where I live. The friendly face in the nearby coffeeshop who provides the welcome caffeine boost in the morning; buying lunch from the food stall seller in Whitecross Street or Exmouth Market; the pubs and restaurants around St John Street where we socialise with colleagues. All in some way help us to feel a part, however small, of the Islington community.
News Media highlights Main feature
Community matters
Research at City Fracking: an academic perspective Meet the team Student Centre Student journalist Reflecting on Welcome Week From the archive History of Horology at City Pick of upcoming City events
As we discover in the main feature, community matters to staff and students at City. Across the University there are people working and volunteering in Islington and further afield. Mentoring local school children, running taster weeks and workshops and offering free legal and employment advice are just some of the ways City people are making a difference. On page 18 we look at the controversial subject of fracking, a topic never far from the headlines. City academics examine the issues at play. Is it the great energy hope for the future, or a dangerous and untested method with unknown environmental consequences? We’re now safely through the busy start of term and a significant amount of work has gone into making this a memorable time for new starters. On pages 20 to 21 we Meet the Team at the Student Centre, who play such a crucial frontline role in supporting our 6,500 new students. In our research section on pages 14 to 17 we meet some of our recently joined academics to learn more about their research, their inspiration and how they are finding life at City. Reflecting our strengths across the disciplines their research areas include making structures more tolerant to earthquakes, improving mothers’ mental health and wellbeing, examining the soil foundations beneath our skyscrapers and how technology is blurring the boundaries between our work and non-work lives. What connects them all is the potential impact their research has on the world around us.
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City News is published six times a year by Marketing & Communications for all staff. Back issues: blogs.city.ac.uk/staff-news/city-news Editor: Demetri Petrou Tel: 020 7040 8783 Email: demetri.petrou.1@city.ac.uk
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Simon Watts Head of Communications and Events
Recycle When you have finished reading City News, please recycle it.
...to all of this issue’s contributors: Rima Amin, Professor Dinos Arcoumanis, Professor Susan Ayers, Ben Butler, Sophie Cubbin, Professor Paul Curran, Dr Graham Daborn, Professor Peter Fleming, Dr Joana Fonseca, Kayley Goff, Louise Gordon, Professor Andreas Kappos, Kristina Kashtanova, Birgitte Rohde Larsen, Susannah Marsden, Helen Merrills, Damian Mullins, Michelle Preston, Danielle Russo, Benjamin Sawtell, Professor Richard Verrall, Dawn White, Tom Whitney
Next edition Our next edition will be published in January 2014.
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News
News in brief Alma Matters City has been named one of the top universities for educating business leaders of the future. The Times Higher Education Alma Mater Index ranked higher education institutions by the number of Fortune Global 500 CEOs they have produced.
Green City Week returns
City was ranked 3rd in the UK and 89th in the world. Among the CEOs with a connection to City are Muhtar Kent, Coca-Cola (MBA Administrative Sciences, 1977) and Michael Smith, ANZ Bank (Economics, 1978).
City of London Academy, Islington secures best ever results
City staff and students with the vintage Routemaster bus
Bucking a national trend, City of London Academy, Islington has seen its students achieve their best ever GCSE and A-Level results. 97% of students achieved a pass at ‘A’ level, while 85% were awarded A*- C at GCSE, a substantial increase from 65% last year. The Academy, which is sponsored by City and the City of London, also attained a 100% pass rate in its vocational courses.
Vice-Chancellor joins prestigious group
City staff and students welcome the new Chancellor at the Lord Mayor’s Show
Volunteers get cycling to view cult classic - Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Building on last year’s success, Green City Week returned for its fifth year during the week of Monday 21st October. A variety of events showcased the many eco-friendly initiatives that take place in and around City. There was encouragement for students and staff to be more ecologically conscious. Highlights this year included Green Dragons, which saw students pitch projects on how the University can be more eco-friendly. Successful students were awarded with funding to implement their ideas. Green Cycle Cinema saw the cult classic, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, brought to the audience via pedal power. A fair trade ‘bake-off’ and afternoon tea in the City Vegetable Garden included a talk on food policy by Professor Tim Lang. The series of events was coordinated by Dawn White, Environmental Officer at City. “The week was a tremendous opportunity for those wanting to become involved and learn more about some of the environmental projects taking place at City. “We are already recognised for our environmental achievements, but we know that we can do more. Green City Week is a reminder not only that we need to do even more to help the environment, but that we can have fun doing it.”
A ‘Q-Step’ in the right direction The Department of Sociology has been awarded funding to host a programme designed to equip social science undergraduates with quantitative skills.
will begin this academic year, with courses due to start in 2014/15.
A large crowd witnessed a tradition that has spanned nearly 800 years. The Lord Mayor’s Show is one of the longest established and best known annual events in London and dates back to the time of King John, who issued the Royal Charter providing for a Mayor.
The UK has a critical shortage of social scientists with advanced quantitative skills and is unable to meet the demand from employers for staff who can apply such methods to the analysis of complex data. The Quantitative Methods Programme (Q-Step) is a new £19.5 million national programme designed to promote quantitative social science skills. It has been developed by the Nuffield Foundation in partnership with the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Q-Step will promote institutional change, produce the first cohort of quantitatively skilled undergraduates and create links between undergraduate and postgraduate education. The programme will benefit academic research and meet the needs of the labour market. City has been awarded £897,449 over the next five years and is one of only 15 Q-Step centres. Preparatory work for the programme
On Saturday 9th November 2013, Alderman Fiona Woolf began her tenure as the 686th Lord Mayor of London. She is the global ambassador for UK-based financial and business services and serves as the Chancellor of City University London.
Staff Survey is on the way... City’s biennial staff survey, City Voice 2013, will be available for all staff to complete from 25th November. The survey provides insight into staff opinion on several key aspects of the staff experience and allows the University to benchmark its performance as an employer and identify its strengths and areas in need of development. The survey will be available to complete online for three weeks from launch and the results will be available early in 2014.
Forming at the London Wall, the procession made its way through The City of London to The Royal Courts of Justice, before returning along the Victoria Embankment to Guildhall. City was represented at the event by a vintage Routemaster bus carrying students and members of staff in academic dress. To complement the ‘energy’ theme this year, sports teams took part with students from City’s rugby, netball, basketball, hockey and cheerleading teams walking alongside the bus. This year’s music featured ‘Rhythms of the City’, a band comprising City music students, academics and alumni, who filled the streets with Samba. Alderman Woolf will be installed as Chancellor of City University London in January. Professor Paul Curran, ViceChancellor commented:
“City University London is the University of the City of London and we are proud to have the Lord Mayor of London as our Chancellor. We look forward to installing Alderman Fiona Woolf as Chancellor and to working with her during the coming year.” Fiona Woolf CBE is a partner at CMS Cameron McKenna specialising in electricity reforms and infrastructure projects. She served as President of the Law Society of England and Wales in 2006/07. She is also a Member of the Competition Commission (UK), Alderman for the Ward of Candlewick in the City of London since 2007 and was Sheriff of the City of London in 2010/11. Lord Mayor’s Show - the facts
1215 – The year King John, keen to win the support of the City, made the Mayor of London one of the first elected offices in the world. 685 – The number of Mayors who have made the iconic journey. 254 – The number of years the Lord Mayor’s gold State Coach has been in operation. It spends most of the year glittering impressively in the window at the Museum of London. 500,000 – The number of people expected to watch the procession. 3,500 – The number of manholes along the route that are searched and sealed by security teams before the crowds arrive. 2 – Plagues, plus a great fire, world wars and a riot. None of which have managed to halt the procession.
City’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Curran has been appointed to the leadership council of the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB). The body develops, promotes and supports collaboration between universities and business across the UK. The Council includes representatives from many of the UK’s most successful businesses and universities.
City Magazine 2013 out now! The Development and Alumni Relations Office annual publication is distributed to over 65,000 former students and features University news and interviews with some of our most enterprising and innovative graduates. To download City Magazine, please visit www. city.ac.uk/alumni/benefits-and-services/citymagazine. For hard copies (including bulk copies to use at events etc.), please contact celia.enyioko.1@city.ac.uk or call ext. 5551.
Academic timetables and room bookings The 2013/14 academic timetables and online room booking facility is now available. Colleagues can access the online link via the Central Timetabling web pages: www.city.ac.uk/news-timetabling Please ensure you update your bookmark favourites to include the new link: www.city.ac.uk/news-timetables
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News Guests of Honour Each year, The University confers honorary degrees on those who have achieved international academic distinction or held major leadership roles in its academic subjects. Honorary Fellowships are bestowed on those whose outstanding work or action has contributed significantly in furthering the work or interests of the University. Joining the 1,600 students who received their degrees at the summer graduation ceremonies this year were five distinguished individuals who were honoured for outstanding contributions to their professions.
Opening Cass Executive Education at 200 Aldersgate Cass Business School has launched a new facility for its Executive Education and Executive MBA programmes. The campus, on the second floor of 200 Aldersgate, close to the Museum of London, is one of the largest Executive Education facilities in the Square Mile. The building features a 90-seat lecture theatre and four 40-seat seminar rooms, one of which has a translation booth. It also houses 14 syndicate rooms, a boardroom, a restaurant and networking space. Dean of Cass Business School, Professor Steve Haberman, said: “This will bring our high-quality Executive MBA and tailor-made courses to the heart of London’s global financial district and to individuals and companies beyond.” Cass has also opened the doors of its refurbished undergraduate facility at the Drysdale building. The improvements include a larger student lounge, new pods for group work and private study and enhanced space for professional and academic staff.
Where talent meets tech Launch of ‘The Hangout’ With some of the brightest entrepreneurial minds studying at City, the University is helping students and graduates develop their own businesses by launching a new interactive incubation space in the heart of Tech City. Research has shown that fewer than 30% of small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK last for more than five years, compared to 87% of those who begin through a form of business incubator. The Hangout supports ‘start-up’ development by giving students and graduates a space to share ideas and to learn from City’s academic staff and Tech City entrepreneurs. The Hangout is located at the City Road headquarters of established accelerator The Bakery and was opened by Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Curran.
City’s Biomedical Engineering Research Group secures over £1.5M funding for research The Biomedical Engineering Research Group (BERG), led by Professor Panicos Kyriacou (School of Engineering & Mathematical Sciences), has been awarded over £1.5M in
research funding for two separate projects that could benefit thousands of people. The first is a Personal Lithium Blood Level Analyser, a device that measures lithium levels in people with bipolar disorder. Over 1% of people in the UK are diagnosed with bipolar, a mood disorder causing people to alternate between frenzied moods known as mania and depression. The most commonly used treatment is lithium, which can be dangerous if levels in the body get too high. The device allows people to check their lithium levels without having to see a doctor or get an injection, saving time and money as well as being more convenient.
Time to celebrate
Sophie Raworth, the City University London alumna, was awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition of her contribution to the field of journalism.
The iconic University Clock renamed after world-famous clock maker and City alumnus, George Daniels at inaugural annual lecture
Robert Somerville was conferred an honorary doctorate in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the shipping and offshore industries.
City recently celebrated the work of one of the world’s most important watch makers.
Christopher Muttukumaru, the City Law School alumnus, received an honorary doctorate in recognition of his contribution to the legal profession.
Students will be greeted at the new reception at 200 Aldersgate
The Leadership Development award nomination highlighted the work of the Collaborative Leadership programme sponsored by the Learning Development Centre. The programme allowed relatively junior members of staff managing complex relationships across departments to take part in an innovative development programme. The syllabus covered skills in negotiation, inspiration, motivation and management of change.
David Newman received an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his outstanding contribution to education and to the development of City University London. Frank McLoughlin was bestowed an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his transformation of City and Islington College.
George Daniels is credited with being one of the best watch makers of his time and a revolutionary in the world of horology. His achievements included the creation of the co-axial escapement, one of the most important developments in horology for 250 years. Daniels studied at City’s predecessor, the Northampton Institute. After his death in 2011, the George Daniels Educational Trust established several scholarships for City students and funded research in measurement and instrumentation at the University. The City celebration featured two events: the formal renaming of the iconic University Clock to the George Daniels Clock (pictured above) and the inaugural George Daniels Lecture, delivered by Professor Patrick Gill of the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) entitled ‘Optical Atomic Clocks: Light Years Ahead?’. The event brought together a variety of leading horological professionals including Trustees from the George Daniels Education Trust and liverymen from The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers. They were joined by City academic staff, Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Curran and Professor Ken Grattan, the first George Daniels Professor of Scientific Instrumentation.
The other project is the development of a multi-parameter oesophageal sensor for the early detection of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). The device monitors sepsis in patients in intensive care units and can let medical staff know when oxygen levels are low, thereby preventing MODS which can be fatal. The funding for the Personal Lithium Blood Level Analyser was provided by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) and the Oesophageal Sensor is funded by Invention for Innovation (i4i).
City shortlisted for two Times Higher Education Awards Sophie Raworth receives her honorary doctorate
The University has been nominated for ‘Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year’ and ‘Outstanding Contribution to Leadership Development’ at the forthcoming Times Higher Education Awards.
For the Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year award, it was City’s Winter, Spring and Summer Schools that were recognised. The programmes have been running since 2003 and allow state school students between the ages of 14 and 17 from under-privileged backgrounds to sample university life. The week-long programmes include academic lectures, seminars and workshops as well as social activities allowing the pupils to interact with current staff and students. The winners will be announced on Thursday 28th November at a ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane.
National Student Survey results show significant improvements The recent National Student Survey results made for good reading with City showing the largest percentage increase in England. Student satisfaction ratings jumped to 86%, compared with 79% in 2012. Survey participation increased to its highest ever level with 72% of students completing the survey – among the highest response rates in England and Wales. Teaching at City was one of things students were most happy with, scoring a 90% satisfaction rate. Fourteen courses achieved over 90% for overall satisfaction, with the BMus (Hons) in Music ranked as top in the UK, with a score of 100%. The BSc (Hons) in Psychology was ranked joint top with a 99% score and City’s degrees in International Politics were ranked third in the country, also with a 99% score. Results from the annual survey of final year undergraduates suggest there is a positive response to the investment in academic staff, facilities and the University estate as part of the implementation of the University’s Strategic Plan.
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Staff news
Media highlights
If you want to celebrate the achievements of your colleagues or perhaps your charity fundraising, email the Editor.
Recent highlights of press releases and notable media coverage.
Success at the annual Academy of Management Conference for City academic staff Academic staff from Cass Business School took top honours at this year’s Academy of Management awards. Three awards were collected: Best Paper of the Year, a divisional Best Paper Award and an Outstanding Contribution Award. Professors Ajay Bhalla and Joseph Lampel took the prestigious Best Paper of the Year award for ‘Test Driving the Future: how design competitions are changing innovation.’ Dr Stefan Haefliger won Best Paper for his work ‘Sociomaterial Regulation in Organisations: The case of Information Technology’, in the Organisational Communication and Information Systems Division. Professor Cliff Oswick was given an Outstanding Contribution Award from the Organisational Development and Change Division. The annual Academy of Management conference brings together some of the Association’s 19,000 management professors from over 100 countries. This year the awards were held in Orlando, Florida.
CitySport City’s new sports centre on Goswell Road is scheduled to open in September 2014. The 38,000m2 facility, to be known as CitySport, will provide outstanding facilities and equipment for students and staff, whether their focus is on health and wellbeing, injury rehabilitation, improving sports performance or just having fun! The heart of the centre will be a sports hall of Sport England standard for basketball, badminton, five-a-side football, volleyball, netball and other court games. There will be an impressive strength and conditioning section, with a free weight area and resistance equipment. Purpose-built studios will accommodate group exercises, martial arts, yoga, Pilates, spinning and floor-based sports including fencing, dancing, cheerleading and table tennis.
City Professor leads study that may evolve powering options for ships Professor John Carlton, Professor of Marine Engineering, has led the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) report ‘Future Ship Powering Options’. Recent technological advances have encouraged many within the industry to consider new approaches to current modes of ship propulsion due to the generally rising cost of fuel, environmental regulations and the potential introduction of carbon taxes. The report includes input from around fifty leading experts and a range of perspectives including ship broking, legal, regulatory, manufacturing, ship registry and academia. It can be read in full on the RAEng’s Website, www.city.ac.uk/city-news-esspdf.
300 miles and running… Tom Whitney, a courses officer with the School of Informatics, is over two thirds of the way through the incredible feat of completing 12 marathons in a year, running a combined distance of over 316 miles. In recent years, Tom has fed his running habit by tackling the New York, Berlin, Dublin, Paris and Melbourne marathons. Deciding that was insufficiently challenging, he set himself the target of running 12 in a year alongside his cousin, all in the name of charity. All money raised will be divided between two charities, Médecins Sans Frontières and Tommy’s. Tom, who has been at City for over five years, has already run nine marathons this year including the London, Steyning and the Halstead & Essex Marathons. In a month when there isn’t a marathon, Tom runs the 26.3 miles after and even before work. If you’d like to find out more about Tom’s fundraising, visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/ domandtomrun.
Erasmus… not just for students For 25 years the European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students (Erasmus) programme has allowed over three million European students to experience university life in another European country. What is often overlooked is the fact that the scheme is also available to staff in higher education institutions. Erasmus provides funding for travel and living costs for both academic and professional services staff on a placement at a university in one of the 33 participating countries across Europe. The duration of the assignments can range from five days to six weeks and they provide an opportunity for staff to share their skills and experiences while developing an understanding of other higher education environments. One of the many to benefit from the programme is Birgitte Rohde Larsen who has been visiting City’s Marketing & Communications Service from Aalborg University Copenhagen.
The Islington Gazette reported the University’s Green City Week. City Cycle Cinema screened Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, but members of the audience had to do more than just sit back and relax. Film-goers took it in turns to supply the sound and vision entirely by pedal power, riding specially adapted bicycles that generated the electricity needed to screen the film. Professor Philip Thomas from the School of Engineering & Mathematical Sciences wrote an article in the Financial Adviser explaining the case for an alternative to The London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). He outlined the current system and its frailties, pointing out that the system was exposed to both individual and corporate bias. The Times featured a case study of one of Cass Business School’s MBA students, Andrew Baughen. Andrew is vicar of St James’ Church in Clerkenwell and chaplain at City. Andrew spoke of the relevance of the MBA to his work, from developing a strategic planning approach for the future of the Church, to managing effectively the changes he wished to implement in Sunday service. Dr Zahera Harb from the School of Arts & Social Sciences appeared on Channel 4 News discussing how the war in Syria is being conducted online, with opposing sides posting propaganda videos on YouTube. She argues that the videos are not just to display power and recruit followers, but also to showcase military capability to potential funders of the war.
“The staff at City have all made a fantastic effort to make me feel welcome. They had put together an exciting and interesting programme for the week and I enjoyed every minute of it. The staff took their time to answer all my questions and I was surprised to learn that despite the difference in the structures of the two universities we are facing some of the same challenges” she said.
Other highlights include:
To find out more about the programme, please contact Izabela Hutchins, International Partnerships Manager at City, on izabela.hutchins.1@city.ac.uk or extension 8745.
Professor Alan Riley spoke to the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee over whether companies would need the consent of landowners in order to drill for shale gas. His comments were published in The Times.
City University London The Islington Gazette ran a piece regarding the increase in Student Satisfaction at City in the recent National Student Survey. City Law School
School of Arts & Social Sciences Professor Roy Greenslade spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live about the row between Ed Milliband and The Daily Mail over comments the paper published about Milliband’s father. Dr Sara Silvestri spoke to BBC Radio 4 about the case of the Muslim woman who refused to remove her niqab in court.
School of Engineering & Mathematical Sciences The BBC covered the inaugural George Daniels Lecture. The piece covered the lecture and the renaming of the University Clock as The George Daniels Clock. School of Health Sciences Research conducted by City University London and Cardiff University voiced the complaints of student nurses who were concerned that senior colleagues were wearing nail polish to work. The findings were published in The Nursing Times. School of Informatics Throughout September, Professor Adrian Cheok spoke to BBC Click, Shoreditch FM and Resonance FM about his research into taste and smell technology.
Sir John Cass Business School BBC News Technology quoted Professor Cliff Oswick in an article about Valve, a games making organisation without a leadership hierarchy. The Daily Telegraph, the Independent, City AM and Scotland on Sunday quoted Professor Andre Spicer in articles about JP Morgan’s £157 million fine. Professor Spicer’s comments on the topic also appeared in Die Welt, the Mail on Sunday and the Sydney Morning Herald.
If you have any interesting news that can be publicised please contact pressoffice@city.ac.uk
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Rima Amin with the Wish Tree
R
oom AG08 in College Building is buzzing with the excited chatter of students taking part in a mock court. A judgment has just been handed down and the students are debating the outcome. But this is not the normal City cohort of 18 year olds, fresh from A-Levels and embarking on their undergraduate LLB in Law. Thirty Year 10 pupils from schools across Islington and London are on a Law and Criminology taster week, designed to give school students their first experience of university life. It is one of several subject-specific taster weeks which encompass academic lectures, seminars and workshops and provide pupils with the opportunity to meet and work with current staff and students.
Universities are increasingly viewed as being at the heart of their communities. They are major employers, give public access to facilities and events and make a real difference in inspiring local school children to see the benefits of Higher Education. Simon Watts looks at how City plays its part.
Later that afternoon, the students become scenes-of-crime officers and gather evidence from a mock crime scene. Evidence will be gathered and experiments conducted to help solve the crime. Danielle Russo (pictured right), Deputy Outreach Manager, explains the thinking behind the taster weeks. “Students who come on the weeks may be the first in their family to consider higher education as an option. We’re here to help raise aspirations and hopefully make them realise that they have the potential to benefit from going to university.” Across City there are people working with local schools, businesses and organisations to help make a difference in the community. “There’s an incredible pool of talent within City whose impact is stretching beyond the immediate vicinity of Northampton Square.” says Professor Richard Verrall, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Strategy & Planning), who is spearheading a new engagement initiative on behalf of the University. “From mentoring students in local schools, volunteering in care homes and offering free legal advice to new businesses, there is a diverse range of projects taking place at City which offer a wider community benefit.” Richard continues: “I think the desire to help educate and inspire is part of what drove many of us towards careers in higher education. Whether that’s educating the next generation of midwives, lawyers and engineers, or
carrying out vital academic research with high societal impact, City exists to make a difference to peoples’ lives and it is important that our nearest neighbours also benefit.” A force for good “During Welcome Week, we signed up our 1,500th volunteer” said Ben Butler, Student Development and Outreach Manager. “That’s a huge army of students looking to gain new skills and make a difference.”
“Students who come on the weeks may be the first in their family to consider higher education”
More than 200 volunteering opportunities with local organisations are listed on the volunteering website and range from tutoring pupils in inner city schools to bulb planting for the elderly. “We’ve almost 100 students acting as volunteer tutors and mentors in local schools. As well as benefitting the child’s learning, the students get valuable skills which help their employability and make their cvs stand out. Planting bulbs for elderly people may seem like a small and simple gesture, but it provides friendship and support to a section of the community who can feel isolated,” continues Ben. “It also gives students the chance to learn more about Islington’s history from those who have lived it and know it best.” Rima Amin Vice-President of Activities in the Students’ Union agrees: “City students want to feel a connection to the area where they spend so much time and to become a part of the wider community. It’s especially important for international students looking to learn more about a culture which may be very different from their own.” Rima recently led a group of City students who took part in the annual Cally Festival on Caledonian Road, promoting their ‘Knowledge is Power” Wish Tree. “We asked visitors to our stall to write down their hopes and aspirations relating to education. Among the many ‘leaves’ pinned to our tree were notes about learning gymnastics to being environmentally friendly. We’ve now published them on a blog to share more widely and we
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Ben Butler at St Luke’s Community Centre
hope to provide a little guidance and direction to motivate people to believe they can achieve anything.”
use of local suppliers and through the work of Unitemps, the University’s employment agency.
Members of staff are also doing their bit to help inspire the next generation of students. For the last three years, staff from Cass have been paying weekly visits to St John the Baptist School in Hoxton, to take part in a scheme called Reading Partners. Staff help Year 5 and 6 children with their reading and literacy skills and act as mentors. Elizabeth Starling, now
“While Unitemps has mainly focused on roles internally at the University, we are now in a position to work with local SMEs and businesses seeking part-time and temporary staff,” says Damian Mullins, Branch Manager. “Our aim is to increase the number of roles we have with companies locally in order to increase the employability skills of those who
However, that comes at some cost to our immediate neighbours, via noise and disruption from the building works,” says Professor Verrall. “We also need to acknowledge that things like building opening hours and student behaviour can have a real impact. These issues can potentially detract from the very good work which City staff and students are doing in the community.” To help address some of these issues, the development will relocate the Students’ Union
“While Unitemps has mainly focused on roles internally at the University, we are now in a position to work with local SMEs and businesses seeking part-time and temporary staff” Web Content Officer in Marketing & Communications, explains why she is involved. “I find it incredibly rewarding to see the children’s progression and the confidence they gain from becoming better readers.” The economic impact City’s impact on the local community goes beyond raising aspirations amongst local schoolchildren. “Not only are we a significant employer, but our staff and students spend money with the many businesses that surround our sites,” says Professor Verrall. Recent statistics from the NUS suggest that the average student spend on food and leisure is £3,266 per year. Multiply that by City’s student population of some 17,000 and add in the spending power of almost 2,000 staff and it’s clear that the University has a substantial economic impact on its surrounding area. At City, that contribution goes further, both in the
live nearby and of our students.” Another initiative with a strong local focus is City StartEd, a free legal clinic staffed by students in the School of Law under the supervision of industry professionals. The project, which has been recognised with several awards, gives advice on business planning, contracts and intellectual property. “Last year alone, we saw more than 300 organisations and start-ups,” says Dr David Collins, Reader in Law, “and we are expanding into new areas such as Tech City.” Building a better City City is investing some £130 million in developing and upgrading its facilities, some of which, like the CitySport centre, will be open to the local community. “We’re undergoing a major transformation of our estate to create an environment of which staff, students and the local community can be justifiably proud.
Professor Richard Verrall overseeing the construction of the CitySports centre and new student accommodation
away from predominantly residential areas on Spencer Street. A new entrance on Goswell Road will reduce night time pedestrian traffic and special acoustic glazing will be used to contain noise. Back at the Law and Criminology Taster Week students are practising their interview questioning techniques and preparing to visit a courtroom. It is clear that the week is going to leave a lasting impression on those who attended. One student summed it up: “I really enjoyed the course, especially the crime scene investigation. The best thing was that I got a taste of what university life feels like. I’ve also learnt that you don’t need to be rich to go to university.” It’s a timely reminder that the impact of City’s activities stretch far beyond the walls of our lecture theatres and laboratories.
Above: Damian Mullins at the Unitemps desk in the Career & Skills Development service
Below: Danielle Russo with one of her student ambassadors
Year 10 students on a criminology taster week
Right: Rima in Northampton Square
“There’s an incredible pool of talent within City whose impact is stretching beyond the immediate vicinity of Northampton Square.”
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Research at City
European Social Survey (ESS) reveals significant differences in attitudes on moral and social issues across Europe. Based at City, the ESS has become one of the largest and most reliable sources of data on Europe’s evolving social, political and moral fabric. The data, which have been collected from more than 30 European countries over the last ten years, have revealed significant differences in attitudes on moral and social issues such as trust in the police and homosexuality.
In 2011, City embarked on one of the most ambitious academic recruitment programmes in the higher education sector. We are delighted to welcome the academic staff who have joined us since January 2013.
Professor Anthony Neuberger Cass Business School Professor Fleura Bardhi, Professor of Marketing Dr Pawel Bilinski, Senior Lecturer in Accounting Professor Michael Brandt, Professor of Finance Dr Laure Cabantous, Senior Lecturer in Management Dr Eugenia Cacciatori, Senior Lecturer in Management Professor Peter Fleming, Professor of Business and Society Dr David Henderson, Senior Lecturer in Management Dr Susan Hill, Senior Lecturer in Management Professor Paula Jarzabkowski, Professor of Strategic Management Dr Danielle Lyssimachou, Senior Lecturer in Accounting Dr Rhiannon MacDonnell, Lecturer in Management Dr Sebastien Mena, Lecturer in Management Professor Anthony Neuberger, Professor of Finance Dr Amit Nigam, Senior Lecturer in Management Dr Elena Novelli, Lecturer in Management Dr Sinead Roden, Senior Lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Management Dr Irene Scopelliti, Lecturer in Marketing Professor Scott Shane, Professor of Entrepreneurship Professor Ken Siu, Professor of Actuarial Science Professor Paolo Volpin, Professor of Finance The City Law School Dr Henrique Carvalho, Lecturer in Law Professor Panos Koutrakos, Professor of European Union Law Dr Mazen Masri, Lecturer in Law School of Arts & Social Sciences Dr Alev Atak, Lecturer in Financial Economics Professor Philip Corr, Professor of Psychology (Behavioural Economics)
Professor Tom Chen Dr Vanessa Gash, Senior Lecturer in Sociology Dr Jessica Jones-Nielson, Lecturer in Psychology Professor Mark Howe, Professor of Psychology Dr Lauren Knott, Lecturer in Psychology Dr Sophie Lind, Lecturer in Psychology Claire McGowan, Lecturer in Creative Writing Dr Giovanni Melina, Lecturer in Macroeconomics Dr Stefano Pagliari, Lecturer in International Politics Dr Anke Plagnol, Lecturer in Psychology (Behavioural Economics) Dr Colin Porlezza, Lecturer in Entrepreneurial Journalism Dr Ian Robertson, Professor of Psychology Professor Chris Rojek, Professor of Sociology Professor Jane Singer, Professor of Entrepreneurial Journalism School of Engineering & Mathematical Sciences Dr Andrea Baronchelli, Lecturer in Mathematics Professor Thomas Chen, Professor of Cyber Security Dr Joana Fonseca, Lecturer in Civil Engineering Professor Andreas Kappos, Professor of Civil Engineering Dr Panagiotis Mergos, Lecturer in Civil Engineering Dr Samsun Naher, Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering Dr Mohammad Omidyeganeh, Lecturer Fluid Simulation Professor Alfredo Pinelli, Professor of Fluid Simulation Dr Constantino Reyes-Aldasoro, Lecturer in Bio-Medical Engineering Dr Ivan Sikora, Senior Lecturer in Air Safety/Transport Professor Huifu Xu, Professor of Operational Research Dr Shiqiang Yan, Lecturer in Civil Engineering (Hydrodynamics)
Some of the standout findings include: Attitudes to homosexuality have become more permissive across many European countries. However, in much of Eastern Europe there is very little agreement that gay people should be free to live their lives as they wish. On average, women in Europe, even if they work full-time, are still responsible for around two-thirds of the total time heterosexual couples spend on housework. The division of household labour between the sexes is most unequal in southern Europe. The full article on the ESS can be found on City’s website www.city.ac.uk/city-news-ess.
Professor Jane Singer School of Health Sciences Professor Leanne Aitken, Professor of Nursing Dr Diddy Antai, Senior Lecturer in Public Health Dr Alison Binns, Lecturer of Optometry Professor Amanda Burls, Professor of Public Health Dr Martin Cartwright, Lecturer of Health Services Research Dr Lars Eriksson, Reader in Nursing Professor Lucy Henry, Professor of Language and Communication Science Dr Rachel Holland, Lecturer in Language and Communication Science Dr Fiona Kyle, Lecturer in Language and Communication Science Dr Yiannis Kyratsis, Lecturer of Health Management and Leadership Dr Mauro Laudicella, Senior Lecturer in Health Economics Professor Lene Martin, Professor of Opthalmic Nursing, Dr Ellinor Olander, Lecturer in Maternal and Child Health Dr Catherine Suttle, Senior Lecturer in Optometry Professor Christ Tyler, Professor of Visual Science School of Informatics Professor Gennady Andrienko Professor of Computer Science Professor Natalia Andrienko Professor of Computer Science Dr Jon Bird, Lecturer in Pervasive Computing Professor Adrian Cheok, Professor of Pervasive Computing Dr Marco Comuzzi, Lecturer in Business Computing Processes and Governance Dr Evangeli Kalyvianaki, Lecturer in Cloud Computing Dr Nikolaos Komninos, Lecturer in Cyber Security Dr Stephann Makri, Lecturer in Information Architecture/Semantic Web Dr Ernesto Priego, Lecturer in Library Science Dr Aidan Slingsby, Lecturer in Visual and Analytic Computing Cagatay Turkay, Lecturer in Applied Data Science
The importance of academic input for government policy Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International & Development), Professor Dinos Arcoumanis has just completed his first year in post as an advisor to the Greek Government. In 2012, as the country looked to accelerate its financial recovery, he was appointed Ambassador-atLarge of the Hellenic Republic for Energy Policy and New Technologies. “Greece realised that in order to survive the financial crisis, it both had to put its house in order and needed to focus on its future”, explains Dinos. “The country has plenty of untapped natural resources which can be exploited efficiently for the benefit of its citizens, the national and European economies and a Government enthusiastic about facilitating investment in energy exploration programmes”. One of the subjects of that focus is the sea surrounding the country which is believed to hold substantial reserves of oil and gas. The country is currently reliant on Russia to provide a significant fraction of its energy supplies in the form of natural gas but the extraction of state owned reserves could prove to be a turning point for Greece. Dinos attests that energy, with its connections to every facet of modern life, will be the future language of diplomacy. His appointment places him among a rich history of university academics advising world leaders on issues of direct relevance to their academic expertise. “The majority of government ministers are not experts in a particular field because they have to move around different portfolios. However, they still need the ability to speak with confidence in order to make the material they
are delivering easier for their audience to absorb. This is one of the reasons why the generalities of government and the specialisms of academia can be complementary.” Academics provide a unique input that is grounded in long-term research that has been debated with peers internationally. However, there is a journey from building an expertise in a narrow field to becoming adept at applying it within the intricacies of government. Dinos believes his own transition was made possible by complementing an internationallyrecognised expertise in the general area of energy with expanding external interests and senior administrative experience. Having joined City in 2001 as Dean of the School of Engineering & Mathematical Sciences, he was appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 2008. “When you start doing academic administration, you begin to see the larger picture. You recognise that universities are a microcosm, or even a mirror, of society. To move beyond a strictly academic profile, you have to consider your connections nationally and internationally, aspects of your personality and, of course, timing. I reached a stage where I realised I could use my academic expertise, the management skills I had acquired and my external interests to move into a position which would enable me to make a positive contribution to my country of birth”. “What I didn’t anticipate”, he continues, “was the opportunity for personal development that the role would afford me. I’ve increased my self-confidence and I’m also more open to suggestions about issues which I may previously have viewed in black and white. Overall, I’d say the opportunity has left me feeling more fulfilled as an individual”.
Book Corner Several books have been published by City academics this year. Here are some of the highlights from the last few months.
Finite Element Modeling Methods for Photonics Professor B M Azizur Rahman and Dr Arti Agrawal Reporting Disasters: Famine, Aid, Politics and the Media Professor Suzanne Franks Women and Journalism Professor Suzanne Franks When Reporters Cross The Line: The Heroes, the Villains, the Hackers and the Spies Professor Stewart Purvis and Jeff Hulbert Out of Print: Newspapers, Journalism and the Business of News in the Digital Age Professor George Brock Another book by academic staff at City has also been highly commended in the BMA Medical Book Awards 2013: Ecological Public Health: Reshaping the Conditions for Good Health Professor Geof Rayner and Professor Tim Lang
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Research profiles
Meet some of our new academics Dr Joana Fonseca, Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering With buildings becoming taller, trains getting faster and bridges becoming more intricate, civil engineering is facing one of its biggest challenges to date: making 21st century infrastructure meet the demands of modern life in the safest possible way. Dr Joana Fonseca, Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering in the School of Engineering & Mathematical Sciences, specialises in considering what lies beneath these buildings: the soil. Unlike the traditional geotechnical trend to regard soil as a continuous material, Joana’s approach considers the fact that soil comprises individual grains with particular shapes and sizes that produce diverse geometrical arrangements or microstructures. When a load is applied to the soil the original structure evolves: for example, the soil can expand or shrink as the grains rotate. Indeed, the way the structure is modified has a direct impact on the bearing capacity of the soil.
Professor Andreas Kappos, Professor of Civil Engineering In 1978 Professor Andreas Kappos experienced an earthquake in his hometown of Thessaloniki in Greece and the experience helped shape his life. After seeing the damage caused by this natural disaster, Andreas decided to pursue a career in earthquake study. Following a Diploma in Civil Engineering from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki he went on to complete an MSc in Structural Engineering at the University of Southampton and a PhD on evaluating the seismic response of reinforced concrete buildings.
Joana uses x-ray computed tomography which generates three-dimensional images of soil samples to help separate the grains and scrutinise them before and after loading. By considering the soil in such detail, she hopes to improve our understanding of the soil’s response to loading.
Andreas has spent his professional and academic career studying earthquakes across the world. He was a Lecturer and Reader of Earthquake Structural Engineering at Imperial College London and in 1999 returned to his home country to become Professor of Civil Engineering at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He joined City in March 2013 as Professor of Civil Engineering. A Fellow at the ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers), Andreas was also made a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers in September 2013.
Her research group aims to provide modellers with vital information about how the activity within the soil can affect the stability of a building and essentially prevent accidents or collapse. The long term hope is that the group will be able to provide an accurate characterisation of the soil as well as identifying microscale parameters that control the soil's response.
In the last few years Andreas has carried out consultancy work on the seismic design of bridges and buildings and extensive research into both fibre and steel-reinforced polymers. These materials are not widely used in civil engineering but are particularly resistant to dynamic loading.
Joana has always been fascinated by buildings. Born in the small city of Guarda in Portugal, she grew up reading books about the great architects from the Porto School of Architecture such as Fernando Távora. Her interest later expanded to civil engineering and she decided to read for a degree in the subject at the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon. After four years working in industry, Joana decided to move to London to undertake a MSc in Soil Mechanics at Imperial College London followed by a PhD on the micromechanics of granular media. She then became a Research Associate at the Department of Materials at Imperial and later at the Laboratoire 3SR in Grenoble, France. Joana joined City in April 2013 in the Construction Processes Centre. She was attracted to the University because of its links to industry and the high calibre of academic staff in the Department of Civil Engineering and she saw it as an ideal place to create a group dedicated to microscale investigation. “What I love about my research here is that I’m able to combine my passions and use creativity to help solve geotechnical engineering problems which will allow cutting-edge architectural structures to be realised,” she said.
One of his priorities is to work with committees to improve the earthquake design guidelines for building new structures. Andreas also hopes to work with insurance companies in the UK to try and rationalise their high premium approach to earthquake damage. He has already submitted a European research bid for a project on bridges where he will work closely with colleagues specialising in control theory in the Department of Electrical Engineering. Andreas is particularly excited about City’s new MSc in Earthquake Engineering which launches in 2014/15. He has played a central role in developing the content of the course and has worked with colleagues to restructure the existing modules and introduce some new ones. He is very keen to see how the first set of students progresses. “One of my key aims is for students to focus on implementing the results of their research and tackle structural dynamic problems head. This should ensure they have the opportunity to pursue rewarding careers and see the impact their specialised work has on improving the safety of people with regard to natural hazards,” he says.
Professor Susan Ayers, Professor of Maternal and Child Health Today most people are familiar with the idea of postnatal depression but Professor Susan Ayers, Professor of Maternal and Child Health at City University London, investigates a wide range of mental health issues including anxiety which occurs before, during and after birth. “Our research aims to improve mothers’ mental health and wellbeing during pregnancy and after birth,” she explains. Susan has previously worked as a psychologist treating women during pregnancy and after birth in the maternity unit of East Surrey Hospital. She has also been involved in training programmes in the UK and Sweden, advising midwives and obstetricians on how best to support women during birth. Susan began studying Psychology as a mature student at Royal Holloway College, London in 1992 and completed her PhD at St George’s Hospital Medical School. When Susan first started researching traumatic birth in 1999 she says that there was a lot of scepticism because people saw birth simply as a normal process and therefore not as potentially traumatic. Susan points to a wealth of evidence that shows that if we improve the health of mothers during pregnancy and after birth we can improve the health of their children. Research has shown mothers who experience psychological problems during pregnancy and birth can expose the baby to stress hormones in the womb, which can then lead to developmental problems. This early stress can lead to premature birth, which in turn is associated with difficulties for the child later in life including conditions such as heart disease. Susan has a team of researchers and doctoral students considering post-traumatic stress in women from different countries, the impact of preterm birth, the effect of postnatal psychological problems on women’s relationships and effective ways of screening and treating women. This includes using technology such as the internet to offer self-help and supported treatments. Susan started at City in October 2012, bringing her team from Brighton and Sussex Medical School, where she had been for nine years. Susan was particularly drawn to the University as there was an opportunity to establish The Centre for Maternal and Child Health with colleagues at City. “I can now contribute directly to midwifery education which is absolutely fantastic and I hope our research can influence the next generation of midwives,” she says.
Professor Peter Fleming, Professor of Business and Society “Work is one of the biggest sources of stress and anxiety in society and thanks to technology the boundaries between work and non-work are becoming increasingly fuzzy,” says Professor Peter Fleming, Professor of Business and Society at Cass Business School. He specialises in the role of employment in our lives. Peter has two key research areas: the first is work-life balance. Peter considers how people cope with this pressure and the impact of working in this way on their relationships and general sense of well-being. The second area of Peter’s research concerns how the ethics and politics of large companies affect the lives of their employees and customers. In particular Peter considers corporate social responsibility (CSR) and how companies deal with these expectations. To conduct his research, Peter speaks to employees and managers in industry and in call centres and uses the plethora of information available online which details how companies are fulfilling their corporate social responsibilities. Born in the South Island of New Zealand, Peter was first introduced to sociology during his bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management at Melbourne University. He went on to complete a PhD on industrial conflict before moving to the UK and a lectureship at Cambridge. He then had a chair at University of London and most recently was Chair of Business at Queen Mary, University of London, before he joined City in March. “Cass is doing some of the most exciting research in Europe. It is exploratory, open to new ideas and I liked how many of the academics are trying to take a holistic point of view on the world of business,” says Peter, explaining why he was attracted to City. He is also excited about the potential for collaborations at the University and is part of Cass’ new centre called Ethos: The Centre for Responsible Enterprise, for which he has high hopes. Peter wants his research to make a difference to how employees are treated. “Work takes up so much of our lives so it is important that we find a less stressful way of doing things and hopefully forge a more rounded way of life,” he says. Peter also hopes his findings will help managers understand more about customer expectations and needs and ultimately make the world of work a happier place to be.
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In recent months fracking has rarely been far from the news. The most recent City Perspectives videos brought together experts from City’s academic staff to go beyond the headlines and gain a reasoned academic point of view on this contentious issue. It was a surprise to find a marked difference of opinion.
AN ACADEMIC PERSPECTIVE
Professor Philip Thomas, Professor of Engineering Development at City, explains how fracking works: “Extraction of gas from permeable rock is relatively simple because the gas can flow easily to the well pipe. However, due to the impermeable nature of shale rock, pathways have to be created in the rock if the gas is to reach the extraction duct. “To do this, a well is sunk vertically into the shale bed deep underground and then a horizontal channel is drilled into the shale seam. Shaped explosive charges in a ‘perforation gun’ may be used to induce local fractures in the rock along the channel and these or pre-existing fractures are extended using pulsed, high pressure water. These fissures, which are kept open by sand that is added to the water, provide the necessary pathways for the gas to reach the horizontal collection channel.” In December 2012 the government lifted the temporary ban on hydraulic fracking that had been in place since 2011, when minor earthquakes near Blackpool were found to have been potentially caused by test wells being drilled by the energy company Cuadrilla. Cuadrilla has been back in the news recently as protests erupted outside its test drilling site near Balcombe, West Sussex. At its peak, more than 1,000 anti-fracking protesters were camped outside the town, a potent signal of the strength of feeling in some quarters. However, the protests don’t seem to have dampened the government’s enthusiasm for fracking, as Justice Secretary Chris Grayling explained to the Conservative Party Conference: “The sooner we accept it [shale gas] as a powerful source of energy for the future of this country that could see us through the next few decades and get on with it, the better.” Regardless of a desire for self-sufficiency, the UK will need to find an alternative supply of gas, according to Cass Business School’s Professor Michael Tamvakis. “We certainly need another source of gas. North Sea supplies are dwindling and for several years the UK
has been a net importer of gas and oil from countries such as The Netherlands, Norway and Russia.” Much of the drive for fracking in Europe has been driven by the compelling example of its success in the USA, which is turning from a net importer of gas to a net exporter with the first shipments scheduled for 2015. In Pennsylvania, the Marcellus shale alone could contain nearly 500 trillion cubic feet of gas, enough to power all American homes for 50 years at recent rates of residential use. However, many believe that the success of fracking in the USA is being viewed through rose-tinted glasses. Hannah Petersen, from City’s Department of International Politics, is one such sceptic: “There are several indicators that the economic benefits of the fracking boom have been exaggerated considerably and that its continuity is very questionable, potentially endangering the recovery of the American economy.” The bulk of the public protests against fracking are on environmental grounds, with claims that the gases released during the process may be harmful. Professor Thomas believes that while serious, these concerns have been overstated. “The tremor-inducing effects of fracking are less than those caused by coal mining. The additives present in fracking water are not particularly hazardous chemicals and the process will be subject to the normal regulation for this type of activity.” Hannah though, has seen research that suggests the dangers are very real. “Environmentally adverse effects such as water contamination, seismic activity, land degradation and many more are becoming evident. Though the research is quite premature and the scope of these is uncertain, negative effects are becoming clear.” During the course of filming City Perspectives it became clear that the debate around fracking was more nuanced than first suspected, with disagreement on the economic benefits and the environmental dangers. The USA is seen as a shining example but some believe that more research is needed before a fracking programme should begin in the UK. You can watch City Perspectives on the City website (www.city.ac.uk/fracking).
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Meet the team Student Centre team
Agata Lambrechts
Alison Jacobs
Annie O’Hare
Colin Brightwell
Ina Wang
Josh Du Sautoy
Kicki Soulatnzis Bjork
Lucy Tomaka
Alan Gelfer
Amanda Weedon
Clare Taverner
Gemma Ortega-Perez
Inez Sterling
Kamrul Hussain
Lizzie Huckle
Michelle Preston
September saw the arrival of 6,500 new students at City as well as over 10,000 returning students, many seeking answers to questions on subjects ranging from finance to accommodation and everything in between. For most students, the first port of call is the award-winning Student Centre Team. The Centre has set itself the target of making sure all students are given the maximum possible level of service. The Team is a member of the Institute of Customer Service and the only university department in the UK to hold the institution’s ServiceMark. This level of service led to them winning several awards including The Times Higher Education Outstanding Student Services Team award in 2011. The team, led by Michelle Preston, Head of Student Services, is a centralised front line support service for all students. Issues where they can help include accommodation, financial support, visa and immigration advice, payment of fees, registration, examinations and graduation.
What we do Student Adviser Team Alison Jacobs and her colleagues deal with most of the day-to-day issues faced by students including student welfare and non-academic support, replacing lost or broken ID cards, providing proof of student status, taking payments and helping students with general enquiries. This is the front line of the Student Centre and staff can be found manning the enquiry desks at their offices on the second floor of the University building. Financial Support Team The range of financial options available can be daunting, especially for new students. To explain the different options and to offer advice on bursaries, funds, scholarships, loans and finance generally, Inez Sterling and her team are on hand to help. They also assist students who face delays in their funding and those who receive their loans from other countries.
International Student Advice Team A large proportion of students at City are international students. The International Student Advice Team, led by Lizzie Huckle, offers immigration advice for both prospective and current students. They also advise students on visas for graduate employment and help them apply for extensions of Leave to Remain in the UK through the Home Office. More recently, they have started an airport meet and greet service to welcome students flying in from abroad. Accommodation Team City’s location in one of the most populated cities in the world creates a unique and challenging set of circumstances for Amanda Weedon and the rest of the accommodation team. They process all applications for City-affiliated halls of residence and help to find students private accommodation by maintaining City’s ‘StudentPad’: a web-based facility for private accommodation advertisements. In addition, they assist students who encounter problems during their stays at City-affiliated halls.
Meet the new Director The Student & Academic Services department was established earlier this year to bring together services and operations which support the student journey - from application, through to graduation. The service, which is led by Director of Student & Academic Services, Susannah Marsden, comprises the Student Centre, the Deputy Academic Registrar’s Team, the University Admissions Office, the Programmes and Partnerships team and Academic Operations. “Supporting our students’ experience is paramount to everything we do. The new service means we have the opportunity to join together many student-facing services, the framework that underpins our students’ courses and the support we provide the University on overall strategic development” Susannah said. Susannah was previously Director of Academic Services at City and for several years has worked closely with members of
the Executive Committee, Schools and the Students’ Union on a variety of strategic and operational matters relating to our educational offer and student experience. As well as leading 60 members of staff, Susannah is chairing the PSR Phase 2 working group to create a pan-University student and academic administration. Outside the University, Susannah has been on the Board of Governors for the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama for six years and is Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees for the National Centre for Circus Arts, which trained the disabled artists who performed in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Susannah Marsden
Student journalist
Reflecting on Welcome Week...
From the archive
By Kristina Kashtanova
(clockwise left to right) A racing fan tries out the Santander F1 simulator; the american football team recruit new players at the Freshers Fair; Professor Dinos Arcoumanis meets some of the students the International Students Welcome reception; some students get a guided tour of the site.
This September saw the inaugural George Daniels annual lecture, which celebrated the life of the City alumnus considered one of the world's most important watch makers. The horology department has roots that go beyond George Daniels.
The sight of all the new students filling the halls for Welcome Week has reminded me of the first week that I came through the doors at Northampton Square. Seeing that look of fear, excitement and the complete unknown on their faces brought a rush of nostalgia. I will never forget my first week as a Journalism undergraduate. I remember what I was wearing, what I was drinking (‘moment of calm’ tea!) and the moment when I first met my future friends in the Common Room. We were all so shy, but our tutors were excellent at helping us break the ice. Little did I know that just a week later, I would be trawling the streets of Islington with the same group looking for a breakthrough story – which came in the form of a polluted channel in King’s Cross and an interview with a local street sweeper. I didn’t feel like a journalist at that time. Coming from Moscow, I hadn’t heard of most of the newspapers we should have been reading, I had no idea how to approach
Horology was one of the original departments at the inception of the Northampton Institute, City’s predecessor, in 1894. The course was available alongside Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering; Artistic Crafts; Domestic Economy and Women's Trades; Electro-Chemistry; and Mechanical Engineering and Metal Trades.
people for an interview and I didn’t even have a Twitter account not to mention a blog. At the time, I didn’t realise how much that first week at City would change my life. We had an induction meeting with our new academics and several third year students who shared their experiences. I didn’t expect anything extraordinary to happen in that hour and a half, but I was wrong. After a brief talk about second year subjects we watched a short video from last year’s graduation. A third year undergraduate spoke fondly about being at City but what really touched my heart was what she had done while studying. She had written an article for a Polish Newspaper about a bear in a zoo which had been locked in a small cage for 23 years. Her article resulted in the relocation of the bear to a much bigger space. I was so inspired that her work had had such a real impact – all this before she had even graduated. I felt motivated to free as many ‘bears’ as possible before the end of my journalism degree. It pushed me to be more active and put in as much effort as possible.
Coming back as a second year undergraduate, everything is different. I already feel like a journalist and have been looking forward to the first day of induction week for months! My first year at City completely changed my life. I can’t live a day without reading my favourite newspapers, several blogs and asking people questions about everything. I know my second year will be a lot harder but even more interesting as I know what I’m doing. Realising how quickly the first year has passed, I’ve been thinking about what kind of journalist I’d like to become when I finish my degree. It’s not an easy question. The honest answer is that I don’t know, but that’s not as scary as I first thought. I have another two years to continue to be inspired by my tutors as well as my fellow students and do as much and learn as much as possible before I’m released into the big wide world.
After the Second World War, the dominance of classical education was questioned and policy makers became convinced of the importance of science and technology. The Percy Report of 1945 recommended the transformation of some technical colleges into universities and the establishment of 'institutes of technology'. Britain found itself short of skilled clock and instrument makers with the industry becoming overly reliant on the Swiss market. The government’s response was to establish the National College of Horology and Instrument Technology. 1947 saw the College’s first intake of students who signed up to take the three year course. This was located in the Mountford building, named after the architect who designed the Northampton Institute. By 1950, there were 36 students, one of them George Daniels.
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Pick of upcoming City events To find details and to register for events at City, you can visit our website: www.city.ac.uk/events
Monday 18th November 6pm What’s the value of cultural policy? – Public Lecture To mark the publication of Cultural Policy: Management Value and Modernity in the Creative Industries, the Centre for Cultural Policy and Management will host an early evening event at City University London. The event is focused on questions about the value of cultural policy research, for a variety of academic disciplines and public debates. Dr Dave O’Brien, from City University London, will introduce the event with a short talk focusing on his book’s key themes and introducing its core ideas. This will be followed by a panel discussion from three leading figures in research on cultural policy and creative industries. Professor Andy Pratt, from City University London, will discuss his role in Creativeworks London, a major knowledge exchange research project. Professor Kate Oakley will then outline her work as part of New Labour and Cultural Policy. To close the panel Professor Geoffrey Crossick will offer reflections on the Arts & Humanities Research Council’s Cultural Value project. Wednesday 20th November 6pm An evening with Michael Woodford, the first CEO in history to become a whistleblower of his own corporation. As the inaugural winner of the Contrarian Prize, Michael Woodford - the former president and CEO of Olympus who exposed a $1.7 billion fraud and was sacked for doing so - will deliver the first Contrarian Prize annual lecture. His story is extraordinary. Having discovered an accounting scandal on a massive scale, Woodford finds that nobody is telling him the truth. Even the chairman and the Head of Compliance are suspected of being in on it. He faces a terrible dilemma that could put his and his family’s lives at risk. Who can he trust? His decision to speak out leads to a crash in the share price, the resignation of the entire board and him having to be protected by armed police. This story will become a major motion picture, but is it so far removed from what may be happening elsewhere? In today’s business climate, are the risks of this sort of fraud more likely? How can regulation work when captains of industry cannot be trusted? How much of this is going on right now? What would you do in Mr Woodford’s position? Wednesday 27th November 6.30pm Engineering: Interaction of R&D with societal development with Professor Joerg Steinbach – Public Lecture Less than 15 years ago, the internet was in its infancy. Today this technology has become an integral part of our professional and private lives. The flow of information is largely taken for granted by each of us. Yet the quality of individual life and of our society has been changed dramatically by the presence of the internet. This presentation provides evidence for the proposition that research and development pursued by natural scientists and engineers have an impact on societal development. Technological development is interrelated with life style and quality as both domains interact with one another. This connectivity has consequences on how we should educate young engineers for the future and, in turn, has repercussions on our professional accountability as engineers. The lecture will explore the result of these interactions regarding the requirements for future engineering education offered by HE institutions. It will also reflect on the very specific effect of chemical process safety research on the acceptance of industrial activities in urban neighbourhoods, as prevailing in Europe. Wednesday 4th December 6.30pm Pirates, Pubescents and Other Proddities. On Translating Children’s Literature – Public Lecture Chantal Wright has translated books by some of Germany’s most famous children’s authors, including Cornelia Funke, Zoran Drvenkar and Milena Baisch. In 2011, her translation of Andreas Steinhöfel’s The Pasta Detectives was shortlisted for the Marsh Award for Children’s Literature in Translation; the same title won the NASEN Inclusive Children’s Book Award in the UK. Chantal Wright was educated at Girton College, Cambridge and the University of East Anglia and is currently a visiting fellow in the School of Modern Languages at Durham University and the School of Translation and Interpretation at the University of Ottawa.