City News for staff October 2012

October 2012 | issue 12 This month City News interviews Professor Andrew Jones, City’s new Dean of the School of Arts & Social Sciences and we look at how the Technology Transfer team works with academics to commercialise their research.

We also have the latest University news and highlight some of the important research conducted here at City.

CIT Y NEWS

NEWS IN BRIEF 10th for graduate salaries

Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Curran (pictured, left) and Unitemps Branch Manager Damian Mullins (right) opened City University London’s franchise of Unitemps last month. Unitemps enables students to register for part-time and temporary work at the University (and in the local area). Over 1,200 have registered and there were 992 work placements between May and September.

City has been ranked in the top 10 in the UK for graduate starting salaries.

Which? ranked institutions by the average yearly salary of former students, six months after their graduation and will publish the full rankings on the Which? University website.

City rises in QS rankings City University London has been ranked equal 327th in the 2012/13 QS World University Rankings, a rise of 29 places on last year.

New members needed City University Symphony Orchestra, open to all University students and staff, is holding short auditions for new members.

Rehearsals take place on Wednesday evenings and this term’s concert is on Tuesday 4th December at St Giles in the Barbican. The Orchestra is particularly hoping to recruit string players. For more information email: music@city.ac.uk

Health Sciences wins 12 Funded Masters The School of Health Sciences has been awarded 12 fully-funded Masters in Clinical Research (MRes) bursaries per year for the next three years.

The MRes bursaries provide funding for the first phase of research preparation for graduate nurses, midwives and allied health professionals.

The studentships are awarded by the National Institute for Health Research and the Chief Nursing Officer for England.

About City News City News is produced each month by Marketing & Communications and distributed to all staff.

If you have any comments or feedback about the magazine or its distribution, or suggestions for content, please email: Christopher.leonard.1@city.ac.uk

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Professor Stanton Newman, Dean of the School of Health Sciences, acknowledged the efforts of staff in securing the bursaries, extending special thanks to Dr Victoria Joffe, Dr Eamonn McKeown and Professor Sue Proctor.

He said: "This is a significant achievement for the School of Health Sciences and positions us as one of the country's leading institutions for clinical research.”

Also present at the opening was a student beneficiary of Unitemps, Mahjbeen Taki (centre), one of three students who have gained work experience in City’s Finance department.

If you want to find out more or provide temporary employment opportunities to students, please visit www.unitemps.co.uk or email Damian.Mullins.1@city.ac.uk

Onassis Prizes awarded The 2012 Onassis Laureates (City News, June 2012) were formally honoured at a prestigious awards banquet at London’s historic Guildhall last month.

Renowned US economists Professors Stephen Ross and Elhanan Helpman, and maritime academics Emeritus Professors Ernst Frankel, Richard Goss and Arnljot Stromme Svendesn, received their Onassis Prizes from guest of honour Sir Winfried Bischoff, Chairman of Lloyds Banking Group.

The Onassis Prizes, each worth $200,000, are sponsored by the Alexander S Onassis Public Benefit Foundation and are awarded every three years

by Cass Business School. Judged by a panel of distinguished academics including two Nobel Laureates, the prizes recognise the contribution of world-leading academics to the fields of finance, international trade and shipping.

Professor Costas Grammenos, founder of Cass’ International Centre for Shipping, Trade and Finance, was instrumental in launching the prizes.

He said: “I warmly congratulate the winners whose distinguished achievements have profoundly influenced their disciplines and continue to have an impact on academic thinking and business conduct worldwide.”

Greek government advisor Professor Dinos Arcoumanis, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International & Development), has been appointed Ambassador-atLarge of the Hellenic Republic with responsibility for Energy Policy and New Technologies.

Professor Arcoumanis will continue in his role at City while advising the Greek Government on its emerging energy policy on a pro bono basis. This policy aims to capitalise on Greece’s untapped natural resources through investment in energy exploration.

He said: "I am very pleased to have been appointed Ambassador-atLarge of the Hellenic Republic for Energy Policy and New Technologies, an area so important for Greece's recovery from the present financial crisis and very much within my personal and professional sphere of interest.”

British Aphasia Conference More than 200 academics and speech and language therapists gathered at City for the British Aphasia Society's (BAS) biennial Therapy Symposium. The conference was organised by the School of Health Sciences and chaired by Professor Jane Marshall.

Delegates were drawn from across the UK and Europe.

Symposium talks focused on the practical work undertaken by speech and language therapists to remediate the problems of aphasia, a language disorder following stroke. During the event leading aphasiology academics and therapists presented papers and engaged in lively debate on innovative therapeutic approaches.

The event also featured an update on City's Gesture Recognition in Aphasia (GReAT) initiative.

With funding from the Research Councils UK Digital Economy programme, this project has developed an affordable, computer-based therapy tool that can be used at home to help people with severe aphasia to gesture.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Curran said: "This is a significant honour for Dinos and for City University London. It is recognition of his international academic standing and the contribution he has made to the development of knowledge in energy and related technologies."

giCentre’s cutting-edge data visualisation

CRO ahead of schedule

Transport for London (TfL) is collaborating with the giCentre, part of the City Collaborative Transport Hub, to analyse data from the London Cycle Hire scheme.

City Research Online, the University’s open-access institutional repository of research papers, recently passed a major milestone.

The online repository was launched in October 2011 (City News, Nov 2011) with the intention to have 500 papers from City academics live in its first year of operation. In early September the service made available its 1,000th full-text, openly accessible paper.

Maíre Lanigan, University Librarian said: “We are pleased to reach this significant milestone within our first year of operation and aim to build on this success to improve access to and the impact of, the University’s research output.”

For details of how to make your research papers openly accessible, please email the team at publications@city.ac.uk or see our web page: www.city.ac.uk/research/research-publications

Professor of Visual Analytics, Jo Wood and PhD candidate, Roger Beecham, will help TfL to answer important questions about the behaviour of cyclists in London.

The giCentre research, featured in New Scientist, focuses on the millions of journeys made by hundreds of thousands of London cyclists.

Deeper understanding of this behaviour could offer valuable guidance to other cities around the world as they develop and expand similar schemes.

NEWS IN BRIEF Teenage Spirit Rose A pink rose developed in memory of the daughter of Kay Jones, COO of the School of Health Sciences, has gone on sale to raise money for the Teenage Cancer trust. It is available from Homebase and direct from the charity at: http://tinyurl.com/spiritrose The rose was developed by Kay and her husband to raise funds for the charity, which provided support to Kay’s daughter Jennifer during her illness.

Schools merger The previously conjoined schools of Arts and Social Sciences have merged into one School. Its new name is the School of Arts & Social Sciences.

£5M funding for Heliex University spin-out Heliex Power has raised £5M for investment in the development of its electrical power generation technology using waste steam from industrial processes.

Heliex uses patented technology developed with our Centre for Positive Displacement Compressor Technology.

Academic GP induction Dr Yannis Pappas, Programme Director of the MSc in Health Services Research, has been invited to contribute to the London Deanery's induction programme for academic GPs. City will join a select list of leading universities that contribute to these courses.

www.city.ac.uk/staff 3

NEWS IN BRIEF Cass is shortlisted for business award Cass has been shortlisted for The Times Higher Education Business School of the Year Award, along with business schools at Brunel, Lancaster, Manchester, Plymouth and Exeter universities.

Professor’s journal achieves index status A journal co-edited by Professor Chris Rowley from Cass has been awarded prestigious Social Sciences Citation Index status. The inclusion of Asia Pacific Business Review in the index recognises the journal as a leading academic publication in the field of Social Sciences.

New Defra Minister is a City alumnus David Heath, Liberal Democrat MP for Somerton and Frome and City alumnus (Optometry, 1979) was promoted to junior Minister for Food and Farming in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), during the recent Cabinet reshuffle.

Emeritus Professor wins Vanadium Research Award City’s Emeritus Professor of Engineering Materials, Barrie Mintz, has received the prestigious Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) Vanadium Award for a research paper he co-authored entitled Influence of V and Ti on Hot Ductility of Nb Containing Steels of Peritectic C Contents.

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New spaces for Library Financial Resources

Apollo 15 Moon landing

Cass Business School and the Library Service have together transformed the Financial Resource Zone in the Cass Learning Resource Centre into a dynamic new facility for students. It was opened last month by Richard Gillingwater, Dean of Cass Business School (below).

The piece showcased a signed photograph of the Apollo 15 moon mission presented by astronauts Alfred Worden, David Scott and James Irwin to City’s then Chancellor Sir Peter Studd, in November 1971.

The new-look Zone provides a professional and stimulating environment for students with world-class financial resources including Thomson Financial and Bloomberg. The Zone features the same state-of-the-art news ticker as seen on the Reuters buildings in New York and London's Canary Wharf.

Working with Cass and the Department of Economics, Library Services has also opened a new Financial Resources Suite in the main University Library, again equipped with Bloomberg terminals as well as Datastream PCs. This facility is being provided in direct response to feedback from students and is already proving popular with undergraduates.

One of City’s most interesting archival acquisitions was featured in the Times Higher Education’s ‘Odds and quads’ page.

The Apollo 15 mission was the first to allow a manned spacecraft to spend an extended period of time – close to three days – on the surface of the moon. Alfred Worden kept the command module in orbit, while Commander David Scott and Lunar Module Pilot James Irwin used a lunar roving vehicle, spending 18 and a half hours outside the vehicle collecting 77kg of scientifically valuable material.

These two redevelopments form part of a wider Library Services strategy to provide sector-leading spaces for students, supporting the University’s strategy to deliver an excellent student experience.

Jacqui Gaul, Head of Library Services at Cass, said: “These new facilities are already a big hit with our current students and we hope they will inspire and motivate future and prospective students of City.”

Cass Professor receives prestigious Fellowship Cass Professor Vince Mitchell has been awarded a Fellowship of the UK’s most prestigious marketing organisation, The Marketing Society.

At a gala dinner, Professor Mitchell became one of the few academics to be awarded the Fellowship, joining past recipients including Lord Saatchi, Lord Heseltine, Sir Martin Sorrell and Sir Terry Leahy.

Vince, Professor of Consumer Marketing in the Faculty of Management, said: “I am deeply honoured to be in such distinguished company. It reflects a lifetime of commitment to marketing, education and research and further cements the standing of Cass as the business school of the City of London.”

Enterprise at City Turning research into commercial success An important part of the University’s Vision for 2016 is to develop and strengthen the quality of its education, research and enterprise.

Under the Strategic Plan launched in March, the University is committed to developing profitable enterprise activities through consultancy, continuing professional development and protecting and commercialising City’s intellectual property (IP).

Leading the University’s efforts in IP commercialisation is the Technology Transfer team, a crucial component of City’s Enterprise activities.

Technology Transfer (TT) supports academics by facilitating the commercial development and protection of the IP of their research.

Commercialising ideas and research can be a complicated process, particularly for an inexperienced academic unused to dealing with business, or perhaps considering the commercial potential of their research.

Dr Carol David Daniel, Head of Technology Transfer & Commercialisation (pictured below), said: “Our aim is to raise awareness of IP issues and capitalise on commercial opportunities while enabling academics to concentrate on their research.”

The TT team will discuss the commercial viability of an academic’s research in the first instance. As projects progress the team can help to identify routes to market, find potential commercial partners or licensees, help create a spin-out company and assist with fundraising.

Academics also receive administrative support during negotiations with potential partners when agreeing terms and drawing up agreements.

The team also supports academics through the complicated patent application process for their ideas and research. Filing an early patent application can cost thousands of pounds and the cost could deter an academic unsure of their research’s commercial potential.

Dr Daniel said: “The successful commercialisation of the University’s research is one of the key themes of the Strategic Plan and the Enterprise office is here to help City’s academics achieve this.

“Anyone thinking of patenting or commercialising their research should approach the Enterprise Office at an early stage so that we can advise and support you every step of the way through the process, from initial idea through to commercial rollout.”

How revenue is shared If research is successfully commercialised, the University IP policy describes how revenue is shared between the academic(s), the School/ Department and the University. The majority of the first £100,000 of cumulative revenues goes to the academic inventors, after which the revenue is divided three ways.

Companies already created as a result of City’s research include renewable energy company Heliex Power, Virtual Tutor (e-learning software for nurses) and Thomson Screening Solutions, a vision screener for school children.

For more information about how the Technology Transfer team can help you commercialise your ideas, email: techtransfer@city.ac.uk

Enterprise Event: Monday 5th November To mark the handover to Professor John Fothergill, the new Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise), a special staff event open to all, is being held to promote the work of the Enterprise Office and the Technology Transfer team.

The event, in the Drysdale Lecture Theatre, will be attended by Professor Paul Curran, Vice-Chancellor; Professor Dinos Arcoumanis, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International & Development); Professor John Fothergill; Dr Sue O'Hare, Director of the Enterprise Office; commercial partners and other colleagues involved in City’s Research and Enterprise activities.

www.city.ac.uk/staff 5

Leading from the Front – Professor Andrew Jones City News interviews our new Dean of the School of Arts & Social Sciences on his plans for the School.

What made you decide to join City University London?

City is an extremely appealing prospect for an academic. I cannot remember a time when the higher education sector has been under such scrutiny and in this challenging environment City has set out an ambitious and exciting Vision. In any sector facing considerable challenges there are numerous opportunities and I feel City is well placed in that sense.

We have a very good Enterprise team at City and its input into the success of the University is vital. City is well placed to demonstrate research with meaningful impact outside academia and I aim to encourage an outward, commercially-facing culture.

What is top of your 'to do' list?

What challenges do you expect from managing your School’s diversity of disciplines?

What are your research interests? Will you have time for research as Dean?

I believe the benefits of a merged School of Arts and Social Sciences far outweigh any issues that arise. There will be challenges associated with managing such a large School but also opportunities from interdepartmental collaboration.

As previously mentioned, I am interdisciplinary with a human geography background but I have also been chair of the Economic Geography Research Group, which marries sociological concerns with the economy and organisation and management studies. I have also written books on globalisation that overlap with politics.

What is your vision for Research and Enterprise?

The definition of ‘research excellence’ has changed under the Research Excellence Framework (REF), leading to a very different experience from that of the 2008 Research Excellence Assessment.

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Academics can be excellent at research but not necessarily good at sharing what they are doing internally, let alone with the wider world.

This is increasingly important now that ‘impact’ is a significant part of the REF.

Personally, I would describe myself as an Interdisciplinary Social Scientist and I share interests with colleagues across the School from Sociology to International Politics and Economics. Coming from a human geography background, my interests in globalisation also overlap with colleagues at Cass Business School.

It is essential that universities harness their combined strengths rather than work in academic silos and as Dean I aim to foster a sense of School identity and a collegiate atmosphere. Departments can learn a great deal from each other and individual experiences can benefit the collective, helping in everything from improving the student experience to developing a research excellent culture.

By Ben Sawtell

We need to build on City’s strengths, particularly in developing a more public-facing research culture that communicates better its research impacts.

Universities face a significant challenge to build new platforms under the rules of research as signalled by the Government, by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and by the wider competitive national and international climate in which we work.

Having only been here for a short time, my first priority is to meet as many people as I can. There is a lot to learn at a very exciting time for the School, with a drive and purpose radiating from the Vice-Chancellor throughout the University.

Since my PhD I have worked on professional industries including investment banking, management consultancy and legal services so a major strand of my economy-oriented research is concerned with business service firms’ internationalisation.

A particular focus at present is the internationalisation of these industries into emerging economies, especially Asia. With an urban dimension to my research, I have contributed to debates around the nature of global city networks.

My research has other strands related to the sociology of work and globalisation, including overseas youth volunteering projects following a study I authored for the Department for Education and Skills in 2004.

I found that contrary to the media’s cynical perception of overseas gap years, they have considerable benefits for volunteers and communities

alike when responsibly executed. This led me to examine the ways in which volunteering represents an aspect of global mobility and the development of a global society.

I feel it is vital for me to lead from the front as Dean and to continue my research. It will be difficult for me to encourage a research excellent culture if I am not engaged in a meaningful way myself. I currently have a research grant from the British Academy of Social Sciences, one strand of which examines the contexts of strategies for UK investment management firms investing in the Chinese economy. I am also in the early stages of a new book on voluntary work.

What are your interests outside academia?

I am very lucky that I love what I do and outside work I am interested in current affairs and politics. The geographer in me loves to travel and I have been lucky enough to spend time in many different countries around the world (sometimes for research but also leisure travel). Sportwise, I am a keen skier and have coached rowing, which I did to a fair level in the distant past.

I am also a very keen foodie. I enjoy the culinary benefits of international travel and being a wine enthusiast, I am happy to sample the wines wherever I am in the world.

Professor Jones: A brief background Professor Jones joined City last month from Birkbeck College. He was Head of Geography, Environment and Development Studies and Assistant Dean for Special Projects in Birkbeck’s School of Social Science, History and Philosophy.

He is author of five books and has been widely published in leading human geography and social science journals. He speaks nationally and internationally on issues of human geography.

Andrew has just finished a term as Chair of the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), is Book Review Editor for The Journal of Economic Geography and is a member of the Higher Education Funding Council for England REF 2014 Panel for Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology. In 2011 he was elected to the Academy of Social Sciences as an Academician.

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Highlights of recent research at City University London

Research at City Power to the People?

A cornerstone aim of the coalition Government is creating a ‘Big Society’ that transfers power from central Government back to the people.

Research led by City University London and Frederick University (Cyprus) has developed and evaluated a High Intensity Frequency Ultrasound (HIFU) transducer for the non-invasive treatment of heart arrhythmias.

However, with decentralised power comes the need for strong local media arrangements to hold newly-empowered town halls and citizens to account.

The main purpose of the transducer is to create focused lesions, at a precise depth, on the heart muscle which will result in the cessation of cardiac arrhythmias. The planar rectangular high intensity ultrasound transducer used in the research produced lesions up to 15mm in depth, larger than those produced by current techniques such as radio frequency. A theoretical model was initially used before the transducer was evaluated in vitro and in vivo.

In an article published in the International Journal of Media and Cultural Politics, Dr Neil Thurman and co-authors Professor Paul Bradshaw and former City MSc Electronic Publishing student JeanCristophe Pascal, argue that the Government will not create successful local media networks with their TV-centric ‘Local Media Action Plan’, which shows little or no understanding of the qualities that make successful hyperlocal media.

The authors examined Northcliffe Media’s ‘Local People’ hyperlocal project which went live in June 2009. It aimed to create ‘bottom-up’ content from the people about their local community. The researchers looked at the reasons why Northcliffe did not see the expected volume of content.

It became clear that independent publishers, whose hyperlocal efforts are often issue-focussed, dynamic, personal, informal and ‘low-tech’, had more success than many of the commercially driven efforts of the UK’s major regional publishers.

However, rather than a ‘publishers versus independents’ approach the paper suggests that the key to success is a mix of the skills that both parties bring: “Traditional publishers have experience in newsgathering and production while independent publishers have helped establish effective practices of web writing, mobile journalism and distribution.”

The authors conclude by urging policy makers to make decisions on local news initiatives ‘on the basis of research rather than assumption’. With both journalism and policy being constantly reinvented, there has to be constant reassessment of what makes local news work.

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Using ultrasound to treat heart arrhythmias

The research, led by Andreas Couppis under the supervision of Professor Panicos Kyriacou, Director of the Biomedical Engineering Research Group and Professor Christis Damianou (Frederick University), has been published in the journal Ultrasonics.

Professor Kyriacou said: “The transducer was designed to be compatible with MRI enabling the accurate guidance of the transducer at the correct place prior to sonification.

“Also, the continuous MRI imaging of the lesion during the procedure will optimise the treatment as the MRI image provides good contrast (better than diagnostic ultrasound or X-Rays) between thermal necrosis and cardiac tissue.”

Sketchy rendering to Biotech patents and improve data engagement morality after Brüstle Research by Professors Jo Wood and Jason Dykes from the giCentre in Informatics (with colleagues from European universities) has presented a framework for constructing ‘sketchy’ information visualisations - such as maps, diagrams and charts – in a way that mimics data graphics drawn by hand.

The framework is designed to be easily integrated into existing computerbased visualisation platforms with minimal programming modification or effort. The research demonstrates and evaluates examples of statistical maps and graphics conveyed in a sketchy style, to demonstrate spatial imprecision and to enhance the aesthetic and narrative qualities of visualisation.

The historical use of computing technologies for rapid and precise graphical rendering of data means that viewers are accustomed to an objective and authoritative style of visualisation. The researchers propose an alternative style that mimics hand-drawn graphics to imply human input into the design, which is intended to improve engagement while maintaining the advantages of using computers to process complex data.

Evaluations of the framework, published in IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics and to be presented at the world’s major visualisation conference in October, show that ability to estimate areas or ratios in sketchy visualisations of data is impaired as sketchiness increases. However, users show improved engagement and more positive participation with the visualisations if annotation is present.

In their paper, Professors Wood and Dykes explain: “The results of our work have implications for effective information visualisation design that go beyond the traditional role of sketching as a tool for prototyping or its use for an indication of general uncertainty.”

Research at City

Dr Enrico Bonadio, Lecturer at The City Law School, has published an article on the impact of the recent decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Brüstle v Greenpeace, an important case on the exclusion from patentability of inventions related to human embryonic stem cells (HESCs).

The ruling, explains Enrico, first offers the opportunity to delve into an old debate surrounding patent law, i.e. whether moral aspects should be effectively dealt with by patent officers and judges. Enrico argues that patent offices and courts should act as moral arbiters (as confirmed implicitly in Brüstle) and their task could be facilitated by coupling them with technical experts.

Enrico, in European Intellectual Property Review, stresses that a common concept of morality in the field of biotechnology and in particular HESCs does not exist, which makes it harder for the European Patent Office to decide on ethical issues.

He notes that the Brüstle ruling may trigger a World Trade Organisation challenge against the EU and some of its member states for failing to comply with Article 27(2) of the TRIPS Agreement and that it might also be invoked in fields other than HESCs, e.g. for opposing the issuance and challenging the validity of any patents obtained through immoral or unlawful activities such as the misappropriation of genetic resources.

Enrico explains that an intended consequence of this ruling could be a ‘brain drain’ towards more biotech friendly countries such as the United States. Indeed, Enrico reminds that in a letter published before the ruling in scientific journal Nature, several scientists expressed ‘profound concerns’ about the possibility of a lack of patent protection in a highly research and development-intensive industry such as the HESCs field.

City Research Online Have you uploaded your research outputs to City’s research repository? City Research Online (City News, November 2011) will help you raise the visibility of your research and help the University to collate and monitor its research.

Find out more at: http://openaccess.city.ac.uk

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A City journalism student explains how a youth Champions League could improve the development of English footballers

Why England's future may depend on the NextGen England displayed many admirable qualities during Euro 2012; organisation, British grit and a 'Hart to beat' factor. The only game England lost was on penalties (as usual) but missing was the technical ability to match that of other nations.

A failure to develop skillful young players was cited as one reason why England have failed to win a tournament since 1966 but NextGen, an under-19 European football tournament entering its second year, could be the answer.

NextGen is a ‘youth Champions League’. Teams from top European leagues play group games then knock-out stages, offering youth players tournament experience and a stronger football education than from reserve matches or English youth leagues.

NextGen’s organisers created the tournament to ‘assist with the often daunting transition from promising youth player to first team performer’.

In England, one good performance can raise unfair expectations of young players but NextGen could help their development. The tournament features some of the most exciting young talent from across Europe, testing their skills and developing a technical playing style at a raw age. Development is not restricted to the pitch though; matches are sometimes played at a club's first-team ground and reduced ticket prices encourage large crowds and vibrant atmospheres.

Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling is a prime example of NextGen’s benefits. The 17-year-old starred in last season’s tournament and is now established in Liverpool’s first team. Frank McParland, Liverpool Director of Player Development, told the Liverpool Echo he believes that NextGen helped Raheem’s progress: "NextGen has been brilliant in helping to bridge that gap between youth and senior football."

Other high-profile members of the football community back NextGen. Arsene Wenger, renowned for trusting in young players at Arsenal, will watch all of Arsenal’s NextGen games and Graham Hunter, European broadcaster and journalist, says: “NextGen is simply outstanding.

Fresh, technically advanced, open, attacking football performed by emerging players who in my experience, put a high premium on control, touch, vision, passing and skill.”

The tournament has grown from 16 teams last year to 24 this season.

Eurosport will broadcast at least 18 games live to over 50 countries.

Julien Bergeaud, Eurosport Group Director of Broadcasting and Programmes, says: "We have already seen the potential. For the first game [Tottenham v Barcelona] we had almost 700,000 viewers on average, peaking at over one million. That's above the average of the channel for the period. We've seen lots of reaction on social media …. and it was very positive."

By John Stammers

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Of course, England's problems will not disappear overnight and NextGen could even harm English players' development if clubs simply snap up more young talent from abroad sooner. However, if marketed correctly, NextGen could be a revelation for English youth development.

Meet your colleagues

Name and job title?

Lucy Gabe, Senior Campaign Manager – Annual Fund

What do you do at City day to day?

I look after the City Future Fund, an area of City’s fundraising which asks for low-level donations from alumni and City staff, students and friends.

Money raised through donations to the City Future Fund goes directly to current City students in need of financial support. Every £1 donated goes directly to students, which is better than most other charities.

There are three areas of City Future Fund with projects in each: Student Support (scholarships, hardship support, professional mentoring scheme); World Class Research (travel bursaries for postgraduate students); and Community Outreach (volunteering opportunities for City students).

Since June 2011 we have raised the highest level of fundraising income (for one year) since the City Future Fund’s launch in 2004. We have also had more alumni donating than ever before, showing a growing trend of choosing to give back to your University.

I raise money for the City Future Fund by managing campaigns through multiple channels. The biggest is the Telephone Campaign, where trained current City students call alumni to ask for donations and update them on the latest news at City. Last year, this raised just under £25,000 and this year we are targeting £42,000 from two campaigns. We also contact alumni through mail, email, Facebook and Twitter (@cityfuturefund).

Giving, available to all staff). If you would like to donate please contact me at lucy.gabe.1@city.ac.uk We have also collaborated with Give As You Live on a scheme which raises money for City through your normal online shopping at no cost to you (register at www.giveasyoulive.com, choose City as your cause and download it onto your computer).

What is your biggest challenge in your job?

Encouraging staff to feel as passionately as I do about the City Future Fund.

How do you overcome it?

I am slowly getting there! The City Future Fund will offer more funding for projects within the University this year, so you will see our logo on websites, posters, application forms and City’s social media. You will soon hear from me with more details about Give as You Live and Payroll Giving; two fantastic schemes to help City students through your online shopping and pay.

If you didn’t do your job what would you be doing?

Backpacking around the world – Cuba, Columbia and Canada are top of my list.

What do you do in your spare time and to relax?

I try to fit exercise into my spare time; Zumba classes and Regents Park bootcamps. Over the past few years I joined my brother in his Swansea City obsession and try to go to their games whenever I can.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

For alumni who donate generously, we send regular updates on how their support is making a difference to City students. We recently created Thank You cards using Instagram images taken around the University and will soon start sending them to donors.

Barack Obama, Usain Bolt, Sheryl Sandberg, Prince Harry and Shakira.

A civilised dinner party and then some serious partying afterwards – perfect.

We held our first Thank You Event last month and invited donors to City for a tour and drinks reception, thanking them for their help. We hope to make this an annual event which will become a highlight of the Development and Alumni Relations Office calendar.

Primrose Hill – I am a sucker for a view.

It is not just alumni we engage with. Current students help by purchasing Graduation gifts at our ceremonies. This year, through relationships with Campus Clothing, Eva London and the Certificate Framing Company, we provided personalised goods (the City Future Fund receives commission for each sale). We had positive feedback from students who appreciated the range of quality City merchandise on offer.

City staff can also help through their pay (last year we launched Payroll

Favourite place in London?

Favourite film?

Twelve Monkeys if in the company of film buffs... Love Actually if I am being honest!

Favourite book?

I loved The Help by Kathryn Stockett but was unimpressed by the film, so for anyone who has not read the book, please do that first!

Favourite song/music?

I have just got back from Bestival and my highlights were Bellowhead, Stevie Wonder and Sigur Rós.

www.city.ac.uk/staff 11

Dates for your diary www.city.ac.uk/events An Evening with Professor Paul Curran 6.30pm to 8.30pm Wednesday 10th October, Oliver Thompson Lecture Theatre City’s Vice-Chancellor is interviewed by Professor George Brock, in front of an audience of City University London staff.

Concert: Acousmatic (Alchemy and the transmutation of sonic) 7pm Tuesday 16th October, Performance Space Lunchtime concert: Ben Schoeman (piano) 1.10pm Wednesday 17th October, Performance Space Troubles with tonal terminology and notations of form in popular music 5.30pm to 7.30pm Wednesday 17th October, Room AG09 College Building As part of the School of Arts & Social Science research seminar series, Professor Philip Tagg from the University of Huddersfield presents a seminar on terms used in music theory.

Sir John Cass’ Foundation Annual Lecture: Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP Wednesday 17th October, Cass Business School

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and President of the Board of Trade presents this year’s prestigious annual lecture. Please note: This event is fully booked.

The Dean's Lecture Series – School of Health Sciences 5.30pm to 7pm Wednesday 17th October, Room ELG19 Drysdale Building A public lecture by speaker Professor Chris Ham CBE, Chief Executive of The King's Fund and Professor of Health Policy and Management at the University of Birmingham.

Writing and Publishing a Nonfiction Book: two City graduates tell their story 6.30pm Thursday 18th October, Oliver Thompson Lecture Theatre Mivera Piano Trio 7pm Tuesday 23rd October, Performance Space Chamber music of Schubert and young Brahms’ Op. 8

Olive Tree Middle East Forum: Syria and the Role of Al Qaeda 6pm to 7.30pm Wednesday 24th October, Room A130 College Building The first of this year’s forums discusses Syria and the role of foreign fighters and Al Qaeda elements in the country’s conflict.

Plus-Minus Ensemble 7pm Tuesday 30th October, Performance Space

Staff training and development For information about staff training, email: evan.bates.1@city.ac.uk or visit: http://www.city.ac.uk/sd/index

Appraisal Workshop for those who appraise others (Professional Staff) Tuesday 9th October Appraisee Workshop for those who do not appraise others (Professional staff) Tuesday 16th October Finance and Purchasing training Wednesday 24th October

EU funding: Putting together successful proposals Thursday 25th October First Aid qualification course Tuesday 27th – Thursday 29th November Writing for publications Wednesday 28th November Recruitment and selection: Introduction for Professional Staff Wednesday 28th November Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults Thursday 29th November

An Anglo-Belgium group committed to presenting new work alongside landmark modern repertoire.

The Henry Thornton Lecture: Professor Marco Pagano, University of Naples Federico II 6pm to 8.30pm Wednesday 31st October, Cass Business School Inaugurated in 1979, this lecture series focuses on monetary theory and policy and the wider financial arena.

Undergraduate Open Day 10am to 3pm Saturday 3rd November Providing prospective students with the opportunity to visit and find out more about City and its courses.

Autumn Researchers’ Development Day Wednesday 7th November Starting the 2012-13 LDC Research Development Programme, all staff and PhD students are invited to attend this one-day conference exploring a range of issues related to Planning for Successful Research.

Annual £50,000 Research Competition City hosts its sixth Annual Research Competition in January, with a £50,000 Research Excellence Award as a first prize, awarded by a panel of judges.

Academic staff – either as individuals or in teams – can enter their proposal for new research, or a proposal for taking existing research in a new direction. Each proposal must outline a research question and its intellectual justification and how the money will be spent.

The deadline for applications is Monday 12th November; the Award will be presented on Wednesday 16th January.

Guidelines and judging criteria are on our website (http:// tinyurl.com/researchproposals) and you can watch a video of previous Award winners explaining why you should take part (http://tinyurl.com/researchvideo).

Practical manual handling Tuesday 4th December Retirement planning Workshop Friday 7th December