EHU Annual review 2013/2014

Annual Review 2013-2014

Contents

02-03 04-05 06-07 08-09 10-23 24-25 26-41 42-45 46-47 48-57 58-65 66-77 78-85 86-91 92-95 96 96 Annual Review 2013-2014

Welcome from the Vice-Chancellor

Each year we make one commitment to Edge Hill University’s Governing Body: that the University this year will be even stronger and better regarded than the year before.

I have no doubt we achieved this. As we were putting the finishing touches to this Annual Review, Edge Hill University was announced by the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards as University of the Year.

This is the most prestigious accolade in the Higher Education sector and the University was chosen as the winner from a list of six shortlisted institutions after a comprehensive judging process. It is a privilege to work alongside all those who strive to fulfill Edge Hill University’s commitment to changing lives – our staff, students, alumni, Students’ Union, our partners and our friends and it is rewarding to see this spirit recognised.

This outstanding accolade rounded off a year of accomplishments. We were named as the top diversified university according to the Graduate Social Mobility Index, which compares the socioeconomic background of students at entry and the proportion obtaining graduate jobs after completing their degrees. We believe that education should be a transformational process, improving lives and life chances, and this measure recognises our, and our graduates’, success.

Part of this achievement reflects the fact that, following on from record numbers of applications, average entry grades for students at the University have improved by over a quarter in the past five years, with more than one-third of our intake having ABB+ or equivalent grades at A level or BTEC. But it is also reflected in

statistically significant ‘better than benchmark’ figures for retention and the region’s highest rating for student satisfaction, across all 23 questions, in the 2014 National Student Survey.

The Times Higher Education’s Student Experience Survey reinforces this message, with Edge Hill University the highest-rated newcomer in this year’s table, joint-second nationally for our campus environment and top in the region for support and welfare, centralised facilities and our Students’ Union. And, comparing our weakest performance (2006) with our best (2013/14), we have climbed 57 places in national newspaper league tables, more than any other university. We are confident that this trend will continue.

To ensure this, we have invested over a quarter of a billion pounds in the campus in the past decade, with fourteen new buildings and over 1400 new student residences – all en-suite, with televisions, computers, even fridges. We offer two theatres and sector-leading sports facilities, with a new £30m sports centre coming on stream in 2014/15, and this year alone have added five new science laboratories, a newly-refurbished building for Geography, our £17m computing, music, film and TV production facility (Creative Edge), a lake and even a beach!

Our research base continues to grow, with a 240% increase in entries to the 2014 Research Evaluation Framework, the results of which we await with optimism and anticipation. And, with new programmes in Digital SFX, Games Programming, Music, Network Security and Forensics, BioScience, Child Health and Children’s Learning, we are confident that the virtuous circle of recent years will continue.

Finally, I would want to acknowledge the people who are making this happen, the people who are changing lives – our staff, our students, our alumni, our Students’ Union, our partners and our friends. Thank you. We look forward to working with you as part of a university which really is ‘going places’.

Dr John Cater Vice-Chancellor

Edge Hill University: University of the Year

2014-15

“Congratulations to all the staff and students (and old boys and girls like me) of Edge Hill on their richly deserved award of University Of The Year at the THE awards 2014. A fitting tribute to a brilliant institution.”

Writer, Broadcaster and Edge Hill

Alumnus Stuart Maconie

Edge Hill University has been named University of the Year in the 10th annual Times Higher Education (THE) Awards.

The award is the most prestigious accolade in the Higher Education sector and the University was chosen as the winner from a list of six shortlisted institutions which included Swansea University, the University of Glasgow and Birkbeck, University of London.

The judging involved a comprehensive assessment process culminating in a visit to the campus in Ormskirk by Times Higher Education editor John Gill. At this visit in September, John met staff and students from all levels, across the university’s beautiful campus to discover just what sets Edge Hill apart from the competition.

In the run up to the announcement, members of the Edge Hill community shared their thoughts through social media on why the University should win the title, and following the announcement, #THEawards was a top 10 trending UK twitter topic.

The University of the Year award was collected by Vice-Chancellor Dr John Cater at a glittering awards ceremony in London hosted by comedian Jack Dee at the end of November 2014.

Following the announcement, the Times Higher Education wrote that the judges in the awards were impressed with how Edge Hill had steadily built its reputation with strong performances and year-on-year improvement since it gained university status in 2006.

This was capped with an exceptional year in 2012-13, when it was one of only four universities in England to benefit from an increase in applications in the first year of higher fees.

John Gill, Times Higher Education editor, said: “Edge Hill is a great success story, having quietly established itself as an institution that improves and impresses year after year.

“Its achievements in student satisfaction and graduate employment were noted by our judges, as was its financial performance and the part it plays in transforming lives in the local region.

“Its investment in academic staff, the strengthening of its research profile, the growth in applications and its innovation were all notable achievements.

“It is a deserving winner of the University of the Year title.”

Vice-Chancellor Dr John Cater added:

“I’m delighted and extremely proud that Edge Hill has won University of the Year. The University is stronger than ever before and I’m honoured to have been involved in its consistent growth and improvement during my tenure as Vice-Chancellor.”

Hundreds of nominations for outstanding institutions, departments and individuals were submitted across 18 categories covering the full range of university activity. These awards showcase the pioneering spirit, adaptability and sheer quality of the Higher Education sector.

The University’s Learning Services department was also shortlisted in the Outstanding Contribution to Leadership Development category in the 2014 awards.

Top 10 Achievements of the Year Winner of University of the Year

Times Higher Education University of the year for 2014-15, as well as shortlisted in 2007-8, 2010-11 and 2011-12

Top

in the North West for Overall Student Satisfaction –National Student Survey 2014

Strong levels of graduate employment with 95.3%

of first degree and other undergraduate award holders finding employment or further study within six months of graduating. This makes us one of the top eight public universities for graduate employment in England (DLHE survey by the Higher Education Statistics Agency 2014)

Top Two

university in the UK for Social Mobility based on Edge Hill’s success in developing a broad range of students to achieve graduate jobs (Social Mobility Graduate index 2014)

English University for a great first impression – making students feel at home straight away (YouthSight 2014)

for Personal Development and Assessment and Feedback in the region (National Student Survey 2014)

Top 20 Top Safest Campus

in the North West for third year running and remains in the top 10 nationally (Complete University Guide 2014)

240% Over 1000

increase in Research Excellence Framework (REF) submissions compared to the 2008 figure

nominations received in the 2014 student-led staff awards

Summer 2014 saw our

Largest Ever

graduating cohort –almost 4,000 students graduated in 16 ceremonies across 5 days

Student Experience

Student Experience

With industry standard facilities, one of the safest campuses in England and Wales, employability focussed courses and being top in the region for teaching excellence, we provide the best overall student experience in the North West and fantastic opportunities for our students.

With one of the most welcoming campuses in the country, and rated one of the top two for Social Mobility, our students truly experience life changing opportunities at Edge Hill.

Open for Creativity

Renowned broadcaster, author and alumnus Stuart Maconie returned to campus to officially open Creative Edge, the University’s £17 million flagship media and computing hub.

The stunning – and sustainable – addition to Edge Hill’s ‘creative campus’, which opened its doors to staff and students in September 2013, got the celebrity treatment with a formal launch in March this year. During the high profile event, VIP guests were able to see examples of students’ work, the TV and recording studios and listen to The Inkhearts and Hooton Tennis Club, two bands signed to the University’s own record label.

The state-of-the-art building provides high-spec suites of industry-standard facilities for Media, Music, Film, Animation, Advertising and Computing students on a par with those used by the BBC at MediaCityUK. As well as working studios for TV, radio and music production, Creative Edge houses animation and photography studios, cutting edge computer labs and a 250-seat lecture theatre, complete with cinema-style surround sound, to enable students to see and hear their film projects on the big screen. It also provides the perfect environment for exciting collaborations between Media and Computing staff and students.

Students Celebrate “Saint of the Slums”

A documentary produced by five Film and TV students was selected to appear at the Liverpool Irish Festival.

Connor Richmond, Matthew Harrison, Sophie Malone, Alex Walsh and Rebecca Seddon, who all study Film and Television Production, created Kitty: The Saint of the Slums, a documentary on historical figure Kitty Wilkinson as part of their university coursework.

Kitty Wilkinson was an Irish wife of a labourer who moved to Liverpool in 1832 and saved many lives during the cholera epidemic by allowing neighbours to wash their infected sheets and linens in her house. With the support of the Rathbone family, Kitty’s efforts eventually led to the opening of the country’s first public washhouse in Liverpool in 1842, revolutionising and transforming UK healthcare.

The team of students originally created the documentary as part of their second year coursework, but became heavily invested in the story and continued to develop it over the summer months, even travelling to Derry~Londonderry to gather footage.

The students secured interviews with Kitty’s great, great, great niece Rev. Elizabeth Storey and Liverpool-Irish Historian Greg Quiery, as part of the documentary.

Connor, Matthew, Sophie, Alex and Rebecca remain committed to telling Kitty’s story, and are planning to approach other film festivals as well as local schools in Liverpool and Ireland to spread the story further.

Innovative Installation has the Edge

The spectacular video wall that dominates Creative Edge’s foyer and gives the building its initial wow factor has won its creators a prestigious international award.

Audio visual integrator Pure AV scooped the ‘Innovative Education Project’ at the 2014 InAVation Awards for designing a unique audio-visual environment within Creative Edge that allows students to learn, create, develop and showcase their work.

The project involved a high-spec lecture theatre with digital cinema facility, 27 seminar rooms with a mix of projection and display devices, IT suites and creative ‘break-out’ spaces, digital signage and IP-TV across the campus and the iconic feature video wall in the building’s impressive atrium.

Student Nurses Learn from the Best

The nurses of the future can learn from a urology expert after an Edge Hill lecturer won the British Journal of Nursing’s Urology Nurse of the Year award.

Sarah Doyle, who is seconded part time as a lecturer in the pre-registration child nursing branch in the Faculty of Health and Social Care, also works at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool as a Urology Advanced Paediatric Nurse Practitioner.

A nurse for over 15 years, Sarah qualified at the University of Wales, Bangor and moved to practice at Alder Hey Hospital where she joined as a general surgical nurse. There, she developed an interest in paediatric urology and undertook an MSc to concentrate on this specialism.

As part of a team at Alder Hey she introduced innovative treatments in paediatric urology such as tibial nerve stimulation for refractory overactive bladders and the use of entonox for children and young people undergoing procedural urethral catheterisation.

Sarah has also had the opportunity to visit world centres of excellence as part of her clinical development and has been able to learn about new treatments and implement them at Alder Hey, share expertise at national and international conferences and teach the nurses of tomorrow at Edge Hill University.

Students Lead Mental Health Commitment

Edge Hill has become the first university in the UK to offer its sports students the chance to gain a leading mental health qualification.

The Department of Sport and Physical Activity received a prestigious Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Champion award at the House of Lords for providing the UK Department of Health accredited MHFA course to Sports Development and Sports Studies students.

Following the success of the initial programme, which was delivered in partnership with Merseyside Workplace Training, the MHFA is now available to all undergraduate sports students and has also now been rolled out to the Students' Union and other service teams across the University.

Originally developed in Australia, and now recognised in 21 countries, the MHFA programme provides students with a wealth of skills and knowledge, including how to spot the early signs of a mental health problem, providing first aid, guiding someone towards the right support and ways to help reduce the stigma attached to mental illness.

Professor Andy Smith, Associate Head for the Department, said: “Everyone in the Department is delighted to have won this award and it has added further momentum to our commitment to undertaking research and enterprise activity of international significance in the field of sport, physical activity and mental health.

“Our experience of undertaking this work has been overwhelmingly positive, wide-ranging and has had a lasting effect on our staff, students and partners who are committed to having a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing in society.”

Pitch Perfect

Creative students from Edge Hill University put some sparkle into their studies during the ultimate work experience project – working with global advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi on their prestigious Rekorderlig cider account.

Twenty third-year students on Edge Hill’s BA Advertising programme worked with Saatchi Creative and former student, Tom Cleeland, on a real brief to engage young people with the Rekorderlig brand and bring a taste of Sweden to UK student life.

The students received the brief – plus plenty of handy hints and advice on their pitches from Tom – via Skype before travelling to Saatchi’s London office to present their ideas to a panel of senior executives.

Student Nick Appleyard said: “We’ve been doing creative pitches from day one on the course but this was in a different league altogether. As well as the chance to put everything we’ve covered on our course into practice, we also received really useful feedback and career advice and can now add working with Saatchi & Saatchi to our CVs.”

Tom Cleeland recently returned to campus as part of the Media Department’s Employability Week to give an inspirational talk to Advertising students and answer questions about his career with one of the world’s top agencies.

Making the Familiar Unfamiliar

Edge Hill student Fenia Palyvou’s thought-provoking artworks have been shown at one of the largest contemporary visual arts festivals in the UK.

The MA in Making Performance student was selected to showcase her talent at Independents, a fringe festival that runs alongside the renowned Liverpool Biennial.

Fenia’s piece, In Between, is a three-dimensional “optical game” exploring the connections and tensions between familiar and unfamiliar objects. Set against the backdrop of the iconic ‘Bombed Out Church’ (St Luke’s in Liverpool), In Between consisted of a series of arches designed to look like a distorted alleyway, accompanied by an unsettling soundscape of increasingly strange yet identifiable noises. Audiences were able walk through and interact with the piece, which was specifically designed to complement the venue’s distinctive architecture.

“

In Between takes something that looks familiar (an arch) and makes it feel unfamiliar,” explained Fenia. “By the use of two basic elements – visual and sound – a curious environmental experience was created within the already extraordinary space of St Luke’s Church.”

The installation forms part of Fenia’s research into site-specific art and ways of expressing the unfamiliar. As well as testing her artwork in a public environment, Fenia also interviewed and filmed visitors as they walked around the exhibition to see how their experiences differed.

Showcasing Superior Staff

Students have shown their appreciation for 15 of Edge Hill’s outstanding lecturers, personal tutors and support staff at this year’s student-led Teaching Awards.

Now in their fourth year, 1,000 entries were received for the awards which were developed by the University and the Students’ Union to recognise staff who go above and beyond to make the teaching and learning experience at Edge Hill even better.

New Student Homes on Campus

Our accommodation offering was extended this year with the completion of the £12m halls of residence, Chancellor’s Court South.

The new halls of residence, boasting 246 rooms, all have a flat screen computer and freeview TVs, en-suite bathrooms and shared kitchens and living areas. Some of the rooms have also been built around the specific needs of students with a disability.

The Chancellor’s Court South accommodation brings the number of students who can be accommodated on campus in Ormskirk to 1,947.

Music Management Success

Rebecca Boulton, the manager of pioneering bands Joy Division and New Order, talked to Music students about the Hacienda, Factory Records, and managing two of the world’s most celebrated bands during an event at Creative Edge.

Rebecca’s talk gave an insight into the varied role of a music manager working at the highest level in the industry. She discussed everything from working with music publishers and sync agents to negotiating a book deal for So This Is Permanence, a collection of Ian Curtis’ notebooks and lyrics which has received considerable media attention.

Getting Students Active

Edge Hill students will have more chances to play sport thanks to £213,689 National Lottery funding from Sport England’s University Sport Activation Fund. Currently, just over half of students play sport at least once a week; the new funding will be used to increase this level of participation through a range of improved and new activities, and by targeting students who live on campus and women, who are currently under-represented in sporting activities.

Scholarships for Future Teaching Stars

Eight new Secondary Computing PGCE students at Edge Hill University scooped a £25,000 tax free scholarship funded by the Department for Education

The eight successful Edge Hill applicants underwent a rigorous application process aided by partner schools Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Blackburn and AKS, Blackpool.

Off to a Good Start

Edge Hill has been named one of the top 20 universities in the UK for ‘an excellent early student experience’, according to a survey of more than 10,300 students. Institutions rated ‘excellent’ in the survey by YouthSight were praised for the quality of teaching, pastoral care, having “lots of things organised for new students”, “responding quickly to queries”, being “supportive” and having friendly staff.

Students Make Music Their Business

Edge Hill is giving aspiring music producers, journalists, marketers and talent scouts a taste of life in the music industry – and the opportunity to work with the North West’s rising stars – with the launch of its own record label.

The Label Recordings is the brainchild of Senior Lecturer and bassist with The Farm, Carl Hunter, who is able to use a wealth of knowledge and industry experience to support and mentor young artists and boost the creativity and employability of student volunteers looking to secure a job in the record industry.

By being part of The Label, students can gain valuable hands-on experience in a diverse range of areas including A&R, music production, graphic design, video production and marketing in a realistic, yet supportive and risk-free, music industry environment.

“The Label gives students a really distinctive learning experience,” said Carl Hunter, “and provides them with the useful skills to help them with that vital first foot on the record industry ladder.

“The idea is that students learn about the music industry by being part of it. They are involved in all aspects including searching for emerging talent, music production, video production, releasing tracks and organising live events. It’s a collaboration between the students and the artists that brings unique benefits to both.”

One of the first bands to be nurtured by The Label, Chester’s Hooton Tennis Club, have recently secured a record deal with Heavenly Recordings, the label responsible for launching Manic Street Preachers, Beth Orton, Doves and The Magic Numbers.

Third year student Adam Walker was part of the group who ‘discovered’ the band, selecting them as one of the first two acts to work with The Label.

He said: “To see a band like Hooton Tennis Club sign a new deal is incredibly exciting. From helping to scout them, reviewing their shows and being involved in the recording process, I’ve gained valuable experience in communicating with artists and widened my contact base.”

Festival First for Students

Students from across the University took centre stage at this year’s Liverpool Sound City Festival, performing with headline acts, running their own venue and filming the event.

Edge Hill’s unique partnership with the largest international music, digital and film festival in the UK, gave students the opportunity to gain valuable industry experience and boost their CVs while working with some of the best bands in the business.

For the first time in festival history, Edge Hill had its own stage, managed by students, to promote up-and-coming local talent. As well as acts supported by The Label Recordings, the University’s student-led record label, the line-up included bands handpicked by volunteer talent scouts who trawl Liverpool’s music venues looking for the next big thing.

Renowned student dance companies, Edge FWD and Third Edge, performed on the main stage while other students were involved in the Festival’s music industry conference, presenting their business ideas to some of the music world’s leading figures.

The whole festival was documented by students who filmed, produced and edited the footage into high-quality, professional videos for commercial use by Sound City.

Roy Bayfield, Director of Corporate Communications at Edge Hill University, said: “Through Sound City our students are getting opportunities to volunteer, perform and participate in an international conference, pitch business ideas to an expert panel and film the most interesting bands. They are gaining exactly the kind of industry experience that employers want to see, and making contacts that will help them kick-start their careers.”

Students Nurture New Talent

Edge Hill students are set to play a key role in nurturing the next generation of singers, DJs and musicians as part of a new partnership with the Liverpool International Music Festival, one of the largest and fastest growing music festivals in the UK.

Edge Hill is sponsoring the LIMF Academy, a programme set up to nurture young unsigned artists and give them the opportunity to perform in front of an audience of thousands during the Festival.

The LIMF Academy selected 15 young bands, artists and DJs to perform on stage, as well as offering extensive free activities and workshops for 13 to 21 years olds, including singing skills, recording techniques, music production, DJing, drumming and free running dance.

As part of the partnership, Edge Hill’s record label, The Label Recordings, mentored five of the acts – Visitors, Luke Cusato, Little Grace, XAMVolo and Katy Alex – providing student volunteers with the opportunity to work with the talented artists. The five acts also participated in an elite masterclass programme where they received help, support and mentoring from music industry experts including BBC Introducing’s Dave Monks, Grammy Award-winning producer Steve Levine and LIMF’s music curator, Yaw Owusu.

The Label’s student volunteers then had the opportunity to organise a showcase event featuring the five acts, where they were involved in everything from booking the venue to promoting the event to liaising with the artists.

As part of LIMF, Edge Hill students were also granted VIP access to exclusive events to meet with music industry contacts and review the events to enhance their employability in the competitive music industry.

Employability Setting Students Up for Success

Edge Hill University is at the forefront of providing employability opportunities to students above and beyond their degree study, helping them to stand out from the crowd in a competitive graduate job market.

Enhancing student employability is central to the University’s strategy. Although the majority of degree programmes lead to professional qualification, accreditation or endorsement, placements, work experience and carefully curated employability events are widely available across the institution, giving students many opportunities to enhance their employability while they study.

Faculties have excellent relationships with employers who regularly interact with students on campus. Earlier this year, Telecommunications giant TalkTalk worked with students from the Department of Computing on the Skill Up TalkTalk Hackathon, a competition where students were set the challenge of designing extensions on a mobile app, making valuable connections and gaining industry experience.

Edge Hill University students were also invited by Barclays to participate in the Barclays Technology Challenge, creating business proposals, prototypes and a money management app for the global bank. For Computing graduate Megan Keating the opportunity to participate in this event led to her being accepted on the prestigious Barclays Technology Centre Graduate Scheme.

The University holds a number of events aimed at addressing student employability. The Department of Media’s ‘Make Yourself Employable’ event offered career development sessions, employer presentations and expert advice to current students. This is in addition to events held by the Careers Team throughout the academic year, including regular Graduate Recruitment Fairs featuring some of the UK’s biggest employers.

This year, the University created Edge Hill Works, the business facing unit of the Careers Centre, helping students and employers to connect and providing more opportunities for students, including more part time jobs on campus.

The University also works with local employers, building positive relationships so that students in part-time work are supported in terms of developing their skills and confidence. This year, WHSmith in Ormskirk were announced as the winner of the National Student Employer of the Year Award, the second year in a row that an Edge Hill nominated local employer has won this award.

Edge Hill also offers ongoing support to graduates once they leave the University. Alumni can access the Careers Centre services for up to three years after graduating, which includes one-to-one meetings with Careers Advisers and access to a wealth of online resources.

The success of Edge Hill’s employability strategy has been acknowledged as one of only three case studies published by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) as a positive example of how a university can improve student success through an employability strategy. Edge Hill University boasts strong levels of employability, with 95.3% of graduates in work or further study, and remains committed to providing students with opportunities to enhance their chances in the competitive graduate job market.

Research and Impact

Research and Impact

The University is home to a thriving, dynamic research culture and staff feed their expertise directly into their teaching providing new perspectives for all our students.

From the opening of three interdisciplinary institutes to the unique work carried out across all our faculties, we aspire to being known for our excellence and life changing research.

A Safe Learning Environment

It is widely accepted that the best place to care for children, especially if they have complex continuing healthcare needs, is in their own homes.

Due to this, Edge Hill University has developed The Better at Home suite in partnership with national charity WellChild and Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.

The Better at Home suite is a simulated learning suite which provides a safe environment for parents and carers to consolidate their skills and thus facilitate the transition from hospital to home.

Parents have specified that using the suite provides a realistic home setting in which to learn and have stated that simulation provides support and opportunities to develop confidence by reflecting on skills with the facilitator.

Through Edge Hill University supporting the Better at Home suite, families and carers are receiving support which enables child and family centred care to be delivered in the most appropriate setting.

Hayley Smallman and husband Gary have experienced the suite first hand. Their 13-yearold daughter Holly has complex medical needs. Holly was born in 2001 with an undiagnosed metabolic disorder which left her with Cerebral

Palsy, epilepsy and chronic lung disease, oxygen dependency, a tracheostomy and a gastrostomy. The family are well practiced at various medical techniques used to care for Holly on a daily basis, but found the experience useful for testing their knowledge. The family took part in a simulated emergency tube change scenario at the suite.

Hayley said: “The Better at Home suite will be invaluable to parents. It is a brilliant, brilliant learning facility for parents transitioning from hospital to home with a child with complex needs and everyone is so helpful and welcoming. It would help alleviate fear and worry for parents, say you have just been talking to a consultant and they’ve said that your child needs a tracheostomy. That’s a big life changing experience. And it’s the fear of the unknown that overtakes you and until your child has the operation you don’t know how you are going to cope.

“This is a great facility, it’s got the tools and resources that will help parents so much. I wish I could have been able to have that kind of facility when I was told that Holly needed a tracheotomy. It would have been nice for Holly’s siblings too, to show them what it would be like, and for lots of children it would be great to go along to as a family and all learn together.

“I can’t champion it enough, it’s a brilliant learning resource to help families as it is frightening looking after a child with complex needs. There is so much to take on board, the potential of the Better at Home suite is just massive, its endless.”

The Real Impact of Drugs

Edge Hill’s research into the effects of illegal drugs could potentially change – or even save – the lives of thousands of people in the UK.

Collaborative projects looking into the effects of popular recreational drugs on cognitive functioning found that ecstasy can impair visual memory, vital for activities such as driving a car, operating machinery, or playing sport. Evidence also showed that cannabis, the most commonly used illegal drug, may not affect visual memory but is linked to impairments in other aspects of cognitive functioning, including verbal memory.

Interviews with patients receiving treatment for heroin addiction found that using methadone, a ‘cleaner’, longer lasting heroin replacement drug, can be beneficial in helping people to stop using heroin, but should not be seen as an ‘instant cure’ or as a treatment on its own.

The research showed that the likelihood of being free of heroin use six months after the initial interviews was significantly higher for patients who had been exposed to methadone treatment for longer, and as part of a supportive therapeutic programme of psychological and social support.

Edge Hill has also been instrumental in assessing the potential of a new drug treatment for heroin addiction that could prevent overdoses in high-risk populations.

Evidence shows that when prisoners with a history of heroin addiction are released back into the community, the risk of them dying from a drug overdose in the first two weeks is very high. Research, carried out in conjunction with the NHS, suggests that a very high percentage of such prisoners would be willing to accept a new drug treatment, involving the administration of naltrexone by injection. This would prevent them achieving a ‘high’ from any heroin used over this two-week period.

Professor Philip Murphy explained: “When administered orally, naltrexone can be effective for up to three days, but when injected, it can be effective for up to two weeks. However, naltrexone is not licenced for administration by injection for the treatment of heroin addiction. Our findings may ultimately provide a basis for changing the licensing arrangements for naltrexone, so that unnecessary deaths can be avoided.”

Implicit Racism

Professor Geoff Beattie has been exploring whether prejudice, more subtle than before, is still a major part of our everyday lives.

There are few people in today's society who explicitly espouse racist attitudes and yet there are many organisations (including universities) where BME individuals are grossly underrepresented, particularly at senior levels. So why might this be? One possibility is that some individuals could hold implicit attitudes that are at odds with their expressed attitudes, but that could nevertheless influence their behaviour.

Professor Geoff Beattie has been developing a variety of new techniques to measure these unconscious attitudes, including associative reaction time tasks and eye tracking. Research had previously shown that there is an ethnic bias in both shortlisting and interviewing but the actual mechanisms remained obscure.

This new research, using eye tracking, has demonstrated that implicit attitudes predict patterns of attention when people scrutinise the CVs of applicants from different ethnic groups.

He found that we are more likely to focus on the negative bits of a CV when the candidate is from a different ethnic background to ourselves. In other words, our 'rational' decisions about candidates are partly shaped by our unconscious mind.

This research culminated in Our Racist Heart: An Exploration of Unconscious Prejudice in Everyday Life (Routledge, 2013). It was described by Professor Michael Billig of Loughborough University as 'a remarkable book' and was one of the editor's highlights in the American Psychological Association's review journal Choice. It has also made the Amazon bestseller list.

Protecting Our Ports

Dr Clare Strode and Thom Dallimore from Edge Hill University's Biology Department are working with the Liverpool Port Authorities (LPA) to prevent potentially deadly diseases entering the UK.

The collaborative project aims to monitor vectors of disease that may inadvertently be imported through shipping vessels into the UK from around the world. Working together, Edge Hill and the LPA are designing an efficient method of surveillance for mosquitoes that could be carrying diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, West Nile virus and chikungunya.

Thom Dallimore said: “Through this project, we hope to gain a better understanding of the potential mosquito habitats that surround Liverpool docks, so that we can predict high areas of risk. Monitoring the movement of mosquito species in and out of the country in this way acts as a first line of defence in disease control.”

In addition, the pair have been working on a new book about British mosquitos featuring Thom’s detailed illustrations. The book, in collaboration with the Field Studies Council will help naturalists identify species found in Britain.

Making History

An Edge Hill project is helping hundreds of students make the often difficult transition from studying at school or college to independent learning at university.

Developing Historical Thinking is a collaborative project, developed by academics and postgraduate students at Edge Hill University, the University of Roehampton, and the Institute of Education at the University of London. The project is designed to help develop students’ understanding of historical enquiry and research. It aims to support A Level and undergraduate History students by providing additional resources, free workshops and formative feedback to enhance their learning.

Funded by the Higher Education Academy, the project uses social media and other online techniques to help students improve their research and study skills.

Professor Alyson Brown, one of the project’s co-founders, was recently interviewed on Radio 4’s Making History programme. She said: “The project aims to help new students cope with the different requirements and pressures of undergraduate level learning, while also giving our postgraduate students the experience of working on a collaborative research project.”

Some of the resources can be accessed for free at: edgehill.ac.uk/histlearn

Pinhole Photography Captures Construction

A photograph using a 312-day exposure has been produced to document the entire construction process of Edge Hill University’s £17m Creative Edge building.

Neill Cockwill, Programme Leader for Media, Film and TV decided to use the art of pinhole photography to capture the stunning image as part of his practice-based research into the reception and understanding of time through long photographic exposures.

The image not only shows the stages of Creative Edge’s construction, but some dramatic solography too, which is the photographic process which captures the path of the sun.

A Virtual Learning World

Ensuring that student nurses are suitably prepared for practice is an ongoing challenge for educationalists.

The Faculty of Health and Social Care is currently engaging with a group of MSc Nursing students in the world of Second Life to examine how the use of a virtual world as a formative learning and teaching tool can enable students to develop competence and confidence in the development of skills required to undertake systematic patient assessment.

This immersive learning takes place on the Post Graduate Medical and Dental Education Second Life Island. Established in 2009 by Professor Luther of the North West and Medical Deanery (now part of Health Education England), the island was designed to deliver 3D North West Simulation and Base Training.

To explore how this could be used within traditional education, Brian Smith and Dominic Rimmer from Edge Hill’s Technology Enhanced Learning team, and academic staff Bill Jackson, Eve Allen, Julie Devereux, and Mairi Byrne, created the Smith Centre

With a reception area, orientation and debriefing room, and two consultant rooms, Adult, Mental Health and Child nursing students can practise the key skills of observation, questioning, listening, and paraphrasing within the safety of a controlled online environment.

Julie Devereux said: “The scenario is designed to prepare students for the complex and dynamic field of practice, be able to share their developing expertise with their peers and learn new skills from each other. It aimed to prepare students for the complex and dynamic landscape of modern nursing, to respond creatively and innovativelyand to make decisions in challenging situations.”

The Unforgotten Exhibition

Acclaimed children’s writer and cocreator of the 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, Frank Cottrell Boyce, visited Edge Hill to give a reading of his Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize winning novel, The Unforgotten Coat, which follows the story of two Mongolian refugee brothers in Liverpool.

The event was part of a collaboration between the author and Edge Hill academics Carl Hunter and Clare Heney, who provided the photographs out of which the story was developed, transforming Liverpool into a version of Mongolia through the medium of Polaroid photos.

After further creative research, Carl and Clare have now turned their unique imagery into a touring exhibition, launched at the annual Penny Readings in St George’s Hall, Liverpool in 2013. The images have undergone another transformation, from digital images created to look like Polaroids into physical, analogue Polaroid-style photographs, adding new layers of magic, mystery and meaning to this powerful story.

It’s All In the Game

Psychologists at Edge Hill are questioning the popular perception of digital gaming as a solo activity that encourages social isolation and reduces human interaction.

Dr Linda Kaye’s innovative research into the psychology of digital gaming has found that far from hindering social interaction, certain digital games can promote positive shared experiences between players. Her work with players of immersive simulation games such as Football Manager showed that social digital gaming can foster a sense of group identity that goes beyond the boundaries of the game, resulting in positive psychosocial outcomes for players in terms of self-esteem and psychological wellbeing.

Linda presented her findings at the 2014 Develop Conference, Europe’s leading games development event. She said: “There is a lot of research into the negative effects of playing videogames, but there has been less examination of the psychological experiences associated with the activity. My research reveals the importance of social belonging, opportunities for social networking and the promotion of social integration for game enjoyment, and this could have an impact on future game development.”

Linda is currently working with colleagues at NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands on a collaborative research project involving students on game development and design courses. The project will see students developing games that promote specific psychological experiences. These can then be used both to test Linda’s theories and to give NHTV academics a greater psychological insight into the making of their students’ prototypes.

A Fresh Approach to Digital Distribution

Edge Hill is supporting independent filmmaking through a ground breaking collaborative project funded by a £125,000 award from the Digital R&D Fund for the Arts.

Head of Media, Professor Philip Drake, is working with We Are Colony, an innovative new Video on Demand (VOD) platform, and Film London on a new model for releasing independent feature films. We Are Colony allows users to pay for and access movies and exclusive content, from trailers and teasers to interviews with cast and crew, both before and after release.

The project will explore and analyse the true potential of the new digital space and provide valuable insights into digital film audiences and content consumption that challenges the traditional approach to filmmaking and funding.

The Digital R&D Fund for the Arts is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, Nesta, and the Arts Council for England.

Performance Through Partnerships

The pioneering work undertaken by Edge Hill’s Centre for Data Analysis and Representation (CeDAR) is delivering a tangible impact on business, as demonstrated by the team’s successful Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs).

KTP is a UK-wide, Government-funded programme aimed at helping UK businesses improve competitiveness, productivity and performance through better use of the knowledge, technology and skills available within universities. Professor Mark Anderson is director of CeDAR

A KTP with Bi3, a security and customer intelligence solutions company, is developing a web-based software framework that will enable the company to capture and visualise high volumes of data from multiple sources, making it easier to present meaningful intelligence back to their customers. The project also aims to build the capacity within Bi3 to develop, maintain and support the software, and enable the company to react quickly to the release of new hardware technologies.

A global leader in wetstock management, Fairbanks Environmental Ltd, has also benefited from a KTP designed to improve the workflow of its data analysts. The project resulted in an effective model for storing, representing and processing data that has freed up existing resources to concentrate on Fairbanks’ new customers, ensuring its growth trend continues. The KTP has recently concluded, producing achievements that exceeded the planned outcomes for both Fairbanks and the University.

In addition to these successful projects, the Centre for Data Analysis and Representation (CeDAR) was shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards this year for its pioneering partnership with software consultants SimCon Ltd. The project has developed software to improve the accuracy of weather forecasting and climate modeling, which is used by US Government and military agencies to inform policy and operational decisions.

Stopping Abuse in Sport

Edge Hill continues to strengthen its reputation as a centre of excellence for research into child protection and safeguarding in sport, conducting pioneering studies that help to raise awareness, shape policy and protect young athletes.

Child protection experts Dr Melanie Lang and Dr Mike Hartill have recently edited the first book to comprehensively review global contemporary developments in this sensitive and often controversial area.

Safeguarding, Child Protection and Abuse in Sport: International Perspectives in Research, Policy and Practice brings together the world’s leading research specialists on the subject. As well as critically analysing current child protection and safeguarding policy and practice in sport across a range of countries, the book also examines issues such as emotional abuse, injury and over-training that aren’t covered in previous books on the subject.

Mike and Melanie have also been instrumental in Edge Hill’s involvement in an international project to empower young people to understand abuse and keep themselves safe.

The #stop1in5 campaign, part of the EU-funded project Sport Respects Your Rights, aims to develop capacity among young Europeans to raise awareness of child abuse in sport and become agents of change in their own sporting environments.

Working with the Rugby Football League and the Lawn Tennis Association, Edge Hill University represents the UK as one of seven international project partners. The collaboration has resulted in the development of the Rugby League Youth Panel, which actively campaigns to end sexual and gender based violence in sport. Edge Hill Sport & Physical Activity students recently presented the project at the NSPCC national training centre to more than 40 national sport governing bodies and County Sport Partnerships.

Visit: sportrespectsyourrightsuk.co.uk

Short Story Success

Multi award-winning poet John Burnside has won the Edge Hill Short Story Prize 2014 with his collection Something Like Happy. Now in its eighth year, the Edge Hill Prize is the only UK award that recognises excellence in a published collection of short stories. John said: “I’m really grateful that this prize exists to celebrate the short story. As a writer, the short story demands the most and to me is the most satisfying.”

Civil Rights and Race Relations

Professor Kevern Verney, Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, has co-edited a new book, Barack Obama and the Myth of a Post-Racial America, further cementing his international reputation as one of the leading academics on black civil rights and race relations in the US. In the book, Professor Verney, who blogged the 2012 American Presidential Election, looks at the anxieties expressed by conservative/Republican spokespersons about immigration in the present day US and, puts them into an historical perspective.

Reducing Exam Stress

Research at Edge Hill looking at ways of reducing test anxiety could have a major impact on students’ exam stress levels. Professor Dave Putwain’s research found that students who worried about exams were more likely to do badly, and suggested ways that students and educators can minimise stress. As well as raising awareness with educators, the public, and through targeted intervention, the research found that following an on-screen, self-help programme called STEPS (Strategies to Tackle Exam Pressure and Stress) also helped to reduce exam anxiety.

Massive changes to Higher Education?

Following the launch of UK’s first undergraduate credit-bearing MOOC (Massive Online Open Course) in 2013, Edge Hill hosted a conference to discuss the possibilities and pitfalls of this emerging, and controversial, area. The Digital University: MOOCs and the Humanities, brought together academics,senior management and CEOs with former Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts, to explore the idea of the Digital University in the 21st century.

Dancing in the Dark

Young male dancers often experience prejudice and sexism at school according to research by Senior Lecturer in Dance, Mark Edward. The semi-autobiographical study of schoolboy dancers in the North West found that bullying and peer pressure not to dance existed in schools at both ends of the socio-economic spectrum. Mark said: “You can be a ‘secret’ geek, but dance is more difficult to hide – and why should it be hidden?”

Research Institutes

Edge Hill’s investment in research continues with the creation of three new interdisciplinary Research Institutes that bring together clusters of research excellence from across the Faculties to build capacity, encourage innovation and collaboration and ensure our work has real impact.

Institute for Creative Enterprise

ICE focuses on practice-led research that connects us to, and has an impact on, the creative, digital and cultural industries.

Research spans areas as diverse as performance, creative writing, media, film, computing and sport, and is linked to the Institute’s five key themes of sustainability, good enterprise, the flourishing city, creative labour, and class, community and social justice. Academics work in close partnership with researchers, educators, communities and industry practitioners to address current challenges, and contribute to debates on the roles of culture and creativity in driving economic growth and sustainability. ICE is also home to the Good Enterprise Lab, which brings together academics, businesses and other organisations to tackle the region’s social challenges. The Lab is already helping to spark ideas and initiatives related to health, ethical employment and sustainable food in West Lancashire.

edgehill.ac.uk/ice/

Beyond Benefits Street

Are TV programmes like Channel 4’s Benefits Street legitimate portrayals of social injustice or simply ‘poverty porn’ designed to demonise the working classes?

These were the controversial issues discussed at a recent ICE symposium, which responded to current debates on welfare and aimed to challenge stereotypes and get people to rethink their own misconceptions and preconceptions.

Beyond Benefits Street included keynote presentations by lecturer and filmmaker Dr Deirdre O’Neill and Michael Wayne, Professor in Screen Media at Brunel University, as well as contributions from academics and practitioners in the fields of journalism, communications and media studies.

Professor Wayne said: “The Beyond Benefits Street symposium is very important. It opens up conversations about how working class people are represented and questions the media apparatus, practice and priorities. It is linking academia with the outside world in a very real way.”

Institute for Public Policy and Professional Practice (I4P)

I4P was set up in part as a response to the impact of the global crises post 2008 and the impact of the austerity measures in the UK.

The Institute provides a focus for public policy research across the University and a space for those working, or intending to work, in the field to engage in critical and informed reflection and thinking and professional development.

As well as organising a programme of workshops and guest lectures, I4P also hosts a research and practice informed seminar series, open to all, which examines public policy challenges, practice developments and professional learning.

The Institute is committed to exploring the opportunities for cross sector collaboration and co-operation and to draw on the experience of practitioners as well as academic researchers to inform new ways of working and learning.

Expert on health and the social effects of income inequality, Professor Richard Wilkinson, made history as the Institute’s inaugural guest speaker.

Professor Wilkinson, co-author of the bestselling book The Spirit Level, helped to launch I4P with a discussion of the damaging effects of inequality, how it can be reduced, and the path to sustainable wellbeing.

For more than 30 years, Richard has played a formative role in research and public awareness of health inequalities and the social determinants of health. He persuaded David Ennals, the then Secretary of State, to set up a working party which produced the Black Report on Health Inequalities published in 1980, and since then his research has concentrated on health, income, anti-poverty and fairness.

Other guest speakers have included Professor Peter Scott, one of the UK’s foremost authorities on Higher Education, who gave a public lecture on the sector’s future in difficult and changing times.

edgehill.ac.uk/i4p/

Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI)

The PGMI is a partnership between Edge Hill University and regional health professionals and providers seeking to improve the quality of health and social care in the North West through education, research and innovation.

Although based in the Faculty of Health and Social Care it includes academics from all faculties with a shared interest and expertise in postgraduate medical and clinical research and training. Engagement and collaboration with external partners underpins the PGMI ensuring that its work is relevant and will impact positively on the rapidly changing health and social care environment.

The PGMI is a provider of innovative multi professional postgraduate education and practice-based research which supports the development of all professionals working in the field of health and social care to improve service delivery, treatment, care and health. It provides a base for academic programmes including the Royal College of Surgeons accredited MCh (Masters of Surgery) and the new MSc in Dental Implantology, which has recently welcomed its first cohort of 27 students. The PGMI has a growing research profile and works closely with external health and social care providers to ensure that its research addresses relevant issues and can make a difference.

The Institute benefits from collaborations with a wide range of partners including Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, the Royal College of Physicians, and North West Deaneries.

Improving Patient Safety Through Collaboration

The PGMI has been selected to support the North West Coast Academic Health Science Network (NWC AHSN) on a project to evaluate the impact of its Patient Safety Collaborative.

The NWC AHSN is one of 15 AHSNs to implement a Patient Safety Collaborative as part a national programme to improve the safety of patients and ensure continual learning sits at the heart of healthcare in England.

The team, led by Professor Clare Austin, Associate Dean for Research and Innovation, and Dave Lynes, Head of Business Development, has secured funding of around £38,000 to assess the impact of intervention on practice. As well as undertaking 360 degree feedback with patients and health practitioners, they will develop an e-learning programme for safety improvement themes.

12 Degrees North is Picture Perfect

12 Degrees North, the prestigious graduate dance company based at Edge Hill received extra funding from the Arts Council this year to build on its initial success and secure its future for another two years.

The initiative delivered by Edge Hill University, allows emerging artists to perform at venues in the region such as The Lowry and Blackpool Grand Theatre. Earlier this year the company also worked alongside internationally renowned choreographers Lea Anderson and James Wilton to create new works.

And to literally illustrate their success a photographic and film exhibition charting the journey of dancers on the 12 Degrees North training programme premiered at Edge Hill University’s Arts Centre before transferring to The Lowry in Salford.

The photographs were taken during various stages of dancers’ progression through the programme, by writer and director Dr Helen Newall, Reader in Performing Arts at the University and the film directed by Karen Jaundrill-Scott.

Helen said: “This was a really interesting brief to take part in as it really made me consider the ‘aim’ of dance photography. As I progressed through taking shots in classes at the Lowry, through show rehearsals and finally performances at high profile venues, I realised my aim wasn’t to capture the apex of every dance move, but to document the full range of movement and emotion associated with the different stages of the performers’ development”.

The exhibition included the documentary film ‘Do you see what I see?’ featuring the dancers, their reactions to the images and their responses to a series of questions put to them by Karen Jaundrill-Scott, Project Director of 12 Degrees North and Director of External Affairs and Employability at Edge Hill.

Karen said: “My current research area is addressing claims of gaps in graduate employability and looking at how students and graduates view their own journey as they embark upon a portfolio career in the arts. It was really interesting to hear how the company members reacted to the images of themselves and how by asking them certain questions they were able to critique them in perhaps a different way”.

External Engagement

External Engagement

Working in partnership and engaging with communities ensures the knowledge we

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For our students, building relationships, sharing expertise and working with partners provides life changing chances to develop, learn and realise their career ambitions.

The University also shares its knowledge and facilities by holding public lectures by leading academics, organising events and providing state of the art cultural and sporting facilities for the North West and beyond.

create has a real impact economically, socially and culturally

Overcoming Social Challenges through Sport

A ground-breaking collaboration between Edge Hill University and Everton in the Community, which will benefit Merseyside families through research-led projects and student academic placements, was officially launched this year.

The exclusive five-year partnership focuses on numerous student-led initiatives in the areas of public health and physical activity, sport policy and community sport development with the objective of overcoming a variety of social challenges facing those across Merseyside on a daily basis.

Everton in the Community is a leading sporting charity which runs a number of award-winning programmes promoting health, education, employment and equality of opportunity across Merseyside. The charity currently supports 1,500 local charities a year and in 2013 it was chosen by the Prime Minister to win the Big Society award.

At any one time, 30 students from the University work on the project. This gives real experience of working with the charity of a Premier League football club but also of community projects which will help students gain graduate level employment following their degree.

One part of this partnership, the People’s Family Project, was launched by Edge Hill PhD researcher Laura Houghton as an in-depth investigation into the physical activity of children living in the Everton area of Liverpool. The project began with a Family Fun Day on Goodison Road where children enjoyed various activities delivered by Everton in the Community staff and Edge Hill University students including; target competitions, drawing, arts and crafts and face paints.

Everton in the Community and Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (Sefton CCG) are also funding a fixed term research post to support Edge Hill’s collaborative research and impact related activity on a sports-based mental health project to be delivered in Sefton and surrounding areas.

In addition, Labour MP Andy Burnham and comedian, broadcaster and writer Jake Mills were amongst a host of speakers at the partnership’s Understanding and Promoting Mental Health: The Role of Sport and Physical Activity conference.

The conference was hosted by the University alongside Everton in the Community and Mersey Care NHS Trust. It promoted an understanding of mental health and wellbeing in local communities. It also described how community sport and physical activity, delivered as part of broader health programmes, can contribute to the management and promotion of mental health.

Tackling Technology Teaching

Edge Hill’s commitment to supporting the education workforce and raising standards in schools has been recognised with a Government award of nearly £100,000 to boost the teaching of computer skills.

The funding formed part of a new Government initiative to train teachers ahead of a rigorous new computing curriculum introduced in September.

As well as developing teacher training resources and hosting four national conferences, Edge Hill also delivered 80 full-day training events for more than 400 teachers across 4,000 primary and secondary schools.

Edge Hill worked with technology and software companies Promethean and Rising Stars on the training programmes, which covered computing topics like Raspberry Pi, Robotics, Minecraft, App Inventor and Python programming – all designed to appeal to and excite young people about computing.

The next generation of Edge Hill-trained teachers is already embracing emerging technologies and how they can be used in schools. Trainee teachers at the University have set up Raspberry Pi clubs, communities and forums to help spread the word about the computer’s potential as well as taking their knowledge into schools.

Reducing the Burden of Care

A new project, funded by the National Institute for Health Research Research for Patient Benefit (NIHR RfPB) Programme, is helping to reduce the burden on people caring for terminally ill loved ones at home.

The Carers’ Alert Thermometer (CAT) is a simple screening tool, developed with more than 245 carers and professionals, that aims to provide an alert to potential areas of burden that carers are experiencing.

A ‘next steps’ section signposts carers to local services and an ‘action plan’ can trigger intervention as appropriate. Initial feedback from family carers and health and social care professionals suggests that the CAT is quick and easy to use and will be an important tool to help identify carer needs.

The CAT is a response to a major research study, undertaken at Edge Hill University and funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), which found that the support received by unpaid family carers could be a significant factor in what happens to terminally ill people, particularly those with cancer, at the end of their lives.

Professor Barbara Jack, Director of Edge Hill’s Evidence-based Practice Research Centre, said: “In many cases the research found carer breakdown played a pivotal role in end-of-life hospital admission. The CAT will help carers and professionals identify these touch points before they escalate, helping many more terminally ill people avoid hospitalisation during their final days.”

Students jump the Q to win award

Edge Hill has scooped the Liverpool Sound City UK Student Innovation Award for the second year running. Third year Computing students Laura Stowers and Lyndsey McCormick took home the prize for their QJump app idea, which allows users to avoid long queues at music festivals by pre-booking food and drink. The girls will now be mentored by industry professionals.

Bridging the Theory-Practice Gap

Paramedic Practice students had the opportunity to put theory into practice in a realistic emergency situation, thanks to Edge Hill’s flourishing partnership with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS).

Students took part in six specialist training sessions at local fire stations, designed to provide them with practical experience of emergency scene management, and to give an insight into how ambulance and fire services work together in real life.

The scenarios featured make up, fake blood and lifelike manikins to make them as realistic as possible. Students and tutors also held a debrief after each incident to discuss the positive aspects of the exercise as well as areas for improvement, a feature that replicates real-life incidents.

Electronica Exploration

Research by leading musicologist and Edge Hill lecturer, Dr Richard Witts, has resulted in an audio-visual recreation of Kraftwerk’s early years. Kraftwerk - A Future Past, a collaboration between Dr Witts and contemporary music ensemble Icebreaker, articulates the band’s journey from experimental krautrock band to international icons, and highlights their continuing influence within the music industry. The show was premiered at the London Science Museum and continues to tour around Europe.

Dance on Prescription

A pioneering research project to assess the benefits of performing arts for seriously ill children at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust has won a prestigious award.

From Where You Are, developed by Senior Lecturer in Dance Lisa Dowler and the Small Things Dance Collective, received an NHS Children and Young People’s Award for Excellence in Participation. The research showed that children and young people experiencing acute pain often responded positively and creatively to improvised dance practice.

Strictly Come Coding

Trainee teachers at Edge Hill swapped sequins for software when they put sixth formers through their paces in a twist on the hit TV show Strictly Come Dancing. Strictly Come Coding saw young computer programmers from University Academy Liverpool in Dingle paired with students on the PGCE IT Education course to train for a code off against opposing teams in a gameshow-style event.

BIG Business

Lancastrian entrepreneurs and business people gathered at Creative Edge for the BIG (Business Innovation for Growth) Conference 2014. Looking at ‘Transformation: Mission & Ambition – how creativity and innovation can unlock expanding and emerging markets’, the event combined workshops and seminars with practical demonstrations and case-studies, and featured keynote speeches from Wayne Hemingway MBE and LEGO’s Kayleigh Davies.

Pi-oneering Public Event

Computer programmers of the future were invited to campus to get a slice of the Raspberry Pi action at a special family event to celebrate the tiny technology’s second birthday.

The Family Hack Day attracted 300 students, teachers, parents and computing enthusiasts keen to learn about the capabilities of the credit card sized computer and get involved in challenges based on games and software development, hacking and robotics.

Since the revolutionary hardware was launched in 2012, computing science and IT trainee teachers and lecturers have invited schools, colleges and hundreds of members of the community to attend events at the University to demonstrate the Raspberry Pi’s potential.

Celebrating Surgical Success

Top surgeons joined academics, alumni and health professionals for a special event to celebrate six years of collaboration between Edge Hill University and Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh (WWL) NHS Trust.

The successful partnership was initially established in 2008 to deliver a Royal College of Surgeons accredited Master of Surgery (MCh) programme for existing qualified doctors. The qualification allows doctors to advance their clinical skills and knowledge while having access to the hospital’s internationally renowned clinical facilities and laboratories.

Edge Hill academics worked with WWL surgical experts to design the comprehensive MCh courses and continue to collaborate to ensure that they are at the cutting edge of both contemporary surgical practice and research. International collaborative partnerships are currently developing, particularly in India, and overseas student recruitment initiatives are proving successful.

Global Recognition for Midwifery

Edge Hill University’s Midwifery Department has achieved Baby Friendly Initiative University Accreditation from UNICEF –the world’s leading organisation for children in over 190 countries.

The Baby Friendly Initiative is a global programme from the World Health Organisation and UNICEF that assesses standards for maternity, health visiting, neonatal and children’s centre services. The award reflects Edge Hill’s commitment to supporting breastfeeding and parent infant relationships by working with public services to improve standards of care.

Full accreditation has taken five years to achieve, with each stage of the assessment externally verified by UNICEF UK.

Computer says NAO

Edge Hill brought electronics, experiments and excitement to the World Museum Liverpool during National Science and Engineering Week. Visitors had the chance to meet the University’s amazing robot, NAO, programmed by Computing students, as well taking part in demonstrations and discussions aimed at showcasing the creative potential of Computing and inspiring the next generation of computer scientists.

International Widening horizons and changing perspectives

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By providing the chance to study and travel overseas, learn foreign languages and mix with staff and students from across the globe, Edge Hill is continuing to embed an international perspective into all aspects of university life. Partnerships with European and worldwide institutions and organisations allow a breadth of knowledge, diverse learning experiences, research options and staff and student development opportunities.

A slice of the animation action

More than 300 British and Chinese animation experts and scholars came together to share knowledge and forge new collaborations at the first ever CAKE Festival, held at Edge Hill University.

The pioneering Creative Animation Knowledge Exchange event included an international film festival, featuring the very best animated works from across the UK and China. As well as celebrating established filmmakers, the festival also showcased the work of recent British and Chinese film school graduates – heralding the next generation of talented animators.

The five-day festival saw presentations from BAFTA winning animator and Sir Paul McCartney collaborator, Geoff Dunbar, and Peter Saunders from leading puppet animation company, Mackinnon and Saunders.

There was also a lively academic conference to discuss creativity in animation, and how cultural collaborations might lead to new forms of creativity, new practice, and new opportunities for enterprise and research.

Edge Hill’s impressive Creative Edge building welcomed a host of world-renowned animators who took part in an extensive programme of presentations, workshops and screenings. The event closed with an awards ceremony honouring the best animation submissions from both UK and Chinese entrants.

CAKE 2014 was part of a British Council initiative linked to CICAF, the China International Cartoon and Animation Festival. The aim is to nurture long-term relationships between UK and Chinese animation industry and education sectors, particularly within the Hangzhou region, the centre of animation production and education in China.

Life-saving training programme for Indian hospitals

A life saving partnership has been formed by Edge Hill University in the worst affected region of the country with the highest suicide rate in the world.

Edge Hill University is to a deliver a vital mental health training programme for nurses in Mysore, India.

Alongside colleagues in the region, Edge Hill Faculty of Health and Social Care staff have secured funding from Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) to implement and deliver a mental health training programme for general hospital staff, and research the effectiveness of the interventions. The training will focus on improving mental health interventions for those who have attempted suicide and/or are at a vulnerable stage in their life.

After receiving initial funding in 2012 and forging a partnership with Dr Mirali Krishna at CSI Holdsworth Memorial Hospital and Professor Rajiendra at Mysore Medical College, in 2014 Paul and Steve returned to India to start up two mental health projects which aim to build understanding of people who attempted suicide and have a mental health need.

The team will return to India in 2015 and 2016 to train 100 staff across both hospital sites in completing mental health assessments and developing treatment plans for those who have attempted to take their lives. A further 40 staff will then be trained to become trainers themselves and cascade their knowledge throughout the hospitals.

Student takes part in new reality show

A talented Computing student had the chance to show off his creativity and technical skills at an international conference on the emerging area of augmented reality (AR).

Joe Bolton, who graduated in 2014, spoke at the National Congress Conference in Ontario about his key role in the Datascapes project, a collaboration between artists, musicians, mathematicians and computer scientists from Edge Hill and Canada’s Brock University. The ground breaking project uses protein data, passages from the Bible and augmented reality to create unique musical and visual art works that are projected into the landscape.

Audiences were able to view the artworks using a mobile app that Joe created as part of his final year project. He presented a paper at the conference discussing the app and its potential future applications.

Joe, who secured a job before graduation at video analytics company Bi3, said: “Working on DataScapes gave me valuable experience of how to manage a long running project that required contributions from many different people to be able to function. I also gained a new understanding of how AR works, and a new appetite for data visualisation, that helped me stand out during interviews and throughout the recruitment process for my current job.”

Worldwide Care Collaborations

A fact-finding visit to South Africa has boosted the growing international partnerships between Paramedic Departments at Edge Hill University, the University of Johannesburg and Saimaa University in Finland.

Senior Lecturers in Paramedic Science and Pre-hospital Care, Kevin Armstrong and Robert Deighton, joined international colleagues at the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Department of Emergency Medical Care to discuss areas of Pre-hospital research and programme collaboration projects, including the sharing of best practice in paramedic education, as well as future Paramedic student exchanges.

During the visit, Kevin and Robert had the opportunity to experience UJ’s impressive Clinical Skills Simulation Centre in Johannesburg and the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, the third largest hospital in the world, where UJ students undertake hospital clinical practice placements. The visit culminated with a guest speaker appearance by Robert Deighton and Juha Jormakka of Saimaa University at the international Emergency Care Society Pre-hospital Care Conference.

Edge Hill and Saimaa Universities are also working with Emergency Services Cooperation in Schleswig-Holstein (RKiSH), based in Hamburg, as part of a pan-European project to improve international paramedic practice through knowledge sharing and provide opportunities for hands-on experience of European emergency care.

Summer in Sichuan

Edge Hill staff and students had the opportunity to immerse themselves in Chinese culture at a prestigious international Summer School.

The Global Immersion Programme, held annually at Sichuan University, is an opportunity for selected academics and students from all over the world to share international perspectives and experience education in a different cultural setting.

Dr James Renton, a Reader in History at Edge Hill, was among 150 international academics invited to teach on the programme. He said: “We work very hard in the History Department to help our students become independent thinkers with a desire to learn new ways of seeing the world. The Global Immersion Programme is a wonderful way to broaden the horizons of the excellent student body at Sichuan University, a top ten university in China, and give our own students a rare and valuable learning experience.”

Students Patrick Boss and Joe Powell, who were selected via a rigorous departmental competition to represent Edge Hill at the event, engaged in a mix of study and cultural activities designed to give them a taste of life as a Chinese university student. As well as classes and lectures, they also enjoyed trips to famous sites such as Jinsha, the home of the ancient Shu people, the Zhuge Liang Memorial Hall and the historical street of Jinli, which gives a glimpse into the China of the past.

More Mandarin

Edge Hill’s trainee teachers now have the unique opportunity to learn Mandarin Chinese and visit China as part of Edge Hill’s growing partnership with Chongqing Normal University. The initiative, which aims to address a shortage of Mandarin-speaking teachers in the UK, follows the University being awarded prestigious Confucius Institute status by the Chinese Government in 2013.

Lecturers know ‘What Matters’

A film by Edge Hill film lecturers, Carl Hunter and Clare Heney, formed part of an international charity event looking at ‘What Matters’ to young people. The film was produced, directed, edited and premiered during World Merit Day, an inspirational event featuring some of the world’s finest speakers, including teenage activist Malala Yousafzai, alongside a full programme of workshops, seminars, music and comedy.

Singapore Success

A partnership with FY Institute of Technology in Singapore saw a record 26 Business and Management and Engineering Management students graduate this year. The success of the five-year collaboration between Edge Hill and Singapore’s leading academic institution has also resulted in the University’s first overseas alumni association, further raising the profile of Edge Hill abroad.

Anglo-Chinese Conference

Edge Hill University hosted a conference to explore, understand and compare UK and Chinese approaches to Primary Maths and Early Years education. The two-day conference provided delegates from both countries with opportunities for mutual learning and cooperation and to investigate further collaborations between UK and Chinese educational institutions.

People

People Celebrating and developing our people, and their contribution to the University, learning and the community is at the heart of everything we do.

Staff and students are valued and supported in their academic and personal lives and encouraged to achieve their potential. Our endeavours to reward strong performance and provide a learning and working environment like no other is not only recognised by staff and students but also external organisations. This has all contributed to being awarded the Times Higher Education University of the Year.

First Class Males

Seven members of Edge Hill’s unique student dance company, Edge FWD, have added academic success to their impressive list of achievements this year.

Paul Bagget, Theodore Fapohunda, Ryan James Brown, Jaime Monfort-Miralles, Guy Shread, Malachi Simmons and Samuel Turner all gained top marks in their Performing Arts degrees to top off a sensational three years with the critically acclaimed group.

The Edge Hill graduates are now looking forward to using the valuable experiences from their degree studies and work with Edge FWD in their future careers.

Theodore Fapohunda recently accepted an apprenticeship with Company Chameleon and Northern Contemporary Dance School, while Ryan Brown has already secured work with JV2, Jasmin Vardimon Dance Company’s graduate scheme. Jaime Monfort-Miralles is heading off to Barcelona to undertake a Contemporary Circus postgraduate course, Guy Shread is studying on the coveted Emerging Performer course at Hope St Physical Theatre, and Malachi Simmons has secured a job with Boy Blue Entertainment, a partnership with The Lowry, teaching hip hop to boys.

Edge FWD was established in 2010 by Senior Lecturer and choreographer Debbie Milner with the aim of encouraging boys and young men to feel confident about dancing and helping them to see dance as a career choice. Since forming, they have performed at the Edinburgh Festival and Liverpool Sound City, as well as in schools and colleges across the North West, and have worked with awardwinning professional choreographers.

Warm Reviews for Alumna and Author

When a writer starts a novel, it’s the beginning of a long and sometimes lonely journey and more and more writers are taking that journey as part of the PhD process.

Edge Hill alumna Carys Bray, who wrote her novel, A Song For Issy Bradley as part of her PhD has been shortlisted for the Costa 2014 First Novel Award. The author received the shortlisting after also gaining warm reviews for her book in many papers including The Guardian to The Independant with praise from Nick Hornby, Helen Dunmore and many others. Course leader Dr Ailsa Cox, along with Carys’ fellow PhD supervisor Professor Robert Sheppard read the novel stage by stage from the first draft to the final pages as Carys completed her PhD.

Her short story collection, Sweet Home, was published by Salt in 2012, but it is the novel that has made her name after Hutchinson secured the publishing rights for a six figure sum. A Song For Issy Bradley was the subject of a London Underground advertising campaign in summer 2014, and was also featured as the Radio 4 Book at Bedtime.

Carys is one of several accomplished writers working on PhD projects in the English and History Department. Helen Walsh’s novel, The Lemon Grove, ‘a love letter to the west coast of Mallorca’, appeared on best seller lists this summer. C.D. Rose’s spoof reference book, The Biographical Dictionary of Literary Failure, is published by Melville House this winter. Poet Tom Jenks’ On Liberty, Repressed, is a reduced version of John Stuart Mill’s classic text, out soon from Knives, Forks and Spoons.

Student Overcomes Adversity

– and Graduates with a First

Computing student Ben Acolatse has overcome huge personal adversity to graduate with a First Class honours.

Ben became an academic high-flier while caring for his mother, who lives in South London and suffers from multiple medical problems, including arthritis, diabetes and a rare form of bone cancer.

Ben’s determination to succeed at University, despite coming from one of London’s most disadvantaged areas, played a vital role in helping him to deal with his personal situation. “There were times when the only thing that kept me going was my dream of impressing my mum with a First Class degree,” he said. “It’s always been my ambition to make good of myself and not fall into the trap of being a victim of violence or ending up in prison, which happens a lot where I come from.”

This commitment to educational achievement won Ben an Adam Bell scholarship in 2013, and a nomination for the University’s student employee of the year at its employability awards.

Ben started his studies in 2011 when close family confirmed they would take greater responsibility for caring for his mother. She and Ben took a joint decision that he should take his degree at Edge Hill, over 200 miles from home, so he could focus on academic work.

Even so, Ben has continued to care for his mother and the £2,000 Adam Bell Scholarship – for students who demonstrate dedication and compassion for others – meant he could afford to travel regularly to and from London.

Keen musician Ben, who also makes hiphop/R&B mixtapes and writes songs with major-label artists, said: “My course was extremely rewarding and the First Class degree has opened a lot of doors by putting me in a category of high-achievers that employers are keen to recruit.”

Former Music Mogul Launches “EP” of Stories

Former music industry executive turned Creative Writing student, AW Wilde, brought his twin passions of music and literature together to celebrate the publication of his first collection of short stories.

The launch of A Large Can of Whoopass, a collection of tales about life’s changes and life changers, had all the hallmarks of a music industry event. Held at Rough Trade West in London, it featured DJ sets from BBC6 Music’s breakfast show presenters, Shaun Keaveney and Matt Everitt, providing a suitably rock ‘n’ roll backdrop to Wilde’s readings from the book. “I just stuck to what I knew,” said Wilde, whose former life as Creative Director at EMI Music Publishing saw him help the careers of Lindstrom, Duffy, Joanna Newsome and Beirut. “As a self-published writer, I was responsible for promoting the book so I approached it as I would a record launch.”

Wilde spent six years at EMI where, among many other things, he was responsible for creating the acclaimed Another Late Night/Late Night Tales compilation series and a CD of music to run to, commissioned by Nike.

“I enjoyed the creativity of the job but I hated the politics and the business side, which was increasingly what the job was about. By the end I felt like all the creativity was gone so when I had the opportunity to leave and focus on writing, I jumped at it.”

Wilde moved up North to Chester and enrolled on the MA in Creative Writing at Edge Hill University, with the long-term goal of forging a new career as a writer.

Wilde is currently working on his first novel and has just been awarded a bursary to finish writing it at William Gladstone's residential library in Wales.

For more info about AW Wilde’s work visit: - awwilde.co.uk - thejudasgoat.tumblr.com - wildwriters.co.uk

Eye Level and the Naughty Corner

Two theatre companies have been created by graduates of Edge Hill’s drama degree.

Seven alumni were given their big break after a play which their very own theatre company wrote and performed won a prestigious award at this years’ Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The Edge Hill graduates beat 90 other shows to win the Sunday Times NSDF (National Students Drama Festival) Award for their performance of The Bastard Queen, a play which was written and developed by the theatre production company they set up following graduation; Naughty Corner Productions.

The Bastard Queen was originally written as the dissertation piece of Edge Hill graduates Mikee Dickinson, Jemma Lynch and Mary Delaney, for which they all received First Class Honours. Following their graduation the group then formed Naughty Corner Productions with fellow former Drama students; Nick Fraser, Winston Branche and Megan Bond, and Creative Writing student Tom Silverton.

Winning the NDSF award means that they will also receive a week-long run at The Pleasance Theatre, London in January 2015.

Ross Green, who is originally from Rochdale, has also launched his own theatre company called Eye Level Theatre after completing his degree in 2013.

His first show, Consent, was performed as part of the FDWL festival in the South West, and fellow Edge Hill Graduate Samatha Ackerley designed its costumes.

Their second show Out was featured at Exeter’s Ignite festival in early June.

Bourne to Dance

Three aspiring dancers from Edge Hill have had the opportunity to work with one of the UK’s most popular and successful choreographers on his latest sell-out production.

Elliot Bousfield, James Bowling and Malachi Simmons joined professional dancers in a powerful adaptation of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, directed by five-time Olivier Awardwinning Matthew Bourne.

Second year Dance student James Bowling said: “It was a very demanding and intense experience but really rewarding. I learnt so much from working with the professional dancers that I can now apply to my course and my work with Edge FWD.”

The Edge Hill connection goes beyond these three successful students. Dance graduate and former member of Edge FWD, Luke Saville, along with Samantha Broadbent from 12 Degrees North, the graduate dance company based at Edge Hill, were instrumental in finding and training the North West cast as part of Bourne’s New Adventures company.

Learning from life

Graduate Andy Mitchell discovered a passion for outdoor learning while on a work placement at a school in Norway. His experience is now helping him bring a breath of fresh air to UK schools.

Throughout his PGCE, Andy had become increasingly interested in the use of the outdoors in young children’s learning and development. A week long placement at Birkebeiner outdoor nursery in Lillehammer, where children spend almost all their time outside regardless of the weather, convinced him that the Scandinavian approach could benefit children back home.

“The children played, ate and even had their naps outside,” said Andy. “Although they had adequate supervision, the children were encouraged to play and explore independently and also to take age appropriate risks.

“Many schools in the UK don’t have a lot of outdoor space, but I think you can still apply some of the same principles, even in an inner city school. For me, it’s all about using the environment to stimulate learning, whether that’s a wood, a school field or a playground.”

Sarah puts Success on Ice

Rising ice hockey star Sarah Hutchinson’s talent and determination has not only won her a place in the Great Britain Women’s National Ice Hockey team, but also earned her an Edge Hill Sport Scholarship.

The Sport and Exercise Psychology student is one of only two women in the North West to be part of a men’s hockey team, so she is no stranger to tough competition. The defenseman now plays for Bradford Bulls in the Moralee Conference, the men’s highest amateur level, as well as for Kingston Diamonds in the Women’s Premier League.

Sarah, who recently travelled to Italy to play for the GB Women’s University Team in the 2013 Winter Universiade, said: “In this game you have to keep going and remember why you’re playing. I’ve loved the game from an early age but it’s taken me a lot of work to get to where I am today. Passion and drive are key if you want to succeed.”

It was those attributes, coupled with an appetite to push herself forward in such a maledominated sport,that helped her win one of Edge Hill’s coveted Excellence in Sport Scholarships.

“Winning this scholarship has helped me out financially and has enabled me to achieve my dreams of competing for Great Britain. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family, friends and Edge Hill University, they have all been so encouraging.”

Sarah is now hoping to be selected for the GB Senior team and compete in the World Championships in Dumfries in 2015.

“Juggling studying at Edge Hill and my training with the first team has been tough but it’s all been worth it, both on and off the pitch.”

Widnes Vikings star Declan Sephton-Hulme, who was told he was unlikely to play Rugby again after suffering a brain haemorrhage in 2006, has graduated with an Upper Second Class degree in Sport and Exercise Science.

Declan Sephton-Hulme

Poetry at the Palace

Reader in English Literature, Dr Mari HughesEdwards, has received royal recognition for her work on Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, and her commitment to promoting literature.

Mari was among a select group of talented poets, writers, actors, performers and teachers invited to Buckingham Palace for an event promoting British poetry. She was formally presented to the Queen and spoke to her about her work at Edge Hill and the importance of promoting emerging poets.

Mari said: “It’s great to have the royal family acknowledging poetry’s importance so publicly. It’s a reassuring sign that poetry is still significant and embedded into our cultural lives.”

Lecturer Takes Top Sporting Role

Dean Williams, Senior Lecturer in Physical Education, has become one of only four athletics officials in the UK to be appointed to Europe’s highest officiating body.

He secured a place on the European Athletics International Technical Officials Panel after his high profile role as Chief Field Referee for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.

The Panel, which consists of the top 72 technical officials from across Europe, ensures that everything associated with an event adheres to accepted European protocols and international rules.

Since joining the Panel, Dean has officiated at the European Team Championships in Estonia and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Lynda Brady

Edge Hill University has appointed a new Pro Vice-Chancellor to its directorate team with responsibility for student experience.

Lynda Brady is responsible for further enhancing a joined up approach across academic and support services. She joined Edge Hill after spending the past 12 years at the Open University (the OU) in a variety of roles. Between 2005 and 2011 she was Regional Director for the OU in the North West leading the team responsible for supporting the OU’s 25,000 students studying in the region.

From 2011 onwards Lynda was Director of the Learner Support Service, with responsibility for a range of information, advice and guidance and operational services central to supporting more than 200,000 OU students to achieve their study goals.

Before joining the OU, Lynda worked for seven years at Liverpool John Moores University where she was a Principal Lecturer in Law and Head of the Legal Practice Course, having started her career as a solicitor in Local Government.

Lynda has also assumed the role of University Secretary. This role ensures appropriate governance and legal compliance by the institution.

Mark Allanson

Prior to joining HEFCE Mark was Director of External Affairs at the University of Bolton, where he was involved in outreach, business development, applied research and knowledge transfer. Mark has worked closely with senior civil servants in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Mark has also had university-wide experience of leading marketing and recruitment, and set up and ran a successful technology based incubator company. In his earlier career Mark was a Director of a Chamber of Commerce and Managing Director of Business Link.

In his new role at Edge Hill University, Mark aims to further develop the University’s international strategy.

He said: “We are very focused on putting teaching, learning, research and development into real practice. We’re about finding out what students and staff are capable of within a university learning environment, stretching and challenging themselves and each other. Everyone should try to educate themselves to their fullest potential and we offer that for our students.”

Mark Allanson, Pro Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for external relations has joined the University from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) where he was regional consultant for the North West.

Bernard Laverty

New Chair of Governors and Pro-Chancellor Bernard Laverty was appointed to the role at the start of 2014.

Bernard was elected to the position from the University’s lay Governors. He was originally appointed as an independent governor of Edge Hill in 2005, and is a non-executive director of a number of Edge Hill’s subsidiary companies.

He was admitted to membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) in 1984 and worked in private practice in Liverpool with PKF and in Preston with KPMG.

He went on to join Lancashire textile company David Whitehead & Sons Limited where in 1996 he led a management buyout of the company.

The Board of Governors has oversight of the educational character and mission of the University with specific responsibilities for financial probity and the effective use of resources.

Sustainability

We are translating our environmental awareness into our research, have developed alternative ways to travel and have even opened facilities for students and the local community to develop their green fingers.

Sustainability Environmentally aware and ecologically sound. Our green credentials are important for a sustainable future.

New Research is a Walk in the Park

A walk with friends in the countryside can reduce depression and stress and have a positive impact on mental wellbeing, according to research carried out at Edge Hill.

In a co-authored article in the journal Ecopsychology, Melissa Marselle, a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Psychology, claims that group walks in local natural environments are beneficial for public health.

This is the first study that has investigated the psychological benefits of group walks on a national scale. The study evaluated group walks in local natural environments across England that are part of the national ‘Walking for Health’ initiative run by Macmillan Cancer Support and The Ramblers, comparing group walkers with similar non-group walkers.

The study found that individuals who took part in group walks in nature had significantly lower depression, negative emotions, and perceived stress, as well as greater mental wellbeing and positive emotions. In addition, nature-based group walks appeared to mitigate the effects of stressful life events.

Melissa, who worked with Katherine Irvine (The James Hutton Institute) and Sara Warber (University of Michigan) on the original idea for the study, said: “This study shows that group walks in local natural environments may make a potentially important contribution to public health.”

Hay Day for Wildlife

Research by an Edge Hill conservation expert will help to ensure that one of the UK’s most biodiverse habitats remains a haven for insect and plant species.

Elizabeth Sullivan from the Biology Department is investigating long-term vegetation change in upland hay meadows in the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire. Her work, which is supported by Natural England, is the first in-depth survey of the meadows for 25 years and aims to monitor whether the land, parts of which are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, is being managed in a way that will benefit the meadow species.

“A hay meadow requires a particular type of management which has been practised in this area by generations of farmers,” explained Elizabeth, “but with agricultural intensification and increased use of pesticides, this way of management has been lost, resulting in a dramatic reduction in plant and insect diversity.

“This research will assess whether conservation objectives for the meadows are being met and will investigate how the fragmented distribution of the meadows affects their long-term survival. By looking at the genetic diversity of the plant species we can find out how well connected the sites are. Isolated sites are usually less genetically diverse and more vulnerable to species loss. The research findings will help to inform the direction of conservation policy and will, hopefully, help to maintain these fantastic habitats for the future."

Brain Boosting Business

Students are not generally known for their commitment to healthy eating, often grabbing calorie-laden fast food on the go as they rush between lectures.

A new venture by a group of student entrepreneurs is hoping to change eating habits on campus by promoting a healthy alternative which is both nutritious and affordable.

Third year Health and Nutrition students Rhian Andrews, Kay Billingsley, Gemma Fletcher and Val Hutson have created ‘Nutri-Juice’, a blend of nutrient-packed fruits and vegetables designed to boost brain power for exams, combat hangovers and ensure students enjoy a balanced diet.

Val said: “According to our research, students at Edge Hill are not meeting the Government’s recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and we wanted to do something to alleviate this problem. We’re really passionate about wanting to improve the diets of students and wanted to create a product that is low in cost and provides them with one of their five portions of fruit and veg each day.”

The team was awarded awarded £500 to start up their new venture and, if customers give it the thumbs-up, are hoping to expand the business further to bring their products to even more students and staff at Edge Hill.

Kay said: “Being students ourselves, we understand their needs. Instead of spending a couple of quid each morning grabbing a calorieladen latte, we thought it would be great to create a juice that is within budget, fits into their hectic lifestyle and is a healthy option.”

The Good Life

Students and staff have been working with various community groups to develop the University’s allotment in St Helens Road.

As part of the NUS Student Eats project, the Edge Hill Students’ Union allotment allotment is flourishing with thanks to The Princes’ Trust who repaired raised beds, built covers and treated the wood to protect it from the weather. They also painted designs on a flower bed reserved for a local nursery and ran a short planting session for the children to help them get their bed started.

The nursery regularly attends the site to learn about growing and gardening before taking their produce back to the nursery where they make dishes or share it with their family.

A team from the charity Making Space and the West Lancashire community restart team now help to manage the site and look after the planting, growing and caring for the fruit and vegetables with the help of local residents from Ormskirk and Skelmersdale.

Ormskirk 1st Scout group are also developing plans to become involved at the site as part of one of their community and outdoor badges, helping the allotment stay a lush, green space.

Sustainability on the Menu

Edge Hill University is helping to shape the future of food sustainability with a new partnership that aims to establish Lancashire as one of the UK’s first ever Sustainable Food Counties.

The University is in the process of drawing up a Sustainable Food Charter for Lancashire in collaboration with Food For Life and Lancashire County Council, which will be only the UK’s second county-wide charter, after County Durham.

The charter seeks to build community food knowledge, skills, resources and projects and transform catering and food procurement. Tackling food poverty and increasing access to affordable healthy food are also on the menu.

Edge Hill’s Health and Nutrition students have already shown their commitment to food

sustainability by taking part in a new initiative with Food Link NW to enrich lives in Lancashire through local food.

To officially launch the Food Sustainability Lancashire scheme, Edge Hill hosted an event that brought producers, shops, community projects, farmers, restaurants and local food enthusiasts together to raise awareness of the importance of food sustainability.

Senior Lecturer in Nutrition, Kathleen Mooney, said: “We wanted our students to be very involved in the initiative because food sustainability is inextricably linked to the field of nutrition as it is important to determine if a healthy diet can also be environmentally sustainable.”

Edge Hill University’s commitment to sustainable food is a joint initiative between the University’s Good Enterprise Lab, established to tackle social challenges, and the Centre for Human Animal Studies, the only research centre of its kind in the country.

Green Campus Award

Edge Hill University has won a prestigious Green Flag Award for the third year running.

The Green Flag Awards, presented by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, recognise and reward the best parks and green spaces across the country.

The award, one of a record-breaking 1,476 given out this year, recognises the University’s huge efforts in minimising the environmental impact of its activities, maintaining natural habitats through its commitment to biodiversity, and developing a sustainable campus for the enjoyment of students, staff, visitors and the local community.

The Mark of Good Taste

Edge Hill’s food outlets have joined more than 150 caterers, serving more than 750,000 meals a day by winning the Soil Association’s Food for Life Catering Mark.

The accreditation promotes fresh food, environmental sustainability and ethical sourcing. The Catering Mark is based on the principles that food should be fresh, local, seasonal and better for animal welfare. It means food is freshly prepared using ingredients which are free from GM and harmful additives and shows we prioritise healthy choices and sustainable purchasing.

Driving to a Cleaner Future

A survey across 116 universities has found Edge Hill is in the top two for electric vehicle ownership.

The research, which includes institutions across the country in May 2014, shows that Edge Hill has 50 percent of its vehicle powered purely by electricity. This helps to underline the University’s green credentials.

Pete McAllister, who conducted the research for intelligentcarleasing.com said: “With a fast growing green energy sector in the UK, electric vehicles are fast becoming an all-round low carbon driving option. It’s brilliant to see such a high adoption rate amongst the UK’s universities and hopefully this is a good indicator of the broader motoring picture in years to come.”

Pedal Power

Students and staff are being encouraged to get on their bikes with a new automated cycle hire point on campus, making it easier to get around the University and beyond without harming the environment.

The cycle docking station is the sixth to be installed by VISIT Sefton and West Lancashire in conjunction with Hourbike, which operates the cycle hire scheme. Bikes can be taken from one docking station and deposited at any other in West Lancashire.

At a special event to raise awareness of the scheme, students and staff had the opportunity to get information on cycle routes, bike safety, security and maintenance as well as take part in a range of cycling activities including a one-hour guided cycle tour of Ormskirk and Aughton.

This year Edge Hill has awarded honorary doctorates to nine people who lead the way in women’s rights, education, sport, energy and music –areas which resonate with the University’s teaching and research.

Honorary Graduates

Sir Harrison Birtwistle CH

Lancashire-born composer and “national treasure” Sir Harrison Birtwistle was made an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy for his services to music.

Born to a working class family in Accrington in 1934, Birtwistle took up the clarinet but, after having a piece accepted for the Cheltenham Festival in 1959, he decided to devote his efforts to composing.

Today Birtwistle is one of the leading figures in British and international modern music. He is best known for composing the opera Punch and Judy, a work commissioned by Benjamin Britten’s Aldeburgh Festival, and the works Verses for Ensembles and The Triumph of Time. His most recent opera, The Minotaur, was first performed in 2008, 40 years after his first.

Birtwistle was appointed musical director of the newly-established National Theatre in 1975, a post he occupied for eight years. He became a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 1986, received a knighthood in 1988 and became Henry Purcell Professor of Composition at Kings College London in 1994, a chair he held until 2001.

Wally Brown CBE

Honorary Doctor of Education Wally

Brown is a community leader and education champion, who is widely regarded as “one of the most important individuals in Liverpool’s history.”

As Chair of the Community Relations Council, Wally was an instrumental mediator during Liverpool’s Toxteth Riots in 1981, dealing directly with Margaret Thatcher and Michael Heseltine, and became the first black person to be appointed Chair of the Merseyside Community Relations Council.

He was Principal of Liverpool Community College from its creation in 1992 until his retirement in 2008, transforming it into one of the most successful and outstanding further education colleges in the UK.

He was made a CBE in 2002 for services to education and awarded freedom of the City of Liverpool in August 2012.

Wally continues to contribute to the local community as a Non-Executive Director of Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust Board, and also the Chair of Liverpool Community Health Audit Committee and a Member of the Equality and Diversity Group.

Colin Drummond OBE

Environmental business leader and Edge Hill industry partner, Colin Drummond, has received an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration.

He was appointed Executive Director of South West Water PLC (now Pennon Group PLC) in 1992 with a remit to build and run the group’s non-water business, which eventually became Viridor. Under Colin’s leadership Viridor has become one of the UK’s leading recycling, renewable energy and waste management companies, and he still heads up the company as Non-Executive Chairman.

In 2010, Colin took part in the Channel 4 series Undercover Boss and in 2012 received an OBE for services to technology and innovation. He currently chairs the Business Advisory Board for the cross-government Living with Environmental Change programme.

Viridor is currently working in partnership with Edge Hill University’s Faculty of Education to deliver a programme of higher education study that supports Viridor’s UK management strategy.

John Foxx

Legendary singer, composer, graphic designer and film-maker, John Foxx, has been made an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy.

Best known as a member of the band Ultravox, Foxx signed as a solo artist to Virgin Records in 1979 and released three albums of pioneering and influential electronic music, before setting up his own recording studio, used by artists such as Siouxsie and the Banshees and Nick Cave

In the mid-1980s, under his real name of Dennis Leigh, he made a living as a graphic artist, became a visiting lecturer at the Royal College of Art.

He later returned to music and released an album to accompany a sequence of films, Tiny Colour Movies, which premiered at that the Brighton Festival. In 2007, a showcase of his artwork and music was presented at the Institute of Contemporary Arts.

John is currently working with a new band, John Foxx and The Maths, and recently toured with Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.

Dr Helen Pankhurst

International campaigner and activist Dr Helen Pankhurst, who once said “women’s rights run in my veins”, has received an Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy.

The great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst and granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst, leaders in the British suffragette movement, Helen has worked tirelessly for more than 25 years in the fields of international development and humanitarian assistance.

She is CARE International UK’s campaign ambassador and is also a Senior Technical Advisor for the Water Team of CARE USA, with a remit to support CARE’s water sector work internationally.

Helen has previously been Head of International Programmes at Womankind Worldwide and the Regional Programme Officer in the Horn of Africa at the Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development (ACORD). She has also has followed in her ancestors’ footsteps by pioneering women’s rights in East Africa.

Michael Pennington

One of the UK’s best-loved comedians Michael Pennington, better known as Johnny Vegas, has been made an Honorary Doctor of Literature.

Born in St Helens, Michael started out as a stand-up comic in 1995, winning the Festival Critics Award and a Perrier nomination at the 1997 Edinburgh Festival. He has been a regular panellist on shows such as QI and 8 Out of 10 Cats, but is perhaps best known for playing characters such as Charlie Doyle in Happiness, for which he received a British Comedy Award, Geoff ‘The Oracle’ Maltby in Benidorm and Moz in Ideal

In 2013 Michael turned his talents to directing with two dramas for BBC1’s Moving On series and the Sky Arts drama Ragged, as well as the music videos Handyman Blues for Billy Bragg and DIY for Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott.

Heidi Thomas

Multi award-winning screenwriter

Heidi Thomas has been presented with an Honorary Doctorate in Literature.

Dubbed the ‘Queen of primetime TV Drama’, the Liverpool-born writer is behind numerous high-profile dramas and TV series, including the BBC’s Upstairs, Downstairs and Call the Midwife, now in its third series.

Her writing career began in 1984 when she won a National Youth Theatre New Play award for her first work, All Flesh Is Grass, and she then drew national attention in 1985 when her play Shamrocks and Crocodiles was awarded the John Whiting Prize.

Heidi, whose writing often reflects matters of public and social discussion, was honored at the 2012 UK Women in Film and Television awards where she was presented with the Technicolor Writing Award in recognition of her contribution to the industry.

Her creative ability to make strong connections with her audience, especially with themes that address issues such as community life, families, health and education, has placed her among the most in demand screen writers for television.

Barrie Wells

Sport-loving philanthropist and successful entrepreneur Barrie Wells has been presented with an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration.

Liverpool-born Barrie is a financial services entrepreneur who established several successful insurance businesses. But it was a trip to the Beijing Olympics that inspired him to use his business skills to help aspiring young athletes achieve their goals, and ensure seriously ill and disabled children could enjoy sport.

In 2009, Barrie set up the Wells Sports Foundation which funded athletes training to compete in the London 2012 Olympic Games, including Jessica Ennis-Hill, Beth Tweddle and Liverpool’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

In return for Barrie’s support the athletes give up their time to inspire school children to take up sport under the Wells Sports Foundation’s Athletes 4 Schools scheme, which has worked with more than 35,000 school children.

The charity also funds ‘Box 4 Kids’ – a unique opportunity for seriously ill and disabled children to enjoy a VIP day at major sporting events in the comfort of an executive box.

Sue Tibballs OBE

A campaigner who has worked tirelessly to change women’s sport policy, promote investment and encourage more girls to take part in physical exercise has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate in science.

Sue Tibballs is former Chief Executive of the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF), a charity built for the purpose of encouraging women into sport and physical activity, celebrating sporting success and working with policy makers to drive change in how the government supports women’s sport and fitness.

The charity was behind the campaign to include women’s boxing in the 2012 London Olympics, leading to Leeds-born Nicola Adams becoming the first ever woman to win an Olympic boxing title. It also led calls against the Saudi Arabian government’s refusal to send sportswomen to the Olympics, resulting in the country’s decision to send two female athletes to compete in the 2012 Games for the first time in the nation’s history.

Sue was recognised by the Queen and awarded the Order of the British Empire in the 2014 New Year’s Honours list.

Where University Money Comes From

2013/14 data rounded to nearest million

Student Tuition Fees £71m

Government Funding Grants £16m NHS funding £13m

Residences and Catering £8m Other Sources £7m

How University Money is Spent

2013/14 data rounded to nearest million

Teaching £49m

New buildings, facilities and equipment £31m

Services for Students £18m

Maintaining the Campus £9m Running the University £7m

Facilities for Students and Staff £6m

Providing Residences and Catering £5m Other £3m

Doing Academic Research £1m

Principal Officers of the University

Chancellor Professor Tanya Byron

Pro Chancellor

Bernard Laverty Vice-Chancellor Dr John Cater

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Steve Igoe

Pro Vice-Chancellors

Lynda Brady

Student Experience and University Secretary

Mark Allanson External Relations

Seth Crofts Dean of Faculty of Health and Social Care

Dr Lynnette Turner Acting Dean of Faculty of Education

Professor George Talbot Research Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Clerk to the Board of Governors Lesley Munro

Donors

Donors

Christine Bennett

Gill M Davies

Mark Flinn

Sylvia Rothwell Eileen Brown Ruth Caine Muriel Harrison

Christine Bennett Sylvia Rhodes Anne Pagendam Lillian Sharpe Carole Sodo Sylvia Bostock

Patricia Abbott

Kathleen Holmes

Dorothy Collings

Ann Bowden

Michael Powell

Louise Davies

Olive McComb Maureen Jenkinson Corise Ducker

Esther Owen Isabel Robinson Anne Moule Dr John Cater

Editor

Lucy Rees

Copywriters

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