Spring 2014 edition

NORTHUMBRIA

Our Queen’s Anniversary Prize was the only one awarded in relation to law this year and it carries a level of prestige that the whole University can be immensely proud of.

Northumbria’s Royal appointment for Queen’s Anniversary Prize Award

Five Northumbria University students are due to meet The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh as part of a prestigious presentation ceremony.

Northumbria University was recently awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for the outstanding community work of its Student Law Office.

The award is the highest form of national recognition open to a UK academic or vocational institution, and is given in recognition of work judged to be of outstanding excellence and with positive impact.

And in what is likely to be one of the highlights of their university experience, five law students from around 200 who currently work in the Student Law Office, have been chosen to accompany the University’s Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor to receive the Royal accolade.

Ben Crystal, Oliver Lovett, Monika Fortuna, Lauren Hayes and Alice Carr will attend the event at Buckingham Palace.

As part of their law studies, around

200 students a year undertake supervised work on real legal cases through the Student Law Office in areas such as employment, family, crime, housing, civil litigation and business advice.

Since 2008 they have managed over 3,000 enquiries, represented more than 1,000 clients and secured nearly £1 million on their behalf. Through its casework and partnerships with leading charities and law firms the Student Law Office aims to improve

access to justice for the North East community. At the same time it develops students’ professional legal skills through real work-based learning that can significantly enhance career prospects.

Oliver Lovett, who will be attending the presentation on behalf of the Student Law Office, said: “I think we are all slightly nervous about meeting The Queen and representing the University on such a high profile occasion, but we are also really

looking forward to what is bound to be an unforgettable experience. While it is a huge honour for us to be there, the award is a recognition of the hard work, dedication and commitment from all the students, lecturers and support staff involved in the Student Law Office – past and present. I hope this award will raise awareness of the invaluable experience law students can gain through clinical legal education and

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Professor Andrew Wathey, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Northumbria University

Welcome to the puzzle corner!

The grid below features 17 key words referenced in this edition of Northumbria University News. Can you find them?

Students accelerate careers at CERN

Like fathers, like sons

Four students are studying for the same degree their fathers completed at Northumbria more than two decades ago

It is not uncommon for sons to follow in their fathers’ footsteps, but four students at Northumbria have taken this tradition quite literally.

Harry Elliot, James Fletcher, Dan Serfontein and Jonathan Yapp are all based in Engineering and Environment where they are studying Real Estate, Planning and Estate Management – more than 25 years after their fathers graduated from the same degrees.

Their fathers all studied at Northumbria in the 1980s and are now highly successful company directors and business leaders in the world of real estate and chartered surveying.

Adam Serfontein, now a Pro Chancellor at Northumbria, graduated in 1987 and went on to become Managing Director of The Hanro Group, one of the largest property investment and development groups in the North East. He is also one of Northumbria’s Governors.

He said: “I’m delighted Dan is studying at Northumbria. I think it’s great that these young men are following in their fathers’ footsteps. It’s testament to the excellence of the Real Estate and Estate Management programmes here at Northumbria.”

His son, Dan, said: “I’ve always

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allow the Student Law Office to continue to provide access to justice to many more clients in the future.”

Professor Andrew Wathey, ViceChancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University, said: “Our Queen’s Anniversary Prize was the only one awarded in relation to law this year and it carries a level of prestige that the whole University can be immensely proud of. It also demonstrates the benefit of experiential learning where students manage real-life situations under the guidance of tutors who offer both academic excellence and professional experience. Having developed this approach over many

Gongs galore for Northumbria graduates

Two high-flying businesses set up by Newcastle Business School graduates have walked away with a clutch of silverware at the prestigious British Travel Awards.

The Awards Gala Dinner in London celebrated the UK’s best travel and tourism businesses.

Up to 1,000 guests saw graduate business Perfect Weddings

Abroad announced as winner in Best Weddings Abroad & Honeymoon’ category for the third year running.

Meanwhile, Northumberlandbased The Activity Travel Company picked up three awards.

Danny Waine, 25, from Middlesbrough set up Perfect Weddings and Honeymoons Ltd after spotting a gap in the market during his year-long work placement on the BA (Hons)

been interested in my dad’s career, but originally wanted to do a business degree. I’m so glad I changed to Estate Management at Northumbria though as I’m really loving it.

“It’s about more than just gaining a degree. There are great links with the industry in both the North East and London, and the course is really close-knit so you really feel part of a community.”

Simon Elliot, who is now Head of Public Sector Consultancy for Sanderson Weatherall LLP in Newcastle, studied BSc Estate Management in the late 1980s.

His son Harry is now in year one of Planning and Real Estate Management, but he is not the only member of the family to follow his father’s lead.

Simon said: “As well as Harry, my eldest son, Sam also graduated from Northumbria last year and secured a job with his very first application. This is quite a validation for getting a degree in a vocational subject and I was very happy that both of my sons studied on the modern equivalent of the same degree, although I never pressured them into this direction.”

He added: “I have a great relationship with Northumbria University, attending seminars they run and delivering guest lectures

years we know it provides students with outstanding preparation for employment and career progression.”

Kevin Kerrigan, Executive Dean at Northumbria Law School, added: “This award provides the highest level of recognition for the pioneering work of our Student Law Office. The social benefit of offering vulnerable people a free and accessible legal service is substantial while the student learning experience is authentic, challenging and rewarding.”

The Queen’s Anniversary Prize is a biennial award scheme within the UK’s national honours’ system.

every year for the past 10 years to help give students a feel for what it’s like to work in the profession.”

Adam, Dan, Simon and Harry were joined on campus recently by Bob Fletcher and his son James for a photo shoot that brought the fathers and sons together (pictured above).

Bob graduated with a BSc in General Practice Surveying and is now a partner at Sanderson Weatherall LLP.

Peter Yapp, whose son Jonathan is now studying BSc Real Estate, was unable to attend the photo shoot, but he had a very good reason. He now runs his own firm in Asia, JS Valuers, which has offices throughout both the Malaysian peninsula and East Malaysia.

Andy Dunhill, Senior Lecturer on Northumbria’s Real Estate programmes, added: “The Estate Management, now Real Estate, degree is very well established and has an excellent reputation internationally.

“This belief is supported by the number of times we see siblings and friends follow each other through the course. These examples of sons following in their fathers’ footsteps clearly cements our reputation.”

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www.northumbria.ac.uk/ee

The Awards Council of the Royal Anniversary Trust assesses the award winners and submits its final recommendations to the Prime Minister who in turn advises The Queen. It will be presented to Northumbria University for providing: “a distinctive contribution to legal education providing access to justice in the local community.”

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To find out more about Northumbria Law School visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/law

Northumbria has been congratulated for having the most student placements of any UK university at one of the largest centres for scientific research in the world.

CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, is internationally renowned as the groundbreaking home of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), birthplace of the World Wide Web, and as the lab where the Higgs Boson particle was famously discovered. Northumbria excels at giving students a head start in their careers through work placements with a difference. One of these is undoubtedly at CERN’s headquarters near Geneva, on the border of Switzerland and France. Northumbria has seen its total number of student placements at CERN double in each of the last three years – an outstanding achievement that has been congratulated by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

Three of Northumbria’s Engineering and Environment students, who were working at CERN when the Higgs Boson was discovered in 2012, have recently returned from their one-year placements.

Iain Steers, Paul Barella, and Liam Dodd were all BSc Computer Science students at Northumbria when they went to work at CERN, known for its slogan of ‘Accelerating Science’.

Liam said: “I walked into a job as a software engineer when I returned to the UK because of my placement at CERN. Northumbria’s excellent relationship with CERN is fantastic for students and is a real selling point for the University.”

Iain, who is now studying for a

Masters in Computer Science at Northumbria, added: “We were exposed to technology at the very cutting edge, gained unique skills, and got to meet industry leaders and company CEOs, while working in an incredible environment surrounded by beautiful countryside.

“I’m in regular contact with CERN via email and plan to go back there as a staff member after I graduate.”

Paul said: “It was great to work in such a multicultural environment. The placement was a genuinely life-changing experience. I plan to do a Masters at Northumbria after graduating and hope to return to CERN one day.”

The Science and Technology Facilities Council described Northumbria as ‘blazing a trail’ for other UK universities in its relationship with CERN.

Jane MacKenzie, CERN Opportunities Project Leader at the STFC, said: “The opportunities offered by CERN to Computing and Engineering students for training and work experience are exceptional, but historically UK universities have not made the most of these opportunities, and there is still a mindset which believes that only Physics students can benefit from CERN.

“Northumbria University is blazing a trail in changing this perception, and the University’s success in placing its Computing students at CERN is well above the UK average.

“CERN’s technology teams want students who are outward-looking, project-oriented team players, and

who have a real industry focus. Northumbria students fit this bill perfectly, and the University has worked really hard to foster links with CERN and to help students in their applications.

“The management at CERN are delighted to see more British students in their teams as the main technical language at CERN is English, and that they are happy with the quality of Northumbria’s students is evident since they keep accepting more and more of them! I can only congratulate the University and urge you to keep up the good work.”

CERN, the world’s largest particle physics laboratory, has been at the forefront of scientific and technological development since its establishment in Geneva in 1954. As well as several important achievements in particle physics, this prestigious institution has also been instrumental to the introduction of Internet technology, the development of the World Wide Web, and it is a centre for the development of grid computing.

Gerhard Fehringer, Director of Placements at Engineering and Environment at Northumbria, said: “We are delighted that four of our BSc (Hons) Computer Science students are currently on a placement at CERN. This clearly demonstrates the high quality and commitment of our students.”

Alistair says his time at Northumbria University led him to establishing his travel company.

“When I was thirty I decided I needed a career change and travel was top of my wanted list. I had no idea how to go about setting up a travel business – or any business for that matter – so I enrolled on the BA (Hons) Travel and Tourism Management course at Northumbria.

Three years of study and an invaluable 12 month placement gave me the confidence and the knowledge to create my own activity holiday company and since then I’ve never looked back.”

Travel and Tourism Management course at Newcastle Business School. The award topped a record year for the business with sales up over 150% in 2013, against the previous year.

The Activity Travel Company, including Activities Abroad which offers family-focused activity breaks, and The Aurora Zone specialising in trips to view the Northern Lights, was set up by Northumbria graduate Alistair McLean 11 years ago. It now employs 14 staff – around half of whom are also Northumbria University graduates.

In the British Travel Awards

The Activity Travel Company won ‘Best Small Holiday Company (Family)’ and Best Small Holiday Company (Activity/Sports) for its business division Activities Abroad and ‘Best Small Holiday Company (Adults) for The Aurora Zone.

Experienced and dedicated lecturers, combined with an opportunity to work and study overseas, means Travel and Tourism students at Northumbria can learn from the best in highly relevant and engaging environments.

Naomi Kirkup, a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader on Northumbria’s BA (Hons) Travel and Tourism Management programme, said: “This is wonderful news for Danny and Alistair and well deserved. Our Travel and Tourism Management programme is extremely popular and I think it works so well because it offers a clear foundation of business and management education, and leadership skills within the travel and tourism industry – it’s the right blend across all levels.”

Northumbria graduate Alistair McLean

Paul Barella, Iain Steers and Liam Dodd (left to right) in one of Northumbria’s specialist labs.

(Left to right) James Fletcher, Bob Fletcher, Adam Serfontein, Dan Serfontein, Simon Elliot, Harry Elliot

High achievers taste success at Greggs

Four Newcastle Business School students have recently graduated with First Class Honours degrees – and landed full-time jobs with Greggs, the UK’s leading bakery ‘Food on the Go’ retailer.

The good news comes after the students completed extended work placements with Greggs as part of their studies.

All four graduates were studying on the Newcastle Business School Business Leadership and Corporate Management Course (BLaCM),

Northumbria picked to screen lecture by leading legal figure

Northumbria Law School was recently selected as one of only a handful of venues to host a live screening of this year’s Garner Lecture – one of the UK’s most influential environmental law events.

The lecture was delivered by Rt Hon Lord Carnwath of Notting Hill C.V.O, a Justice of the UK Supreme Court.

Northumbria’s selection strengthens its reputation as a university where students have access to leading experts.

Organised by the UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA) and held in association with the Planning and Environment Bar, the lecture was screened on campus and was well attended by students, staff and members of the public.

Kevin Kerrigan, Executive Dean of Business and Law at Northumbria University, said:

which includes a two-year paid placement as part of a careerenhancing work-based learning approach. Hannah Casey-Burnett, Lewis Calvey, Will Forster and Lewis Blakey have now all taken up high profile management roles at the top North East business.

Hannah Casey-Burnett said:

“Completing the degree has been hard work and you do need a lot of drive and ambition, but it has also been an amazing opportunity and I have loved every minute. Working at Greggs has given me an incredibly valuable experience in the work place.”

During her placement, the 22-year-

Hollywood award for Northumbria lecturer

old managed an employee opinion survey covering 20,000 staff, and completed an intensive training programme to recruit shop managers for London. She is now a trainee Product Manager.

Kevin Haynes, Head of Learning and Development at Greggs, added: “We have four brilliant young people

“We were delighted to host a live screening of such a prestigious event in the environmental law calendar, especially as it was the 25th anniversary of the Garner Lecture. As a professional Law School, we train the lawyers of the future and opportunities like this are always highly illuminating and stimulating events.”

Lord Carnwath is an eminent legal figure having been a Lord Justice of Appeal since September 2001 and a Judge of the High Court, Chancery Division, from 1994. He was Chairman of the Law Commission for England and Wales from February 1999 until July 2002.

working for us who are a credit to themselves and Northumbria University.”

The BLaCM course is designed to help students’ gain a competitive advantage in the jobs market and develop their confidence as independent and self-directed learners.

Multi award-winning blues musician and Senior Lecturer in Interactive Media Design, Trevor Sewell, has been awarded his second Hollywood Music in Media Award (HMMA).

Trevor was presented with the prestigious award for Best Blues Artist in front of a packed celebrity audience at the Fonda Theatre, Hollywood in November. His song, ‘The Train’ beat nominations from internationally-renowned artists, including Andy Fraser of legendary rock band, Free, to claim first prize.

Trevor said: “I was really pleased to win the HMMA award again and it was fantastic to be at the Fonda Theatre in person and walk the red carpet.

“It’s been an amazing experience and an honour to take British Blues to the USA. I’m also grateful to all the LA radio stations that have been playing my music since winning the award.”

Trevor, a musician, composer and engineer, teaches sound design on

Northumbria welcomes US Ambassador

North U mbri A’s student design talent was placed under an international spotlight recently when the Ambassador of the United States of America visited the City Campus. During his first visit to the North East, Ambassador Matthew W. Barzun learned about the innovative collaborations between Northumbria’s designers and regional businesses, and met with students from the University’s new American Studies programme. Ambassador Barzun, who is an internet pioneer, also delivered a presentation to staff and students.

Northumbria University named as Centre for Doctoral Training

Viva Las Vegas for student experts

Two high-performing Northumbria students have been rewarded for their hard work and specialist skills with a trip to Las Vegas to meet with architecture experts from around the world.

BSc Architectural Technology students David Law and Justine Gray were invited to the international event in Las Vegas as a reward for their expertise in using specialist software, Autodesk. The duo have become so adept at utilising the software that they have been sharing their knowledge with other students on their course.

The annual Autodesk University event in Las Vegas, part of a global Student Expert programme, brings together international experts in a wide range of fields for hundreds of sessions to build relationships and exchange knowledge on the use of the software.

was fabulous. The classes on offer provided a fantastic insight to many fields within the design industry, from architecture to manufacturing, and games design to multimedia, and the opportunity to speak with fellow students from around the world, industry professionals, and the creators of the software itself opened a lot of doors.

“It’s an event I would never have been able to afford to attend personally. I would like to thank both Autodesk’s Student Expert programme and Northumbria University for their kind generosity.”

Northumbria’s Interactive Media Design course. He has worked in many London studios including the legendary Abbey Road and with a variety of record labels such as EMI and Safari. He joined Northumbria in 2000 and continues to record, write, produce and perform on a regular basis, sharing his current industry experience directly with students.

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Scan the code for further information about Interactive Media Design.

Trevor’s new album, ‘Independence’ is available now from Amazon, iTunes and directly from Trevor’s website www.trevorsewell.com

Northumbria University made a contribution towards David and Justine’s travel costs, with Autodesk covering the remainder of the expenses.

David said: “The whole experience

Dr Emine Mine Thompson, a Senior Lecturer in Visualisation at the Department of Architecture and Built Environment, at Northumbria University, said: “David and Justine were selected because they have been part of the Autodesk Student Expert programme since 2011.

“Autodesk goes through a selection

process by analysing how active the expert students are. David and Justine are very active as expert students, not just regionally and nationally but internationally, and they share their knowledge with other students and in some cases with professionals on a regular basis.

This is an excellent achievement.”

Autodesk is a world leader in software for the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing and entertainment industries. Northumbria’s Architecture and Built Environment students have been involved with the Autodesk Student Expert programme since 2011.

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To find out more about Architecture and the Built Environment at Northumbria, visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/abe

North U mbri A has led on a consortium bid with the University of Sunderland that has secured £1.2m from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). This substantial grant sees the Northumbria-Sunderland consortium named as a Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT), providing postgraduate research opportunities that are directly engaged with industry. As a CDT, Northumbria and Sunderland will offer training, skills and capacity for art and design postgraduate research, building on existing partnerships with BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and Sunderland’s National Glass Centre.

Find a PC

North U mbri A students can now look online at any time to find out where computers, specialist software, printing and IT facilities are available.

IT Services have launched a new information page which can be accessed from home or via MyNorthumbria. It will enable students to see how many computers are free, where you can find them, and the opening hours of the lab or building they are based in.

Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/itresources or click on the IT Resources & Computer Availability link on your MyNorthumbria page.

Global recognition for students

ENtrEPrENEUriAl Business Management students at Newcastle Business School (NBS) have won a “High Impact” award for an internationally-focused initiative during the recent Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW). Run by charity Youth Business International, GEW helps young people start up their own businesses. The students organised Global Innovation Challenge, which included networking online with fellow entrepreneur students from five different countries. Nina Jussila, who graduated in Finland on a similar course and is now coaching NBS students, said: “With 35,000 events across 125 different countries, winning was a real achievement.”

Northumbria students in clean-up project

ENgiNEEriNg and Environment students have been working with young offenders on a social enterprise project to improve flood management around Newcastle. Dr Peter Glaves, Director of Enterprise and External Engagement Enterprise Fellow in Engineering and Environment has been working with undergraduate students on The Skill Mill run by Newcastle Youth Offending Team and the Environment Agency.

The Skill Mill Ltd allows young offenders to repay the community by carrying out essential maintenance along the water ways, including litter and debris removal, building new water channels, and improving drainage.

The Skill Mill project was shortlisted for an Evidence Award at the Youth Justice AJ Conference in November. More than 140 young people have taken part since it was launched.

Trevor Sewell

Northumbria’s high-flying graduates with Julie Nowak, Management Development Advisor, Greggs

David Law and Justine Gray at the Autodesk University event in Las Vegas.

Justine Gray and David Law with experts at the international conference.

Matthew Winthrop Barzun

Top

of the class for Northumbria’s Teacher Training

The Government’s regulator for assessing teaching standards across the UK has given Northumbria University’s Teacher Training programmes a resounding thumbs up for the twelfth year running – the only university to sustain this record in the UK.

Double glory for graduate-led partnerships

OFSTED, the government department responsible for assessing the quality of education and Teacher Training, has rated the Northumbria Universitymanaged North East Partnership’s Teacher Training programmes as ‘outstanding’. In addition, the partnership’s Physical Education training has been rated ‘outstanding’ in every category – one of only three PE courses in the UK to achieve this standard.

The North East Partnership provides a school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) programme for graduates. Trainees who successfully complete the programme are recommended for qualified teacher status (QTS) and gain either a professional or postgraduate Certificate in Education. The partnership consists of 29 secondary schools across eight local authorities in the North East, with Northumbria University working as the managing agent for the Partnership.

The inspectors made particular reference to the Partnership’s “rigorous quality assurance procedures” and the “consistently high outcomes for trainees including their high levels of attainment and exceptional completion and employment rates over time.”

Jim Clark, Head of Department for Education and Lifelong Learning said: “It is fair to say that OFSTED has given our teacher training a glowing review - and perhaps one of the best I have ever

Northumbria partnership backs small businesses

Northumbria University has recently hosted a conference in partnership with key business support groups in the region to help SMEs and social enterprises access finance.

Student designers imagine the future for Orange

seen. To my knowledge, this is an unprecedented success rate and a real coup for our university.

“The North East Partnership has a real pedigree for offering training that prepares excellent teachers for classrooms and this latest OFSTED assessment reflects that. The Partnership is just that – a true partnership with the schools, which means that Northumbria graduates leave us with a real-world understanding and appreciation of what it means to be a great teacher.”

Professor Kath McCourt, Executive Dean for Northumbria’s Health and Life Sciences said: “We all remember a favourite teacher from our school days; someone who inspired us to work harder and push ourselves further. I take great pride in the knowledge that the quality of our programmes is helping to create the new generation of favourite teachers - each of whom will nurture the students who will study with us in years to come.

“To be the only university in the UK to have sustained an outstanding review since 2002 is a real achievement and I’d like to extend my congratulations to everyone who has been involved. Such is the demand for our highquality teacher training, that we receive ten applications for every one place on our programmes. This ‘outstanding’ assessment from OFSTED means that we can broaden our appeal further and attract more of the highest-quality students to study at Northumbria.”

Two Northumbria University Knowledge Transfer Partnerships –managed by graduates – have received national awards for improving the lives of older people in the North East.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) provide opportunities for university graduates to lead on projects that place academic expertise and research at the heart of business and public sector innovations. In securing one of these paid opportunities, graduates gain invaluable industry experience to kick-start their career in a competitive market place.

The annual KTP Awards –which highlight the best in the country – recognised the work of two Northumbria graduates on partnerships with North Tyneside Council and Age UK Newcastle.

Jo Rose, project manager of the North Tyneside Council KTP, won the Business Leader of Tomorrow Award for her project that helps older people live independently in their own homes. The category recognises the individual talents and achievements of Associates who, while working on their KTP project, demonstrate the potential to become a future business leader.

Jo’s award recognises some of the innovations she has helped to shape, including developing a relocation strategy for over 1,000 older people in North Tyneside, and securing funding for a pilot project to address the emotional factors facing older people when moving home.

Design students from Northumbria University are representing the UK in a prestigious international design competition run by Orange.

Just five design schools from three countries – France, the United Kingdom and South Africa – have been selected to participate in the third edition of the Orange Young Designers Competition. Northumbria University’s design school is the only UK institution to be invited to enter the telecommunication operator’s international competition, entitled ‘Orange spreads your wings’. Young designers are challenged to take a fresh look at personal digital space and how it will evolve in the short to mid-term. Entrants must imagine the future in the form of a filmed scenario that explains how cloud computing and cloud-based services will help people in their daily lives.

which matches the philosophy of Design at Northumbria very well. This means the project is not about imagining how technologies will work in the future but exploring what kind of future we really want. Only then can we consider how digital technologies can help to bring those ideas to life.”

The competition entries will be judged by a prestigious panel of experts, presided over by Margaret Stewart, Director of Product Design at Facebook, and including professional designers, industry experts, sociologists and journalists. The judges will examine the ideas and concepts presented by students, deciding on the winning projects in March.

prestigious design schools, Orange hopes to stimulate innovation, anticipation and creativity at its very source and in a way that provides a real stepping-stone for students.

Pierre-Yves Panis, Director of Design and User Experience at Orange, said: “Design at Orange is focused on customer-experience above all else. This means stepping into the shoes of technology users in order to think about new ways to make their experiences more practical, more intuitive, simpler and even more memorable.

Having been rated fourth in the UK in Sir Andrew Witty’s review of universities and growth for establishing start-up companies last year, this support reflects the University’s determination to help its own graduates become the successful entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Indeed, there are 114 Northumbria graduate business start-ups currently trading with almost 780 employees.

Speaking at the event Lucy Winskell, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Business and Engagement, said:

“Northumbria University is acknowledged as being among the very best at supporting startups in Sir Andrew Witty’s Review of Universities and Growth, so we recognise the opportunity that securing sustainable funding brings small businesses and social enterprises.

Meanwhile, the partnership between Northumbria, Age UK Newcastle and Northumbria graduate and KTP Associate Laura Warwick, using service design to change the culture and service delivery of Age UK Newcastle, was chosen by the UK Research Councils to receive a KTP award in the RCUK Knowledge Base Impact category. The category recognises and celebrates the process of transferring knowledge and expertise from the research base of higher education and the public sector for the wider benefit of society and the economy.

During the three year KTP, Laura’s input has helped to embed service design principles within Age UK Newcastle and in the national strategy that guides all 330 Age UK partner organisations. Innovations have seen the charity implement a new ‘Telephone Neighbourhood Service’ to support older people living in the community. Both Laura and Jo have been supported throughout their partnerships by academics in Design and Health who have helped them to merge theory with practice to achieve real impact.

Eleven Northumbria students from Design for Industry, Fashion Communication and Interactive Media Design programmes will develop their UK competition entries. During a three-month project the students are supported by Northumbria designers and academics in close collaboration with Orange’s professional marketing and design teams.

The Northumbria team showcased their concepts to senior representatives from Orange when they visited City Campus.

Matthew Lievesley, Reader in Human Centred Problem Solving at Northumbria, said: “Orange are clearly passionate about design that puts the interest of the user first,

Three prizes of €5,000 each will be awarded. The Design for all prize highlights the most accessible project, Embodiment supports an innovation that could rapidly be on the market, and Vision rewards tomorrow’s innovations that go beyond the frontiers of today’s knowledge.

A series of exhibitions to promote all the projects presented by the young designers, providing the public with an original insight into emerging design trends, will take place after the awards ceremony.

For Orange, the competition reflects their overall policy to use design as a key ingredient for improving customer experience. By facilitating close co-operation between their marketing and design teams and some of the world’s most

“For us, it makes perfect sense to ask design students, who are ideally positioned both as users of technology and future designers, for their vision and empathy on all these areas.”

`Show Me The Money’ was delivered jointly by The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), the North East Social Enterprise Partnership (NESP) and the University to help understand the sources of finance and how to gain access.

Small businesses and social enterprises regularly cite access to affordable finance as one of the main barriers to growth.

For the latest news on the competition and to find out more about design at Orange, scan this code.

Government research has also shown that almost a third of small businesses view obtaining finance as one of their biggest challenges. The findings are mirrored by research from Social Enterprise UK, which shows 39% of social enterprises see difficulties in accessing finance as hampering their activities.

With a strong demand-led focus Northumbria is committed to delivering real solutions to this clear business need.

“We are backing this conference because small businesses and social enterprises are vital to the health of our regional economy, and we must do all we can to ensure their ability to grow and flourish is not undermined by a lack of affordable finance.”

Ted Salmon, North East Regional Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses, said:

“The role of small businesses in the North East can’t be underestimated. The 134,000 small businesses we have in the region employ 333,000 people and contribute £24bn to the regional economy. We know that accessing finance at an affordable cost is one of the biggest barriers our members and social enterprises face. Working in partnership with NESEP and Northumbria University we wanted to show what finance was available and how to get it.”

From left, Phil Smith, Chairman of the Technology Strategy Board with Matthew Hancock, Laura Warwick, Frances O’Brien and Matthew Lievesley Phil Smith, Chairman of the Technology Strategy Board, with Jo Rose.

Lucy Winskell, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Business and Engagement

Orange representatives, Françoise Escoffier and Alexis Trichet meet Northumbria design students Josh Allsopp and Kirsty Green (centre)

BEHIND THE SCENES

The Clinical Skills Centre

Did you know that Northumbria University has its very own hospital ward right on campus?

In conversation with… Professor Andrew Wathey

Newcastle has been voted Best City for Students three times. In your opinion, what are the best things about living, studying and working here?

Play explores the impact of dementia

Simulation allows for practice before entering the real world of care

The Clinical Skills Centre, located at the heart of Coach Lane Campus, is a focal point for Health and Life Sciences students. A centre devoted to excellence in health related professions, it is a place where Northumbria students can develop practical skills in a simulated and safe hospital environment. The Centre is the result of the University’s continued commitment to creating an interactive environment that will equip students with a diverse range of skills.

most advanced skills environments for teaching and learning nationally, ensuring that students’ learning experiences evolve in collaboration with developments in modern healthcare delivery.

Academics from Northumbria have brought to life research exploring the impact of dementia with the theatrical production, Jack and Jill & the Red Post-box.

The quality of life here is very good providing residents with a safe lifestyle that’s full of variety and culture. It’s easy to get around, with many attractions well within walking distance for students and staff - especially around our City campus. There’s also a real ‘zing’ to the city, thanks to the regeneration of the waterscape along the Tyne, and the huge cultural scene that we’re probably most famous for. I certainly think Newcastle is the buzziest of the big Northern cities.

Approximately 35,000 students from over 130 different countries study with Northumbria. What do you think attracts them to the UK?

There is a saying “In Britain, 100 miles is a long way but in the US, 100 years is a long time”. Students coming to the UK do appreciate the North East’s sense of history and our connectedness. London is only 2 hours 40 on the train from Newcastle meaning that you can explore many of the country’s attractions from our North East base.

Northumbria is home to awardwinning architecture including City Campus East and Sport Central. It also boasts one of the top ten architecture programmes in the country. What are your favourite pieces of architecture in the region?

Durham Cathedral is astonishing, as is Hadrian’s Wall and its history. However, moving forward to more modern architecture, the truly iconic buildings of the Quayside have added to the region’s international profile, including the BALTIC, The Sage Gateshead and the Millennium Bridge. Of course, I also have to mention Northumbria’s City Campus East development that houses our business, law and design programmes. It is symbolic of the central role the University plays in raising the City’s capability and confidence and marks us out as an institution that is truly civic in its roots.

The University was recently awarded the Times Higher Education Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Arts. Why is collaborative working so important to Northumbria?

Northumbria’s design graduates include Sir Jonathan Ive (the genius behind the iPhone and iPad) and Rob Law MBE (founder of the Trunki). What’s the one gadget or product that you can’t live without?

Without doubt it has to be the iPad!

It’s transformed my life. It’s amazing to think how many Northumbria students must own a Jonathan Ive gadget. And can’t wait to see what the next world-changing design from one of our future graduates will be.

Northumbria works with over 560 employer partners. What are your top tips for students to give their CV a competitive edge and impress future employers?

It’s important that students graduate with experience and knowledge but also with flexibility and the ability to continue learning. Work placements, internships or volunteering are important. Additionally, postgraduate studies are becoming increasingly important to employers, and research shows that those with a master’s degree, coupled with relevant industry experience, really stand out from the crowd. Northumbria is proud to be in the top 10 nationally for the number of graduates entering professional employment, and we will continue to open up additional opportunities for our students to ensure they graduate with a truly competitive CV.

What are you looking forward to most as Vice-Chancellor?

We’re making real strides in building our research, and using this to benefit our students and to drive excellence in everything that we do.

I’m also looking forward to seeing the effects of our new IT strategy. For our people, this strategy will give them the tools they need to succeed, while for our students it will support and enhance the delivery of learning wherever and however they study including the use of podcasts, video lectures, distance and online learning. It will also further improve our connectivity to our international sites such as Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong. am incredibly excited by the huge amount of activity under way to shape our future as a new kind of excellent university. What am I most looking forward to? Well – the fact that the best is yet to come!

For more information, enjoy a virtual tour of the Centre by scanning the code

Health and performing arts students were invited to watch and reflect on the performance – a collaboration between Northumbria University, Edinburgh University and Skimstone Arts – to benefit their studies through practical assignments and Q&As. The production, which is continuing to tour in the region, encourages the audience to think about how they live and work alongside those in their communities who have a diagnosis of dementia. It is hoped that the story will support both families and healthcare professionals who may be dealing with some of the issues raised.

Dr Cathy Bailey, one of a team of researchers from Northumbria University involved in the production, said: “This is an important project for Northumbria as it builds on our long-term ambition to achieve Dementia Friendly Community status, identifying us as having high awareness of the implications of dementia and being more inclusive for those living with the condition. This status would be a first for the region and we are

delighted that we have the will and support of organisations such as the Alzheimer’s Society and the North East Dementia Action Alliance.

“With Prime Minister David Cameron’s 2012 ‘Dementia Challenge’, there is a political will to make life better for people living with dementia. Additionally, initiatives such as the Alzheimer Society’s ‘Dementia Friends’ training aim to give people an awareness of how they can make a positive difference”. The original research and premier performance was funded by NHS North of England Commissioning Support Unit.

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Jack and Jill & the Red Post-box will tour to Stockton and Gateshead from 27 February. For further details, and information about future performances, please visit www.skimstone.org.uk For more information about Health at Northumbria University, visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/hces Anyone requiring

The University has invested £30m in Sport Central – a flagship sports facility based in the heart of city campus. Why is sport important to Northumbria?

Sport promotes health and wellbeing, and our flagship Sport Central facility is accessible to our staff, students and the wider community. A lot of our student volunteering connects with sporting and wellbeing activity. Sport Central also houses cutting-edge research facilities for students and academic staff which will drive excellence in our sports degree programmes. What I look forward to is seeing how this research changes the way we live. Cutting-edge research in health and sports science has the capacity to shape the way in which we all live, work and play.

We play an active role in the region’s cultural sector, which in turn creates greater academic and industry opportunities for our students and staff. Owing to our investment in partnerships in this area, particularly in relation to BALTIC, Northumbria was recently one of only 18 centres in the country funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. This funding will create a number of studentships resulting in lifechanging opportunities for some of the nation’s most talented new researchers in the arts.

The Council’s award is an indicator of our growing research strengths in arts disciplines, building on our award-winning collaboration with BALTIC, and will significantly enhance our interaction with the creative economy.

The operative environment supports learning in pre, peri and postoperative care

NU News talks to Professor Andrew Wathey, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University, about the North East, graduate CVs and Northumbria’s plans for the future.

We’re making real strides in building our research, and using this to benefit our students and to drive excellence in everything that we do.

Professor Andrew Wathey, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Northumbria University

I WANT

A world cl Ass c Ampus

Trinity Square

this modern, 993 bedroom accommodation complex is now close to opening – with its first student residents arriving in summer 2014.

The Campus Services team have been busy over the past year working on improvements and new developments to keep our campus evolving to cater for the modern-day needs of our students, staff and visitors. Set to be a vibrant new development, Trinity Square boasts a multi-screen cinema, Tesco Extra, restaurants, cafes and shops.

The many unique rooms and buildings that inspire the minds of the future are set across three sites: City Campus, Coach Lane and the training ground at Bullocksteads. Recent investment in Gateshead is also providing a new creative space for students, academics and businesses at the Northern Design Centre, and the town’s highly anticipated Trinity Square student accommodation complex is set to open this summer. There are further developments taking place in the capital too – ensuring that Northumbria has bases in the heart of the UK’s top two student cities – Newcastle and London.

Take a look at what the Campus Services team have been up to over the last twelve months.

The Zone

A stylish new 24/7 space for Engineering and Environment students was recently unveiled on City Campus.

The Zone (pictured below) is a large multi-purpose student space, specifically designed to meet the needs of Engineering and Environment students. It has 50 IT stations, large tables for group work with interactive TVs, docking stations for laptops, and comfortable seating for relaxing and socialising. The Zone has 24-hour student access by swipe card and will also be used for exhibitions and events.

Design & Media facilities

A substantial renovation programme was launched last year to improve facilities for media and design students. The developments were put in place to increase and refresh spaces for students, encouraging more open plan working and ensuring that students work in closer proximity to postgraduate and staff research activities. Additional bespoke facilities have also been created to benefit individual programmes. The work has taken place in Squires Building, near the Students’ Union, and the Design Building on City Campus East.

Physics Lab

Whether it’s measuring the speed of light or searching for planets capable of supporting life, Northumbria University’s physics and astrophysics students will be at the cutting-edge of science thanks to investment in new facilities.

Castles Restaurant

The campus boasts contemporary catering facilities at City Campus East, Coach Lane and on Northumberland Road. The University has also recently invested in a major refurbishment of Castles Restaurant, at the heart of City Campus.

The new-look Castles is now open, offering students, staff and visitors a range of seating styles in vibrant new surroundings.

Coach Lane

Work has been underway to improve and expand the reception area at Coach Lane West, providing a bigger and brighter welcome for students, staff and visitors as they enter the buildings.

This complements the recent £1.4m refurbishment of the Coach Lane Library (pictured left).

The accommodation itself is set five floors above street level, creating a safe and exclusive lifestyle for students and Northumbria visitors. Landscaped outdoor spaces will boast a MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) and running route, while the Hub, located on the ground floor of one of the five accommodation blocks, will offer students versatile spaces for work and play.

A new show flat is now open on campus in Ellison Terrace for anyone wanting to take a look. Please email rc.accommodation@northumbria.ac.uk to arrange a visit.

The specialist laboratory in Ellison Building on City Campus has been created to enhance the experience of new students on Northumbria’s physics programmes, BSc (Hons) Physics, and BSc (Hons) Physics with Astrophysics.

Student Engagement Centre

our student Engagement Centre is the first point of contact for students entering Newcastle business school.

The facility supports and encourages all types of experiential learning, including volunteering, placements, internships and business clinics, which all have a very positive impact upon student employability and ensure career prospects remain high.

Future developments

since the opening of our £30m sport Central facility, Northumbria has been voted one of the best universities in the UK for sport.

As part of our commitment to further enhancing the student experience, we are now in the process of demolishing the old Sports Centre to make way for future developments. Work began at the end of January and will be completed on 4 April 2014 with the Sports Centre car park reopening on 7 April.

£1 million boost for graduate careers

Northumbria University is launching a £1.1m project to help its graduates start up businesses and gain employment experience as interns.

The University already runs a scheme called Enterprise Campus which helps students and graduates establish their own businesses, and last year piloted an internship scheme which saw 81% of interns permanently recruited at the end of their placements.

Now, funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) will enable Northumbria University to deliver a new project that will support current students and recent graduates to develop 30 new businesses. The project will also provide interns to small businesses, with up to half of the cost of their salary being paid by the University.

Internships at Northumbria

Kieran Gill graduated from Northumbria last year with a First in Journalism and English Literature and a year of internship experience under his belt. He was recently selected as one of only two successful interns from across the UK to work as a trainee sports reporter with the world’s biggest online newspaper - the Mail Online.

NU News caught up with Kieran to turn the tables on the budding reporter and put him in the spotlight…

Tell us about your studies at Northumbria – did you enjoy your time here?

I loved my time at Northumbria. It’s a top university with everything you’ll ever need, and you can’t beat Newcastle as a city. It was worth every penny.

Academy helps students build successful careers

Graduates are gaining a distinctive edge in their careers thanks to a unique joint venture at Northumbria University.

Building Information

Modelling (BIM) has taken the construction industry by storm in recent years and BIM Academy, based at Northumbria, has helped the UK become a world leader in this innovative field.

BIM brings together digital information and 3D models to design and realise a building project through its entire lifecycle, often involving global teams and projects.

Northumbria students have directly benefited from being at the forefront of this emerging sector, with teaching informed by the latest technology and industry developments.

As a result, many of the graduates BIM Academy has worked with have gone directly into high-profile jobs since the initiative was launched three years ago as a joint venture between Northumbria University and Ryder Architecture Ltd. Northumbria’s engagement with industry and strong focus on enterprise and cutting-edge knowledge provides graduates with a great advantage in their careers.

Initiatives like BIM Academy have been instrumental in the development of graduates. One of those to have benefited from BIM Academy is George Mokhtar, a Masters graduate in Architecture who has secured a senior role at Turner and Townsend.

He said: “My experience at BIM Academy has not only been fundamental to the direction and development of my career, it has also given me the technical ability and foundation of management skills that I am now building on, and deploying on flagship projects internationally.

BIM is the imminent future of the construction industry and it is a huge advantage for Northumbria students to have such an innovative venture on site.”

BIM Academy Managing Director Peter Barker said: “BIM Academy is delighted to have supported the skills development of many talented graduates over the last three years who have gone on to pursue successful careers with a wide range of construction organisations across the globe.

“BIM is probably the biggest force for positive change in the construction industry in a generation.

“We’re proud of our role in helping the UK and, in particular the North East, emerge as a world leader in this innovative field.”

The news comes just weeks after BIM Academy picked up its latest accolade when they were named the overall winners of the 48-hour Build Sydney Live 2013 competition.

BIM Academy competed with teams from around the world in an ‘against the clock’ virtual challenge to create the best building proposal

for the new $1 billion Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour.

For the first time ever, the judges had to delay their final decision overnight; such was the level of competition. But in the end BIM Academy was announced as the winner in what organisers described as ‘the closest fought Build Live event so far’.

Peter explained how his team, including Northumbria University staff, collaborated with colleagues from Norway, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK to create the winning proposal.

He said: “BIM Academy was delighted with this result. We have achieved success in previous BIM competitions, but this is the first time we have really tested the potential for multidisciplinary working across the globe.

“We were able to work intensively across multiple time zones with our colleagues at Ryder, AECOM, dRofus, KyKloud and Colour and produce a wealth of information about the design, construction and operation to meet a very challenging brief in a landmark location in Sydney.”

Build Live events are worldwide competitions held to demonstrate how new technology is revolutionising the way buildings are designed, built and used. They also show the potential for collaborative working and public engagement.

BIM is a process involving the structured sharing and coordination of digital information about a building project throughout its entire lifecycle, from design, procurement and construction to the operation and management stage.

This involves the use of coordinated 3D design models enriched with data which are created and managed using a range of interoperable technologies.

BIM allows the development and testing of a digital prototype of a building in advance of its physical realisation, thereby delivering greater cost certainty, eliminating error, improving programme duration and reducing risk.

As a joint venture, BIM Academy is an independent and impartial body that undertakes consultancy, research, software development, training, education and support for the entire construction industry.

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For further information go to: www.northumbria.ac.uk/bim and www.bimacademy.ac.uk

A government report looking at how universities are supporting growth in the economy named Northumbria the fourth best university in the UK for supporting graduates in starting their own businesses. Since 2008, more than 100 companies have been established with the support of the University. They employ almost 800 staff and have a combined turnover of £54 million. Most are based in the North East but are trading nationally and internationally. One example is Lemon Moose Games which was established by Games Programming students James Mintram and Tomasz Kandziora. They approached the University’s Enterprise Campus scheme with their idea to develop gaming apps for mobile phones three years ago. After receiving support they are now successfully trading and have recruited a Northumbria intern themselves.

James said: “We had started to design and develop games for mobile phones while studying. After approaching the University we were given support to develop our business plan as well as free office space on campus to run our business for a year.

“As our reputation has grown we are attracting more clients so we took an intern on for a tenweek period. It worked so well that we took him on permanently when the scheme ended and we hope to further expand in the next six to twelve months.”

Lucy Winskell, Northumbria’s Pro ViceChancellor for Business and Engagement, said:

“Universities play a vital role in contributing towards economic regeneration through the creation and application of innovation and new knowledge.

“We are committed to working with businesses to improve their productivity and performance. The ERDF award to further develop this activity is a clear indicator of the quality and calibre of our students and the support we provide to them and to businesses.”

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For more information visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/graduatesintobusiness

How did your time at Northumbria prepare you for a career in journalism?

The most influential person in prepping me for a career in journalism was my sports tutor and media manager, Simon Rushworth. He was pivotal in my time at Northumbria. Simon manages a student sports media team giving us internship and volunteering opportunities, reporting mainly on Team Northumbria matches (the University’s competitive sports team).

How did you get involved in the Team Northumbria internship programme?

Simon delivered a talk on the advantages of the programme and writing for the University sport website. I joined up and reported on football, volleyball, basketball, hockey, golf, netball - you name it. Writing for Team Northumbria, taking Simon’s sports journalism module and watching Newcastle Eagles at Sport Central on a weekly basis made me realise which direction I wanted to take with journalism.

What were the biggest highlights during your time as Team Northumbria media intern?

Reporting on the Stan Calvert Cup was an experience I’ll never forget, not least because Simon allocated me the outdoor hockey and football games during a blizzard! Stan Calvert is a big highlight in Team Northumbria’s sports calendar, where we take on Newcastle University in a range of sports. The passion of both sets of students was overwhelming.

How did you find out about the Mail Online scheme and how did you secure a place on it?

After graduation, I did a post-graduate course with the Press Association. While on that course I applied for the Mail Online scheme. The interviews were intense and very demanding. I’m humbled to be given the chance on such a huge platform which averages more than eight million browsers a day. What will the scheme involve?

I’ll be working at the Press Association Operations Centre in Howden, Yorkshire. From then, I’ll spend a short while in Kensington at the head office for the Mail, before spending four months in either Manchester, Liverpool, Hull, Stoke or Cardiff – all cities with high sporting agendas.

Finally, why should students consider voluntary opportunities?

These days it’s so true that you need more than qualifications to make it. And gaining work experience is invaluable if you’re looking to go into journalism as it is a 24-7 job. I had three internships during my time at university – writing for Team Northumbria, the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) and a football website called Touchline Talk. It made life hectic, but was definitely worthwhile.

Kieran Gill

BIM Academy Managing Director, Peter Barker (front row, fourth from right) with staff and students

An image of BIM Academy’s award-winning Build Sydney Live 2013 proposal

Ph D CASE STUDy:

Forensic scientists work on DNA murder mystery case

Ever wonder what you might get involved with during PhD study?

This is one example of a project that was investigated by academics and PhD students from Northumbria and Leicester Universities. Further your studies and you too could find yourself cracking open age-old mysteries with cutting-edge technology.

Read on for the facts behind this intriguing murder case…

Researchers from Northumbria University’s Centre for Forensic Science have been trying to identify the victim of a gruesome 1930 murder case.

A male body was found in a blazing car in Northamptonshire in November 1930. Traveller Alfred Rouse was hanged for the murder of his victim who, to this day, has not been identified.

Last year, the descendants of a man named William Briggs approached Northamptonshire Police in an attempt to re-open the case. Briggs had left his family home at around the same time the crime was committed and was never seen or heard of again. His family always believed he could have been the victim of what had become known as the Blazing Car Murder.

With the help of Northamptonshire Police, the University of Leicester and The Royal London Hospital, the family were able to access tissue samples taken from the victim during his post-mortem examination.

If the 83-year old samples contained enough mitochondrial

DNA there was a strong chance that a comparison could be made with the DNA of Briggs’ descendants.

Dr Eleanor Graham and PhD student Victoria Barlow in Northumbria’s Centre for Forensic Science were asked to analyse the samples to see if there was a match that would identify Briggs as the victim of the Blazing Car Murder. The results revealed no consistency with the DNA of Briggs’ family members, meaning he could not have

The Business Plan Competition 2014 wants YOU!

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The Love Mirror; the Love Chair Wellington; Loved Up Chair; and the Love Console Table

Created by the Deadgood Studio

been the victim of the murder.

However, the analysis revealed an uncontaminated DNA profile, opening the possibility that a match could be identified in the future.

Victoria Barlow said: “I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to assist on this historic case, which offered the chance to solve an 83-year-old mystery and bring some closure to the family of William Briggs.

“The sample type itself was challenging and there was every

chance that the DNA had degraded too much over the years for us to obtain the mitochondrial DNA profile we were looking for.

“Fortunately this was not the case and with the successfully obtained DNA results we were able to exclude William Briggs as the victim in this case. For now, the identity of Alfred Rouse’s victim still remains a mystery.”

Dr Eleanor Graham added:

“Projects such as this highlight the fact that forensic DNA analysis is not confined to ‘catching criminals’.

DNA analysis also has a critical role to play in the identification of those who have been killed during criminal acts, accidents or natural disasters, which have occurred recently, or many years ago.”

For the home...

Paccup

Current Northumbria English Language student Marcus Gentle is part of a team of four friends who have created Paccup – a service aimed at easing the transition from home to university. Paccup provides bedding, towels and kitchen utensils direct to students’ new accommodation.

Prices range from £20 for a Bathroom

Paccup to £120 for a combined Paccup delivery (Bathroom, Bedroom, Kitchen and Comfort)

www.paccup.co.uk

The M Lamp

Designed by 3D Design graduate David Irwin

The M Lamp is a simple yet beautiful tool for life and work. Its dimmable LED emits ample brightness for late-night work or for reading in bed.

The M Lamp is available from Juniper in three colours: Matte Black, Glossy White and Vibrant Orange.

www.juniper-design.com/products/mlamp

Rate My Roof

A new website by Northumbria business student Owen Dixon

Rogue landlords and dodgy digs can be a nightmare – but this new website will help you find your dream home. RateMyRoof.com has property reviews written by student tenants who rate properties

A design company founded by Northumbria 3D Design graduates.

From £345

www.deadgoodltd.co.uk

The

Activity Travel Company Travel and Tourism graduate

Alistair McLean set up the Activity Travel Company 11 years ago

The award-winning company includes Activities Abroad offering family-focused activity breaks; and The Aurora Zone, which specialises in trips to view the Northern Lights. Prices vary.

www.activitiesabroad.com

www.theaurorazone.com

Perfect Weddings and Honeymoons Ltd

Graduate Danny Waine set up his awardwinning business after spotting a gap in the market during his year-long work placement while studying BA (Hons) Travel and Tourism Management. The company offers bespoke wedding packages all over the world. Prices vary.

www.perfectweddingsabroad.co.uk

With an international reputation for design, and significant investment in entrepreneurial start-ups, there’s no wonder Northumbria graduates have gone on to create cutting edge products and innovative services that are loved far and wide.

Jony Ive The Genius Behind Apple’s Greatest Products

By Leander Kahney

This new biography offers a detailed portrait of Northumbria University graduate, Sir Jonathan Ive – Senior Vice-President of Design for Apple and the man behind some of the world’s most iconic products, including the iPhone, iMac, iPod and iPad.

Before you read on, we feel it’s our duty to point out that the weather in Newcastle isn’t always dreary!

The following extract is taken from Chapter 2: A British Design Education focusing on Jony’s time at Northumbria University.

Renowned for its beer (Newcastle Brown Ale), football team (Newcastle United) and horrible weather, Jony’s new home was a vibrant, industrial port city.

When he arrived at the city, Margaret Thatcher ran the country, and the mainstays of the city’s economy, shipbuilding and coal, were in decline.

Despite the rain and Mrs Thatcher, Newcastle had a reputation as a party town. Roughly a sixth of the city’s inhabitants were students and the city centre was home to many bars and nightclubs. In 1985, Jony’s first year in university, the British music scene was as lively as ever, especially in the North, where bands like

The Smiths and New Order gained national attention. Within a few years, the city’s nightclubs would be host to a rave scene, thumping to the dynamic electronic dance music that Jony came to love.

Now known as Northumbria University, Newcastle Polytechnic was (and still is) regarded as the top college in the United Kingdom for ID. These days, the design school has about 120 staff and admits about 1,600 students from more than 65 countries. The department, then and now, is housed in a tall building called Squires Building*.

‘It was a rather brutal big building but was a great place for creativity in general,’ said David Tonge. ‘It was shared with fine art, fashion and craft just over the corridor. This was before industrial design had become fashionable.’

Each floor of the building is dedicated to a different design discipline: ID [Industrial Design – now

We’ve commissioned a crime and it’s up to you to solve it!

Northumbria University and New Writing North are following the success of the 2012 Newcastle Writers’ Conference with Crime Story, a crime fiction festival aimed at aspiring and established writers and crime readers.

The weekend-long festival will include discussions, workshops and panels all themed around a fictional crime. From initial investigation to final sentencing, participants will be able to directly access expertise from Northumbria academics representing law, criminology, health and forensics. Invited guest speakers and best-selling crime authors will also be on hand to guide delegates through the writing process.

In a scenario written by Ann Cleeves, prize-winning author of the Vera Stanhope series (now a major ITV series starring Brenda Blethyn) and the Shetland Island Quartet, a young man is found dead in a locked room. He leaves behind a grieving foster mother, a landlord who keeps to himself, and a picture of an

called Design for Industry], furniture design, fashion, graphic design and animation. The department is well equipped with lots of tools and technology. ‘The designers are able to use a range of materials – wood, paper, plastic, metal, leather, kevlar, cotton, you name it,’ said Professor Paul Rodgers, who lectures on design at Northumbria, though he didn’t teach Jony. ‘They have access to all these machines – drilling, sawing, fastening, stitching, etching, burning, you name it. And they receive really good training in those workshops, backed by a technical staff.’ The ID department at Newcastle, founded in 1953, gained recognition in the 1960s, in part because of its close ties to British industry.

According to another alumnus, Craig Mounsey, who completed the course a year before Jony, ‘Newcastle had the reputation for being the best… They won everything. All of the design teachers at school would parade the work from Newcastle as being the standard.

* Northumbria’s design department is now housed in the award-winning City Campus East design building, with space in Squires.

Jony Ive, The Genius Behind Apple’s Greatest Products is published by Penguin and is priced at £14.99.Copies are available on campus

Bookstore, or can be purchased online

The Business of Performance

There’s no doubt about it – the acting world is a competitive and challenging industry.

But there’s far more on offer for the Performing Arts graduate than landing a part in Corrie or treading the boards in the West End. Many Northumbria graduates have carved out high-profile acting careers finding employment in TV, film and theatre. Others, however, have become their own boss, launching successful cultural businesses and in turn creating even more acting and theatrical opportunities. NU News looks at the work of four performing arts graduates making waves in the industry.

Becky Zimmerman

enigmatic girl smiling down from the bloody wall. And so begins the crime story… With their murder scenario in hand, Crime Story participants will get an in-depth look at how the criminal justice system works... and how it sometimes doesn’t.

Crime Story is an unmissable opportunity for any lover of crime fiction – from aspiring writers to curious crime fans wanting to peek behind the covers of their favourite fictional world.

The festival takes place right on campus and tickets are available for all interested students, staff and members of the public from 14 February 2014.

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For further information, or to book, a place visit www.crimestory.co.uk.

Performance graduates

Founders: one Day Creative

After studying a range of specialist modules, year three Performance students at Northumbria are offered the freedom and support to create and deliver their very own cultural project. It was this element of the course, alongside work experience with regional dance agency, Dance City’s Creative Projects team, that inspired Becky and Stephanie to look beyond acting and explore the world of theatre in education. The two entrepreneurs launched One Day Creative Education in 2013 following several years working for other theatre in

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A new MA in Theatre and Performance Practice is being launched in September. This new venture is designed to give students invaluable professional experience bridging the gap between undergraduate study and the creative industries.

To find out more about Northumbria’s Performing Arts courses visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/arts

education companies. At that point they had already gained extensive industry experience – such as the delivery of international projects including community work in Romania.

Becky said: “We wanted stability and the chance to employ a wider range of business skills. believe that strong performers are usually strong communicators – and I think this is why enjoy the sales and marketing elements of business today.”

A successful funding application to the Business Enterprise Fund in Bradford secured £15,000 to kick-start the business. One Day Creative Education now works with over 500 schools across the country using drama to educate children on subjects as diverse as e-safety, environmental concerns and historical events.

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To find out more about their work, visit www.onedaycreative.com

Amy Golding

Drama

and Applied theatre graduate

Founder: Curious monkey

An organisation creating new opportunities for students is Curious Monkey founded by Amy Golding. After several enjoyable years with Live Theatre (one of Northumbria’s key cultural partners), Amy was looking for a new challenge. Curious Monkey was born to bring together her love of working in community settings and the professional directing experience gained at Live.

EXhibitioNs

Staff, students and visitors to Northumbria don’t have to travel far to soak up some culture. With internationally-renowned art right on campus, the University Gallery and Gallery North are artistic hotspots open to the wider public. Why not check them out over your lunch break?

university Gallery

Ørnulf opdahl: New Paintings

7 February – 28 march.

Born in 1944, Ørnulf Opdahl lives and works on the island of Godøy (God’s Island), on the west coast of Norway near Ålesund where he was born.

Strongly influenced by the magnificent coastal landscape surrounding him, his paintings reflect the threatening power of nature but can also resemble paradise on earth, of winter nights and starlit skies.

Gallery North

Ali Pritchard

Drama and scriptwriting graduate

Founder: Alphabetti spaghetti

Elizabeth blackadder: Prints and Lucy Jones: looking out, looking in: Portraits and landscapes 4 April – 23 may.

Dame Elizabeth Blackadder’s masterly use of printmaking allows her to depict everyday objects with spontaneity and ease. By contrast, Lucy Jones is a painter of provocative self-portraits and unpeopled landscapes of raw, wild beauty.

Colour/boundary until 21 February

Colour/Boundary explores the concept of colour using references as diverse as cinema, landscape and cartography featuring five artists: Caroline De Lannoy, Sharon Hall, Clyde Hopkins, Mali Morris and David Sweet. The exhibition is supported by Arts Council England.

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For full details on all gallery listings, visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/universitygallery and www.northumbria.ac.uk/gallerynorth

“Original, off the wall and clever”. This is how the BBC described Alphabetti Spaghetti’s debut production in 2012 – a great start for this new writing theatre company founded by Northumbria graduate Ali Pritchard. The company was formed to create opportunities for new talent and bridge the gap between study and employment. And it’s working!

Taking over the upstairs space in a city centre venue, Ali has created a public platform for writers, directors, actors and set designers. He’s already seen one of his new discoveries snapped up by a leading actor’s agent, immediately securing work with an internationally-renowned theatre company.

In launching Alphabetti Spaghetti, Ali has had to put into practice the wider business skills that he developed through degree modules such as Arts and Entrepreneurship and Professional Directions. He is now responsible for writing funding bids, pitching for sponsorship, running and programming a venue, commissioning new writing and of course, his biggest passion, writing and directing new work.

For more information, and to find out what’s on, visit www.alphabettispaghettitheatre.co.uk

The company brings to life stories that deserve to be told, and this has taken Amy as far as South Africa to work with young women from the Eastern Cape creating a production that was performed at South Africa’s National Arts Festival and within a number of male prisons. Amy points out that the course at Northumbria provided her with a strong grounding for her professional career. She said: “Having practical experience,

accessing rehearsal space and delivering projects in the community during my time at Northumbria really set me up for the world of work”. The practical facilitation, as well as covering topics such as fundraising, evaluation, production and management – all crucial skills require to take on many roles – added a real edge to Amy’s graduate CV. She added: “I urge Performing Arts students to make the most of their university days and the vast range of resources on offer at Northumbria.”

For

and Stephanie Noble

Amy Golding

Ann Cleeves

Ørnulf Opdahl: New Paintings

Elizabeth Blackadder: Prints.

Alphabetti Spaghetti

Becky Zimmerman (right) and Stephanie Noble

opinion 18 NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY NEWS

Have your say

It’s the time of year when Northumbria students are being asked to give feedback on their programme and their experience at university.

he National Student Survey and the Northumbria University Student Satisfaction Survey are now open and eligible students on undergraduate programmes are being asked to give their opinions on the University. But what’s the difference between the two?• Improved shuttle bus service between City/Coach Lane campuses

• New Arts and Design facilities in Squires Building

• Modernised Castles Restaurant

• New student Zone for Engineering and Environment students

The National Student Survey is sent to final year students at every university in the UK by Ipsos Mori. The findings of this national survey are used to help students choose where to study.

The Northumbria University Student Satisfaction Survey is sent to most undergraduate students at all other levels and run by Northumbria staff. The questions are similar to those in the national survey and help the University management to understand areas where it can develop your learning experiences.

Feedback from the surveys has helped to make many improvements for students. Here are just some which have been made over the last year…

Improvements to your timetables

Launch of the Blackboard Mobile

App and upgrade of the Blackboard system

More PCs across campuses

Increased access to e-books

Launch of the NU Student Charter

Upgraded WiFi access

Refurbishment of Coach Lane’s Library and main reception

what’s on

• New Student Engagement Centre for Business and Law students

But that’s not all! We’re also working on the following exciting projects which you’ll hear more on over the next 12 months…

• Developments in the use of technology to enable you to submit assignments and receive feedback electronically

• Improved Library resources for courses via a new online reading list service

• Improved Student Self-Service system with access to standard letters and templates to inform us of changes in circumstances

• Improved ways of working together with you and the Students’ Union

As you can see, your feedback really does matter, so be sure to fill in your survey when asked!

For more information visit mynsu.co.uk/survey MORE

Enjoy

Students’ Union • Gigs

Sports

Cornel Campbell meets Soothsayers

20 February, 8pm @ Reds Bar

Legendary Studio reggae singer Cornel ‘The Don Gorgon’ Campbell plays his first ever Newcastle show, teaming up with one of the UK’s greatest reggae bands the Soothsayers. This is a must for all fans of sweet reggae music. Featuring tunes from last year’s Nothing Can Stop Us, this string of shows is a musical melting pot that draws its inspiration from Jamaica, England, America and Africa. See www.mynsu.co.uk for more info

Lecture Programme

Vera Baird QC, Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria

11 March, 6.30pm, City Campus East, Business and Law Building

Vera will reflect on the challenges facing the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and Northumbria Police in a period of austerity in public expenditure.

WW1 Series

18 February, 4 march, 8 April, 13 may – Various venues

A series of free lectures on the impact of the First World War.

Inaugural Lectures

Professor gwyneth Doherty sneddon

19 March, 6.30pm, CCE1

Professor Jonathan Blackie

26 March, 6.30pm, CCE1

Professor susan Carr

2 April, 6.30pm, CCE1

Professor roy sandbach

30 April, 6.30pm, CCE1

To book a place, or for further information, email nu.events@northumbria.ac.uk

Sport Central

7 February Newcastle Eagles

v Sheffield Sharks

14 February Newcastle Eagles

v London Lions

21 February Newcastle Eagles

v BBL Trophy Quarter Final

7 March Newcastle Eagles

v Plymouth Raiders

14 March Newcastle Eagles

v Leicester Riders

21 March Newcastle Eagles

v London Lions

4 April Newcastle Eagles

v Sheffield Sharks

Fixtures correct at time of going to press.

Netball Superleague

Team Northumbria compete in the Netball Superleague at Sport Central. Fixtures run until May. For further details see story and QR code on page 20.

Stan Calvert Cup

2 March – various locations on Northumbria and Newcastle university campuses.

For more information, visit www.nusportcentral.com

To

City Events

To find out more about what’s on and things to do in NewcastleGateshead visit www.Newcastlegateshead.com

If you’re on the move download the ‘NewcastleGateshead City Guide’ App through the App Store or Google Play.

If you’re feeling social log onto www.geordielandmap.com to view a live guide of NewcastleGateshead for what’s happening and join in the conversation!

channel.

your f EE db Ack matters www.youtube.com/northumbriauni @NUundergaduate

it. We

filter

#NUTakeoverTuesday

We want to make Tuesdays all about you on social media! This is your University and we’re always looking for cool stuff to help show how great uni life really is.

T

SpORT

University pools student talent

Northumbria University’s student swimmers are on course to make a splash in 2014 after a breakthrough tournament in Sheffield.

The new-look squad came from nowhere to finish sixth overall at the BUCS short course championships. And that result lifted Northumbria to seventh in the BUCS standings across all sports – six places above fierce rivals Newcastle University.

Led by GB Paralympic coach Louise Graham, the Sport Central swimmers had high hopes of making waves in South Yorkshire. However, the mixed squad of able-bodied and disability athletes exceeded expectations to bag 10 golds and 20 medals overall.

“I was delighted with the performances of the team at the short course championships,” said Graham, a member of last summer’s London 2012 Paralympic swimming coaching staff.

“BUCS is a national event that attracts many of GB’s finest athletes and we certainly held our own.”

Based at Northumbria’s Sport Central pool, Graham’s squad features eight students on sport scholarships. The University’s groundbreaking scholarship scheme backs talented athletes across a range of sports – offering financial and practical support to those seeking to combine elite level competition with higher education.

Jack Bridge, who starred for Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics, is in the first year of a Leadership and Management degree at Northumbria. The 100m breaststroke specialist finished fourth in the SB9 category final on his Olympic debut and already has his sights set on Brazil 2016.

The 19-year-old student said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to study and swim at Northumbria. I’m based in the business school and at Sport Central and the facilities within both are fantastic.

“I’ve worked with Louise before and I appreciate the chance to work with her again. We have a good relationship stretching back three or four years.

“I love Newcastle as a city. It is such a great place to live and study and I’m so happy here. The whole of University life is great and being a sports scholar helps in terms of the support I receive.”

“It’s great to see a team working out of Sport Central’s pool making such a big impression on the national stage and everyone at Northumbria is excited about the future of swimming at the University.”

Students net super chance

British netball’s biggest names return to Tyneside in 2014 as Sport Central hosts its latest Superleague season.

Northumbria University students

will be at the heart of the action with four familiar faces back to fight for top flight glory. Sports scholars Leah Kennedy, Kayley Moss, Emma Woodings and Darcie Worsdale will combine their studies with a punishing schedule of practice and competitive fixtures.

But the crack quartet benefit from a package of top class support from Team Northumbria in a bid to balance their busy lives on and off the court.

New Zealander Emma, midway through the second year of her law degree, is tipped to make a big impression following an injury-ravaged 2013. And returning star Darcie – who graduated with a maths degree last summer before embarking on a Masters course – cannot wait to get back into the NSL mix.

“I made the decision to step down from Superleague this

time last year but there’s no getting away from the fact that I missed it,” she said.

“I would watch the other girls running out in front of a big crowd at Sport Central and think that could be me.”

TN have bolstered their ranks with the signing of Aussie enforcer Georgia Beaton. And crowd favourite Toetsie Kambatuku will be shooting for glory after the Namibian star returned to study at Northumbria.

In addition the club has recruited the core of Northern Ireland’s squad ahead of this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow – offering Ulster’s finest the chance to get much-needed match practice against top flight opposition.

“There’s no doubt the Commonwealth Games make this season’s NSL bigger than most,” Darcie added.

“There will be internationals from all over the world bidding to seal their places in Glasgow in the next few months and that can only increase the level of competition. We’re hoping for some thrilling matches at Sport Central starting with the visit of Celtic Dragons.”

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Team Northumbria’s Performance Scholars (L-R) Harriet Lee, Jack Bridge and Larisa Yarovaya