ISSUE 2
SOUTHAMPTON SOLENT UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE
May 08
COMEDY DOUBLE
MARITIME ROLE MODELS SPIRIT OF SUCCESS
CONTENTS
1.
COMEDY KING
2.
BRIGHT SPARKS
4.
ROCKING WRITER
5.
STUDIO SOUNDS
6.
MARITIME MODELS
8.
SPIRIT CHILD
10. SOLENT PEOPLE 12. BOOT CAMP 14. 15.
MARITIME MENTOR
17.
MILLAIS GALLERY
GOOD VIBRATIONS
WELCOME Everybody seems to be talking about ‘brand’ these days, and the UK higher education sector appears no different. Many universities in Britain seem to be worrying aloud about what gives them distinctiveness, and how they might present themselves in a way that sets them apart. What about our University? I hope that in this latest edition of ISSUE, we have been able to set out how we are developing educationally, as well as to provide you with a glimpse of the values and achievements of our staff and students. In the coming pages, you will be able to read how in areas as diverse as comedy and fashion, new and innovative programmes of study are attracting students who are making their mark whilst studying here or, who in their spare time, are giving invaluable support to the wider community. We have witnessed another major growth in applications to our undergraduate courses this year, and it is pleasing to see that our fast-growing reputation for providing contemporary and relevant vocational education is evidenced by visits from ‘big names’ from the recording industry, like Trevor Horn, and the places, such as Vogue.com, where our students’ work has been showcased recently. Our location in an international maritime city means that shipping will always be important to us, and the stretch of water that provides the other half of our name seems to provide the perfect training ground for our yachtsmen and women who have yet again dominated the BUSA national championships.
HOW TO CONTACT US: Send your news, views, queries and comments to: the Press and PR Officer, Southampton Solent University, East Park Terrace, Southampton SO14 0RB T. 023 8031 9040 E. press.office@solent.ac.uk
Designed and published by: Southampton Solent University’s Marketing and Communications Service. Printed by: Cedar Press.
Lastly, SSU is an inclusive university, seeking to provide everybody with the ability to benefit from higher education with the means to do so in a supportive environment. So, hopefully, you are no longer in any doubt about what gives this University its distinctiveness, and in the pages that follow we can provide you with an even greater insight.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Van Gore
COMEDY | ISSUE 2
COVER STORY
KING OF COMEDY They say things aren’t funny a second time around – but Solent’s double victory in Paramount’s Comedy On Tap Funniest Student competition has given us all something to smile about. BA (Hons) Comedy degree student Hannah George won the prestigious event when it was first launched in 2007, and now student Ric Wharton – in his first year on the same degree course – has taken this year’s national title. Ric won the award during the hotlycontested finals at the world-renowned Comedy Store in London, in front of judges Ant Butler from Off The Kerb management – who represents Lee Evans and Jack Dee – Paramount’s Head of New Comedy Kathleen Hutchison, and acclaimed stand up Robin Ince. Ric, who comes from the outskirts of Newcastle, said: “Winning the title is the best thing that has ever happened to me. “It is the culmination of a great year. It all started when I was persuaded by a friend to have a go at stand-up. My first gig at a local pub went down really well, and I realised I had found my vocation.
When I found out that I could go to Southampton Solent University to study comedy it was an absolute dream. “The degree gave me confidence and stage presence and I’ve now performed over 30 times. Winning the Paramount Comedy on Tap Funniest Student title gave me a real boost and some great opportunities to work with the top people in the industry.” Course leader Chris Ritchie added: “Ric is an incredibly promising student with a bright future in comedy. He is a natural performer with natural charm. He is the second of our students to prove that the Comedy degree can help young comedians on their way to international stardom.” Paramount’s Kathleen Hutchison said: “The standard of acts was brilliant, and Ric came up trumps.” She went on to say that she would have paid to see his act.
Flawless fashion Our fashion students have had their flair for fashion featured on Vogue.com. Students on the Media Styling courses were paired with third-year fashion photography students and given a brief to produce a classic fashion image for autumn/winter. TV fashion presenter and Vogue. com reporter, Louise Roe, was so impressed with the end results she featured one of the final images on their website. She thought the results were outstanding, saying: “…some could easily be mistaken for a million-pound campaign on the opening page of a glossy.” She loved the featured image, Flourescent Winter Warmers (front cover image) by student fashion stylist Kayleigh Ruddle and photographer Linda Karlsson and thought the talented pair definitely had a future in fashion.
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ISSUE 2 | STUDENT SUCCESS
BRIGHT SPARKS It’s not what you do, it’s the way that you do it, and we’re always very proud when our students put their best and brightest feet forward to make a real difference in the community. There’s no shortage of energy and enthusiasm here, and if our students have a great idea, they like to act on it. After all, we’re not just thinkers here at Solent, we’re do-ers too! Painting the town… Art student Stephanie Hayle isn’t scared of getting messy – but she’s quite happy to clean up too!
needed text books for communities that can’t afford them – and personally delivers them.
The BA (Hons) Fine Art student shared her artistic bent with the city’s older people through the University’s ‘art that cares’ project, which brings art workshops to residential homes.
Slam dunk… BA (Hons) Criminology student Ransford Laryea decided to fight flak with fun, by getting youngsters shooting hoops rather than hanging around.
After helping the city’s older residents get creative on canvas, Stephanie swapped her brushes for brooms, as she joined fellow students and residents to put a shine on the city centre, in the regular Polygon clean-up event. Man’s best friend… When BA (Hons) Outdoor Adventure Management student, Nick Thomas, signed up for dog walking duties at his local Blue Cross kennels, he nearly bit off more than he could chew. Before long, outdoorsy Nick had moved from dog walking to kennel cleaning and even teaching his canine companions a host of new tricks. But it was a feline who took his fancy at the animal shelter. Nick fell head over heels for a very cute cat which he brought home and adopted. What’s the story…? Shelley Davies is good with words – but she’s even better with actions. So it’s hardly surprising that she heads up a project that takes books directly to the door of Tanzania’s schools and libraries. The BA (Hons) Event Management and Tourism student is a leader of the READ Book Project, which collects much2 | SUMMER
His Evolution of Youth project gives young people a chance to discover their passions and show their talents to the community. Kids are kept out of the criminal courts and encouraged onto the sports courts, in a scheme which fosters positive role models and keeps everyone smiling. Play that funky music… Hayley Clarke knows how to put her money where her mouth is. The charismatic communicator used her DJ-ing skills and music knowhow to raise hard cash for charity. The BA (Hons) Journalism student and Students’ Union Communications rep brought the University’s most popular bands together for a live gig, which she broadcast on her students’ radio programme to raise funds for Oxfam.
STUDENT SUCCESS | ISSUE 2
Left to right: Stephanie Hayle, Shelly Davies, Nick Thomas, Ransford Laryea, Hayley Clarke
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ISSUE 2 | MUSIC
NEWS IN BRIEF Solent backs city-wide sports Sport Solent has signed up to a city-wide campaign to help Southampton residents get active and improve their health. The ‘Active Southampton’ campaign, backed by key players in sport, health and fitness was launched at St. Mary’s Stadium. The University joined Southampton City Council, Southampton City Primary Care Trust, Southampton Football Club, Solent Youth Action, Southampton Voluntary Services, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Youth Options and local colleges in the project. Deck the halls It felt more like a night club than a lecture when top DJ James Zabiela demonstrated his dexterity on the decks for BA (Hons) Digital Music students recently. The new music studio was buzzing as the UK house and dance music star talked to students about the workings of the music industry. James, voted ‘Top UK DJ’ in a recent poll by DJ Magazine, is originally from Southampton and a great supporter of the region’s music scene. He was hugely excited about the Digital Music course, which covers sampling, scratching and laptop DJ-ing. Boffins on Beckham As the nation debated Fabio Capello’s failure to play David Beckham in the national side against Switzerland, senior Sports lecturer Dr Stewart Bruce-Low was pulled in as a pundit by a national newspaper. Stewart told The Sun he doubted the former England Captain’s match-performance fitness. He said, “The intensity of a match situation can never really be replicated in training. The only way to train for matches is to play matches…If he has not done adequate strength training, performances could be affected.”
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TEXT, DRUGS, AND ROCK ‘n’ ROLL! When BA (Hons) Journalism student Richard Bennett interviewed Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, he felt an affinity. Richard is no rock star, but just like Ronnie, Richard has felt the full force of failure and success. His drug and alcohol addiction destroyed his high-earning lifestyle and left him destitute. Just as Ronnie Wood overcame addiction and discovered art, Richard raised himself up through writing. “I was 43 when I started my degree course at Southampton Solent University. It changed my life,” said Richard. “I left school at 16, drifted through various jobs and travelled around Vietnam and Russia. There was a point when I was earning great money, but I was out of control with drugs. I lost my home and family and I ended up sleeping rough. I had nothing left. “After a month in rehab and a chance meeting with an old friend I gained some confidence and decided to pursue my dream of being a writer,” said Richard. It’s six years since Richard cleaned himself up, and through his degree course he has found his flair for writing. A stint at the Southern Daily Echo landed him his first three-page feature. “I had just read Ronnie Wood’s autobiography and heard that he wanted to talk about his art. I felt I knew where he was coming from and decided to interview him. The resulting feature was the Daily Echo’s entertainments lead story. “I saw someone reading my article and I believed I could make journalism
my career. You can’t always control your life but if you turn up with an open mind things happen – and Solent helped,” said Richard. Southern Daily Echo Features Editor, Andy Bissell added: “At the Daily Echo we are always happy to give students the opportunity to gain a real insight into journalism through working with us. It is particularly satisfying when mature students, like Richard, produce such pleasing results and enjoy the experience.” Richard’s lecturers are proud of his achievement. “We are delighted with Richard’s success. He worked very hard not only to secure the interview, but to get it published. Initiative and perseverance are essential journalist skills, which along with good cuttings, should secure that elusive first job,” said Mary Hogarth, BA (Hons) Journalism course leader.
MUSIC | ISSUE 2
HITTING THE RIGHT NOTE Grammy Award winning producer, song writer and musician Trevor Horn set the University buzzing this January as he opened its new £1 million state-of-the-art recording studios. Horn, who has produced songs and albums for a stellar cast of British and international artists including Sugababes, Paul McCartney, Kelly Rowland, Macy Gray and Frankie Goes to Hollywood, said the studios were giving students the best facilities in the business. The new studios are a pivotal part of the University’s innovative new degree courses in Popular Music and Record Production, Urban and Electronic Music and Music Performance, as well as Audio Engineering units of study. They will enable students to practice the craft of music production to a professional standard. “The facilities you have developed here at Southampton Solent are amazing,” Trevor said at the opening ceremony. “Some youngsters dream of Ferraris, but young musicians dream of studios. They are incredibly lucky to be able to perform, write and learn in such a stimulating environment. I’m sure
this will nurture their enthusiasm and creative talents – and bring them on in an increasingly competitive but exciting industry.” Following the opening ceremony, students were treated to an exclusive ‘Q&A session’, giving them the chance to question Trevor about the music busines and his own career highlights. Paul Rutter, senior lecturer in Popular Music at Solent, said: “It’s an incredibly exciting industry out there and we’re delighted to be helping our talented and enthusiastic students through a combination of academic study, practical musicianship and studio-based recording.”
TREVOR HORN • • •
Trevor was the man behind the 1979 single, Video Killed the Radio Star as a member of New Wave band The Buggles. The video was the first ever to be shown on the embryonic MTV. He wasn’t available to produce the iconic 1984 Band Aid hit Do They Know Its Christmas? but lent his studio in West London, free of charge and produced the B-side. He won a Grammy in 1996 for co-writing Seal’s worldwide hit Kiss from a Rose.
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ISSUE 2 | MARITIME
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MARITIME | ISSUE 2
ROLE MODELS With Warsash Maritime Academy’s exhilarating portfolio of training initiatives, high quality students are beating a path to its door. Fire fighting, boat handling, sea survival and communications are aimed at personnel ranging from captains to hospitality staff. But it’s the Academy’s attention to dealing with ‘what if’ scenarios that is giving it worldwide exposure. One of its most innovative projects is its miniature fleet, which trains skippers to pilot the world’s largest ships.
The training comes in the wake of a worldwide shortage of captains and a boom in supertankers, with 110 new vessels being built to cope with the increased global demand for liquid natural gas.
Its Marchwood-based manned model ship handling lake gives students the chance to steer two-man 30ft replicas of tankers, bulk carriers and ferries through the complicated manoeuvres needed to keep cargo and crew safe in the most challenging conditions.
Senior lecturer, Gordon Maxwell, said: “Pilots and skippers like to be exposed to the elements. You can get simulators, but to be out on the water emulates the unpredictable nature of seafaring.
The 1:40 scale electrically powered models are steered through simulated currents and a range of berths, giving tomorrow’s captains an experience that will never be matched through textbooks. Supertankers can be up to a quarter mile in length and take a long time to stop, so there is no room for error. The Academy’s models handle like the real thing and in them students learn to deal with hazardous situations with no risk to themselves or the environment.
“Our training prepares them for the real thing. We aim to prevent disasters. The cost of ships and their cargoes is enormous and you can multiply that by 100 if you have a major spillage.” The lake is one of a range of top training facilities that have received international attention from the shipping industry in a climate where maritime safety and ecological protection is gaining ground. Deck, engineer and electro-technical officer cadets, as well as senior officers on competency and safety training courses,
are exposed to hands-on courses that are as likely to have them out on a stormy day on the Hamble, as handling the ship’s bridge and engine room from one of the Academy’s state-of-the-art simulators. Warsash open days At Warsash it’s not unusual to see full blown ‘emergencies’ being dealt with by lecturers and students working with response experts and harbour masters, and open days are a tad unusual. In the most recent, hundreds of potential recruits – from as far afield as Cyprus – were treated to a thrilling flypast and helicopter rescue demonstration as the coastguard crew ‘saved’ administration assistant Kim Scott from the freezing Hamble as he played survivor for the day. In a region so bound up in maritime culture and industry, it’s comforting to know that lessons learned on the open seas, in classrooms, simulators and purpose-built lakes, are being used in real life operations across the world to ensure the industry prospers in safe, clean seas. SUMMER | 7
ISSUE 2 | GRADUATE SUCCESS
SPIRIT CHILD Elinor Geller wanted magic and spirit to touch her animations – but when her work breathed life into the soul of a small child, it touched audiences in a way that is still surprising her. The Spirit Child, Elinor’s finalyear BA (Hons) Animation degree project, has won awards in festivals across the world, and has just been named the BBC Big Screen Film Festival’s best animation. 8 | SUMMER
Although the accolades are fuelling Elinor’s impressive portfolio, it’s the film’s heartwarming humanity that’s causing a real stir. Renowned BBC broadcaster and film critic Mark Kermode, who judged the BBC Big Screen Festival, is among a growing
number of people moved by Elinor’s poignant portrayal of childhood death. “I’ve always been interested in the spiritual. When I was a child I lived in a 110-year-old house. Each member of my
GRADUATE SUCCESS | ISSUE 2
NEWS IN BRIEF
family could describe a ghostly sighting, I even heard singing outside my bedroom door when there was no one there,” said 24-year-old Elinor. “Just before I started my final-year animation project my sister’s friend lost her six-month-old baby very suddenly. During the sadness of that event, I thought, if the parents were to imagine a really nice place for the spirit of their child to be, what would it look like? I imagined angels, fairgrounds and play, the sort of things you don’t usually associate with cemeteries. The title, The Spirit Child, had already formed in my mind, and the ideas seemed to flow.” In less than a night Elinor wrote a touching poem, and months of painstaking work on the film itself began. The frames were all hand drawn before being individually scanned into a computer programme for editing. Elinor’s musician and entertainment manager brother, Avi, wrote and produced the music and hired American actor, Franklin Ojeda Smith to read Elinor’s poem. “While other students enjoyed the night life, I worked on The Spirit Child. I went for walks through the cemetery in Southampton looking for visual inspiration. I discovered its cheerfulness and peacefulness; the way life flourishes through the wild grasses and flowers. It helped me to illustrate the brightness in what is often seen as a dark subject.”
Elinor’s deep, personal commitment is evident in the 2D character drawings and background wash which brought her touching words alive. In scenes reminiscent of the sources of her inspiration – Tim Burton, and Dr Seuss – she presents the cemetery as: “This gloomy place is not what it seems; what may seem dead comes to life in moonbeams.”
New Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor John Latham has been appointed to the role of Deputy ViceChancellor of the University. In addition to deputising for ViceChancellor Professor Van Gore, his role includes specific responsibility for recruitment, planning and the University’s overall resource position. Professor Latham previously held the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor, Resources, since 2003, prior to which he was Dean of Southampton Business School.
Elinor, who came out with a first class honours degree, is delighted that she studied at Southampton Solent University. “My family were very supportive and my tutors, Nick Phillips and Adam Comiskey, were fantastic. Among other projects, I’m working on a book of the film. “It’s fantastic that The Spirit Child has gone so well, but the feedback from individuals is even more encouraging. Bereaved parents have written to me to say they found the film uplifting and comforting; and my sister’s friend is going to show it to her little girl when she asks about her brother. If you can touch people with your art it makes it worthwhile.” You can see The Spirit Child on Elinor’s website, at www.elinorgeller.com or www.myspace.com/thespiritchild
Hello and goodbye to QE2 Students studying BA (Hons) Tourism Management with Cruise and Travel Operations were recently given a tour of the world famous cruise liner, the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2). The visit, organised by AB Ports in conjunction with Cunard, also took in a tour of the QE2 terminal, giving the students a chance to meet some of the regular passengers, and understand how cruise passengers are processed through the ports and onto the ships.
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ISSUE 2 | SOLENT PEOPLE
BRANCHING OUT As names go, Tall Trees was not the most apt for the Isle of Wight home Bob Keats bought more than 16 years ago. Perched on a plot that had been flattened by the 1987 storms, there was barely even a bush left standing. But the ironic turned prophetic for the BA (Hons) and Diploma in Higher Education Housing course leader. He later turned the family abode into an eight-acre arboretum, while donating a steady supply of saplings to Southampton’s city centre parks. “It was never my intention to have so many trees,” said Bob. “It started when my four-year-old daughter, Holly, came home from school with a pine cone. I planted some seeds and we ended up with 300 pines. After repeating the exercise a few times there were 2,000 trees growing in the garden. “A few years later, we bought the neighbouring eight acres for an arboretum. If I plant a different species every fortnight I’ll have 1,000 by my 80th birthday!”
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In 200 years time Bob’s Californian Redwoods will fall just 28 ft short of the top of the Salisbury Cathedral spire in an unusual forest that will change a small part of Shorewell for generations to come. Bob is a fervent fan of forward planning. As policy makers wrestle with schemes to protect the planet, encourage cooperative communities and develop less damaging fuel, Bob, and the Housing lecturers at Solent are at the cutting edge of sustainable housing issues. “Sustainable housing is a hot issue which we are teaching at all levels,” said Bob, who worked in the housing profession for 27 years. By 2016 the government wants all new housing to be carbon zero, using fuel efficient devices like woodchip heating. The synergy between buildings,
economics, transport, employment, housing and technological strategies is a fascinating subject that has taken Bob to Rotterdam where he introduces students to Europe’s more cutting-edge sustainable housing schemes. For Bob, who is studying for a PhD researching the evolutionary adaptation of professional organisations – it’s a challenging time. He is working with the Academy of Sustainable Communities on plans to run one of the UK’s first Foundation degrees covering sustainable communities. “We are already at the forefront of training people from a variety of professions – including those in housing and other areas of the community – in this incredibly important subject, and there are great plans for the future,” said Bob.
SOLENT PEOPLE | ISSUE 2
THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT Suzie Norris is not a follower of fashion – she’s a trendsetter! While working for The Fashion Service Suzie asked the questions that set the styles: ‘What would be the seasons new black? Would hemlines go up or down? Would shoes be platform or peep toe?’ It’s this propensity for prediction and trend analysis that gives Suzie the edge when introducing Solent’s cutting-edge courses in design, fashion and lifestyle. As a forecaster Suzie combined her knowledge of contemporary fashion design and trends with consumer business information, and translated it into successful products for clients that included Harrods and Harvey Nichols. “Looking ahead is really important in the fashion and design industries. You are pulling together information on lifestyle, media influences, work patterns and social change, and translating them for future use.” Along with her talented team, the dynamic Head of Design has used these principles to transform the School of Design. In recent years it has doubled in size, and seen high levels of demand from students interested in new cutting-edge design courses. “We are a generation of avid consumers of fashion and lifestyle magazines, styling programmes and new media technologies. To capture this growing interest we have
introduced ground-breaking new courses. “Interior design has historically had its roots firmly planted in architecture. While still respecting this we have also developed new courses which focus on interior design and decoration together with interior styling for stage, film and television. ” Last year Suzie launched her latest brainchild, the UK’s first degree for students wanting a career in fashion and media styling. Would-be stylists flocked to sign up, and since last September students have produced a shoot for Vogue.com, styled a television promo for Sony in HD and worked with a major high street retailer.
“Forecasting is a process of estimation and demand planning. Understanding emerging job markets and identifying what the future student might look like ensures we train employable graduates who will enjoy their chosen course of study.” But although she enjoys looking at the bigger picture as an academic leader, it’s lecturing and working with creative students that inspires her most. “I enjoy every single day of my job and consider myself a practitioner first and practicing academic second. Present and future students are my clients now and I want to give them courses that they will enjoy and will launch them towards a career they will love.”
“The new Fashion and Media Styling courses were seen by many as a bit of a gamble, but in a commercial world where visual image is key to the success of any product, I felt confident that this suite of courses would be a success.”
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ISSUE 2 | ENTERPRISE
NEWS IN BRIEF
Sweet success of Fairtrade Fortnight Celebrating a year of Fairtrade status, the University held its Fairtrade Fortnight from 25 February – 9 March this year. Students and staff continued to raise awareness with a screening of Black Gold (based on the coffee growing industry), promotional offers on Fairtrade products in the Campus and Students’ Union shops and – the highlight of the event – Fairtrade chocolate and winetastings with the Co-operative Group, along with an opportunity to meet Cocoa producers.
BOOT CAMP STUDENTS FIRED-UP Our students may not have had the dubious pleasure of Sir Alan Sugar testing their business acumen – but the intensive Hampshire Enterprise Boot Camp, hosted by the University, put 40 student entrepreneurs through their paces. Our Southampton Business School students joined students from the universities of Southampton, Portsmouth and Winchester to flex their business muscles for the third annual three-day residential training course, in the hope of gaining a share in the £4,000 prizes.
Haven of opportunity Another of our talented animators has been recognised on the awards scene. Recent graduate George Alexandrou was named Best Student Animator by the Royal Television Centre, Southern, for his breathtaking animated short film, Haven. You can view the film at www.georgealexandrou.com
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The prestigious event – run jointly by the universities with the help of business and council sponsorship – was designed to sharpen up recruits’ business skills through challenges that would rival the dastardly deeds dreamt up by Sir Alan himself. Teams of students faced a variety of enterprise challenges to introduce them to business concepts and financial strategies through interactive workshops and presentations, business plans and pitches. As part of the event, groups from the four institutions were unleashed on to the
centre of Southampton for The Business Challenge, when they were given £50 to make the best profit in one day through a workable business venture. The determined teams took no prisoners as they hit the streets and blagged and bartered their way through a range of schemes. One team managed to get 100 free copies of The Southern Daily Echo. They raised money through charging businesses to include flyers in the newspapers, which were distributed around town. Another opportunist team took advantage of Southampton’s cold, damp weather by selling umbrellas to soggy shoppers. Between car washing, selling sweets and a lucky dip, profits made for each of the eight teams ranged from just £1 to £250.
ENTERPRISE | ISSUE 2
In task two, teams had to produce a business plan, brand, presentation, complete market analysis and financial forecasts for a green product or home service – all within 48 hours.
the future. It’s great that Southampton City Council and universities are encouraging us to start our own businesses in the city through events like this.”
Local businessman, Colin Bowler of Tandem Design, judged the Best Student Brand, which was won by the team which came up with Ecopia, a box delivery and refill scheme for eco-cleaning products.
Winners of the best business plan were Moritz Haenel and Wesley Gromniak (Southampton Solent University), Tom Saunders and Manisha Joshi (University of Southampton) and Frances Jenkins (the University of Winchester).
The major prize of £3,000 jointly awarded by Southampton City Council, Grant Thornton and Hampshire Economic Partnership went to Green Life, who planned a comparison website and loyalty scheme for the greenest products and services. Mercedes Mallya, Nathaniel Loxley (from Southampton Solent University), Tom York, Vivek Thiyagarajam, (from the University of Southampton) and University of Winchester’s Joe Bolton celebrated their win. Tom said: “Enterprise Boot Camp was the most intense and challenging course I’ve ever been on. The business planning, pitching and negotiation techniques that we put into practice will be invaluable in
Their plan was structured around an energy comparison website to encourage householders to be more energy efficient. Wesley said: “We had a great few days. It was especially useful to develop teamworking skills. The challenges were quite involved – though, unlike the contestants in The Apprentice, no-one got told off!” Several students from last year’s Enterprise Boot Camp are streaming ahead in business, including Grace Adekola, who has set up her own gift card business since graduating from Solent.
“
This was an intensive course, which was very challenging. The students were up against the clock, and they had to adapt to the conditions of the day. For instance, when they set about the task of raising money, it was pouring with rain and many people were inside watching an England – France friendly. Lesley Hyder, Academic Leader (recruitment and retention) praised students for their enthusiasm and commitment.
”
Sponsors of the annual Enterprise Boot Camp include Business Link, Hampshire Enterprise Partnership, Southampton City Council, Grant Thornton, Ernst & Young, Tandem and Tenon.
Anyone interested in sponsoring next year’s event – to be held at the University of Southampton – should contact studententerprise@soton.ac.uk SUMMER | 13
ISSUE 2 | MENTORS
MARITIME MENTOR The maritime industry is experiencing a boom and finding it hard to find the manpower to keep up with demand. Third-year Maritime Studies student Marcus Pradhan dreams of working within the lucrative world of maritime brokerage. However, as a foreign student the, 20-year-old from India is concerned that it will be more difficult for him to find employment. “I have been looking at job adverts and UK shipping companies are looking for graduates within the EU. Indian shipping companies have less graduate opportunities, and want seasoned professionals.” To improve his chances Marcus has signed up with the University’s Mentoring + Programme, which helps students who feel that they will be disadvantaged in the labour market due to a particular difficulty such as ethnicity, age, country of origin, gender, disability or as an exoffender. The students are paired up with volunteers from local employers such as Ford, Skandia, Lawton Communications and Hampshire Constabulary. They receive one-to-one mentoring and benefit from a series of workshops delivered by industry professionals. Marcus Pradhan is pleased to be partnered with Adam Myers from 14 | SUMMER
Faststream Recruitment Ltd, specialists in the maritime industry.
navigate his way towards a promising career in an industry he loves.
“When I met Adam he introduced me to everyone and even the Managing Director took time to reassure me that there was a job out there for me.
Destinations
“Adam is a great motivator and I’m starting to feel more confident about getting work. He’s looking at my CV and advising me on my best route into the industry,” said Marcus This is the first time that Faststream has taken part in the programme and they are looking forward to building better links with the University. “This is a great way for us to improve our community links. We are also in the process of setting up a graduate training programme. In addition to helping Marcus I am keen to find out what today’s graduates are looking for and how best we can assist them into the job market,” explained Adam. With help like this Marcus looks set to
2005 – 2006 Southampton Solent University Destination of Leavers Survey found that: • female graduates were on average likely to earn at least £1000 a year less than their male counterparts • graduates with no known disability earned the most, followed by those who suffered dyslexia. Graduates with disabilities excluding dyslexia were paid the least • ethnic minority graduates were found to have lower salaries than the ethnic majorities.
ADVANCED SCHOLARSHIP | ISSUE 2
GOOD VIBRATIONS
A ground-breaking ‘VisuoSonic’ software development, pioneered at Southampton Solent University, has been astounding audiences as part of a series of experimental performances mixing sound and vision. Professor of Fine Art Maurice Owen, and senior lecturer in Media and Visual Arts, Dr Russell Richards, have been demonstrating their ‘KikiT VisuoSonic’ innovation in Australia, Canada and beyond. VisuoSonic enables live improvisations between sonic and digital artists, causing played instruments to have a direct effect on patterns of lights. The KikiT VisuoSonic performances could not be more diverse, starting with the hallowed interiors of the prestigious Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain in Belgium, where Maurice and Russell collaborated with the internationally acclaimed Belgian group SBBrass. Here, audiences were mesmerised by a series of ever-changing ‘digital paintings’, with the museum’s collection of Picassos, Gauguins and Ensors integrated into the performance with four-dimensional video projections, continually morphed by live performances of works by Bach, Handel, Piazzolla and jazz improvisations.
in Canada recently, saw collaborations with Techno DJs and VJs and Drum and Base musicians. Advanced Scholarship The KikiT VisuoSonic project is just one example of the ground-breaking advanced scholarship activity taking place across the University. Dr Wendy Leeks, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Media, Arts and Society, said: “Advanced Scholarship refers to a range of activities where staff use their expertise to enhance the experience of students, and further the reputation of the University. It includes traditionally-understood research but goes wider, taking in applied research, creative production and achievements in teaching, student support and the broad range of professional undertakings by all University staff.” A recent annual ‘tally’ of the advanced scholarship activity undertaken by Southampton Solent University staff has revealed an increase of nearly 20 per cent over the past year.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Selfless students Our caring students volunteered their time and skills during National Student Volunteering Week. Solent art students organised a painting workshop for some of the city’s elderly residents; website whizzes offered ideas on how to make charity websites more appealing to young people; a hardy cohort got together to polish up the polygon as part of a ‘Concrete Conservation’ sponsored by Proctor and Gamble; and style conscious students raised over £100 with a multi-coloured swap shop. City Gallery goes green Second-year Fine Art students exhibited their work in Southampton City Gallery as part of a creative learning project with Hounsdown School this March. The ‘Bizz-Bazz’ exhibition formed part of Project Hart, a multiagency, waste-into-art project, also involving Oakland’s Community School and supported by Creative Partnerships Southampton and Isle of Wight, and Southampton City Council. Sharing exhibition space with artist and Media and Visual Arts lecturer John Thomson, the show featured sculptures clad in scrap materials donated by local businesses, and Southampton and Portsmouth material banks.
In a radical contrast, a performance given SUMMER | 15
ISSUE 2 | EVENTS
NEWS IN BRIEF
PUBLIC EVENTS A celebration of Polish culture in Southampton Friday May 9 at 5.15pm. Free admission Celebrate Polish culture in Southampton with an evening of guest talks, traditional dance and a British/Polish buffet. Guest speakers: Southampton MP Alan Whitehead and Unity 101’s Anna Marcickiewicz.
Students sail into success Our yachting team has done it again! They secured a hat-trick for the University by winning the British Universities Sailing Association (BUSA) Yachting National Championship for the third year in a row. The team successfully braved the elements and defended their national title after an exciting and challenging week of eight races on the Solent. By winning the long inshore race, they secured our position as national champions for the seventh time in nine years. Thirty two teams, from universities all over Great Britain, battled it out over four days of racing, with Team Solent dominating the competition and taking first and second place. The University has firmly established its position as the premier institution in the yachting sector. The winning team was coached by Niall Myant, and skippered by Chris Evens and crew: Paul Childs, Shane Hughs, Henry Bagnell, Ben Pym, Nick Blevins, Laura Newnham and Hannah Burywood. The team will now go on to compete in France for the Student Yachting World Cup in autumn. Phil Green, Director of Sport Solent, said; “I am extremely proud of the sailing team. Their hard work and determination has paid off yet again.”
16 | SUMMER
An audience with Minette Walters Tuesday 27 May at 5.25pm. Free admission
Fine Art and Illustration graduate shows Friday 13 – 19 June, John Everett Millais Building, East Park Terrace, SO14 0YN
Graduate fashion show Wednesday 18 June at 6.45pm, Southampton Guildhall, West Marlands Road, Civic Centre, Southampton, SO14 7LP.
Photography degree show A live interview with the award winning and internationally renowned crime fiction author followed by an audience Q&A session. The above events will take place at the Sir James Mathews Building, Above Bar Street, Southampton, SO14 7NN. For further information and to book tickets call 023 8031 9038 or email events@ solent.ac.uk
2008 DEGREE SHOWS Each year the University showcases its students’ work in a programme of final year degree shows. The shows highlight the crème of student talent, and are open to the public and employers.
Animation film showcase Monday 9 June, Harbour Lights Picturehouse Ocean Village, Southampton SO14 3TL
Technology degree show 2008 Friday 13 June, 11 – 2pm, Herbert Collins Building, East Park Terrace, SO14 0YN
Friday 13 – 19 June, the Millais Gallery, East Park Terrace, Southampton SO14 0YN
School of Design degree shows Friday 13 – 19 June, John Everett Millais Building, East Park Terrace, SO14, 0YN.
Performance degree shows The Maids, Sunday 1 June, 7.30pm,Nuffield Theatre. Contact Nuffield Theatre direct for ticket information and bookings Dr and the Devils, 14 – 15 May, 7.30pm, Hanger Farm Arts Centre, Aikman Lane, West Totton, Southampton SO40 8FT. Tickets available on the door for £5 or £3 concessions. The Beautiful Nun, 15 – 17 May, 7.00pm, Central Baptist Church, Devonshire Rd, Southampton, SO15 2GY. For further information on the degree shows please call 023 8031 9011 or email ask@solent.ac.uk
MILLAIS GALLERY | ISSUE 2
FloorSpace David Dixon, Tom Hackett, Leo Fitzmaurice April 18 – May 31 The Millais Gallery is ‘going back to the floor’ for its next exhibition. It has commissioned three artists to make special pieces for the floor of the Millais Gallery. Leo Fitmaurice’s recent show at Transition in London showed advertising fliers transformed into gorgeous rainbow patterns in circular and oval forms. He transforms the single message of an advertising blurb into a communal sculptural idea of exceptional beauty. Tom Hackett’s project sheds lights on the everyday and commonplace to unearth and question many of the received truths that surround us. His project risk @ssessment uses 600 cast resin objects each containing a flashing LED light. Southampton-based David Dixon uses discarded books from libraries that are considered of no more use. Whole floors are created, as if the books were a form of mosaic flooring. The contents are sometimes hightlighted, sometimes obscured, as if knowledge itself is being scrutinised and assessed. For information on future exhibitions and gallery opening times: e-mail: millais.gallery@solent.ac.uk, telephone: 023 8031 9916 or visit www.solent.ac.uk/millais Top: David Dixon, Cosmic Censorship Hypothesis, 2005, Southampton City Vaults Middle: Leo Fitmaurice, Neat Stuff at Firstsite Gallery, Colchester, 2006, Advertisement flyers Bottom: Tom Hackett, risk @ssessment, 2005, 600 cast resin objects each with LED light
HBMMFSZ NJMMBJT SUMMER | 17
ISSUE 2 |
Learn to sail, powerboat or paddle from our new, purpose-built Watersports Centre at Warsash
SAIL INTO SUMMER The RYA and BCU recognised Centre delivers practical, short courses in dinghy and keelboat sailing, powerboating and kayaking. We also offer courses in navigation, first aid and VHF radio
For more information call: 01489 556 298 18 | SUMMER or visit: www.solent.ac.uk/sport/watersports