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May 2013
Getting girls into sports in South Africa Page 3
Beds enactus are national champions Page 5
Lucky few are off to China
Page 9
Summer School launched to study John Bunyan PAGE 8
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Minister to open £20m Centre M
INISTER for Universities and Science, the Rt Hon David Willetts MP, will officially open the University of Bedfordshire’s new Postgraduate (PG) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) centre in Luton on Monday, 13 May. The £20 million building is the first to explicitly bring together PG and CPD study and students in a University setting, and one of fewer than 10 such centres in the UK. Following a construction period of just over 12 months, the first lectures and seminars took place in the centre in February 2013. Two-thirds of the fivestorey building is dedicated to teaching and the rest to social and support areas, including a cafe, games room, lounge and cinema space. Teaching space includes two Harvard-style lecture theatres, as well as state-of-the art IT and AV equipment. The building links directly to the University Business School. The Centre was built to accommodate the University’s growing PG and CPD offer for increasing
student numbers, providing a modern professional environment that enhances the student experience. The Centre’s project board was managed by Professor Ashraf Jawaid, Deputy Vice Chancellor (External Relations). During his visit, Mr Willetts will meet staff,
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ore than 500 nominations have been received for the University’s first annual Vice Chancellor’s Student Experience Awards. The black-tie awards evening will be held at the Putteridge Bury campus on Friday, 7 June. Vice Chancellor Bill Rammell said: “Delivering
Communications and events Team contacts
THE Division of Sports Therapy has held its first Student Conference. The event featured key note speeches by Jonathan Chatfield and Caron Kendall on topical subjects including; the management of acute sports injuries. Local employers including Julie Dass and Hertfordshire Police Service offered students advice about their future career options. The conference also featured a poster exhibition where thirdyear BSc students presented their research. Dr Lucy O’Driscoll, the Head of Division of Physiotherapy and Sports Therapy, presented three £20 book prizes (sponsored by John Smith’s Bookshop) for the best research posters, to Omotola Macauley, Jamie Rogers and Joe Swithenby. Second year students Ellie Bearman and Genevieve Croll, were voted ‘Most Promising Students’ and received a £50 prize each. Reflecting on the conference Dr O’Driscoll said: “I’d like to thank all our students, staff and guest speakers for making our conference a great success. “This event also showcased the breadth and quality of current student research at Bedfordshire and the fantastic employment options available to our students following their studies. “I look forward to it becoming an annual event in the University’s calendar.” l More information about the
Rt Hon David Willetts MP. Image courtesy of UK in India
the best student experience possible is my number one priority for the University. “To achieve our ambitions in this area requires hard work and shared responsibilities, from both academic and professional services staff. “Therefore it is right that we also take time to celebrate achievement and
Rose Taylor Head of Communications & Events rose.taylor@beds.ac.uk Kevin Cunningham Communications Officer kevin.cunningham@beds.ac.uk
02 Life – May 2013
Sports Therapy hosts inaugural conference
students, community leaders and representatives from leading local businesses, many of whom have contributed to the plans for design of the Centre. The MP for Havant in Hampshire will be given a tour before he unveils a plaque marking the opening of the building.
Who will be best in class at Vice Chancellor’s Awards?
Simon Wesson Communications Assistant simon.wesson@beds.ac.uk Nadia March Events Manager nadia.march@beds.ac.uk
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conference is available on BREO.
success, and the Student Experience Awards evening will be a tremendous showcase for students, staff and University partners.” The awards categories include: Inspirational teaching, Inspirational professional staff member, Outstanding researcher, Best collaborative project, Team of the year, Staff member of the year and Student of the year. All winners and runners-up will be invited to bring guests to the Awards Evening, with dinner and entertainment included. l Look out for the news story following the evening with details of all the winners on: www.beds.ac.uk
Photographers James Linsell-Clark David Stubbs
Do you have a news story? Please contact the Comms team.
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Sporty Charlotte aims to be ‘role model’ for girls in South Africa W
HEN 15-year-old Charlotte Smith learned that girls in South African schools were not able to take part in sport, she was eager to change it. The opportunity came when, as a school pupil she went on an exchange visit to the Groenberg Secondary School, in the South African village of Grabouw. On her return Charlotte started raising money and set up a scheme to get girls there taking part in sport and physical activities, making several return visits. Her efforts so impressed the Lions Club International, that she was named its Young Ambassador and invited to meet the Sophie, Countess of Wessex at a special ceremony in Birmingham. Four years on, the scheme she started, is still going strong with more and more girls getting involved in sports. Charlotte, who is studying PE Secondary with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) at the Bedford campus, said: “I was shocked to find out that PE was not part of the school curriculum in South Africa and from that moment I wanted to start a new project.
Charlotte speaking to Sophie, Countess of Wessex
“In South Africa there is still a traditional view that women should stay at home, cook and clean. Therefore females didn’t have a lot of access to sports, whereas the males had teams set up for sports like rugby and football.” The 19-year-old from Warrington, Cheshire, began to introduce team games and sports to a variety of year groups at the school she visited. She also created an ‘Active Girls’ club, where girls between 13-18
Charlotte with the 'Active Girls' group
“It is not often you hear in the media about young people doing good things for those less fortunate. I want to change that.” years old who were not involved in sport could take part in physical activities. “These girls were finding their feet, discovering the person they wanted to be and some of them were troublesome: I wanted to be a role model for them,” said Charlotte. “The children out there are amazing. Most of them have no parents because they were abandoned or their parents have died from HIV and AIDS. I feel it is my role to give them hope.” Charlotte goes back to the South African school every year for six weeks. “The families I stay with are like my own,” she said. “I call them Aunty, Mum, Dad and Sister as I would at home – it’s my second home now.”
Charlotte, who donated the bursary she received from Lions Clubs International to South African charities, said: “South Africa is like a third world country, in comparison to the UK where we are extremely lucky to have what we do. The people there have so little yet they never stop smiling. “Growing up on a council estate, my parents being divorced when I was 10, and coming from a low income background, I thought I was hard done by. This experience changed my life and I’ve realised I am lucky to have what I have and would never change it for the world.” In March, Charlotte travelled to the Lions Club’s headquarters in Birmingham to give a presentation to HRH Countess of Wessex, the club’s patron. “I was so nervous,” said Charlotte. “From the moment the Countess arrived, she was very natural and she was genuinely interested in what I did.” Charlotte told the Countess about her projects and showed her pictures of the girls she helped. The Countesses response was ‘there is no stopping this girl’. Charlotte will return to South Africa in July to continue her work but she is also looking forward to building on her sports development skills at the University, where she has been awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship for exceptional academic ability – a bursary worth £27,000 given to just four students a year. “It has opened up many more doors for my future career as a PE teacher,” said Charlotte. “I have been very lucky as a young volunteer to have had the opportunity to share my passion for sport, not only in this country, but also abroad. I never thought that through sport I would be able to unite people from all walks of life. “It is not often you hear in the media of young people doing good things for those less fortunate. I want to change that.”
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Helen Braid
Helen plans to make a difference to mothers in Africa
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MIDWIFERY student has won a competition to do a placement in Tanzania, East Africa, where conditions are so extreme that one in 23 women die as a result of pregnancy or childbirth. Helen Braid is looking forward to the task, after winning a ‘What midwifery means to me’ essay competition on www. StudentMidwife.net. She will be working with Women and Children Tanzania Ltd (WACT) in a hospital in Arusha. Tanzania has one of the fastest growing populations in the world, yet only 43 per cent of pregnant women see a midwife. There is also a chronic shortage of equipment and two or three women often share a bed. Helen, a third-year student, who lives in Sherrington, near Newport Pagnell, said: “I’ve always wanted to do a student placement abroad, but could never finance it. “It should be amazing. I’m really excited to go and see just how difficult it is to be a midwife out there, and go back to basics, with the basic equipment. “Here we moan about things like the long hours, but I think when I come back from Tanzania it will make me realise just how good we have it in this country.” Helen’s essay speaks about her studies, during which undergraduates are required to work on placement in hospitals (Helen is at Bedford Hospital) for three shifts and once a week have a study day on campus. “All the hard work is worth it, to be a part of something so
04 Life – May 2013
incredible, to be ‘with woman’ is an honour and that feeling never changes,” the 34-year-old wrote in her 1,000 word piece, which will feature in The Practising Midwife magazine as part of the prize. “I have the satisfaction of being part of a profession that is not just a career, but a lifestyle. I have the privilege of becoming part of a family’s history, part of their story that will never be forgotten. It is humbling to think that I will always be remembered, that my actions can and do have a longlasting impact on a woman and her family that could even last for
generations. Midwifery means carrying that responsibility forever and being proud to do so. “Midwifery means becoming a small part of an everyday miracle. I get to witness love and respect deepening between couples. I get to see women become mothers and men become fathers. I see families being created and extended.” Helen, who was formerly a visual merchandiser for Marks & Spencer, began midwifery with an access course at Central Bedfordshire College six years ago, after the birth of her youngest son with partner Martin Feasey.
She was inspired by the birth of her three sons, but also her experience of losing a child. “My first child, Alexandra, who had spina bifida, sadly passed away at 18 months old due to complications. “That experience, and then having more children, makes you re-evaluate your life and what you actually want to do and want to achieve. It’s a bit of a cliché, but I felt like I wanted to give something back and now I can use my own experiences to help others.” l To read the essay in full, visit www.studentmidwife.net
‘Little performer’ takes centre stage
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ATHERINE Evans remembers being “a little performer” from a very young age. The 22-year-old graduate, pictured, is finally fulfilling her dream with a lead role in the stage version of the Sixties Oscarwinning film, Through a Glass Darkly, originally directed by Ingmar Bergman. Katherine returned home to Birmingham after graduating with a BA in Theatre and Professional Practice in 2012 and auditioned for a part in the play. “Friends told me about the Crescent Theatre Company, so I went on their website and there was a notice calling for people to audition so I decided to sign up,” said Katherine.
To her delight she was cast in the lead role of Karin, a schizophrenic who has terrifying visions of God. “I was really overwhelmed as a lot of people came along to the auditions and they chose me,” she said. “It’s the sort of theatre I want to do in the future so I was very excited. I’m fulfilling my childhood dream. I have always been a little performer and I’m doing something I love.” Katherine has no doubt that her University course gave her the edge. “We were taught about contemporary practices, which is different from traditional theatre,” she said. “It’s nice to have that difference and be able to adapt what I learnt at University to this role.”
Through a Glass Darkly is the only one of Bergman’s films that he agreed could be adapted for the stage, and was first performed in London in 2010. “It’s the first performance of this adaptation outside London and New York so it’s very exciting,” said Katherine.
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Bedfordshire team prove entrepreneurship can be sustainable A TEAM from Bedfordshire has won the title of Sustainable Entrepreneurs in a national competition for universities. At the finals of the contest, run by the international non-profit organisation enactus, in Canary Wharf, the University group’s co-president Farzana Kossar was also named Student Leader for the South East. The industry-sponsored competition is aimed at encouraging students and academics to use their entrepreneurial skills to improve the lives of people in need. Bedfordshire’s entry was based on the team’s work with New Opportunities And Horizons (NOAH), a Luton-based charity helping homeless people, which led to an 80 per cent increase in monthly sales at the charity’s furniture shop. The project team, led by secondyear Applied Social Studies student Lucy Evans, also worked
The Bedfordshire enactus team with Paul Harrison, Employability Advisor
with Wilkinson, the sponsors of the award, to develop a professional training pack for new staff at NOAH. Lucy said: “We did things like leafleting and advertising around the campus to make people aware of the bargains available at NOAH, and it worked.” Judges were also impressed with how the team had helped local pensioners to reduce their shopping bills, and college students to find work, through their Young and Old project run at Luton Central Library in conjunction with the charity Connexions. The project, led by thirdyear Psychology student Olu Babarinde, helped older readers at Luton Central Library, which in turn helped students develop
their self-confidence. As part of the competition the team had to give a 17-minute presentation and face Dragons Den-style questioning from enactus judges – all members of UK companies and experts at assessing business techniques that address social needs. The team also included Jigna Tailor, a second-year Marketing student, who is co-president of the Bedfordshire enactus society; Paul Gastardo, who is studying second-year Law; second-year Accounting undergraduate Harry Frost; and second-year Human Resource Management student Jekaterina Denisova. l To join enactus
Bedfordshire contact Darja.Visnjakova@beds.ac.uk
“We did things like leafleting and advertising around the campus to make people aware of the bargains available at NOAH, and it worked.”
16 MAY
Give yourself the edge
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F you’re a third year student who is graduating this summer you will need to edge yourself to the front of the queue of job hunters. You may need a little extra help in order to shine. And help is available right here at your University. The Beds Graduate Edge is the University’s development programme for final year students. It is a combination of events and services aimed at getting newly qualified graduates into work. To be in with a chance you need to register to receive details of vacancies and drop off a CV at a special networking reception being held at the Luton campus on 16 May (the Bedford event was on 9 May, as Life went to press). Employers and some of last year’s graduates will be on hand to share their stories and tips as will staff from the Careers and Recruitment Service, who will make every effort during the Summer to get graduates into full-time jobs. Graduates based in London can take advantage of the pop-up UoB Careers Service which will be made available at venues (yet to be finalised) in the capital, in August. For details of venues and to register your interest email careers@beds.ac.uk In September, the University will run a threeday Beds Graduate Edge – The Workshop at the Luton campus. The course will focus on self-development in order to give you the right tools to feel confident about stepping into leadership roles. Only 120 places are available so email careers@beds.ac.uk to register your interest for the course and other events.
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Students’ projects boost Carnival charities coffers
Pictures courtesy of UK Centre for Carnival Arts
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HARITIES due to take part in the Luton International Carnival have received a massive boost from fundraising students. A series of events were organised throughout April and May as part of the MSc Project Management course where students helped 10 charities to take part in the annual parade. Groups of students were ‘matched’ with carnival groups including The Revellers steel band and Sickle Cell and Thalasaemia Care, to organise fundraisers, raise the profile of Carnival at the University and look at sustainable forms of fund raising. Events included a rock ‘n’ roll bingo night, cinema nights and a Cultural Festival which was also attended by Councillor Syd Knight, the Mayor of Luton, and Luton North MP Kelvin Hopkins. At each fundraiser, local firms were able to promote their goods and services through their sponsorship of the events. Dr Elly Philpott, Senior Research Fellow at the University’s Department of Management
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and Business Systems, said: “This is the first year that the course has involved working with external clients and it has been brilliant as it has offered the students practice-based learning, while providing them with the opportunity to contribute to the Luton community.” So far the students have raised £800 with more events planned before Sunday, 26 May’s Carnival, at Wardown Park and around the town centre.
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Students rise to Syria challenge
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TOTAL of £2,210 is to be sent to a charity which provides help and support to Syrian people in need. Groups of postgraduate Project Management students in Bedford have been getting hands-on, practice-based learning over the last few months by organising fund-raising events. Twelve of the 20 student groups collected funds for Syria Relief. Millions of people have been forced from the country because of the on-going civil war and are living in refugee camps in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordon and Iraq. Many more have fled to safer parts of the country, often living in awful conditions. Syria Relief is a non-political, nondenominational, non-governmental charity which supports Syrians around the world irrespective of religion, geographical location, or political persuasion. Fund-raising events organised for the Syrian charity ranged from FIFA 13 games tournaments, an Arabic food and music day and casino nights. The eight other student groups held an Easter egg hunt, egg decoration content, a silent auction and an open mic night to raise £1,386 which will go to charities including The Bedford and District Cerebral Palsy Society, Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity, Bedford Hospital Charity and The Prince’s Trust.
Mum was inspiration
“W
HEN you get the news that your mum has cancer it completely changes your outlook. You think of them as unstoppable and as someone who will be always be there no matter what. It makes you want to do something to help everyone affected.” Those were the words of Natasha Dalliday, who will be rowing the length of the English Channel on an ergometer (a rowing machine) to raise funds for Cancer Research UK after her mum survived breast cancer in 2012. Natasha works alongside her mother, Sue Csoka, at the Bedford Campus library. Throughout her illness, Sue continued to come into work despite having chemo and radiotherapy, only having two weeks off throughout the year. It is Sue’s determination to remain strong that has inspired Natasha to take on a series of stunts to raise funds and awareness about cancer. Last year she raised more than £500 for Marie Curie in a swimathon.
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Volunteer of the Year
Nick Sheffield
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Swimming the Channel in memory of childhood friend
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RAINEE teacher Nick Sheffield will be part of a three-man team swimming the English Channel this summer. The second-year student is taking on the challenge to highlight the work of Herts Mind Network and raise money for the mental health charity – and honour his friend James Harley. The swim, along with friend and University of Bath Undergraduate David Kellway and James’ father Steven Harley, will be in memory of 19-year-old James who committed suicide last June. Team Harley, as they are known, will set off from Dover at 3am, to catch the neap tide, and hope to cover the 23-km swim in about 13 hours. “Depression and mental health problems are quite prevalent among young men, who are reluctant to talk about it,” said Nick, 20.
“What we are aiming to do through our many fundraising activities is to encourage young men to get help and dispel the myth that it is not macho to seek advice. It is quite the contrary. It takes courage to admit you need help and go find it.” Nick is busy training to get fit for the swimathon which includes swimming three times a week, starting at 5am, for an hour and a half, running 10 kms twice a week and eating a high fat, carbohydrates and protein diet. Team Harley has already raised £900 by holding football and dodgeball tournaments. There are plans for many more events including a concert later in the year. All funds raised will go to the charity that helps people with mental health, Herts Mind Network. l To donate log on to www.beds.ac.uk
“Our family has a genetic strand of breast cancer and I am hoping one day Cancer Research will not find a cure only for this but every other cancer there is,” she said. “Mum just saw having cancer as a bit of an inconvenience; she had such a positive outlook and it really helped us around her. But obviously it was a really worrying time. You see your mum as being invincible and when something like this
happens you appreciate just how precious your health is. “Luckily today she is fine and back at work full time as Reader Services Team Manager, but it has inspired me to try to take on a new challenge every year.” And this year the Information Assistant will be taking on 35km of indoor rowing – despite never having being on an ergometer before. “Last year I did a swimathon, as I’m quite a keen swimmer. But this time I wanted to mix it up – and for some reason I wanted to do an ergo as I thought it looked easy despite never having been on one. I must have been mad; it has been so hard and already such a challenge!” Natasha is in her eleventh week of training and has so far reached 8km, a distance she is increasing by 2km on her every trip to her gym, Images, at Robinsons Swimming Pool in Bedford. Her challenge takes place in the gym on Saturday, 22 June. l To donate visit www.justgiving.com/natashadalliday0207
OLLEYBALL England has presented its Volunteer of the Year Award to a Sport and Physical Education student who launched a club at the University. Laura Woodruff set up a recreational club for students, which has since been made an official BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) league competitor. Last month the 19-year-old captain of the University’s Bulls Volleyball Team organised a Glow in the Dark game to raise funds for the Students’ Union’s (Beds SU) charities. It secured the second year student the Volunteer of the Year honour which was presented to her at a glitzy awards ceremony at Volleyball England’s headquarters, in Kettering. Laura said: “It was amazing just to be nominated. Then to be shortlisted was fantastic and to actually win was incredible. “The club has come really far in 18 months. When I started it up it was just a fun thing to do. Since then the Beds SU made us an official team and we now have 20 boys and girls and I run weekly coaching session. We are hopeful it will progress even further.” Laura, who was previously a 100m track runner, said her next adventure will be in Gibraltar, where she will get trained for coaching others and improving her own game.
New club for youngsters
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NIVERSITY students have set up a dodgeball club for youngsters. The University of Bedfordshire’s dodgeball team successfully applied for a £300 Think Big grant from mobile phone company O2 to launch the Bedford Junior Dodgeball Club. Johnathan Rudland, captain of the squad, said the team began its plans following their Guinness World record-breaking dodgeball match – 62 hours of consecutive games, which raised funds for local charity SportsTraider. “We were looking for our next challenge,” said the fourth-year Physical Education Qualified Teaching Status student. “We heard about Think Big, which offers cash to 13- to 25-year-olds to set up initiatives to improve the local community, and applied. Thankfully we were accepted and we are now putting the funds towards equipment, as well as the renting of a hall.” Johnathan, who has secured a job at Sport Traider to work with sports in the community when he finishes university, added: “Everyone is really excited about the launch of the club. We’re hoping to attract a wide range of youngsters under the age of 16. As dodgeball is such an easy and fun sport, it would be really nice to see a mix of people of different sporting abilities. “Ideally we would like people who don’t usually play sport to join; that’s our real aim, to encourage youngsters to come along, have fun and get active.” l For more information email jrudland@sportstraider.org.uk
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Exploring Celebrating Bedford’s famous son with new course tourism’s links to the
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NE of Bedford’s greatest writers will become a part of his local university this summer – some 325 years after his death. The works of John Bunyan are being established as part of the curriculum at the University of Bedfordshire, with the launch of the John Bunyan International Summer School this July. The School is designed for anyone with an interest in the life, writings and worldwide influence of the 17th-century novelist, who was born and spent his whole life in the town – including a spell of 12 years in Bedford prison where he wrote his best-known work, The Pilgrim’s Progress. Professor of English Literature Bob Owens is School Director. Professor Owens joined the University in September 2012 as a Bunyan expert, having researched the writer’s works at PhD level. He later became founder editor of Bunyan Studies: A Journal of Reformation and Nonconformist Culture. “We want to establish the University as the place to study the life and works of Bunyan, who is such an important figure in the history of Bedford,” said Professor Owens, who was President of the International John Bunyan Society from 2001 to 2004.
“The School will look at his many works, but we will focus in particular on The Pilgrim’s Progress and its religious, literary and cultural significance throughout the English-speaking world and across the globe in over 200 languages.” The programme is due to run for a week, from July 20 to 27. There will be guided tours of relevant museums and libraries, and sites of interest in and around Bedford. These include the nearby village of Elstow, with its Moot Hall and Abbey church where Bunyan was baptized and where, as a young man, he rang the church bells. There will also be visits to Bunyan Meeting, on the site where Bunyan preached, where the original communion table used by the congregation in the 17th century can be seen, and to the John Bunyan Museum and Library, adjoining the church. l For more information and prices visit www.beds.ac.uk/bunyan or call 0800 328 5334.
“The School will look at his many works, but we will focus in particular on The Pilgrim’s Progress.”
Factfile l Born in 1628 in
l Moved to Bedford
Elstow, near Bedford. l An English Christian writer and preacher, by trade he was a tinker (a craftsman of household utensils). l Fought for the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War.
in 1655 and was arrested for preaching without a licence, but escaped gaol. l Bunyan was prosecuted in 1660 and when brought before a magistrate he refused to desist
Conference will debate global health
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GLOBAL Health conference will be held at the Postgraduate Centre, on 10 June from 9:30am to 5:30pm. The event will see postgraduate students and staff at the Faculty of Health and Social Science and our professional partner at the University of Brasilia in Brazil present at the conference. Themes the conference will cover are: l Maternal and child health; l Communicable and non-communicable diseases; l Immigration and refugee health;
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from preaching – something he would continue to stand for throughout his time in prison. l The restoration of the monarchy by Charles II saw England return to Anglicanism and it was punishable by law to preach.
l He was released in 1672, when Charles II issued the Declaration of Religious Indulgence (which extended religious liberty). l Today Bunyan is highlighted as an early fighter for the freedom of speech.
l Environmental health: Water supply and sanitation The aims of the conference are to: l Create a critical academic platform for debate on current issues of global health; l Share knowledge on global health across the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences; l Provide postgraduate students with the opportunity to present their research projects in a professional setting. Prizes will be awarded for the top three presentations. To book a place, visit: tinyurl.com/ghconference l For more information on the conference, email Dr Hala Evans at Hala.evans@beds.ac.uk
environment and poverty
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HE heightened relevance of tourism to global policy and a sustainable future are reflected in two books published by Andrew Holden, Professor of Environment and Tourism and Director of the University’s Institute for Tourism Research (INTOUR). The Routledge Handbook of Tourism and the Environment, which explores and critically evaluates the debates and controversies inherent to tourism’s relationship with nature, is co-edited with Professor David Fennell of Brock University in Canada. It brings together over 40 leading specialists from a range of disciplinary backgrounds and geographical regions to reflect upon this complex relationship. Professor Holden’s second book, Tourism, Poverty and Development, reflects the urgency of alleviating poverty within the global policy agenda and the use of tourism to achieve this. The book is divided into distinct sections covering the key concepts and causes of poverty, tourism and development, tourism’s use for poverty reduction and the relationship of tourism to poverty alleviation in the future. Examples and case studies giving practical insights into tourism’s role in poverty alleviation come from developing regions including Africa, South Asia and East Asia and the Pacific. Both books are published by Routledge.
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Lucky students off to China on cultural exchange I
N a few weeks a group of students from the University will jet off to China on an exchange visit. In what is a first for UK Higher Education, 150 students in total will travel to partner universities to learn about the history and traditions of the place – just as students from China have been doing for years. A second batch will go out in September. The two-week trips, that will cost the University some £250,000, is intended to raise students’ cultural and social awareness. While there, the undergraduates will stay at the International Collage Beijing, part of China Agricultural University (CAU). More than 800 students applied for the 150 places to go to China. Michael Hann, who is studying for a Master’s in International Journalism, was one of the lucky ones. Although he had not rated his chances of getting a place, Michael, who graduated in Sports Journalism from the University, said he was “delighted” when the email arrived to say he had been successful. “It is an amazing opportunity,” he said. “It will give me the chance to learn about the culture, meet new people and see how things are done in a different country. “Hopefully I can also combine the trip with my studies by looking at Chinese newspapers to see how they cover stories.” The University’s links with CAU, which started in 1997 is the longest and biggest SinoBritish Higher Education partnership of its kind; more than 250 students benefit from the collaboration every year.
Vice Chancellor Bill Rammell said: “The University has been working with Higher Education organisations in China for many years. And we, like the authorities there, are always looking for opportunities from which both countries can benefit.
“We are delighted to host Chinese students here. But we believe it is equally important for UK students to experience and understand Chinese culture and traditions. That is why we are sending staff and students to China to improve their understanding and education.”
Risk pays off as Ed follows his dream and signs publishing deal
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T was Ed Cox’s burning passion for literature that persuaded him to leave his job, where he was surrounded by books – working as a supervisor in a book distribution warehouse – and join the University of Bedfordshire some 10 years ago. And this month, the move, and risk, proved worthwhile as the former Creative Writing student signed a publishing deal for a trilogy of his fantasy series, The Relic Guild. Ed, who has been lecturing at the University, told Life that signing the deal with Gollancz “was a dream come true”. “Before coming to the University there was a lingering question in the back of my mind, ‘Can I write a book?’ and basically I decided to use up my savings and go for a degree,” said Ed. “Luckily my wife was really supportive, and now all that seems to have paid off, as it appears that yes, I can produce something that other people want to read and will pay to read as well. “It’s hard to believe that I’ll be joining such an amazing list of personal writing heroes and great authors, but I’m head-over-heels happy. Gollancz is an outstanding publisher, one of the best, and
I’m looking forward to working with a team that is so dedicated to sci-fi, fantasy and horror.” The book is set in two different eras, 40 years apart. It is about an abandoned, forbidden city, where humans are trapped behind boundary walls 100 feet high. The story follows a girl, struggling to survive in the city, who uses a secret band of magickers, sworn to protect the Labyrinth, to try to contact the worlds beyond their walls. The piece was first devised as part of Ed’s MA and follows his “passion for world building, monsters and magic”. Marcus Gipps, Editor at Gollancz who bought world all-language rights from John Berlyne of Zeno Agency, said: “I was thrilled by The Relic Guild from the very first page, and as I kept on reading it was clear that Edward had delivered a remarkably readable and well-constructed book. “He takes elements we have seen in fantasy before, and welds them into something new, with two intertwining stories taking place 40 years apart but influencing each other deeply. “It is clear that Edward is a very exciting new talent.”
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Making higher education accessible to all
Higher Education is an opportunity that should be available to all. The University’s Access Partnership’s work is centred on that ethos. So how does its programme help raise the aspirations of the next generation? Simon Wesson reports.
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T is about transforming the lives of the people it encounters: it supports transition at the key stages in a person’s educational journey as part of the lifelong learning process.” That statement neatly sums up what the Access Partnership Programme (APP) is all about. The focus is on supporting access into Higher Education (HE), raising aspirations and making young people aware of the many benefits of HE. This can vary from introducing primary school children to HE to helping Year 13 students with their UCAS applications and preparing them for university life. Pictured above are pupils from St Gregory’s Catholic Middle School, Bedford, at a recent visit. During the day-long visit they learnt all about what happens at the University, met Vice Chancellor Bill Rammell (pictured with the students), and had a behind-the-scenes tour of the Luton campus. There are also many other APP activities that the team of five carry out throughout the year. That can include summer schools for year 12 pupils who attend subject specific events, to help them make informed decisions, and also large scale events such as those for partner colleges’ Access Course and Foundation Degree students.The team has run 200 events for 6,000 learners already this year. The programmes also benefit the University’s own students.
10 Life – May 2013
Currently the APP recruits around 70 undergraduates who can acquire new skills by working with the team. The aim is to provide the undergraduates with abilities such as giving presentations, working within the community and learning to communicate with people of all ages. Steve Kendall, Associate Dean, Partnerships and Director of Widening Participation, said: “Ultimately, it is about widening access and participation for all who face barriers in accessing HE, helping to improve social mobility and addressing issues around social justice.” There are plans to further expand the programme to include weekend activities in the Arts and to develop oportunities for adult learners.
l For more on the programme visit www.beds.ac.uk/aboutus/partners
“Ultimately, it is about helping to improve social mobility and addressing issues around social justice.”
www.beds.ac.uk
Third-Year Journalism student Christian Carter says working with APP completely changed his life. Christian signed up to work for the partnership two years ago and it has since changed his aspirations of being the next top scribe. He now wants to teach English abroad. Like all other students involved in the scheme, Christian works part-time and is paid for his efforts. The 21-year-old has fulfilled many tasks including visiting primary schools and colleges to talk to students about their opportunities, providing workshops and tours around the University for youngsters, as well taking them out on activity weeks. “Ultimately it’s made me realise what I actually want to do with my life,” he said. “It’s an extremely rewarding job. It makes you feel like you are doing something good for the community, and from this I’ve realised I want to work with young people.” “The programme can help people feel better about themselves and increase their confidence. “For me the programme is about giving people a reason to go to school and to work hard, as we can show them that they can make something of themselves. “I think when I first joined there was an initial realisation that not all children are provided with the same opportunities as I was fortunate to have. “I often ask the children ‘what do you want to do when you’re older’ and when you show them what is on offer you can see their eyes light up.” International student Sulaman Sunny now has a better understanding of the British culture. The postgraduate Art and Design student started work for the APP in July and said he is now more assured about approaching the job market. “It has really built up my confidence and helped me cross a big hurdle. I can now communicate with people here much better and it has helped with not only the cultural shock of moving countries, but also building relationships with people. I feel more comfortable moving around the UK and meeting new people here. “English is my third language, so this has been a big learning curve for me to actually talk in English to English people. I have picked up on many things such as dialects and figuring out local colloquialism,” said Sulaman. Textille designer Sulaman, 26, from Pakistan, said his favourite thing about working for the Partnership was showing youngsters the work of fellow students in the art department. “When you tell them that you can actually achieve this they are amazed! They really want to get involved. “What is also fantastic is to be able to change the mindset of those who are not so positive before-hand and to hear them say ‘wow I want to come to University.”
l Students wishing to join the team should email access@beds.ac.uk
life@beds.ac.uk
Showcasing Art and Design
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HIS incredible piece of art, pictured below, will be on display at the University next month (June) as the annual Art and Design show kicks off. This year’s show, entitled ‘My Work’, will feature displays on textiles, interior architecture, fine art, photography, as well as a fashion show, animation showreel and much more. One of the works on show is this illustration. It is by Sophie Carpenter (Art and Design MA student and Illustration graduate from the University) and forms a book project, which has been a collaboration of students’ work. Other students involved in the project include Julianna Jagielska (first year Illustration student), writer A.D.C Ford (a second year Creative Writing student), editor Tabitha Langley (third year Magazine Journalism student), and Mengistu Etim (2nd year illustration student), who created the image which was shown on page 7 in last month’s edition of Life. Designer and project director, Monika Ciapala (third year Graphic Design student) said: “The aim was to achieve a number of things: most of all to collaborate with a number of people from different courses and departments on the same projects, something which should be encouraged and taking place more often between students.” The exhibition runs from 6pm-8pm in the Luton Campus Centre on Thursday, 6 June.
l For more information visit www.wecreatetogether.net/mywork
News
Students are best PALs
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TUDENTS who give up their time to pass on their undergraduate experiences to first-year coursemates were recognised at an awards event last month. The Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme encourages students to support each other and learn co-operatively. The second- and third-year student PALs (as they are known) can help freshers adjust to University life, helping them to acquire a clear view of the course direction and expectations. They can help new students to improve study skills and adjust study habits to meet requirements; enhance
Bedford rugby star taken on by Wasps R UGBY star Josh Bassett has spoken of his delight after signing for Aviva Premiership side London Wasps for the 2013/14 season. The second-year Sport and Exercise Science student is currently at Championship side Bedford Blues. But after an impressive season scoring 11 tries, he has been snapped up by the Wasps who play in England’s top division. Winger Josh was selected for the England Under-20 squad last year and said he can’t wait for this next stage of his career. “I’m really excited,” the 21-year-old said.
Two University of Bedfordshire based poets are to perform as part of the London Fringe Festival. Alexander Ford and Clive Gresswell will perform their poetry set, titled Blood and Faith, at The Red Hedgehog in Highgate on Thursday, 4 July at 7.30pm. The venue is close to Highgate Underground Station. l For ticket information contact The Red Hedgehog box office on 0208 348 5050.
understanding of the course subject through group discussion; and prepare better for assessed work and examinations. At the event a host of PALs were presented with certificates to recognise their achievements. They received glowing praise from students under their leadership and from lecturers who had seen the benefits of PAL with better marks from students. Mature student Susan Bartrop, who is in her first year of Psychology, said the scheme had been invaluable in helping her adjust to university life – so much so she’s signed up to be a leader for next term.
“The last few years have been a very quick development process for me and it’s amazing to be joining a top-league side and be given the chance to take the next step up. It’s now down to me to prove myself in pre-season in July when I join. Hopefully I can do that and we’ll just see how it goes.” The Bedford-campus-based student added: “To play in the top league is something I have always wanted and aimed for, but I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. It’s a testament to everyone at Bedford who has helped me along the way.”
Josh scoring a try. Picture courtesy Bedford Blues RFC
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The Jailbreak begins outside the PG centre
Jailbreakers budget run to the sun
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EG, borrow and blag your escape as far away as possible from the Luton campus, on a budget of nothing. Mission impossible? Not for University students who reached southern Spain. The annual Beds Students’ Union (SU) Jailbreak has a new record – 1,439 miles, after a team miraculously made it to Malaga. ‘The Idiots Abroad’ was one of nine teams taking on the challenge, which has so far raised £1,826 for the SU’s Raise and Give (RaG) charities. The pioneering prisoners were set free from outside the University’s
Postgraduate Centre at 10am on Friday, 26 April. By its finish on Sunday 28 at 10am, the adventurers had amassed a total of 3,047.34 miles, with students reaching as far afield as Lille, in France, Glasgow and Edinburgh. The winners were The Idiots Abroad – Second Year undergraduates Robert John, Suzanne Clark, Aaron Johnson and George Powell. Team Cuddles was second having travelled 317 miles to Glasgow, while the Red Indians were just a mile behind them in the very same city!
Dressed as pharaohs, ancient Greeks and sultans, the ‘Idiots’ achieved its first blag on Friday morning – All-Day Railcards, courtesy of First Capital Connect. They used the tickets to fundraise in London, where they collected £100. Their biggest bit of luck was still to come, when a Facebook promotion caught the attention of a businessman, who paid £130 for return flights (for the whole team) from London Luton Airport to Reus, near Salou. En-route they met a stag-do group who bought the team a hire car. A mad 30 hours followed as the
group decided to drive as far as they could, stopping only briefly at Alicante and Valencia. “It was an amazing experience and a great team effort, but very tiring too! It has been brilliant driving when the sun has been up and we have seen some incredible scenery. Next year we hope to get even further,” said Public Relations student Rob from Swansea. Jordan Lewis, Luton RaG Officer who organised the Jailbreak, said: “It went extremely well and we’re really pleased with how everyone did, it was a great effort in terms of funds raised and distance gained.” The Idiots Abroad at the start of the challenge
Aaron and George from the Idiots Abroad
The Idiots Abroad (George, Robert, Suzanne and Aaron) on a beach in Malaga
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