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Uni forms new partnerships with local football clubs Page 2
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November 2013
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Bedfordshire academic plays lead role in new NSPCC report
Students celebrate Freshers’ Fortnight and SUB2 launch Pages 8-9
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A breath of Freshers air
PAGES 4-5
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Stuart Pearce (left) with former Chelsea coach Ade Mafe
Vice Chancellor Bill Rammell, second left, and John Cove, Chief Executive, Sports and Education Trust at MK Dons FC, right, with members of the Club's Academy teams
Uni forms new partnerships with local football clubs
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HE University has signed an agreement to become an official partner of both Milton Keynes Dons and Luton Town Football Club’s Academies. The partnership sees the University become the lead sponsor of 18 MK Dons’ and Luton Town Academy teams, ranging from under 8’s to under 18’s. A key feature of both partnerships is to promote access to higher education to the footballing youngsters, with the University’s Student Recruitment team planning to hold a number of open days. The partnership with MK Dons was officially launched at their game against Rotherham United on Saturday, 19 October with a pitch presentation prior to kick-off, where MK Dons
Communications and events Team contacts Now based at The Atrium, Park Street West, Luton.
Chairman Pete Winkelman and Vice Chancellor Bill Rammell were amongst the presentation party. Additional features of the MK Dons agreement include the corporate sponsorship which will see the University brand across various MK Dons digital and print platforms, communications from various sections of the University to all academy players, as well as big screen adverts at stadiummk. Commenting on the MK Dons linkup, Associate Dean of University Campus Milton Keynes, Dr Paul Sant said: “It’s fantastic that we have had the opportunity to open our latest campus in central Milton Keynes. We are fully
committed to offering world class education to Milton Keynes on a local, regional, national and international scale. “It is also exciting that we have received a huge amount of local support from partners in Milton Keynes, especially at MK Dons FC. “We really look forward to the successes that this venture can bring and look forward to strengthening our partnerships with the MK community.” The collaboration with Luton Town includes the option of an end-ofseason University of Bedfordshire match on the Kenilworth Road pitch. l Further information will follow the official launch of the partnership with Luton Town.
England legend films at Uni FORMER England football international and under-21 manager Stuart Pearce visited the University as it became a sports filming location for a day. The Bedford campus and Alexander Sports Centre were selected as venues by Strongbow cider as part of the brand's ‘EARN IT.’ marketing campaign. The short film – due to be shown in November on Strongbow’s Facebook page – follows the fortunes of a lucky amateur footballer as he prepares to take a penalty against an international goalkeeper. Contestant Jarad Aransibia, 30, had his fitness levels put to test by Pearce and retired UK champion sprinter and former Chelsea FC coach, Ade Mafe at the Alexander Sports Centre. During the session, University sports staff and students took part in a six-a-side match with Jarad, refereed by the former Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Man City left-back. Action then switched to the state-of-theart £8 million Sport Science Labs at the Bedford campus, where Jarad’s penaltytaking technique was reviewed. University Director of Sport and Sports Enterprise, Professor John Brewer, and Sport and Exercise lecturer Dr Laura Charalambous played advisory roles to Jarad during the session, appearing in footage on the day. Professor Brewer previously worked with Pearce at FIFA World Cup Italia '90, where he was Sports Scientist to Sir Bobby Robson's England team.
Nick Sheppard Head of Communications & Events Nick.Sheppard@beds.ac.uk
Simon Wesson Communications Assistant simon.wesson@beds.ac.uk
Paddy Day Communications Assistant Patrick.Day@beds.ac.uk
Kevin Cunningham Communications Officer kevin.cunningham@beds.ac.uk
Nick Hamilton-Brain Communications Administrator Nickolas.Hamilton-Brain@beds.ac.uk
Nadia March Events Manager nadia.march@beds.ac.uk
02 Life – November 2013
Lucy Cook Events Administrator lucy.cook@beds.ac.uk
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Nursing cohort pulls together for student A
NURSING undergraduate,
who is battling breast cancer and continuing with her studies at the University, has inspired her cohort at Aylesbury to raise funds for charity. A Macmillan Coffee Morning cake sale was organised by Adult Nursing students who have watched in marvel as Debbie Bradding has gone against the doctor’s orders to persist with the intense framework. Second-year student Debbie was diagnosed in May while on a student placement at a learning disability school. The 37-year-old, who was working as a health care assistant at Stoke Mandeville Hospital before she started the course in 2012, said: “It was pretty devastating at the time, as I had dreamt of doing this course and I was so happy to be doing it, and then six months-in I was told that I couldn’t do it anymore.” Debbie was advised to have six months off university, and was told by her course leader that she could be put back a year. However the determined mother-of-one (to son Josh, 13) added she didn’t want anything to hold her back, and during her chemotherapy continued to study – pushing her next placement back to when everybody else was on holiday.
Pictured are second year Adult Nursing students Anne Turnbull, Deborah Clarke, Andrea Kucsma, Debbie Bradding and Wendy Reed
“You just have to get on with it,” the Aylesbury resident said. “It would be so easy just to sit at home and give up, but I’m not like that. “And I have been supported fantastically well, not only at home, but by my fellow students who have been fantastic.” Debbie is due to have surgery and then radiotherapy. She hopes
to have finished her treatment by December, ready for her next placement in January. Fellow second year Andrea Kucsma, who organised the coffee morning alongside Wendy Reed and other students, said: “We’re just so proud of her. As student nurses we felt it’s right that we should be highlighting good causes such as Macmillan, so
doing a coffee morning like this was great. “Everyone pulled together in the year group to bake around 30 cakes and then host the morning, by collecting funds and serving the goodies. We sold out within 20 minutes and it went brilliantly well, which shows what a tight community we have here.” The event raised more than £270.
Nursing lecturer 'Stands Up To Cancer'
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SENIOR nursing lecturer ‘Stood Up To Cancer’ after her parents were both diagnosed with the disease within just a few weeks of each other. Dr Sharon Black was one of the thousands of people around the UK standing up all-day on Friday 18 October, as part of Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) which raised funds for Cancer Research. “It was a terrible shock, especially as when my mum was diagnosed, my step father was too within a very short time,” said
Dr Black, who was on her feet for some 13-and-a-half hours. Dr Black’s step-father is currently in hospital recovering from his treatment, while her mother received treatment this month. “They’ve always liked to do things together and this is no different!” Dr Black joked. The event, which encouraged everyone
to slap a ‘SU2C badge on their bum’, aimed for people to ‘fight cancer together and bring forward the day when all cancers are cured’. Registered nurse, Dr Black, who specialised in stroke treatment, added: “The reason I decided to get involved with the Stand Up campaign is to raise awareness of the day, which isn’t as well known as some others, and most
importantly to raise funds for research. “Today one in three people will develop cancer but our fight against this disease is at a turning point. It needs a catalyst. SU2C is that catalyst. “To-date I have raised £245 which I am really pleased with. I would like to thank all those who donated to this important cause.” In total £8million was raised last year, but organisers were still counting the total figure this year as Life went to press.
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Aims to change international healthcare
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UGANDAN doctor, who helps run a support service for children with cancer in her country, is one of five international students undertaking a Masters in Public Health this academic year. Urooba Rana, Opeyemi Ezekiel Akindele, Rakyia Asabe Bello and Liyali Libonda will join Dr Patience Nalubega at Bedfordshire as they were each awarded the Commonwealth Scholarship, which enables to people study in Commonwealth countries. Dr Nalubega is a board member of the Bless a Child Foundation – a nongovernmental organisation that provides care (in the form of a home) and education to children as they go through cancer treatment.
The child paediatrician is hoping to raise awareness of cancer – dismissing Ugandan’s beliefs of it being “witchcraft, and incurable” – and put together a national strategy. Pharmacists Ms Rana and Mr Akindele are taking the course as they believe it will enable them to detect diseases quicker than doctors in their countries, Pakistan and Nigeria (respectively). At a special ceremony held at the Luton campus last month, Professor of Diversity in Public Health at Bedfordshire, Gurch Randhawa, added: “I’m delighted to welcome such a high calibre of students after receiving more than 170 excellent applications; further underlining our commitment to international students.”
Top crop academics join University
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WENTY new professors have been recruited at the Luton and Bedford campuses. Newcomers include Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience specialist James Barnes joining the Health and Social Sciences faculty. Professor Barnes spent 13 years reading Psychology at Oxford Brookes University whilst also working with Parkinson’s UK, contributing to the understanding of associated visual disturbances. Other new arrivals include Professor of Media, Noha Mellor, who has written many leading books and articles about Arab media and journalism. American Professors Randy Jirtle and Michael Welsch join Education and Sport, while Tom Mortimer is the new Head of the Law School. In total 91 new teaching staff have joined for the new academic year. Vice Chancellor Bill Rammell said the move to recruit “top line” academics is to “help improve the quality of what we deliver.” New researchers will assist with the University’s next Research Excellence Framework, which assesses the quality of research in UK higher education institutions, the model for distributing research funding.
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A breath of Fresher air THE University took part in a three-part TV documentary, Freshers, screened last month on ITV2. Kevin Cunningham found out how this series came to be.
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OR many new students, freshers fortnight is the first time they will live away from home learning to survive standing on their own two feet. For six Bedfordshire students, the highs and lows of their first three weeks of university life was laid bare on national television. Last month ITV2 broadcast a series of three hour-long documentaries, following Max,18, from Nottingham, Forrest, 18, from Luton, Anita, 20, from London, Abbie, 19, from Essex, Jay C, 18, from London and Bayleigh, 18, from Colchester in a funny, warm, celebratory and honest account of this crucial time in their lives, showing the reality of living away from home for the first time. But why Bedfordshire and why now? The University was one of a number considered as the location for the documentary by the programme makers, Mentorn Media, and was approached in June. Charlotte Fisher (right), Producer at Mentorn explained: “We were looking for a university with a good reputation for looking after its students and with an active students union. “I thought of the University of Bedfordshire straight away as I’d been there many times while I was a reporter for ITV Anglia. We had an office in Luton for many years and we came into
the University on several occasions to interview lecturers about their subjects, using them as experts in our news reports and also did some filming with the Students’ Union – doing an outside broadcast from the University Ball one year which was great fun.” Following an initial meeting with the University’s Communications team and Beds SU, Mentorn selected Bedfordshire as their choice location. Charlotte added: “While we looked at a number of universities, the warm, positive reception we received here convinced us that we would be able to work really well together and create a fantastic series about university life through the eyes of freshers. “I’m very happy to say that our relationship with the University has been even better than we could have imagined. The staff at the University and the Students’ Union have given us an incredible amount of support. And of course the students that we have been filming with have been amazing. We are really delighted with the programme and the response it’s had so far – we couldn’t have done it without you.” Mentorn Media’s TV productions include: Question Time for BBC One, The Fried Chicken Shop and Crazy About One Direction for Channel 4 and Hotel of Mum and Dad for BBC Three.
“While we looked at a number of universities, the warm, positive reception we received here convinced us that we would be able to work really well together”
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Nick HamiltonBrain (right) from the University’s Communications team was tasked with coordinating preparations for the series and was the main contact with Mentorn before, and during, filming. He said: “At the initial Mentorn meeting, we explained that the University is committed to widening participation, welcoming students of all ages, all backgrounds and ethnicities. “Also, the fact that as a multicampus university, we offer a varied perspective, with the majority of students based at either the Bedford or Luton campuses. Mentorn were very enthusiastic about the University’s offer and we just seemed to click from the start.” From that initial meeting there was a frenzy of activity over the following six-weeks as the University prepared for filming, all the while during the busy Clearing period. A University-wide project group was quickly established, chaired by Vice Chancellor Bill Rammell.
raised early-on, which we were able to address to minimise fears and if necessary ask Mentorn to help answer individual staff and students’ questions. “When the student cast was confirmed it was as if a collective light bulb went on – this is really happening! At that point everyone involved got right behind the project.” Professor Alexis Weedon (right), Head of Journalism and Communications Department, was a member of the project group. Reflecting on her involvement she said: “It was a fascinating experience to see a TV show being made and test our own reactions. “Research shows that audiences are well aware that situations are manipulated and constructed, and yet want to invest characters with authenticity. We knew the producers
“A lot of hard work went into planning and delivering the programme of events especially with the added pressure of the nation watching” Meeting weekly, the group’s representatives included senior teaching staff, professional support departments and Beds SU. Lucy Cook (right), Events Administrator at the University partnered in the pre-filming co-ordination process. This included identifying key contacts including academic heads of departments, Beds SU representatives, professional support staff and key contractor contacts such as Campus Living Villages. Lucy said: “Once we had identified all the teams and people who needed to be involved, the preparation process went well. Naturally there were numerous individual concerns and issues
would want drama and emotion in their TV show and would be filming and editing to make it great entertainment. “At Bedfordshire we study this as part of the BA Media Performance course, which is one of only three in the country. But being part of the development of Freshers, it was difficult not to buy into the reality of what was being portrayed and simply ‘be ourselves’. “Bayleigh, who featured in Freshers, is studying on our Media Performance course and has started her studies working with a professional TV company. What an excellent beginning to studying Media Performance.” From the earliest stage, the
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“When the student cast was confirmed it was as if a collective light bulb went on – this is really happening!” project had the full backing of Vice Chancellor Bill Rammell. While he was MP for Harlow, Essex (19972010), Mr Rammell had witnessed the success of the TV series Educating Essex, a documentary series featuring Passmores Academy, a secondary school in Harlow. The series was largely praised for its insight into the lives and behavior of young people and the education system, and Mr Rammell believed Freshers had the same potential to show the University in a really positive light to a wider audience. Mr Rammell said: “I believed the filming of Freshers presented the University with a unique opportunity to take part in a TV first. I was keen to support the filming for an authentic and independent view of our University, our fantastic staff and facilities and the excellent student support services we have in place, at the University and the Students’ Union, to enable students to reach their full potential. “We were fully aware that there were risks associated with allowing cameras on campus, but these were calculated risks and Mentorn assured us that their intention was to capture a balanced portrayal of student life, which we fully identified with. I think the outcome is very positive for the University.” Daniel Login, President of Beds SU, added: “The filming of Freshers has been a unique experience not just for the students, but for Beds SU staff as well. “A lot of hard work went into planning and delivering the programme of events especially with the added pressure of the nation watching. Our Freshers’ Angels were great and Mentorn Media were a pleasure to work with.”
The project was also an opportunity for some Bedfordshire students to gain invaluable work experience witnessing a documentary’s production process first-hand. Bedfordshire graduate Dan Twine (below, left) worked as a location assistant on Freshers. He said: “I was part of a Mentorn crew of three assigned to follow Forrest. I really enjoyed the experience even though I was thrown in at the deep end! “The main thing was speed, to film the footage and quickly edit and get it ready for production for each of the three programmes. The experience has been invaluable as I’ve learnt so much and made some really useful industry contacts for the work I now do.” Dan, 23, along with fellow Bedfordshire TV Production alumnus Jack Rudman (who also gained work experience on Freshers) graduated from the University last July. They now run their own video production company, Click Play Productions, based in Dagenham, Essex. Now that the series has been aired, what can we conclude from the exercise? According to Nick Hamilton-Brain, who also graduated with a Psychology degree at Bedfordshire in 2011: “The best thing about Freshers – it was an opportunity to show all the great things about university life that we can’t demonstrate in a prospectus. “There are so many positive elements around student life at Bedfordshire which you simply can’t quantify in a publication or a piece of marketing. “What we were able to show in Freshers was how that student experience comes to life, the excitement and vitality of students and staff here, which makes this University a great place to study and live at.”
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Research
Study shows reported abuse is being ignored UNDERGRADUATES studying social science topics can benefit learning from some the country’s leading thinkers, and researchers, on the topic. One of the newest academics to arrive at the Health and Social Sciences Faculty is Debra Allnock, who arrives at the University with a strong background in research on child sexual abuse and exploitation. Her latest, co-authored research as part of working for the NSPCC – released in October, highlighted that many adults are not identifying, and therefore not reporting, child abuse.
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NLY just over a half of the child abuse cases reported by children to adults are being acted on by the confidants. NSPCC research – ‘no one noticed, no one heard’ – highlighted 80 per cent of under-18s tell an adult about being abused, however adults only act on the information in 58 per cent of cases. The research, co-authored by former NSPCC Senior Research Officer Debra Allnock – who is now a lecturer in Child and Adolescent studies at the University, looked at the experiences of 60 young people who self-reported abuse in childhood. It revealed that on average it took seven years for young people to disclose sexual abuse. The younger the child was when the abuse started, the longer it took for them to disclose. The research also highlighted disclosure is “rarely a straightforward process” of just a child saying they’ve been abused.
06 Life – November 2013
Many disclosures were either not recognised or understood, or they were dismissed, playeddown or ignored; this meant no action was taken to help the young person. It suggested children disclosed for reasons including: being unable to cope with abuse any longer; abuse worsening; wanting to protect others; or seeking justice. Not speaking-out was also looked at, where it was noted children had no-one to turn to, or not actually understanding they were being abused; being ashamed or embarrassed; being afraid of the consequences of disclosing. 90 per cent of the young people featured had negative experiences at some point, mostly poor response from their confidant. They said they wanted: someone to notice something was wrong; to be asked direct questions; professionals to investigate sensitively but thoroughly; and to be kept informed. Debra, who has also been working on a project for UNICEF – developing global guidance on preventing and responding to sexual exploitation, said: “Recent cases have done a lot to draw attention to the challenges young people face in seeking help. But these issues should not be seen as historical. “This study showed the issue of children’s disclosure remains a contemporary challenge. It importantly highlights young people’s views that adults – including professionals and family members – are not effectively identifying or recognising abuse, and that responses and support to children are still less than optimal. “While children may find it difficult to verbally disclose abuse, their reports suggest that they try and tell in other ways and we, as adults and practitioners, need to have greater recognition of what it means to ‘tell’.”
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Facebook for academics
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SOCIAL networking site specifically for academics is being launched by technology experts at the University of Bedfordshire. The University’s Computer Science and Technology department is leading an EU Commission-funded project to develop ‘Dr Inventor’, which has been described as “a Facebook, meets LinkedIn for academics”. Such a site has never been produced before according to Professor of Computer Graphics & Visualisation Feng Dong, who is leading the assignment, involving eight other partners. “Dr Inventor will provide academics with a platform to upload their published academic journals onto a profile, which fellow academics can view after they’ve used Dr Inventor’s search box to find a paper on the subject they were looking for,” said Professor Dong. “If academics like another’s journal they’ve found, they can follow that person’s profile and keep up-to-date with the publications they upload. “Users will be able to interact with one another and display information on their profiles such as research interests and previous places of work.” The research into developing Dr Inventor will initially target academics in the Computer Graphics sector. If it proves a success come the end of the project, there will be further funding to fully develop Dr Inventor. Due to commence in the new year, Dr Inventor is three years away from completion. Other partners include universities, research institutions and search engine marketing companies.
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National Youth Theatre comes to Bedford
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ORE than 850 youngsters from local schools and colleges were welcomed to the world of the arts at the University’s Bedford campus last month as the National Youth Theatre (NYT) held a four-day residency.
The venture, to form stronger links with local schools, saw the young audience – for many, their first visit to a theatre or university – view performances of ‘If Chloe Can’ (pictured right) and ‘You Can’, (pictured below) with the latter premiered at Bedfordshire. Both plays focused on aspirations and career choices for youngsters. At the University’s Theatre, the residency also held a series of workshops and master-classes. One highlight was a panel discussion featuring University experts, NYT alumni (including Game of Thrones’ Luke Barnes) and industry leaders. Professor Helen Bailey, Acting Executive Dean of Partnerships said: “It was
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fantastic to open up the University to so many young people. “The aim of the partnership with the NYT is around using the arts as a means of encouraging young people to debate futures and the prospect of university.” Look out for a special feature about the partnership in next month’s edition of Life.
l PROFESSOR James Crabbe, Executive Dean in the Faculty of Creative Arts Technologies and Science, has been admitted as a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Educators. At a ceremony hosted at Painters’ Hall in the City of London, Professor Crabbe was welcomed by the Master of the Company and former Lord Mayor of London, Sir John Stuttard.
Bedfordshire duo publish groundbreaking books
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WO Bedfordshire lecturers launched their books as the Research Institute for Media, Art and Performance hosted a special event at London’s Freud Museum. Academics from universities around the UK conducted topical seminars at ‘Embodied Encounters’ which launched Dr Agnieszka Piotrowska and Professor Luke Hockley’s latest tomes, pictured, which both explore the relationship between psychoanalysis and film. Filmmaker Dr Piotrowska’s Psychoanalysis and Ethics in Documentary Film’ attempts to identify how an emotional attachment develops between a director and their subject. Commentating on her book, which has drawn international praise, Dr Piotrowska said the work, available in paperback
and hardback “fulfils a great ambition”, as she had long wanted to research the topic. While conducting her research the Senior Lecturer in Media Arts found the involvement of filmmakers with their subjects can be “quite complicated and intense”. “As a result, the documentary may be anything but an objective representation of the subject”, said Dr Piotrowska, who suggests this may be due to “unconscious mechanisms taking place in that encounter, including in particular
‘transference-love’”. Professor Hockley’s Somatic Cinema: The relationship between body and screen – a Jungian perspective utilises psychoanalysis to explain the effects films have on viewers’ emotions. Professor James Crabbe, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Creative Arts, Technologies and Science said both books show the “vitality of modern philosophy and the humanities in the University, and our engagement with film practice and theory”. “They exemplify new approaches to psychoanalysis and film, Luke’s book in the relationship between body and cinema, and Agnieszka’s in documentary, analysis and ethics,” professor Crabbe added. *Both titles, published by Routledge, can be ordered by visiting amazon.co.uk
STUDENTS will be able to feedback what works, what doesn’t work, and what they would like the University to do different, via sessions with senior managers. Deputy Vice Chancellor (External Relations) Professor Ashraf Jawaid and Registrar Jenny Jenkin will be hosting the feedback sessions as part of the Tell Us Scheme. As well as being able to talk to senior managers who can address their problems and action changes, the one-to-ones will enable the University to update changes made in response to their feedback. Everything from providing water coolers in the Postgraduate Centre to improvements to the AV system in lecture theatres and installing new computer facilities at Bedford campus has been actioned in response to student feedback. Professor Jawaid said: “Giving students the best experience we can is one of the University’s key priorities and this is their chance to ‘Tell Us’ what is most important to them.” Ms Jenkin, who joined the University this summer, added: “It’s a chance for students to share their experience of student life, ask questions, and let the University know what ideas they have for things they would like to change.” Tell Us feedback sessions are at: l Luton Monday, 25 November, 12.30-14.00, ground floor Postgraduate Centre (Postgraduate students) Tuesday, 26 November, 12.30-14.00, room JM10 – (Undergraduate students) l Bedford Wednesday, 27 November, 12.30-14.00, room PO32 l UCMK Friday, 29 November, 12.30-14.00, room MKOO7 l Aylesbury, Oxford House Tuesday, 3 December, 12.30-14.00, room OH008 l Butterfield Thursday, 12 December, 12.30-14.00, room S116 Sign up in advance via www.beds.ac.uk/telluslive and if you cannot attend, email tellus@beds.ac.uk or use a Tell Us feedback box, which are dotted around the campuses.
l CO-ORDINATOR for Part-time Provision at the University, Dr Helen Corkill has won the internationally renowned gong, the Emerald Literati Network 2013 Award for Excellence. The prize is in recognition of her contribution to reviewing academic journals for Emerald, a scholarly publisher of academic journals. Scrutinising journals on subjects ranging from cancer research to social sciences, Dr Corkill’s meticulous eye for detail helped her fend off candidates from across the globe to triumph in the ‘Outstanding Reviewer’ category. Dr Corkill, who joined the University in 2005, said she was “shocked to be nominated” “To be given academic recognition, when I’m not strictly speaking an academic, is quite an honour,” she added.
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Freshers’ Fornight
Support your Bruno Bull
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EDS SU’s mascot, Bruno the Bull, is taking on the 13km Luton half marathon as Life went to press. Bruno – who is raising funds for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society Luton and Bedford, and the Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children (this year’s RaG charities) – told Life he was aiming to finish the course on October 27 in just over two hours. However, as Life went to print we are yet to know if he has even finished it by November 1! “I will be joined by the SU’s Sian Davies, Communication and Marketing Manager, Jordan Lewis, Luton RaG officer, and course rep Josh Baxter,” grunted Bruno. Visit the SU’s office in the Luton Campus Centre to add to Bruno’s fundraising effort.
Freshers’ Fortnight
Student bye-elections
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TUDENTS can, this month, nominate themselves to have a role within Beds SU. In total there are 20 parttime and voluntary positions available to go for during the 2013/14 Beds SU ‘bye-elections’. There are three roles at the Bedford campus, including Mature Students Officer, and two at the Luton campus. There are also three positions for Student Trustees – who will sit on the Board of Trustees and will be responsible for the management and administration of Beds SU. Beds SU has also been assigned five National Union of Students (NUS) National Conference delegate spaces which need to be filled, while there is also five Faculty Rep positions up for grabs. Laura Bright, SU Education and Representation Manager, said: “This is not just your chance to have your say, but your chance to shape the Union and the University. This is your chance to make the Students’ Union what you have always thought it should be!” l To apply visit bedssu.unioncloud.org/elections
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RESHERS’ Fortnight had not only the extra buzz of the eyes of the TV world on it this year, but also the surprise opening of a stylish brand-new bar. After a packed calendar where the new students from both campuses enjoyed days-out including Freshers’Fayre, barbeques, treasure hunts, narrow boat adventures, picnics – as well of course, as the nights out – the main event for the two weeks was saved right for the end. For little did the students’ know, but Beds SU had obtained The Park bar in the heart of Luton, and from its purchase on September 20, had been getting the venue ready for a surprise opening on Wednesday 9 October. Named SUB2 (inspired by the old Sub Club, which sat underneath the Luton campus) , the bar has been designed by the University’s Interior Design and Interior Architecture lecturer Dawn Hesketh-Joslin. Dawn, who has more than 20 years design experience, specialises on brand application and she has worked on projects for clients including: The Victoria and Albert Museum, The Wellington Museum, Virgin Trains,
Heaven nightclub, Boots, Marks and Spencer, and Debenhams. This student-only venue is designed to host an eclectic mix of events, from nightclub evenings to table tennis matches, and kickboxing training. The distinctive design, with a yellow triangle, red square and blue circle emblazoned on the windows, is based on The Bauhaus concept of modernism. Beds SU President Daniel Login said the opening of the bar marked a “fantastic” Freshers’ Fortnight. “I am extremely pleased with how Freshers’ Fortnight has gone this year. With additional pressures, such as opening a brand new venue and the filming of an ITV2 documentary, it certainly has been busy. Feedback from students has been very positive so far and now we want to build on that momentum over the year ahead.” Dan concluded seeing the “shock” on the students’ faces when they saw the “amazing space” at SUB2 made for a great night. “We can’t wait to have many more great nights in the future,” he added. l Send your ideas for events at SUB2 to beds.su@beds.ac.uk
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Freshers’ Fortnight
‘Around the World at Bedfordshire’ in two days
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ULTURAL diversity at the University was celebrated with a two-day festival featuring Bollywood dancing, a martial arts demo and taster session and a Luton Male Voice Choir stall. The Beds SU and the International Office’s ‘Around the World at Bedfordshire’ saw a wide-variety of events at the Luton campus. Included was a cancer awareness talk from Seema Jaya Sharma, a freelance journalist and DJ, who was is in remission from breast cancer after being diagnosed in 2009. Daniel Login, SU president, underlined the importance of the partnership which has benefited the students. He said: “Integration is a big priority for Beds SU and the University. We wanted to hold a glittering event early in the new academic year attracting students from different backgrounds and promoting cultural diversity awareness.” Professor Ashraf Jawaid OBE Deputy Vice Chancellor, External Relations, added the event gave everyone a chance to sample something from different cultures and hoped “many more events showing international atmosphere enjoyed at the University” would follow.
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Uni establishes new links in China A PARTNERSHIP has been signed with Beijing Union University (BUU) which will see Chinese students study part of their degree course at Bedfordshire. Set to commence in September 2014, the agreement will enable BUU postgraduate students to undertake MSc courses or part-time PhD degrees at the University. On completion of their studies BUU students will be awarded a University of Bedfordshire undergraduate degree. l Full details of the Partnership are due to be announced in the New Year.
Artists’ impression of the new teaching building at Bedford
Redevelopment at Bedford gets underway KIER Construction has won the contract to build a £9million state-of the-art teaching and learning building, featuring teaching and lecturing rooms, informal learning spaces and a new student services centre. Work has started at the Bedford campus, with the new building due to open in January 2015. Vice Chancellor Bill Rammell said the “exciting” development will be a “major boost” for Bedford, making a start to the ambitious £25million plans to redevelop existing campus accommodation and relandscape the site over the next five years, to ensure the University continues to offer the “very best learning experience”. l For more about the Bedford campus redevelopment visit: www.beds.ac.uk/ aboutus/enhancementproject
Teaching links strengthened in South-East Asia STUDENTS in Malaysia can study for a University of Bedfordshire degree following an agreement signed with Berjaya University College of Hospitality. The partnership will enable Berjaya students to study from a choice of five, three-year undergraduate courses including Business, Accounting, and Marketing, from early 2014. The Kuala Lumpur-based students will study in their home country with an option of undertaking part of their degree at the Luton campus.
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Students and staff asked to StEP in AN
initiative focussed on introducing, changing or enhancing aspects of the student experience identified by students and staff has been launched The £750,000 STudent Experience ProjectS (StEPs) programme will enable students and staff to put forward “inventive, original and pioneering” ideas to help improve the students’ experience. In addition to a short promotional film shown at the launch of the scheme, at Beds SU’s Lounge, the Student Experience team also highlighted its StEPs postcard campaign. Paige Walker, Vice President for Education at Beds SU, said everyone at the University has a responsibility to make a “positive difference”.
“Let’s take the opportunity this fund has given us to make student experience the best it can be.” Vice Chancellor Bill Rammell added everyone must “work together to enhance the student experience”. “As a university community I know that we are bursting at the seams with innovation, ideas and insight and this substantial investment will help bring those ideas to life,” he said. l Students and University staff are invited to submit their ideas on StEPs postcards, via the Tell Us boxes, available at SiD Helpdesks. Alternatively visit www.beds.ac.uk/steps Ideas selected for funding will be announced by the end of November.
Student experience remains ‘top priority’ to VC
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HE Vice Chancellor of the University, Bill Rammell, called for full-time student numbers at universities to be completely liberalised, at his inaugural Annual Lecture. The former Minister for Higher Education claimed students and institutions in England would be better served by a complete liberalisation of full-time student numbers, rather than full competition only for those students that achieve ABB and above at A level or equivalent, and that such a move would enable universities to compete fairly. “The onus would then be on universities to compete on teaching quality, contact time, civic and community engagement, the development of students as global citizens such as overseas summer schools, extra and co-curricular offers which enhance employability and entrepreneurial skills, and the student experience,” Mr Rammell said. The Vice Chancellor also described the recent Government decision to grant a private college full university status as a “totemic moment”, representing the current government’s “determination to expose the rest of us to more competition and, as they see it, drive up quality and choice”. “I’m up for the challenge from
Bill Rammell addressed a near capacity audience at the Luton campus for his inaugural Annual Lecture
private providers,” he said, as he suggested that it will offer innovative approaches that the University could engage with. The Vice Chancellor again emphasised the importance of the ‘student experience’, describing it as his top priority and “something that will become a defining characteristic of this University”. He said this prioritisation is about doing the right thing for the student, the University, the economy and society – so we produce “engaged, experienced, entrepreneurial graduates”. He dismissed the Coalition’s labelling of students as
consumers, regarding them as partners – citizens of a wider community, contributing to the decision-making of the University. Mr Rammell described student fees as a payment to join the University community, where a student “becomes a partner in an experience that enriches, stretches and develops you in a way that no other experience can”. “A University of Bedfordshire student becomes an employable, entrepreneurial, global citizen through their experience,” added Mr Rammell, who proposes to theme a lecture around one of Bedfordshire’s key strategic objectives once every year.
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Maria Meehan and Sian Pickard, centre, with AGCAS members
Dates for your diary STAFF and students can now add their own University-related events to the new Events Calendar, which was launched last month. All staff, who organise departmental and faculty events, are encouraged to add their event listings using the link on the staff website www.beds.ac.uk/events-builder/ events-builder Any queries: email lucy.cook@beds.ac.uk
Upcoming events
Accolade for graduate employment scheme
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scheme which helped more than 100 graduates from across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire find employment, has won a national higher education award. The Careers and Recruitment Services department picked up the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Service’s (AGCAS) ‘Student and Graduate Employability Award’ at the AGCAS Biennial conference. The project, run in association with Job Centre Plus (JCP), saw 102 unemployed graduates find work. The graduates, who had studied at 68 different universities around the country, were referred for the scheme’s help by the JCP. On offer were one-to-one career coaching sessions, a diagnostic action plan, access to the University jobsearch engine, as well as the Careers Service’s agency style recruitment service.
Specialist workshops and a toolkit of resources were also available with ongoing personalised support via text and email to include crisis support. Sian Pickard, Graduate Employment Programme Manager, and Maria Meehan, Acting Head, said they were “delighted” to get the award, which had numerous entries. The teams’ target was to engage 175 graduates and a small cohort of over 50’s jobseekers who could act as mentors for their younger counterparts. The aim was 100 graduates into work by July and this was completed in May. Feedback suggested participants’ employability and awareness skills increased by 33 per cent on average. AGCAS said Bedfordshire’s project was a “worthy winner” as it “went beyond the interests of the institution itself”, and there was “real evidence of success”.
Refurbished LRC and library spaces relaunched
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HE Learning Resource Centre (LRC) at Luton and the Library at Bedford have been revamped following student feedback received in the National Student Survey and the LRC blog page. The updated LRC (pictured) includes a re-styled IT Suite with state-of-the-art computers, lowenergy LED lighting, new furniture and a variety of flexible study environments. The LRC will continue to host computer-based exams, while ensuring general study space is available for students’ use. At Bedford, the Library now includes a silent study area on the second floor, and a glazed partition to minimise noise. Vice Chancellor Bill Rammell re-opened both facilities, which are in line with the new Strategic Plan to maximise investment in the student experience and respond to student demands for various study spaces.
He highlighted the importance of responding to students’ needs and enhancing their experience at university, adding he feels the spaces will provide “the study environment students’ need” and will further add to the advantage of both facilities being open 24/7. Marcus Woolley, Deputy Director of Learning Resources and Student Services, added the £1.5million investment was “fantastic” news.
l MK BizTech Gateway Launch University Campus Milton Keynes, Thursday, 14 November, 6-8pm UCMK is launching Innovation Den, which is run by MK BizTech Gateway, bringing together students, academics and businesses to create a thriving ‘hub for innovation and knowledge exchange’. The project promotes creativity in an environment that will lead to successful fit-for-market products and world-class company spin-outs. www.beds.ac.uk/events-builder/events/ mk-biztech-gateway-event l Graduations at Milton Keynes and Luton Church of Christ the Cornerstone, Milton Keynes, Friday, 1 November, 10.30am and 2pm. St.Mary’s Church, Luton, 19-22 November, Timings TBC A time for celebration and a highlight of the University year, graduations are set up to be an enjoyable day with family, friends and faculty. www.beds.ac.uk/graduation l Rt Hon Jack Straw Public Policy Lecture G101, Luton Campus Centre, Wednesday, 4 December, 6-8pm This lecture series provides access to high-profile public intellectuals and policy makers who are world experts in their field. Jack Straw will be form the third Public Policy Lecture; bringing conversation with the University in a public forum. www.beds.ac.uk/aboutus/vcprofile/ lectures l Knowledge Network Event ‘Doing business in the new NHS’ Putteridge Bury Conference Centre Wednesday, 6 November, 5.30-8.30pm This annual event aims at helping local businesses aiming to become NHS suppliers. Guest speakers will be Dr Anne Blackwood, Chief Executive of NHS Innovations East and Karen Livingstone, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Eastern Academic Health Science Network. Attendance for University staff and students is free. For more information, and external paid-for tickets, call 0800 328 5334, email knowledge@beds.ac.uk, or visit www. theknowledgenetwork.co.uk
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ITH the Women’s Rugby World Cup less than a year away, two Bedfordshire students harbour hopes of representing England come August 2014. Georgina Gulliver and Sarah McKenna were selected in England’s 50-strong Elite Playing Squad (EPS) in September, as the Red Rose begin their preparations for France. In stark contrast to the professional world their male counterparts enjoy, the women compete part-time for club – and country – whilst also studying for a degree or holding down a fulltime job. A schedule most might baulk at – Georgina, who has just joined the University to study DipHE Operating Department Practices (the second degree she has undertaken), is looking forward to combining university life with her rugby career again. “I underwent hip surgery during the summer so when I’m not in lectures or studying, I’ve been working hard in the gym as part of my recovery process,” said the now fully-fit scrum half, who has 35 caps for England. Georgina moved to Bedford last year after her rugby-playing husband, Ben, was signed by Bedford Blues. “I also travel up to Staffordshire three times a week to train and play for my club, Lichfield Ladies, in addition to working the odd shift as a theatre scrub nurse for BMI Healthcare in Coventry. “I’ve a busy life but I’m really enjoying training to become a scrub nurse at Butterfield Park, whilst I’m doing all I can to make
Georgina Gulliver
Sarah McKenna
Rugby duo set sights on success England’s starting XV for the World Cup.” Third-year FD Construction Management student Sarah has just been called to the Elite Playing Squad and is hoping for her fifth cap.
“I’ve a busy life but I’m really enjoying training to become a scrub nurse at Butterfield Park, whilst I’m doing all I can to make England’s starting XV for the World Cup.”
A regular – and in-fact the captain – of the Rugby Sevens side, Sarah has a similarly hectic programme to Georgina. “I’m delighted to have been selected for the Red Rose, but I know I have a long way to go to get into the final World Cup squad”, said the 24-year-old, who started playing rugby aged six alongside boys her age at Harpenden Rugby Club.
Triathlete’s debut delight
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ECOND year Sport and Physical Education student, Kurt Sanders, has finished as the best Male Junior in his maiden triathlon – and fourth overall in a 100 plus field. Bedford campus-based Kurt, who has been running competitively for 12 years, only started triathlons two months before his success in the under-20 category at the Eton Dorney Super
Sprint Triathlon at the end of September. The 19-year-old completed the 13km course – regarded as the best event in the UK for beginners – in just over 40 minutes. “I didn’t envisage such a great outcome,” said Kurt, who has his sights set on competing for Great Britain in next year’s ITU Duathlon World Championships.
“We have an Autumn International Series this month, so the initial aim is to make the provisional 30-woman World Cup squad, which will be selected after the Autumn fixtures with France and Canada. “I also enjoy my Sevens rugby and I’ve got one eye on the IRB World Sevens Series, which starts in Dubai in December.” Georgina, 27, added: “I know Sarah from the England set-up and we’ve had a good chat about studying at Bedfordshire. I wasn’t expecting to find another England international here but it’s nice to see a familiar face in the area.” • Accompanying Georgina and Sarah in the England squad is Bedfordshire alumna, Maggie Alphonsi MBE. Honoured for her Services to Rugby in last year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list; Maggie, who studied BSc in Sport and Exercise, has represented her country more than 60 times.
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