Exeter Magazine 2013/14

Green shoots Caroline Lucas MP interview

Creating a buzz

Students in action

Cloaked in history

The Chancellor’s gown

THE MAGAZINE FOR UNIVERSITY OF EXETER ALUMNI

2013/14 issue

EXETER

THE GLOBAL OUTLOOK Exeter EXPERTS, WORLD ISSUES

EXETER

2013/14 issue

Welcome to your magazine. Trying to do the University, its students, staff and alumni justice is an exceptionally tall order, but I hope the following pages make you as proud, excited and inspired as I feel at being a part of the Exeter story. It goes without saying that for every tale of sporting or research success, for every inspiring student or committed supporter, for every fascinating contribution made to the world by an alumnus; there are many more that haven’t made it into these pages. If you have any comments, or suggestions for future features we’d love to hear from you – just drop me an email at j.v.cole@exeter.ac.uk. We also produce a regular enewsletter packed with news stories and event updates – if you’re not receiving this already then you’re missing out – contact alumni@exeter.ac.uk to be added to the list.

Jo Cole, Editor

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EXETER Magazine is a University of Exeter publication.

Cover shot: Earth viewed from the space shuttle, courtesy of NASA.

75% recycled

25% FSC sources

Writers: Jo Cole, Emily Hasson, Emma Holifield, Timothy Stubbings, Simon Tyson, Sam Wise and the University of Exeter Press Office.

Editorial team: Jo Cole, Emily Hasson and Timothy Stubbings.

Design: University of Exeter Design Studio. 2013DARO015

Photography: Our thanks go to Helen Anderson, Simon Burt, Shella Demas, Sarah Gawler, Jessica Harrington, Emily Hasson, Steven Haywood, Hufton and Crow, Lucy Ioannou, Joshua Irwandi, Nicola Jaberi, Craig Mercer, Martine Perret, Tim Pestridge, Simon Roe, Students’ Guild, Jim Wileman and the United Nations.

Proofing: Thanks to Stephanie Anagnostopoulos, Stuart Franklin,

Rachael Green, Susie Hills and Ben Norman.

The editorial team would like to thank all the alumni, supporters, students and staff who have contributed to this edition of EXETER Magazine.

The views expressed are not necessarily those of the University of Exeter. All details correct at the time of going to press.

Large print: Please visit www.exeter.ac.uk/ magazine to view a version of this magazine that you can enlarge on screen.

Alternatively, please let us know if you would like a copy of the articles in large text.

Š UN photograph by Albert Gonzalez Farran

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exeter.ac.uk/alumni

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Professor Sir Steve Smith Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive

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supporters. Correspondingly, our rankings and reputation have gone from strengthto-strength. In the last 12 months alone we became The Sunday Times University of the Year 2012/13, and The Leiden University World Rankings ranked Exeter as 49th best institution in the world, based on scientific impact and performance.

n important part of my job

is to scan the horizon for opportunities and threats, and for a while now I’ve been watching a perfect storm approach the UK’s higher education sector.

Fortunately, Exeter is in the best possible position to withstand it, thanks in no small part to your continued support.

According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies Green Budget, by the end of March 2013 only 32% of the government’s planned budget cuts and 21% of public spending cuts had been implemented. This was borne out by the latest round of spending cuts (£11.5 billion) announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, in June.

Even the UK’s ring-fenced science budget only receives protection in cash terms, representing a real-value cut of 14.5% from 2010/11 to 2014/15. Nor does the ring-fence include capital expenditure. I also expect an incoming 2015 government will look to reduce the costs of the new student fees system. One option will be to re-examine the Browne Review’s suggestion of minimum qualifications before students can access the loan system, which would likely reduce overall student numbers.

UK austerity is set against a backdrop of considerable investment in many leading overseas research institutions – particularly

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I’ve been watching a perfect storm approach

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There have been a number of warning signs. Our global economic outlook is an ongoing concern, but here in the UK austerity measures pose a much greater challenge than many imagine.

in Australia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India and Japan. As their reputation and capacity grows, they’ll retain more of their own students. At the same time, more of the UK’s top students are studying with continental or American universities, whilst those applying to UK universities are considering a smaller subset of ‘elite’ institutions, such as Exeter.

A few years ago we anticipated a number of these challenges, and many of our recent successes are the result of deliberate and strategic investments combined with the ambition of our staff, students, alumni and

However with others so keen to emulate our success, new global competitors – both traditional and online, and yet greater austerity ahead, our challenge now is to keep to the high-ground and consolidate our position. By doing so we will ensure a truly inspirational Exeter experience for students and researchers continues across the years to come. I hope you will play an active part in helping us achieve this.

Engaged alumni are no longer an enriching add-on to University life. Your willingness to share expertise and networks, offer employment experience, fund unique research, support academic and sporting excellence, advocate on our behalf, and most of all, your sense of community and commitment to Exeter – all have a very real impact on our success, progress and attractiveness to prospective students and corporate partners.

So, I would like to thank you for your contribution. Your continued support and enthusiasm means Exeter is well placed to weather the coming storm, and we can look forward to a bright future for our students and graduates.

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IN A DIFFERENT LEAGUE

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xeter has entered the top ten in The Complete University Guide rankings 2013, moving up from 13th place to 10th in the guide, which ranks 124 UK universities.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Steve Smith said: “We have had a fantastic year being named The Sunday Times University of the Year, completed our £380 million investment programme and seen our Undergraduate applications for next year rise by 34%.”

The University also features in the world’s Top 200 institutions in 16 of the 30 subjects featured in this year’s QS World University Rankings by Subject. 2,858 universities were evaluated for the rankings.

As well as being named its University of the Year, The Sunday Times also ranked Exeter in 7th place in its 2012/13 league table.

Legal Helpdesk wins Prize

FIRST STUDENTS ARRIVE AT NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL

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his academic year sees the first cohort of future doctors and health practitioners starting their studies at the University of Exeter Medical School.

Competition within this first Medicine intake was extremely high, with 15 applicants for each place.

The Dean, Professor Steve Thornton, said: “The new Medical School is integral to Exeter’s ambitions for future growth and will build on the success of the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry. Our team will continue that tradition of providing innovative, worldclass teaching, coupled with cutting-edge technology and a focus on encouraging a hunger for knowledge and a critical mind.

“We’re very much looking forward to working with this autumn’s students, to help shape them into the health practitioners of tomorrow – we were delighted to receive so many highquality applications.”

A recruitment drive had expanded the world-class research team, which covers four key specialisms: Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risk and Ageing; Environment and Human Health; Health Services Research; Neuroscience and Mental Health. This expertise contributes to an inspiring researchrich learning environment.

The Medical School is focused on training the health leaders of tomorrow, and is working on building collaborations across the South West, to work towards the common goal of overcoming the enormous challenges facing the sector.

The School now offers the Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery qualification, and pharmaceutical expertise through the BSc (Hons) in Medical Sciences. The Medical School also offers an MSc in Environment and Human Health, based at its Truro Campus.

A helpdesk run by Exeter law students has been awarded the Best New Student Pro Bono Activity prize by the Attorney General Dominic Grieve QC MP. The Community Legal Helpdesk is run

by Law students who are supervised by a qualified lawyer, and provides free information and guidance to members of the public involved in legal disputes. Family, small-claims, housing and employment problems are the most common queries.

Mr Grieve said: “It’s impressive to see, so early on in their career, the commitment of these students to providing access to justice for all.”

Charlotte Brasher, who serves as a Student Director of the helpdesk, said: “I feel an overwhelming sense of pride that our project has been awarded this prestigious award.”

Students supporting the Helpdesk during its fundraising Wainwright Walk.

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SWAN likes

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ork continues to support women academics in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEM/M) disciplines; with new applications for the Athena SWAN charter.

Exeter received a Bronze Athena SWAN university award in recognition of its work to tackle the unequal representation of women in science in 2012.

In April this year the Medical School submitted a Bronze level department award alongside a joint submission from the Biology and Geography combined discipline from our Penryn Campus. All other STEM/M disciplines will apply in April 2014.

“Women make up more than 50% of EU students and earn 45% of EU doctoral degrees, but on average only hold 19% of senior academic positions,” said Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Nick Talbot.

“At Exeter we want a culture and environment which supports women to reach their full potential.”

International award for Exeter volunteers The impact and scale of Exeter’s pioneering volunteering programme has caught the attention of international best-practice organisation CASE. They awarded Exeter and its volunteers the top honour they can bestow – a gold ‘Circle of Excellence’ award.

Susie Hills, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, said: “This prestigious award reflects the enormous impact our alumni make by helping our students and staff, and I want to thank each and every person who has taken part. It’s this kind of dedication which makes Exeter the special place it is.”

For more information about giving your time see www.exeter.ac.uk/alumnisupporters/ volunteering

Alumni volunteers Fin Irwin, Holly Keatings and Martin Corck.

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LIVING SYSTEMS GETS underway Exeter is pioneering an exciting new approach to understanding how diseases evolve and how they can be diagnosed more accurately and cured more effectively.

The £50 million Living Systems Institute, which is under construction, is bringing together leading mathematicians, physicists, cell and molecular biologists, biomedical scientists and engineers.

It aims to apply investigative techniques from engineering and physics to make biology a predictive as well as an observational science.

The grand challenge is to move beyond the present frontiers of biology to accurate, predictive control engineering of whole living systems. This has the capacity to revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of human, animal and plant diseases.

“It’s an incredibly exciting project,” said Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Nick Talbot.

“We needed a centre which will allow us to work together to tackle some of the major issues facing humanity. Living Systems represents a truly unique interdisciplinary venture; its layout and facilities are all designed to help academics collaborate effectively together.

“It will bring together our world leading research in biosciences, engineering, maths, medicine and physical sciences, all under one roof, with the flexibility to change the world of science as we know it today.”

More than 20 different academic groups, comprising more than 200 researchers will be based in the new Living Systems Institute, which will open in March 2016. There they will have access to state of the art equipment and high-end computational facilities.

news

It’s good to talk S

tudents from the University’s English department are reading to people in residential care homes, as part of an Annual Fund project using literature and poetry as a stimulus for senior citizens.

The Care Homes Reading Project, initiated by Dr Johanna Harris, uses the spoken word to revive long-term memory, improve well-being and encourage intergenerational relationships.

160 student volunteers read poetry, plays and short stories to residents, in groups or individually for one or two hours a week.

Vanessa Langley, Activities Co-ordinator at Woodhayes Brendoncare, said: “The students have brought a raft of fresh air, a breeze of youthful vibrancy and enthusiasm, which in some cases has led to friendship. They are enriching the lives of those living in care homes like ours.”

Exeter partnership with ibm

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xeter has announced a strategic partnership with IBM, the world’s largest IT and consulting services company.

The partnership will bring together the best minds in industry and academia to help tackle and understand some of the world’s major challenges.

Projects supported by the partnership include initiatives addressing water management, climate change, sustainability and health. Other areas of collaboration include smart metering, analytics and the management of ‘big data’.

Jessica Fenlon with a resident of Oak House Care Home.

Scholars as Friends Celebrated Students from around the world supported by Santander Universities came together in Exeter for a celebratory reception. Part of Santander’s Scholars as Friends initiative, more than 20 scholars shared their stories of how Santander’s support has changed their lives at an event held on Streatham Campus.

“Santander Universities has been working with institutions across the world for many years, giving students the opportunity to expand their horizons,” says Rebecca West, Branch Manager, Santander. “It was an absolute pleasure to meet with some of our students, and a joy to hear more about the impact of our support.”

Tess Nixon (Sociology 2003), Deputy Head of Philanthropy, gave a speech to thank Santander Universities for their support.

She also presented Rebecca with a letter of thanks, signed by each of the scholars attending the reception.

Santander Universities has supported a range of projects including studentships, internships with small- and medium-sized enterprises, travel bursaries, and exchange programmes.

A number of Year Abroad students have also been supported with bursaries to visit countries in Latin America and Iberia.

Professor Janice Kay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), said: “Solving global challenges is only possible through meaningful collaboration, and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to formalise our long-term partnership with IBM.” exeter.ac.uk/alumni

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Battling antibiotic resistance

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esearch by the University of Exeter

and Kiel University in Germany shows that bacteria can evolve resistance faster when stronger antibiotics are used.

Meditation technique helps children’s mental health

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ew research by Professor Willem Kuyken from the University’s Mood Disorders Centre has found mindfulness techniques effective in improving wellbeing in young people. Mindfulness, a form of meditation, has been shown to help a wide range of mental health conditions and improve wellbeing in adults. However, few trials have previously evaluated its effectiveness in children.

Researchers unexpectedly found the rate of evolution of antibiotic resistance for E. coli speeding-up when potent treatments were given.

It happens because if a treatment is too potent it eliminates non-resistant cells, creating a lack of competition allowing resistant bacteria to multiply quickly.

Those cells go on to create copies of resistance genes that help them rapidly reduce the effectiveness of the drugs. In tests this effect saw E. coli grow fastest in the most aggressive antibiotic treatments.

Exeter’s Professor Robert Beardmore, EPSRC Research Fellow from Biosciences said: “We were surprised by how quickly the bacteria evolved resistance. We nearly stopped the experiments because we didn’t think some of the treatments should be losing potency that fast, sometimes within a day. But we now know that the bacteria remaining after the initial treatment have duplicated specific areas of their genome containing large numbers of resistance genes. These gene copies appear more quickly when the antibiotics are combined, resulting in the rapid evolution of very resistant bacteria.

“Designing new treatments to prevent antibiotic resistance isn’t easy, as this research shows, and governments may need to increase their funding for antibiotics research if scientists are to be able to keep pace with the rapid evolution of bacterial pathogens that cause disease.”

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Air pollution stunts coral growth A new study has found that pollution from fine particles in the air can shade corals from sunlight and cool the surrounding water, resulting in reduced growth rates.

A paper in the journal Nature Geoscience has reported that coral growth rates in the Caribbean were affected by volcanic aerosol emissions in the early 20th century as well as aerosol emissions caused by humans in the later 20th century.

Lead author Lester Kwiatkowski, a PhD student from Mathematics at the University said: “Coral reefs are believed to be vulnerable to climate change and ocean acidification, but ours is the first study to show a clear link between coral growth and the concentration of particulate pollution in the atmosphere.”

The study was financially supported by a grant from the Natural Environment Research Council, the University of Exeter and the EU FORCE project.

Professor Kuyken’s research assessed how effective the mindfulness intervention was at enhancing the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged 12-16 years. The young people who participated in the mindfulness programme reported fewer depressive symptoms, lower stress and greater wellbeing than those in the control group.

news

The Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) on the Penryn Campus officially opened in April. Building on established research strengths, the ESI leads cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research into solutions to problems of environmental change; enhancing people’s lives by improving their relationships with the environment.

Children of long-lived parents less likely to get cancer The offspring of parents who live to a ripe old age are more likely to live longer themselves, and are less prone to cancer and other common diseases associated with ageing, a study has revealed.

Experts at the University of Exeter Medical School, supported by the National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care in the South West Peninsula, led an international collaboration which discovered that people who had a long-lived mother or father were 24% less likely to get cancer. The scientists compared the children of long-lived parents to children whose parents survived to average ages for their generation.

The team found that overall mortality rates dropped by up to 19% for each decade

that at least one of the parents lived past the age of 65. For those whose mothers lived beyond 85, mortality rates were 40% lower. The figure was a little lower (14%) for fathers, possibly because of adverse lifestyle factors such as smoking, which may have been more common in fathers.

Professor William Henley, from the Medical School, said: “Previous studies have shown that the children of centenarians tend to live longer with less heart disease, but this is the first robust evidence that the children of longer-lived parents are also less likely to get cancer.

We also found that this inherited resistance to age-related diseases gets stronger the older their parents lived.”

ST LUKE’S FLIES THE FLAG St Luke’s Campus has received a prestigious Green Flag Award for the first time.

The national award, handed out by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, recognises and rewards the UK’s best parks and green spaces.

The St Luke’s Campus has a variety of formal landscapes such as the quad, along with seasonal floral displays, herbaceous borders, shrubberies, areas for sport and recreation as well as specific features for wildlife.

Director of Grounds, Iain Park said: “We’re absolutely delighted and hope our students, staff, alumni and visitors will continue to enjoy the green spaces we provide. We’re committed to maintaining our campuses to the highest quality.”

The Streatham Campus was also awarded the flag for the third consecutive year. exeter.ac.uk/alumni

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Brain study seeks answers on dementia

Solving the mystery of Olivier’s Macbeth

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Screenplays of Laurence Olivier’s unmade film version of Macbeth, widely thought to have been lost, have been uncovered by a University academic.

three-year research project examining how the brain’s electrical behaviour is linked to dementia has started in the Medical School.

Dr Jon Brown and his team have been awarded a Senior Research Fellowship grant from the charity Alzheimer’s Research UK. The work is a collaboration involving the major pharmaceuticals company Lilly.

Jon said: “Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia steal memories and wreck lives. If we can better understand how the brain’s complex electrical networks miscommunicate in such cases, we can work towards targeting treatment more effectively, and ultimately reduce the burden associated with these devastating diseases.”

Initial studies have indicated that the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex,

oars and awards

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raduates from the last 50 years attended the opening of The Nicholas Bull Boathouse, generously funded by former Exeter Boat Club captain alumnus Nicholas Bull (Chemistry 1973).

University Council and College of Benefactors member Nicholas was also awarded the prestigious Europe Matched Funding Volunteer Award by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

It was recognition of his work as Chair of the last Fundraising Campaign Board, which saw him volunteer 440 hours of his own time as well as help cultivate major gifts for Exeter and its students.

Susie Hills, Director of Development and Alumni Relations said: “It was thoroughly well deserved, and we’re very grateful to Nicholas for all he does for us – both as a philanthropist and volunteer.

“His enthusiasm for Exeter is infectious, which makes him a wonderful ambassador.”

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both crucial for learning and memory, communicate abnormally when excessive amounts of tau protein are produced.

Jon and his team will use state-of-the-art recording devices to monitor brainwaves during tasks which trigger communication between the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. If these areas are found to malfunction when tau levels are excessive, it could help target future dementia treatments more effectively.

Dr Simon Ridley, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Despite the growing numbers of people with dementia, there are still no treatments available that can slow or stop the underlying diseases that cause it. We are committed to funding projects like this – projects with the potential to make a real difference to people’s lives in the future.”

English lecturer Dr Jennifer Barnes located 13 previously unstudied versions of the 1950s screenplay in the British Library’s Laurence Olivier Archive.

Macbeth was to be Olivier’s last cinematic Shakespeare adaptation. However the proposed film proved to be an “impossible monster” and was shelved in 1958 – despite being in the final stages of production.

Jennifer said: “I uncovered the Macbeth manuscripts whilst researching production materials relating to Olivier’s 1955 film of Richard III. I was incredibly excited to find a range of documents that trace the production’s development from an early draft through to detailed shooting scripts.”

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A LEAGUE OF OUR OWN E

xeter has achieved its highest ever position in the British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) league table – 5th place overall from 173 institutions.

“Many of the institutions around us in the table assemble their teams from a larger student body – further testament to the quality of the sporting experience at Exeter,” said Phil Attwell, Director of Sport.

It’s an exciting time for sport, with £8.1 million recently invested in facilities at the Streatham Sports Park. Exeter’s Olympic-standard water-

based hockey pitch has been re-laid, complete with first-floor grandstand – providing a great view of the action on match days. The outdoor tennis and netball courts have been covered to allow greater use year-round, and the five-aside football pitch has also been resurfaced.

The most noticeable part of the new investment is the construction of the Russell Seal Fitness Centre, which boasts a 200-station gym. The Centre also houses fitness studios, a reception area and changing rooms. The previous gym facility will become a highperformance area for elite student athletes.

“During the last academic year over 5,800 students joined one of our 50 Athletic Union sports clubs and many more competed in intramural sport and used facilities on a casual basis,” added Phil.

“The developments at our Streatham Sports Park, along with our other facilities at St Luke’s Campus, Duckes Meadows, Topsham Sports Ground and The Nicholas Bull Boathouse means Exeter is well-placed to maintain its rise up the BUCS rankings, whilst providing an excellent sporting experience for all.”

Exeter Science Park taking shape This autumn will see the opening of Exeter Science Park’s first building, a key step in realising its vision of incubating and seeding entrepreneurial science and innovation in the South West.

The Park, of which the University is a partner, will be a centre for collaboration and the commercialisation of new science and technology – ranging across life sciences and healthcare to food security, climate change and new highperformance materials.

Accommodation on the Park will range from single desks and laboratory benches available by the day, to units which will function as “grow-on space” for highgrowth companies not yet big enough to have their own free-standing premises.

There will also be owner-occupier purpose-built units of more than 1,000m2.

Keep up-to-date: @ExeterSciencePK www.exetersciencepark.co.uk

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news in pictures 2 © national maritime museum cornwall

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1. The University’s Centre for Additive Layer Manufacturing (CALM) invited 30 professional artists to work with its engineers on its 3D printers. The art works range from architectural structures to representations of the artists’ own blood cells.

2. A 50ft-long, five tonne replica Bronze Age boat is launched in Falmouth Harbour. The boat was re-created by the National Maritime Museum Cornwall and the University of Exeter.

3. Malaysian students performing as part of the International Students’ Council annual Diversity Week.

4. Scientists from Exeter are working with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust on a four-year study of flamingo behaviour to explore how their relationships could improve breeding success and the overall welfare of captive flocks.

5. A new fibre which changes colour when stretched, has been created by materials scientists at Exeter and Harvard University. It could lend itself to the creation of smart fabrics that visibly react to heat or pressure.

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Š UN photograph by Victoria Hazou

feature

SPECIAL FEATURE:

WHAT’S The

WORLD COMING TO? T

urn on the news, and you can be sure the headlines will follow welltrodden themes. Amongst them – economic uncertainty, conflict, poverty and extremes of weather.

In a shrinking world, with the pressures of a growing population and climate change looming, it could be easy to take a pessimistic view of our collective prospects.

However, in the years ahead we’re also likely to see the emergence of new ideas, novel solutions and exciting opportunities.

In the following pages, Exeter’s experts – both alumni and academic – offer their perspectives on some of the global challenges we all face.

<< exeter.ac.uk/alumni

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;

I know from experience that change is possible if you go at it in a smart manner

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

1: A United nations perspective

Sustainable development

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feature

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ith teams and partner

organisations right across the world, the United Nations has a unique perspective on the challenges facing humankind. Here, Exeter alumna and an Assistant SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations, Sigrid Kaag, shares her outlook and explains the roles we all have to play.

“I am a glass-half-full person and the reasons are twofold; firstly one can’t afford not to believe. Secondly, I know from experience that change is possible if you go at it in a smart manner – if we are collective and if we are selective. At the end of the day, we owe it to those who are most deprived, who are disenfranchised and who are underprivileged. That’s something that drives me as an individual.

“A number of countries have been impacted by the combined effects of food, finance and climate change. So a lot of middleincome countries look OK on the surface – but if you scratch away you’ll see their distinct vulnerability. Then of course the geography of poverty has changed – the largest numbers of poor actually now live in middle-income countries.

“A big challenge is our collective need to tackle environmental pressures and the impact of climate change. A lot of our social and economic gains will be reversed – dramatically, rapidly and perhaps irreversibly – if we don’t.

© UN Photograph by Shareef Sarhan

“So we need a collective approach. We need international consensus of course, but we also need to build societies that can actually strengthen their own capacity to deal with it. Resilience is something we need to grow in our DNA. From practical coping mechanisms of knowing what to do in a crisis, to knowing how to respond, leveraging and mobilising community-led responses.

“At the moment it doesn’t get talked about much. It’s very easy to lose sight of the bigger global picture that’s happening around us – and will impact on all of us.

If you’re somewhere like the UK or my country, the Netherlands, people have many other issues they’re concerned

about – like unemployment or jobs for their children. This means they’re pushing the more global agenda to the side, even though we’re increasingly more connected and everybody knows that.

We need continued leadership of a group of champions at the highest level to keep pushing that envelope.

“So there are a lot of challenges, but I think challenge is also opportunity.

“The United Nations Development Programme’s 2013 Human Development Report highlights the rise of the south – countries such as China, Brazil and India, as new global actors. If you connect that rise to sustainable human development, you have a tremendous opportunity to accelerate momentum and enhance equity.

but in a university are you not confined to, or presumed to have, an opinion – other than one based on evidence, or built on research.

“That’s extremely important. It keeps institutions honest and there is also the value of a reality check. At the UN we already partner with universities, both as a source of knowledge and research, and there is always more scope for collaboration.

“There’s undoubtedly a lot of work ahead – there’s never a dull moment. But we can get it right and we need to get it right, perhaps more now than ever before because we can’t pretend we don’t know.

Knowledge is there in abundance.”

“Then there is the global conversation on what will succeed the Millennium Development Goals – the internationally agreed anti-poverty targets – after 2015.

More than ever before people – individuals – are voicing their opinions and giving ideas, and that’s a demonstration of a will to engage.

“At the UN we’ve gone out of our way to make sure that everyone who wants to give input can participate in national and global consultations. What’s helpful about the global conversation is that it gives governments, national partners and civil society a chance to say “What did people in my country actually say their priorities were?”

“If we focus on sustainable human development, which is really our field, we hope to achieve transformational change.

Change which is rights based, looks at issues of equity and very much advances an ambitious development agenda for citizens.

Within that I firmly believe the UN has a very strong and unique role to play. Not only because we’re a universal body where issues are debated and hopefully agreed – with a unique system providing that neutral and impartial perspective – but we’re also on the ground. So we take theory to practice and practice becomes new policy.

“Universities also have an important role to play too. I like to think that nowhere

Sigrid Kaag (MA Politics and Economics of the Middle East 1988) is an Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, and heads the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy at the UN Development Programme (UNDP). In this role she oversees UNDP’s strategic external engagement, organisationwide communication and advocacy, and resource mobilisation. Part of her portfolio is to engage with development partners, intergovernmental, regional and sub-regional organisations, financial institutions, the private sector, and civil society organisations around the world.

She has held high-level posts throughout her career including UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa. She was also Deputy Director of Programmes at the International Organisation for Migration, a diplomat in the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an analyst for Shell International Petroleum.

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© un photograph by Martine Perret

2: Food for thought climate and resource In 2050 the world’s nine-billionth child will be born.

Central to their life will be the consequences of climate change, pollution, political and economic change – and the sheer numbers of other humans inhabiting the same space. Food security is set to be one of the major issues of our time.

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t is a challenge we cannot dodge, according to Exeter’s Professor Michael Winter OBE, Director of the Food Security and Land Research Alliance (FSLRA) and recognised rural policy expert. The FSLRA brings together the best brains of agricultural and social sciences from Exeter, Bath, Bristol and Cardiff universities and leading BBSRC research institute, Rothamsted Research.

“The human race has to find a way to make sure there are long-term sustainable solutions to agricultural production and water supply to avoid suffering on a massive scale,” said Michael. “Not to do so will lead to issues including mass migration and potentially major shifts of power – which bring their own instability.

“At Exeter we know a collaborative approach is the way forward, bringing the best researchers together both within the institution and with our partners. Traditionally research across the world was carried out in silos, but in the case of food security there are so many inter-linking and overlapping areas that the only way forward is to bring academics of all disciplines together to tackle issues in the round to find realistic solutions.”

The FSLRA approach is to act as a means of introducing academics and their work to one another – so that engineers, historians, bioscientists, psychologists and others can tackle issues alongside one another; with universities and scientific institutes also collaborating on joint research projects.

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feature

Culture and Climate Cultural engagement with weather and climate is key to making climate change real to people and motivating them to respond, according to an Exeter-led international research team.

From enjoying beaches, winter sports or the world’s iconic natural spaces, to using traditional methods of agriculture and construction; the research highlights the cultural experiences that bind communities and are under threat from climate change.

Their paper, published in the prestigious journal Nature Climate Change, argues that governments’ programmes for dealing with its consequences do not give enough consideration to what really matters to individuals and communities.

© un photograph by Logan Abassi

Lead researcher Professor Neil Adger of Exeter’s Geography department, says: “If the cultural dimensions of climate change continue to be ignored, it’s likely that responses will fail to be effective.”

Some communities are already experiencing profound changes. For example, the Polynesian Island of Niue, which experiences cyclones, has a population of 1,500 – with four times as many Niueans now living in New Zealand. The research shows that most of those who remain stay because of their attachment to the island. This supports strong evidence suggesting it is important for people’s emotional wellbeing to have control over whether and where they move. The researchers argue that these psychological factors have not been addressed.

Professor Katrina Brown from the Environment and Sustainability Institute said “The evidence is clear; when people experience the impacts of climate change in places that matter to them, the problems become real and they are motivated to make their futures more sustainable.”

exeter.ac.uk/alumni

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3: SECURE in the knowledge security

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feature

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he Strategy and Security Institute (SSI) at the University of Exeter was formed last year. It is an interdisciplinary research centre established to directly address the strategic deficit of a world beset by instability and insecurity. Here its Director, General (Retd) Professor Sir Paul Newton outlines the role it needs to play in an ever changing world.

“Do you feel more or less secure today than you did a decade, or even a year ago?

“The sub-title of the UK’s National Security Strategy signposts why Exeter has invested in an Institute to teach and research applied security strategy: ‘A Strong Britain in an Age of Uncertainty’. It’s uncertainty – not strength – that pervades the capstone Government strategy though, the very first line of which notes ‘In a world of startling change… Britain is both more secure and more vulnerable than in most of her long history.’

© un photograph by Sylvain Liechti

“The old levers of power or ‘statecraft’ are just not functioning as intended given an expanding range of complex, often interlinked security challenges – ranging from climate change to radicalisation at home and abroad. As the Syrian crisis deepened our Foreign Secretary bemoaned that ‘diplomacy isn’t working’; military intervention has lost much of its appeal (at least in the West) since the attempts to re-model states in Iraq and Afghanistan; in an age of austerity the West cannot rely on economic power, which in any case is shifting further to the East; and in a networked world where everyone with a mobile-phone is now a journalist, the ability of governments to control ‘the message’ (a quaint idea from a bygone Blairite era) much less win a battle of narratives, is undermined. Hence the uncertainty, and hence the need for effective strategy done by well-educated, confident strategists.

“Yet as a Parliamentary Committee noted recently, it is unclear who in the UK actually does strategic thinking, which seems to

have become a lost art. This is the gap that Exeter aims to fill and hence the creation of the Strategy and Security Institute in 2012.

If that sounds ambitious, it is. However, the enthusiastic reaction to the project indicates that the University has hit on its own strategic idea: Exeter will be the place that aspiring leaders and strategists come to learn their ‘craft’, and where those in need of policy-facing, objective research come to better understand how to frame, and then confront, the challenges they face. “‘Enthusiasm’ is the word that best sums up SSI’s arrival on the security stage.

Enthusiasm from students (there have been over 140 applications for the highly-selective process to allocate the 25 places on the first MA in Applied Security Strategy course – the Exeter ‘MStrat’); and enthusiasm from a powerful and fast-growing network of active supporters that includes current and recent leaders from the private and public sectors, as well as academics who are determined to make a difference. SSI is already making an impact, working with Her Majesty’s Government to help the Syrian opposition build capacity for accountable governance, or giving expert testimony to the House of Commons, for example.

“Of course, Britain’s security challenges, and the strategic options open to our leaders, can only be understood within the context of a globalised world, which is why in recruiting a core academic team for SSI we have been pleased to welcome students and staff from overseas, such as Dr Catarina Thompson (recently arrived from the USA) whose background blends psychology with political science. SSI looks forward to helping to fill what we see as an ‘adaptation deficit’ by working across disciplines, professions and national boundaries.

“To quote again (this time from the concept that underpins all this investment in SSI) ‘There is clearly an imperative to better understand both the nature of instability and insecurity, and how broad policy goals can be focused through the formulation of strategy – conceived and executed by capable strategists – to achieve specified ends in fluid and unpredictable conditions.’ One year into its life, SSI is doing what it says on the tin.”

General (Retd) Professor Sir Paul Newton KBE – Director, Strategy and Security Institute Educated at Sandhurst, Cambridge University and the Royal College of Defence Studies Sir Paul Newton spent 38 years in the Army completing eight operational tours in Northern Ireland and two in Iraq.

In 1999 Paul was seconded to the Permanent Joint Headquarters to plan for the Kosovo operation. In 2003 he became the Chief of Defence Staff’s Liaison Officer to the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs in Washington, working on Iraq. He then became the Deputy, Strategic Planning in HQ Multi-National Force Iraq for which he was awarded the US Legion of Merit.

In 2007 he returned to Baghdad to lead the Coalition reconciliation effort as head of a new Force Strategic Engagement Cell, for which he was awarded a Legion of Merit, First Oak Leaf Cluster.

As Director of the Ministry of Defence’s Developments, Concepts and Doctrine Centre he produced the UK’s first doctrine for stabilisation – “Global Strategic Trends” and a paper on the future character of conflict for the Security and Defence Review.

Paul became Commander Force Development and Training in 2010 and as a member of the Army Board, he helped lay the ground work for Army 2020. He is the founding Director of the Strategy and Security Institute.

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4: Making sense of the global economy an exeter conversation on world finance

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ver the last few years, economies around the world have been struggling to stay afloat.

Indeed, if you hear the word ‘bail-out’ these days, it’s unlikely to be meant in a nautical sense.

So is it fair-sailing ahead, or should we be battening down the hatches? We asked two Exeter experts – alumnus Hugh Young, MD of Singapore-based Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Ltd., and Professor Robin Mason, Dean of the Business School – to exchange emails* and offer their opinion on just how ship-shape the global economy actually is.

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Dear Robin,

Looking at the world from the perspective of Singapore and Asia, the issues appear starkly clear. Economically the West is severely challenged. Europe is paralysed – governments are powerless and in the thrall of populism, the banking system is not functioning as it ought and eagerly anticipated economic recovery is as distant as ever. The United States is slightly more encouraging – at least the banking system is not as moribund as Europe’s and corporations have been quick to adjust, justifying the country’s reputation for flexibility and resilience.

The debt mountain and the future obligations of government, however, remain the tremendous challenge for both the US and Europe and the mechanism for, let alone the consequences of, unwinding the huge quantitative easing of recent years is wholly opaque.

Turning to Asia, the picture is somewhat rosier. Certainly Asia’s export industries are being impacted by sluggish global demand; China’s whirlwind economy is clearly slowing, albeit still growing at rates others envy. Where the difference lies is in the debt profile or balance sheets of governments and their citizens. Generally the governments (with the notable exceptions of Japan and arguably China) have not been as profligate as in the West; citizens have been conservative too, with a preference for saving over spending. Both governments and citizens were much chastened during the Asian crisis 15 years ago, where the medicine prescribed by the West was that of strict austerity.

What Asia is too polite to say is that the West cannot take the medicine it happily prescribed for others, and has thereby been prolonging the agony.

Regards,

Hugh *in June 2013

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Dear Hugh,

Depressingly, I find very little to argue with your summary of the European and US situations: things do not look good. The financial situation is clear enough. More fundamental, I think, is the political impasses that preclude concerted action to revive flagging economies. Europe is locked in an economic union that continues its decline, but without the political union needed to reverse this. The US is in gridlock: a not unusual state of affairs, made worse by the growing pressures of an ageing population, and the rising prices of health and education. Social dislocation is a growing concern, as this year’s riots in (the normally placid) Sweden illustrate.

At the risk of being overly gloomy, I’m not quite as optimistic about the Far East. China has lowered its annual growth target to 7.5% until 2020 (it has averaged 9.6% since reforms started in 1979). This is still a growth rate that any Western country would envy. But it does signal some challenges ahead for the Far East’s biggest economy. In particular, there needs to be a huge shift from government-directed investment in heavy industry, to consumption-led growth and development of the services sector.

At the same time, the Chinese labour force is set to decrease over the next 20 years, as a result of the one-child policy.

To put these factors into context, the estimate is that about half of China’s recent growth has been due to government direct investment; and another 10%-20% from adding workers to the workforce. As these factors tail off, that leaves a big gap for productivity improvements to fill, if Chinese growth is to remain robust.

We live in interesting times,

Robin

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Dear Robin,

I fear uncertainty will be the order of the day for a few years or more. Even as the tremendous growth engine that is China is slowing, other hoped-for solutions to the ills of a challenged world economy, such as India, are not living up to their earlier promise. The reality is that we’re looking at anaemic global growth for at least the next three years.

© fanatic studio

Whilst the macroeconomic outlook is depressing, there are bright spots. From a geographic point of view Asia, South America and Africa are still growing strongly. From a more specific bottom-up point of view it’s not total doom and gloom for the West. Many Western companies are faring well by serving faster-growth parts of the world – providing much needed goods and services.

Internationalisation is happening rapidly, although in this economic climate we’re also starting to see governments – either for genuine economic reasons or more worryingly to satisfy their domestic political base – raise the spectre of protectionism. In all, it’s extremely hard to be an unqualified optimist in these circumstances.

Best wishes,

Hugh 4

Robin became Dean in 2011, having joined the Business School as Professor of Economics in 2009. He was previously Head of Economics at the University of Southampton and gained his PhD from Cambridge.

He is a fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research, and a Specialist Member on the Communications Act Panel of the Competition Commission.

His academic research concentrates on how firms respond strategically to uncertainty. Robin has provided advice to a number of regulators, the Prime Minister of Mauritius on competition policy, and private-sector companies.

Dear Hugh,

I’ll do my best to conclude on a slightly more positive note.

Africa is the world’s fastest-growing continent right now and I’m hopeful that the next 10 years will mark good growth prospects for sub-Saharan Africa (goodness knows, it needs them). The IMF predicts that over the next five years, 10 of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies will be in sub-Saharan Africa; another two will be in North Africa. Growth looks to be led by Ivory Coast – the world’s biggest producer of cocoa; Mozambique, following the world’s biggest gas discovery in the past decade; and Nigeria with its oil.

Spreading the wealth will, as always, be a challenge. African countries have had their fair share of the natural resource curse▲, and without the wealth in the first place, there’s nothing to share. However, this is starting to change.

Over the last decade, secondary-school enrolment grew by 48%; in some of the worst-affected countries malaria deaths have declined by 30%, HIV infections by 74%; life-expectancy across Africa has increased by about 10%; and child mortality rates in most countries have also been falling steeply. Crucially, governance and political stability seem to be improving; and Chinese investment is improving infrastructure.

Fingers crossed.

Robin Exeter Conversations: what do you think? If you’d like to comment or add your opinion, join us on our LinkedIn group (University of Exeter). Please note, submissions are moderated. ▲

Professor Robin Mason – Dean of the Business School

Hugh Young – Managing Director, Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited Hugh (Politics 1979) set up the office for Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited in Singapore in 1992 as the Group’s Asia-Pacific headquarters.

As well as MD, he is also head of equities globally and a member of the executive committee responsible for day-to-day running of the parent company, Aberdeen.

Hugh has over 30 years’ experience in investment management and has managed the Group’s Asian assets since 1985, including award-winning mutual funds and closed-end funds. Before joining Aberdeen, his career included posts at Fidelity International and MGM Assurance.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resource_curse

exeter.ac.uk/alumni

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A YEAR IN THE FORUM T

“Not an hour goes by where students aren’t studying, socialising or simply walking through the venue.

Student Services Centre and Student Information Desk, creating a one-stopshop for everyone.”

“The Forum has become the heart of the Streatham Campus,” said Guild President Nick Davies.

“The Forum has been of enormous benefit to the student body, combining the essential student-focused facilities such as the Guild Advice Unit and Research and Representation, with the David Allen

As well as becoming a central part of student life, it has since hosted graduation celebrations, the Children in Need event for BBC South West and high profile conferences.

he Forum was opened by Her Majesty the Queen accompanied

by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh in May 2012.

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The Chancellor Baroness Floella Benjamin OBE DL Hon DLitt (Exeter) welcomes Her Majesty the Queen during the official opening of the Forum

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Grand Challenges in ‘The Street’, providing an end-of-year programme of educational and social experiences for first-year students

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A sense of arrival and a focus for Streatham Campus visitors

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Staff from the Student Services Centre – a one-stop-shop for guidance and support

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The piazzas are a popular location for concerts, farmers’ markets, flash-mobs, ice-cream (when the sun shines) and graduation photos

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Students taking advantage of the Forum and Library’s 24/7 term-time opening hours

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The Forum’s stunning design has been recognised with an award by the Royal Institute of British Architects

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The Year of the Snake is celebrated in style during Chinese New Year

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The BBC take over the Forum for Children in Need in the South West

exeter.ac.uk/alumni

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EXETER LIFE...

Members of the University of Exeter Gilbert and Sullivan Society perform The Pirates of Penzance at the Northcott Theatre.

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Feature

lifestyle

Š Joshua Irwandi (Exeter Photographic Society)

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exeter.ac.uk/alumni

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Having bee hives has been my dream since I was aged about six

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Supporting students The Annual Fund is made up of donations given by alumni for initiatives supporting the student experience.

The projects are very wide-ranging. Formula One Student saw engineering undergraduates project manage and build their own racing car to compete against other universities – giving them vital new industry and teamwork experience, as well as honing engineering skills.

Student and staff volunteers run The Action After Stroke programme of weekly rehabilitation sessions for local people. The Annual Fund paid for new rehabilitation equipment and training with the British Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation.

“We have very original and worthwhile applications and it is great that we can support students and colleagues with the cutting-edge work they are carrying out,” said Rose Hinks, Regular Giving Manager.

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“Without the generous support of alumni this just wouldn’t be possible.”

Students call graduates and talk about ways to support the University during the Telethon, which is also an opportunity for them to share news from Exeter and common experiences. Katryna Smyth (Spanish and Politics 2013) was a student caller for four years: “The bond between alumni is unique and unwavering and leads to many an hour of laughter and reminiscing,” she said. “Without being a part of this I would not have realised the true importance of a community supporting an institution like Exeter.”

Competition for funds is always strong with a panel of alumni, students and staff selecting successful projects. Alumni gave £222,000 to the Annual Fund in 2013/14, which funded 37 projects – about a third of those submitted. You can help us fund more at www.exeter.ac.uk/donate

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BEE PLUS

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n a quiet meadow against the backdrop of Penryn Campus three students, dressed in white protective clothing, are examining activity around gently buzzing bee hives.

They are part of the 80-strong Bee Society, which was set up two years ago by a small group of enthusiastic students who wanted to learn more about the insects which play such a crucial role in life on earth.

Keeping bees is an important part of that understanding, allowing them to watch the life and development of a hive. In the summer of 2012 they started their first colony, the appalling weather presented challenges for the students and the hive – but it was a valuable learning curve.

The fact they can keep bees at all is down to a successful application for funding from the Annual Fund which, together with a contribution from the Falmouth and Exeter Students’ Union, has paid for that all-important protective gear, hives, other equipment and the bees themselves. To buy everything needed from scratch costs several hundred pounds; without the Annual Fund it would have been prohibitive for the students.

“Having the equipment has meant that what is usually quite an expensive hobby is accessible for students to have a go,” said Lindsay Leyden, who founded Bee Soc in her first year. “The local community has also got involved; we have local residents who are members. We also have other bee keepers who come to talk to us and we are Associate Members of the West Cornwall Bee Keeping Society.”

Bee Soc’s members have also had some exclusive access to internationally-renowned academics now working within the new Environment and Sustainability Institute on campus, who have given talks to the group.

The grounds team also includes a number of qualified bee keepers, who have happily shared their knowledge too.

Bee Soc members are also making their own contribution by sharing what they learn.

“We took part in the BioBlitz on campus last year,” said Cally Ham, who has also been the group’s Treasurer. “We also hosted 50 children from nearby Penryn Junior School.

We planted a wildflower meadow with them and built solitary bee nests – which are homes for lone bees made out of cane. It was really good, and very satisfying.”

At the heart of the Society is an awareness of the importance of all species of bee to the earth’s ecosystem through their key role as plant crop pollinators. Over the next year the Society will develop their new observation hive – again funded by the Annual Fund. This specialist home has sections made of perspex, making it easier to watch the colony and understand more about them.

The new Chair of the group will be Mathilda Janicot-Bale.

“I’ve always liked bees, I saw Bee Soc during Freshers’ Week and thought it was the perfect opportunity to learn more about them, and it was – I’ve already learnt a lot I didn’t know before,” she said.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity; having bee hives has been my dream since I was aged about six.”

exeter.ac.uk/alumni

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ASK...

Caroline Lucas

Visit www.exeter.ac.uk/ask to read Caroline’s answers to additional questions. If you would like to nominate a candidate for the next ‘Ask...’ feature, please email alumni@exeter.ac.uk

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feature Caroline Lucas MP is the UK’s first ever Green Party Member of Parliament and an Exeter alumna (English 1983, PhD English 1990). She was Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales from 2008-2012 and is a passionate campaigner on issues including climate change, globalisation, social justice and human rights.

Here Caroline answers questions put by fellow alumni: Both Germany and the UK have similar targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, but why do you think they are adopting such different strategies? Whereas the UK is set to double the amount of electricity consumed and build many new nuclear plants, Berlin is seeking to reduce electricity consumption by 25% and phase out nuclear power. Clearly you favour the German policy.

Germany definitely seems to be heading in the right direction with its commitment to ambitious energy efficiency measures and policies to increase investment in genuinely green renewables. Given the huge problems associated with nuclear power – unfeasibly high costs, safety concerns and environmental impact among them – the German vision of a sustainable energy future without nuclear is a far more positive one than that being offered here. I think this different approach is in part down to the greater presence of Greens in the German Parliament and the incorporation of green thinking into policy making. A fairer voting system and state funding for political parties has allowed the German Greens to gain significant representation.

And if you have a party well represented in politics that is committed to replacing nuclear energy and polluting fossil fuels with efficiency and renewable energy, then a completely different reality becomes possible. Unfortunately in the UK, we have seen the Liberal Democrats completely relinquish their opposition to nuclear and renege on the Coalition pledge that there would be no public subsidy for new nuclear – all for a place at the Cabinet table.

I’ve recently completed the One Planet MBA at Exeter; what do you think is the future of an MBA focused on sustainability,

and how applicable is it in a country like the UK? Do you see alternatives for career progression, or industries where these graduates would be specially required to make a difference to the sustainability agenda?

Education is crucial to improving understanding of our natural world and sustainability, from the earliest stages through to postgraduate – so the development of MBAs like this is incredibly positive. Many in the business community are finally waking up to the threat posed to their interests and to future stability by climate change and environmental degradation. Over 400 big corporations have now signed up to the 2 Degree Communiqué to pressure governments to act on climate change, which would have been unthinkable a few years ago. Organisations like Forum for the Future now offer good models for sustainable degrees, combining academic study with practical action through secondments to industry, government and NGOs. That said, we also need to see ecological concerns being mainstreamed across all areas of training for business leaders at that level – as well as more training of apprentices to massively increase the number of people who can, for example, install renewable energy technology and insulation.

Does the Green Party envisage a problem coupling enshrined and much valued democratic freedoms with future over population and the subsequent demands on global resources? Could a democratically elected government ever hope to place controls on population?

The impact of human activity on the environment is not just the result of population growth, but the differing consumption patterns of societies. In the

richer North, we consume far more per head than people in the poorer South, so we need to do a huge amount more to address those habits and be realistic about how we use the resources we have left. We know that one of the best ways of reducing population growth is through poverty reduction and facilitating better access to family planning services for all women who want them. More than 200 million women worldwide are still thought to lack access to modern contraception – denied the right to control their own fertility. No-one is, or should be, proposing imposing controls on global population.

Why are there only a few Green Party representatives in constituencies – unlike other parties such as UKIP? Surely many people would like to vote Green but have nowhere to put their vote. What is your reason for being so sparse with Election Representatives and can we hope for more Greens in the 2015 Elections?

Well, the Green Party does have a Member of Parliament whereas UKIP doesn’t! Certainly though, the absence of Green candidates in some areas shows the challenges faced by smaller parties operating in an electoral system designed to keep them out and to maintain the status quo. It costs a significant amount to stand in elections; each candidate requires a sizeable deposit and then there are the leaflets, posters and other materials needed to run the campaign.

With very few exceptions, our funding comes from members so it’s a real challenge – and why state funding for political parties feels like such a priority.

With regards to 2015, we’ll be doing all we can to increase our numbers.

exeter.ac.uk/alumni

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EXETER in china...

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ith our international focus and talented students to call upon, Exeter has been a substantial partner for Tsinghua University, particularly through its English Summer Camp.

For the last three years, student and staff volunteers from the University of Exeter have flown out to Beijing to teach English at the Camp.

Over 2,500 first-year Tsinghua students are involved this year. The Camp is an intensive English language experience with lessons, lectures, seminars, song and dance competitions, and other games conducted in English. The goal is to increase students’ interest in and enthusiasm for the English language, particularly spoken English, where often the only thing Tsinghua’s students lack is confidence.

Exeter’s Teachers and Assistant Teachers work together with volunteers from other

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global universities, a Chinese coordinator and Tsinghua student volunteers. A typical day will see an Assistant Teacher facilitate seminars and lead group activity, such as competitions, music and drama. There is also an opportunity for the Exeter team to explore Beijing and the Great Wall during the trip.

“The Camp is a fantastic experience for our students,” said Richard Foord, Assistant Director (Partnerships) within International Exeter. “It gives them an opportunity to travel to China, to meet other Assistant Teachers from some of the world’s best universities and work with Chinese students. The teaching work helps to make them more employable and provides valuable experience for their future careers. It is an experience that they are unlikely to forget.”

Tsinghua is one of China’s most established and revered institutions, ranked as one of the country’s top two universities.

feature Emma Holifield (left) is studying English with Classical Studies at Exeter. She spent a month last summer working as a volunteer teacher at the Tsinghua English Summer Camp. She recalls how – despite initial trepidation – it turned into one of the best experiences of her life.

“Having only ever been on a handful of short plane rides in my life, boarding the eight-hour flight to Beijing was hugely daunting. Upon arrival Exeter volunteers were faced by another terrifying prospect; teaching some of China’s brightest students from one of its top institutions.

“Still feeling jet lagged, I found myself floundering on the first day. Standing nervously at the front of the classroom I could see one of the senior teachers walking down the corridor. She was bound to want to know how it was going and there I was, at a loss on how to truly engage my class. It forced me to change tack, abandoning the vague lesson plan I’d been relying on for something more creative. When the senior teacher came in she commented on how well I was doing.

“By the end of the trip I was amazed to find myself happily running around the classroom alongside some brilliant fellow volunteers from around the world.

Despite it being their summer holiday, Tsinghua’s students were diligent and enduringly enthusiastic.

“Throughout the month I visited some incredible places, travelling around on my not-so-trusty ‘new’ bike, rented from a man who called himself ‘Dr Hoo’. It really was the most amazing trip and I’m so grateful to both Exeter and Tsinghua for allowing me to experience it.

I desperately hope to visit China again.”

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OUR WORLDWIDE WEB

A

lumni returning to our

campuses in recent years will have noticed just how international the University appears. We are privileged to host students from over 130 different countries in Devon and Cornwall. As Exeter’s international reputation grows – the University has risen 31 places in the Times Higher/Thomson Reuters World University Rankings in the last two years (to 153rd) – so demand for an Exeter education increases.

The University has responded by investing in its international operations. It now has an International Office of 31 staff, including offices in Shanghai, Beijing and Bangalore.

Recruitment of the brightest and best students from around the world is a key activity.

Dr Shaun Curtis, Director of International Exeter, explained: “The growth of our international population in recent years is quite remarkable, and is testament to the Exeter brand overseas. In 2006, the University had a non-EU population of 1,000; seven years later we host over 4,000 such students. If you add non-UK EU students to this total, Exeter has over 5,000 international students, out of a total population of around 18,500.

“In addition to having a diverse student body, we encourage all students to engage internationally. The number of Exeter students participating in exchange opportunities outside the EU has grown by 48% since 2011.”

...AND CHINA IN EXETER Lindsay Yao, from Tongji University (Shanghai), spent six months studying at Exeter.

“Exeter is a high-ranking institution, so lots of students in China applied,” she said.

“The environment is really beautiful here, and the welcome was very warm.

“I’m really delighted to have been here and really enjoyed my time..”

The teaching work helps to make them more employable and provides valuable experience for their future careers exeter.ac.uk/alumni

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“

Exetra Giving A Little

Think of volunteering and you probably picture alumni helping current students. And yes, whilst they benefit from many thousands of hours, there’s also plenty of time being given to help those who’ve already graduated.

T

he Exetra Committee is busy.

The eight-strong volunteer group works with the University to support graduates of the last 10 years.

“We started out four years ago, with the aim of linking recent Exeter alumni based in London – providing a platform to help with networking, socialising and arming them with the resources they need to tackle careers head-on,” says Katerina Giannini (History with European Study 2007), Communications Manager for Boeing and the current volunteer committee Chair.

Two successful workshops have taken place in 2013 already: ‘Marketing and Advertising’ and ‘Writing and Publishing’, with many more to come. Exetra has also just started welcoming their newest members – this summer’s graduates – into the fold. There are some traditional social events to tell them about, including the increasingly popular Christmas Pub Quiz in December, alongside networking events and Lunch and Learn sessions for specific business sectors.

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lifestyle

Volunteering:

An Exeter tradition

4,487 volunteered hours in 2011/12

Home,

Work,

Campus:

Did you know you can volunteer from all three?

Got a place?

We would love to hear from alumni with an event venue to offer.

Martin (Politics 1989) confesses: “I’d like to say we continually host events for Exeter alumni because I feel a great sense of personal debt to Exeter.

But... the truth is that our Agency thrives on finding smart young talent, so hosting events in our Club House is a great way to meet inspirational and energetic people. And maybe hire some of them too.”

This appetite to get involved and make the most of the alumni community has seen Exetra flourish, as Katerina (above) reflects: “We started organising social and casual networking events focused on business skills and start-ups, as well as politics, media and writing – and it’s all grown rapidly in popularity.

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It’s wonderful to see the dedication alumni have, volunteering time from their busy schedules

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Past workshops have been incredibly popular, with a waiting list for each event. Martin Brooks, Co-founder and Chief Executive of top social and digital marketing agency Work Club, has taken part in several – as a speaker and venue host.

“It’s wonderful to see the dedication alumni have, volunteering time from their busy schedules to attend events as speakers or facilitators, or providing venues for events. Seeing how beneficial these new connections are to recent and older graduates is what encourages me and the Exetra committee to continue growing Exetra year after year. In four years we’ve grown to almost 1,000 members on Facebook and an average of six events per year.”

To join, or find out more about Exetra: /groups/exetra.alumni

Need career tips

from fellow alumni? Visit www.exeter.ac.uk/exepert

If you’d like to volunteer, or have any questions, contact us: alumni@exeter.ac.uk “Our alumni volunteer thousands of hours in aid of current students, but also give a lot of time to their fellow graduates,” says Susie Hills, Director of Development and Alumni Relations.

“It can be daunting when you leave University and are taking those first career steps. That’s why groups like Exetra, the Alumnae Group and our Country Contacts are so valuable – whether they’re offering career events or just the chance to meet together socially: they’re very supportive.

“Our thanks go to everyone who has offered their help to students and graduates. It’s wonderful to see how the Exeter tradition of helping others is thriving.”

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“

It is rare, but thrilling, to actually be able to wear a precious piece of history and carry its relevance through to today

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Ready for Graduation, Chancellor Baroness Floella Benjamin OBE DL, Hon DLitt (Exeter).

Floella is Exeter’s fifth Chancellor, and was appointed in 2006.

feature

Glory

Our Gowning

FROM THE ARCHIVES

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he Graduation ceremony is one of those moments all alumni remember. As they sit expectantly waiting to receive their degree, the ceremonial procession arrives with the Chancellor resplendent in a gown of gold and black; ready to deliver an address to a hall full of nervous graduands and proud friends and families.

For recent graduates, whose ceremony was presided over by the current Chancellor Baroness Floella Benjamin OBE DL, Hon DLitt (Exeter), there is always a moment of surprise. It occurs when the first graduand takes to the stage, ready to “bow slightly and clasp the Chancellor’s hand” as instructed, only to find Floella’s open arms and inspirational words making each person’s conferment a personal moment.

“Our Graduation ceremonies are always the highlight of the University year because they are a chance to celebrate our graduands’ wonderful achievements, and wish them well as they take their next steps,” she explains.

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Exeter’s graduation robes have brought a little pomp to official University ceremonies over the decades. But as they are prepared for the archives, MA Classics and Ancient History student Sam Wise has discovered that they may have been doing this for well over 100 years and belonged to one of Britain’s longest-serving Prime Ministers.

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<< “The ceremony is a fitting tribute to them, their peers and their families, and whenever I put the gown on, I always feel very privileged and honoured to be leading the event.”

According to our research it seems the robes were first worn by three-time Conservative Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, the 3rd Marquess of Salisbury. The gown was made for him as Chancellor of Oxford University (a position he held from 1868 until his death in 1903) by Ede and Ravenscroft, one of the oldest firms of tailors in the world.

Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, by George Frederic Watts. Image courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Robert Gascoyne-Cecil’s grandson, the 5th Marquess (also called Robert Gascoyne-Cecil) later became the President of Exeter’s predecessor – the University College of the South-West of England, although it is unknown if he wore the gown in that role.

However in 1955 when the College received its Royal Charter and became the University of Exeter, Mary Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, was chosen to be its first Chancellor.

The 5th Marquess of Salisbury generously gifted the gown to the University and

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Duchess (this may have had something to do with the fact that she was the 5th Marquess’ sister!) and it has been worn by successive Chancellors ever since.

For the current Chancellor, Exeter’s fifth, the gown’s long history and significance is something she has felt very keenly: “As a people, our history and traditions are often reflected through symbolic objects, landscapes, buildings and cultural institutions like Exeter,” she adds.

“It is rare, but thrilling, to actually be able to wear a precious piece of history and carry its relevance through to today.

To have worn it for Graduation – which is such a significant moment in our students’ lives – has made it all the more special.”

Now, after its many years of service, the gown is to be preserved for posterity in Exeter’s archives and a new gown commissioned.

“I consider myself fortunate,” says Floella, “to have been a part of the old gown’s rich history. What’s more, I’m honoured that I’ll always be a part of the new gown’s story too.”

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My Exeter, Your Exeter G

eorge and Marianna Pakos are both from Greece, but met whilst studying at Exeter. They graduated in 2004 – Marianna with an MSc in Social and Organisational Psychology, and George with an MSc in International Management.

They have a young daughter, Elizabeth (pictured right).

George actively volunteers for the University as the Country Contact for Greece, helping to organise social and networking events for fellow alumni.

Here they talk about their time at the University:

What brought you to Exeter?

Surprisingly (or probably it was our destiny) we both had the same reasons.

We wanted to study in a small town outside the big cities, in order to better explore the British way of living; become members of the society. A significant parameter of our decision was the cost of the course and life in Exeter. The reputation of the University also played a significant role in our decision.

Where did you live and how did you find it?

M: I lived in Clydesdale Rise within

the campus.

G: I shared a flat with another Greek guy, whom I accidentally met on the road during the first days in the city; it turned that we were also attending the same programme. We lived in a riverside flat in the Quayside area.

What are your strongest memories of your time here?

For both of us, the most important and strong memories are related to friends.

We met people from all over the world, we had fun, we learned new cultures and habits, we tasted new cuisines, tried new sports… and we still cherish those times.

Have you stayed in touch with friends?

M: One of the reasons me and George

had the chance to become closer was our common best friend Mohammed Ali Ashan from Pakistan, with whom we still keep in touch. Mohammad has visited Greece and George travelled to Pakistan a couple of years ago. I have also stayed in touch with Elpida Chatzopoulou who lives in Thessaloniki, Greece, as well as with some other friends via social media.

G: I do keep in touch with many friends and the fact that I am actively involved in the Greek Alumni Society has helped a lot. My work involves a lot of travelling, so I always give a heads-up to friends who are based in different countries so as to meet them, with the highlight meeting Lowri Roberts in Sydney!

What happened to you after graduation?

M: After my graduation, I was able to

find a job in the HR industry very soon, starting with a small agency and then working for Manpower for some years.

Today I am a teacher!

Where has life taken you now and what impact has Exeter had?

Obviously, thanks to the University of Exeter we became a couple and now we enjoy our married life with our lovely daughter. It’s a huge impact!

Of course, what we were taught (both on academic level as well as from the entire experience) has been a significant asset for our professional careers and personal life.

Last but not least, deep in our mind we do hope to re-visit Exeter for our daughter’s first days – when she chooses to study at probably the best University in the world!

You can read the full interview on our website www.exeter.ac.uk/ yourexeter

G: After my graduation (and the celebrations in Greece for the Olympics and the European Cup in football), I fulfilled my military service (obligatory in Greece) and then started my professional career in the mobile advertising industry – in which I am still involved. exeter.ac.uk/alumni

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Rhododendrons in full bloom on the Penryn Campus. Photo: Simon Burt.

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NOT JUST A PRETTY PLACE

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The Plant Detectives Our three main campuses each have their own beauty, providing unique and inspiring environments for students and visitors alike.

Behind the serenity of the Penryn Campus, an intriguing international detective story is taking place. Head Gardener David Garwood (pictured) is attempting to identify and preserve 400 species of rhododendron on campus, which, in their heyday, were world-famous.

In 1870 the campus was part of the Tremough Estate owned by local lawyer William Shilson, who in true Victorian style was an avid collector of plant species from around the world. Plant hunters returned from the Himalayas with rhododendrons for planting around the estate, just outside Falmouth.

“We’re ideally placed with acidic soil and a warm, yet damp weather pattern,” said David. “The species brought back thrived and Tremough developed a national reputation. It received seeds from the first Sikkim collection by the then Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, William Hooker, whose son Joseph had collected them.”

Tremough Estate’s Head Gardener Richard Gill became particularly skilled in producing spectacular hybrids of the original Himalaya species. Many received acclaim from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) including 42

the R. Beauty of Tremough, which won its RHS First Class Certificate in 1902.

Over the intervening century many of the plant records were lost – if they had been recorded in the first place, whilst identification of some species relied solely on word-of-mouth down successive generations of estate gardeners.

“We have over 500 plants here at the moment,” added David. “Some are straight species from the Himalayas almost 150 years ago, others are Gill’s hybrids. Some were named by him and sold in his own nursery, which he established on the Estate.

Others will just have been seedlings stuck in the ground to try to see how they did, and it seems were never named.”

So David has turned plant detective – listing and photographing each species as it blooms, searching records in Cornwall, the UK and around the world, piecing together more knowledge about the collection.

“Such was Gill’s reputation that many of his hybrids went overseas themselves,” he commented. “They travelled to New Zealand, the US and South America, as well as across Europe.”

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“

We’ve so far managed to put names to about 20 hybrids – including our very own ‘R.Beauty of Tremough’

“

David recently received plant material all the way from New Zealand which came from an original 1900s Gill hybrid.

David and his team are working closely with staff at Duchy College, who have helped with propagation and research, and are in contact with the RHS as well as prestigious gardens such as Bodnant Garden in North Wales and Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire.

“The plants we’re trying to identify are rarely listed in modern catalogues, and there are very few pictures on the internet for us to compare,” he explained.

“Scouring old books and looking at rhododendrons in gardens where better records have been maintained have been our most successful avenues of investigation.

We’ve so far managed to put names to about 20 hybrids – including our very own R. Beauty of Tremough.”

Penryn Campus hopes to be awarded National Plant Collection status for its Gill hybrid rhododendrons; in the meantime for David and his team, the detective work continues.

Seeding the Future Exeter’s Streatham Campus is home to the National Collection of Azaras.

The campus has all 12 species registered in the UK.

Originally from South America where they still thrive, the University always holds at least three plants of each variety.

The collection is inspected annually by Plant Heritage and cuttings are frequently given to RHS gardens, the National Trust and Botanical Gardens.

“The University takes its role in preserving the heritage of Azaras very seriously,” said Director of Grounds Iain Park.

“So much so that when the plans were drawn up for the Forum, the access road was moved slightly to preserve a particularly important Azara.”

To join one of our organised grounds tours contact: eventexeter@exeter.ac.uk

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LIGHTS,

CAMERA....

Whether you are four or 84, The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum has Universal [sic] appeal – transporting visitors from Streatham’s leafy campus straight into the heart of tinsel town.

Exeter holds the largest library on the moving image of any British university.

“Film is something that everyone has some kind of interest in, whatever their age,” said Curator Dr Phil Wickham.

“And at The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum there are so many things to look at. There’s something for everyone.”

The museum contains thousands of historical artefacts stretching back to the 17th Century and from right around the world.

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It houses the very earliest forms of moving images including panoramas and shadow puppets, as well as a number of film-makers’ archives, including material relating to writer/ director Bill Douglas himself, who started the collection. A rare Charlie Chaplin comic from 1916 (one of the earliest known comics associated with particular films) is on show, right opposite a section of Harry Potter memorabilia from a century later.

Potter’s creator was Exeter alumna JK Rowling – but the books hadn’t even been published when the Bill Douglas collection first started – nearly 20 years ago.

“We have 75,000 artefacts in the collection, which is one of the best of its kind in the world and we attract a lot of visitors and school children. All the pieces are connected by being about the audience experience,” said Phil.

The centre is a valuable teaching resource too – particularly for students

“

Film is something that everyone has some kind of interest in, whatever their age

“

T

ucked away in the heart of the University is a film museum of international importance – which is both open to the public, and provides a valuable research resource.

studying film. Exeter has a wellrespected film studies course, and works in collaboration with the London Film School.

“It’s not just film, the centre can also help with Drama and English – even History, as a lot of imperial history can be seen through the Indian scenes of the 1900s featured in the stereoscopes,” added Phil.

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...AND ACTION!

T

he Bill Douglas Cinema Museum also gives students valuable experience, with around 15 volunteers getting involved each year.

Curator Dr Phil Wickham said: “Past volunteers now work at places like the British Film Institute and the Natural History Museum in London.

I’m very proud that they’ve been helped in their progress by working here.”

Hannah Lamarque graduated this summer in English Literature.

Why did you volunteer?

I actually became a volunteer after listening to a mini-lecture by Phil Wickham and Peter Jewell – the Museum’s founding donor – during my first year. Listening to Peter talk with such authority and enthusiasm about a subject I was already really interested in was absolutely wonderful. Volunteering enabled me to be around objects with which I’m familiar and love already, as well as completely foreign materials which widen my depth of cinematic knowledge. There’s always a treasure to be found, and working in the Museum is a consistent thrill and pleasure!

What’s your favourite artefact?

I couldn’t possibly pick a favourite artefact! However, some of my favourite items to work with have been the film stills and lobby cards. The Museum has a huge selection, which depict key moments from a vast array of different films. Recently, I’ve looked at a number of these photographs from Fellini’s ‘Roma’ – Fellini has quite a frenetic style and his films are always filled with scenes which demand multiple points of focus. Looking at the photographs slowed this down and enabled me to really appreciate the visual artistry.

How will it help you in your future career?

I’ve experienced some great opportunities during my time at The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum, securing a number of work placements at different archives which will undoubtedly shape my future career.

Working alongside Phil and the volunteers has made me more interested in cinema, and eager to learn as much as possible. Their infectious enthusiasm has enabled me to carry this through to other working environments.

Exeter’s favourite films Which films would make it into your personal Top 10? We asked, and alumni on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter voted... your top 10 films?

1. The Life of Brian 2. Gandhi 3. To Kill a Mockingbird 4. Forrest Gump 5. Schindler’s List 6. Trading Places 7. The King’s Speech 8. Inherit the Wind 9. The Bourne Identity 10. Cloud Atlas

Disagree? Have your say on: /exeteralumni #UoEfilmfaves University of Exeter

The collection that underpins the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum was made by Peter Jewell, and it remains one of Exeter’s greatest ever gifts. It was celebrated and recognised in 2010 when Peter was welcomed into the College of Benefactors.

The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum (previously known as The Bill Douglas Centre) is free to visit.

For details visit www.exeter.ac.uk/bdc

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exeter bucs trend

This has been an unprecedented year for sport at Exeter. Hot on the heels of the Olympic and Paralympic successes of our alumni, we’ve attained our highest ever position in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) league – a superb fifth. This is coupled with a significant investment in sports facilities on Streatham Campus.

This year’s BUCS successes include a hard-fought Championship victory in golf and a sensational finish securing triumph in women’s rugby.

twickenham glory

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t was Exeter’s ‘Jonny Wilkinson’ moment. The closing moments of the BUCS Womens Rugby Championship final at Twickenham and the ball is spread wide to prop Poppy Davis.

Exeter had lost in the final two years earlier, and pre-match favourites Cardiff Met started stronger, soon going 12-0 up. Exeter fought back with a well-placed penalty kick, allowing Ellis Collins to drive over the line.

The subsequent conversion meant Exeter went into the break 12-7 down.

Prolonged pressure in the second half paid off for Exeter, with Zoe Saynor going over to level the score.

The game looked certain to finish level and go to extra-time when Exeter was awarded a penalty in front of the posts with minutes remaining. However, sensing that extended pressure would reap rewards, Exeter captain and England international Amber Reed (pictured right) opted to kick for the corner and keep the ball in play, pushing for the try.

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As the minutes ticked by, a final Exeter penalty was again recycled.

This time it reached Poppy Davis. Fighting off determined Cardiff challenges Poppy took the ball over the line (main picture).

Seconds later the final whistle sounded.

“We stuck to our game plan and knew our fitness would pull us through,” said Amber.

“This was a squad performance, with everyone contributing. We must also praise the whole coaching team for bringing us to the final in peak condition.”

sport

Record breakers Exeter has accumulated more BUCS points in 2012/13 than any previous year, with 2,667 points.

Fair Way TO success

The Exeter side, made entirely of Sports Scholars, faced strong opponents and lost out on the 15th green in the first pairs match. However, a sublime showing from second-year Nick Wildman and Welsh international Katie Bradbury secured a crucial win on the 18th hole.

The final morning match saw second-years Chris Fleming and Chris Johnston get off to a quick start, going three-up through nine holes. Fine golf from the UCLAN pair brought them back into the game and UCLAN led 2-1 at lunch.

Stunning golf with birdies and eagles flowing followed in the afternoon singles, with Chris Fleming recording the first victory. A huge 7-6 win on the 12th green brought Exeter level. Nick Wildman holed the match-winning putt on the 18th to win Exeter’s fourth point of the afternoon.

“

It was the best team performance I’ve seen in any sport for many years

“

F

or the first time in six years Exeter reached the BUCS Golf Championship final and faced the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN).

Exeter eventually won 7-2, having secured all five points in the afternoon.

High Performance Golf Manager Craig Townsend said: “It was the best team performance I’ve seen in any sport for many years. The guys were absolutely fantastic.

There was huge pressure in the afternoon but every single player stepped-up to the tee and gave it everything.”

Exeter’s Golf Scholars are funded by the R&A (golf’s governing body) and proceeds from the annual Alumni Golf Day, organised

by John Gilbert (Economics 1972) and Rod Alexander (History 1971).

It takes all sports The 5,884 members of Athletic Union Clubs, along with 2,500 intramural sport participants, represent the largest ever membership at Exeter.

Inspiring a generation 463 students have volunteered to coach in local schools this year through the Sports Volunteering Scheme.

Take your seats Alumni can personalise one of 84 seats overlooking the Olympic-standard waterbased hockey pitch in return for a single gift of £240 or a recurring gift of £10 per month for two years. Funds raised will enhance the student sporting experience. For more information contact sportsalumni@exeter.ac.uk

Support a scholar Talented student sportsmen and women are offered a comprehensive package of support services and bursaries through Sports Scholarships. They compete at the highest levels – four former or current Scholars competed at the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. To find out more contact sportsalumni@exeter.ac.uk exeter.ac.uk/alumni

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exeter occasions...

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round the world and across the year a wide range of exciting alumni events are taking place â&#x20AC;&#x201C; linking and supporting Exeter graduates. Alumni events include professional networking sessions at top companies, receptions in prestigious venues, bespoke lectures by leading academics and purely social events. Here we feature some from the past year. Find out about forthcoming events at www.exeter.ac.uk/alumni. We can also help you to arrange your own events for alumni; get in touch by telephone on +44 (0) 1392 723141 or email alumni@exeter.ac.uk

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3

5

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2

4

events 6

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1. Shaping the Future (June 2013) 2. Alumnae Group Women and Leadership Reception (October 2012)

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3. Melbourne Alumni Dinner (October 2012) 4. Greek Alumni Reception (April 2013) 5. Alumni Golf Day (September 2012) 6. House of Lords Reception (November 2012) 7. Mumbai Alumni Dinner and Reception (March 2013) 8. Santander Scholars’ Reception (November 2012) 9. Hong Kong Reception (October 2012) 10. ‘Greek Culture in the ancient and modern world’ event (March 2013)

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Finally, a few FAAQs (frequently asked alumni questions) 1 How can I stay connected to the University and my Exeter friends?

We have more than 80,000 graduates around the world and many meet regularly.

There are international Country Contacts and lots of social and professional networks within the UK, which we’ve listed below.

We can also help trace friends you’ve lost touch with; contact alumni@exeter.ac.uk for more details.

The Alumnae Groups: A professional and supportive network for all female graduates who want to extend contacts, share advice and maintain their links with the University.

There are South-East and South-West groups in the UK. The Business School Alumni Association: This provides opportunities for Business School graduates to network with, and support one another, for their ongoing professional development.

The Exeter University Club (EUC): This is a social group for graduates and staff. There are several branches around the UK which arrange social and cultural events. Clubs charge a small annual membership fee and each regional branch has a small committee.

Exetra: This is a social and professional networking group for those who graduated within the past 10 years, often offering sessions with a particular career theme. You can read more about their work on P34.

Professional networks: A number of professional networks exist, such as those for law, investment management and the arts and media. So do course-specific groups, such as the One Planet MBA. These are coordinated by the relevant College, visit the alumni website for more details.

Sport: If you were a member of any sports club while studying at Exeter, you’re able to renew your club membership and rejoin a club whenever you wish. Many sports clubs produce newsletters and host events to keep their alumni engaged in the club beyond graduation.

2 What discounts or benefits are available for alumni?

You can enjoy discounts on campus accommodation, conference bookings, sports membership and a number of postgraduate courses. There is also free access to online academic journals, and access to 50

Library facilities for a one-off fee. Social and networking events are run across the year and in many locations around the world, and there is a programme of careers support for recent graduates. We also offer an alumni ‘trace a friend’ service. Alumni also receive enewsletters every two months (send us your email address if you do not receive these), and this annual magazine.

3 Does the University offer careers support for alumni?

Recent graduates (from the last three years) can receive free careers consultancy and run their CV through a health-check with our Employability and Graduate Development team (see Q4 for contact details). They can also submit questions about potential career options and professions to an online ‘eXepert’ panel of alumni supporters. All alumni can attend networking and social events, to expand contacts and keep abreast of opportunities.

You can use our LinkedIn page to seek (or offer) advice and support from the broader alumni community.

4 My company is interested in offering work experience, who should I talk to?

We would be happy to discuss work experience options with you and can cater for all different sizes of companies, right across the world. It is a rewarding experience for both the student and employer. For more information contact Employment Services on +44 (0)1392 722395 or www.exeter.ac.uk/careers

How can I support the University?

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There are many different ways in which you can support the University and its students and your giving is tailored to you. Alumni support everything from our promising scholars, to our impactive research and the equipment and buildings which make it all possible. We also now have the Exeter Forever Endowment Fund, and you can find out more about that on our website.

Fellow alumni have arranged legacies, give regular gifts, or single donations to support the Annual Fund or a particular aspect of University life. However you choose to give and whatever the amount, you can be sure it will make a real difference. Gifts of time through volunteering for the University are also very much appreciated and make a significant impact on student life at Exeter.

6 What do you mean by volunteering, and how can I take part?

Helping out can take many forms and it doesn’t have to take up much time. You could give just fifteen minutes to send career tips from the comfort of your own home or office, or spend a little longer having a one-to-one email conversation with a student keen to join the same industry. We welcome lots of alumni back to our campuses to help with careers talks, practice job interviews and student mentoring. We always try to match your interests and skills to make best possible use of your time. Most alumni say it can also be lots of fun too! Contact details are available on our website.

7 How can I remember Exeter in my Will?

It is very easy to remember Exeter in your Will though we always recommend you seek guidance from a solicitor or estate planner to make sure that your interests are protected, and that your Will is an accurate reflection of your wishes. We have a special leaflet that outlines how you might go about supporting Exeter in your Will, and the wording you might use. It’s called Your Goodwill Guide, and you can request a copy by getting in touch with us.

8 Exeter’s a top University – surely you don’t need my help?

As a Russell Group university, Exeter is indeed one of the most successful in the UK and the world. We could not have reached this position without the support of our alumni – through money, time and advocacy. Increasingly the success stories of our alumni and their willingness to work with current students influences prospective students when choosing which university to attend. Your support ensures the very best students can benefit from study here, regardless of their background or financial circumstances. It also has an impact on our research programmes, helping attract additional funding and ensuring they have the right facilities and expertise. It underpins our investments in our inspiring learning and teaching environments.

We wish to continue to be among the best in the world in terms of our graduates and research. Your support – in whatever form and whatever size – will always make an impact.

faaqs 9

How do I donate or volunteer?

If you are considering making a donation, or volunteering your time, thank you. Whatever the size or type of your gift, you are investing in the power of education to transform lives. All contributions make a real difference. Please indicate any support you would like to offer.

www.exeter.ac.uk/alumni

facebook http://www.linkedin.com exeter.ac.uk/alumni

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