Development Trust Review
THANK YOU
“On behalf of the University of Sunderland I’d like to say a huge ‘thank you’ for your support!” “The development of our teaching, student experiences, research, facilities, business collaborations and place-shaping are all enhanced by the tremendous support we receive from our many alumni and Development Trust friends. “We place our students at the heart of everything we do, providing life-changing opportunities for our diverse and vibrant learning community. Our widening participation record is testimony to the work we do in raising aspirations and promoting social inclusion within our region. Our research-informed curriculum and exceptional student support enable learners to develop the skills and flexibility required by employers, and also the qualities and attributes that contribute towards social mobility and citizenship, not just here in the UK at our Sunderland and London campuses, but on a global scale.
“We are delighted to announce that our new School of Medicine will open in September 2019. This news follows the successful introduction of Nursing and Paramedic Science in 2017/18. “We are making significant investment in engineering and technology to support the needs of the local economy, and I’m proud that our work in culture is impacting on urban regeneration and social change. “Having set out our ambitions to 2021 in our Strategic Plan, I’m very pleased to share in these pages just a snapshot of the activities and successes which illustrate the excellent progress we are making towards achieving those. We are on a transformational journey that is rooted in our commitment to making a life-changing difference to our students, our University and our place.” Shirley Atkinson Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive
Sunderland Culture Our University has invested significantly in Sunderland’s cultural infrastructure and was a leading player in establishing a Cultural Strategy and a Cultural Partnership with the City Council and Sunderland Music, Arts and Culture Trust. It was this partnership that bid for UK City of Culture 2021, which led to the establishment of a separate body to move forward with the city’s ambitions - Sunderland Culture. As well as delivering the bid, the company agreed to operate and develop the city’s cultural venues. Among the venues managed and programmed by the Culture Company are National Glass Centre and Northern Gallery
for Contemporary Art - which recently moved into National Glass Centre, bringing new art and exhibiting artists to Sunderland’s riverside. Although Sunderland may have been pipped at the post for City of Culture, with our Sunderland Culture partners we recently launched Twenty Four Seven, an ambitious seven-year, £60m project that will further strengthen the city’s creative profile and economy and increase participation in arts and culture by building on the momentum and positivity generated over the last two years around culture, incorporating themes of Light, Friendship and Inventiveness.
“I am extremely proud to be able to support the Futures Fund. The Fund has already made a huge difference to the lives of over 230 people, giving much needed support to students to unlock their potential and create opportunities that take their career ambitions to the next stage.� Helen McArdle Helen McArdle Care
Futures Fund Scholarship
Sarah Hylton
“Thank you to the Futures Fund donors for giving me the career and self-development opportunity of a lifetime.”
Despite never having left the UK or taken a flight before, Broadcast Media Production student Sarah Hylton experienced the career opportunity of a lifetime in Cannes thanks to support from the Futures Fund Opportunity Scholarship. The fund, which supports students to develop their careers and aspirations, paid for Sarah’s travel and ticket costs to the annual MIPTV, the global TV and digital content market event gathering 10,500 entertainment industry leaders. Once there, Sarah was able to network with industry producers and buyers, attend conferences, discover more about the trends and emerging markets, gain a first-hand insight into the profession, as well as meet some of acting’s biggest stars including Jeremy Renner and Julia Stiles. She said: “Thank you to the Futures Fund donors for giving me the biggest career and self-development opportunity of a lifetime. I can never thank you enough. Attending MIPTV has been the greatest event of my life, I got to meet so many people from the industry I’ve wanted to be part of my whole life and now feel a more confident and independent person.”
Futures Fund Scholarship
Achieving the right teaching strategies helps student educate others The Futures Fund Scholarship helped support Primary Education student, Eamonn Ratton in his ambition to become a teacher. He said: “The Futures Fund helped me stand out from the crowd with teaching experience at Ruhanga Development School in Uganda. This truly
life-changing opportunity has given me the confidence to consider further teaching abroad. Thank you to all of those who donate to the Futures Fund, I could not of done this without you.�
Futures Fund Scholarship
Fund sparks glass artist’s career success
Jessamy Kelly
Support from the Futures Fund has helped mould the award-winning career of glass artist Dr Jessamy Kelly, propelling her to national and international success. After receiving scholarship funding during her Glass and Ceramics PhD at Sunderland, Jessamy turned her artistic visions into a stunning glasswork exhibition. The money also allowed her to enlist the help of a professional photographer to fully showcase her pieces, something she feels was vitally important in helping her to get her work into galleries. Her painstakingly produced artwork led to her being named as the UK’s Top Glass Artist by the Crafts and Design Awards in 2009. She also won the First Prize at The Meffan Winter 2010 Exhibition. Since then, her collections have gone on to be showcased across the world, including at locations in Oklahoma City and Washington D.C. Jessamy’s knowledge of industrial glass design and manufacture has established her as a specialist in the field and she now balances time in the studio with lecturing at the Edinburgh College of Art. Her clients have included Edinburgh Crystal and Kevin McCloud and she currently freelances for Cumbria Crystal. But it’s the support through the Futures Fund which she firmly believes created the foundations for her success and helped her career prosper as a designer-maker of contemporary glass and ceramics. She said: “The funding definitely helped my artistic practice to prosper as well as helping me to develop new links and relationships with international art galleries.”
“I needed to move on to the next part of my career, and that would not have been possible without help from the Futures Fund.”
Robson Real World Scholarship
Fund helps students fine tune their art Art and Design students were able to develop their skills in a professional practice, build confidence and work collaboratively on a major visual art exhibition in Cardiff thanks to support from the Robson Real World Experience Scholarship. The scholarship provides current Art and Design students at Sunderland with exciting opportunities to undertake a live project or gain experience intended to enhance their studies.
Staff apply on behalf of their students where they spot an enriching opportunity, which is why Joe Woodhouse, Programme Leader for Foundation Diploma/Art and Design, submitted his application for his students to successfully participate in Cardiff’s three-day festival of arts. Joe said: “Our students engaged with a diverse range of performance, theatre and visual art, as well as meeting fellow artists and peers in person. The valuable experience has had a significant impact on their future professional practice as well as developing their confidence.�
Robson Visual Arts Masters Award
“My MA was to find out who I was as an artist and thanks to the Robson Award it made this experience so much easier.” Not only did the Robson Visual Arts Masters Award throw a financial lifeline to Richie Oliver, supporting his living and travel costs, but it also provided him with the opportunity to complete his MA in Glass and Ceramics and develop his craft and confidence as an emerging artist. They may be only small things, but simply buying a bed and a new bike to travel between lectures, as well as contributing to accommodation costs, took domestic pressures away from Richie, a former ventilation engineer, and enabled him to create exciting work with freedom and expression. His output even led to him to be selected during his degree, to work alongside renowned British Sculptor Antony Gormley on his Field exhibition, a celebrated installation of thousands of individual terracotta figures. Richie said: “I feel the results of my art would have suffered if it wasn’t for the funding. I hope future recipients of the Award enjoy their university experience just as much as I did and embrace all the opportunities it provides.”
Richie Oliver
Richie now shares a studio in Sunderland with two other artists where he develops his passion for painting, sculpture as well as other projects.
Giving hope to our students
Since the launch of our multi-million pound Science Complex in 2011 there have been major benefits to communities, society, professionals and practices right across the North East. Our University has continued to support and improve the region’s health agenda, opening The Living Lab, a cross-care simulation environment which makes Sunderland the leading university in the UK in integrated working practices, and most recently the launch of our School of Medicine, School of Nursing and provision in Paramedic Practice. But the foundations for these developments were set in motion more than 90 years ago thanks to the determination of a strong-willed young woman called Hope Constance Monica Winch. Miss Winch, arrived in Sunderland in 1921, with an ambitious plan to set up the finest pharmacy department in the North East, but first she had to overcome bias and a severe lack of resources to achieve her dream. The pharmacy department began with just three fee-paying students and 25 ex-servicemen who received government grants. The department consisted of one
double-sided bench, one shared staffroom and a small storeroom. The whole course was taught by Miss Winch. By 1926, as Miss Winch’s reputation grew, two new lecturers were taken on and a purpose-built dispensary became the first room to be dedicated to the pharmacy course. In 1930 Sunderland Technical College was recognised by London University for the teaching of its external BPharm degree. Student numbers now totalled 80 and the pharmacy school was recognised as a centre for excellence. Tragically in 1944, Hope Winch was killed in a climbing accident in the Lake District. While this was a major blow for the college, the foundations laid by this remarkable woman over 22 years were strong. Today, the School of Pharmacy, part of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing, has become one of the most respected in the UK.
Hope Winch Benevolence Fund
Tannaz Ikani and Carmen Phipps
“The scholarship came at the right moment when I needed it most. It enabled me to carry on with my studies and focus on my future career,” says Carmen. The Hope Winch Society is the University of Sunderland’s largest alumni group. Their aim is to provide networks and opportunities for current students and graduates. They established the Hope Winch Benevolence Fund to help alleviate financial pressures for current students completing their pharmacy degree. For Carmen Phipps, the Fund proved a vital lifeline due to financial pressures she faced in the final year of her pharmacy degree, including helping to replace her broken computer.
Carmen said: “The Hope Winch Society is really committed to improving students’ lives because they care. The Society has helped me fulfil my goals and succeed and will be forever be a part of my life story.” Another recipient of the fund is Tannaz Ikani, who says: “By awarding me this scholarship, the society has lightened my financial burden and allowed me to focus on my studies. I hope one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as the Hope Winch Society has helped me.”
New School of Medicine Our University is delighted to announce that we have been successful in its bid to open a new medical school. Sunderland is one of only five new medical schools, established to address the regional imbalance of medical education provision across England and to widen access to ensure the profession reflects the communities it serves. With a track-record of excellence in medical education spanning almost 100 years, the University is now wellplaced to address the chronic shortage of doctors in the North East. Focusing on GP and Psychiatric training, the new programme will complement existing medical provision in the region and add to the diversity of medical schools in the UK.
Sunderland’s new School of Medicine has been allocated 100 places, the first cohort of 50 medical students will join in 2019-20, rising to 100 the following year. “Our bid presented a compelling case for an innovative medical school for those with talent who present the requisite medical school entry requirements, regardless of their background and social status. We will provide accessible medical education training for a new generation of doctors, recruited from the communities in which they live and where they will eventually practice.” says Shirley Atkinson, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Sunderland.
North East partnership to drive ‘CESAM’ The University of Sunderland is working with the North East Automotive Alliance and other partners to develop a Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing (CESAM) on the 100 hectare International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) in Sunderland.
research and knowledge exchange. The intention is that CESAM will enable us to grow student numbers on existing programmes and broaden the portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, linked to clear industry demand and market intelligence.
CESAM will be a place where industrial companies collaborate with sector experts and academics to find new, sustainable ways to improve productivity and competitiveness.
CESAM has the support of key business and public sector organisations including Nissan, Komatsu and their supply chains; North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP); Sunderland and South Tyneside Councils; the UK Automotive Council; High Value Manufacturing Catapults and Digital Catapults. It has been identified as a key investment by NELEP, the Northern Powerhouse Partnership and is highlighted in the Government’s North East Strategic Economic Plan, where it is described as ‘a transformational initiative that will deliver a critical component of North East England’s plans to create more and better jobs through growth in smart and sustainable advanced manufacturing’.
At its core, CESAM will be a world class businessled centre of excellence that supports manufacturers investing in the North East to turn innovation and ideas into manufacturing solutions. The University’s role will be to support manufacturing companies with their research, innovation and development of solutions. Our ambition is to deliver excellent academic programmes, of value to students and employers, which also offer meaningful support to employers through
The Silver Fund The Silver Fund was launched in 2017 to provide grants which directly enhance and enrich the student experience at the University of Sunderland. From supporting students to take part in social mobility projects, funding equipment for student spaces,
Kristian Siem Siem Foundation
enabling academics to bring world class speakers to campus or supporting innovative teaching or community projects, the Silver Fund aims to give students a transformational education.
“I am glad to have been able to support the launch of the new Silver Fund. It is so important that students have a brilliant experience while at university and have access to projects and equipment which directly enhance and enrich their time on campus.�
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Alarna Moles
The Silver Fund
“Our successful bid has really had a positive impact on students and I want to thank the donors of the Silver Fund for giving us this amazing opportunity.” An application to the new Silver Fund has led to students in our David Puttnam Media Centre benefiting from the purchase of state-of-the-art DJ equipment designed to develop their technical skills and support their music mixing and composition. Radio student Alarna Moles’ successful application to the fund had identified a new area of training at the centre using the DJ equipment, which will support students across all media degrees. The introduction of the mixing desk has led to the creation of a DJ Society Group within the student community, with the intention of providing a platform for creating contacts and building links to the wider DJing communities, strengthening relationships between students and local area. Alarna said: “From previous study experience, I understand how integral a relationship between the student radio and the DJs at a university can be and cannot wait for the DJ communities to flourish from here!”
Sir Tom Cowie Scholarship
Connor Dickinson with David Gray, Chair of Trustees
The Sir Tom Cowie Scholarship, funded through the late entrepreneur’s foundation, continues to provide financial support to our students with outstanding talent, giving them the opportunity to flourish in higher education and beyond. Connor Dickinson is one of the recipients of the scholarship programme who went on to graduate with a first class degree in Mechanical Engineering. “I was juggling a supermarket job to help finance my studies, which often clashed with lectures. But I was able to give up the job, concentrate my efforts on academic studies, and complete a final year project that I was assigned during a placement year as a Manufacturing Technology Engineer at 3M.
“The scholarship made a huge difference and allowed me to immerse myself into that all-important final year without worrying about part-time working. I never expected to win the award, but you have to be in it to win it!” says Connor. Connor impressed 3M so much that he has secured a graduate position with the firm.
Sir Tom Cowie Young Innovators
Dame Dorothy Primary School
Raising aspirations in our local community Pupils from six Sunderland primary schools have enjoyed valuable learning opportunities over the last academic year thanks to support from the Sir Tom Cowie Charitable Trust.
specialist digital design and fabrication equipment children are able to engage in structured activities which include design, model making, 3D print, electronics and laser cutting, literacy, science and art and design.
The Sir Tom Cowie Young Innovators programme, now in its second year, is designed to raise aspirations among young learners, develop their interest in STEM subjects and sow the seed of accessing higher education in the future.
“Dame Dorothy Primary have had the most amazing three days at FabLab. They particularly enjoyed creating their own circuit boards and learning Morse code. The programme is really helping us to raise the aspirations of our Year 5 groups prior to the transition to secondary education,� says Year 5 teacher Kate Campion.
By taking part in a series of fun innovative experiences at the University of Sunderland-based FabLab - a creative space where anyone can make almost anything using
Connecting Capabilities The North East’s universities are joining forces to commercialise research and boost the region’s economy after receiving £4.9m in Government funding. Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Greg Clark, announced the Connecting Capability Fund (CCF) award, made by Research England, that will see Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria and Sunderland universities working together to make a step change in delivering research to the market place and to develop entrepreneurship amongst their academics through an ideas impact hub and associated proof of concept support. The project also aims to establish an ongoing North East University Investment Fund (NEUIF) to support research based spin-out companies in the region long-term after the CCF funding comes to an end.
Shirley Atkinson, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Sunderland, commented: “We know that universities are crucial to the fabric of the North East. The Connecting Capabilities Fund will enable us to galvanise the collaboration that exists between our institutions around the commercialisation of research and ensure that our universities are delivering societal and economic impact to our region and beyond.” The project will focus on four key areas of regional strength – advanced manufacturing, the chemicals and process sector, life sciences and healthcare and digital. Sunderland meanwhile is working alongside the other four North East universities on an ambitious creative industries research programme – North East Fuse, The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health.
Dr Yitka Graham
Research with impact Research practice at Sunderland is stitched into the fabric of the institution. For almost a century researchers at the University have been challenging themselves and their subject in order to improve society in all areas - from the early days of pharmacy to the support for heavy industry at its height, through to today’s new sciences and advanced technologies. Research at Sunderland inspires and drives our academic community; it delivers outstanding outcomes for the student experience and plays an influential supporting role in developing economies, societies and cultures regionally, nationally and globally.
One of those research areas which stands out as relevant, responsive, inclusive and collaborative is our study exploring patients’ experiences after weight-loss surgery at the UK’s busiest NHS bariatric surgical unit, unveiling society’s bias surrounding the operation which is having a huge impact on their lives. Dr Yitka Graham, Senior Lecturer in Health Services and NHS Engagement, explored patient experiences in the first two years after bariatric surgery. As rates of bariatric surgery increase, understanding experiences of adjusting to life after surgery is vital. Dr Graham’s work has significant implications for the way in which bariatric patients are supported both before and after their surgery by healthcare practitioners and will help patients to prepare for post-surgical life.
Mike Davies Innovation Scholarship
Assembling an award-winning workshop Students and staff from the University’s arts and creative courses experienced a design-led innovative community arts project on campus provided by Granby Workshop; a manufacturer of architectural ceramics, based in Liverpool and founded by Turner Prize-winning design collective Assemble. This unique opportunity was made possible thanks to the support of renowned British architect Mike Davies. The event included a talk from Lewis Jones of Assemble and the Granby Workshop team. Following the talk, the team then delivered group tutorials to Glass and Ceramics students.
Granby Workshop was set up as part of the community-led efforts to rebuild Granby, a Liverpool neighbourhood that was nearly made derelict by decades of poorly-planned regeneration initiatives. The workshop’s first range of products were designed for the houses being renovated, and included bathroom tiles, door handles and fireplaces. The Workshop has grown considerably since it was awarded the Turner Prize in 2015, and now undertakes a range of commissions worldwide. These have been widely exhibited, and are held in the permanent collections of the V&A and the Crafts Council.
Mike Davies, CBE Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
“It’s so important for the University’s glass and ceramic students to have the opportunity to experience, and be inspired by, other artists and professionals at the top of their game. Raising aspirations is a key part of the University of Sunderland’s philosophy and I’m pleased to have established the Mike Davies Innovation Scholarship to support this work.”
58
%
80 No. 1
%
in the UK
of all 2016/17 entrants to the University who registered with the Student Loan Company had a household income of less than ÂŁ25,000 per annum
of alumni say their time at Sunderland has been
life-changing
for Widening Access to
94%
Higher Education* *(Polar 3)
135,000 Alumni contributing to societies across the world
of graduates in work or further study six months after graduating (Destination of Leavers from Higher Education 2015/16)
Legacies Legacies have been making a huge difference across the University of Sunderland for decades. From providing student scholarships to ensuring students and academics have access to the best equipment and facilities, every legacy, regardless of size, has a real impact. If you would like to learn more about how to remember the University of Sunderland in your will please contact Rachel Smith. Rachel Smith, Development and Alumni Manager rachel.smith@sunderland.ac.uk 0191 515 2679
For more information about how you can support the University of Sunderland, please get in touch with us. www.sunderland.ac.uk/alumni/thankyou 0191 515 3664 development.office@sunderland.ac.uk Development and Alumni University of Sunderland Room 101 David Goldman Informatics Centre Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s Sunderland SR6 0DD Charity Number 10416568 Registered in England and Wales