WLVDialogue, November 2010

WLV

dialogue

November 2010 | Issue 10 | University of Wolverhampton | www.wlv.ac.uk

Graduation success Students and honoraries celebrate

Back to school Top marks for teacher training

industry leader Topical insights from business expert

Welcome

Welcome to the latest edition of WLV Dialogue.

September is always an exciting time at the University as our latest group of graduates collect their awards and head off into a range of careers and further study. This year was no different, and we met up with a group of international students who had travelled over 6,000 miles to be at a ceremony.

The University also awarded 16 honorary awards during graduation to people who had made a significant contribution to their field of expertise.

The Chairman of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, Steve Morgan, international Punjabi singer Gurdas Maan and artist, musician and dancer Goldie told us what the awards mean to them.

One of our PhD students, Chris Rogers, has been carrying out some particularly interesting research into a new way of pinpointing the time of death. Read more about his work on page 8. Meanwhile, a leading academic in the field of Industrial Relations is finding his expertise is very much in demand at the moment. Professor Roger Seifert talks about government cutbacks, the impact of redundancies and strike action on pages 10-11.

Teaching remains a hugely popular career choice for our students, and the School of Education was delighted to notch up top marks in a recent Ofsted report. The secret of this success is examined on pages 4-5.

Improving the student experience is at the forefront of the University’s mission, and with this in mind we are launching a new centre to carry out innovative research into student retention and achievement. Find out more about the Virtual Policy Centre on pages 6-7.

We hope you enjoy reading this edition of WLV Dialogue. We are delighted to have been shortlisted for a CIPR PRide Award for the second year running in the Best Magazine category. Winners will be announced in December.

If you have any feedback for us, please get in touch at: wlvdialogue@wlv.ac.uk Our next magazine will be out at the end of January.

Best wishes Vickie Warren WLV Dialogue Editor

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Graduation Feature

a relationship that lasts – Introducing our new Alumni Association

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Back to school – Teacher training chalks up top marks

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educational experiences – Launch of our new Virtual Policy Centre

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as good as Goldie – Multi-talented artist returns to his roots

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Golden celebration – Wolves Chairman Steve Morgan receives honorary award

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a day to remember – Students travel 6,000 miles to attend graduation

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Business

ProFile industry leader – Professor Roger Seifert shares his expertise

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international

research When time is of the essence … – Research helps to pinpoint the time of death

the Music Maan – International icon Gurdas Maan celebrated

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the new solution – Launch of business partnership

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PeoPle raising the Bar – Q&A with alumnus Judge Jonathan Gosling

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Graduate success story – Duncan Cameron

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What’s on guide – University events

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2 NEWS

A relationship

that lasts The university experience is in many ways unique and for the 7,000 students that graduate from the University of Wolverhampton each year, the relationship they have with it is special. For some it is the knowledge and skills they gain and the personal development they undergo, for others it is the lifelong friends they make and the memories they cherish.

The University of Wolverhampton has long recognised the importance of continuing the relationship from student to graduate, and this November will be launching its first ever alumni association.

The WLV Alumni Association will be a University-wide, global association, bringing together all Wolverhampton graduates old and new, from both the UK and overseas.

The launch comes after an 18-month research project within the University, which looked at how it can formally engage with graduates.

Jane Nelson, Pro Vice-Chancellor Student Affairs, was lead sponsor of the project.

She says: “The University felt it really important to get involvement and buy in from within the University. So we embarked on formalising a project with students of the University

leadership programme (LEAD). The ‘students’ (who were all staff) were tasked with carrying out secondary and primary research to ascertain an ‘appetite’ for alumni relations. I am delighted that their recommendations are now coming to fruition.”

Managing the Association is a new Alumni and Development Office which opened in July this year.

Alumni Services Manager, Amy Roberton, says: “Our alumni are a vital part of the University and we are fortunate to already enjoy a large and pro-active community. The WLV Alumni Association will serve to bring together our graduates as a single group and build an even stronger community for them to enjoy.”

As part of their membership, alumni will receive a variety of benefits including a monthly ezine, ‘WLV@lumni’, the alumni magazine, ‘WLVlife’, and discounts on a range of attractions and activities around the UK. And in an age where social networking is the norm, the Association is keen to communicate with alumni via Facebook and other channels, sharing the news and successes of other graduates and encouraging them to engage with each other to create their own networking opportunities.

Similarly, a University owned online profile space is also being developed for alumni to keep their contact details up-to-date and share information about themselves, such as their careers and hobbies, so that other graduates can identify members with similar interests.

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The Association will have a strong focus on supporting graduates, especially recent ones, through the current turbulent jobs market. Alumni are increasingly calling on their universities for help securing their first graduate job, and in addition to access to careers advice, job searching facilities and help with CV and interview preparation, members will benefit from a wide range of professional networking, careers and industry speaker events.

Amy adds: “We feel that it is important to give something back to our alumni and while social events and reunions are well received, it’s the opportunities for furthering their career that are their greatest priority.”

In line with the University’s aim to produce graduates that are knowledgeable, enterprising and digitally literate, alumni will also be encouraged to share the knowledge and skills they have developed, both whilst studying and since entering employment, with other graduates and current students coming through the University.

With graduates going into a diverse range of careers including teaching, pharmaceuticals, legal services, graphic design, construction, music production and the media, and with some even going on to set up their own

business, their experiences and advice can help current students ensure that they have the necessary attributes for their chosen career and a firmer understanding of the industry before they enter it.

The Alumni and Development Office has already received an overwhelming response from graduates who are eager to volunteer their time to the University, for example by giving guest lectures, taking part in careers fairs and attending University Open Days.

Many have also expressed an interest in becoming Alumni Ambassadors; graduates who will represent the University across the world, and help by organising events for former students and being a point of contact for the Alumni and Development Office.

Amy says: “It’s wonderful to see so many of our alumni eager to use their knowledge and skills to help others. It’s this kind of opportunity that demonstrates how important it is to maintain relationships with your graduates and introduce formal Associations so that their efforts are consolidated and used to greatest effect.”

To bridge the distance between UK and international graduates, overseas branches of the WLV Alumni Association will be launched.

A Hong Kong Alumni Association has already been established and there are plans to launch similar ones in India and Singapore/Malaysia in 2011.

The launch of the WLV Alumni Association marks the start of a positive new venture for the University of Wolverhampton and it’s one that many are sure to benefit from.

As Amy says: “This really is an exciting time for the University as we now reach back out to the tens of thousands of alumni who have graduated from us over the years. There are a lot of exciting activities planned for our first year and we are looking forward to building a strong community that past, present and future graduates will be proud to be part of.”

Contact details Alumni and Development Office Tel: 01902 323056 Email: alumni@wlv.ac.uk Website: www.wlv.ac.uk/alumni

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Q1 education. Give example our selection of deal of care over at gre a of ke ta edure is an audit e sense that we e selection proc th are linked, in th s of ct rt pe t Pa as pu t. o ar to tw A: The to a flying st is information lp them get off d we use all th he an n w, ca vie we er int so , an ll as students periences as we they even arrive. and previous ex carry out before to es their knowledge ine tra e th for ts and tutors to ual programme requires studen together an individ ent setting, which t rge ta d an w care. Every stud is on-going revie in our pastoral se rp ur de co un at ch th ea cements lationships A feature of develops the re much time on pla closely and this e they spend so us ca be d ort. In an pp , su se work together r ut their cour they look to fo tutor througho ge mentor who lle andard of co st or h ol has a personal hig ho also have a sc ustrated by their ey ill th is e, at nc th rie d pe an nding gaining real ex really are outsta es, our students classroom. e th in terms of outcom e their performanc as ll we as , rk academic wo and colleges. has with schools ion at uc ed of ol ships the scho various aff sit on the Q2 describe the partner ol and college st ho sc s an They take me udents follow. erships, which urses are partn rriculum the st co cu e e th th , of l ple ssions in Al am se A: ere on, for ex ovide bespoke and have input th their staff to pr s e up us gro we g d larly well rin an cu , ee st support them ge that is parti placements and school or colle a on o ts int en ts ud tice is. en st ac r ud pr ou groups of st e what best pertise. We take , so they can se ex hip of ns s ize ea a mentor cit ar y, ide eir sa ov th itment to pr of teaching in, , there is a comm a high standard r us fo th d wi result in ise n ip gn ca sh co er re into a partn r mentors that or college enters ng programme fo ol ini ho tra sc ed a ur n ct he ru W d we have a st dergo training an who has to un edits. cr n of Masters the accreditatio r become a teache ople applying to pe of d kin e th d has increased an hing as a career “interest in teac s. scus reflect Q3 has changed in recent years”. di s. Interest does an we have place th s nt ca either pli s, ap er anging care nificantly more people will be ch that we get sig en in th y e ck er lu th latively e t re ar ou e is A: W e redundancies for many and it ate – if there ar tractive career im at cl an ic is g om on hin ec ac the forced to. Te nt to or are being because they wa rk wo hard. g them and have you do have to e choices facin th well paid – but t ou ab lly fu meone who does ought very care ofession for so plicants have th pr ap e th of t y no rit jo is ma ach. It The vast dergraduate they want to te fit the typical un us decision that students tend to st mo made a conscio is more g, it hin e ac imary te perhaps becaus to do it. For pr ture students, ma d an and so bring, in al not really want s ion ge dit lle teaching in co is a mix of tra y dy ar ea nd alr co e se ar rs. ile ts profile, wh r school teache our PCE studen based routes fo angers. Many of tch en er ym re plo ca em to r on ou attractive ord. e – as do those sed at RAF Cosf ars of experienc ce personnel ba rvi se e tiv some cases, ye ac of nsists PCE students co One cohort of

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duates stand out. ke Wolverhampton gra ma to d use la mu for ir tutors. They Q4 describe the that partly from the siasm and they do get hu ent ir the is t with trying ou ong stand There is nothing wr A: What makes them t and to risk failing. ou ngs thi try ! I think the to ice tw ent and ke the same mistake are willing to experim m it – just don’t ma fro g rnin lea nt them to and wa e we mistak they observe, and things out, making a ce and the practice cti pra n ow ir s who have the ual ivid of tical rselves – we want ind students are quite cri dels or clones of ou mo e duc o very hard pro als to are y ing try rning. Of course, the lea ir be critical. We are not the in ple peo and to support children the skills and abilities g. hin ryt eve erpins t most of working, and that und reflection on us, bu I don’t think it is a es. lleg co and – and ols in the scho a lecture or seminar They also enjoy being room than attending ing ch tea or m their roo in in the class t comes through them would rather be ol and college and tha ho sc in ng bei oy enj ould be. They that’s the way it sh teaching.

different. you think makes them rses, including what cou tion uca ed of l e for schoo in Q5 argue the cas ertise. For example, as of particular exp are ped elo dev e hav in ses we teach, we the classroom and A: In each of the pha for teaching outside ces. exploit the potential to ts den stu e rag allenging circumstan primary we encou ch in schools in ch tea to ts den stu of ing ertise in prepar g, including the use secondary we have exp logy to support learnin hno tec ing us at nt l we are excelle t better!

Meanwhile at PCE leve or we do the same bu er institutions don’t oth t tha ngs thi do e-portfolios. We

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facing outline the challenges lar. in particu

teachers (nQts) n and newly Qualified the teaching professio

te and government ly the economic clima t challenges is probab ges big the . Also issues of ult one future quite diffic A: In the short term, makes planning for the It . cit defi ols to Further ial ho anc sc fin as all sectors from ll attempts to cut the we as ng, nni pla r as the 14-19 Diplomas. m reform affects ou ational courses such surrounding curriculu voc und aro ty ain ert for example, the unc anges and in Education colleges – that there will be ch e holds apart from tur fu the at dge, a set wh w wle don’t kno st be a core of kno Longer term, we really will be. But there mu es ang ch se about tho ate at guess wh there must be a deb many cases we can’t ture generations and fu to on s pas to d that we nee need. of moral principles ture generations will nciples and what fu pri se tho and dge that knowle them. ice you would offer to eer. describe the adv car a as ng chi tea g siderin the age Q7 someone is con nce of working with you need some experie es urs co r ou as a of get on to one . We see experience A: Go and try it. To won’t get an interview you t tha ut d ho wit ere to teach, and think you are int ste range you are looking are getting into. If you y the at wh and w try kno ion, as they all me group work and good selection criter voluntary work. Do so ictive. college and do some or ol ho sc a be careful – it’s add o do int t in teaching, get if you can do it. Bu and it like you if ng. You will see teach them somethi

6 NEWS

Educational experiences The face of higher education is changing.

With pressures on funding and a cap on the number of students entering universities, there is a need to ensure that those who are lucky enough to snap up a coveted place are supported and encouraged.

The launch of a new Centre focused on student retention and achievement at the University of Wolverhampton is therefore extremely timely.

The Virtual Policy Centre will draw together expertise at the University to further enhance the student experience and make the transition into higher education as smooth and as effective as possible.

The key thinking behind the programme is that new University students are thought of as being ‘first years’, but in most cases this is really their 14th year of education. The University’s Education Partnerships department has an established reputation for building links with local authorities, schools, colleges and training providers to lead the transformation of learning in the region, and therefore has extensive knowledge of the first 13 years of a child’s education career. In addition, the University’s Institute for Learning Enhancement (ILE) has carried out in-depth research into student retention and satisfaction at higher education level. It is hoped that developing closer collaboration between these two pools of knowledge will significantly benefit the student experience and create a national centre of expertise.

Dr Henriette Harnisch is the Interim Deputy Director of Education Partnerships, and is one of the driving forces behind the new Centre, along with Professor Glynis Cousin, Director of the Institute for Learning Enhancement.

Henriette says the aim is to carry out research across the whole education sector from primary right through to higher and disseminate the findings internally and externally.

“Too often, transition points become exit points,” Henriette explains. “When pupils move from primary to secondary school, they cannot physically exit but it becomes an exit in terms of attainment – some will hit a wall in their learning as the environment is too alien. This is the same from GCSE to post-16 and then to university. It is not about numbers – it is about successes, however we define that, whether it is the quality of student experience or academic attainment.”

There are four key themes for the work of the Virtual Policy Centre in relation to the student experience – transition, progression, retention and achievement.

“Improving the student experience is vitally important. We have a lot of expertise at Wolverhampton and we are trying to bring that together and galvanise it, so when people talk about student transitions they want to know what the University is doing and saying on the subject,” Henriette adds.

The Virtual Policy Centre will deliver a number of activities, including a series of themed seminars, including one about Transition to HE, and a conference to enable academics and teachers to share expertise. There are also plans to influence education policy, so the development of briefing and working papers will be a key strategy.

In terms of research, Henriette gives an example of a Website Fundamentals module which was run for sixth form students remotely by the University as part of the Higher Education Modules in Schools (HEMiS) scheme. This allows sixth form students to collect credits towards degrees in a range of courses. Academics looked at how sixth form students learn and find the assessment methods within higher education. They will compare this with the experiences of undergraduates studying the same module to develop a broader understanding of the approaches of the different age groups.

The new Centre will draw on the lessons learnt from the University’s Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), which focused on research into the first-year student experience and came to the end of its funding cycle this summer.

Led by Professor Glynis Cousin in the last two years, the CETL produced a number of concrete outcomes and fresh understandings relating to the improvement of student retention.

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Professor Cousin says: “We are keen to build on the success of the CETL. We are producing briefing papers on every strand of work the CETL undertook so that we can disseminate the lessons learnt, the practical steps we have taken and the knowledge our work has generated.�

As the whole higher education sector heads into a new and challenging era, the findings from the research of the new Centre will help to influence opinion and drive forward new developments in learning. But right at the crux of the aims of the Virtual Policy Centre is the student experience, and how universities can continue to transform and enhance the lives of thousands of students from a broad range of backgrounds. It is with this aim at its heart that the centre aims to contribute to the new face of higher education.

8 research

When time is of the essence‌ As anyone who has watched a murder mystery programme will know, there is one question the investigating officer always asks. Whether it is DCI Barnaby on the hunt for the latest serial killer in Midsomer or Miss Marple trying to uncover the evil deeds of one of her St Mary Mead neighbours, they are always keen to know what time the victim met their grisly end.

And it is not hard to see why.

By pinpointing the time of death, investigating officers are able to identify potential suspects and also exonerate people who could not have

been at the scene of the crime. It is also a key part of the jigsaw in tracing the dead person’s final movements.

Common ways of estimating the time of death include the change in body temperature, the degree of rigor mortis and even the extent to which the last known meal has been digested.

But a University of Wolverhampton forensic scientist has been investigating a different way of pinpointing the time of death.

Crucial cartilage Christopher Rogers is researching how cartilage could be used to identify the time that has elapsed since a person has died. As cartilage does not have a blood supply and therefore breaks down more slowly than other tissues, it could prove a useful tool to police and pathologists in suspicious cases.

To conduct his research, PhD student Christopher, from the School of Applied Sciences, has used pig trotters. By burying the trotters in soil he was able to replicate the effect of human burials in shallow graves.

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Determining how long a person has been dead for is an important question in a suspicious death investigation

The trotters were left for varying amounts of time and then tested. Christopher found that crystals formed on the cartilage after three weeks and started to disappear after six, enabling him to identify the time of death.

Significantly, this result was consistent over the three years of the study and in hundreds of examples.

The tests included looking at the trotters macroscopically to see if there were any visible changes, such as colour. They also analysed the trotters using a scanning electron microscope, which identified the formation of crystals. the importance of environment One aspect that can affect the accuracy of determining the time of death is the environment at the scene. For example, if left outside a body will be subject to the elements, such as potentially dramatic changes in temperature and the impact of wildlife. Again this is where cartilage could prove a useful indicator, as it is protected.

Christopher, who also studied a BSc (Hons) in Forensic Science at the University and is due to complete his PhD this year, says: “The findings could be useful in determining how long a person has been dead for, which is an important question in a suspicious death investigation. It could also help to identify a suspect or exonerate someone. “There has been little research into cartilage degradation post-mortem, but it is useful as it is contained within a trotter so is protected from the effects of the environment. This would be the case for a human body too, as cartilage is protected by muscle and skin.�

As well as being useful in suspicious death cases, the process could also be used for wildlife forensics, for example investigating allegations of poaching. If an animal carcass is discovered outside of legitimate circumstances, the analysis could be used to identify the time of death.

Forensic science as a career The career of a forensic scientist is interesting, challenging and intriguing and the courses at the University of Wolverhampton provide an excellent grounding for this profession.

As well as state-of-the-art science labs, students are given a taste of what could face them in their daily working life in a scenes of crime suite at City Campus. The fully furnished flat was designed with help from West Midlands Police, and features CCTV cameras, dummies and replica weapons.

Lecturers use the suite to simulate murders, assaults and break-ins and other scenarios. It includes a central teaching lab where students can examine fingerprints and analyse samples found at the scene.

And although the detectives on the popular television programmes may seem to rely on hunches and hearsay from local residents, they would no doubt find the facilities and research at the University of Wolverhampton useful in reaching a conclusion in their most baffling cases.

10 profile

Industry leader Roger Seifert is Professor of Human Resource Management at the University of Wolverhampton Business School. Roger is a leading expert on industrial relations and has been interviewed about recent high profile disputes, including the British Airways strikes, on BBC News, Sky News, the BBC Politics Show and BBC Radio 4 and 5.

His research covers a number of interesting and topical areas, and he is currently looking at the impact of government cuts on the police, fire and ambulance services and also union responses to public sector reform.

Roger Seifert’s expertise is very much in demand. Specialising in industrial relations, he is often called upon by the media to provide his thoughts on planned strike action or negotiations between unions and employers.

The interest in his research area is a sign of the times, with news stories breaking almost every day about the latest cuts in funding, pay and redundancies.

Private companies and public sector organisations have both been affected and faced drastic cut backs, and the impact is wide ranging.

Professor Seifert explains: “Union membership is growing, particularly in the public sector.

People are concerned about redundancy but also working practices. They are asked to work harder, face extra burdens and more stress, and there is more absence. As a result, there is more pressure on those that remain.

“In addition, there are fewer promotions and career plans are thwarted so that makes people feel disconcerted. Many workplaces have implemented recruitment freezes so the people who are at work are having to do extra – more for less seems to be the current slogan.”

There are also concerns about the extent to which the burden of recession is put onto working people, and is not shared by everybody in the country.

But despite widespread worries, Professor Seifert predicts that we won’t see a general strike.

“Where workers are well organised during a recession, they will tend to resist cuts, or relative cuts, in pay and conditions. The well organised ones include transport, communications and utilities workers and we would expect some flash points. In the public sector, we would expect strikes over redundancies, pension issues and pay.

“There won’t be a general strike, but there is a strong possibility of one day strikes coordinated by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) for the public sector, transport and communications sectors. These are likely to happen around May next year,” Roger says.

Taking it to the table Professor Roger Seifert joined the University of Wolverhampton in 2008. His wide experience includes acting as an adviser and consultant to large private and public sector companies, trade unions, and government departments.

He has acted as an academic adviser to the conciliation service ACAS and remains a visiting professor in Zimbabwe, Malawi and China.

His teaching, research and publications focus on the employment relationship, state regulation and control of the labour markets,

pay determination, the role of trade unions, employers’ strategies, and the public sector.

Professor Seifert’s expertise is such that in the last year he has provided comments on disputes at British Airways, BAA, oil refineries and railways as well as issues such as growing union membership, union-Labour party links and reform of public sector redundancy payment schemes and pensions. He has been interviewed on numerous media outlets including ITV’s GMTV, the BBC News Channel, BBC Midlands Today, various local radio stations and BBC Radio 4’s The World at One and Westminster Hour.

As part of his work, Roger speaks to the people involved in industrial disputes and negotiations and has links to ACAS. But other than the ACAS negotiators, people from outside the organisations involved are not allowed into dispute talks. Contrary to popular belief, discussions are not often heated as they are normally held with the negotiating parties in different rooms. If the talks are moving forward, the ACAS negotiators will bring the two sides together.

The public is most often made aware of employment issues through media coverage, and people may wonder why the organisations and workers can’t just resolve their problems without resorting to disruptive strike action.

But Roger says the picture is often more complicated than it appears on the television.

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“Industrial relations is a messy subject and the negotiations are often messy too. Outsiders get frustrated and question why the two sides can’t solve their differences, but the reason is that the issues are more complex than people think. When union leaders are interviewed about talks, they are not trying to get a message across to the managers – they are talking to their members through the media. Similarly a Chief Executive will be talking to his or her own board. And there is a lot at stake – if they get it wrong they will be sacked or someone else will be elected to the union role.

“The substance might be straightforward but the processes and practicalities are convoluted.”

timely advice What advice would Professor Seifert offer to the government at the moment, when painful and unpopular cuts across the board seem inevitable?

“The thing is to avoid conflict. They have to convince managers that the service at the other end of reductions will be equally good and in turn they have to convince the workforce. The key thing is strategic planning so people can see there will be an end result that is ok.”

reform; the reaction of ‘front line’ staff in the emergency services (police, fire and ambulance) to the government’s cuts; and papers on reform of Further Education, police pay and the experiences of Black and Minority Ethnic workers in local government.

The current economic situation is such that cuts, redundancies and pay freezes seem to affect every industry and individual in some form. It is this aspect of the subject area that makes it so interesting to Professor Seifert.

He is also involved in two consultancy projects: one on the future of the culture sector in the UK, and the other on the reaction of staff in the NHS and local government to the government’s proposals on cuts and reforms.

“Industrial relations is about work and as most people will at some point in their life go to work, it is a fundamental part of human activity,” he says.

Roger’s work, through his teaching, research and media profile, has helped to further develop interest in the University of Wolverhampton Business School. It is an exciting time for the School, which has moved to the City Campus and is preparing to welcome a new Dean, Dr Anthea Gregory.

And with the economic situation remaining uncertain for many people and industries, Professor Roger Seifert’s research will continue to be interesting, relevant and newsworthy.

“It is also about the exercise of power, in terms of both market and social power, so it combines political and economic features of human life.”

Professor Seifert is writing a history of British industrial relations in the 1960s and 1970s and his current research interests include a book on union opposition to public sector

12 feATure

his music has an appeal across the generations, from children to grandparents.

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The

music maan it is difficult to over-estimate the popularity of Punjabi singer Gurdas Maan. the global star has a dedicated following worldwide, attracting sell-out audiences for his concerts and playing a major role in promoting asian culture internationally.

It was no surprise, therefore, that the award of an honorary degree by the University of Wolverhampton attracted attention all over the world. Dozens of international journalists gathered at the Royal Albert Hall in London for a press conference where Gurdas talked about receiving the honorary award and announced details of a forthcoming UK tour. The following day, fans jostled for position outside the University and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre to catch a glimpse of the icon, who took the time to sign autographs and have his picture taken with them. The interest in his award is testament to Gurdas’ appeal and the way his music captures the imagination of listeners.

The Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music was presented by the University’s School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure. Dean of School, John Pymm read the citation for Gurdas Maan’s award at the ceremony, celebrating the many achievements of the star’s 25-year career.

But, as John is careful to point out, it was Gurdas’ connection to Wolverhampton - where he has played numerous sell-out concerts and has a loyal fan base - that led to his nomination for an honorary degree.

John says: “Each year we consider awarding an honorary degree to an eminent figure in the fields of sport, performing arts or leisure who has a strong connection to Wolverhampton and the Black Country. It was a real delight for us that a musician of such eminence and international renown feels such an affinity with the city of Wolverhampton. Every time he gives concerts here it is to capacity audiences. It is also wonderful that he is at the Albert Hall one day and Wolverhampton the next!”

This was also recognised by Gurdas himself, who was clearly moved by the warm welcome from his fans in the city.

During his speech at the graduation ceremony, he said: “This is an emotional moment for me.

I accept this honour on behalf of the millions of fans and listeners of my music across the world.

I would like to thank everybody here today and especially the people of Wolverhampton, who have shown me so much love and respect over the years.”

Gurdas Maan is the most recognisable and prolific Punjabi singer in the world today.

His song “Dil Da Mamla Hai” brought him to national attention in India in 1980 and he is credited with taking Punjabi music from a regional level to international renown. He has produced over 30 albums and written more than 200 songs. He has toured the globe, performing in the UK, USA, Canada, the Middle East, New Zealand, Hong Kong, France and Australia, to name but a few.

He has also found time to make a name for himself as a Bollywood actor, starring in blockbuster films and receiving numerous awards including the Jury’s Award which was presented by the President of India in 2005.

So what is it about Gurdas Maan’s music that appeals to people? His lively stage performances are packed with energy, and his music, whilst infused with eastern and western flavours, remains quintessentially Punjabi. But perhaps it is the fact that his songs also have the ability to connect with people’s own lives, portraying real issues.

As John Pymm says: “His music has an appeal across the generations, from children to grandparents. They are captivated by the mesmeric quality of Gurdas Maan’s performances: he is truly an artist for our time.”

14 feATure

As good as

Goldie

if Madonna is the queen of reinvention, then Goldie is arguably the king. From drum and bass pioneer to classical composer, breakdancer to Strictly Come Dancing contestant and reality tV star to hollywood film actor, his path to fame is characterised by interesting twists and turns.

But his creative roots lie in Wolverhampton, where he first acquired a reputation as a graffiti artist. Goldie’s significant contribution to the creative arts was celebrated by the University recently when the School of Art & Design awarded him an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Design.

The prestigious honour recognised Goldie’s work nationally and internationally, both as a performer and artist.

honour to be recognised in these fields and to be recognised by the academic community, it’s quite overwhelming.”

Conferring the award, Dr Bryony Conway, Dean of the School of Art & Design, said: “This multi-talented figure has been creative across a broad spectrum of media. Goldie’s strength is that he has shaped and made his own success.

He keeps learning new skills and reinventing himself.”

Born in Walsall, Goldie spent his childhood in foster care and children’s homes. His eclectic career began at the age of 18, when he moved into a block of flats in the Heath Town area of Wolverhampton. Goldie threw himself into graffiti art, decorating stairwells, garage doors and walls on the estate with murals. Although not strictly legal, Goldie’s art struck a chord with the residents of Heath Town who identified with his social messages about poverty and alienation.

It was a proud moment for Goldie and his family who attended the ceremony at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. In his speech, Goldie, real name Clifford Price, said: “It really means something coming to Wolverhampton. It is an incredible

Feature 15

Photograph: Martin Jones

This period of his life was documented in a photographic exhibition at the School of Art & Design to coincide with Goldie’s honorary award and the MA Graduate Show.

Goldie’s former manager and agent Martin Jones carried a camera everywhere he went with Goldie in the 80s, creating a vivid and unique archive of the early years of Hip Hop culture. The photographs show Goldie in his native Black Country, outside Wolverhampton Art Gallery where he had his first exhibition and in Walsall where he helped to found the first ever legal graffiti art gallery. They also show him in New York in 1986, meeting Hip Hop’s founders in the Bronx as his career began to take flight.

The rest, as they say, is history. In 1991, he moved to London and launched the Sunday Sessions at the Blue Note. This saw the birth and growth of the now infamous Drum and Bass label Metalheadz that created his album Timeless.

He went on to become an actor, making numerous TV and film appearances, including Guy Ritchie’s classic Snatch and the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough.

He became a firm favourite with Eastenders fans as Angel and recently appeared in the highly successful BBC Maestro. He was then asked to score a piece of music for the Proms, entitled Sine Tempore. A two-part BBC documentary, Classic Goldie, followed portraying his talents.

Most recently, he took to the dancefloor to take part in the BBC’s hugely popular Strictly Come Dancing.

Whatever Goldie turns his hand to, there is a consistent thread of determination, imagination and vision running through his art.

In his graduation speech, Goldie described his inspiration and the driving force behind his creativity.

“Over the years, I have worked on many different themes in many different mediums, often with themes recurring, weaving in and out – switching the medium, but applying the same technique, and each time getting a little closer in closing my circle, trying to approach completion and closure – and I think that in itself is the point – conceptualising, then carrying out the effort to realise that vision – this cycle that at once actively engages us and propels us through our lives as artists.”

And he had some words of inspiration for the talented graduates collecting art and design degrees at the same ceremony.

“I learned early on that if you cannot say what you want about something, well, just paint it.

For me the struggle, the effort, has always been to reconcile what’s inside of me, and what I see around me, to the medium at hand, and always adapting and evolving, and never still.

It’s nice to know that whenever I feel imperfect or incomplete, art is there.”

16 Feature

Golden celebration When Steve Morgan stepped up on stage to collect his honorary degree from the University, the colours of his graduation robe could not have been any more appropriate. The vibrant red alongside the striking gold seemed to represent the two cities – and football clubs - that have a special place in his heart.

Hailing from Merseyside Steve grew up a fanatical Liverpool supporter, but now has the gold of Wolverhampton Wanderers running through his veins after purchasing the Midlands club back in 2007. In a unique deal, Steve paid

former owner Sir Jack Hayward a token £10 for the club, together with a £30 million capital injection. Sir Jack describes the momentous deal which saw Steve become Wolves Chairman as the day he had a ‘heart transplant’ from Liverpool to Wolverhampton.

Steve’s link to Wolverhampton became even deeper when he was presented with an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters by the University. The honour from the School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure recognised Steve’s significant services to the home building industry and his entrepreneurial flair and passion for sport and leisure.

At the ceremony at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Steve spoke of his pride at being recognised by his adopted city.

“I am really proud and quite choked I am so honoured. It is wonderful to be presented with this amazing honour and I am absolutely delighted.

“I very much feel like an adopted son, and I felt that way from the beginning, when I started coming to the club even before I did the deal with Sir Jack Hayward. It just felt right. I met the right town, the right football club and now the right University.”

Feature 17

Steve is also Chairman of the Bridgemere Group of Companies, which has significant land and commercial development interests in the UK and Europe. Bridgemere’s other activities included Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, Trinity Aviation and Carden Park Hotel, one of the UK’s leading golf resorts. In 2001 Steve founded The Morgan Foundation, a charity which is one of the largest providers of funding for children’s and family charities across North Wales, Merseyside and West Cheshire.

The Morgan Foundation is also the main funder for “Wolves Aid”, which is the largest charity of its type in football.

Entrepreneurial flair Steve Morgan has demonstrated entrepreneurial flair from the early days of his career. Born in Liverpool, Steve, 57, is the founder of Redrow plc, which he started at the age of 21 with the aid of a £5,000 loan from his father. Under his leadership Redrow became one of the UK’s most successful homebuilders and a FTSE 250 Company. He led the flotation of the Company in 1994 and eventually stepped down as Chairman in November 2000, although his company, Bridgemere, remained one of the largest shareholders. Steve returned to the helm at Redrow in March 2009.

By his own admission, the three years since purchasing Wolverhampton Wanderers have been the most exciting of Steve’s life. In 2009, Wolves were crowned Champions of the Championship and are now established in the Premiership. Plans for a £40 million redevelopment of the iconic Molineux stadium are under way, and Steve is passionate about the inclusion of a museum to showcase the club’s memorabilia and achievements.

“I think the new stadium development will be fabulous for the club. We are doing it a step at a time so we don’t over-reach.

“One of the reasons why we’re doing the North Bank first is to move the fans behind both goals closer to the pitch and to incorporate a museum, as the club is so steeped in history and there’s so much for fans to see.

“I’m sure the fans will absolutely love it. Once we start the first phase, they will want the other phases and if everybody comes and supports the team and gets behind the boys, it will happen.”

Side-by-side The football club and University literally sit sideby-side in the city, with lecture theatres and offices a stone’s throw from the stadium. In his graduation speech, Steve recognised the work of the University, led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Caroline Gipps, to transform the city skyline through a programme of investment in new buildings.

“When you look at what the University has achieved and the buildings that have been developed, it is a great tribute to Caroline and the team to how they have transformed the University,” he said.

As a successful entrepreneur and passionate advocate for the sport and leisure industries, Steve Morgan had some words of advice for the hundreds of students collecting their degree scrolls on the same day.

“My message would be to have a go, because unless you have a go you are never going to succeed. Never be afraid to make mistakes.

Whatever road you decide to take on the crossroads just have a go and good luck.”

18 iNTerNATioNAl

iNTerNATioNAl 19

A day to remember For every student, donning a cap and gown to graduate is a special moment.

For one group, this year’s celebrations at the Grand theatre were particularly memorable as it was the first time they had been to Wolverhampton - and they travelled 6,700 miles to be there.

Nineteen students graduated from the BA (Hons) in Sport Management programme with the University’s School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure in Singapore, and seven students travelled to the UK for the graduation.

The course was delivered in Singapore with lecturers visiting three times over a year to provide block teaching. The programme is run in collaboration with the Asia Pacific School of Sports and Business (APSSB) as part of the University’s commitment to trans-national education (TNE).

In September the group travelled to the UK to take part in the ceremony, stepping up to collect their scrolls from the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Caroline Gipps. The experience of a graduation ceremony in Britain made quite an impression on the students. Hakim Sakariah, who has a job working in a Polytechnic in Singapore, said: “It was very different to what we have in Singapore. It was very traditional and the theatre made it very grand.” Cheeseng Loh added: “It was great. We chose to come here to graduate because it is a once in a lifetime experience to do a degree programme and so I wanted to come and find out more about the UK.” a proud moment Graduations are always a special occasion for family members too, as they witness their children and partners reap the rewards of their hard work. Shimin Suar’s parents joined her at the ceremony, and mum Susan said it was a “proud moment” for them.

Like some of the students from the UK, Sofia Ahmad was the first person in her family to go to university. Sofia, who already has a job working in a leisure centre, explained: “It was awesome – I enjoyed everything about it. My family were in awe because I am the first one in

the family to get a degree so it was emotional for them.”

The students were very positive about the course they had studied, which aims to produce capable, creative future leaders for the Singaporean sports management sector.

Graduates of this 12-month top-up degree gain an in-depth knowledge of the social, cultural, political and economic environments in which the Singaporean sports industry exists, whilst also having the opportunity to develop further sport specialism through their choice of research project. One of the projects was to organise a netball tournament, providing valuable experience of organising a large event.

Cheeseng Loh says: “It was a mixed match of netball, and it was overwhelming – we had too many teams! We sorted everything and organised it on our own so we chipped in expertise in our area.”

As all of the students on the course are in employment, study is undertaken during evenings and weekends in intensive blocks: it’s quite a challenge for students to do this whilst being at work during the day. The course is delivered by full-time staff from the University, who visit Singapore for blocks of time during the year. The course is specially tailored to the Singaporean market, and John Pymm, Dean of the School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure, says it has been carefully designed to meet the needs of the booming sports industry in the country.

He says: “It is always exciting when we see students walking up on to the stage to collect their degrees – it is a joy. We are proud of our students but graduation is only the beginning.

The important thing is that they do not look back and think, ‘I have done it’ - they should look forward and see what they can do with the degree.”

Ronnie says interest in the course is building and this reflects the growth in the sports industry in Singapore. APSSB was the first School to bring the Sports Management programme to the country, and including this September’s cohort, 36 people have now completed the degree. Previously much of the work in the sports industry was voluntary, but this has shifted in the last five years with investment from the government in Singapore, including S$1.8 billion for a new sports hub featuring stadia and swimming pools. And with the growth in sports, Ronnie says they will need the right people with the right qualifications to drive forward the industry.

Jo Gittens is the University of Wolverhampton’s Director, International. She is enthusiastic about trans-national education and the benefits for the students.

She says: “The University works closely with a small number of carefully-selected partners such as APSSB, where we can be confident that they will be able to support the learning experience to the same level as if they were being taught in Wolverhampton.

He says: “The development of sport is a top priority for the Singapore Government and this is reflected in the very high calibre of applicants the course receives, many of whom have represented their country in national teams. We are also grateful for the enthusiastic support of the CEO of APSSB, Mr Ronnie Lee.”

“We are delighted that the BA (Hons) Sport Management has been so successful in Singapore and is able to bridge both cultural diversity and geographic distance. We will continue to build on our very considerable successes in Singapore, South-East Asia and beyond.”

Getting better all the time Mr Lee accompanied the students to the ceremony, and it was the third time he had attended a graduation in Wolverhampton.

He believes it gets better every year. Having worked with the students for three years, it is a rewarding moment for him.

As the students head back to Singapore to start exciting and challenging careers in the sports industry, they can look back on the day they collected their degrees in Wolverhampton with pride.

As Waikit Chan says: “I thought it was awesome and a wonderful experience.”

20 BUSINESS

The new

solution Like many cities, Wolverhampton faces a number of economic challenges over the next few years. One that is likely to be felt all over the country is the pressure on local businesses of all sizes to remain competitive. The launch of a new business partnership in the region is therefore welcome and timely.

The Wolverhampton Business Solutions Centre is believed to be the first of its kind in the country. A partnership of five leading organisations, the Centre provides integrated business solutions to companies of all sizes and sectors. By bringing together the University of Wolverhampton, Black Country Chamber of Commerce, City of Wolverhampton College,

Wolverhampton City Council and Business Link West Midlands, local companies have access to a one-stop solution to their business queries and needs.

Based at Wolverhampton Science Park, the Centre provides a friendly and professional service which is designed to understand the needs of a business before managing the relevant solution. This can draw on the full range of services available across the partners, such as planning regulation support from the City Council or academic expertise at the University.

Director of Business Solutions, Marc Fleetham, explains: “We are providing a package of

solutions rather than a ‘one-off’ piece of advice. The aim is to build a relationship with the businesses, so they are guided, nurtured and supported. When new opportunities come about we can contact them and build a real network of companies.

“It is about building a business community, but with the support of five major partners – the unique thing, we believe, is having those partners working together within a single unit.”

The support can include advice about services to develop an existing business, such as professional consultancy services, market/ product research and networking organisations.

BuSiNeSS 21

Pictured left to right: Steve Boyes from Wolverhampton City Council, Ian Grewcock from Business Link West Midlands, Professor Ian Oakes from the University of Wolverhampton, Margaret Corneby from the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and Bhanu Dhir from the City of Wolverhampton College.

ones as well – they can still benefit from our packages. We want to give businesses access to the skills and resources they need, regardless of the stage they are at currently.

“There are key phases in a business life cycle where they may hit a barrier and it is critical they have resources available to enable them to build and develop.”

Businesses will benefit from a project manager who finds the information or locates the services they require from the five partners.

The service is impartial and confidential and provides access to experts who will work alongside the business to develop the most relevant solution. This also enables resources, skills and knowledge to be shared between the partners for the benefit of the business community.

The Centre can also provide suggestions about how to inject fresh ideas into a business, for example by working with students and graduates, enlisting an apprentice or retraining existing employees. People can also find out more about the regulations and policies companies need to be aware of and implement.

Help is available to businesses of any size and at any point in their life cycle, including individuals looking to launch a new company.

Marc continues: “We want to support businesses at the incubation stage, the fledgling businesses that have been trading for 12 months or fewer and the more experienced

The Centre was officially launched at a special event in September attended by representatives of the five partners, local businesses and the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Malcolm Gwinnett. Professor Ian Oakes, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise at the University, has had a key role in developing the partnership. At the launch, he said: “Our focus is to help businesses improve competitiveness, create wealth and jobs, and feed that back into Wolverhampton.

I am delighted that the partnership has come together.”

Councillor Paddy Bradley, Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Enterprise at Wolverhampton City Council, also emphasised the importance of the Centre for the local business community.

“The Business Solutions Centre is an extremely important innovation. We have been working on it for 12 months or more and the facilities are very good. We are grateful to the University for taking it on board and running with it,” she said.

Local businesses that could benefit from the services of the Business Solutions Centre were invited to Innovate4Success, a keynote event following the launch. Hamish Taylor, an inspirational leader on innovation and change management, shared his expertise and provided insightful advice about how to innovate for success to around 100 businesses.

For all those involved, this is the perfect time to launch a Centre focused on supporting businesses through the challenges ahead.

As Marc Fleetham says: “We have been through a recession and are hopefully coming out the other side of that. Businesses need to have confidence in what they are doing.

The Business Solutions Centre offers an opportunity for them to engage with a fully inclusive partnership arrangement to grow their business.”

To contact the Wolverhampton Business Solutions Centre, call: 01902 321272 or email: enquiries@wolverhamptonbsc.com

our focus is to help businesses improve competitiveness, create wealth and jobs, and feed that back into Wolverhampton.

22 people

raising the Bar his honour Judge Jonathan Gosling was among one of the first intakes of law students at the university of Wolverhampton, and graduated in 1978. he was called to the Bar in 1980 and was appointed as a deputy district Judge (Magistrates’ courts), then known as acting Provincial stipendiary Magistrate, in 1997. he was appointed as an assistant recorder in February 2000 and as a recorder in July 2000.

Judge Gosling was appointed as a circuit Judge in July 2009 and was assigned to the Midland circuit, presiding over courts in Wolverhampton and derby.

people 23

1

What led you to choose a career in law?

It was unavoidable. My grandfather was a solicitor in Wolverhampton and so was my father. My mother was a magistrate and my uncle was a judge and had a career at the Bar. Both my brothers are practising solicitors.

I never thought of any other career and have not regretted it.

2

What are your memories of studying at Wolverhampton?

They are all positive. The law school was small, there were about 150 students over the three years, but the staff were a wonderful mixture of old school and enthusiastic recently qualified lecturers. I am still in close contact with many of my fellow students and one of my lecturers, Peter Smith, who was only a few years older than a graduate himself. I have excellent memories.

3

h how do you think your degree prepared you for your career?

The teaching standard was extremely high and the course itself was held in high regard by the local profession, even though the course was only a few years old then. It is still highly regarded now. Many of the students joined local firms and are still there as senior partners.

I remember taking part in a Mooting competition, which tests your advocacy skills. Our lecturer, Peter Smith, led a student called Bill Eaton and me to the semi-finals of the Observer Mooting Competition in 1978, against Manchester University. That was a very good grounding.

and camaraderie that is an integral part of the profession. I practiced in crime and liquor licensing so there was plenty of interesting work around.

5

people said you cannot rape a prostitute but I think the jury saw her for the tragic victim that she was and the taxi driver was convicted. I had lots of rewarding results but that was up there with the best of them. As an advocate you want to win. As a prosecutor, your role is to present the case, but when you have a victim like that you want to achieve something for them.

What are your memories of your early career as a magistrates’ clerk in Wolverhampton and a barrister in Birmingham?

I was let loose on my own as a court clerk at a very early age, and had quite a lot of responsibility. It was quite a buzz. As for the Bar, it is without question the most fun you can have while earning a living. You have a real effect on people’s lives and you are completely independent. You enjoy a close friendship

What do you enjoy about your current role, or find most rewarding?

Being fair to people. Every trial will have a winner and a loser – either the victim or the defendant – but everyone, whichever side they are on, knows the risk of that before they start. They know they may not succeed or be believed. People will accept defeat, even if it is a long prison sentence, as long as they know it has been a fair and impartial hearing.

The judge is in control of that, and that is the most important part of the job and the most rewarding.

7 4

What is your greatest professional achievement?

It was as a prosecutor. I had a case where a taxi driver had raped a heroin-addicted prostitute. After he had dumped her penniless, she picked up another punter to earn more money to score a fix before reporting what had happened to the police. Before the case,

6

mentioned earlier. If the barrister gets to his feet and says the defendant did tell him, but he forgot to mention it, you have to be able to trust that. There is a strong tradition between advocates of integrity that is absolutely vital to the way we work.

What characteristics make a good barrister?

You have got to be fearless. You also have to be incredibly hard working, because you cannot cut corners. Preparation is everything.

You must also have complete integrity. If you say something, everybody has to be able to trust your word without questioning it or wondering if it is reliable. For example, only you know the content of conversations between you and your client. It sometimes happens that a defendant is criticised for mentioning something in their evidence that they have not

8

What would you like to study if you were at university today?

Law, or possibly history as a close second.

The law still fascinates me.

9

What advice would you offer to today’s law graduates?

Don’t be put off by the challenge. The market is competitive and not everyone is going to end up where they want, and think, they deserve to be. I would also say think outside the box. We have an usher who is 21 and has a first in Criminology and Psychology, and wants to be a forensic psychologist – and she will be. She spotted the possibility for movement within the Ministry of Justice and knows exactly where she is going. There is an example of someone who has thought outside the box.

10

Who do you admire?

My hero is my father and 17 years after his death that has not changed.

For many years the resident judge in Wolverhampton was Frank Chapman. He was a giant and as part of my training before I started sitting as a Judge, I was an Assistant Recorder. Before I was let loose on my own I spent the week with him. Whenever I have a problem and there is no-one to ask, I still pose the question, “what would Frank have done?”

24 SucceSS STory

Graduate success story

Duncan Cameron experience as possible by spending two years working before starting his course.

“With most of my peers already two years into their degree course I decided to get some experience in the industry I was going to study so that I could graduate with a head start over my classmates. Having worked for an outside caterer, Holiday Inn and even McDonald’s, I was keen to progress within the industry but not as ‘just another manager’,” he explains.

Name: duncan cameron Course: Ba (hons) hospitality Management Year of Graduation: 2003

at the age of 17, duncan cameron was working in his local Mcdonald’s. But even at this early stage, he already had his sights set on a career in the hospitality industry. now eight years on and with a Ba (hons) in hospitality Management under his belt, he has a senior role working with some of the top brands in the world.

As Senior Hospitality Consultant for brand quality auditing company, Hospitality Now, Duncan works with industry leaders such as Costa Coffee, Premier Inn and Marriott hotels to ensure that quality standards are consistently delivered to every guest every time.

Duncan always knew that he was going to study Hospitality Management at degree level but decided to get as much practical

When it came to choosing where to study, the University of Wolverhampton was always going to be Duncan’s first choice.

“It was well known that Wolverhampton’s Hospitality Management degree programme was highly regarded within the industry and fortunately for me Wolverhampton was also my home town!

“The lecturers were time served professionals that had come from the industry. They delivered the course in such a way that it was ‘real’ the techniques and lessons learnt could be practically applied to the industry, so much so that I still use them today in my everyday work.”

After teaming his studies with more work experience, Duncan secured his first General Manager position - two months before he even graduated.

“I graduated with as much experience as I could possibly have. I had been a fine dining restaurant manager, Deputy General Manager of one of the leading country house hotels in the UK, spent six months working in the kitchens of a 4 rosette restaurant and had also worked as a fine wine advisor.”

At age 25, Duncan’s career really began to gain pace when he applied for the position of Hotel Consultant with a company based in Boston, USA. Duncan became the company’s youngest consultant working autonomously throughout the UK and Europe, analysing and evaluating key strengths and weaknesses in the quality consistencies of businesses.

Duncan worked in this role for three years, consulting at over 500 hotels and 150 restaurants before deciding that he needed to fill a gap in his CV – experience running holiday resorts. In 2007 Duncan accepted the position of General Manager of Windermere Marina Village in the Lake District. With his career plan still set firmly in his mind Duncan gave himself three years before moving back into consulting.

Exactly three years and three months later, Duncan moved into the role that he enjoys today – and credits the University’s role in his success.

“I arrive at this stage of my career at a level I thought I could never achieve and when I ask myself what made a difference to my career, the answer without a doubt is studying at the University of Wolverhampton. I can offer a unique combination of experience and qualifications that employers crave.

“I thoroughly enjoyed and valued every minute studying at the University of Wolverhampton and I owe the lecturers a massive debt of gratitude for delivering a course that prepared me with the tools and insight I needed to build a successful career.”

WhAT’S oN GuiDe 25

What’s on

Guide November

January

Early Researcher Symposium

Annual Holocaust Memorial Day lecture – ruth Barnett tells her story

Date: 23-24 november 2010 Time: 12pm on 23 november 2010 to 5pm on 24 november 2010 (28 hour residential event)

Date: Wednesday 19 January 2011 Time: 5pm–7pm

Location: Priorslee hall, telford campus

Location: Mc001 Millennium city Building, Wolverhampton city campus

Contact: abi redmond, learning lab

Contact: Jacqueline Jones

Website: www.learninglab.org.uk

Call: 01902 322145

Call: 01902 322362

Email: holocaust-lecture2011@wlv.ac.uk

December Clothes Show Live 2010 - featuring work by Fashion & textile students from the school of art & design Date: 3-5 december 2010 Show Opening Times: Friday – 9.30am–6pm / saturday Wednesday: 9am–6.30pm Venue: nec Birmingham Contact: kayla owen: k.owen@wlv.ac.uk Website: www.clothesshowlive.com

news in brief A recession-busting scheme at the University which offers graduates employment with innovative companies is currently recruiting.

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme gives graduates the opportunity to work for companies for between 10 weeks and 36 months and currently has a number of vacancies in the West Midlands.

Graduates become a project manager from day one whilst earning a competitive salary.

Graduates are encouraged to register at www. wmktp.org.uk The University of Wolverhampton has fought off tough competition to clinch a top award for its commitment to Fairtrade.

The University has been named runner-up in the Outstanding Achievement category of the Fairtrade Fortnight 2010 Awards.

During Fairtrade Fortnight in March, the University organised a series of events for staff and students to help spread the Fairtrade message.

University experts have secured a £51,000 grant to undertake research into bioenergy. The project will look into the financial viability of using sources of bioenergy in the West Midlands.

The University of Wolverhampton Business School was awarded £51,000 over three years by the John Oldacre Foundation. The aim of the research is to help enterprising people in rural areas look at sources of energy, such as wind power, biomass and the growth of crops to generate energy.

WLV

dialogue

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