news &views THE UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER MAGAZINE
November 2011
Early Years Provision University of Worcester awarded prestigious contract p.4-5
In this issue:
House of Lords Student receives award p.7
Life behind the lab coat Discovering Biology p.9
Catalogue of Dreams Your invitation to the World of Kays conference p.10
FEATURE
University celebrates nursing, midwifery and paramedic mentors HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS WHO MENTOR STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER WERE CELEBRATED AT A SPECIAL AWARDS CEREMONY. The University’s annual Mentor Awards recognise outstanding contributions to the student practice learning experience by professionals in the workplace. Elizabeth Davies-Ward, Chairman of the Mentor Awards Committee, said: “The awards helps to recognise and celebrate the hard work of the nurses, midwives and paramedic personnel, who make an outstanding contribution to the student practice learning experience by building successful mentoring relationships with students from the University of Worcester.” The University has held the Mentor Awards for the past three years in collaboration with its NHS practice partners. Around 120 guests attended the prestigious ceremony including mentors, NHS trust managers and representatives from the University. The event further reflects the University’s reputation for excellence in nursing, which was ranked seventh in the country for its nursing and midwifery courses, according to this year’s Sunday
Times Good University Guide. Earlier this year the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) rated the University of Worcester’s training as ‘good’ in all five areas of its Annual Monitoring Review. The NMC inspection report particularly praised the University’s close links with hospitals, health centres and other institutions, commenting: “There is effective partnership working and all programmes are developed and delivered collaboratively with local service providers.” The report also highlighted the quality of teaching and the importance of the role of mentors. It said: “Academic staff visit students in placements and this is valued by service partners and students. “Effective teaching and learning strategies are in place to enable students to meet the required NMC outcomes. Student evaluations demonstrate satisfaction with the high level of support provided by staff in both academic and clinical environments. Student midwives, mentors and teachers all value formative assessment and simulated learning.”
The Winners Outstanding Mentor Award – Worcester Royal Hospital Rosemary Harris Outstanding Mentor Award – Alexandra Hospital/Kidderminster Hospital Mena Smith Outstanding Mentor Award – Midwifery Teresa Everington Outstanding Mentor Award – Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust Susan Duggan Outstanding Mentor Award – Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust Donna Heritage Outstanding Mentor Award – Wye Valley NHS Trust: Acute Marion Stevenson Outstanding Mentor Award – Wye Valley NHS Trust: Community Julie Sargeant Outstanding Mentor Award – Independent Sector Virginia Bridge Outstanding Mentor Award – West Mercia South Ambulance Locality Dave McCaskie Outstanding Mentor Award – West Mercia North Ambulance Locality Kevyn Wilton Outstanding Mentor Award – Birmingham, Black Country, Coventry & Warwickshire Localities Pat Barnes–Jones Outstanding Practice Learning Environment – Worcestershire Tenbury Community Hospital Outstanding Practice Learning Environment – Herefordshire Kington and Weobley District Nursing Outstanding Ambulance Station West Bromwich Ambulance Station
Mentor Awards 2011: runners up Mentor Awards 2011: winners
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COVER STORY wELCOME
contents FEATURE Mentor Awards 2011
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COVER STORY
Welcome
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elcome to the November issue of News & Views, featuring a roundup of news, updates and milestones from the past month at the University of Worcester. There has been plenty to celebrate over the past few weeks both in and out of the lecture theatre. The cover story this month congratulates the Institute of Education who have been awarded one of only eight national contracts to deliver early years provision. The Institute is also to be applauded as the STEMNET contract has been extended for another four years.
Also picking up awards and accolades last month were local health care professionals at the annual mentor awards ceremony and players from the Worcester Blind Football Club, who have added bronze European Championship medals and a cup title win to their ever-growing trophy cabinet. Sticking with a sporting theme, congratulations are also due to the Uni-Snoezers who ran, walked and shuffled their way around the Birmingham half marathon last month. Over £4,000 has already been raised for the Worcester Snoezelen, the University’s Charity of the Year. A fantastic effort one and all! Don’t forget to keep sending your news and stories to us at newsandviews@worc.ac.uk
ST JOHN’S CLEAN UP Part of Worcester is looking much cleaner after students and city councillors got together to do a litter pick around the University’s St John’s campus. The students and councillors went to work cleaning up local roads and collected 22 kilos of rubbish and 12.5 kilos of recycling. Among the more unusual things they found were some plants, an expensive-looking cigar case – and a £5 note. Council Leader Simon Geraghty joined the litter pick, along with Cllr Francis Lankester, Cabinet
Member for Safer and Stronger Communities, and St John’s ward member Cllr Margaret Layland. Cllr Geraghty said: “This is a great example of local councillors and students working together to keep the area clean.” The joint autumn litter pick has become an annual event over the last four years. Katy Boom, the University of Worcester’s Director of Environmental Sustainability, said: “The streets are much cleaner these days than they were a few years ago. The local community is clearly taking pride in their area, as are the students.”
Early Years Contract
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news St John’s clean up 3 Blind football success 6 Nutritional Therapy course gains full accreditation 6 Welsh fieldwork presented in Canadian prairies 6 ‘Man box’ activist to headline domestic abuse event 7 House of Lords award 7 River dynamics 7 World Congress of Performance Analysis of Sport IX 8 Creative writing helps children to engage, according to research 8 Life behind a lab coat 9 Chapter explores changing nature of libraries 9 Catalogue of Dreams invitation 10 Howard at the helm 10 STEM support for schools to continue 11 November open events 11 Summon 11 60th Lovatt Lecture in Geography 12 Journalism students interview leader 12 Pavement pounding: pounds raising 12 Research Seminar Programme 13 Children’s book illustrator success 14 Volunteers head to the hills 14 Nairobi visit 14 October spook-tacular! 15 Mature student nominated for national award 15 Racing through support tutorial 15
sTAFF FEATURE Rock on: Barbara Mitra
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newsandviews@worc.ac.uk / NOVEMBER 2011 / 3
University to deliver Early Years training for West Midlands and South West THE UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER HAS BEEN AWARDED ONE OF ONLY EIGHT NATIONAL CONTRACTS TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN EARLY YEARS PROFESSIONALS IN ENGLAND. The University will be the lead provider delivering the Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) programme to Early Years practitioners across the West Midlands and South West regions. This prestigious major contract, awarded by the Children’s Workforce Development Council, will focus on training hundreds of Early Years practitioners to make a real educational and social difference for young children and their families in nationally recognised areas of social, economic or educational disadvantage. Professor David Green, Vice Chancellor, said: “Across the world it is recognised that high quality education and care for young children is the essential foundation for successful future human development. This means working with and supporting mothers, fathers and their young children. The dedicated Early Years team at the University of Worcester are right at the forefront in educating the teachers and professionals who engage in this vital work.” Professor Chris Robertson, Head of the Institute of Education, added: “The University already has a really strong focus on making a difference to the lives of children and their families. Achieving this substantial contract will enable us to maintain and expand the outstanding work we are doing in partnership across the West Midlands and South West of England.” As the lead provider and contract holder, the University of Worcester will be working in partnership with Newman University College in Birmingham; University of Gloucestershire; University College Plymouth St Mark & St John; and the Somerset Centre for Integrated Learning (SCIL) to deliver this significant training across the two regions.
This important national programme, comprising four different training pathways for both undergraduates and postgraduates, will provide excellent training for approximately 700 new Early Years Professionals across the two regions by March 2015. It will enable the University of Worcester and its partners to make a major contribution to the national drive to continue to raise the quality of the Early Year’s workforce. The Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) has awarded this £5.5million contract to the University in recognition of the outstandingly high quality work which it already undertakes in improving the lives of young children and their families in the region and its strong commitment to provide excellent training for practitioners working in children’s centres, nurseries and other childcare provisions. Worcester has a long history and excellent reputation for its work in educating professionals working with young children. The University played a vital role in creating a specialist profession working with young children in Northern Ireland in partnership with the non-sectarian NIPPA (the Northern Ireland Preschool and Play Association) and is currently the partner of preference for Colleges and Local Authorities and pre-school providers throughout the Midlands and South West. The University’s work in both Primary and Secondary Education is graded Outstanding by OFSTED and the University’s graduates in teaching are in the top tier for employment in the country.
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COVER STORY
newsandviews@worc.ac.uk / NOVEMBER 2011 / 5
NEWS
Blind football success It has been a successful few weeks for the University’s staff, students and graduates involved in blind football. England Blind Futsal team brought home the bronze medal from the European Championships, held in Turkey in September. This was followed closely on return with a title win for Worcester Blind Football Club, which won the Brian Aarons Cup, the equivalent of the FA Cup. At the European Championships the England side, which included University of Worcester graduates Keryn Seal (captain) and Lewis Skyers, as well as first year scholarship student Owen Bainbridge, made a good start to the tournament, making it all the way to the semi-finals where they were beaten 1-0 by Spain in the final minutes. The team were then pitted
against home side Turkey, who they beat 4-1 in front of a hostile crowd, to take the bronze medal, ensuring qualification for the London 2012 Games. Coach David Mycock, who is also a Sports Coaching Science lecturer at the University, said: “We were disappointed to be beaten by Spain in the semis. It was a close match and we should have won, having 20 shots to Spain’s three. But that’s football.
Medal and cup winning squad
Paralympic Games 2012.”
“The 4-1 win was a great end to our tournament though, which saw us only lose one game and score 13 goals whilst conceding five in the five games.
The first weekend back in the country after the Championships saw David lead Worcester Blind Football Club to victory in the Brian Aarons Cup, held at the RNC in Hereford.
“A bronze medal is a good foundation, which we hope to build on as the team now becomes Team GB for the
The team was made up of many of the same University of Worcester players as the England side, plus University
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The University’s PGDip/MSc in Nutritional Therapy is only the third postgraduate course to be accredited by the Nutritional Therapy Council (NTC) against the National Occupational Standard (NOS) in Nutritional Therapy. The Accreditation recognises the high standard of the course in delivering the core curriculum for professional nutritional therapy practice. Graduates of NTC-accredited courses are eligible for immediate registration with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), which is recognised by the Department of Health for regulation of complementary healthcare professionals. Dr Jan Quallington, Associate Head in the University’s Institute of Health & Society, said: “We are delighted that the course has received full accreditation from
“The win for Worcester was a superb triumph,” David said. “We are now not only top of the English league but also the FA Cup holders. It’s a tremendous achievement for the team.”
Welsh fieldwork presented in Canadian prairies
Nutritional Therapy course gains full accreditation postgraduate course at the University of Worcester has received full accreditation from an independent body.
staff member Will Norman, who had to miss the European Championships due to the birth of his first son.
the Nutritional Therapy Council. It gives independent validation to the quality of the course and means that graduates are eligible to register to work as independent therapists on successful completion of the course. ”Nutritional Therapy is an emerging health discipline but is attracting increasing public interest. Students on the programme gain assessment and diagnostic skills and have an opportunity to work under supervision, with real clients, in a university nutritional therapy clinic to provide nutritional advice and therapy.” The National Occupational Standards are developed and updated by Skills for Health, www.skillsforhealth.org.uk which is the Sector Skills Council for the healthcare sector, licensed by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.
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rofessor Nick Evans, Dr David Storey and Clare Perkins travelled to the Canadian prairies in July to participate in the 7th Quadrennial Conference of British, American and Canadian Rural Geographers, hosted by Brandon University.
The conference brought together 35 of the leading rural geographers from Canada, United Kingdom, United States and Australia to discuss important dimensions of contemporary rural change and development. The event began and ended in Winnipeg and took in a range of venues in rural Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Nick presented a paper outlining his current research on the redevelopment of horticulture in the Vale of Evesham. David’s paper examined the nature and extent of Eastern European migration into rural Britain with particular reference to Herefordshire. Clare presented some insights from her on-going PhD research into farmers’ responses to technological changes in agriculture, drawing from her ethnographic fieldwork in Wales.
NEWS
‘Man box’ activist to headline domestic abuse event
Worcester student receives award from House of Lords
One of America’s leading lights in the social justice arena will be the keynote speaker at a special event later in the year.
Neelam Rose, 19, was nominated for the Youth Achievement Award by the UPF as a young person who is working towards creating a better social change on an international level.
Tony Porter, the visionary and cofounder of an organisation called A Call to Men – which addresses domestic and sexual violence prevention and the promotion of healthy manhood – will speak at the first ever UK Call to Men conference at the University of Worcester. The event – which is being organised by a self help group of women survivors of domestic abuse, called SupportWorks – will be held on Friday 25 November. The date marks the start of an international campaign that aims to end violence against women; entitled “The 16 Days of Action”, the campaign will be launched globally on Friday 25 November and will run until Friday 10 December. The event is being supported by the Worcestershire Forum Against Domestic Abuse; the conference organisers have also teamed up with the Worcester News as media partner. An engaging and sought after lecturer and a gifted public speaker, Tony’s message of accountability is welcomed and supported by many grassroots and established organisations throughout the United States; currently Tony is working with numerous domestic and sexual violence programmes, the US National Football League and the US National Basketball Association, as well as colleges and universities around the country. He has also worked with the US Military Academy and the US Naval Academy. For further information please contact central.info@ supportworks.info
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University of Worcester student has received an award from the House of Lords for her achievements working with organisations such as the United Nations (UN) and the Universal Peace Federation (UPF).
Neelam, who is currently starting her second year of her degree in Youth and Community Services, was nominated after she spent four days at the UN conferences in Vienna where she spoke to world leaders about her beliefs that communities should work together to create a better place. The second-year student, who is also Diversity Officer at the Students’ Union, was able to speak in Vienna due to being awarded a scholarship from the university which covered half of her costs. “It was amazing to have the support of the university. Not many universities provide scholarships for this kind of thing, so I was so grateful and proud that I could represent the university.”
talks about subjects she is passionate about such as human rights, domestic abuse and terrorism to name a few.
Neelam Rose
“I believe that it’s important to learn and that life is a learning process. I think politics needs a younger perspective on important issues and I have the commitment it requires.” Neelam has been nominated for and won many other awards, such as winning Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham Award for being an exceptional role model for younger girls. Her Youth Achievement Award, which she collected from the House of Lords, has given her inspiration to carry on her work. “I didn’t know I was nominated and when I found out I had won I felt so humble. It was also really nice to meet other young people who are doing the same thing as me and that we’re all working together towards making the world a better place.”
Neelam is often asked to speak at conferences and events internationally where she
River dynamics Volunteers with the Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) were given valuable river knowledge from a lecturer at the University of Worcester. Physical Geography lecturer Dr Tory Milner gave a presentation to members of the inshore rescue and land search organisation linking knowledge of river hydraulics to white water safety and rescue. She was invited to speak to the group, at their Tewkesbury station, by SARA member and Training Manager Tim Hoskins, who is also a student at the University of Worcester, studying Geography and Ecology.
Representatives from all four SARA stations as well as Fire and Rescue crews were invited. She said: “The feedback Tim received from them has been overwhelming. The crews received the lecture with enthusiasm and there have been numerous requests for a repeat.” Tim added: “As Training Manager, it’s good to know that we can offer exciting, challenging training opportunities to our crews that exceed their expectations and make them better at their valuable rescue work.”
Dr Milner specialises in river science, which is reflected in her teaching and research activities. The SARA team already has knowledge of water from a rescue perspective, and Dr Milner was able to add to this by helping members understand the features and dynamics of rivers.
newsandviews@worc.ac.uk / NOVEMBER 2011 / 7
NEWS
University to host World Congress of Performance Analysis of Sport IX ahead of 2012 Olympics A prestigious international sports conference will be taking place at the University of Worcester next year ahead of the London Olympics. The ninth World Congress of Performance Analysis of Sport will feature world leading keynote speakers from the world of performance analysis.
and six hours of formal poster presentation sessions to disseminate learning from cutting edge science and research covering all aspects of the analysis of sport and performance.
It takes place from July 25-28, immediately preceding the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
“We are delighted to be hosting this prestigious Congress at the University of Worcester just before the Olympics, when many of our delegates will then get the chance to stay on in Worcester as a base from where to commute to see the world’s top athletes competing.
University of Worcester’s Professor of Sport, Health & Exercise Science, Derek Peters, who is the Congress Local Organising Committee Chair, said: “There will be more than 120 oral presentations of original world class research
Congress to date and that it will provide a vibrant, innovative and world class scientific programme.” For more information about the Congress visit the website www.worcester.ac.uk/ wcpas9 or follow updates on Twitter at @ wcpas9. Sponsors (local, regional and national) are currently being sought for the Congress. Anyone interested should contact Professor Peters at d.peters@worc.ac.uk
“We hope that Worcester will be the largest
Creative writing helps children to engage, according to research
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harles Dickens opens his novel Hard Times with headteacher Mr Gradgrind demanding facts not fancy from his pupils. But it is the ‘fancy’ that allows children to engage more in the classroom, according to research at the University of Worcester. Dr Robyn Cox and Julie MacLusky visited schools that were trying out some of the creative writing exercises from their new book, Teaching Creative Writing in the Primary School: Delight, Entice, Inspire. They found that the exercises enabled schoolchildren to feel that they had more freedom in their writing and that this led to greater engagement and concentration. The researchers noted that at times pupils demonstrated a rarely achieved 100% engagement in the writing lesson. Julie MacLusky, Senior Lecturer in Creative and Professional Writing and Course Leader in English Language at the University, said: “It was shocking to hear some 11-year-olds
saying they had never written a story before. “The National Literacy Strategy, together with a largely outcomes-based curriculum model in UK primary schools, has resulted in some schools teaching writing lessons which are mechanistic. “The exercises in the book allow them to be much more creative and free. With a focus on meaning and story structure rather than grammatical elements like conjunctives or connectives, children are able to engage the reader through emotional responses.” The book aims to support and develop writing skills in primary schools by giving teachers ideas to inject creativity in their lessons whilst motivating their pupils to be more creative. “The future of the country is in creative industries and it’s something that has been neglected by past governments,” Julie MacLusky said. “However, we think we have the solution. We believe our exercises will
8 / NOVEMBER 2011 / newsandviews@worc.ac.uk
enable teachers to both bring creativity back into the writing classroom and engage those hard to reach pupils.” The book also features writing exercises and templates that can be used by students to progress and develop their own skills and offers tips on how to write characters and plots, and how to conduct research for fiction successfully. The book, published by the Open University, is now available.
NEWS
Insight into life behind a lab coat Pupils from a Redditch school spent the day making DNA smoothies and carrying out DNA tests as part of a biology discover day at the University of Worcester. The University’s Institute of Science & the Environment hosted the event to give schoolchildren an insight into life behind a lab coat. Eleven students, from Trinity High School in Redditch, spent the day in the University’s Darwin lab with Dr Lee Byrne, Dr Mike Wheeler and Mark Cook. The students were given an overview by Dr Byrne of what it is like to study Biology at Worcester, the kinds of research that members of staff were involved in and crucially the kind of jobs that a degree in Biology might enable them to consider in the future. The students then had an intensive practical session including making an ‘alcoholic banana DNA smoothie’; making an agarose gel and running DNA to figure out a forensic ‘whodunnit’ and identifying human white blood cells by microscopy.
Trinity High teacher, Carnea Woods, said that the students had a “fantastic day” and Head of Sixth Form, Jeremy Petit, said he knew “that next term, when in year 13, many of these students will put University of Worcester down as one of their choices.” Dr Byrne added: “It was a great day and we hope to put on many more ‘Discover Biology at Worcester’ sessions. Many thanks also to Biology undergraduate Dragana Catici, Dr Karen Blackmore from the Institute of Education, and Mike’s lab assistant, Susan Harding, for their help and showing such great enthusiasm with the students.”
very Discodays
Any schools interested in taking part in Discovery Days at the University of Worcester should contact the Schools and Colleges Liaison Service at d.crawford@worc.ac.uk or call 01905 855393.
Dr Byrne said: “The session was a great success. The students were really eager and enthusiastic and it was a great pleasure to spend half a day with them. The feedback from Trinity High was excellent.”
Discoveryy da s
a Dram
Biology e Discover, engage, inspir
, inspire
ge er, enga Discov
Chapter explores changing nature of libraries
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udith Elkin, Professor Emeritus of Children’s Literature, has written about the changing nature of libraries and the impact on children. In a chapter published in Libraries and Society: Role Responsibility and Future in an Age of Change, Professor Elkin, a recognised authority on libraries for children and young people, looks at how ‘libraries might cater for the many and varied needs of the child.’ Professor Elkin, places libraries at the heart of education, explaining that they play a vital role in developing early literacy and allowing children to develop in a friendly environment, ‘regardless of age, gender, race, wealth, physical or intellectual ability or geographical location.’
imaginative model for library users. Indeed, no-one could have failed to notice the shiny new ‘super’ library that is currently under construction. Due to open in July 2012, the building is Europe’s first fully integrated public and university library, housing a quarter of a million books, journals, DVDs and music collections. Professor Elkin regards Worcester’s new library as a ‘symbol of shared learning, culture and information that contributes uniquely to the regeneration of Worcester.’ She dismisses the idea that the new library could be considered elitist given its focus on ‘accessibility, transparency, flexibility, community, regeneration and partnership’. Younger users in particular will benefit from the expertise of specialist librarians as well as activities that aim to develop reader’s abilities. Children will also have different spaces for both quiet work and noisier, creative activities.
The question facing libraries now is how they will continue to provide a valuable service, whilst responding to a rapidly changing world in which the future of the written word is becomingly increasingly uncertain. But as Professor Elkin asserts, libraries are responding well, expanding their services to incorporate multimedia, audiovisual and computer technology. Professor Elkin cites the soon-to-be-unveiled Worcester Library and History Centre, known as The Hive, as an innovative and
Impression of how children will use The Hive
newsandviews@worc.ac.uk / NOVEMBER 2011 / 9
NEWS
University of Worcester Research Collections invite you to attend
Howard at the helm New face at the McClelland Centre
The Catalogue of Dreams: KAYS’ MAIL ORDER CATALOGUES & THE DEVELOPMENT OF C20TH ASPIRATIONAL LIVING DATE: Tuesday 15 November 2011 TIME: 9.30am-4.30pm VENUE: Charles Hastings building, City Campus, University of Worcester Attendance is FREE. Lunch will be provided. Established in 1890, Kay & Co Ltd of Worcester became one of the largest mail-order companies of the 20th Century, selling everything from clothes to carpets, cheerful homewares to live chickens. Offering interest-free cash credit, Kay & Co Ltd made both fashionable and functional living available to consumers outside the metropolis. This day-long conference explores how the imagery and text of the Kays catalogues, 1920-2000, offer a prism through which to view the developing tropes of aspirational living and body image presented to consumers during the 20th Century. Now deposited in the University of Worcester Research Collections, over 1500 images from the catalogues have been digitised as part of a JISC-funded project: www.worldofkays.org
SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Clare Weston, Curator of Domestic & Cultural Life, Black Country Living Museum ‘Stepping out of the Page: Using Kay’s Catalogues to re-create a 3-D historical setting’
From the University of Worcester: Dr Maggie Andrews, Associate Head, Institute of Humanities & Creative Arts ‘Shopping for Identity: Fantasies of Domesticity in post-war Kay’s Catalogues’ Kate Flynn, Graduate Research Student, International Forum for Research in Children’s Literature ‘Playing Paper People: Catalogues and the Imagination in Jacqueline Wilson’s Waiting for the Sky to Fall (1983) and Eileen Fairweather’s French Letters (1987)’ Dr Barbara Mitra, Senior Lecturer in Media & Cultural Studies, and Dr Mehreen Mirza, Senior Lecturer in Sociology ‘Gendered images, gendered ideology. An exploration of gender in the images of Kays Catalogue from 1920-1990’ Jenni Waugh, World of Kays Project Manager, Research Collections ‘Linking catalogues and communities: putting the World of Kays online’ Further details and booking forms are available from www.worldofkays. org/website/conference Please note that availability is limited. If you do book a place and are then unable to attend, please let us know. Delegates who book a place and then do not attend shall be charged £50.
© all images belong to Kays Heritage Group
Funded by JISC e-content programme 2011 10 / NOVEMBER 2011 / newsandviews@worc.ac.uk
Howard Skerry
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full time manager has been appointed at the University of Worcester’s McClelland Centre for Health and Wellbeing. Howard Skerry was previously Head of Business Development at the University and has been asked to take on the new role of manager of the Centre in order to provide a commercial focus. Situated in the newly restored former Worcester Royal Infirmary building, the McClelland Centre offers a host of personal health and wellbeing services to students, staff and members of the public. It also provides an environment where students studying for professional qualifications can get the hands-on practice and experience that they need to develop their skills. There are a number of student-run clinics provided by Sports Therapy, Nutritional Therapy and Counselling students, as well as cardiac rehab classes running for patients who have suffered heart attacks, and an Alzheimer’s Society session offering support to families. Howard said: “I have two main challenges. The first is to enable the McClelland Centre to realise its full potential, by providing a unique combination of services to students, staff, external organisations, as well as the general public. “The second is a more personal challenge; to develop my own personal fitness.” The McClelland Centre offers Health MOTs to help people find out their areas of strength and which areas they need to work on, in order to maintain and build their health and wellbeing. To find out more about services at the McClelland Centre visit the website www.worcester.ac.uk, email wellbeing@ worc.ac.uk or call 01905 542001
NEWS
STEM support for schools
to continue after University secures new contract Schools across Herefordshire and Worcestershire will benefit from another four years of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) support.
Open Events The final two Open Events of 2011 are taking place in November. They take place on:
The University of Worcester has held the STEMNET contract for the past three years, providing free help and encouragement for schools, including access to STEM Ambassadors. During that time it has helped six teams to reach the finals of the national STEM Challenge competition, including Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College in Worcester, which recently won Challenge 6. The University’s STEMNET contract has been renewed for another four years, further cementing the University’s commitment to helping schools succeed in this area. The STEM subjects are at the centre of the University’s current programme development with many innovative opportunities now available for people looking to train as teachers in STEM-based subjects, to improve the depth of their subject knowledge as current teachers or to promote the STEM subjects and careers in STEM with children and young people in schools as STEM Ambassadors. Vacancies are currently available for flexible Physics, Maths and Design & Technology PGCEs, starting in January. In addition, a new subject knowledge enhancement pilot programme for serving teachers and returning teachers looking to teach Physics, Chemistry or Maths is currently actively recruiting. There are no fees payable for these subject knowledge enhancement courses. STEMNET works primarily with schools and colleges, helping young people and their teachers access a range of STEM Enhancement & Enrichment (E&E) opportunities including STEM Clubs and links with STEM Ambassadors. “The emphasis of STEMNET’s work is on helping schools communicate to young people the importance of the STEM subjects for their future lives, whether that is in a STEM related career, or just as savvy consumers of services and commodities,” said Linda Scott, STEM Support Manager at the University of Worcester. “As the STEMNET Support Centre for Herefordshire and Worcestershire we provide teachers with free assistance in identifying what STEM activities can most benefit them and their students.” “We are always looking for more people to join the STEM Ambassador programme,” Linda added. “The minimum requirement is one contact with a school in a year, which fits well into companies’ corporate responsibility portfolios or can be linked to existing community commitments such as offering work experience placements to local schools.”
Wednesday 16 Nov, 1-5pm Sunday 20 Nov, 10am-3pm For further details call the Events Team on 01905 542276
Thank you for supporting Open Events.
Summon From 1 November, Library users are able to search across approximately 97% of library resources in one search, using…
Summon Using the latest harvesting and search technology, Summon provides a single search for 97% of the library’s resources, delivering a Google-style experience which ranks the results in order of relevance and availability. Summon is an extremely powerful tool which will bring all of our resources direct to your desktop, from books and journal articles, to podcasts, conference proceedings, newspaper articles and much more. Try it here: http://summon.worc.ac.uk/ Or for further information: http://www.worcester.ac.uk/ils/summon.htm Or email askalibrarian@worc.ac.uk
newsandviews@worc.ac.uk / NOVEMBER 2011 / 11
NEWS
Journalism students interview leader D uck-houses, Disraeli and the conservation of biodiversity were among the discussion topics covered during a university visit by Worcestershire County Council Leader Adrian Hardman.
Mike Parker
60th Lovatt Lecture in Geography Worcestershire: an England in miniature?
Cllr Adrian Hardman
Councillor Hardman fielded questions from University of Worcester Journalism students about his civic role and social policies for a profile-writing assignment on a second year Reporting Politics module.
by Mike Parker Thursday 24 November 6pm Urwin Lecture Theatre Mike is the author of The bestselling Map Addict, described by The Daily Telegraph as an “excellent book on the pleasures of maps and navigation … a withering attack on the infantilisation of the satnav age”. His follow-up book, The Wild Rover, is a passionate celebration of our rights of way network, and an examination of its chequered history. Veteran author Jan Morris describes it as “a wonderfully exhilarating literary excursion on and off a hundred beaten tracks”. Mike grew up in Kidderminster but has written and presented numerous TV programmes on his adopted home territory of Wales including the phenomenally popular Great Welsh Roads. He also wrote the cult book Neighbours From Hell?, a passionate polemic about the history of English attitudes to their nearest neighbours. He has written and cowritten ten guide books, including five editions of the Rough Guide to Wales, and he occasionally performs as an actor and stand-up comedian.
The session gave students the chance to find out how the Council will deliver proposals to make regional savings of £69m over four years in the face of the Government’s public spending squeeze. Having represented Bredon since March 2001, Councillor Hardman said being involved in local politics was about community support. “County councils have come to serve communities not political parties,” he added. Media lecturer Christine Challand said the visit had been a valuable research and interview experience for the class. “Interviewing a seasoned politician can prove daunting for even the most experienced reporter,” she said. “But the students did their homework in typical Paxman style and kept the questions coming. They covered everything from MPs expenses to the eviction of travellers from Dale Farm.”
Pavement pounding: pounds raising Some 20 plus runners and walkers from the University of Worcester and Worcester Snoezelen took to the streets of Birmingham on Sunday 23 October to take part in the BUPA Great Birmingham half marathon. Each member of team ‘Uni-Snoezer’ covered the 13.1 miles raising vital funds for the Snoezelen Centre - the University of Worcester’s Charity of the Year. For many members this was their first half marathon and the furthest distance ever covered in a pair of trainers. The race may well have been won by Olympic gold medallist and former marathon world record holder, Haille Gebresaillse, but this didn’t stop many members running their own personal victories. It’s fair to say that every one involved found the last two miles incredibly tough, with no one realising Birmingham was such a hilly city! So far £4,200 has been raised. When the half marathon was first mentioned some six months ago, it was hoped a target of £1,000 could be reached. Having smashed the original
12 / NOVEMBER 2011 / newsandviews@worc.ac.uk
Some members of the Uni-Snoezers running team
target the team are now hoping the half marathon effort will raise £4,500. It costs £50,000 a year to keep Worcester Snoezelen open. For anyone still wishing to donate visit: www.justgiving.com/uni-snoezers
NEWS
Research Seminar Programme All staff and students are welcome to attend Date
8 Nov 9 Nov 11 Nov
23 Nov
23 Nov
24 Nov
28 Nov
30 Nov
6 Dec 7 Dec 8 Dec
Time
Presenter*
Title
Venue
Institute
EE 1026
ISE
CH 1003
WBS
WB 137
IHCA
CH 1003
WBS
BY 1151
IoE
EE G087
ISE
Supporting those with visible differences: Face IT an online psychosocial intervention
EE 1102
IHS
Health and children’s literature
WB 137
IHCA
EE 1026
ISE
EE 1061
ISES
EE 1026
ISE
Trekbokke! Conservation of the heritage of the jumping goat of the Cape of Good Hope - a Karoo tale Assessment of innovation: the 12.15pm Klaus Oestreicher geometries of strategy The vampire as fairy, True Blood as 5pm Dr Mikel Koven fairy-tale Joint ventures, working with competitors and circumventing 12.15pm Dr Julie Bower merger policy: how UK spirits went global David Allen (David Resistance to cultural change 6.15pm Allen Consulting (inter-professional context in Limited) children’s services) The 60th Lovatt Lecture in Geography: Mike Parker (writer and 6pm Worcestershire: an England in broadcaster) miniature? 1.15pm
Philip Kiberd
Alyson Bessell 12.30pm (University of Plymouth) Dr Alysa Levine (Oxford Brookes 5pm University) & Prof. Jean Webb Dr Darren Smith 1.15pm (Loughborough University) 9am – 1pm 1.15pm
Dr John Dutton
* University of Worcester, unless otherwise stated IHS = Institute of Health & Society ISE = Institute of Science & the Environment ISES = Institute of Sport & Exercise Science
The diverse geographies of studentification: segregation or social-mixing? ISES Staff: Student Research Summit An evaluation of Cotswold dry stone walls as a small mammal habitat
IHCA = Institute of Humanities & Creative Arts IoE = Institute of Education WBS = Business School
newsandviews@worc.ac.uk / NOVEMBER 2011 / 13
NEWS
Talented illustrator making waves in the world of children’s books A talented student at the University of Worcester is making a name for herself in the world of illustration. work illustrating Robert Arley’s book Big Big Secret, for Worcester-based publisher, SevernPix. Until starting at the University of Worcester, Marisa, of Warndon Villages, Worcester, did not realise that her love of drawing and illustration could turn into a career.
Just a year after being commissioned to illustrate her first book, Marisa Lewis has now had her work published in a second book and also in promotional material for an operatic show. The 21-year-old, who studied for a BA in Illustration at the University of Worcester and is now studying for her Masters in Creative Digital Media, was commissioned to illustrate The Leopard Boy, written by Julia Johnson, and published by Frances Lincoln Publishers. She is also the illustrator of advertising posters and leaflets for Worcester Gilbert & Sullivan Operatic Society’s show, Princess Ida. The commissions came following Marisa’s
“I dabbled in illustration at home, but didn’t ever think I could do it professionally,” she says. “However, I managed to use my credits gained from doing web design courses with the Open University to secure an interview at the University of Worcester, and the rest is history.” Thanks to her tutor Piet Grobler, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader in Illustration at the University of Worcester, who put her in touch with his publishers, Marisa was able to undertake the work as part of her final-year Independent Study, and hasn’t looked back since. “It was great,” she said. “It took several months to complete the work, starting with the cover and working my way through the other illustrations. I tended to have more than one illustration ‘on the go’ at the same time. It was an excellent opportunity.”
Nairobi visit
The University’s ongoing relationship with nurses in Nairobi is going from strength to strength. In 2010 two members of staff from the University’s Institute of Health & Society, Judith Davies and Ruth Pearce, visited Nairobi Hospital. The purpose of the visit was to sign a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ to explore the development of Continuing Professional Development for qualified nurses in Nairobi Hospital. In June this year, 8 qualified nurses visited University of Worcester, Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust and Herefordshire Acute NHS Trust to explore nursing practice. Following the report from that visit Rose Omutanyi, Principal of the Cicely McDonnell School of Nursing at Nairobi Hospital, and Janet Mathiu, Director of Nursing Nairobi Hospital, visited the University of Worcester in October to identify educational and research opportunities and to develop an action plan for future development, including both staff and student exchanges. Speaking about the partnership, Valerie Gorton from the Institute of Health & Society said: “We see a bright future ahead for developments with Kenya at this time and in the future.”
14 / NOVEMBER 2011 / newsandviews@worc.ac.uk
Volunteers head to the hills
A
lecturer at the University of Worcester is helping to create an emotive survey of Malvern, finding out how local people react to and think about the town centre and its facilities.
Using award-winning new research methods, Andy Stevenson is helping Malvern Hills District Council (MHDC) to map its new Route to the Hills. The Emotisurvey | Malvern project builds on previous research projects undertaken by the University of Worcester in central Worcester with the City Council’s Landscape Architect and Town Planning teams. As part of the methods used it kits volunteers out with the latest digital video camera, sound recording equipment and geographical positioning system (GPS) and then asks them to walk a set route at the same time voicing their thoughts about the areas they are walking through. The research phase is being carried out over the next few weeks with volunteers from a range of different groups including people with disabilities, young people and walkers. Andy Stevenson, Senior Lecturer in Design at the University of Worcester, will then help to analyse the findings and present an online interactive resource to the Route to the Hills Board. The findings will be used to help the project to address local issues and improve the public realm. He said: “It’s been great meeting all the different people involved and there’s already been some fascinating comments made about Malvern, its history, architecture, public realm and accessibility for visitors and residents with disabilities.” MHDC is one of six partner organisations on the Route to the Hills. The others are Malvern Civic Society, Malvern Town Council, High Street Malvern, Great Malvern Priory Parochial Church Council and Malvern Hills Conservators. To find out more about the Emotisurvey visit the Route to the Hills page on the council’s web page www.malvernhills.gov.uk/routetothehills
NEWS
October spooktacular!
T
he University Community Development Workers (UCDW) team recently welcomed three new members, Emily Gumbrell, John Monks and Jeannie Warmington, who join the existing UCDW Siobhan Perry. The UCDWs are here primarily to foster a community spirit within the student body and to help students settle in and adapt to university life.
We run campaigns and events throughout the year to highlight issues relevant to students, for instance sexual health, personal safety and bullying. We display information for students on posters and tabletops throughout the university; and also hand out leaflets so that students can access the information at a later date. Halloween is often a major party for students and the UCDWs wanted to offer some alternative events to inspire the more creative students. We held a pumpkin carving competition and received some brilliant entries. On the evening of the 27 October, the UCDWs ran a Zombie Survival Night in conjunction with the Spotlight Theatre Group. The event was really well received and over thirty students attended to battle against the zombie hoards. The UCDWs used the event to get to know some of the students who live in halls of residence on both the St. John’s and City campuses. We also highlighted safety issues such as keeping yourself safe at night. The event encouraged students to work together in order to survive the night and win the game and also gave them the chance to meet other like-minded people. It was a successful night with everybody getting into the spirit of Halloween and enjoying the event. The UCDWs will continue to run similar events and hold campaigns and awareness days throughout the year in order to promote a community spirit and support throughout the university. We publish a newsletter ‘The Worcester Source’ every month to publicise these events and to ensure students feel part of the wider university community. If you would like to know more about the UCDW team and events, please contact us at ucdw@worc.ac.uk or visit us in Woodbury 73. We can also be found on Facebook and Twitter and ‘The Worcester Source’ is published online at ISSUU.
Mature student nominated for national award in recognition of voluntary work with deaf young people Rosemary Morgan has been working as a volunteer with Gloucestershire Deaf Association for the past 13 years and now runs its fortnightly youth club. She has also been a trustee for more than 10 years. Rosemary, who is currently studying for her Primary PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) with the hope of teaching deaf children, is in the running for the Community Spirit Award from Signature, the national body for deaf and hearing impaired people. “I’m really humbled to be nominated for this award,” she said. “I love the work I do with Gloucestershire Deaf Association. Working with young deaf people is a dream and they are so magnificent to be around.” Rosemary, who lives in the Forest of Dean, began volunteering after learning to sign. “I come from a family that is heavily involved in volunteering,” said the former civil servant. “I first learnt a bit of sign language when I was seven years old. “When I left school I wanted to teach blind children, but it wasn’t really an option due to lack of qualifications in those days. When I began to get more into the sign language and the volunteering, I became more passionate about working with deaf children.” For several years Rosemary has given one to one support to individual deaf children at school, fighting tirelessly on their behalf. Rosemary was nominated for the award by the Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Deaf Association and will find out if she has been successful on Friday 18 November.
Racing through a staff-student support tutorial Final year Sport & Exercise Science undergraduate Marc Scriven and Senior Lecturer Dr Paul Castle submitted a late entry to the ‘Mass Attack’ duathlon at the Thruxton racing circuit in Hampshire. The event, which took place on Sunday 23 October, attracted a highly competitive field. Competitors entered either as individuals or as relay teams, so Marc and
Paul took the relay option. Still recovering from injury, Marc covered the 5km lap in a time of 00:18.59. Paul’s chain came off whilst exiting transition for the 30km cycle, but despite this, he was able to cover the 8 laps in a time of 00:49.35, before handing over to Marc for the final 5km run. Marc’s second run time of 00:16.51 enabled the duo to finish in 1:25.25, putting them
in first place among the relay teams, by almost 4 minutes on their closest rivals and 6 minutes on third place rivals. Both Marc and Paul said it was a pleasure to compete together, with the common bond fostered by the ethos that runs through the Institute of Sport & Exercise Science at the University of Worcester. They even managed a ‘productive’ tutorial on the warm-up laps!
newsandviews@worc.ac.uk / NOVEMBER 2011 / 15
STAFF FEATURE
This month we chat to Dr Barbara Mitra, Senior Lecturer in Media & Cultural Studies, who might seem an unlikely rock star.
Rock on: Appearances can be deceiving. At 4’11 Barbara Mitra may be petite, yet when given a drum kit, the beats she can play would make anyone want to head-bang along. Barbara used to be one-fifth of a punk band along with four male members who were often paid to play at gigs and support other artists. Barbara only plays at her local church nowadays and admits that the music is lighter and less noisy. “It may surprise some people when they look at me,” she says. “I’ve had a drum kit since the age of 13 and I still have one now. When people see it, they immediately ask whose it is and look straight to my husband.” Throughout her time studying at the University of Hull, Barbara was a member of several bands and enjoyed playing anything from contemporary to jazz.
She lived in India for seven months with her relatives whilst researching her PhD. Barbara has been a Media & Cultural Studies lecturer for six years and enjoys how her outlook on life enables her to teach. “I like to challenge people’s opinions,” she says. “I like to understand why they think how they do.” Barbara’s philosophical side is also evident in her social life. She is an active member of the Café Philosophique group which she attends every six weeks to discuss philosophical issues and philosophers’ beliefs. Raised in a Hindu-Catholic environment, Barbara became a Christian and married her husband, Matthew Jenkins, an atheist, in a registry office. “Many non-believers get married in church,” she says. “So I got married in a registry office … wearing my green Doc Martens.” Barbara now lives with her husband and two young sons in Worcester, where she spends her time creatively from writing poetry and playing the drums to making her own Christmas cards.
Barbara listens to a wide and varied range of music, one of her favourite artists is David Bowie and her claim to fame was being one of Radiohead’s first fans. “My friend and I were into them before they became famous,” says Barbara. “We sent Thom Yorke a letter and he replied; he said he never dreamt he would have fans.” Barbara’s talents do not end with her drum kit, however. She is also an accomplished dancer with a Grade 5 in Ballet, a hobby she started over 10 years ago. “I suppose I’m quite driven,” she says. “Even though dancing is my hobby, I also like to study it. I want to know more, I like intellectual stimulation.” To add to Barbara’s long list of hobbies, she also preaches at her local church and is a member of the Green Party. “We have electric solar panels on the roof and I try to cycle to work whenever I can,” Barbara says. Growing up in the East End of London, Barbara has noticed that it’s had a major impact on her life and attitude. “I grew up surrounded by many different people,” she says. “Being half Irish and half Indian, I am used to different cultures and I like meeting different people. I was taught to be accepting of people, whoever they are and wherever they come from.”
Top photo: Barbara on her wedding day Bottom photo: Barbara with her band
What do you get up to when you leave the Campus? Email Sally Jones with your interesting stories at s.jones@worc.ac.uk
newsandviews@worc.ac.uk / NOVEMBER 2011 / 16