In this issue:
news &views THE UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER STAFF MAGAZINE
UCAS Fair Our biggest ever UCAS event is coming soon p.8
Exciting research Lecturers investigate children’s advertisements p.5
University buys Grove Farm
March 2009
`
NEWS
WELCOME TO THE MARCH 2009 ISSUE
W
elcome to the March 2009 edition of News & Views. We’ve had a spring make-over but we’re still covering everything you need to know about what’s been happening at the University of Worcester over the last four weeks. News of the University’s purchase of Grove Farm is a fitting highlight for our first new-look issue. We will continue to follow news of this exciting acquisition over the next few months as plans for the development of the site are made. Our next edition, available on April 3, will contain news of the University’s HEFCE grant for 2009/10, as well as reports on this month’s UCAS Fair, the annual QinetiQ lecture and the inaugural lecture of the College of Fellows.
Marie scoops prestigious education award A Hereford lecturer has won a prestigious award for work completed as part of her Masters degree at the University of Worcester.
generation, nurturing and management of ideas.
Marie Stephenson has been given the Erika Lovelady Prize.
Professor Chris Robertson, Head of the Institute of Education, said: “Congratulations to Marie, who thoroughly deserves this prestigious prize. We are delighted to have fostered such groundbreaking research, and that Marie will be passing on her knowledge and insight to other students.
The prize is awarded by the International Professional Development Association (IPDA) for innovative work that shows how education can help tackle social and diversity issues.
As always, we need your news as well, so please keep us informed of anything you think is interesting or newsworthy by sending it to newsandviews@worc.ac.uk by March 27.
“It is a real honour to win this prize,” Marie said. “Erika Lovelady and her family were passionate about the promotion of equality of opportunity, and I feel that my research echoes their ethos.”
Quiz night raises hundreds for charity
Marie, aged 42, completed an MSc in Educational Management & Leadership with the University’s Institute of Education. Her final year dissertation explored teaching practices in a college where the learners were predominantly visually impaired.
T
he University’s annual charity quiz night raised £730 this year, with more than 30 teams taking part. The money has been split between Breakthrough and Orchid, two charities committed to fighting cancer. Thanks to all involved, the night was a great success. A debt of gratitude is owed to Chris Dunn, for devoting his time and efforts to organising another fantastic event. Well done to this year’s champions, the ‘Edheggs’, led by Bob Fox, who were pushed all the way to the line by Francesca Fairhurst’s ‘Ox of the Year’, who had to settle for a very close second. A team from Communication & Development won the Best Team Name award with their very appropriate ‘Snow Chance’.
“Marie’s story shows that the University of Worcester is at the forefront of education research and committed to using this research to help keep our courses some of the best in the country.”
“I was doing my Masters part-time while working as a lecturer at a specialist residential college for the visually impaired,” she said. “My research was designed to illuminate the management and leadership implications of educational innovation, with the intention of demonstrating that every educational organisation, specialist or not, can learn much by devoting resources towards the
Recycling scrap into exhibition stands AN exhibition stand designed by a University of Worcester student, and made entirely of scrap materials, is to be used to promote a local charity. Digital Arts student Amy Woodhouse won the competition to create the winning design for Worcestershire Resource Exchange (WRE), using just those components available at WRE’s scrap store in Worcester. Beth Holland, and fellow WRE staff Nikki
2 / MARCH 2009 /
“I am keen to accept new challenges, especially those that would involve me being able to pass on my new found expertise.”
newsandviews@worc.ac.uk
Goodfellow and Paul Beech, said they were amazed at the range of solutions arrived at by the students and the inventiveness of their designs. “We were really impressed with the quality of the work and the creative ideas the students had when using our resources,” said Beth. “This partnership has been a really successful one and we hope that it will continue in the future.” Beth Holland Manager, Worcestershire Resource Exchange
COVER STORY
University buys Grove Farm
T
he University of Worcester is to develop a new Business, Science, and Sport park which will create hundreds of jobs.
The University has bought 47 acres of land at Grove Farm in St John’s, where it hopes to build new enterprise, science, sport and environmental facilities. The new University Park could incorporate new research laboratories, an indoor sports complex and playing fields, plus offices and commercial premises for business use.
The University will work with a number of partners to make full use of the 27 acres of developable land on the site. Mike Ashton, Chief Executive of Hereford and Worcester Chamber of Commerce, said: “The University goes from strength to strength contributing to local businesses and the economy of Worcester and Worcestershire.”
“I’m delighted and excited by this proposal. The University is demonstrating clearly its future dedication to the City of Worcester in terms of its ambitious investment programmes that will benefit the city and its residents for decades to come. The emphasis on science, sport and business reflect the strengths of the University and are areas very much geared towards meeting the challenges of the 21st Century.”
Mike Foster Worcester MP
“This site gives Worcester a wonderful opportunity to create something very special for the 21st century.”
Over the next 10 years it is anticipated that the site will create up to 1,000 new jobs and plough millions of pounds into the regional economy. This is in addition to the 1,000-plus jobs that will be generated by the new City Campus. This site, which is just over a mile from the St John’s campus, offers excellent long term potential for development for business, sport, science and the environment.
Councillor Simon Geraghty, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Planning, Economy and Performance, said: “We are committed to making Worcester a first rank Cathedral & University City and so welcome proposals that will help turn this vision into reality. This has the potential to create high quality jobs and ensure Worcester is well positioned for the upturn when it comes.”
Professor David Green said: “We have the chance to create an excellent facility, which will create many new high quality job opportunities and a wealth of business, sporting and scientific opportunities.
Over the coming months, the University will be consulting with members of the University, local residents and others on the long term, sustainable development of this site.
“It is an exciting acquisition for the University and we look forward to working with partners to turn this land into a jobs dynamo for Worcester.”
newsandviews@worc.ac.uk
/ MARCH 2009 / 3
NEWS
Sports club’s 10th anniversary A weekend sport club run by University of Worcester students for local children, has celebrated its 10th anniversary.
play all sorts of games with them, getting them to interact with one another and with us.
The Sunday Sport club runs every other weekend, with children from five Worcester primary schools taking part in a host of activities.
“Over the past 10 years more than 60 students have volunteered with the club.”
Over the years more than 200 children have taken part in the club, which is run entirely by students who give up their time on a voluntary basis.
Bronwen dusts off 27 years of service
A
grandmother who has worked at the University of Worcester for more than 25 years has hung up her duster. Bronwen Birch, who lives off Oldbury Road, St John’s, started work as a cleaner at the University in 1982. She retired as cleaning supervisor on Friday, February 13, having led a team of 34 cleaners – most of who live near to the University.
Club chairman Lucy Matley said: “The club allows us to get some teaching and coaching experience and is really fun for the children who take part. We
During her 27 years here, 63-year-old Bronwen has seen many changes, including new buildings, three principals, growing student numbers and the achievement of University status.
THE FUTURE OF PRINT
“I am really going to miss working here,” she said. “It has been a fantastic 27 years and I have made some wonderful friends. A lot of my team have worked here for more than 20 years, which says a lot I think.
P
rinting at the University of Worcester took a huge leap forward last September with the purchase of a Konica Minolta 6500e colour printing system.
Print Department employees have also received training on a system that will significantly enhance the department’s capabilities.
The digital, networked system can turn out 65 pages per minute of full colour copy on a variety of media.
“Demand is growing on campus for high quality printing with a faster turnaround,” said Print Manager Sue Scott. “This is one of the best printing systems on the market, and is the best colour quality money can buy, with photos being remarkably vivid. We see the investment in digital colour printing to be a step forward in technology and an asset that will save money for the University with previous outsourcing costs.”
Students contest Head of the River ON Saturday 21st February, members of the University of Worcester Rowing Club raced on home water at the annual Worcester Head of the River, run by the City Rowing Club.
substitution and raced up one status at Women’s Senior 4 Eights, this crew won at this status with a commanding row, with a time very similar to that of first crew.
“Three of our crews were entered in the event, and good performances prevailed, with a second place, a third place and a win,” said Team Captain Peter KerswellJensen. “The Women’s Novice Eight rowed in the first division and had a good row but were not quite fast enough to beat the stronger Birmingham University crew.
“The second boat, Men’s Novice Coxed Four competed in their first race in a very proficient manner, finishing third behind two more experienced crews.” Peter also competed, taking a win with the Worcester Rowing Club Men’s Senior 1 Eight, strengthening the link between the University and City Clubs.
“The second division in the afternoon had two University crews out in force. The Women’s Novice Eight made one
4 / MARCH 2009 /
newsandviews@worc.ac.uk
“It’s the end of an era for me,” she said. “It will be strange not to be coming here every day any more.” Mark Hughes, Director of Physical Resources, said: “Bronwen has been a real asset to the University over the past 27 years and will be sorely missed. She has great energy and a fantastic sense of humour. “We wish her all the best in her retirement and would like to thank her for all of her hard work.”
FEATURE
Research puts
children’s television ads
under the spotlight “Television commercials are full of stereotypes which may feed into children’s subconsciouses.”
T
elevision commercials are giving children a distorted view on modern gender roles, according to research carried out at the University of Worcester.
Research undertaken by senior lecturers Dr Barbara Mitra and Jenny Lewin-Jones reveals how adverts aimed at children are continuing to stereotype boys and girls, in the same way they did 30 years ago.
Dr Barbara Mitra Senior Lecturer, Media & Cultural Studies “It was interesting to compare adverts from today
with those of 30 years ago and to see there is little change in the ideologies,” Dr Mitra said. “Commercials classified as male tend to show actors engaged in more physically active behaviour, with a greater element of aggressive behaviour. In contrast, commercials aimed at females tend to show domestic settings and more passive behaviour.” They say this stereotyping is giving children mixed messages on gender roles, as the rest of society aims to teach them about equality. “Children’s literature and schools are very careful not to give stereotypical views of women in the kitchen,” Dr Mitra said. “However, television commercials are full of stereotypes which may feed into children’s subconscious.”
Nursing students celebrate success
N
ursing students have been celebrating after successfully completing their course.
A total of 66 nurses qualified in February. They will now go on to work in the local community in a range of different settings, from Accident and Emergency to patients’ homes. Robert Dudley, Head of Pre-Registration Nursing, said: “The standard of nurses we are training is incredibly high.
As part of their research, Dr Mitra, senior lecturer in Media and Cultural Studies, and Ms Lewin-Jones, senior lecturer in English Language and Modern Foreign Languages, interviewed a number of children, aged between four and 11 years. They also spoke to parents. Ms Lewin-Jones said: “When speaking to parents it was interesting to hear that many had tried to counter this gender stereotyping in their choice of toys or what they told their children. However, the impact of the commercials seemed to override this.” The research found that children from as young as four years old are able to identify which adverts were aimed at boys and which were aimed at girls and were forming opinions about each gender’s role. One child said: “I think boys like building things… boys don’t tend to like babies and younger things… girls like playing with dolls most of the time.” Dr Mitra and Ms Lewin-Jones’ research, titled Gender Roles in Television Commercials and Primary School Children in the UK, has been published in the Journal of Children and Media.
“Our graduates are particularly sought-after – last year, for example, 94% of our graduates went straight into health and social care related jobs. Many choose to stay in the area, taking advantage of our strong links with the NHS and other health care organisations.” The latest figures from UCAS reveal that nursing has now entered the top-five subject choice for university applicants.
newsandviews@worc.ac.uk
/ MARCH 2009 / 5
NEWS
Boxing clever with pilot scheme
HUNDREDS TAKE PART IN WELLBEING EVENT HUNDREDS of people received information and advice on a host of issues at the University’s first Wellbeing Event recently.
Fresh produce provided by Top Barn Harvest Shop, at Holt Heath, have been sold at the University as part of a new pilot scheme.
“We are delighted that Top Barn has agreed to this pilot and we hope it will become a permanent partnership.”
Katy Boom, Head of Sustainability and Development at the University, said: “We are committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle and we are keen to ensure both staff and students have access to high quality, fresh, local produce. At the same time we are supporting a local business.
In future, recipe cards will be inserted into the boxes, created by University nutrition expert Justine Bold and MSc student Lena Almumaiz, giving ideas on how to create a healthy meal.
During the three-day event, staff and students got help to quit smoking, get fit, eat more healthily and received advice on sexual health, as well as information on the University’s Cycle2Work scheme. Gill Slater, Director of Personnel, said: “It was a really successful event, with several hundred students and staff members taking part. The health and wellbeing of our students and staff is a high priority for the University and we are already now planning a bigger event for next year.”
Lecturer heads for Dubai A
former special educational needs teacher, who now lectures at the University of Worcester, is to undertake a research project in the United Arab Emirates.
think this will be an invaluable experience, not only for me but for the work we do here at the University of Worcester in preparing teachers to work with SEN children.”
Rachel Barrell, a senior lecturer in primary education, will visit Dubai later this year to look at the country’s approaches to special educational needs (SEN) training for trainee teachers.
“Professor Chris Robertson, Head of the Institute of Education, said: “Rachel will be working alongside a noted Dubai educationalist, sharing the good practice we have developed at the University of Worcester.
She will then compare her findings with the ongoing work at the University in this field, which is benefiting children and parents across Worcestershire. Rachel, who taught at the former Thornton House Special School in Worcester, as well as at a number of mainstream schools in Worcestershire for 14 years before taking up her post at the University, has won a travel scholarship from UCET (Universities Council for the Education of Teachers) to make the trip. “I’m really excited that this has been awarded to me this year,” Rachel said. “I
6 / MARCH 2009 /
“They will work together to create a comparative study to help educationalists in both countries learn what works best. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to learn from one another and see how we can take this project forward.” “Being imaginative, innovative and thoroughly up-to-date with the best research is essential and Rachel’s work and initiative is an excellent example of the good practice at the University” Professor David Green Vice Chancellor
newsandviews@worc.ac.uk
Boxes of fresh vegetables were on sale in the University’s dining room and at the Students’ Union, for £3.
NEWS
Catriona
UNIVERSITY SHARES RURAL RESEARCH
puts her best foot forward TWO education lecturers have joined forces to raise money for a little-known charity. Catriona Robinson is to run the Reading Half Marathon this month in aid of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS), which has helped to support her colleague Moira Savage. Moira was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 12 years ago, but three years ago her condition began to deteriorate and she could no longer work. “I spent about a year in and out of hospital,” she said. “I was very poorly.” NRAS has been a key campaigner in getting the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) to rethink its policy on restricting access to the drugs.
“The drugs cost about £10,000 a year which I think is excellent value for money considering it has given me my life back,” Moira said. Catriona is currently in training, although she has run the London Marathon and two half marathons before. Meanwhile, Moira is busy rattling her donation tins and encouraging people to give generously. To sponsor Catriona visit the website www.justgiving.com/catrionarobinson “The University has been fantastic in supporting me back in to work. It’s so wonderful to have my life back.” Moira Savage Senior Lecturer, Institute of Education
WITH KEY GOVERNMENT BODY
T
he chief executive of a key Government body has been learning about some of the University’s vital rural development research projects. Graham Garbutt, Chief Executive of the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC), was invited to the University to explore the vast range of work currently being undertaken. He said: “Part of our job is to advise the Government on rural policy so we need to keep up to speed with research and ways of applying that research. Our relationship with the University of Worcester is fundamental to the way we operate.” The University’s Centre for Rural Research (CRR) has carried out a wide range of prestigious research projects looking at issues that affect rural communities. Dr Nick Evans, Director of the CRR, said: “Our research projects have been crucial in exploring the impact of changing economic, social, political and cultural factors upon rural life and has included work commissioned by the CRC. “It was great to have the opportunity to tell Mr Garbutt about our current work and how we can continue to strengthen the partnership between the CRC and the University of Worcester.”
Student designs heritage trail signage Sara Fenn, a third year Digital Arts student, is celebrating the success of her winning designs for a new trail in north Worcester. Sara was one of a number of students who were asked to produce designs for the Northwick Manor Community Heritage Project as an assignment for their Graphic
Dr Peter Carruthers is currently on a secondment from the CRC as Senior Fellow with the Centre for Rural Research, while continuing to act as Expert Advisor to the CRC.
Design and Multimedia course. The Heritage Lottery Funded-project will see the creation of a fully interpreted heritage trail and the students were asked to produce designs for the trail panels. Local people then judged the finished artworks, with Sara’s designs emerging as a clear favourite. Senior Design Lecturer Andy Stevenson commented: “Our information graphics module teaches a range of visual skills including wayfinding and signage design. Sara’s enthusiasm and unique insight enabled her to use these skills to help the Northwick Manor Community Heritage project’s Information Boards. This project link extends our interest as a course in using ‘design for social good’ to assist local communities.”
newsandviews@worc.ac.uk
/ MARCH 2009 / 7
FEATURE
Professor
Chris Robertson
inaugural professorial lecture “Chris’s academic leadership, combined with commitment to social justice and involvement in national policy development, has enabled her to lead initiatives which contribute effectively to better provision for children and their families. We are very proud to have her as a senior member of the University.” Professor Judith Elkin Deputy Vice Chancellor
Our biggest ever UCAS Fair
P
rofessor Chris Robertson’s inaugural lecture on February 16 was an inspiring exploration of social justice and inclusion in education. The lecture took place the night before the Joseph Rowntree Foundation released the findings of a study estimating that 2.3 million children will be in poverty in 2010.
Professor Robertson started her career as a primary school teacher and taught in a wide range of disadvantaged areas before moving to Shropshire Schools Psychological Service in 1988. She successfully led education departments at two other universities before moving to the University of Worcester in 2002.
Professor Robertson, Head of the University’s Institute of Education, spoke about how poverty and disadvantage affects educational outcomes and the impact it has on children and their families in terms of future aspirations.
Professor Robertson is elected Chair of the national Management Committee for the Universities Council for Education and Training, and has been a consultant to the Teaching and Development Agency on a number of key projects including ‘Every Child Matters’.
“Research from many sources, including the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF, 2008), shows that there is a huge difference in educational achievement between children who experience disadvantage and poverty and those whose parents, for example, have a professional, or managerial, job, and those whose parents are unemployed,” she said. More than 130 guests attended Professor Robertson’s inaugural lecture, including many colleagues from higher education, the local authorities in the region, local schools, Further Education colleges and other external partners and organisations.
T
he annual Hereford and Worcester UCAS Fair will be taking place on the St John’s Campus on Friday 13th March. Interest from local schools and colleges for the event has been stronger than ever and almost 5,000 visiting students are expected on campus throughout the day. The day is a hugely important one for local youngsters considering their higher education options and also represents a wonderful opportunity to showcase the University. Car parking on the day will be limited as it will be allocated to UCAS visitors. Traffic on campus
8 / MARCH 2009 /
newsandviews@worc.ac.uk
Under her leadership the Institute of Education at the University of Worcester has gone from strength to strength and in the most recent Ofsted inspection of primary teaching training, an outstanding report was achieved, complimenting her vision and insightful leadership. Professor Robertson’s commitment to making a real difference to the learning and lives of all children has been a constant theme throughout her distinguished career in education.
will also be restricted due to temporary barriers being erected at key points. The Severn Gate will be closed and security will redirect vehicles to the Malvern Gate and the Coppertops pub. University staff are being encouraged to use the parking facilities at Coppertops or make alternative travel arrangements. The pub is only a 10 minute walk from the University, but a timetabled minibus service will run from Coppertops to campus. Details of this service will be sent to all staff nearer the time.