news &views THE UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER STAFF MAGAZINE
May 2009
In this issue: New DVC appointed Professor Judith Elkin’s successor is named p.2
Pammie wins! Business lecturer skates to national success p.7
Lord Coe visits Worcester
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NEWS
WELCOME TO THE MAY 2009 ISSUE
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elcome to the May 2009 edition of News & Views. Our lead story this month – Lord Coe’s visit to the University – is hopefully the first of many Olympic stories we will be able to bringing you over the next few months. This issue also features reports on how local businesses are getting excited about the potential of the new City Campus, news on the incoming Deputy Vice Chancellor as well as a bumper crop of student and staff success stories. Our next edition, available on June 5, will contain an update on the Library and History Centre project, as well as comprehensive coverage of everything of note that happens at the University during May. As always, we need your news, so please keep us informed of anything you think is interesting or newsworthy by sending it to newsandviews@worc.ac.uk by May 29.
Students to rub shoulders with the stars
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hree Worcester students will rub shoulders with the stars when they visit the Cannes Film Festival in May. Luke Norton, Thom Davies, and Emily Eaton will fly out to Cannes on 12th May for five days. Fellow student Chris Mullins will help them to edit their footage captured in Cannes to make a documentary on their return. All four have received £250 from the University’s Scholarship Panel to fund the trip. “We are very excited about the opportunity to attend this prestigious event,” said Luke. “It all stemmed from a conversation with one of our lecturers who goes to Cannes [Roger Cockerell] every year. We are hoping that he will help us to network and make contacts while we are there, plus enable us to get our 20 minute films shown.”
New Deputy Vice Chancellor appointed Dr Ros Foskett, currently of the University of Southampton, has been appointed to succeed Professor Judith Elkin as the University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor from 1st September 2009. Dr Foskett is currently University Director of Education at the University of Southampton with particular responsibility for employability and employer engagement. A member of that University’s School of Education, and Associate Dean of Faculty, Dr Foskett has served in a wide variety of roles at Southampton since 1997. As well as extensive experience of leading work in the areas of knowledge transfer and enterprise, Dr Foskett has great experience of leading effective work in widening participation, curriculum development, work-based learning and teaching quality enhancement. An active researcher, Dr Foskett’s recent research projects include Research Council and other funded work on ‘Curriculum development and career-decision making in higher education’, ‘Non-participation in higher education’ and ‘Strengthening training and regional networks in demography (with universities in Southern Africa)’.
Subsequently, Dr Foskett was Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at La Sainte Union College of Higher Education and then Assistant Director and acting Deputy Director of New College, University of Southampton. Dr Foskett’s recent publications include ‘Post graduate study in the UK: the international student’s guide’ (Sage 2006 with N. Foskett). Dr Foskett has served as a Governor of a Further Education College for eight years and as a Justice of the Peace. Dr Foskett will take up her post with the University on September 1 and intends to re-locate in due course. She will be visiting as frequently as her current commitments reasonably allow in the intervening period.
University hosts ninth annual palliative care conference MORE than 100 delegates attended the ninth Annual Worcestershire Palliative Care Conference at the University in April. The Conference is well established and is a collaborative venture between the University, local hospices and NHS trusts. Senior Lecturer Brian Nyatanga said: “The conference attracted approximately 100 delegates from multi-professional backgrounds. The day evaluated well, and Dr Ian Douglas did a wonderful and skilful job of chairing the conference, ensuring good time keeping and smooth transition from morning to afternoon and workshop to workshop.
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Educated at the University of Oxford, Dr Foskett’s first degree was in Geography. A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Dr Foskett earned her PGCE at Oxford and her PhD at Southampton. On leaving Oxford, Dr Foskett worked as a qualified teacher and Head of a Sixth Form College Department of Geography for nine years, during which time she published extensively in the field of geographical education including jointly authoring ‘Societies, Choices and Environments’ (Collins) which was honoured with the Silver Award of the Royal Geographical Association.
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“Overall, evaluations suggest the conference was positive and informative and delegates reported they could take away new knowledge and skills into practice.”
COVER STORY
Lord Coe visits University
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lympic Gold Medallist Lord Sebastian Coe, who is Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, visited the University on April 30 to find out more about its involvement in the 2012 Games.
children were guided by the University’s Physical Education students and participated in a range of activities from games to dance.
“The University has become one of Britain’s most popular choices to study sport science in Britain. Our acclaimed basketball programme combines learning through sport with top quality performance on the court. We are delighted that our work in other sports and in education is becoming more widely recognised.”
Professor David Green Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive
Mick Donovan, Head of the Institute of Sport and Exercise Science, said: “Seb Coe is one of the World’s top all time athletes and it was a privilege to welcome him to the University of Worcester. The Institute of Sport & Exercise Science is committed to combining inclusion with excellence
During his visit, Lord Coe met elite athletes, including students who represent England in basketball and blind football, along with sports students working on ‘sportscode’, a piece of software used to analyse and The University is one of the official improve sporting performance.
venues that forms part of the London
The University is one of the official 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp Guide venues that forms part of the London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp Guide. It features facilities and venues across the and this fits in with the Olympic ideal. Lord Coe UK suitable for use by international sporting teams was given a real insight as our students engaged as a training base in the run up to and during the in physical education, coaching and sports science Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. The with athletes and local schools.” Lithuanian Men’s Basketball Team (4th in Beijing) Professor David Green said: “We are delighted has booked the University of Worcester as a prethat our work in other sports and in education Olympic training base for London 2012 if they is becoming more widely recognised. We look qualify. forward to welcoming 2012 Olympians and Lord Coe’s visit was part of a day-long trip to the Paralympians to Worcester before the Games and region hosted by the West Midlands Leadership will do all that we can to contribute to the Games Group for the 2012 Games, on which Professor being an inspiring success.” David Green represents Higher Education. The day began at Northwick Manor Primary School as Lord Coe enjoyed a taste of a ‘Day of Sport’ with youngsters from the school. The
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/ MAY 2009 / 3
NEWS
Reporter inspires students A television journalist, used to interviewing top celebrities, had the tables turned when she was quizzed by a group of Worcester Journalism students. Award winning GMTV reporter Sarah Moore spent the day at the University talking to students about her career and helping them out with a practical exercise.
“The students were all very enthusiastic and it was wonderful to have the chance to come back to Worcestershire and hopefully inspire the journalists of the future,” she said.
Sarah, who grew up in Redditch, also gave the BA (Hons) Journalism students advice on interview techniques.
DEMENTIA ASSOCIATION new association is to be established by the University to improve the care and support of people living with dementia. The University of Worcester Association for Dementia Studies will work with people with dementia and their families, professionals, care providers, commissioners and government agencies to provide high quality training and education. It will be made up of a core group of expert practitioners, educationalists and researchers employed by the University of Worcester and headed up by the University’s newly appointed Professor of Dementia Studies, Dawn Brooker.
Professor Brooker said: “My vision for the Association for Dementia Studies is that it will work in union with care providers, commissioners, national charities and government agencies in the field of health and social care to improve the lives of those living with dementia. “The development of the Association will have direct benefits to the county’s dementia care and support services” The Association is being developed in the wake of the National Dementia Strategy, launched by the Department of Health.
SU wins environmental award WORCESTER Students’ Union has gained national recognition for its efforts to improve its environmental performance by gaining a Bronze Standard in this year’s Sound Environmental Impact Awards. Now in its third year, over a million students have seen environmental initiatives put in place in their Unions
through the awards. This year, 79 SUs took part from across the UK. Dave Antell, Vice President, Education and Welfare, said: “All the team in the Students’ Union are very proud to receive this level of environmental accreditation and we are hoping to improve this to Silver in the future. “Pushing environmental issues forward is vital through organisations like ours who are so influential to the future generation. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in the Union who worked hard on the project.”
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id Worcestershire MP Peter Luff has expressed his support for the University during a visit to the St John’s Campus. Mr Luff was taken on a tour of the state-ofthe-art new science laboratories and National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit (NPARU).
She told them about her time as New York correspondent for the ITV morning show, and the numerous celebrity interviews she had conducted.
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Local MP praises University’s growth
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“Local people, including of course my own constituents in mid Worcestershire, are beginning to recognise the growing national reputation of the University of Worcester,” he said. “The scale of development at the University is truly impressive. The growing reputation of the University is massively enhanced by these developments. As a Worcestershire resident I particularly look forward to using the new library and history centre when it opens.”
Strengthening links with Russia
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delegation of Worcester staff and students has just returned from a trip to Perm State Pedagogical University in Russia. BA Social Welfare students Karen Noke and Racheal Taylor, both from Worcester, and MA Social Work student Simon Beale, from Rosson-Wye, took part in an exciting programme of events, which included a joint seminar and visits to several social welfare agencies in the city. They were joined on the trip by Joy Gauci, Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Health and Society, Anna Popova, Lecturer in the Institute of Education, and International Development Officer Catherine Hyde. The trip was aimed at building stronger links with the Russian university and sharing experiences.
FEATURE
Advisory Board assesses
City Campus potential
“As one of the fastest growing universities in the country it is important that we constantly look at ways to improve our offering, not only for students but for the business community as well. Students will no doubt benefit from the strong links we have with local businesses and their knowledge and expertise.”
Mark Richardson Head of Worcester Business School
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ocal business leaders from the Worcester Business School Advisory Board paid a visit to the new City Campus site recently to take a detailed look at the progress being made and walk through the layout of the future grounds. The Advisory Board works with the Business School to develop key initiatives and ideas for local businesses and individual professionals. The visit provided an excellent opportunity for the Board to look at ways that the business community and beyond will be able to benefit from the new University facilities. The Business School Advisory Board has been running for two years and has 10 members, including Harrison Clark, Rabjohns, Worcester Bosch and the Leadership Trust. It is led by Mark Richardson, Head of Worcester Business School. Recent initiatives include the Institute of Directors Mentoring Scheme. The scheme supports business students by sharing hands-on experience and provides them with careers advice, as well as support and guidance for those who may be looking to start their own business. Commenting on the success of the Business School Advisory Board, Robert Capper, from Harrison Clark,
European trainee teachers experience UK classes
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group of trainee teachers from Spain and Belgium have experienced life in a British classroom, thanks to a partnership with the University of Worcester. Nine student teachers spent four weeks on placement at City schools, learning new teaching methods and systems. The visit was part of an exchange programme, which will see a group of Worcester students visit schools in Spain and Belgium.
said: “At such a challenging time, the forum looks at ways to help businesses up their game and stay competitive. Our Advisory Board consultations aim to transfer good ideas into actual business benefits. As the board members come from a variety of industries we can recognise what is currently missing in the county that the University of Worcester can provide, and to a very high standard.”
Heather Crabtree, Lecturer in Primary Languages, said: “In addition to the obvious linguistic benefits of such a placement, students also find the experience develops their confidence in themselves on a personal and professional level. Their experiences of another system of education allow them to reflect more deeply on a range of issues such as Behaviour Management and the role of play in our schools.”
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NEWS
New nurses begin their training
STUDENTS VIE FOR SWIMMING SUCCESS TWO Worcester students hope to qualify for the Bulgarian National Swimming Team this summer with help from the University’s scholarship scheme.
Fifty five new nursing students have been welcomed to the University of Worcester. The students have just embarked on the University’s popular three-year Nursing DipHE/BSc (Hons) programme. Robert Dudley, Head of Pre-Registration Nursing, said: “We are delighted to welcome the latest group of nurses. We pride ourselves in providing the highest standard of education, which supports and encourages students to achieve their full potential.
“Worcester graduates are particularly sought-after – last year, for example 94 per cent 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 the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS) reveal that nursing has now entered the top-five subject choice for university applicants.
Brothers Ivo and Sergey Mandradzhiyski will compete in Bulgaria’s National Swimming Trials in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, this July. Ivo, aged 22, said: “I hope to come away with some medals but the main aim for me is to qualify for the national team.” The brothers, who are both in the second year of a Sports Coaching degree, were each granted £300 by the Scholarship Panel towards their swimming club membership fees.
Kids revisit University building sites C hildren from a local school made a return visit to the University in April to see how work is progressing on two building sites. About 60 pupils from the reception year of Oldbury Park Primary School donned pint-sized hard hats and high-visibility vests as they toured the developments, both of which are due for completion in September.
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The youngsters, who last visited the sites in October last year, saw how work had progressed on the University’s new halls of residence, being built by Morgan Ashurst, and the new National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit (NPARU) and science laboratories, being developed by Leadbitter. The children were keen to get a close-up view of the diggers moving around on site and were amazed at how the developments had changed since their last visit.
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10% DISCOUNT FOR THIS YEAR’S WYCHWOOD FESTIVAL
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he Wychwood Music Festival returns to Cheltenham Racecourse for its fifth year over the weekend of 29-31st May 2009. The University of Worcester is a partner for this year’s Festival and will be running a dedicated International Children’s Literature Festival Venue, programmed by University staff and overseen by Professor Jean Webb. To celebrate this partnership, Wychwood are offering staff and students at the University a very special ticket offer: book your tickets by the 19th of May and receive a 10% discount. Please call the Wychwood Box Office on 01993 772580 quoting your Staff/Student number to receive the reduced price tickets. Day and weekend tickets are on sale. Under 12s, camping and parking are free and concessions are available. For more information please visit www.wychwoodfestival.com
NEWS
Pammie
SPORTS STUDENTS
skates to national success SENIOR business lecturer Pammie Murray-Hopkin has picked up two trophies at the Great Britain Inline Indoor Speed Skating Championships. She raced to success in the Veteran Ladies and Senior Ladies categories at the contest held in Wisbech, Norfolk in April.
It is the first time Pammie has won a Great Britain championship since she took up the sport just three years ago. Since then she has competed across Europe, against professional speed skaters, and is now racing at international contests. Pammie, who is a member of the Birmingham Wheels speed skating club, is a former 400m hurdles and steeple chase athlete, and competed internationally in those disciplines before taking up speed skating.
PICK UP NATIONAL PRIZES
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wo students from the Institute of Sport and Exercise Science have won prestigious awards at the 2009 BASES Annual Student Conference. MSc Sports Coaching Science student Christian Edwards and third year Sports Science student Mel White, won two of the six available national awards. The BASES Student Conference provides an invaluable opportunity for students to present their own work, to share ideas and thoughts with
She is now manager of the GB Ladies Team and is part of the national coaching team. “It was such a great achievement for me. I only took up skating three years ago. It had always been a dream and, as I was approaching 40, I thought it was now or never. My aim was to get into the GB team, but to win is just fantastic.” Pammie Murray-Hopkin Senior Lecturer, Worcester Business School
New St John’s halls topped out State-of-the-art student halls on the St John’s Campus have been topped out, marking a major landmark in their construction.
tree on site to mark the roof of the building being completed. The historic ritual is performed when the highest point of the building is reached to wish the construction team and the building good luck.
Professor David Green was joined by Worcester’s Mayor Councillor Lucy Hodgson and Morgan Ashurst project manager Nigel Boulton to perform the ancient tradition of planting an evergreen
The new £10.6 million halls of residence, which will open to students in September, contain 182 bedrooms, which are 50 per cent bigger than standard student rooms, and each features its own en-suite bathroom. Professor David Green said: “These new halls of residence, along with those at our new City Campus, which will also open in September, will provide our students with additional high quality accommodation.”
others, and find out what other sport and exercise science undergraduate and postgraduate students are up to. Mick Donovan, Head of the Institute of Sport and Exercise Science, said: “It is a real testament to the Department and the University to have nine students present their work, with two winning awards.”
Making a clean sweep of it UNIVERSITY staff were involved in a recent litter blitz along Oldbury Road, Henwick Road, Hylton Road, Sabrina Bridge and Grandstand Road. Simon Geraghty, leader of Worcester City Council, joined the clean sweep, organised by the city’s cleaning team together with the University and the police. Officers put up ‘no waiting’ cones to stop people parking on the targeted roads, while about a dozen litter pickers swung into action backed by the City Council’s cleaning machines. Mr Geraghty said: “It’s been a real success for us. I think areas of the city like this one where there is a parking issue can really benefit from these litter blitzes. Because the police were able to shift the parked cars we were able to get in with the sweepers and the gully cleaners.” He said the city council would now look at repeating the clean-up within the year.
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FEATURE
Leadership programme encourages staff to
work to their strengths
“The course allowed me to improve my skills and knowledge around leadership and I think would be beneficial to all members of staff who work in a team or those who lead others in any way.”
Maureen Gamble Head of Art, Design and Creative Digital Media, and Leadership Programme participant
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dentifying your strengths and working with them is an important skill for any professional – even more so for all those who have responsibilities to support and encourage others in their learning at work. A new staff development programme in Leading with Strengths is being piloted at the University as an integral part of the work being carried out through the Leadership Development Project. The programme is of benefit to any member of staff who is involved in any kind of leadership. About 30 colleagues from across the University took part in the pilot. Rose Watson, employability development worker currently on secondment to the Academic Practice and Development Unit, said: “This programme is not just for managers, it is for any member of staff who might lead others at some stage in their career, which covers most people. “Working within the field of employability I need to encourage people to think about what they can do and build on their strengths, so this programme helped to explore ways in which to do that.”
118 TAXI delivers speech to students
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young entrepreneur, who changed his name by deed poll to 118 TAXI in order to promote his new business, gave an inspiring speech at the University’s recent Enterprise Fest. Alan Garrec discussed the hurdles he had to overcome, along with the perks of working for yourself, as well as explaining how the current economic climate provides a perfect opportunity for new business and fresh thinking. Kat Jones, Enterprise Manager in the University’s Business Development Office, said:
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The programme comprises a core workshop exploring your areas of strength and how to work with them. Maureen Gamble, Head of Art, said: “I came away from the course feeling very positive and upbeat. I had never had any kind of training in how to adapt from teaching to leading colleagues, so this was really useful.” Susanne Baker, Director of the University Leadership Project, said one of the most important aspects of the development is to connect those skills learnt on the workshop to day-to-day work routines and in raising self awareness. She said: “It’s also a great opportunity to enjoy networking with colleagues from across the University.” The Leadership Development Project team are offering a range of events you can participate in. For more information call Mary Bradley, executive assistant, on extension 2221 or via email on m.bradley@worc.ac.uk
“Alan was a real inspiration to students who are in the process of starting their own businesses and those who are at the ideas stage. “Throughout the event it was acknowledged that it is not just the high tech, money making business ideas that are successful, and that anyone can start their own business if they have the motivation and seek the correct support and knowledge to do so.” Enterprise Fest was aimed at encouraging student engagement in entrepreneurial and employability activity.