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University of Cumbria Connect Magazine - Connect Autumn Edition 2014
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CONNECTAutumn 2014
Also: UCSU scoops two awards at national ceremony
From crime fighter to crime writer
Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Awards 2014
Out of the library, into the limelight
CONTENTS/AUTUMN 2014 ISSUE
STA
FF
04 Writing history05 Fundraising target smashed by university runners06 Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Awards 201407 Career success08 Staff profile/Gill Butt09 Congratulations!10 From crime fighter to crime writer11 Caption competition11 Times Higher Awards 2014 – University team shortlisted
STU
DEN
TS 12 Out of the library, into the limelight 14 UCSU scoops two awards at national ceremony
UN
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SITY
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16 Strengthening global links with educational institutions17 Recognition for support18 Honorary fellows20 University visit focuses on workforce wellbeing21 University works with armed forces on new collaboration 22 Conference seeks to improve learning in schools23 Open lecture with focus on sustainability
24 Research aims to reduce older people’s fall risk28 Research challenges aggressive stereotypes29 Researchers focus on seeing the woods and the trees30 Research round-up
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If you would like to contribute to the next issue of Connect, please contact a member of the communications team:
[email protected] [email protected]
The copy deadline for the next issue
of Connect is 10 November 2014.
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FOREWORD
By drilling down into the numbers, some very satisfying results appear. A previously challenging area, that of organisation and management, which was identified as requiring attention in previous surveys, has increased by four per cent over last year, equating to a ten per cent rise in the two years since 2012. This result provides proof, if it were required, of the value to the university of the NSS. We need our students’ feedback in order to recognise areas indicated for improvement, and as this result shows, when we address issues, we achieve success.
Other satisfying outcomes include personal development, which received the highest scores with student satisfaction rates of 88 per cent (two per cent up on last year), just ahead of teaching on 87 per cent, and learning resources at 86 per cent.
One area of significant improvement is assessment and feedback, also up two per cent on last year’s score, at 78 per cent. Our results for this theme have risen twelve per cent over the past two years, which is a very rewarding outcome, following the effort that has been put into improving performance in this area of activity..And I am particularly delighted that the university is now outperforming or equal to the sector in the following areas:• Assessment and feedback, with a student satisfaction rating
of 78 per cent, is six per cent above the UK national HEI average, and puts us in the top quartile for this thematic area.
• Personal development, at 88 per cent, is six per cent above the UK national HEI average, and again in the top quartile.
• Academic support, 83 per cent, is two per cent above the UK sector average
• Learning resources and teaching both achieved results equal to the sector nationally, at 86 per cent and 87 per cent respectively.
August brought us some excellent news. With the release of the National Student Survey results for 2014, we discovered we had achieved our best scores since launching the university in 2007. The overall satisfaction score for the institution is 84 per cent, coming in at just two points below the national average. This is obviously a significant statistic, as it acts as a snapshot of the university’s performance and an
indicator of its position compared to others in the sector.
Professor Peter StrikeVice Chancellor
In addition to these overall results, many individual courses perform better than these institutional scores. Some courses and subjects have seen significant improvements this year and I look forward to seeing the consequential increase in our league table standings in the Times Good University Guide this year and the Guardian and the Complete University Guide next spring.
Our planning team has been analysing all the results from the NSS, and internal results and student comments can be found in the CORE section of StaffNet.
I am very aware that these improved results have not happened by themselves. Colleagues have worked tirelessly to address the issues raised in previous surveys, while also dealing with challenging times in the sector, not to mention getting on with the day job. While we can’t become complacent, and must always strive to improve further the student experience, it is reasonable at this stage to take a little satisfaction and pride in what we have achieved.
Well done to everyone, and as we welcome students, both continuing and new, back to the campuses, I look forward to us working together to deliver another successful year in 14/15.
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WRITING HISTORYEmeritus Professor Hilary Cooper has edited another Primary history teaching book, which has just been published – Sue Temple and Hugh Moore (both senior lecturers in Primary history) again contributed chapters.
The book, Writing History 7-11, is about using writing frames to challenge children, when they are writing using their history as a context. Sue worked on a research project with year 5/6 at Fellview Primary School, in Caldbeck, focusing on a unit about the Anglo Saxons, which is included in the book. Right - Yr 5/6 class at Fellview Primary School, Caldbeck with their teacher Debbie Graham.
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HR Business Partner Louise Blake reported: “The race has been a
real success this year. We’ve raised £1400 (our target was £1000) and the event was brilliant - we’ll definitely be getting a university team together for next year!”
The photo shows most of the university runners who
tackled the Lancaster event.Left to right - Sue Wright,
Louise Blake, Patricia White, Ola Mustapha, Anne Charnley, Janet
Whitworth and Basil the Jack Russell, Gail Best, Michele Aldridge, Emma Barritt, Naomi Oosman-Watts, Alice Davies, Honor Rhodes, Liz Dick, Sarah Prince, Nadine Sunderland.
FUNDRAISING TARGET SMASHED BY UNIVERSITY RUNNERSThe annual ‘Race for Life’ 5k and 10k events, which raise funds for Cancer Research UK, saw a large contingent of university runners taking part this year.
Runners at the Lancaster event
“The race has been a real success this year.
We’ve raised £1400 (our target was £1000) and the event was brilliant”
Missing from the photograph are Margaret Weaver, Vicky Dawson and her daughter Erin, who both took part but needed to leave before the photo could be taken; and Kate Wenham, who unfortunately could not attend on the day but helped the team to raise the £1400.Julie Palmer ran in the Carlisle event.
If you feel inspired to join the university team in next year’s Race for Life, contact Louise on 2785 or email [email protected]
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VICE CHANCELLOR’SEXCELLENCE AWARDS 2014
The Innovation and Enterprise award The Innovation and Enterprise award winners were Philippa Chapman, Raye Ng, Heidi Hodkinson, Martin Pyrah, Jane Lester, Michelle Atkinson and Christine Bell. Their work with Robert Kennedy College was recognised as follows: “The panel would like to commend you all for the hard work you demonstrated and the very successful interdisciplinary team work that creates such a positive student experience and clear benefits to the university reputation.”
The Learning andTeaching AwardThe Learning and Teaching award went to Nicola Metcalfe Meer. The citation stated that she “demonstrates not only the good practice expected of a senior lecturer but also enthusiasm and rigour that inspires both students and colleagues and goes above and beyond normal expectations.”
Nicky was congratulated for being a positive role model for others in demonstrating what can be achieved through passion and professional commitment.
The Research AwardThe award for research went to Dr Susan Dewhurst and Theo Bampouras – for their excellent research through the Active Ageing Research Group (AARG). “Although this area of research has only been established fairly recently, it is particularly impressive to see the level of development that has been achieved in such a short space of time. In choosing to investigate the benefits of active ageing on functional ability, independent living and mental wellbeing, and identifying effective interventions and promoting them into future health schemes, AARG centres on an issue of national and internal importance. By contributing to research to help manage the effects of an ageing population, Susan and Theo are also addressing something that is a concern to all of us.”
These awards are now an annual highlight of the university’s calendar and the vice chancellor presented the winners with their prizes at two events: the Learning and Teaching Fest on 3 July and the Research Fest on 4 July.
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Karen said:“It’s always lovely to hear from previous students, receiving a message from them out of the blue, knowing they remember you, is one of the great pleasures of teaching. I remember Nigel well, as a hard-working and conscientious secondary English student, and I remember observing him in action on teaching practice. To hear he has had such a successful career is fantastic, and if he remembers his time with us as being a foundation for that, then that is brilliant news!”
Dear Karen
I hope you are very well.
You will probably not remember me. I studied BA (Hons) in English
Education with Secondary QTS with you from 2002 - 2005.
If you do remember me, you will remember a nervous and
shy young man who struggled through teaching practice.
Since then I have worked as hard as I can over the last ten years
or so in a variety of positions including Head of Year, Head of
English and Deputy Headteacher subsequently being appointed
as the youngest secondary Headteacher in the country.
Now the summer is here and I have had the opportunity to
sit still and reflect I thought I would get in touch. I would not
be doing the job I am today if it was not for the grounding
you and others gave me at the outset of my career.
I would be very happy to repay that and return to
Lancaster to speak to some of your trainees today
or help in any other way you feel appropriate.
Very best wishes
Nigel Whittle
CAREER SUCCESS
Senior Lecturer Karen Lockney was surprised and delighted when, out of the blue, she heard from former student Nigel Whittle. Nigel wrote:
Karen Lockney Senior lecturer
Nigel is head of Havelock Academy
in Grimsby, Lincolnshire
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Your job title, how did you end up at the University of Cumbria and when did you start?I am admin manager at the London EIDR site and started in 2002. I had in the past worked in London and after being in a similar role at the Uni of Luton, for six years, I yearned for the bright lights and smog again. I saw a post advertised at SMC in Mile End, realised that it was fairly easily accessible from my home town which at the time was Luton, so applied. I had no idea who SMC were and 12 years later I am still here.
Describe your job.A bit of a hybrid role that doesn’t seem to fit into any of the standard job titles. It includes, amongst other things, general CIP work and supervision, facilities management, health and safety, organising maintenance work around the site inside and out; liaising with the catering providers, sorting out any cleaning issues, room layouts, running interview days and working with External Relations; and last but equally important, planting out and watering the external flower tubs and other plants in the garden.
What brightens your day at work?Interaction with our students—at smaller campuses the students are known by all staff and we build up a great rapport over their time with us. Also, having a bird feeder in the
garden in view of my desk and seeing flocks of goldfinches and other garden birds, including the rare London sparrow, visiting it in the concrete metropolis that we are situated in.
What do you like to do in your spare time?Be in the great outdoors. I live in a semi-rural area of Cambridgeshire and love being out, appreciating it in many ways, birds, butterflies, wild flowers, insects… anything. My partner works for the RSPB at their HQ at Sandy, Bedfordshire, and he organises events at which I often volunteer. I am also secretary of my local nature reserve, the meetings of which can on occasions be a bit Vicar-of-Dibleyish! I have an allotment which produces a fair crop, but, as most things come at once, I seem to spend a lot of time making jam and chutney. My next project is to teach myself landscape watercolour painting, to a standard that I would be happy to have one of my own paintings on my wall. Last but by no means least, I am an ardent Luton Town FC fan.
Name your ideal dinner party guest and whyI think I would have to go back in time for this, and say Lady Baden-Powell. I was a member of the Girl Guide Association for about 30 years and have huge admiration for its ethics, and the vision that she had back in 1910. The skills gained in Guiding, both practical and character building, last a lifetime. I can also tie a wicked reef knot and hang a Union Jack the right way up!
Name your favourite book and whyBeing a commuter, I read a lot, particularly biographies. It’s hard to say which is my favourite—I think it would be easier to pick an author and that would be Thomas Hardy, as his books are largely based in rural England. Of course they can also be quite depressing, so a good short ‘chick lit’ on my Kindle lightens things up!
Name your favourite film and whyI am not a great film lover. In the past ten years, I have been to the cinema three times: Tales of a Geisha, Johnny Cash - Walk the Line and Twelve Years a Slave - I suppose this reflects my preference for real-life books.
And finally, your favourite or dream holiday destination and why!My holidays tend to be associated with bird watching and seeing as many birds as possible. I have recently been to, and loved, both The Gambia and Arizona, but the next ‘biggie for birds’ is somewhere I have always wanted to go and that’s southern India. We are going there on a wildlife tour over Christmas and New Year.
STAFF PROFILE/GILL BUTT
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Erin Elizabeth HartTuesday 1 July
Congratulations to Bob Hart in the webteam,
and his wife Sarah, on the birth of baby Erin.
Erin Elizabeth was born on 1 July, weighing 7lbs 7oz.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Nicky and Peter BattySaturday 28 June
The wedding took place on 28 June of Nicky Lester, admin assistant with the Faculty of Education, Arts and Business (Primary Education) at the Lancaster campus and Peter Batty, who used to work in the EDU in Ambleside.
The ceremony was held at St John’s Helsington near Brigsteer, followed by a reception at the Daffodil Hotel, Grasmere.
Richard Milburn and Andrew Chidwick Saturday 17 August
Richard Milburn, senior lecturer in drama at the Brampton Road campus, and Andrew Chidwick were married on 17 August at Lady Gillford’s House, Carlisle, with a meal at David’s restaurant afterwards and a party at The Andalusian in the evening.As Richard had celebrated his 50th birthday with a “once-in-a-lifetime” trip to Hong Kong and Borneo the week before, there was no chance of a honeymoon!
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After retiring from a thirty-year career with the police, Barry studied full-time at the Lancaster campus, graduating with honours before pursuing a second career as a lecturer with the University of Cumbria. After a spell as a supply teacher in secondary schools in Lancashire and Cumbria, Barry took his post in the Policing Studies department in January this year, initially at Newton Rigg but now at Brampton Road. What began as a writing exercise in a classroom in 2011 has since grown into two full-length, crime mystery novels. The first, This City of Lies went live on Kindle in 2013 and has been well-received both here and in the United States where the story is set. The second in this series, The Governor’s Man is released this month. The third is in a late stage of redrafting and is due for release in 2015. The work takes its influences from the American masters of the genre such as Chandler, Hammett and Spillane. Barry believes that it is more important to write about what you like than what you know or where you have been. Barry adds. “The support and encouragement I received from tutors and peers helped me immeasurably in the development of the novels. The course improved my skills in plot-building, imagery, character, dialogue and suspense. It gave me the boost I needed to go on to create these stories.”
“The English and creative writing joint honours degree course at the University of Cumbria is a terrific platform for any aspiring writer.” says Barry Lees, novelist and lecturer at Brampton Road, Carlisle.
THIS CITY OF LIES
In 1959 San Francisco, war veteran turned private eye Kerrigan takes on a matrimonial case but soon realises that he too has become a target. When he witnesses a murder, his instinct to survive takes over. Kerrigan must find the killer before the killer finds him.
THE GOVERNOR’S MAN
Kerrigan is hired to find a missing person and is shocked to learn who it is. Cast into a complex web of deceit, politics, religion, fraud and murder, he must eliminate many suspects, each with equally compelling motives, uncover the truth and put right an old injustice.
‘This City of Lies’ and ‘The Governor’s Man’ are both available at www.amazon.co.uk/kindlebooks
FROM CRIME FIGHTER TO CRIME WRITER
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CAPTION COMPETITION.
What’s your take on this scene? Chief Operating Officer Janet Whitworth is offering a prize to the winner.
Tasteful suggestions only please! Send yours to [email protected] by 10 November - the winner will be announced in the winter issue of Connect.
TIMES HIGHER AWARDS 2014 – UNIVERSITY TEAM SHORTLISTEDAQD has been shortlisted in this year’s awards in the category of OutstandingContribution to Leadership Development.
The submission featured a sustainable leadership programme designed by AQD to develop a strategic and deliberate approach to succession planning and talent management.
Hundreds of nominations were submitted to the Times Higher for outstanding institutions, departments and individuals from the UK HE sector across 18 categories covering the full range of university activity. These awards showcase the pioneering spirit, adaptability and sheer quality of the HE sector.
John Gill, THE editor, commented: “This celebration marks the tenth anniversary of the Times Higher Education Awards, 10 years in which higher education has undergone huge changes but has always risen to the challenges it has faced. Our universities and colleges are among the nation’s most respected institutions, both at home and internationally, and it’s THE’s great privilege to have played a part in celebrating their achievements over the past decade.”
Further details of the THE awards are available on the website: www.the-awards.co.uk
The winners will be announced on Thursday 27 November 2014 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London.
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Douglas is in the latter stages of his research into the activities of the Co-operative Holidays Association (CHA) and the Holiday Fellowship, two organisations founded in 1893 and 1913 respectively by Thomas Arthur Leonard, a congregational minister in Colne, Lancashire; their purpose to provide ‘simple and strenuous recreative and educational holidays’, which offered ‘reasonably priced accommodation’ and promoted ‘friendship and fellowship amid the beauty of the natural world’.
His research explores how effectively these two organisations, which pioneered walking holidays for working people, dealt with the far-reaching changes in social, economic and cultural conditions in the twentieth century, changes brought about by increasing affluence and consumer choice, changing cultural attitudes and expectations and the popularisation of outdoor recreation and proliferation of competing outdoor activity providers.
OUT OF THE LIBRARY, INTO THE LIMELIGHTDouglas Hope, a doctoral researcher in the Faculty of Education, Arts and Business, has been attracting the attention of the media recently.
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If you want to know more about Douglas’ research,
log on to his website www.douglashope.co.uk.
The research seeks to determine how these organisations dealt with the often conflicting demands of altruism and commercial necessity and to assess the extent to which they diverted from their original ideals and philosophy in order to combat the challenges of consumerism. Douglas has spent a large part of the last five years delving into the archives of the Co-operative Holidays Association and the Holiday Fellowship in libraries and record offices in Cumbria, Lancashire and North Wales, as well as interviewing members/former members of both organisations. He has presented papers on various aspects of his research at doctoral colloquiums at the university and at conferences organised by the Leisure Studies Association and the British Society of Sports History, most recently at a symposium on sport and leisure on the eve of the First World War hosted by MMU Sport and Leisure History Group.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of T A Leonard, who was also instrumental in the founding of the Youth Hostels Association and the Ramblers’ Association, and Douglas’ research on Leonard and his achievements has gained a mention in the Manchester Evening News and the Guardian/Observer newspaper. He has been heard on BBC Radio Wales talking on T A Leonard’s contribution to the outdoor movement in Wales and, in July, he spent a day in the company of Paul Heiney filming in the Lake District with the ITV ‘Countrywise’ team to re-enact one of the Co-operative Holiday Association’s first walks and visit Leonard’s memorial tablet on Catbells, where he is described as the ‘Father of the open-air movement’. The series recommences transmission in October (Monday evenings at 8.00pm) so keep a look out for the piece on T A Leonard.
“This year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of T A Leonard, who was also instrumental in the founding of the Youth Hostels Association and the Ramblers’ Association”
Left (above): T A Leonard
Left: Leonard’s memorial on Catbells.
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The awards ceremony was on the final evening of the annual NUS Conference, and it was a pleasure to meet representatives from other unions from around the country, sharing stories, successes, and tips for best practice. It was a great reminder of the wider student movement we are all a part of, and the various achievements from all corners of the country that result in positive outcomes and enhanced experiences for students in the UK.
At the ceremony, UCSU received the Students’ Union Evaluation Initiative (SUEI) Silver Award (see article in the summer issue of Connect), but the big award of the night—the Endsleigh Student of the Year Award—went to final-year student, Natalie Atkinson, who graduated with first class honours in BSc (Hons) Policing, Investigation and Criminology. Natalie won against thousands of nominated students from other unions all over the country. What makes Natalie’s victory all the more impressive is that this category was the only one which was open to public applications—meaning that any student from any institution could submit an application.
Natalie won “by quite some distance” according to the presenter, and she was congratulated by current NUS President, Toni Pearce. Natalie’s story is frankly inspirational, and came to our attention after receiving multiple nominations for our own annual Success Awards. Between the ages of 13 and 18, Natalie lived in no fewer than 25 different addresses, with over 50 convictions for battery and assault, spending time under sentence in secure children’s units, and later, prison. Living with rapists, murderers and drug dealers led to depression, addiction and self-harm.
Despite a troubled background, Natalie overcame all of these issues after her release to embark on her degree at the University of Cumbria. She has now been accepted to study a master’s degree in Criminology at the London School of Economics (LSE) in September 2014—quite a remarkable journey, and one which has enabled her to turn her life around. Her positive attitude and commitment to her studies has transformed Natalie’s life, and the future looks incredibly bright for her. She was recently the subject of BBC TV documentary, ‘Banged up and left to
UCSU SCOOPS TWO AWARDS AT NATIONAL CEREMONYAt the beginning of July, the staff and officer team from University of Cumbria Students’ Union were invited to the annual NUS Awards, held this year at Bolton’s Macron Football Stadium.
Above (left): Natalie was also awarded the Vice Chancellors’ Special Student honour in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the university.
“I was absolutely speechless when my
name was called out! I feel really proud of UCSU, the university and myself —without the university I would not have been given the opportunity
to study.”
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fail,’ on BBC 3, which gave younger viewers a chance to understand how people and times can change for the better if you set your mind to it.
Natalie said: “Winning Endsleigh Student of the Year 2014 is amazing and to be honest I am still in shock that I was given the award. I was absolutely speechless when my name was called out! I feel really proud of UCSU, the university and myself—without the university I would not have been given the opportunity to study. Going to the University of Cumbria has been one of the best decisions
of my life and I am thankful that I chose to go to a smaller university where I was able to receive guidance, understanding and the support I needed to succeed.”
Adam LewisUCSU research and communications co-ordinator
Above: UCSU team at the awards ceremony with Natalie, fifth from left
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STRENGTHENING GLOBAL LINKS WITH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Representatives from Changshu Institute of Technology (CIT) and Shanghai University of Engineering Science (SUES) met with Professor Peter Strike and colleagues in the summer to discuss potential collaboration in a range of subject areas.
The university is strengthening links with educational institutions across the globe to encourage international collaboration. During the visit, Professor Strike and CIT President Professor Zhu Shizhong signed an agreement to lay out the arrangements for study abroad certificate students from CIT, and for students progressing from CIT onto a final year University of Cumbria top-up degree programme for the 2014/15 academic year.
Discussions were also made about the Sino-UK double degree programme in graphic design, with both universities agreeing to work towards the completion of articulation by the end of August 2014, and a double degree arrangement by the end of March 2015.
Delegates from SUES visited the university to establish contact at a senior level and to build on existing links.
Discussions centred on study abroad opportunities for both SUES and University of Cumbria students, establishing progression routes to our master’s programmes, and offering open studies in art and design.
SUES is also keen to send academic staff to the university for a semester as visiting lecturers, and has asked the university to offer a four-week summer course for academic staff who are required to teach their subjects in English.
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RECOGNITION FOR SUPPORT
The university has been awarded the prestigious Buttle UK Quality Mark in recognition of its commitment to young people in, and leaving, care.
Director of Partnership and Development, Ian Sinker explains: “This is awarded to universities and colleges which commit to support a young person, who has been in care, to access further and higher education and successfully complete their studies and achieve their ambitions.
“Young people leaving care face many challenges, and they are one of the most under-represented groups in education in the UK. Often lacking family support, suffering financial disadvantage and struggling to find somewhere to live, applying for and being accepted for further and higher education is a real achievement.”
To receive its quality mark, the university had to demonstrate that it has a robust strategy in place to ensure that students from a care background can access a package of support —financial, pastoral and educational.
The university has supported care leavers for many years and has put in place a number of initiatives which offer help and guidance to students from a care background.
These include peer mentoring, dedicated staff contacts and a scheme which offers year-round accommodation.
The university also prioritises students from a care background for additional financial help and is involved in awareness-raising work with local groups which support young people in care.
There are currently 84 care leavers studying at the university—an increase of 60% on the previous year’s figures—and it is expected that 36 new care leavers will join in September. The quality mark was created by Buttle UK, the largest grant-giving organisation in the country directly supporting children and families living in poverty.
Susan Mueller, Buttle UK Quality Mark manager, said: “We are very pleased with the success of this award and are delighted to extend it to the University of Cumbria. The university has amply displayed its dedication and initiative to helping young people leaving care to receive an education and have the opportunity to succeed and move on to the next stage of their lives.
“Our quality mark is also a clear way for the University of Cumbria to demonstrate its credentials to partners, funders, inspectorates and the wider community—and importantly to the young people from care themselves.”
To find out more about the Buttle UK Quality Mark for Care Leavers visit www.buttleuk.org
Above: Ian SInker
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Over four days of ceremonies in July, the university created nine new honorary fellows.
HONORARY FELLOWS
Honorary fellows are awarded in recognition of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the university and in support of a variety of causes linked to the work of the university.
Organic farming campaigner and educationalist, Susan Aglionby was honoured for her outstanding contribution to organic farming and services to the Cumbrian community. Humanitarian and life peer, Baroness Caroline Cox, received her honorary fellowship in recognition of her outstanding contribution to international humanitarian and human rights. Peter Woolaghan, founding director of nuclear decommissioning specialist company REACT Engineering Limited, was awarded his honour in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development of the engineering and technology industry on the West Coast of Cumbria.Peter is also a founding Director of HiDef Aerial Surveying Limited, Create Technologies Limited and R3i Limited. Former North West Regional Medical Officer and North West Regional Director of Public Health, Professor John R Ashton CBE, was created honorary fellow in recognition of his outstanding and lifelong contribution to the public health service.
Ben Helfgott MBE is a holocaust survivor and former member of the British Olympic weightlifting team. In 1963, Ben helped launch the ’45 Aid Society for Holocaust Survivors, has been chairman ever since and is a longstanding campaigner for holocaust survivor groups worldwide. Ben was awarded an honorary fellowship for his outstanding services to the community. Respected British folk music artist, Maddy Prior MBE, received her honorary fellowship in recognition of her outstanding service and lifelong contribution to folk music. Professor Sir Adam Roberts, KCMG, FBA, former president of the British Academy and expert in international security, organisations and law, was awarded an honorary fellowship in recognition of his outstanding service to the study and practice of international relations. Renowned expert within the nuclear sector, Dame Sue Ion was honoured in recognition of her outstanding service to the nuclear industry and to science and engineering. Longtown-born Simon Greenall, actor and voice of Alexander Orlov, the irate owner of ‘Compare The Meerkat Dot Com’, recieved an honorary fellowship in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the television and film industry.
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Simon GreenallDame Sue IonProfessor Sir Adam Roberts KCMG FBA
Baroness Caroline Cox
Maddie Prior MBEBen Helfgott MBEProfessor John Ashton
Peter WoolaghanSusan Aglionby
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UNIVERSITY VISIT FOCUSES ON WORKFORCE WELLBEING
Employee health and wellbeing was top of the agenda during a visit by Professor Dame Carol Black in July.
As an expert adviser on health and work to the Department of Health and the UK Government, Professor Black has been responsible for two major reviews on this topic: ‘Working for a healthier tomorrow’, her review on the health of the working age population was published in 2008 and in November 2011 she completed an independent review of sickness absence in Britain.
During her visit to the university, she heard details of a number of new employee health and wellbeing initiatives currently being implemented, many of which include student and community involvement.
Professor Black commented:
“It was a pleasure to visit the University of Cumbria and to learn what they are doing for the health and wellbeing of their staff. I met enthusiastic, positive employees, and our discussions emphasised the neccessity for commitment from the top and appropriately-trained line managers.”
Professor Black also delivered a presentation to an audience of senior managers from local authorities, education institutions and health trusts across the region.
In her lecture she highlighted the importance of good leadership and line management but stressed that long-term improvements in employee health and wellbeing ultimately depended on individuals acting on their personal health issues.She also stated that managers need to focus on effective communication with their staff and develop an open culture to allow employees the opportunity to discuss their problems.Director of Human Resources at the university, Geoffrey Etule, said:
“The university is developing a comprehensive health and wellbeing strategy as we recognise that having a healthy, motivated and fit workforce is essential in meeting our key objectives.
“Professor Black presented a strong case for investing in health and wellbeing initiatives and the university will be taking these ideas forward over the coming months. We are confident that we are on track to make health and wellbeing at work a core part of our daily operations.”
Above: Geoffrey Etule, Professor Dame Carol Black and Denise Mace
“It was a pleasure to visit the University of Cumbria and to learn what they are doing for the health and wellbeing of their staff.”
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The 31 armed forces personnel, who are studying for a Foundation Degree in Paramedic Practice, have been learning alongside student midwives as part of a project led by a team of academics from the university. They spent two days participating in practical skills scenarios including emergency childbirth and neo-natal resuscitation drills at the university’s Ambleside campus for a part of their course related to women and children’s health.
The aim is to evaluate collaborative working between the paramedic and midwifery students and their experiences of learning about pre-hospital childbirth together.
Academic staff believe this will help students once they have qualified, as they can use these experiences to communicate and work effectively with other healthcare staff in a professional workplace setting.
Tom Davidson, senior lecturer in paramedic practice, said: “This session provided a unique opportunity for our student paramedics to learn collaboratively with student midwives. We were able to develop the students’ communication, leadership and clinical skills in a realistic environment. This day also provided the lecturing team with valuable evidence which the team hopes will lead to a research project in collaborative learning.”
The university is the only higher education institution working in partnership with the British Army to provide a Foundation Degree in Paramedic Practice to servicemen and women in the Army Medical Services (AMS). The 18-month part-time course, which features a combination of placement work in NHS trusts, distance learning and on-site lectures in a unique package, was launched in April 2013
and the first cohort will graduate in November. The university is testing Army Combat Medical Technicians, who are more used to dealing with traumatic battle injuries and military focused primary health care, against the different demands of civilian healthcare, such as midwifery.
The soldiers then go back to their army role with a far more rounded medical experience and a qualification, which helps them should they ever seek a job as an NHS paramedic. This is the second programme created through the university’s affiliation with AMS, following the development of the Cert HE in Pre-Hospital and Emergency Care course, which enhances skills for their current role in the army and prepares personnel for a career in mainstream civilian healthcare.
More than 160 armed forces personnel have now completed this course since its inception in 2012, giving them the opportunity to progress to even higher levels of education, with access to a range of health and social care careers.
Army project officer, Major Edd Gordon of the Royal Army Medical Corps, said: “By working with their NHS colleagues, army student paramedics at the University of Cumbria are being given excellent opportunities to gain valuable experience and transferable skills which will benefit the military in its future contingency role. “The army student paramedics do not have the opportunity to regularly care for obstetric patients within the military and so the experience gained through the partnership with their civilian NHS colleagues and the University of Cumbria is invaluable.”
UNIVERSITY WORKS WITH ARMED FORCES ON NEW COLLABORATION
Military personnel, training to become qualified paramedics through a pioneering partnership with the university, are taking part in a new study with midwifery students.
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Professor Jack Whitehead gave the keynote speech at an educational research conference at the university's Fusehill Street campus, Carlisle on Wednesday 18 June.
The theme of the conference focused on ‘Teacher researchers: Change agents at work’, and explored teacher research in early years, primary, secondary and higher education settings.It examined the changing world of education in England, and how schools and school-based teacher educators are becoming increasingly responsible for the professional development of both new and experienced teachers.
The conference was open to qualified and trainee teachers and lecturers, and provided a professional development day focused on practitioner research in education (teachers investigating how to improve pupil learning).
Professor Whitehead first visited the university in its former guise as St Martin’s College, Lancaster, in 1967 where he produced his first special study on education.
After qualifying as a teacher, Professor Whitehead taught at comprehensive schools in London for six years before joining the University of Bath in 1973 as a lecturer in education.While studying part-time for a master’s degree in the psychology of education he recognised a fundamental mistake to the then dominant approach to educational theory.This discovery changed Professor Whitehead’s career path and he became an educational researcher, developing a new approach referred to as 'living theory' which has been successfully applied by many teachers to explain their workplace practice.
Reader in Professional Learning at the university, Dr Pete Boyd said: “This conference provided an opportunity for teacher researchers from our partnership schools to share their findings and the impact of their research on student achievement.
“There is a consensus that teaching needs to become a more research-informed profession. Despite current challenges in relation to funding, this means more teachers need to complete master’s awards and become confident in critically engaging with research evidence and leading practitioner research projects.”
Above: Professor Jack Whitehead
CONFERENCE SEEKS TO IMPROVE LEARNING IN SCHOOLS
A leading international expert in education has returned to the university after five decades to offer guidance to teachers about driving improvement in schools.
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Delivered by Jane Burston, Head of the Centre for Carbon Measurement at the National Physical Laboratory, the lecture was entitled The New Climate for Business and addressed the need for a systemic shift in economic activity and incentives to address climate change.
Ms Burston recently delivered a live talk on the BBC Radio 4 ‘Four Thought’ series, arguing that by placing too much emphasis on profit, companies behave in an unethical way, and it is time for social purpose to take centre stage.She says: “Businesses are the most powerful force in the world today. Educating the next generation of business leaders in sustainability and social responsibility is essential if we’re going to tackle global issues such as climate change in the coming decades.
“I’m pleased to be able to take part in IFLAS’ lecture programme and add my perspective to the discussion about how tackling such problems might present new opportunities.”
Following her lecture, Jane also presented scholarship certificates to two new IFLAS students who will soon be starting postgraduate study with the university.
The scholarships have been funded by the Robert Kennedy College, which is based in Switzerland. Together with the University of Cumbria, they jointly deliver an MBA in Leadership and Sustainability, which regularly brings executives from around the world for a week’s residential study in the Lake District.
Emily Oliver and Tom Shakhli, both from London, have been accepted onto the Postgraduate Certificate for Sustainable Leadership which will be delivered at both Ambleside and the campus on East India Dock Road in the capital.Tom Shakhli is co-manager of the Brixton Pound, perhaps one of the best-known community currencies in the UK, and comments:
“It is an exciting area of work to be in, because it feels like it’s the start of something bigger. There isn’t really a blueprint for success. That’s why I think it’s important that there are academic institutions such as the University of Cumbria that have departments dedicated to this area of work.
“The Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Leadership seems ideal because it can give organisations such as ours the requisite knowledge to take our initiatives and have them really make a difference.”
Amongst other freelance projects, Emily Oliver has recently founded and currently co-manages FoodCycle Wandsworth and is keen to begin her studies. She explains:
“I’m aware that in order to further develop skills in organisational leadership, an understanding of sustainable strategy, and ability to nurture impactful results, I need to study them effectively. As I learn best through practice, this course’s experiential approach is an ideal opportunity to do that - as well as build a support network.”
For further details about future IFLAS open lectures, please visit www.cumbria.ac.uk/iflas
OPEN LECTURE WITH FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITYThe Institute for Leadership and Sustainability (IFLAS) held an open lecture at the Ambleside campus on Tuesday 3 June.
Ms Burston recently delivered a live talk on the BBC Radio 4 ‘Four Thought’ series, arguing that by placing too much emphasis on profit, companies behave in an unethical way.
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RESEARCH AIMS TO REDUCE OLDER PEOPLE’S FALL RISK
University researchers have been awarded more than £130,000 to fund a project aimed at preventing falls in older people.
The three-year project will examine walking patterns of people aged 65 and over, and how head and eye movements can lead to falls.
Researchers will specifically explore the relationship between head position, visual focus and balance in older people when they walk, with the hope of finding solutions that could reduce the fall risk in older people.
Around one in three adults over 65 who live at home will have at least one fall a year, and about half of these will have more frequent falls.
It has been shown that a large proportion of falls in older adults are because of trips, slips, and missteps, which mostly occur during walking. A fall will result in increased fear of falling, consequently limiting the individual’s activities and therefore reducing their independence.
The institution’s *Active Ageing Research Group (AARG), led by Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Physiology Dr Susan Dewhurst, and Senior Lecturer in Sport Mechanics and Performance Analysis Theo Bampouras, has been awarded a major medical tesearch grant of £136,051 by the Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust to launch this project.
Theo said: “This grant is a great success for AARG and it will allow us to investigate how older individuals walk and the fall risk posed by this activity. This, in turn, will enable us to examine ways to reduce that risk, and will help people maintain their independence in older age. It will also allow for another full-time research student to join AARG, further increasing the research culture in the university.”
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Eye movement and visual information during walking is an essential aspect of the project and AARG has joined forces with Dr Tim Donovan, from Medical Imaging Perception and Expertise group, to utilitise his expertise.
Theo added: “We are delighted to collaborate with Tim on this project. His vast experience in eye movement research adds another important dimension to the work that we do, and this successful partnership will pave the way for future work in this vital area of research.”
The project will also see the appointed research student complete part of the study at Foro Italico University of Rome, under the supervision of Professor Andrea Macaluso and Dr Luca Laudani.
Susan said: “This is an attractive and unique opportunity which will enable the student to enrich their PhD experience, and will further strengthen our links with this institution. This project and the exciting work and opportunities it presents would have not been possible without the financial support of the Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust, and we are extremely grateful to the trust for awarding us this grant.”
John Parkinson is chairman of the Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust. He said: “The trust was delighted to support researchers from the university with such an interesting proposal which aligned well with the trust’s strategic objectives. It congratulated the applicants for gaining the award in competition with applications from a number of universities.”
*The Active Ageing Research Group in the University of Cumbria was developed with the vision of investigating the benefits of active ageing on functional ability, independent living and mental wellbeing, identifying the more effective interventions and promoting them into future health schemes. The aim of the group is to work in collaboration with older individuals to develop scientific research which can be readily used and translated into practical applications; in other words, focusing on impact, without compromising scientific rigour.
Anyone who is interested in AARG’s work can email: [email protected] more information about the Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust visit www.peeltrust.com
“The Active Ageing Research Group in the University of Cumbria was developed with the vision of investigating the benefits of active ageing on functional ability, independent living and mental wellbeing.”
Below: Theo Bampouras and Dr Susan Dewhurst
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Women may be more likely to be aggressive to their partners than men, according to a study presented as part of a symposium on intimate partner violence (IPV) at the British Psychological Society’s Division of Forensic Psychology annual conference in Glasgow.
Dr Elizabeth Bates from the University of Cumbria and colleagues from the University of Central Lancashire gave a total of 1104 students (706 women and 398 men; aged between 18 to 71 with an average age of 24) questionnaires about their physical aggression and controlling behaviour, to partners and to same-sex others (including friends).
The findings showed that women were more likely to be physically aggressive to their partners than men and that men were more likely to be physically aggressive to their same-sex others.Furthermore, women engaged in significantly higher levels of controlling behaviour than men, which significantly predicted physical aggression in both sexes.
Commenting on the findings, lead researcher Dr Bates said: “Previous studies have sought to explain male violence towards women as rising from patriarchal values, which motivate men to seek to control women’s behaviour, using violence if necessary.
“This study found that women demonstrated a desire to control their partners and were more likely to use physical aggression than men. This suggests that IPV may not be motivated by patriarchal values and needs to be studied within the context of other forms of aggression, which has potential implications for interventions.”
The study was reported in amongst others, The Times, The Telegraph, The Huffington Post and the Press Association, and BBC and ITV.
Article courtesy of the British Psychological Society
Dr Bates was the winner of the Lecturer of the Year award in the UCSU awards for 2014.
RESEARCH CHALLENGES AGGRESSIVE STEREOTYPESDr Elizabeth Bates presented at the BPS Division of Forensic Psychology annual conference on the 23 June, on her research entitled ‘Testing predictions from the male control theory of men’s partner violence.’
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RESEARCHERS FOCUS ON SEEING THE WOODS AND THE TREES
University researchers, in collaboration with Hill Top Partnerships, have been studying public perceptions of woodland cover in the Lake District National Park—and coming up with some interesting results.
Around 600 people have taken part in a survey to determine their views on levels of woodland in the Borrowdale Valley. They were asked questions about photographs which had been digitally altered to show differing levels of tree cover in the valley. When asked to identify the current reality, 80% of the respondents chose a photograph showing considerably less woodland cover than exists at the moment. But when they were then asked to choose their most ‘desirable’ future view, 69% chose photos showing more woodland than the current situation.
Why is this important? Woodlands cover about 12% of the Lake District, slightly less than the UK average of 13%. Globally, the average for forest cover is 31%. This research explores ways of determining perceptions of the optimum level of acceptable woodland, without spoiling the character of the landscape. However, farmers, land managers, foresters and the general public are all likely to have different views about what this level should be. That is why the results of this survey, conducted across a range of respondents from both within the Lake District and farther afield, will be of widespread interest.
Dr Andrew Weatherall, lecturer and researcher at the National School of Forestry, based at the university’s campus in Ambleside, explains:“It is notable that, in this survey, 48% of the respondents chose the photo showing the most abundant amount of woodland of all as their most desirable option.
“As well as being visually desirable, woodlands are a great way of combatting climate change; they capture carbon in the growing trees and store it in biomass and soil. The resulting timber, wood products and biomass have a substitution effect, meaning we can use them to reduce fossil fuel use.”
Richard Lemmey of Hill Top Partnerships comments: “This is a first step in working out how we can balance conserving the character of our landscapes with the need to increase biodiversity and carbon mitigation. It is important to canvas views as widely as possible to represent the interests of all stakeholders and this initial research shows us that the photo manipulation techniques do that.
“Full analysis of the data is currently being undertaken and will be published in due course. We are also seeking further funding to enable us to extend this approach across a variety of landscapes in the UK.”
Fellow researcher from the university, Dr Ian Convery adds: “This is important because woodlands are thought to contain about 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. This biodiversity means woodlands are thought to deliver more benefits to human society than any other habitat type.We need to understand more fully how we want our future landscapes to look.”
Woodlands cover about 12% of the Lake District, slightly less than the UK average of 13%.
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Publications
Publications in Education and Higher EducationBoyd, P., Smith, C., & Ilhan Beyaztas, D. (2014). Evaluating academic workplaces: the hyper-expansive environment experienced by university lecturers in professional fields. International Journal for Academic Development, (ahead-of-print), 1-15.
Boyd, P., & Bloxham, S. (2014). A situative metaphor for teacher learning: the case of university tutors learning to grade student coursework. British Educational Research Journal, 40(2), 337-352.
A selection of some of our staff research outputs
from the past few months
RESEARCH ROUND-UP
Research in Health & Science
Bell, J., Cox, D. and Marcangelo, C. (2014) Master’s level occupational therapy students on placement: an exploration of perceptions and expectations. British Journal of Occupational Therapy April 77(4)
McDermott C, Al Haddabi A, Akagi H, Selby, M. and Cox, D. (2014) What is the current NHS service provision for patients severely affected by chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis? A national scoping exercise. BMJ Open 2014;4:e005083. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005083
Miller, P. and Grimwood, T. (2014) How to do things without words. In Garvey, B. (Ed) JL Austin on Language. Palgrave McMillan: London. pp70-88
Kokologos, D., Tsitoura, I., Kouloumpis, V. and Tsoutsos, T. (2014) Visual impact assessment method for wind parks: A case study in Crete, Land Use Policy, 39: 110-120
Murray, A.W., Barnfield , M.C., Waller, M.L., Telford, T. and Peters, A.M. (2013) Assessment of Glomerular Filtration Rate Measurement with Plasma Sampling: A Technical Review Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Technology 41 (2): 67-75 - Won the Editors’ Choice Award for the best continuing education manuscript published in JNMT in 2013 Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging in the USA, to be presented at the annual meeting in St. Louis – 10 June 2014.
Mallett, S., Phillips, P., Fanshawe, T. R., Helbren, E., Boone, D., Gale, A., ... & Halligan, S. (2014). Tracking Eye Gaze during Interpretation of Endoluminal Three-dimensional CT Colonography: Visual Perception of Experienced and Inexperienced Readers. Radiology.
Publication in Art & HumanitiesPublication by one of our postgraduate research students: Willenfelt, J. (2014) documenting Bodies: pain surfaces in Boddice, R.G. (Ed) Pain and Emotion in Modern History. Palgrave: London, pp.260-276
Research by the Active Ageing Group (Dr Susan Dewhurst & Mr Theo Bampouras into squat depth on performance was cited in the March issue of Men’s Fitness on training techniques.
Other publications by the Active Ageing group have included;
Dewhurst, S., & Bampouras, T. M. (2014). Intraday Reliability and Sensitivity of Four Functional Ability Tests in Older Women. American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation/Association of Academic Physiatrists.
Dewhurst, S., Bargh, M. J., Davidson, C., & Bampouras, T. M. (2014). Loaded and Unloaded Marching: Implications for Fluid Replacement. Open Sports Sciences Journal, 7(1), 16-21.
Publications from CRED have included;Peck, F., Parry, S., Mulvey, G., Jackson, K., Cabras, I., & Jackson, J. (2014). The role and significance of rates relief for supporting businesses in Wales. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 32, 000-000.
External Active Membership of Associations & Societies
Doctoral Researcher Bel Youngson has been successfully nominated as the post-graduate research student position on the College of Occupational Therapists Research and Development Board
To keep up to date with the latest university research news, follow our research Twitter accounthttps://twitter.com/UoCResearch
If you have research you would like to see featured in Connect, or on the research Twitter feed, contact Alison Lundbeck [email protected]
IFLAS open lectures: series 3
Tuesday 7 October: From political to enterprise leadership: what works? Laura Willoughby MBE
Tuesday 21 October: Positively Deviant Leadership in Finance. Dr Raj Thamotheram
Tuesday 4 November: Burning Questions for Leaders: The Climate. Mike Berners-Lee
Tuesday 18 November: Leading Alliances for Girls Dr Rebecca Calder.
Ambleside campus5.45 – 7.30pm Register by email: [email protected] SPORT AND LEISURE PACKAGES FOR STAFF
The university is now working in partnership with both Carlisle Leisure Limited (CLL) and Lancaster City Council to offer attractive staff sports and leisure packages for 2014/15. For a yearly membership of just £100, staff will be able to access all the facilities and classes on campus. In addition, in Carlisle they will have access to a range of CLL sport sites across Carlisle and West Cumbria – and in Lancaster they will have free entry to all the facilities at Salt Ayre sports centre.
Full details of both packages are available on our website - click on these links for either Fusehill Street or Lancaster.
If you would like to contribute to the next issue of Connect, please contact a member of the communications team:
[email protected] [email protected]
The copy deadline for the next issue of Connect is 10 November 2014.
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LUNCHTIME FOOTBALL
AT LANCASTER?
We would like to start up a regular weekly game of
football on the astroturf at Lancaster campus. If we
can get enough numbers we will be looking for a half
pitch, 7-a-side game for about an hour, and if there
is sufficient long-term interest we would like to make
a regular booking for a lunchtime (ideally) during
the week on a day and time that suits most people.
It won’t be competitive and all abilities are welcome.
If you are interested, please contact
Andrew Parker, [email protected]
Fusehill StreetCarlisleCA1 2HH
www.cumbria.ac.uk
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