The Vibe: Issue 7 by The Vibe

C R E AT E & I N N OVAT E

ISSUE 7

EDITOR’S LET TER

We all want to know that we are improving in some way, shape or form; after all, that is the driving force behind all that we do. We want to know that at the end of it all, we are coming out the other side better than we started. St Patrick’s has seen you all continually develop yourselves in innovative ways to reach your goals. Enhancement has been the focal point this year for St Patrick’s, and like you, we too have improved by enhancing the student journey. In this issue we look at enhancement, creativity, and innovation. Sophelia Gentles, Editor

IN THIS ISSUE

IN THIS ISSUE C R E AT E & I N N O VAT E

p. 04 SPECIAL WELCOME from the Principal p. 06 STUDENT EXPERIENCE Looking back at 2016

p. 14 NATIONAL STUDENT SURVEY 2017 p. 16 WHAT TO GET New year, new beginnings

p. 08 ST PATRICK’S NEWSROOM / Pakistan Fashion Week / Come dine with me / Science museum trip / Travel trade show / Leather Lane market trip

p. 19 BE PREPARED for any interview It’s always challenging to know how to prepare for an interview. We’ve put together some key tips to guide you.

p. 11 JOURNEY TO SUCCESS Our graduates

p. 20 GET TO KNOW TOWER HILL

p. 23 USING INNOVATION for success p. 25 FOOD FOR THOUGHT Cures for brain fatigue p. 26 DINNER & A SHOW Enjoy quality showmanship with your food. p. 29 WHAT TO WATCH Hidden Figures p. 30 NSS PHOTO COMPETITION

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SPECIAL WELCOME

SPECIAL WELCOME from the Principal

I am delighted to have joined St Patricks college and community as Interim Principal. Throughout my career, I have been committed to ensuring that higher education is open to all and not just privileged elites. The college has a proud history of pursuing widening access stretching back to 1803, and we have important recent achievements too. In September, the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) confirmed that we met all official quality expectations for British higher education - the same standards that apply to universities. It also praised two areas of good practice: the individual one-to-one support for students, and the strong engagement of students (including the Student Council) in the learning process. These are very important endorsements. GOOD PR ACTICES We now need to build upon the strengths identified by QAA. Oneto-one teaching and support is a form of teaching that has crucial significance for students who are returning to study after a break and are not used to undertaking written assessments, because it is a key way that staff can directly help. Right across higher education, assessment is by far the hardest task that students face, and students should not be shy in asking for help. It is especially important to be pro-active in seeking out support at those times when you are in the college anyway and we are best able to help. The second area of good practice, students’ engagement in learning, is a major achievement and a great credit to the college in an area that universities find difficult. A major factor was the 04

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excellent impression that the students who met the visiting QAA team made on them. There are also now student representatives on the college’s key committees, and I shall be meeting with the student council regularly to update them on developments and to hear feedback from the student body. SCEPTRE COURT Although there have been teething problems and there is still work to do, Sceptre Court has potential to be a building that any organisation would be proud of. The building has enabled a number of enhancements: • Three rooms for one-to-one support on the 4th floor. Please ask your lecturers about how to access this academic support. • An additional lab on the ground floor, which supports the computing courses, but is available outside formal classes. • The lower ground floor has become a large canteen which is providing food, drinks and a place for informal socialising and working. Taken together, these enhancements move us much closer to the excellent experience that we want to provide for all students at St Patrick’s. I shall be working with colleagues to achieve further enhancements of the learning environment in future. Richard Black well, Interim Principal

1 St Katherineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dock, Sceptre Cour t area

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

STUDENT EXPERIENCE L O O K I N G B A C K AT 2 0 16

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Delivering an excellent experience for our students is one of our indicators for success. Ensuring that our students enjoy their time with us alongside gaining skills that will improve their employability is a high priority for us. Over the last year, we have: • carried out over 10 different student surveys to gain your feedback on various topics; • revised the Student Council structure to ensure better effectiveness; • introduced two new college committees focused on enhancement; • increased the number of academic workshops with topics chosen in consultation with students; • introduced one-to-one careers advice sessions; • arranged two careers fairs on campus; • invited industry figures to give talks; • moved to a new campus: Sceptre Court. We do all of this to prepare you for life after St Patrick’s, as well as to ensure you enjoy studying with us. Listening to the student voice is integral to the growth of the college and to you as students. 06

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We do this mainly via our elected student council and our student surveys. STUDENT SURVEY The annual survey gives you the opportunity to give feedback on all aspects of student life at St Patrick’s, which includes college services and facilities, teaching and learning, communication and student engagement. From this year, this survey will be replaced by the National Student Survey (NSS). All final year students are eligible to take part and you will see a lot of promotion around the campus. Please do get involved! STUDENT COUNCIL The Student Council plays a vital role in ensuring that the voice of the student body is heard by the senior management team, allowing their views to be taken into consideration when decisions concerning the running of the college need to be made. Communication between the college management and student body has greatly improved since the Student Council was implemented, and the ideas put forward at council meetings will continue to improve the St Patrick’s student experience for years to come. Providing students with a platform to share ideas, engage, and contribute to college matters is very important to us, so I encourage you to work closely with us! Amol Gurung, Student Experience Director

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

C A R E E R S AT S T PAT R I C K ’ S

The new Careers Department are delivering a free, professional, and innovative service to maximise the students’ employability. The department does this by offering opportunities to improve your employment prospects in a diverse range of sectors. The services available include: • assessing needs and developing a plan with a career advisor; • providing permanent work placements; • volunteering opportunities; • internships; • assistance with effective interviewing skills; • job search strategy; • personal development workshops; • careers fairs. Over the last term, the team has conducted various workshops to develop and increase students’ personal skills, such as building confidence, CV and cover letter support, interview technique, public speaking, and time management. There have also been two careers fairs for students in the School of Tourism and Hospitality and the School of Health and Social Care. A wide range of leading employers were present at both fairs, including Dorset Hotels, The Change Group, KFC, The Hospitality Company, London Care, and Care First. These events offered students the opportunity to interact with employers, seek information, and put into practice all that they have learnt to find a job that best suits them. The feedback was very positive, so make sure to look out for more upcoming events and fairs! Emma-Louise Maw, Enterprise & Innovation Coordinator

CEED

The Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Development (CEED) was launched in early 2016 and has been going from strength to strength. The initiative was set up to provide students with strong business acumen and inspire entrepreneurial spirt and enterprise within St Patrick’s. CEED’s mission is to foster an environment which nurtures forward thinking and offers

training, coaching, and mentoring services to students. An overall driver for the centre is to increase student employability, allowing for a more competitive edge in their future academic and business endeavours. CEED has held a number of workshops, trips, and talks to help students to develop enterprise and entrepreneurial skills. BARCLAYS WORKSHOPS Our partnership with Barclays bank has created the popular Barclays workshop series, where students are able to gain accurate business advice and guidance from a trusted body. Our workshops so far are listed below. • Business start-up / This workshop was so popular that we had to run two of them. It gave insight into starting a business, key issues every potential business owner should consider, and how to identify and avoid common pitfalls. • Cash flow management / Keeping an eye on money is important, both personally and in business. In this instalment, which focused on small businesses, students learned about cash flow management and how to identify potential issues. • How to write a successful business plan / In this workshop, students learnt the importance of a business plan, how it can help in attracting funding, and how planning for the future is always in their favour. INSPIRE WORKSHOP SERIES This series brings in business owners and entrepreneurs as guest speakers, providing practical, current advice and inspiration. These talks have included the topics below. • How to run a successful fashion brand / This speaker spoke about her experience of creating her own range of professional wear and gave advice on turning an idea into a promising business venture. • How to start a restaurant from your kitchen / In this talk, students were given insight into the food industry and given tips on effective marketing strategies they can apply to establish a structured food business. CIT Y BUSINESS LIBR ARY & BANK OF ENGLAND TRIPS These visits gave students access to establishments which offer practical information, dedicated attention from staff, and specialised databases covering a large scope of industries. If you would like to start your own business or have a business already, make sure you attend the next CEED event. For further information, visit — lp.st-patricks.ac.uk /ceed. THE VIBE MAGAZINE

S T PAT R I C K ’ S N E W S R O O M

ST PATRICK’S NEWSROOM COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS

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S T PAT R I C K ’ S N E W S R O O M

PA K I S TA N FA S H I O N W E E K

SCIENCE MUSEUM TRIP

The fashion school is often behind the scenes at prestigious events, and this past term was no different. Students participated in Pakistan Fashion Week London, one of the most exciting fusion fashion shows in London’s calendar. They were able to fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the show by working backstage,

A group of technology students, accompanied by Head of School Malcolm Thompson, visited the information age gallery at the Science Museum. This is the museum’s biggest and most ambitious gallery yet. The visit was a fascinating journey into telecommunications and computer network technology. It also

getting to grips with tagging, streaming, and dressing, as well as working closely with models and make-up artists. The experience was thoroughly enjoyed by all, and students felt it was a great opportunity to learn about rich embellishments, embroideries, cuts and shapes.

acted as a reminder of the pioneering technologists who have shaped the communication age that we all now enjoy. It gave the students significant insight into the technical history and business developments of the world of telecommunications, adding another layer to their studies.

COME DINE WITH ME

T R AV E L T R A D E S H O W

Bonny, one of our students in the School of Hospitality, took inspiration from the popular television programme Come Dine With Me to treat staff and students to an impressive buffet. Bonny catered for 60 people, cooking, storing and serving the food on campus. Overall, this was an outstanding event, with the atmosphere and professionalism of an actual restaurant — and it helped Bonny to pass her Food and Beverage Operations module. Well done Bonny!

St Patrick’s tourism students held a trade show to simulate the reallife experience of selling holiday packages as tour operators and travel agents. The trade show took place in the auditorium at the Sceptre Court campus, with a large number of staff and students taking part to make the event a success. As a result, students were able to experiment with their leadership skills, communication, teamwork, customer service and selling techniques. The course encourages students to link theory to practice, so this event was a perfect way to showcase what they are learning whilst completing their coursework. Students were praised for the effort they put in preparing the various stands, which had a large variety of holiday packages on offer.

L E AT H E R L A N E M A R K E T T R I P

St Patrick’s hospitality students recently visited Leather Lane market. The purpose of the trip was to engage with the local food businesses, identify food trends, and apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical setting. Students were able to gain insight into the London street food scene, a growing and trendy food sector which provides an alternative to restaurants. Interaction with the vendors also allowed the students to consider different business options for the future. Many thanks to the hospitality department for facilitating the visit, and to Food and Beverage Lecturer Ron Gibson for accompanying the students. THE VIBE MAGAZINE

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JOURNEY TO SUCCESS

JOURNEY TO SUCCESS O U R G R A D U AT E S

The road to success can seem long at times, but it is always possible to find your way — even if it means being different to others. Many students who studied at St Patrick’s have now graduated and are living their dream, and we know you can too. Below are the stories of some of our technology alumni who have done just that. We hope you are inspired by their journeys to create a new path for yourself.

and enrolled on a two year HND programme. Although it was a significant step up from her previous study achievements, she discovered her dream of becoming a network engineer could be realised after all. She began her studies at St Patrick’s in July 2013, and quickly adapted to the programme and environment. Her enthusiasm and desire to succeed carried her though the early stages and enabled her to make good progress. However, as with many students, by the second and third terms the demands of the programme and her home life started to take their toll.

S H E E R E TA A L E X I S

Sheereta left school of the age of 15 with no formal qualifications. She emigrated to the UK from Guyana as a 22 year old single mum in order to better herself. Her real desire was to study network engineering, but she received no encouragement to pursue this dream. Instead, the opposite was true: she was told that there was no future for her with this type of job, and was also diagnosed as dyslexic whilst she was in further education. One day she was approached by a marketing assistant, advertising programmes at St Patrick’s. Sheereta did not let the opportunity pass her by

She was told that there was no future for her with this type of job, and was also diagnosed as dyslexic. She went through a difficult period, but she persevered and by the time the second year began she was starting to get back on track. She has now achieved three distinctions and three merits, and is well on her way to completing her HND programme. She wants to progress to a BSc qualification and then take up a key position in the world of network engineering. THE VIBE MAGAZINE

the road to success can seem long at times, but it is always possible to find your way, even if it means being different to others

JOURNEY TO SUCCESS

ROMAN CERNY

BR ZENSKI “PRINCE” NUNUHE

Roman was born in a small town in Czech Republic. He performed

Brzenski was born in Namibia, where he discovered he was dyslexic

very well as a high school student, and gradually realised that he was interested in electronics. He enrolled at the College of Cybernetics in his home town, where he gained a real interest in the computer programming language C. It quickly became apparent to Roman that most computing literature is written in English, so he decided to come to the UK and spend six months in Brighton learning to speak the language. In 2010, he met Solange: the young lady who became his wife and then encouraged him to resume his academic studies. She realised his potential and his latent ability and enrolled herself on the HND Business Studies programme at St Patrick’s. This was an effective strategy, as Roman then decided to enrol to study a technology HND. He immediately made a very good impression on his lecturers and classmates as a quiet, friendly student with a good interest in and understanding of all topics. He particularly demonstrated a flair

during his high school years and went on to show some flair for mathematics and accountancy at A-level standard. However, when he left school at 18 he felt that the prospect of gaining entry to a university was not very high. Instead, he decided to begin a music career, performing music with a rap flavour and trying to establish a record label. In 2002, Brzenski came to the UK on a working holiday, and enjoyed it so much that he decided to apply to remain in the UK. In 2011, he received a telesales call describing a HND programme in Network Engineering at St Patrick’s. He was

Roman made a great success of his HND studies, gaining 15 distinctions out of 16 units and receiving the Outstanding Student Award at the college’s graduation ceremony in March 2015. for more challenging software engineering topics. Roman made a great success of his HND studies, gaining 15 distinctions out of 16 units and receiving the Outstanding Student Award at the college’s graduation ceremony in March 2015. He now has a full time position in software development with a company in South London. Had he not decided to resume his studies, he might still be repairing the electrical equipment on Brighton Pier.

Although he showed good aptitude for network engineering, he soon found that balancing his home life, a part-time decorating business, and his studies brought its own challenges. very keen to gain an academic qualification, so he completed the admissions procedure and was then successful in gaining a place on the two year programme. Although he showed good aptitude for network engineering, he soon found that balancing his home life, a part-time decorating business, and his studies brought its own challenges. This was compounded by financial pressure. Although he was able to pay his tuition fees with a loan from the Student Loan Company, he did not qualify for any maintenance payment; and when his wife was made redundant, this added to the strain. However, Prince — which he has now adopted as his name — has pressed on, and with the support of his wife he has graduated with very good HND grades. Brzenski is now completing the final year of a BSc top-up degree at a London university and wants to form an IT consultancy practice with two of his HND classmates. THE VIBE MAGAZINE

N AT I O N A L S T U D E N T S U R V E Y

NATIONAL STUDENT SURVEY 2 017

This year, St Patrick’s college will be taking part in the National Student Survey (NSS) for the very first time. If you’ve never heard of the survey, don’t worry! We’ll fill you in on all the important information: So, what is the NSS? The NSS is a survey which is completed by all final year students. It aims to gather information about student satisfaction and their experience on their course. Universities, colleges, and alternative providers in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales have been taking part since 2005. This year, the number is over 350 institutions and 431,000 students. What does the NSS look at? The NSS survey isn’t too different from the Student Experience Survey, so some questions may already be familiar. Areas covered include: 1. The teaching on my course; 2. Learning opportunities; 3. Assessment and feedback; 4. Academic support; 5. Organisation and management; 6. Learning resources; 7. Learning community; 8. Student voice. 14

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There are 27 compulsory questions. Most are matrix style answers (i.e. give a rating from “definitely agree” to “definitely disagree”) and open-ended questions. When does the NSS go live? The survey will be live from Monday 6th February 2017. Who carries out the NSS? All eligible students are contacted by an independent agency called IPSOS Mori. You will be invited to take part via an email with a link to the survey. Why are we taking part in the NSS now ? St Patrick’s College is evolving, and it’s now part of government requirements to take part in the NSS. We also want to make sure our students are able to have their say on a national platform. Why should I take part in the NSS? You’ll be able to speak your mind as well as provide future students with information about your time at St Patrick’s. What do I have to do to take part in the NSS? From January onwards, look out for the emails in your inbox. Staff and the Student Council will also be on hand to answer your questions, and there will be plenty of posters and reminders. You can also head over to the NSS website to complete the survey.

BE HEARD Take par t in the National Student Sur vey

It’s quick to complete, and you’ll also have the chance to win an iPad mini or a £50 Amazon voucher if you enter our online survey prize draw before midnight on 31/03/17

# S T PAT R I C K S N S S

thes tudentsur vey.com

What to get NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNINGS January is always a month of change: people begin to make resolutions for the new year and think about what they want to improve in their lives.

1 Trouva Druzy Cr ystal Poster £56 2 Anthropologie Urban Wall Ar t £42 3 Trouva Fair Trade Ocean Ear thenware Mugs Light Green £5.95 4 Anthropologie Voluspa Candle £26 5 Anthropologie Royal Apothic Eau De Par fum £28 6 Trouva Victionar y CITI 60 Londone £19

One way to make it really feel like a fresh start is to change your environment: surround yourself with things that inspire you and make you feel positive. Here are some of our favourites!

7 Anthropologie Spoon £10.95 8 Trouva La Petite Papeterie Pencils & Notes Box Set £19.50 9 Anthropologie Anglophile Bookmark £8 10 Anthropologie Folding Fans Cushion £48 11 Trouva Small Black Metal Plant Stand £29 12 Trouva Rains Smoke Waterproof Mini Unisex Travel Backpack £60

BE HEARD Take par t in the National Student Sur vey

It’s quick to complete, and you’ll also have the chance to win an iPad mini or a £50 Amazon voucher if you enter our online survey prize draw before midnight on 31/03/17

# S T PAT R I C K S N S S

thes tudentsur vey.com

B E PR E PAR E D

BE PREPARED FOR ANY INTERVIEW

DO YOUR HOMEWORK It is important that you find out as much information about the company as possible. Make sure you note down key information, such as when they were founded, the company mission and any recent projects they’ve worked on. They will usually ask what you know about them, so it’s crucial to remember your findings. PREPAR ATION Think about your skills, qualifications, experience, and what makes you best suited for the position. Ensure you can confidently talk about what you wrote in your CV and cover letter, particularly anything that is relevant to the position. Choose two or three previous job roles that you can use as examples to demonstrate your suitability for the position. It will always be challenging to know how to prepare for an interview, as all interviews are different. We’ve put together some key tips to help you. APPEAR ANCES How you look is just as important as what you say in an interview; they will judge you on how you present yourself. Dress smartly, make sure your hair is well groomed, check that your perfume or aftershave isn’t too overpowering, and choose simple, neutral colours for any make-up or nail polish. If you take yourself seriously, they will do the same.

COMMON QUESTIONS There are some questions that interviewers are likely to ask: you can prepare yourself by googling these and thinking about how you might answer them. ASK QUESTIONS It is always good to ask questions at the end of an interview. This shows you are interested in the job and you have given thought to the position. It also helps you get to know the company a bit more, which is useful as they might be your next employer. Don’t be afraid to write down your questions so you don’t forget. THE VIBE MAGAZINE

GET TO KNOW TOWER HILL

Jewels of England and is one of London’s most visited tourist attractions. Walking outside its walls will give you some exercise as well as fantastic scenery. GATEWAY TO THE SQUARE MILE Sceptre Court is on the doorstep of one of the most prestigious parts of London: the Square Mile. There’s heaps of history in and around this area, such as a 500-year-old pub, the impressive Guildhall Art Gallery, and a lot of green spaces. One of the prettiest areas is the Christchurch Greyfriars Church Garden, which is an ideal place to sit and take in the wildflowers. ST K ATHERINE’S DOCK Now a picturesque patch of water with a variety of food outlets, St Katherine’s Dock takes its name from a local hospital that no longer exists. Port workers and their families were the main residents until the area was turned into a quayside and docks. The area is proudly proclaimed the only marina in Central London, so take the opportunity to watch the boats and people to your heart’s content.

TOWER OF LONDON This building has played an important role in British history, as whoever held the Tower of London held power over England! Over the centuries, it has been used as a royal residence, an armoury, and even housed the Royal Mint. Now it’s home to the Crown 20

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TOWER BRIDGE This impressive piece of engineering is one of the most iconic bridges in the world. Its name comes from the Tower of London, rather than the towers on the bridge itself. An estimated 40,000 people cross the bridge daily, so avoid it during rush hour times — but on a nice day, it is a pleasant stroll with a beautiful view of the Thames.

the area around your new campus has an abundance of historical monuments and places to visit so go exploring!

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U S I N G I N N OVAT I O N

USING INNOVATION FOR SUCCESS

The word “innovation” is mainly used to describe a new invention or way of doing things. Consider Heston Blumenthal: he is very often called an innovative chef because of his unusual flavour combinations and ways of cooking. Another example is Ada Lovelace, who was the first computer programmer and developed the foundations for the apps and programs we use today. Without her ideas, our lives would be very different. However, the concept of innovation is not just about making changes that can affect the whole world. It can also be applied to your own life. Trying something new or doing something different can lead you to places you never considered before, both personally and professionally. What often prevents people from doing this is the fear of taking risks. Innovation means going outside of your comfort zone, so there is always a chance that you will fail — and most people aren’t prepared to take that chance. It’s important to remember that making a mistake is not necessarily

a bad thing. When you fail at something, you usually learn from it and use that knowledge to improve. In this way, failure and mistakes are just an opportunity to try again and do better next time. In order to bring positive changes into your life, whether you are trying to start a new business, learn a new skill, or broaden your career options, you have to stay open-minded about trying new things and remember that failure is just another step to success. The lesson here is: don’t be afraid to be an innovator. Use your creativity whenever and wherever it strikes you, and don’t worry if you make mistakes — that is where the real opportunities are found! This year will probably bring many changes for all of us, both good and bad; but even the things that seem bad at first can sometimes be turned to your advantage. Use these changes as an opportunity to try something new for yourself, and you will find that success comes quicker than if you stuck to the same old routine. Good luck this year!

In order to bring positive changes into your life, whether you are trying to start a new business, learn a new skill, or broaden your career options, you have to stay open-minded about trying new things and remember that failure is just another step to success.

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every mind gets a little fatigued sometimes. improve your brain productivity by adding these foods to your diet ...

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

FOOD FOR THOUGHT C U R E S F O R B R A I N FAT I G U E

BLUEBERRIES Great things come in small packages. Blueberries have many great health benefits, such as having the most antioxidants and high levels of vitamin C, vitamin K, and fibre. They are very good at protecting our brains from degeneration and stress. SPINACH Greens are always good for you — especially spinach. Eating it regularly will help to keep your brain alert, even in old age. EXTR A VIRGIN OLIVE OIL Real extra virgin olive oil is another great brain food. The antioxidants it contains improve your learning and memory. It is best to consume it cold or at room temperature, as it decomposes at high temperatures — so don’t cook with it! DARK CHOCOLATE Not all chocolate is bad for you — in fact, dark chocolate is the best chocolate to eat because it’s so good for you! Dark chocolate is packed full of flavonols, which have antioxidants and antiinflammatory properties. It also helps improve blood flow to the brain and lower blood pressure.

CUCUMBER Cucumber helps to improve your memory and protects your nerve cells from age-related decline. It is also made of 95% water, which will help keep your brain hydrated — this is an important component of normal brain function.

SALMON If you love salmon, then get excited: salmon is one the most brainfriendly foods as well as being very nutritious. It’s full of omega 3 fatty acids that keep your brain well-oiled and running smoothly.

BROCCOLI This is one of the best brain foods out there. With its high levels of vitamin K and choline, it will help keep your memory as sharp as a knife. THE VIBE MAGAZINE

DINNER & A SHOW

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DINNER & A SHOW

Nights out in London offer endless possibilities. A special treat for most of us is dinner followed by entertainment, such as a West End show, a trip to the cinema, or a gig. Well, why not combine the two? Having dinner while being entertained lets you properly enjoy both experiences, without the hassle of travelling from one venue to another. Here are some great ideas on where to enjoy quality showmanship with your food!

JAZZ CAFÉ 3 This classy yet cosy venue hosts a wide range of events, from Stevie Wonder tribute nights to renowned jazz artists and musicians from all over the world. The atmosphere is welcoming, both sophisticated and relaxed — and you may have trouble leaving once you’ve met the friendly staff. With the restaurant overlooking the stage and dancefloor, you’ll be right in the thick of it while enjoying the delicious a la carte menu which caters to all palates. Be sure to check prices online, as admission varies depending on the event.

THE BLUE KITCHEN 1 & 2 Blues Kitchen has venues in Camden, Shoreditch, and Brixton, where you can enjoy some good ol’ fashioned blues, soul, or rock & roll. Entry is free before 9PM, with entrance fees depending on the event, which varies from live bands to DJ sets. Make sure to check before you go! The mood is casual, fun, and American; and the menu is no different. Cajun and Creole dishes bring that true southern flavour, while burgers and barbecue add an all-American style of dining. Reserving a table in advance is best, as these venues are quite popular.

CAFÉ DE PARIS 5 For those wanting a bit more va va voom and glamour in their evening (and the price tag to match), Café de Paris is the place for you. This has been the home of cabaret and burlesque since the 1920’s, and its atmosphere is all about glamour and the charm of

TROPICANA BEACH CLUB 4 If you’re in the mood for something a little more exotic, Tropicana Beach Club (previously Guanabara) may be more your style.

days gone by. Guests are treated to a variety of circus acts, Moulin Rouge inspired cabaret, and slightly risqué burlesque. Dressing up is very much encouraged, and the decadent venue calls for little else. Dining options vary, with the gold and platinum packages catering for a minimum of six guests, whilst other options are better suited for couples. You’ll be rubbing shoulders with all sorts during the night, so sit back and enjoy the show!

The venue’s theme is decidedly Brazilian, so expect to hear pulsating drums and see a show to rival a Rio block party! For live entertainment, head down on a Thursday night for the Beach Club to enjoy sunset offers and good vibes. If you’d rather just dance the night away, Friday and Saturday are when the special guest DJs take centre stage. Booking a table for dinner is advisable: the food is delicious and the set menus are quite the steal. THE VIBE MAGAZINE

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WHAT TO WATCH HIDDEN FIGURES

To go with this issue’s theme of innovation, we have a film recommendation for you. Hidden Figures* explores the true story of the little-known black women who helped get humanity to the moon in 1969. At the time, NASA relied on real people to run all the numbers that we now rely on computers for; and these “human computers” were mainly women. Mathematicians Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) worked in the computing department of Langley Research Centre, making the calculations that led to NASA putting their astronauts into orbit and eventually landing on the moon. The pioneering team was called the “West Computers”, and they blazed a trail for black women in the industry of engineering. They solved equations, checked results and sums, and contributed to the designs of a range of different airborne vehicles; but they were still not afforded the same respect as their white male colleagues. Without them, America might never have won the Space Race; and yet their story has been ignored until now.

This film unearths their struggles and their triumphs, ensuring that they get the recognition they deserve. Keep an eye out for it in February!

*Released in the UK on 17th February.

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

NSS PHOTO COMPETITION W I N A S T PAT R I C K ’ S H O O D I E

Complete the 2017 National Student Survey and enter our weekly #StPHighFive p hotography competition to win a St Patrick’s hoodie!

Send your picture to our Facebook (@StPatricksCol) using #StPatricksNSS, focusing on one of these categories: Most people in a photo / Most creative shot / Funniest snap

T&Cs apply. See Facebook for full details.

• Use the #StPatricksNSS hashtag • One picture per student • Photo should include our #StPHighFive banner • Closing date 20/04/2017

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VIBE ISSUE 7