ANNUAL REPORT 2009 MOVING FORWARD
A University of Opportunity In 2009, a year which will inevitably be associated with recession, the University chose to lead by example and to rise to the challenges posed in a proactive and innovative manner. In this increasingly challenging climate it was deemed vital to take steps to strengthen our institution by consolidating and enriching our core undergraduate offering, identifying and concentrating on areas in which we excel, and ensuring that we are ‘fit for purpose’ in both the short and longer term. Arguably the most innovative development has been the complete refocusing of our undergraduate portfolio culminating in the launch of Learning Works, to be introduced in September this year. This fresh approach will enrich the student learning experience via an enhanced, employer-responsive curriculum ensuring our graduates leave us as highly employable, digitally literate and innovative individuals with an important competitive edge in the increasingly challenging job market. Equally exciting is the University’s new Innovation and Enterprise Strategy. Developing and enhancing current activity in this area, two new Innovation and Enterprise Hubs will be created at either end of the Wolverhampton Telford Technology Corridor, creating an environment that will stimulate and encourage enterprise, entrepreneurship and innovation in the region. This will not only present fresh opportunities for our students and graduates but will also provide local businesses with the incentive to raise their research and
Professor Caroline Gipps Vice-Chancellor
development activities across the full range of technologies. The newly formed continuing professional development company, i-CD Ltd, became fully operational this year in response to the requirement to fuel business recovery in the region. i-CD is working with employers to maximise the skills of their workforce to aid business profitability and performance. The entrepreneurial culture at the University of Wolverhampton has grown and is now considered to be at the heart of the University’s mission. Our Knowledge Transfer Partnerships initiative has seen an increased take-up of over 40% in the last year, contributing to the future success of the region. Many areas of excellence have been recognised during this period. Academic quality and standards were highly commended following an official inspection by the Quality Assurance Agency and our students continued to rate highly the quality of our learning resources in the National Student Survey. In the Research Assessment Exercise, Wolverhampton was one of the two most improved post-92 universities with all eleven subject areas entered having elements deemed to be Internationally Excellent and eight having elements graded as World Leading; an achievement of which we can be justifiably proud. We are now in an excellent position to move forward with confidence to meet the challenges which undoubtedly lie ahead for the whole Higher Education sector.
On behalf of the Board of Governors, I take great pleasure in recommending this report to you. The Annual Report provides a valuable insight into the achievements of staff and students and is an opportunity to reflect on the progress made during 2009. I am particularly proud of the University’s engagement and participation within the region. The University’s ‘can do’ culture enables individuals to make a real difference within their local community, whilst University initiatives have an enormous, positive impact on the cultural and economic landscape of the West Midlands. The strength of our partnerships enables us to be a force for positive change regionally, nationally and internationally. We equip our graduates with the skills to compete on a global level. The University continues to drive innovation in teaching and learning. Entrepreneurship and enterprise permeate our highly-successful teaching, research and knowledge transfer activities, reflecting the demands of our rapidly changing economy. I hope that you enjoy reading more about our achievements and developments.
Michael Elliott
Chair of the Board of Governors
CONTENTS 2
3
Advancing our learning and teaching Our innovative approaches
5
Enquiring minds Our research profile
7
Stimulating enterprise and commerce Our links with business
9
Keeping good company Partnerships with educators and industry
11
Becoming citizens of the world Our international activity
13
Recognising achievement Staff and student successes
15
A selection of our honours Our Honorary Graduates 2009
19
Our strength in numbers Staff/student numbers and financial overview
21
Leading change Our Management and Governors
3 Learning and Teaching
learning Advancing our
and
teaching Like any successful organisation, the University of Wolverhampton appreciates that firm foundations are essential for future growth and advancement. During 2009, we accomplished a great deal in order to consolidate and strengthen our position. A review and refocus of our core curriculum, and the academic framework in which it is delivered, has ensured that our staff and students can all benefit from an enriched learning environment.
Learning and Teaching 4
Strong academic foundations
New Schools of thought
The audit team expressed their confidence in the management of academic standards and the high quality of learning experiences available to students. Several areas of good practice were highlighted, including study skills support, Learning and Information Services and IT Services, as well as the work of the Quality and Academic Standards Division.
The School of Health became responsible for the subject areas of Social Work and Social Care, forming the new School of Health and Wellbeing. Students now benefit from greater inter-disciplinary learning across these related fields.
We believe that we have excellent academic foundations to underpin learning and teaching across the University. This belief was confirmed by national education watchdogs, the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). Following their official inspection, the QAA highly commended the University’s academic quality and standards.
Students voice their approval
Further evidence that we have successfully built on our core strengths came from our students, who registered their approval in the National Student Survey 2009. The Survey revealed that student satisfaction had increased at the University for the second year running, with overall satisfaction rising from 76% in 2008 to 78% in 2009. Our students placed the University’s learning resources as above the national average, with 84% of students saying they were satisfied compared to the national average of 80%. The University also maintained a high satisfaction rate for access to IT facilities, with 90% of students saying they could access facilities whenever they needed to. In addition, 80% of students reported that they were satisfied with the teaching on their course.
A responsive curriculum
In 2009 the University launched Learning Works, which reviewed and refocused all our undergraduate courses. We responded to input from students, employers and professional bodies, simplified our course structures, clarified our course content and reviewed all our course titles. The result is an enriched undergraduate portfolio which draws upon our past and present successes, and places an increased focus on employability. To equip our students for the world they face upon graduating, the curriculum promotes three graduate attributes: digital literacy, knowledge and enterprise, and global citizenship, thus giving rise to the Wolverhampton Graduate.
The School of Humanities, Languages and Social Sciences and the School of Legal Studies joined forces to form the new School of Law, Social Sciences and Communications. Students now benefit from being part of a bigger School with more resources, a larger peer group and greater cross-fertilisation of ideas between complementary disciplines.
Mastering new skills
One of the first postgraduate initiatives of its kind, Masters+ was launched by the University in 2009. As part of our commitment to increasing the employability and leadership skills of our graduates, Masters+ delivers a set of skills workshops designed to develop the career potential of postgraduates. The pioneering Masters+ programme provides students with practical, contemporary and industry driven courses not typically delivered within a taught postgraduate course.
Industry conscious Institutes
2009 saw the creation of two new industry focused Institutes. The Institute of Gaming and Animation and the Institute of Media Arts were formed to address industry demand to deliver cutting-edge technology and design solutions underpinned with expert knowledge and internationally recognised research. The Institutes will advance the design and delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, placing a clear emphasis on industrial and commercial relevance in order to produce capable graduates with the potential to shape the future of Britain’s media and creative industries.
Nursing exemplary practice
During their annual monitoring exercise for 2009, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) praised the standard of nursing education at the University of Wolverhampton. The University’s approach to practice placement learning received particular praise and was officially judged as ‘outstanding’, having achieved a consistently high performance. As a result of the inspection, the School of Health and Wellbeing was invited to share its expertise in this area at the NMC national conference.
5 Enquiring minds
Enquiring
Wolverhampton is advancing opportunities to pursue academic research at the highest level, elements of which are regarded as internationally excellent, and the evidence suggests that we are set to go from strength to strength. Rewarding research
In recognition of our research excellence, in 2009 the University was awarded almost £2 million for Quality Research by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Our success in the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008, resulted in the highest Quality Research allocation for a new university in the West Midlands.
to investigate significant issues faced by educationalists, and undertake significant increases in commissioned research. The Centre is rapidly establishing itself as a high quality leader of evaluation and impact studies.
A body of knowledge
Eight out of the 11 research areas examined during this peer review exercise had elements which were regarded as world leading. In addition, all of our submissions had internationally excellent work, and our overall score places us in the category of ‘internationally recognised’.
Analysis led by Professor Alan Nevill, of the University’s School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure revealed that body shape played an important role in the success of top footballers. The research team examined official FA Premier League and old First Division data to identify the key physical characteristics of professional footballers.
Our excellent research performance across the board, particularly in areas around design, IT, language of computing, the built environment and brain tumours, reflects the efforts of staff and the University’s ongoing drive for discovery and innovation.
The study showed that players from top performing teams were taller and leaner than those from less successful teams. In a separate study, Professor Nevill also found that the most successful teams over the past 40 years have been those who fielded a consistent and unchanged side throughout a season.
Educating the educators
Fighting breast cancer
The official launch of the Centre for Developmental and Applied Research in Education (CeDARE) took place in February 2009. Based at our Walsall Campus, CeDARE has built upon research achievements at the School of Education. The Centre offers a forum for researchers, academics, policy makers and practitioners to exchange ideas, build capacity
Dr Angel Armesilla, Reader in Molecular Pharmacology at the University’s Research Institute in Healthcare Science, was awarded a pilot grant worth £20,000 to study why chemotherapy fails to destroy around 40% of breast cancers. Dr Armesilla’s innovative research project is seeking ways to improve the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to chemotherapy.
Enquiring minds 6
Understanding three generations of thought
Dr Tehmina Basit, from the University’s School of Education, successfully bid for £66,892 from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to conduct an in-depth study of three generations of British South Asian families. Dr Basit’s study seeks to establish how education affects family relationships and how family attributes are perceived by each generation.
New insight on police practice
Research designed to examine why people hold such different views of the police was granted funding of £98,000 by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) in 2009. Policing expert Professor Peter Waddington, Director of the University’s History and Governance Research Institute, leads a team who will examine behaviour that leaves the public with an unflattering impression of the force and identify good practice.
Detecting cyber emotions
Experts from the University’s Cybermetrics research group are joining a European consortium to investigate the role of emotions in cyberspace by creating programs to automatically detect emotion in text. The four-year research programme is a European Commission funded project which looks at the role of collective emotions in creating, forming and breaking up e-communities.
Preventing extremism
A senior terrorism researcher from the University will bring together UK contacts from emergency services, prisons, local authorities, education and the media who are experiencing problems caused by violent extremism. Dr George Kassimeris
has been awarded more than £50,000 from the Leonardo da Vinci programme for a new project to prevent violent extremism and plans to link with the CIDOB Foundation, a world-renowned centre for the study of understanding terrorism and political extremism in Spain.
Challenging conventional thinking
Memories of his childhood in Zimbabwe prompted Moses Murandu to investigate the healing properties of granulated sugar, which was routinely used to heal wounds and reduce pain. In 2009, he was awarded the prestigious Fondation Le Lous Scientific Research Innovation Award and £25,000 to enable him to research the effect of sugar on patients’ wounds here in the UK. Mr Murandu, Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing at the School of Health and Wellbeing, is conducting his research on the vascular ward at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham.
Raising language skills
University of Wolverhampton researchers are working on a major new project looking at how languages are taught in schools. The two-year project, which has been commissioned by the Training and Development Agency, commenced in 2009. Specialists from Language Networks for Excellence at the University became part of a consortium whose research will inform the development of a long-term strategy for high quality delivery of world languages in schools in England.
7 Stimulating enterprise & commerce
enter Stimulating
2009, a challenging year for businesses large and small. The University’s targeted efforts to support its business partners through this difficult time were crystallised in a new Innovation and Enterprise Strategy for 2010-2015. Our culture of enterprise has already had a positive impact on industry, business and the community, delivering recession-beating initiatives.
Tapping into a rich seam of talent
The University saw a healthy return on its ongoing investment in the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) scheme. Wolverhampton rose to second in the country for the scheme which places graduates with companies to help them boost their profits. Wolverhampton already holds the top ranking within the Midlands.
i-CD Ltd, works with employers to maximise the skills and knowledge of their workforce with client-focused training packages. i-CD has a clear remit; to help boost the performance and profitability of local small and medium-sized enterprises by advancing opportunities for flexible learning through accessible and affordable training, accredited by the University of Wolverhampton.
Last year, the University’s KTP initiative saw an increased take-up, helping 40% more businesses to beat the recession with the aid of a high-calibre Wolverhampton graduate. Plugging the skills gap The University was awarded a £300,000 Joint Information Thanks to funding of £24 million from Advantage West Midlands, the European Regional Development Fund and the Systems Committee (JISC) project to develop an employer-responsive curriculum. The project will be Technology Strategy Board, KTP activity is set to grow still further. Led by the University of Wolverhampton, a consortium managed through the University’s Institute for Learning of 12 regional universities will work to increase the number of Enhancement (ILE). partnerships from 70 to 210 over the next three years. The project supports the upskilling of workers in the West Midlands, focusing on small to medium-sized enterprises, Maximising business assets by meeting the training needs of employers through a The University’s ongoing drive to deliver a coherent and cutting-edge portfolio. It will respond to the particular consistent product offering to the marketplace was marked concerns of individual businesses and to the development with the launch of Intelligent Career Development (i-CD) in of customised learning programmes, as well as delivering 2009. The continuing professional development company, workshops and external events.
Stimulating enterprise & commerce 8
prise & commerce
New initiative off to a flying start
The University kicked-off a pioneering entrepreneurship training programme focused on sports businesses in the UK. We teamed up with Wolverhampton Wanderers to support a new generation of UK graduate sports entrepreneurs. Wolverhampton Wanderers are the first football club in the country to be involved in a scheme of this type. The FlyingStart Programme for Sports Business is set to raise the game of ambitious young business people, providing support, assistance and mentoring to get their enterprise started and running successfully.
A role model for good business
Diana Thompson, Business Director of the University’s award-winning e-Innovation Centre was shortlisted for the prestigious title of Businesswoman of the Year 2009, in the Midlands’ Vitalise awards. Under Diana’s leadership, the e-Innovation Centre is now home to more than 57 companies as well as providing consultancy and mentoring to more than 170 businesses. The Centre has achieved a model of best practice accolade from the National Audit Office. As a result of its work, more
than 73 new jobs have been created, and approaching £3 million in new sales generated, by companies occupying the Centre and receiving business support.
Putting ideas to work
A £5.2 million scheme run by the University’s Institute for Innovation & Enterprise (IIE) gave students with entrepreneurial flair the support and financial backing they need to create their own business opportunities. The Student Placements for Entrepreneurs in Education West Midlands (SPEED WM) programme gave 30 students the opportunity to set up their own business whilst they are at university. In addition to financial support worth up to £4,500, participants get 10 hours of coaching from a qualified business mentor, plus business training and use of incubation space at Wolverhampton Science Park. The University of Wolverhampton also manages the project regionally for the partner institutions, which are the universities of Aston, Birmingham, Birmingham City, Coventry, Keele, Staffordshire and Worcester.
9 KEEPING GOOD COMPANy
good KEEPinG
Wolverhampton, and the Black Country in general, are well known for being welcoming and friendly, and deservedly so. it is a characteristic which influences the way we conduct ourselves as a University. Our good relationships and collaborative activities with schools and colleges, industry and organisations are many and varied. together, we are working to develop economic development and regeneration programmes to secure the success of the region.
Keeping good company 10
company A catalyst for change
A student coaching initiative was successfully piloted by the University in a scheme to raise achievement levels in maths and English. Students from the University have been trained to offer one-to-one mentoring for pupils across the region to help boost their confidence and their grades. The pilot scheme was initially set up with 13 students. It proved so successful that it has since been expanded. There are now more than 60 academic coaches trained to go into 30 schools across the Black Country. The presence of a positive role model from the University is helping raise levels of aspiration in youngsters. Our students have been able to share their insight about coming to university and encourage pupils to think about higher education when considering their futures.
In the continuing drive to provide quality assistance to the region’s hard-pressed construction industry, the University of Wolverhampton secured funding of £2.6 million from Advantage West Midlands (AWM) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This financial support will help the University deliver an innovative programme of business improvement services for the region’s construction industry through to the end of 2011.
Rewarding hard working students
A new scholarship scheme designed to motivate hard working students wishing to study at the University of Wolverhampton was launched in 2009. The University will work closely with partner schools and colleges, who will nominate students for the new ‘Student Achievement Scholarship’.
The initiative, launched by the Black Country Children’s Services Improvement Partnership (BCCSIP), is part of the University’s wider campaign to increase attainment levels in maths and English.
The Scholarship, worth £1,000, will be awarded to students who have been identified by their school or college as having achieved better progress in their studies compared with earlier expectations.
Programmed for success
Transforming the learning landscape
In recognition of our growing reputation in the games and animation development industry, in 2009 the University linked up with Sony PlayStation to allow students to use the same tools as professional computer games developers. The University is now a member of the PlayStation Portable Academic Development Programme run by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), which provides access to the same game production tools available to commercial developers, enabling staff and students to program games and play them on their PlayStation Portable and gain valuable industry skills.
Building good relations
More evidence of the University’s commitment to assisting the West Midlands’ construction industry came from the University’s support organisation West Midlands Centre for Construction Excellence (WMCCE).
The University is proud to have played an important role in the creation of Wolverhampton’s first Academy, South Wolverhampton and Bilston Academy. The Academy’s specialisms are in Engineering and Science. As official sponsors, together with City of Wolverhampton College and Wolverhampton City Council, the University is ideally placed to share expertise in engineering and the applied sciences, promote opportunities for student progression and perform a key role in the future development of the new Academy. In 2009, the University also pledged its support for the new North Wolverhampton Academy, which opens in September 2010. The University, City of Wolverhampton College and Wolverhampton City Council are official sponsors for the Academy which will serve the communities of Pendeford, Bushbury and North Wolverhampton.
11 Becoming citizens of the world
By investing our graduates with a greater understanding of their place and ethical responsibilities in the world, we are preparing them to go further. Exposure to the rich mix of cultures which can be found on any of our campuses is in itself excellent preparation for the far reaching opportunities which await the Wolverhampton Graduate. In addition, new ventures that seek to cultivate international partnerships pave the way for our graduates to become global citizens.
world
Becoming citizens of the
Becoming citizens of the world 12
Graduate mobility
The University is encouraging more of its students to see the world, in order to raise the global profile of Wolverhampton graduates. A successful bid for funding in 2009 has allowed graduates of the University to gain global business knowledge within a European country. The University was awarded funding of £68,000 from the Leonardo da Vinci programme to enable graduates from any discipline to complete a 12-week placement at a Dutch company. The scheme gave 15 graduates the chance to undertake a variety of projects in Dutch companies. Each graduate was able to learn new skills, find out about other cultures and improve their language skills, giving them impressive experience to add to their CV.
Partnerships in the Punjab
Our links with India are expanding. In September 2009, the University welcomed a delegation from the Punjab to strengthen partnership working. Senior staff from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) were shown the latest technology used by the University, including virtual reality equipment, as well as having the opportunity to find out about research and working with businesses. The visit was an opportunity to explore exciting avenues for collaborative working. The University was shortlisted for an IIT mentoring partnership, and students from the Punjab joined the University’s School of Computing and Information Technology as part of an internship programme during the first phase of our ongoing partnership. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed recently between the Punjab Government’s Education Secretary and the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Caroline Gipps. The aim is to promote further educational opportunities and training.
A shared celebration
The graduation of Wolverhampton’s Hong Kong cohort is an annual event at which we can celebrate the firm partnerships we enjoy with City University Hong Kong’s School of Continuing and Professional Education (SCOPE).
In November 2009, 130 students graduated from SCOPE and the University of Wolverhampton in a ceremony attended by Professor Caroline Gipps and Director, International, Jo Gittens. Students completed a wide range of programmes in Hong Kong, including Business and Management, Construction Management, and International Corporate and Finance Law. Our strong presence in Hong Kong is set to grow further, following the launch of an innovative new business and law programme and a BA (Hons) International Business Management.
Exchanging good practice
Academics from a university in the Punjab visited the University of Wolverhampton to learn more about developments in teaching practices in the UK. In 2009, staff from the Lovely Professional University spent a week meeting staff from our School of Education. The visit encouraged the exchange of ideas on developments in teacher training, classroom management and the use of new technologies in teaching and learning between the institutions. It is expected that reciprocal staff and student exchange visits, joint development and delivery of courses, collaborative research, and the development of e-resources will bring mutual benefits to both universities.
Malaysian Memorandum
The University of Wolverhampton forged closer links with educational institutions in Malaysia by signing a new educational agreement. During their visit to Kuching Sarawak in Borneo, Malaysia, University staff signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UCSI University. The agreement aims to foster deeper collaboration between the two institutions, reflecting the growing importance of the internationalisation of education, which is central to the University of Wolverhampton’s mission. The agreement builds on an existing relationship between the two institutions. UCSI students have already progressed to the University of Wolverhampton to top-up their first degrees in Business, Accounting and Finance, Biotechnology, Biomedical Science, Computing and IT, Music and Engineering. Several have chosen Wolverhampton to pursue their Masters and PhDs.
13 Recognising achievement
The individual achievements of our staff and students bring about collective rewards in levels of service, quality of thinking and the high standard of environment which we all share. It is their combined efforts which make our University greater than the sum of its parts. We would like to take this opportunity to highlight their contributions to our community of excellence.
Recognising
achiev Nalini Patel, a member of the University’s IT Service Desk team, won the national IT Service and Support Person of the Year Award. Nalini fought off tough competition from the public and private sectors. We are delighted that her exceptional and outstanding contributions to the success of the IT Services Team have been recognised by her industry peers.
Professor Glynis Cousin was recognised by the Higher Education Academy with a National Teaching Fellowship for her exceptional contribution to learning and teaching. As Director of the University’s Institute for Learning Enhancement (ILE), Glynis has built an international reputation for her work in researching higher education, curriculum inquiry and internationalisation.
DarkMatter Designs, a talented team of four University of Wolverhampton students and one University of Birmingham student, clinched the BAFTA ‘Ones to Watch’ award at the GAME British Academy Video Games Awards. The success of the gifted newcomers adds to the continually growing status of the University as a destination for students wanting to enter the animation and games industry. Dr Peter Day, Senior Lecturer in Photography and Fine Art, was selected for an Art Design Media Teaching Fellowship by the Higher Education Academy. Peter is using the £3,000 prize to develop an online system to provide art and design students with feedback on their work.
Recognising achievement 14
Clare Rowe scooped a prestigious Business Leader of Tomorrow award at the annual Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) Awards. Clare was one of only five graduates chosen from more than 1,000 nationally to be recognised by the government-led KTP programme. The award acknowledges those graduates who have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills while working on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership. Eze Osita, Regional Head of the West Africa Office, was presented with a Great African Merit Award. Eze’s work for the University involves student recruitment and profiling the University as part of the internationalisation agenda. The Award recognised his contribution to the development of education in Nigeria and his selfless service and integrity.
Jodie McCaughan was announced as the winner of the University’s inaugural Volunteer of the Year Award, which recognises students who have made an outstanding contribution to the community. Jodie, a student in Social Care and Criminal Justice, helps vulnerable and at risk members of the community in her volunteering role with Sandwell Advocacy. James Prankard was shortlisted for the prestigious Royal Television Society Student Awards in the category for Best Animation for his film ‘Billie and Millie’, whilst Will Beard, Lambros Panayi, Matvejs Terentjevs and David Shakespeare were shortlisted for Best Drama for their collaborative production, ‘Earthbound’. It is the second year running that films produced by School of Art & Design students have been shortlisted for the awards.
ement Janet Baker and her team from the Estates and Facilities Department won the British Association for Cleaning in Higher Education (BACHE) National Award for Good Practice 2009. Under Janet’s leadership, the team successfully instigated a new inspection procedure of communal kitchens in Halls of Residence, to change student attitudes in relation to kitchen cleaning. Gwen Heeney, Senior Lecturer at the School of Art & Design, received an award when the University won an international accolade in July for its contribution to the field of ceramics. The Student Award for Education was presented to the University at the International Ceramics Festival 2009.
Staff at IT Futures, an IT solutions and training provider based at the University, won the award for Best Knowledge Transfer Project at the ICT Excellence Awards. Their success recognises the key role played by the University in helping businesses exploit new technologies and enhance their knowledge of emerging technologies. Waqas Baggia, a postgraduate student from the University of Wolverhampton Business School, was named one of the Future 100 Young Social Entrepreneurs for 2009. The Future 100 Awards spotlight young people aged 18-35 who demonstrate entrepreneurial flair and innovation in running a responsible business venture. In his role as founder and president of the Student Enterprise Network (SEN), Waqas is active in promoting innovation and entrepreneurism in students at Wolverhampton.
15 A SELECTION OF OUR HONOURS
A SELECtiOn OF OUr
SUzI PERRy FRANK SKINNER
School of Applied Sciences; Honorary Fellowship
School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters
Suzi Perry grew up in Wolverhampton and studied at the University of Wolverhampton for a BA Honours degree in Business and Finance.
Frank Skinner is one of the biggest names in British comedy. He has enjoyed unrivalled success, both as a phenomenally popular stand-up comic and with hit TV shows, The Frank Skinner Show, Fantasy Football and Baddiel & Skinner Unplanned. He has also achieved two number one hits in the UK music charts with the football anthem Three Lions, alongside David Baddiel and The Lightning Seeds. Between 1992 and 1997 Frank sold out four UK tours, the last of which culminated in a performance at Battersea Power Station to what was then the largest ever audience for stand-up comedy in the UK. Frank can be heard on Absolute Radio every Saturday morning and has written newspaper columns and best-selling autobiographies.
She got her break into broadcasting with Sky Sports where she became the ‘first lady’ of motorcycling, covering MotoGP, World Superbikes and Speedway. In 2000 she joined the BBC and reports from events including Wimbledon and Royal Ascot. Suzi currently hosts Channel 5’s The Gadget Show. In 2004, she became a patron for Promise Dreams, a national charity based in Wolverhampton. Suzi, Steve Bull and Don Goodman initiated Run for Dreams, the charity’s largest single fundraising event. Suzi also works with Burnaid at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and London based UK Youth.
FACTS & FIGURES A SELECTION OF OUR HONOURS 16
NIGEL SLATER School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters Wolverhampton-born Nigel Slater worked for restaurants and hotels before finally running his own kitchen preparing food for photographic shoots. In 1988 he became the Observer Magazine’s food editor, shortly after which he published his first book Real Fast Food, which has sold over a million copies.
DON GOODMAN School of Applied Sciences; Honorary Fellowship Don began his footballing career at Bradford City before moving to West Bromwich Albion where he notched up 60 league goals over four years. Playing for Wolves, he scored the winning goal against his boyhood heroes, Leeds United, taking the team to the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 17 years. In 2001 he joined Walsall FC, where he helped them to promotion. After retiring from football, Don launched a fitness consultancy, FormulaGFi, in Wolverhampton in 2004 and operates a Personal Training Academy at Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club. He is recognised for his significant charitable works and supports charitable organisations tackling prostate cancer and supporting families and children who face serious illness.
He is now the author of ten cookery books including the classics Appetite and The Kitchen Diaries. In 2003 he published Toast – the Story of a Boy’s Hunger, a book about his childhood growing up in Wolverhampton. It became a bestseller, winning six major awards and is currently being made into a film. Nigel has made four television series including Real Cooking, Simple Suppers and A Taste of My Life, where he interviews well-known actors and writers about their lives, told through the food they have eaten.
17 A SELECTION OF OUR Honours
Kevin Bulmer
Vanley Burke
School of Computing and Information Technology; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Technology
School of Art and Design; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Art
Kevin Bulmer is founder and Director of Synthetic Dimensions, a Wolverhampton-based business that has been at the forefront of digital technology since its formation in Solihull in 1985. Initially a graphic design company, Kevin switched its focus within months to begin developing original computer games.
Dr Vanley Burke has been called one of Britain’s leading documentary photographers, one of the best Black-British exponents of the documentary genre and Grandfather of Black British photography. His work has been showcased across the globe, from New York to the Tate Galleries.
Kevin has developed a world-leading 2D to 3D image conversion system to generate holograms, lenticular, anaglyph and polarised displays for marketing. The system has been used worldwide by companies such as Nike, Reebok, Peugeot, Disney, EMI and Newline Cinema. He is now working on systems and content for 3D television.
He is Britain’s foremost Cultural Anthropologist who specialises in documenting migratory patterns of the Caribbean Diaspora. Over the past ten years, thousands of his images have been catalogued to create a unique archive in Birmingham Central Library. Many of his images document the life of the African-Caribbean community, from the late 1960s to the present day.
He is a Wolverhampton Business Champion, and lives in the Tettenhall area of the city.
David Burrows
Susan Hill OBE
School of Computing and Information Technology; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Technology
School of Applied Sciences; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science
Born in London, David graduated from Leicester University with a BA (Hons). After an initial career as an RAF pilot, he moved into IT, working for Oletti and Digital Equipment Corporation before joining Microsoft in 1991 as the ‘City’ Sales Manager.
Professor Susan Hill is a respiratory scientist, working for most of her career in the NHS and academia in Birmingham.
In 2007, David joined the Worldwide Public Sector division and is currently Managing Director – Government Solutions, leading one of the teams driving Microsoft’s worldwide Government industry solutions strategy. David is a past serving member of the ITCESSG; the e-SKILLS NTO (now e-Skills SSC); Computer Clubs for Girls (CC4G); the DELG Task-Force; and an appointed member of the MOD Defence Education and Skills Advisory Board.
She is professional head of the scientific workforce in the NHS and related organisations, and came into post as Chief Scientific Officer in 2002. She provides advice to senior government officials on the healthcare science workforce and leads on, and contributes to the development of policy. Susan is passionate about bringing science in health to life for young people, which she does as part of her role as DH Science and Society Champion. She is Vice President of the British Lung Foundation and was awarded an OBE in 2005.
FACTS & FIGURES A SELECTION OF OUR Honours 18
Prebendary Geoffrey Wynne
MICHAEL NORTON OBE
School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters
School of Humanities, Languages and Social Sciences; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters
Geoffrey Wynne’s first church appointment was as curate of St Peter’s Church, Wolverhampton. He founded the Chaplaincy at the University of Wolverhampton (then Polytechnic), where his 43 years is a British record.
Michael Norton was a scientist, merchant banker and publisher before becoming a social activist. He has spent more than 40 years supporting voluntary organisations, developing creative ideas for a better world and turning them into successful projects.
In 1978 the Chaplaincy Centre was built. It is now the Faiths Centre, with an interfaith team of Chaplains. Recognising his contributions to higher education, Geoffrey was appointed Prebendary of Lichfield Cathedral in 1981 and he is the Bishop of Lichfield’s Adviser in Higher Education. He has served on national committees for theological education and was an inspector of theological colleges. As Director of Ordinands in Lichfield Diocese, he selected and trained would-be clergy and he is a Freeman of the City of London.
SATHNAM SANGHERA School of Humanities, Languages and Social Sciences; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters Sathnam Sanghera was born in the West Midlands in 1976 and attended Wolverhampton Grammar School before heading to Christ’s College, Cambridge. He graduated with a first class degree in English Language and Literature. His first book, The Boy With The Topknot: A Memoir of Love, Secrets and Lies in Wolverhampton, was shortlisted for the 2008 Costa Biography Award and the 2009 Mind Book of the Year. Between 1998 and 2006 Sathnam worked at The Financial Times as a news reporter in the UK and the US, and as Chief Feature Writer, before joining The Times in 2007. He has won numerous prizes for his journalism, including Young Journalist of the Year at the British Press Awards in 2002.
In 1966, he created the first language teaching programme and supplementary school in the UK for non-English speaking immigrant children and their families, run by volunteers. In 1975, he set up the Directory of Social Change, which became the UK’s leading provider of information and training to the non-profit sector. In 1995, he set up the Centre for Innovation in Voluntary Action where he has initiated innovative projects worldwide, including a banking system for street children in South Asia.
19 Our strength in numbers
Student numbers
Staff numbers
Data source HESA return and SITS, November 2009
Academic School School of Education School of Health and Wellbeing (formerly the School of Health) School of Law, Social Sciences and Communications (formerly the School of Humanities, Languages and Social Sciences) University of Wolverhampton Business School School of Engineering and the Built Environment School of Applied Sciences School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure School of Legal Studies (now part of the School of Law, Social Sciences and Communications) School of Computing and Information Technology School of Art and Design Total Ethnicity
No.
%
3,846 3,586 2,751
16.7 15.5 12.0
2,457 2,083 2,033 1,664 1,628
10.6 9.0 8.8 7.2 7.1
1,529 1,507
6.6 6.5
23,084 100.0 No.
White 13,053 Asian Indian 2,799 Not given 1,292 Asian Pakistani 1,184 Black African 1,153 Black Caribbean 1,098 Asian other 552 Chinese 505 Other 412 White & Black Caribbean 295 Asian Bangladeshi 230 Black other 220 Mixed other 115 White & Asian 104 White & Black African 44 Not known 28 Total
Data source University of Wolverhampton staffing reports, November 2009
% Gender 56.5 12.0 5.6 5.1 5.0 4.8 2.4 2.2 1.8 1.3 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.1
23,084 100.0
No.
%
Female Male
13,535 9,549
58.6 41.4
Total
23,084 100.0
Mode of study
No.
%
Full-time Part-time
13,858 9,226
60 40
Total
23,084 100.0
Staff group
No.
%
Admin, Professional Academic Manual
1,163 978 472
44.5 37.4 18.1
Total
2,613 100.0
Working patterns
No.
%
Full-time Part-time
1,881 732
72.0 28.0
Total
2,613 100.0
Gender
No.
%
Female Male
1,568 1,045
60.0 40.0
Total
2,613 100.0
Ethnicity
No.
%
White British 2,146 Asian/Asian British Indian 182 Black/Black British Caribbean 65 White other 62 Black/Black British African 27 Asian other 20 White Irish 17 Chinese 16 Asian/Asian British Pakistani 14 White & Black Caribbean 13 Asian/Asian British Bangladeshi 12 Ethnic other 10 Black other 8 Not known 6 Mixed other 6 White & Asian 5 White & Black African 4
82.1 7.0 2.5 2.4 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
Total
2,613 100.0
Our strength in numbers 20
Financial summary 2008/09 Income for applied research and development Applied research and development forms part of other operating income.
2%
For our full financial statement for the year ended 31 July 2009, visit: www.wlv.ac.uk/finances
1%
24%
£25m
£24.0m
33%
£22.1m
40%
Income Funding Council Grants Academic Fees and Support Grants Other operating income Research Grants and other contracts Endowment income and interest receivable
%
59,747 50,469 36,719 2,583 1,355
40 33 24 2 1
£20m
£19.9m £18.1m
£15.3m £15m
150,873 100.0 Income
Total
£’000
5% 2%
£10m
34%
£5m
59%
How the income was used Staff costs Other operating expenses Depreciation Interest payable Total
£’000
%
89,015 51,297 7,544 3,017
59 34 5 2
150,873 100.0
£0m 2004/05
2005/06
2006/07
2007/08
Financial year
2008/09
21 Leading change
Leading Change
Lord Paul of Marylebone Chancellor
Michael Elliott Chair of the Board of Governors
Professor Caroline Gipps Vice-Chancellor
Professor Sir Geoff Hampton Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Garry Sproston Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Director of Finance
Professor Sally Glen Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic
Jane Nelson Pro Vice-Chancellor, Student Affairs
Professor Ian Oakes Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise
Helen Wildman Pro Vice-Chancellor and Director of Corporate Services
Leading change 22
Board of Governors Chair Mr M Elliott Deputy Chair Ms K Gee Vice-Chancellor Professor C V Gipps
Independent Members Ms K Copestake Dr J Johnson Cllr K S Sahota Mr J Sharp Mr S Towe CBE Mr J Woolridge CBE
Co-opted Members Ms C Burgher Mr J Chorley Ms L Cutting Mr I Hyde Ms A Kimbley Dr S Walford
Academic Board Members Dr B Conway Professor J Gilkison
Student Nominee Member Mr B Singh
Deans Dr Judith Burnett School of Law, Social Sciences and Communications Dr Bryony Conway School of Art & Design
Professor John Darling School of Applied Sciences Professor Kit Field School of Education Professor Linda Lang School of Health and Wellbeing Professor Rob Moreton School of Computing and IT; Acting Dean, School of Engineering and the Built Environment John Pymm School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure Professor Dom Wilson University of Wolverhampton Business School Professor Jean Gilkison Research and Graduate Studies Jon Elsmore Dean of Students
Senior Management Group Tony Lee University Secretary and Clerk to the Board of Governors Colin Addy Director, IT Services Nigel Babb Director, Strategic Developments Paul Bishton Deputy Director of Education Partnerships and Head, Midlands Leadership Centre
Professor Glynis Cousin Director, Institute for Learning Enhancement and of Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Ashar Ehsan Director, Marketing and Communications Marc Fleetham Regional KTP Manager; Acting Director, Business Development and Enterprise Janette Gilder Funding Manager; Acting Director, Business Development and Enterprise Jo Gittens Director, International Centre Henry Gun-Why Director, Estates and Facilities Andrew Holding Head, Finance Fiona Parsons Director, Learning and Information Services Jan Roman Deputy Director of Education Partnerships and Director of Black Country Children’s Services Improvement Partnership Paul Travill Academic Registrar Roger Williams Director, Personnel Kim White Chief Executive of i-CD
If you would like to offer any feedback or request further copies of this publication, please contact us via email at: annualreport@wlv.ac.uk To view our annual report online, please visit: www.wlv.ac.uk/annualreport University of Wolverhampton, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV1 1LY Acknowledgements Written and produced by Marketing and Communications, University of Wolverhampton. Artwork produced by McCann Erickson, Communications House, Birmingham. Printed by Wood Mitchell Printers Ltd