Hope Life Summer Graduation 2017

Summer Graduation 2017 Special

Hope Life Summer Graduation 2017 | Edition 9

If you have a story to share, get in touch at goodnews@hope.ac.uk

Summer Graduation

Hope Life

2017 Special

Hope Life Summer Graduation

2017 | Edition 9

Graduation 2017 | Edition 9

Contents

If you have a story

to share, get in touch

at hopelife@hope.ac.uk

#classof2017 David_Suchet @David_Suchet

I would like to thank Liverpool Hope University for awarding me an Honorary doctorate. I am humbled and most grateful.

Tanya @tanyawarwick_ Had the best 3 years at @LiverpoolHopeUK

4 Hope awarded Gold standard

RMcD @mcdaidr1

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Meet the new Students’ Union

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Degree Show 2017

Thank you @LiverpoolHopeUK for 5 beautiful years. #MSc #ComputerScience #TimeForWork

matthew @mattjones8362

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Graduation celebrations

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News in Brief

Had such an amazing Graduation at @LiverpoolHopeUK receiving my 2:1 BA Hons degree!

News around campus

Welcome from Professor Pillay

Literary rose garden opens The Department of English’s new literary rose garden, which features more than 60 species of the plant, is now open.

I hope you enjoyed the splendid Graduation ceremony as much as we all did. Graduating with a university degree marks an important milestone in one’s life journey.

As you made your way out of the Cathedral to great applause, I hope you felt the significance of reaching the important turning point in that journey; it marks the important next phase of your life. You can also leave with the knowledge that you have had the best preparation possible – Gold standard, research-informed teaching from dedicated tutors, alongside an array of personal development opportunities.

I encourage you to take advantage of Hope’s Careers and Employability service. Our team of advisors can help you explore employment and study options, and help you prepare for the future.

You may remember that at the Graduation ceremony, I spoke about how I started my own adventure in Liverpool. I referred to the letter we received from a dear aunt, who died last year, in which she enquired; ‘What will you do for the society in which you now find yourself?’.

You can now put to good use the skills you have learned, and apply the knowledge that you have absorbed to doing something meaningful and valuable for your community. You have earned your academic credits; now you will be judged on what you stand for, and what you do with your skills and talents. I urge you to make that difference to the society around you. Be an ambassador for Hope.

As graduates, you are now members of the worldwide Hope Alumni Association, which has growing influence in the Arts, Sciences, Education, Business, and Social Sciences. I look forward to hearing about your future successes.

Professor Gerald J. Pillay Vice-Chancellor & Rector

Hope Life is published by Liverpool Hope University, Hope Park, L16 9JD. Tel: 0151 291 3219 Email: goodnews@hope.ac.uk Website: www.hope.ac.uk/hopelife

Students and staff are invited to spend time in the garden, which features roses with literary names or a literary connection. Descriptions of each rose are available by scanning QR codes next to each rose. Roses in the garden include Agatha Christie, Desdemona, Pegasus and Lord Byron.

50th seminar for CCDS The Centre for Culture and Disability Studies (CCDS) has celebrated its 50th seminar.

Starting with Associate Professor Dr David Bolt’s preliminary session in 2009, the CCDS has showcased work of Hope colleagues, international professors and early career scholars.

The 50th seminar, ‘A Secret Worth Knowing: Living Mad Lives in the Shadow of the Asylum’, was given by Dr Michael Rembis, Director of the Center for Disability Studies and Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University at Buffalo (SUNY).

Moore fellowship for Dr Ruth Canning Dr Ruth Canning, PostDoctoral Teaching Fellow in History and Politics, has been awarded a month-long Visiting Research Fellowship at the Moore Institute, National University of Ireland (NUIG), to explore Old English identity in late Elizabethan Ireland.

Dr Canning will look at sources which document the lives and activities of Galway’s Old English merchant community and the region’s frontier lords.

Hope Life is designed in house at Liverpool Hope University and printed by Media Group.

Cover image: A Hope graduate celebrating in the sunshine at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.

The views expressed in the magazine are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent those of Liverpool Hope University.

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We are ...

Liverpool Hope has been awarded Gold – the highest rating possible – in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

Based on data and evidence gathered over three years, TEF measures excellence in teaching quality, learning environment, and student outcomes - the extent to which all students achieve their educational and professional goals. Only around 1 in 5 of UK higher education providers achieved Gold. Liverpool Hope is one of only three universities in the North West, and the only one in Liverpool, to gain the Gold rating.

According to the government’s Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Gold award signals that teaching at Liverpool Hope is “of the highest quality found in the UK” and that the university is “delivering consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for its students”.

The awards were decided by an independent panel of experts, including academics, students and employer representatives.

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Liverpool Hope’s award places it alongside Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, five other Russell Group Universities, Bath and Lancaster. The Teaching Excellence Framework is a counterpart to the Research Excellence Framework (2014), in which more than a third of research at Liverpool Hope was classed as world leading or internationally excellent.

Professor Pillay said: “There is a prevailing view that older, bigger or so-called ‘elite’ institutions are the best universities. This view has distorted student perception about what constitutes a good university and an excellent education.

“It is very gratifying for all our staff that there is public recognition of Liverpool Hope’s quality. Universities worth their salt must be committed to both research and teaching. They have a responsibility to induct their students from the very beginning into a culture of enquiry and creativity.

“A good degree is for life. It should give a graduate the skills for lifelong learning and achievement. I am so pleased that the hard work of our academics and those dedicated to student success have received this prestigious public affirmation.”

And one of the highest climbers…

Liverpool Hope has also achieved one of the highest rises in the country in The Guardian Good University Guide 2018, climbing 23 places.

TEF panel commends Liverpool Hope for: • Outstanding levels of stretch provided through judicious partnerships, good curriculum design and extracurricular activities.

Subject areas including Business, Biosciences and Social Policy and Administration have all risen significantly, with Social Policy and Administration entering the top 10 nationally.

• Strategic approach to ensuring outstanding outcomes for all students, and recognition of the value of an inclusive community of diverse learners.

For the first time, Hope has also been ranked above the University of Liverpool (67) in the table.

• Effective initiatives in support of employability, which are impacting on progression into highly skilled employment.

In the North West, Hope is now jointly placed with Edge Hill University at 56, and above University of Central Lancashire (67), Manchester Metropolitan University (76), University of Chester (77), Liverpool John Moores University (80) and University of Bolton (86).

• An embedded culture of valuing excellence in learning and teaching.

• A clear and effective focus on student retention, with efficient tracking and personal support offered to all students.

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New University Centre at St Mary’s Blackburn

New MSc programmes with Manila LIVERPOOL HOPE BEGINS TRANSNATIONAL EDUCATION (TNE) PROGRAMME WITH DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY, MANILA.

Liverpool Hope and St Mary’s College are to widen Higher Education and Continuing Professional Development provision in Blackburn, by launching a new University Centre.

The Liverpool Hope University Centre will open at St Mary’s on Friday 1st September 2017.

It will extend provision for students studying full and part time undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at St Mary’s - accredited and delivered

by Liverpool Hope University.

It will offer new accredited and non-accredited professional development courses for Education professionals, including leadership training, a National Award in SEN Coordination, and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses.

A-Level and BTEC students will also be able to drop in for advice.

Jenny Singleton, Interim Principal at St Mary’s, said: “We look forward to working closely with such valued professionals in supporting our aspiration to deliver outstanding teaching and learning to all students, regardless of age and background.”

Professor Pillay said: “We are proud to work closely with St Mary’s to ensure that people in Blackburn and the surrounding areas can access Higher Education and professional development in a way that fits in with their life.”

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The partnership will see the universities develop Dual Masters programmes in Data Science, Robotics Engineering, Computer Science, Sports Exercise and Nutrition, Ecology and Environmental Management, Climate Change and Business.

From January 2018, students on the programmes will be able to study at both institutions and benefit from joint research.

Liverpool Hope is one of ten UK universities selected to take part in the transnational education (TNE) programme with the Philippines, funded by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the British Council.

At Liverpool Hope, the programme will be led by Professor Atulya Nagar, Dean of Science, and Visiting Professor Raouf Naguib.

Professor Ian Vandewalle will also lead on the development of Postgraduate Business programmes.

De La Salle University was established in Manila in 1911.

The University is a hub for higher education training and is renowned for its academic excellence, and prolific and relevant research.

Professor Nagar said: “The programme involved a very competitive application process and we are delighted to have been selected to work with De La Salle University. As well as opening up exciting new avenues of joint research with the Philippines, it allows us to offer unique study experiences.”

Dr Laurene Chua-Garcia, Vice President for External Relations and Internationalisation at De La Salle University, said: “We are looking forward to sending our students and researchers to Liverpool Hope. It is in a great location, the facilities are first class, and it is a superb place to study and relax. Our relationship with Liverpool Hope is about giving students a high-quality experience and carrying out class-A, high-quality research.”

Pictured: l-r: Professor Atulya Nagar (Dean of Science, Liverpool Hope University), Dr Laurene ChuaGarcia (Vice President for External Relations and Internationalisation, De La Salle University), Dr Edgar Vallar (Associate Professor, Physics and Environmental Management, De La Salle University), Professor Raouf Naguib (Visiting Professor, Faculty of Science, Liverpool Hope University).

In conversation with the SU

Pictured l-r: Jack Johnson (SU President), Vanessa Ospina (VP Welfare and community), Feidhelm Doolin ( VP Education).

The new Students’ Union (SU) Sabbatical Officers share what they have planned for the next 12 months.

Taking up office for 2017/18 are SU President Jack Johnson, Vice-President for Education Feidhelm Doolin, and Vice-President for Welfare and Community Vanessa Ospina. Having been involved with the SU since joining Hope, the trio are keen to get to know Hope students and bring positive change to university life.

Feidhelm said: “We want to get out and talk face-toface with students so we can hear their concerns and become a stronger voice for them. I’d like to see more engagement with course representatives, and will be looking at how training and feedback on meetings currently works.

“We want to make things more accessible and encourage more student and – at times – staff participation. For example, we’re looking at changing the Hope Star Awards format so it’s a daytime event, which means more people can attend.”

Accessibility is a key concern for the new Sabbatical Officers, with increasing availability of services at the Creative Campus and Aigburth high on the agenda.

Jack said: “We plan to review how services are provided across all three campuses, from mental health provisions, to events, in order to combat isolation and increase support.”

Vanessa added: “After talking with students, I plan to look at provisions for mature students, those who live off campus, and students with kids. Research shows these groups are the most likely to feel secluded.”

By being visible and spending time meeting with students, the Sabbatical Officers hope to raise awareness of the role of the SU and how it can help.

“Students’ Unions can help people in ways they may not always realise. As an independent and democratic organisation, we can be held to account, as well as provide impartial support with academic issues,” explained Jack.

Feidhelm added: “The SU has a much wider role than some people assume. As well as providing social opportunities through clubs and societies, getting involved provides students with skills to progress in life and the chance to make a difference. If you don’t agree with things, or think improvements can be made, you can work with the SU to drive forums and petition policy reviews.”

If you want to find out more about what the Students’ Union does and how the team can help you, visit the SU office in the Lecture Theatre Complex, or look out for Jack, Feidhelm and Vanessa on campus.

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DEGREE SHOW 2017

Pictured: Grace Scullen with her work at the Degree show.

A selection of prestigious awards were presented to Fine and Applied Arts students at the final year Degree Show.

Exhibition opportunities and residency positions with FACT (Foundation for Art and Technology), Arena Studios and Gallery, and The Bluecoat were among the awards announced.

not only as part of policing legislation, but also part of society.”

Grace Scullen, who studied BA Design, received the Bluecoat Display Centre Exhibition Award and the chance to exhibit her work in the window of the centre.

Liverpool Women’s Purchase Prize (Awarded by Kim Parkman): Grace Barker

Her piece was inspired by the English garden and used a variety of mediums, including metal, fabric, and paper, to create sculptures, handmade cushions and silver botanical necklaces.

Grace said: “My main inspiration is weeds and wildflowers. I wanted to explore these ideas and show people how a weed can be a wildflower if you just change your perception. I cannot thank the Bluecoat enough for the opportunity. As an artist/designer at Hope I feel I have gone from a student to a professional.”

The Arena Studios and Gallery Residency was awarded to Fine Art student Rachel Ferguson, who was inspired by police legislation Section 60. Under this legislation, police are allowed to arrest and question members of the public based on their appearance.

Rachel explained: “I came across articles that explained the negative impact it had on the public. My work raises questions about judging people by their appearance 8

Prize winners: The Bluecoat Display Centre Exhibition Award (Awarded

by Maureen Bampton): Grace Scullen The Frank Award (Awarded by Janice Egerton): Charlotte Bateson The Corke Exhibition Award (Awarded by Nic Corke): Grace Barker, Matt Read, Lisa Goodwin and Olivia Maddocks Pete Cummings Award: Leone Davis Arena Studios and Gallery Residency (Awarded by Maurice Chanellor): Rachel Ferguson Liverpool Hope University Alumni Purchase Prize (Awarded by Irene Slack & Mike Hopper): Ollie Halton Simon Ryder Purchase Prize (Awarded by Simon Ryder): Ollie Halton FACT & Hope Production Residency (Awarded by Charlotte Horn): Alyssha Edwards Sysco Training & Consultancy Purchase Prize: Charlotte Bateson The Goldsmiths’ Company Silver Bullion Grant 2016/17: Alex Owens

New Designers London Design and Creative Practice students from Liverpool Hope showcase work at New Designers exhibition.

Following the success of the Final Year Degree Show, several BA Design and MA by Creative Practice students showcased their craft at the New Designers show in London.

It offers the opportunity for students to promote themselves within the creative industries, gain valuable experience and forge new contacts through networking.

BA Design students Charlotte Batson, Alex Owens and Leone Davis, along with MA by Creative Practice students Lucy Cunningham, Charlotte Fahey, Hilary Edwards-Malam and Casey Cain joined 3,000 other emerging designers at the event.

Dino Soteriou, BA Design Course Leader and Professional Tutor, said: “Live projects and Professional Practice, which are integral to the courses here at Liverpool Hope, prepare students for such exhibitions and opportunities.�

New Designers features textiles, fashion, jewellery, ceramics, furniture, illustration, product design, graphics and motion arts.

Held at the Business Design Centre in Islington, the exhibition showcases graduates who have excelled in their studies to a professional level.

See more from the Fine and Applied Arts Degree Show on our Flickr page. www.flickr.com/photos/liverpoolhopeuniversity 9

Graduation 2017

Class of 2017 celebrate in style The graduating Class of 2017 celebrated with sunshine, selfies and a toast in the Library Quad.

A pop-up photobooth, giant deckchairs and the traditional hat throw helped bring a celebratory atmosphere to this year’s graduation ceremonies.

Graduates made the most of the sunshine and warm weather as they commemorated their special day across campus, taking selfies and photographs on the Rector’s Lawn and by the Gateway Building fountain.

Our PGCE celebrations and prize-giving ceremonies were held in Hope Chapel, while the city’s Anglican Cathedral hosted this year’s Graduation ceremonies.

As well as recognising the hard work of our undergraduates and postgraduates, each ceremony included the awarding of an Honorary Degree. This year’s recipients were David Suchet CBE (Doctor of Letters), 10

Sister Dr Maura O’Carroll (Doctor of Education) and Pierre Giorgini (Doctor of Education).

On the first day of graduations, our Class of 2017 Thunderclap campaign sent a simultaneous message and link to a specially created video congratulating our graduates on their success.

For links to photographs and DVD purchases, visit www.hope.ac.uk/graduation You can also see photographs from all three days on our Flickr page and watch the hat throws on our YouTube channel. www.flickr.com/photos/liverpoolhopeuniversity www.youtube.com/liverpoolhopeuni1

PhD funding for MA graduate Heidi After six years studying at Hope, MA Disability Studies graduate Heidi Mapley has received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council to complete a PhD. During the years I have studied at Liverpool Hope, my first impressions have been proven accurate. I’m constantly overwhelmed by the welcoming and friendly community that is Hope.

The support I have received from my tutors has equipped me for the next stage of my academic journey. In response to previous assignments, I have received feedback that has been integral to my progression. As a matter of course, I have incorporated a variety of suggestions into my writing, and have welcomed this opportunity for self-reflection.

I have enjoyed attending the seminars organised by the Centre for Culture and Disability Studies.

Indeed, my attendance at these seminars has led to the publication of a Comment from the Field in the Journal of Literary and Cultural Disability Studies. The first piece I had published was a revised version of my undergraduate dissertation in Disability and Society.

It was only when this publication went ‘live’ that I truly appreciated the magnitude of this achievement.

Given this success, upon completion of my Modelling Disability assessment I submitted a revised version to

Considering Disability Journal.

My essay ‘Culture as Pharmakon: Representation, Social Encounters, and Discourses of Disability’ was published online in November 2016.

My greatest achievement has been the overall result I obtained for my MA, for which I was awarded The Faculty of Education Prize for the Best Performing MA Student. I’m overjoyed to have been selected for this award, it’s a most perfect way to end my time as a Hope student.

In September, I will commence a 2+6 PhD programme funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). My PhD research will look at how disability is represented in the toys that occupy a primary classroom and how this representation impacts on self-identity and interpersonal relationships.

To be awarded the ESRC funding is a major achievement. It means that for the next eight years I can place a strict focus on study.

The encouragement and support shown to me, by all the staff and my fellow students at Hope, have paved the way for this forthcoming journey. I am very much looking forward to the exciting and challenging times that lie ahead.

What our graduates say Sheldon Chadwick, BA Drama “Originally from Bolton, I’m a big fan of Liverpool and knew I wanted to study in the city. When I walked into Hope I had the feeling it was the right place for me. The institute is so friendly and open, I’ve loved the overall experience so much, I’m hoping to do an MA in Performance Studies.”

Grace Kay, BA Education and Special Educational Needs “I heard about the course through an advert in a magazine and was looking for the opportunity to change career. I’m keen to pursue mentoring within schools, particularly within Special Educational Needs.”

Damian Warren, BA Business Management “I studied through the Network of Hope at St Mary’s College in Blackburn and found the experience really good. The Lecturers worked hard to give us the same experience and support, responding really quickly to emails.

I worked full-time alongside my studies and was keen to get a qualification so I could progress within the industry.”

CLASS OF 2017 11

Honorary Degrees 2017 Three inspiring individuals were presented with Honorary Degrees during Graduation Week.

David Suchet: “Let your imagination soar”

fictional TV detective in 2014. His long and illustrious acting career also includes roles in theatre, film, and radio plays, as well as audiobooks and voice-over narrations. He won an International EMMY Award for Best Actor when he played Robert Maxwell. In 2013, Mr Suchet made a recording of the whole Bible (unabridged) that now has a worldwide outreach. This year he read the whole of St Mark’s Gospel to a capacity audience in St Paul’s Cathedral.

Mr Suchet said: “It’s extraordinary. I feel so proud and honoured. When you start acting as I did way back when in the early 1970s, and you end up here in this phenomenal, unique university in Liverpool, to receive an honorary doctorate, it is quite overwhelming.”

Actor David Suchet CBE told Liverpool Hope Graduands to use the arts to nourish their spirit, as he picked up his honorary degree.

Mr Suchet received Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) for his service to acting and for his contribution to making the Bible more accessible to people around the world.

In 1989, Mr Suchet took the title role of Hercule Poirot in the long-running television adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Poirot. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Royal Television Society for his 25-year role as the 12

He advised the new graduates to “let your imagination soar” and “let the arts nourish your soul”. He said he wanted them to embrace all the arts because “we are mind, body and spirit, and we exercise our bodies, we exercise our minds, but we do not do so much exercising of our spiritual life, which includes our creativity. I want to foster an enjoyment and an involvement in the arts. Go out, enjoy the arts and get involved.”

Speaking about his reputation for championing new actors and writers, he said: “I would like to be remembered, as much as anything, for being an ‘encourager’. I think as you get older in life, it’s everyone’s duty, whoever you are, whatever you do, whatever your society, wherever you belong, to encourage the young and to give them hope, and give them a good foundation for the future, and to encourage them in all areas.”

Sister Dr Maura O’Carroll: “Social justice is vital”

Pierre Giorgini: “Be prepared for new technology”

Sister Maura received the award of Doctor of Education (honoris causa) to mark her lifelong commitment to secondary and university education across the UK.

Pierre Giorgini received the award of Doctor of Education (honoris causa) for bringing together the spheres of technology and education.

Sister O’Carroll began her teaching career in 1958 at Notre Dame High School, Everton Valley, Liverpool.

She has worked in education across the UK, including as Headmistress at Notre Dame High School Oxford, Headmistress at Notre Dame High School St Helens, and Secretary and Registrar at Heythrop College, University of London. Sister Maura was appointed Principal at Notre Dame College, Liverpool, to continue her predecessor’s work in establishing an ecumenical Institute of Higher Education from Notre Dame, Christ’s College and St Katharine’s. This later became Liverpool Hope University.

Pierre Giorgini began his career at the National Institute for Telecommunications Executives at Villeneuve d’Ascq, and has a long career in technology education. In the 1990s he created LASER, The Laboratory for Building Systems of Shared Teaching, and invented and developed the Visiocentre, the first system of teaching connecting multiple lecture theatres with automatic piloting of the student/teacher relationship.

Sister Maura said: “I am very honoured to receive this degree, but it is not for me, it is for my order, the Sisters of Notre Dame. Mine is only a part in the achievement, which owes its success to the team spirit and sharing of so many Sisters, staff and students.”

Between 1999 and 2003, he worked for the National Employment Agency where he became Deputy CEO for Human Resources at the national level. From 2003 to 2006, he was Director in Charge of Orange Innovation, responsible for Management and Human Resources. In 2007, he joined Lille Catholic University. In 2009, he became Vice-President of the Science and Technology Sector. In 2012, he was elected as Vice-Chancellor of Lille Catholic University and Rector of the six Faculties.

Speaking about her long career in education, she said: “It is very important that you love and like your students, because if you don’t and you can’t relate to them, you won’t teach them properly. They may learn something from you, but education is more than the distribution of facts and the writing of exam papers. One of the things as a teacher is that you want to help these young people to reach adulthood in a mature and happy way.”

Pierre Giorgini spoke about the constant changes that technology brings, and the need to equip graduates to go out into the world and be ready to embrace those changes and use them for good. He discussed how, thanks to technology, the traditional paradigms have been blown to pieces, and our conceptions of space and time are being transformed and shaken up.

Asked what advice she would give to our new graduates, Sister Maura said: “You must like what you are doing, because if you don’t have some enjoyment in it, you won’t give as fully as you need to give, to those you are serving.

Secondly, social justice is vital, and therefore to play your part in fighting and struggling for it is absolutely essential, [especially] if you are working in education. Then one of the things you are educating your students in is social justice.”

He told the Graduands: “We must ask ourselves how to fulfil our primary mission to accompany you, young people, as you gain your liberty and your autonomy. That means your ability to think for yourself, to be more significant than the things that appear to determine your fate on the biological or cultural planes. The question is, how to facilitate your access to autonomy in a society whose future is harder to predict in a more complex world.”

Talking about Liverpool Hope, Sister Maura said: “What I have noticed is the students are very friendly, and that I think, says a lot, because if students are friendly, it means that the atmosphere of the whole place is accepting.”

He then spoke about how Hope and Lille are looking at new methods of teaching to help equip students for that new, complex future by exploring how they use spaces and technology, for the benefit of humanity.

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Driven to succeed Graduating with a First Class degree has made all the hard work worth it for Psychology student Gemma Hudson.

I chose to study at Hope as being a mature student I was after a real experience where I felt like I could be part of a community. I have a little boy who had just turned one when I started, so it has been hard, but made every bit of stress worth it. I lost my younger brother, which brought me here, and has pushed me to do everything I possibly can to make things go well while at university. I can honestly say for once in my life I am very proud of myself!

I’ve enjoyed every moment I’ve had here. The one-to-one tutoring system works really well and the support has been exceptional. My highlight has

been getting involved with the student representative role and building good relationships. It has been a journey that I never thought I was capable of, and I’ve achieved more than I thought I could.

My dissertation idea was accepted for a conference in Warsaw and I can’t thank the staff enough for all of their help.

I’ve been accepted for the MSc in Investigative and Forensic Psychology at University of Liverpool, which starts in September. The friendly environment around Hope has left me feeling sad to leave. However, if all goes well in future, I would aspire to work in academia here.

I couldn’t think of a better place to be!

It’s a family affair Two generations of one family celebrated graduating, as husband and wife Ian and Lorraine Baison collected their degrees alongside daughter-in-law Michelle MacKin. Ian completed a BA in History, while Lorraine and Michelle studied BA Early Childhood and Education, and BA Education and Special Educational Needs respectively.

about my studies as she was going through the same thing. It feels great to be able to graduate at the same time and for all the family to see us do so.

Lorraine said: “We decided on Hope as we believed it to be a reputable university. With the added bonus of studying locally at Holy Cross College, it was an opportunity too good to miss.

“One of my greatest achievements has been completing the three years, to know you can put your mind to something and achieve it is a wonderful thing.”

“We’ve enjoyed discussing our respective courses and supporting each other through the stressful times of exams etc. Learning to view things critically has been very interesting. I feel very privileged to be graduating from university, it is something that at one time I would have never believed possible.”

Michelle added: “I found it a great help having Lorraine to speak to 14

Ian, who works as a driver, has been inspired to continue studying.

He said: “For a long time I had been interested in history, but I never thought I would ever get an opportunity to study it at my age.

The last three years have probably been the best experience of my life. I just regret I never did it years earlier! Hopefully I’m going to go on to do a Masters in International Relations.”

From Kent to Germany, via Liverpool Hope Moving 200 miles from home was just the first step on the path to success for BSc Geography and Psychology graduate Joseph Black.

From the lecturers who helped me to understand the subjects, to the Residential Life team who made sure everything went well, and the Student Support and Well-being department for all their help.

I wanted to study at Hope, as not only did it offer the course I wanted, but also, as soon as I stepped out of the car on Open Day the University felt right. Hope felt like a place that I belonged and needed to study - even though it was over 200 miles from my home in Kent.

The experience at Hope was not what I had expected, it was so much better than I thought it would be.

My greatest achievement is getting the data that was gathered during my dissertation research and forming it into an abstract, which was later accepted as an oral presentation for the International Colour Vision Society Symposium in Germany.

What I enjoyed most about the research opportunity, along with working with some of the top names in the field of colour research, was getting to grips with handling the tests that were part of the process.

Publication success PhD graduate Susan Forde is celebrating achieving her Doctor of Philosophy and having her thesis published.

I’ve really enjoyed completing my doctorate at Hope. I was part of the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Centre for War and Peace Studies steering committee. In this role, I have been involved in organising a variety of different academic events, including leading the establishment of an International Women’s Day Conference: Women in Peace and Conflict.

I recently received the good news that an offer of publication has been

made by Palgrave Macmillan for a monograph adaption of my doctoral thesis ‘Spaces of Peace: Social movement as conflict transformation in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina’. I’m pleased because this sets a strong precedent for future research, which I look forward to the opportunity of doing.

My primary supervisor was Dr Stefanie Kappler. She encouraged critical thinking, independence and inspired confidence in myself and my work. I lectured at Hope throughout my PhD and I’d like to continue teaching and researching in the field of international relations, and peace and conflict studies.

What our graduates say Dee Andrews, BA Childhood & Youth and Education “I came to Hope through Clearing and really enjoyed getting to know people on my course. I found the best way to settle in is to get involved in as much as you can during your time at university.”

James Sergeant, BA Education and Sport & Physical Education “After completing a year at John Moores University and deciding it wasn’t for me, I came to Hope.

One of the highlights has to be playing on the University football team and being part of the team who twice won the league.”

Stephanie Wetton, BA Accounting and Finance “I heard about Hope through friends and liked the small class sizes. I was surprised to win the Business School Prize for the Best Performing Student in Accounting & Finance, and look forward to starting my new Trainee Accountant job.”

Gemma White, Primary Teaching BA QTS “I heard about Hope at a universities event and loved the campus. My favourite aspect of the course was getting out in the classroom to experience teaching first hand.”

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A First Class performance Phil Ashby’s journey to a First Class degree in Dance and Drama & Theatre Studies was not just an academic one, but a personal one that saw his love of dance help him recover from addiction.

He then started to think about university. “I had worked with Liverpool Hope’s Dr Zoe Zontou through Fallen Angels (Dr Zontou, Lecturer in Drama, is a Fallen Angels Board Member and works closely with the company).

“Speaking to her gave me a good insight into what to expect at university. I knew that there was a strong focus on community arts at Hope, which appealed to me. The course was definitely challenging – as well as looking at technique, we also had to analyse dance.”

Alongside his studies, Phil worked with Fallen Angels as part of his recovery, and he now teaches and performs in the dance company Risen. Phil has performed the piece Upon Awakening at the Lowry in Manchester and at the Royal Opera House.

“In 2011, as part of a rehab programme through Addaction in Liverpool, I went to see a show by Fallen Angels, a dance company set up by former Scottish Ballet Principal Dancer Paul Bayes Kitcher during his own recovery from addiction,” said Phil.

“It was a hard, beautiful story called The Battle for the Soul part 1. It really surprised me that I had an instant connection to it. I’d never been involved with dance in my life. In 2012, I officially entered rehab and really started to take dance seriously. I attended Fallen Angels workshops in Chester and with Wirral Youth Theatre. It was very difficult – very intense, and I knew I had to face these fears. The focus of the workshops was simply to create movements. The emphasis was on creating a very authentic, physical movement.

“We were given questions such as ‘what does fear look like to you?’ and there was a focus on devising and working as a group. It was really emotional seeing those movements being performed. When you are an addict, you supress any creativity you have. I had lived in selfpity and doubt for 20 years, but it felt like dance had lit my soul.”

Phil performed with Fallen Angels Dance Theatre, went on to study ballet, contemporary dance and improvisation at Liverpool Community College and undertook a one year HNC course in dance – receiving a distinction.

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Phil says: “I want to help break down the stigma associated with addiction and show that people can change. I have changed through dance. It has challenged me, and it still challenges me all the time. It is hard and it is painful at times, but I am buzzing when I dance. I’d love to reach just one other person and say ‘look where I was and now look where I am going’.

“Hope, and the Creative Campus, have been like a home to me for the last three years.”

“Hope, and the Creative Campus, have been like a home to me for the last three years. I entered the lectures and seminars like a nervous sponge, shy yet very eager to learn, not aware of what was to happen to me. It has been a journey of highs and lows, but extremely rewarding. For me, the Creative Campus’s biggest asset is its academic staff: their kindness, their passion for the arts, their constant drive to support the students.

Words cannot really describe the gratitude I have for them. I have emerged from Hope a stronger, happier more confident person, with belief and passion in my own and others’ abilities.

“The next plan is to continue to work with Fallen Angels Dance Theatre on their new project over the summer, as part of their creative team and as a performer.

In November, I shall take a long holiday! Then I’ll be returning fresh and hopefully continue as a freelance artist and facilitator. Let’s just see where the wind takes me!”

Beyond Graduation

Your relationship with Hope doesn’t end when you graduate. We are here to offer you career support, celebrate your success and help you stay in touch with friends and tutors.

Employability As a Liverpool Hope graduate you still have access to all of our careers and employability services, which include Careers Express and Careers Appointments. Careers Express is a drop-in service in The Employability Hub, (based in the Hope Park Gateway Building). You can speak to a Careers Adviser without needing to book, and slots usually last around 15 minutes – perfect for quick queries and signposting (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10:30am - 12:30pm).

You can also book a 45-minute in-depth career advice and planning session. If you don’t live locally, don’t worry, as telephone and Skype appointments are available. To book, just contact careers@hope.ac.uk.

My Careers Centre online portal: This free resource gives you access to career tutorials, 1,500+ employer insight videos, a CV builder and a powerful job search engine. Graduate jobs and internships for Hope alumni are advertised on the My Jobs section. Just contact careers@hope.ac.uk to get your graduate login, and you can then access opportunities and resources via the Hope website.

Still looking for graduate-level work? As a Liverpool Hope University Graduate you are eligible for the Hope Internship Programme (HIP). HIP gives you the opportunity to secure a paid internship that will boost your work experience and skill set.

Employability workshops: Employers and careers professionals host weekly workshops in the Employability Hub. Whether you are considering a career in teaching or need help with your professional social media profiles, there is a workshop for you. Check out the latest events on My Events via My Careers Centre.

Recruitment fairs: We host a number of fairs each year, each with a different focus and designed to help graduates find work and learn from industry insiders.

Don’t miss the Graduate Jobs Fair in Our Place on Hope Park Campus from 12pm-2pm on Thursday 9th November 2017. All events are advertised on My Events via My Careers Centre.

Stay in touch We stay in touch with you through our weekly Employability e-Bulletin. Make sure you stay in touch with us: Tel: 0151 291 2032 HopeUniCareers @HopeUniCareers Blog: www.liverpoolhopecareers.wordpress.com www.hope.ac.uk/careers

Alumni Network As a Hope alumni, you can enjoy a range of benefits including: Library access, regular alumni bulletins (with news about the University, networking opportunities and free public events), bi-annual copy of Hope Life magazine, and various discounts.

Visit www.hope.ac.uk/alumni to make sure you are taking advantage of all the services on offer. If you have an offer that you would like to promote to Liverpool Hope alumni please get in touch.

Alumni, staff and student quiz nights: Now a firm fixture in the Hope calendar, these quiz nights take place once a term and are a great way to catch up with fellow alumni and staff. Held in Our Place, there are cash prizes on offer. Look out for dates in the alumni bulletin and Hope Facebook page www.facebook.com/ LiverpoolHopeUniversity.

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Leaders Club debates social care crisis

Leaders from the public, private and voluntary sectors came to Liverpool Hope to discuss the future of social care in an open debate.

The debate ‘The Crisis in Social Care. Who cares? Who pays?’ took place in the Senate Room, and was chaired by Sir Malcolm Thornton FRSA. The prestigious panel included Liverpool Hope’s Professor Michael Lavalette (Professor of Social Work, Care and Justice), Mrs Justice Parker DBE QC (Judge of the Family Division of the High Court of Justice), Assistant Chief Constable Julie Cooke (Merseyside Police), and Professor Ian Smith (Great Ormond Street Hospital).

The event was the first between The Leaders Club and the University since they announced their partnership, which will see regular ‘Question Time’ and think-tank style meetings, an annual Leadership Awards ceremony, guest lectures and student mentoring. Students are invited to the events and will have the opportunity to meet and hear from members of the Leaders Club.

Stephen Fletcher from The Leaders Club said: “The main thing that we did agree on is that we need to disrupt the system as it exists now. The model we have does not meet our needs. It was agreed that health care, social care and welfare services need to be joined up. The point resonated with the panel that we need to link data from all services so that individuals can be viewed holistically. This is a challenge due to consent and data sharing agreements, but if addressed could provide a step change in how people are supported to have the right health and social care. We collected responses from the evening and plan and bring them to the government’s attention. We want our discussions to lead to real action.”

Watch the full debate and share your views on the Liverpool Hope YouTube channel www.youtube.com/liverpoolhopeuni1 18

Students learn about Standing Rock

Indigenous Water Protector Thomas Tonatiuh Lopez, who played a key role in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, shared his experiences in an inspirational talk.

Thomas was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, and identifies as Chicano paying homage to his Mexican, Diné, Apache and Hunk-Lakota roots. He is a grandson of Chief Leonard Crowdog and the son of Water Woman Sharon Lopez and Sundance Chief Thomas Lopez Sr. Thomas is a youth activist, and worked with the International Indigenous Youth Council at Standing Rock to try and defeat the Dakota Access ‘Big Oil’ Pipeline.

The protests led by The Standing Rock Dakota Nation united 200 Indigenous Nations for the first time in 500 years to resist the pipeline at the Cannonball River, North Dakota, which threatened their only water source. The pipeline has now been approved by the current Republican Administration.

Thomas spoke to students, staff and guests, giving first-hand accounts of what it was like to be at the centre of the protests and the difficulty of following a peaceful path when violence was directed towards them. He also spoke about international interest in Standing Rock, identity, and the challenges of working across generations.

The event was organised by Professor Michael Lavalette from the Department of Social Work, Care and Justice, in conjunction with AKI, Writing On The Wall, John Moores University and University of Liverpool.

Tennis tournament celebrates 16th year in city

The Liverpool International Tennis Tournament, sponsored

by Liverpool Hope, celebrated its 16th year in the city.

In the Women’s Singles, Polona Hercog (SLO) beat Corinna Dentoni (ITA) 6-2 6-4, while in the Men’s Singles, Steve Darcis (BEL) beat Marcus Willis (GBR) 7-5 6-3.

The tournament itself took place June 15th to 18th but ahead of the event more than 10,000 people enjoyed free tennis lessons and mini tennis across Merseyside.

The legends tournament included Southport-born Barry Cowan who once took one of the sport’s all-time greats, Peter Sampras, to five sets at Wimbledon. Other players included Robert Kendrick from the US and Argentinian Guillermo Canas.

Kids Day also saw an appearance by Judy Murray, mother of Wimbledon champion Andy Murray. 750 children from schools around Liverpool city region took part in tennis and seven other sports, and gathered on centre court to watch the main tournament’s qualifying finals.

In the Media: Tennis research showcased on BBC Breakfast Associate Professor Omid Alizadehkhaiyat, Senior Lecturer in Exercise Physiology Dr Denise Roche and Post Doctoral Researcher Dr Matthew Jackson, appeared on BBC Breakfast to share the initial results of their study into the health benefits of tennis.

The research, which was later placed in the top three at the European College of Sport Science conference, showed that people who play tennis are at less risk of cholesterol, diabetes and stroke, compared to equally healthy people who do different kinds of physical activity.

BBC presenter Holly Hamilton filmed at Liverpool Hope’s Biomechanics lab, interviewing the research team and study participants Sue Power (Mersey Bowmen Tennis Club), Brian Haywood (East Wavertree Tennis Club), and Phil Tyrer (Chairman of Liverpool & District Tennis Group) live from the Liverpool Hope University International Tennis Tournament at Aigburth Cricket Club.

Tournament player Barry Cowan, and rising tennis star Macy Clark also took part in the broadcast, which went out to seven million viewers across the UK, and was followed up with BBC regional coverage.

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Five-star reviews for Playwriting Prize winner Omnibus, the first play to win the Liverpool Hope Playwriting Prize, has received full marks from critics.

The fast moving farce begins with three housemates lounging in front of the television on a Sunday afternoon.

Their plans for a lazy day are put on hold when a surprise guest bursts in with a gun and a bag full of money.

Writer Katie Mulgrew won £10,000 and the chance to have the play produced by Liverpool’s Royal Court. The Royal Court teamed up with the Unity Theatre, and Omnibus was selected as the first play to be performed on the Unity stage, since its major refurbishment.

The Stage gave Omnibus four stars, writing: “This is very funny stuff…The plot manages to stay just the right side of plausible to hold the audience’s attention and the play has a satisfying overall shape to it,” and, “This interesting and seemingly unlikely association of the Unity and Royal Court theatres seems to have paid dividends – it could well be the start of a beautiful friendship.”

Omnibus was directed by Robert Farquhar and also starred Liverpool Hope graduate Alice Bunker-Whitney.

Alice came in for praise, with Purple Revolver writing: 20

“To have Ms Bunker-Whitney once more in the Unity Theatre is also a huge bonus, an actor who is very much in the same league as those such as the incredible Eithne Browne, a woman to whom the art of comedy is so entrenched that the building’s fabric, its place in both the past and its very bright future, is indebted to.”

Liverpool Sound and Vision awarded Omnibus five stars, writing: “To place Katie Mulgrew’s award winning production in such a spotlight was not only the right option, but it is one that is one of marvellous integrity, the humour of the piece, the absolute virtuosity and luminous effect it has on the soul marks it out as a find that will have theatres clambering in the future to host it.”

News in Brief Students join marine conservation volunteering for SALA Biology and Environmental Science students helped the Marine Conservation Society and Friends of Anglesey Coastal Path to survey part of Holy Island coastline and collect litter.

The students not only gained important practical conservation experience and helped to keep this part of our coastline clean, they also gained eight hours of volunteering for their SALA awards. The students were taking part in a residential ecology field trip led

by Senior Lecturer in Biology Dr Carl Larsen.

£300 raised for Age Concern Health Sciences staff and students raised £300 for Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton at a special Lecturethon, held as part of British Science Week in March. The Lecturethon included topics such as the role of sport in healthy ageing, ageing and muscle mass, and nutrition and ageing.

Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton CEO Dil Daly opened the event with a talk about the work that the charity does in the region.

Journalists invited to discuss British Muslims in the media

A more sustained dialogue between journalists and Muslims, religious literacy training and more regulation of print media were among the suggestions put forward by participants at a media practitioners’ conference at Liverpool Hope.

‘Media Discourse About British Muslims and its Implications’ attracted more than 40 journalists, academics and members of faith communities to discuss how Muslims are represented online, in print and in broadcast media.

Speakers included Dr Shuruq Naguib of Lancaster University, Talat-Faruq Awan of BBC Radio Manchester and Lancashire, former NUS president Malia Bouattia, journalist and media consultant Lauren Booth and Station Manager of Made in Liverpool and Made in Wales TV, Chris Johnson. The conference was based on Dr Al-Azami’s book, Religion in the Media: A Linguistic Analysis (Palgrave Macmillan). Dr Al-Azami was interviewed by a number of media outlets about the conference.

New accreditation for Geography Degree The Council of the Royal Geographical Society has awarded professional accreditation to Liverpool Hope University’s BSc Geography degree.

Under the Society’s accreditation scheme, recognition is given to undergraduate programmes that deliver key geographical knowledge, understanding, skills and

approaches, and the development of professional and personal attributes of geography graduates. This is the third professional accreditation the Geography and Environmental Science department has secured for its courses this academic year.

In October, Hope’s BSc Environmental Science and MSc Ecology and Environmental Science courses were accredited by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environment Management (CIEEM).

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SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED FOR BIG HOPE 2 Speakers from the worlds of sport, politics and education have been confirmed for The Big Hope 2, Liverpool Hope’s international youth congress.

2’s vision of mutual respect, freedom, concern for the individual and the importance of educating young people across the world is inspirational.”

They include: • Dr Stephan Wassong, German Sport University Cologne

Professor Stephan Wassong said: “The Big Hope 2 will be a platform for academic, social and personal exchange. That’s why it is a pleasure for me to contribute to it.”

• Father Michael Lapsely • Baroness Illora Finlay of Llandaff • Anne Lonsdale CBE • Rt Hon Lord David Alton

With more exciting speakers to be announced, find out how you can get involved by visiting www.thebighope.info

• Baroness Caroline Cox of Queensbury, President of the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART)

Visit the website to find out about tickets and delegate passes, workshops and seminars and sponsorship.

Baroness Cox said: “In 2008, I was fortunate to be part of The Big Hope. I am delighted and very proud to be invited back for The Big Hope 2. I am inspired and encouraged every time I visit Liverpool Hope University by the vision and support it provides to people of any age to be able to fulfil their potential. The Big Hope

We’ll also be hosting a ‘Run for Hope’ event in April 2018, which will help raise money to bring refugee children to the Big Hope 2.

The Big Hope 2 takes place between 13th-20th June 2018.

New base for Lille at Hope A new European Institute Office, which will act as a base for Liverpool Hope’s ongoing partnership with l’Université Catholique de Lille, has opened.

The dedicated space, in the Frances Mary Lescher building at Hope Park, was revealed by ProChancellor Monsignor John Devine and Pierre Giorgini.

thinking. We are inventing new methods of teaching, relevant knowledge for an unpredictable future.”

The Universities are undertaking collaboration around research, teaching, and development of joint degree programmes. The first student to undertake a joint research degree between the two universities has begun their programme.

Recalling the fact that the agreement between the two was signed the day after the Brexit result, Pierre Giorgini said: “Our will to pursue the European idea is greater than the politicians’ decision; we are a community of values. We have to build the Europe of the people.

I’m very happy because we are trying in Lille, as well as Liverpool Hope University, to change our ways of 22

Professor Pillay added: “The way we can be the best in class is not by copying what others do. I see in Pierre Giorgini, as I see at Lille, an innovative creative culture.

This is a sign of our abiding friendship for the future, irrespective of what Brexit does or doesn’t do.”

The final word: Culture, migration, and the European Union

Dr Kate Mattocks, Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow in Politics and International Relations, looks at the role of arts and culture alongside EU migration.

The European Union recently published a report on the role of culture and the arts in promoting intercultural dialogue in the context of the refugee crisis. It is dedicated to the late Jo Cox MP (among others). On the back of the recent one-year anniversary of the Brexit referendum, in which immigration was a large factor (Clarke, Goodwin, and Whiteley, 2017) and recent turbulent times in UK and European politics, it is worthwhile to reflect on this report and think critically about the role of the arts and culture in bringing people together, and the EU’s role in doing so.

The report (European Union 2017) is the outcome of an Open Method of Coordination (OMC) working group on the topic. The group contained experts from 26 Member States (only the UK and Poland did not participate). The OMC is a voluntary process designed so that Member States can learn from each other and improve policies in their own countries.

Culture is a supplementary competence in the EU, meaning that the EU’s actions supplement but do not override the cultural policies of the Member States. This means that the recommendations contained in the report are just that – they are not mandatory, and for individual Member States to consider.

The report does not shy away from difficult political truths: the EU ‘is going through a crisis of values’, based on ‘accelerating demographic diversity’. The report’s authors argue that ‘…it is not easy or immediate to achieve a balance between the opposing sentiments of compassion and solidarity and those of fear, anger and suspicion towards those who arrive in our countries from distant worlds’. It positions the arts and culture as a bridge – a way of ‘creating a level playing field to allow persons of different cultural backgrounds to interact, learn and experience on a par with each other’.

This is a highly complex and multi-dimensional subject.

The group chose three key themes for their chapters: empowerment, intersectoral, and evaluation. The first discusses the ways in which migrants might be empowered to take part in cultural activities. The intersectoral chapter addresses the necessity of involving other sectors in integrating refugees into societies – education, housing, and employment for example. The final chapter on evaluation talks about how these programmes might be evaluated.

Evaluation is a tricky concept when it comes to culture, but a necessary one to address, especially as funders are increasingly placing more emphasis on efficiency and effectiveness. The group should be commended for tackling this topic, especially as they have included self-evaluations for the example projects they have featured, something which has not been done in previous OMC reports.

The report contains a lot of great ideas and wide-ranging examples – over 200, from asylum seekers’ dance classes and performances, to language learning and journalism training for refugees. My previous research has found that exchange via the OMC is most likely to lead to inspiration, rather than direct emulation or copying (Mattocks, 2017).

Indeed, there are also important issues to raise regarding the overall design of the OMC and the goals of a report of this nature. Who exactly are these recommendations aimed at? The project examples are institutionally wide-ranging, from examples of individual artists’ practices to larger-scale ones undertaken by public authorities. Similarly, the report’s final recommendations, aimed at both policy-makers and practitioners, are broad – it is difficult to be both precise in recommendations as well as all-encompassing, and the heterogeneity of the Member States means that there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ approach for 28 countries with vastly different political systems, cultural policy models, policy priorities, and funding structures.

“Cultural policies and programmes can play a role in helping refugees to integrate into new societies.”

The report contains a lot of stimulating, important ideas of the ways that arts and culture can promote intercultural dialogue (though, as far as I can tell, unfortunately refugees weren’t directly consulted themselves). It correctly emphasises the need for a comprehensive approach, but this is also part of its limitations: the legal constraints of the competence mean that it is left to individual Member States, or, more realistically, individuals or organisations within Member States, to implement their own strategies.

Cultural policies and programmes can play a role in helping refugees to integrate into new societies, but there are bigger and broader political questions about migration – which can’t be answered in a report of this nature – that still have to be addressed.

You can read more expert comments from our academics at www.hope.ac.uk/news/expertcomment 23

LIVERPOOL’S INTERNATIONAL ARTS VENUE

WHAT’S ON Autumn Season 2017 Full listings www.thecapstonetheatre.com

Pride and Prejudice

Liverpool Irish Festival

10th October 7.30pm £10

23rd - 26th October 7.30pm See website

Sonic Interactions

European Opera Centre presents The World of Opera

6th November 7.30pm FREE ADMISSION

Shakespeare Schools Festival 23rd - 24th November 7pm £9.50 (Concessions £7) (£6.50 group rate)

16th November 7.30pm £11.50

Ricky Ross Short Stories Vol 1 1st December 8pm £32.45

BOX OFFICE 0844 8000 410

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