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Win a trip to China The National Student Survey (NSS) is now underway. Finalyear undergraduates have the chance to win one of four prize trips to China for taking part. NSS teams with laptops are in Luton and Bedford where eligible students can complete the survey. Alternatively, it can be completed at www. thestudentsurvey.com. All you have to do is answer a few quick questions relating to your overall University experience. The results of the survey are published on Unistats.com
for future students to see and also made available to those institutions taking part. The NSS follows hot on the heels of the international iGrad survey held last December, when thousands of Bedfordshire students were asked for their views on a range of issues including the University’s facilities and their experiences at the University. The University recently presented five lucky students, who took part in iGrad, with a prize trip to China each.
60 Seconds with...
The winning students, pictured above , were; Yasir Ikram, Genet Tefera, Lee Robinson, Lilia Kozdra and Manoj Kumar Rajpoot. Their prize trips include return flights, accommodation plus a cultural programme. Professor Ashraf Jawaid, Deputy Vice Chancellor (External Relations) said:
“I congratulate all our prizewinning students. The iGrad survey is a valuable resource enabling us to better understand student needs and to improve the student experience.”
Awards success for Martin The second annual Steven Henly Award for Outstanding Commitment has been awarded to student PE teacher Martin Wragg. Martin is a mature student who started his BA (Hons) Physical Education leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) course after nearly five years in the RAF. He left the RAF to fulfil a lifelong ambition to be a teacher and is now in his third year. The Award is given in memory of Steven Henly, a student at the University’s Bedford campus who died of a rare form of cancer just a few weeks after his 21st birthday in July 2008. A trophy and £500 were presented to Martin by Steven’s parents, Zahra and Bob, at a special ceremony attended by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Les Ebdon CBE DL. Martin said: “I will use the award for a number of activities. I’m now able to take my Level 1 Rugby Union coaching badge, to improve my rugby teaching. I also plan to take a trampolining course run by the University, so I can offer something a bit different as a teacher.
“The rest of the money is for the ‘Inspire Malawi’ fund - I hope to raise enough to go and teach PE in Malawi for ten days later this year.” Vice Chancellor Professor Les Ebdon CBE DL said: “Martin is a very worthy winner and it gives me great pleasure to be here. He has an impressive track record of raising funds for charity as well as showing an exceptional commitment
to his chosen career.” The Steven Henly Award is just one of a host of ways the University supports its students through scholarships and bursaries schemes, valued at some £3m for 2012-13. For more information about all the scholarships and bursaries available visit: www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/ money/funding/scholarships
L to R: Professor Les Ebdon CBE DL, Bob and Zahra Henly, and Martin Wragg
Journalism course launched
Commons people
The University is about to launch a brand new postgraduate course in International Journalism. The Masters of Arts (MA) in International Journalism, which starts in February, is aimed at anyone wanting to work as regional or national reporters or political, economic and foreign correspondents. Course leader, Dr Paul Rowinski, said: “Industry experts agreed that there
An invited group of more than 70 student teachers and recently qualified teacher graduates from the University’s Faculty of Education, Sport and Tourism (EST) attended a special event at the House of Commons. The Dean of EST, Professor Marilyn Leask and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) Professor Mary Malcolm also addressed the event, jointly hosted by the University and Bedford and Kempston MP Richard Fuller. The event discussed ‘The Government’s policy to meet the Literacy Challenge faced by our society’. Student and graduate teachers were invited to discuss their roles as teachers in meeting this challenge.
was a need to have a degree with an internationalised approach to journalism. This will enhance the journalism careers of our students, whether they are home, EU or international students.” Students will learn about the role of a reporter and study journalism practices around the world. They will also gain knowledge in multiplatform journalism and research methods. Dr Rowinski added:
“Students will be encouraged to get the whole picture and find that ‘global story.’ Anything else is often only half the story. I am really looking forward to engaging with students and journalists involved with this course.” For more information about the new course, visit: www.beds.ac.uk/ howtoapply/courses/ postgraduate/ international-journalism
Doreen Miller is Corporate Organisational Development and Talent Manager, in the University’s Human Resources Department. Here, Doreen tells us about herself. What’s your background? I’m a Luton girl and grew up in the town. I started my career in retail banking, before moving into finance roles at various organisations. While I was working in the finance department at Britannia Airways I moved into learning and development and have been involved with staff training ever since. For more than 16 years I’ve had learning and development roles at organisations including Action on Hearing Loss (formally the Royal National Institute for Deaf People), the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, before joining the University in October 2011. What are your early impressions of the University? It felt like coming home – I can remember the Park Square site when it was the Luton College of Technology! The University strikes me as being a busy and vibrant place with a strong leadership team and clear direction, staffed by capable professionals. Who would be on the guest list (dead or alive) for your dream dinner party? John Wayne and Larry Hagman, Katherine Hepburn, the Princess Royal and Emlyn Hughes (to recreate that Question of Sport moment), Tom Jones for the music and Morecambe and Wise for the entertainment. What’s your philosophy on life? Life is not a dress rehearsal; you only get one shot at it so live it to the full. Tell us a quirky fact about yourself I dressed as a butterfly with a 12-foot wingspan, and as Captain of the 14th Luton Guide Company, led the Guides to 2nd place in the non-vehicular section of the 1992 Luton Carnival!
Doreen Miller
Dr David Brake
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