Noteworthy spring 2016 issue

NOTE Worthy

SPRING 2016

Alumni Newsletter

Inside This Issue

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e’re excited to share with you all the news and opportunities that are developing and flourishing across our campuses.

March was a busy and exciting time for the University. We welcomed PC Liam Mitchell, our new Police Liaison Officer to the University as well as new members of our Alumni community at our Luton graduations. Our Bedford campus also launched its new Sports Facilities which was attended by Bedford Blues legend and Canadian rugby international, James Pritchard.

Moving into April, we celebrated the achievements of two of our academics who made a new hand using stateof-the-art 3D printing for 8-year-old William Joyner.

Our Alumni community have also been thriving. To mark Mental Health Awareness Week (16-22 May) we spoke to alumnus, Christina Webley who told us about the vital work she is supporting with youth mental health services in Birmingham.

With Summer just around the corner, we are looking forward to the launch of the new seven floor LRC in Luton as well as celebrating and welcoming more graduates to our Alumni community.

We hope you enjoy this edition of “Noteworthy”. Our Development and Alumni team are always on hand to hear from you, so please do get in touch with your news, stories and ideas.

Opportunity to launch a rewarding career and receive up to 50% off tuition fees.

WE ARE PROUD TO BE JOINING FORCES AGAIN WITH THE BEDFORDSHIRE POLICE SERVICE TO OFFER STUDENTS STARTING THIS SEPTEMBER THE CHANCE TO RECEIVE HELP WITH THEIR TUITION FEES AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN A REWARDING CAREER IN THE POLICE SERVICE.

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he Bedfordshire Police Service Studentship is available to all University of Bedfordshire applicants who have a confirmed offer to commence studies in the academic year 2016-17 and who have been resident in Bedfordshire since 1 May 2015.

This bursary will give successful applicants a 50% tuition fee waiver for the entire threeyear duration of their undergraduate studies or a fee waiver of up to £4,500 at Master's level. The scheme also provides recipients with a work placement and training as a Special Constable.

Five studentships are available. Four are for undergraduate students and one is for a postgraduate student. Applications from students based in all faculties across the University are welcome.

Commenting on the success of the inaugural year of the scheme, Director of Innovation and Enterprise at the University, Dr Nick Lancaster, said: “The Bedfordshire Police Studentship is a great opportunity for our students. "As well as the obvious financial benefits it will also boost students’ awareness of the requirements of the workplace and boost their employability post-study."

For Guidance Notes and how to apply for the scheme, please visit our webpage Deadline for applications is 30 September 2016 at 16:00.

Postgraduate Open Day FURTHER STUDY CAN IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING THE JOB YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED. AS A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE YOU'RE INVITED TO OUR POSTGRADUATE OPEN DAY ON 28 JUNE AT OUR LUTON CAMPUS.

Opportunities to put your degree into practice and earn a competitive salary FIND OUT WHAT A KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PARTNERSHIP CAN DO FOR YOU

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TPs are a partnership between a company, a university and a high calibre graduate; known as an Associate. They help companies and organisations improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills available within UK universities.

As a KTP Associate, you are employed by a university but seconded to work full time within the company partner’s business, at their premises, to deliver an exciting, strategic and challenging project that will provide a step-change within the company.

You will be supervised on a regular basis by an academic who is passionate about the project and on a daily basis, by an appropriate member of company staff.

To register your interest in KTPs, please visit http://ktp.innovateuk.org/register.aspx

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hether you're thinking about the next step in your career development, a career change, or developing your expertise in your chosen area, our Postgraduate, industry-led qualifications really could give you the advantage you need to get ahead in the job market.

At our Postgraduate Open Day you can: • Meet our expert academics and support staff • Ask questions • Talk through your options • Find out how a Postgraduate course can enhance your employability Postgraduate Open Day - Luton campus Tuesday 28 June 4pm - 7pm Book now If you have any questions regarding Postgraduate study at Beds or the upcoming open event, you can also chat live with the Postgraduate department.

We look forward to speaking to you soon, David Seaton Head of student recruitment

More information is available via http://info.ktponline.org.uk/action/search/ partnership_vac.aspx

"I wouldn’t know where to start with my best memories at the University of Bedfordshire, I have way too many."

CHRISTINA WEBLEY PATIENT PARTICIPANT WORKER FORWARD THINKING

University welcomes Police Liaison Officer THE FIRST EVER UNIVERSITY LIAISON OFFICER HAS BEEN RECRUITED FOR BEDFORDSHIRE POLICE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE.

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C Liam Mitchell will cover the University’s campuses in Luton and Bedford, providing police support to all its students.

PC Liam Mitchell said: “I’m excited to get started in this role and will provide both a visible and accessible policing presence for our students. I’m looking forward to engaging with student bodies and improving the relationship between the force and the universities.”

The aim of the role is to improve partnership working by being the main point of contact for enquiries into and by the University, and PC Mitchell will have a base at both campuses.

Bill Rammell, Vice Chancellor, University of Bedfordshire said: “We are very pleased to welcome PC Liam Mitchell to the University as our new Police Liaison Officer. PC Mitchell will work with our staff and students to assure a safe environment for all who live and work within the university community.”

As part of his role PC Mitchell will aim to improve information exchanges and work with the communities to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. He will also promote volunteering and employment opportunities within the police force for the University’s students.

The international standard astro turf pitch is a joint venture between local school Goldington Academy and the University.

Francis Galbraith Principal of Goldington Academy who also spoke at the launch of the new facilities said: ''It’s been a fantastic experience working with the University on our joint multi-use games area. The benefit for the different age students at both the University and Goldington Academy have been huge. Long may this collaboration continue!”

The guests were also able to see the University’s sporting prowess in action. The event took place on ‘Big Wednesday’, a hotly contested annual inter University competition, which saw the full range of the University’s sporting teams from football to netball to rugby to hockey competing, supported by its award-winning cheerleading squad.

The University places a high priority on sport, both in terms of studying; it offers a range of courses from the science and physiology of sport to sport management and journalism, and also in terms of the health and the wellbeing of its students and staff.

The Vice Chancellor explained: “At this university, we believe in making opportunities available to help people transform their lives.

University showcases world class sports facilities BEDFORD BLUES LEGEND AND CANADIAN RUGBY INTERNATIONAL JAMES PRITCHARD WAS GUEST OF HONOUR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE’S LAUNCH OF ITS NEW SPORTS FACILITIES.

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ne of Bedford’s all- time great players, James along with guests from local schools and sporting organisations across the region, were at the University to celebrate the £5.1million investment by the University in student sport

Among the new facilities the guests viewed were: • State of the art gyms • An international standard hockey astro turf pitch and multi-use games area • A 300 seat sporting arena • A redeveloped grass playing space and pavilion Bill Rammell Vice Chancellor of the University said: “As a University we put the student experience as our highest priority and the new sports facilities that we are opening today are a real symbol of the multifaceted relationship between sport and the success of our students.”

“Active, healthy bodies feed active healthy minds, and so we invest in our sporting facilities to enable our students to be the best that they can be.”

The University is into its fifth year of its Get Into Sport programme funded through Sports England, enabling students and staff to try out a wide range of sport, free of charge, in a fun, non-competitive environment.

It also has in partnership with Badminton England and the Lawn Tennis Association a badminton higher education activator, university tennis ambassador and university tennis co-ordinator all aimed at developing these sports within the University.

“It was brilliant but we wanted to see if we could make it less clunky and more usable for a young boy. Also we wanted incorporate the use of William’s thumb to make the hand as dextrous as possible.”

There are still some adaptations to the hand to be made.

It needs to be able to withstand the everyday activities of an eight year boy; and with that in mind there are plans to insert lightweight aluminium rods and to use titanium hinges.

David Jazani said: “This will be an on-going project for the next 12 years while William grows. But we hope with the latest modifications William will be walking out of the University with a fully working hand in the next 5 to 6 months.”

University 3D prints a new hand for school boy TWO UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE ACADEMICS HAVE MADE 8-YEAR-OLD WILLIAM JOYNER A NEW HAND USING STATE-OFTHE-ART 3D PRINTING. Will who attends Paulerspury School in Towcester, and was born with the fingers to his left hand missing, got the chance to try out his new hand made using the University’s 3D printer (Wednesday 6 April).

At the University’s computer science laboratory Will was able to move his new hand using signal from muscles in his arm. The ground-breaking session allowed Will’s parents Jo and Andy Joyner to see Will hold a pen for the first time with his left hand and draw a picture. Will is left-handed.

David Jazani Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Technology, and Mark Hooper a technician and demonstrator who is currently studying part-time for a PhD in Computer Science at the University, were contacted by Will’s mother just over a year ago.

Mark Hooper explained: “Jo had found a design of a hand online made by scientist in Africa. She wanted to see if we could adapt it.

Will’s mum is over the moon. She said: “It means Will be able to do the same things as other children. He’ll be able to do complex things like tie his laces but also simple activities like holding a drink in one hand and an ice lolly in the other.”

“I can’t thank these guys enough. What they’re doing for William is life changing.”

The new hand doesn’t just mean Will gains the use of his left hand. Now that he’s using the muscles down his left hand side they will get more developed and stronger whereas at the moment they’re rarely used. And for a budding footballer like Will that’s very important.

Even better for William who is a Reading FC supporter, the hand is going to be decked out in blue and white tying in with the team’s colours. “But,” said David Jazani “we’re also going make a flesh coloured one just in case he changes his mind when he’s older!”

To help fundraise and support our work and research, please contact alumni@beds.ac.uk

Planning a reunion with your old classmates?

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s we approach the Summer months, the longer evenings and warmer weather mean that there’s plenty of opportunities to host a reunion and get in touch with old friends.

Many of our Alumni like to use these reunions as the perfect opportunity to fundraise and help support the work, research and facilities for the present and future generations of the University.

If you have a reunion planned and need help advertising or have caught up with old friends and have photos of the day, we would love to know about it.

We have many rooms and event spaces on our campuses available for hire.

For more information, please contact alumni@beds. ac.uk

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

CELEBRATING THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND WORK OF OUR ALUMNI 16 May marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Week. Alumnus Christina Webley tells us how she is helping youth mental health services in Birmingham.

Tell us about what you’ve been up to since graduating?

Since graduating I’ve been pretty busy job wise, which is exactly what I was hoping for during my final year at Bedfordshire. I wanted to make sure that my degree was put to good use – and since graduation it definitely has been! I managed to get a job with NCS: The Challenge, a youth organisation that promotes confidence building and personal development for young people.

I worked as a mentor for NCS during the summer and loved it, I realised that working with young people was something that I definitely wanted to pursue. Following that, I worked for a company called Urban Heard which specialised in youth engagement. We went into schools to raise awareness of risky behaviours whilst teaching resilience against peer pressure.

During this time, I was offered a job with the NHS through Birmingham’s new, innovative mental health service for 0 to 25 year olds – Forward Thinking Birmingham. I had always wanted to make significantly positive changes to young people’s lives by using the skills and knowledge gained throughout my degree.

Forward Thinking Birmingham gave me the perfect opportunity to do so. Although it was a difficult decision to leave Urban Heard, I knew that I was being offered an amazing opportunity and I had to take it.

Since then, it has been great working with Forward Thinking Birmingham – It’s a new, modern, youth centred organisation that I’m extremely happy to be a part of. Using psychology to help people is something I’d always wanted to do and thanks to Forward Thinking Birmingham, I’m now able to do it.

In hindsight I do wish I’d spent more time enjoying the freedom of having no commitments and nothing to wake up at 7am for.

However, when I think about my future it’s reassuring to know that I’m on the right path.

What’s your current role?

Currently I work with young people who are past and current mental health service users. I provide consultation in regards to their experience of mental health and the services they have received. This is done in order to gain patient feedback and ensure that the mental health care we provide is as effective as possible.

What’s the best thing about your job?

The best thing about my role is that I get to work with young people and make a genuine difference on both an individual and city wide level. As well as this, I enjoy working in the community, meeting young service users and spreading the word about Forward Thinking Birmingham.

Bedfordshire, my confidence increased, my mindset changed along with my overall perspective of pretty much everything. I met some great people from all over the world and made lifelong friends. Not to mention gaining a degree! All of this together with the experiences I gained from The Treehouse and working for PAL have prepared me for the world of work and adult life, especially in relation to my goals and what I want to achieve.

Best memories of UoB? I wouldn’t know where to start with my best memories of UoB, I have way too many. When I think of UoB I just think of how much fun I had with the people around me. The birthdays I celebrated at university were the best birthdays I’ve had so far - Thanks to my friends and all of the people I spent time with. That being said, one of the best of the best memories would have to be going to Shanghai with Go Global. Travelling to China was something I’d never even dreamt of doing, I never thought I’d ever get the opportunity to visit China but thanks to UoB I was able to go and went along with some amazing people. I just wish we could have stayed there longer!

Hopes for the future/ultimate goal?

My ultimate goal and hope for the future is to set up my own business, I aim to help young people in gaining a greater sense of life satisfaction through developmental and personal mentoring.

5 people you’d invite to a dinner party- can be living or dead Oprah Winfrey, Michelle and Barak Obama, Shonda Rhimes and Kerry Washington. I’m a big fan of all of them for different reasons but they’re some of the most successful people in the world – It would be good to pick their brains.

How has your time at UoB helped?

Coming to the University of Bedfordshire was the best thing I’ve ever done. In terms of my personal, social and educational development it’s played a massive role. During my time at

If you'd like to feature as one of our case studies for ‘Alumni Spotlight’, please email alumni@beds.ac.uk

Welcome Class of 2016!

ON 17 AND 18 MARCH WE WERE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME AND CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR NEWEST ALUMNI MEMBERS.

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raduates from the Business School, Creative Arts, Technologies and Science, Education and Sport and, Health and Social Sciences faculties all received their awards and celebrated at St Mary’s Parish Church, Luton The day also allowed us to honour local people of note. Chief Executive of Luton-based engineering group Hayward Tyler, Ewan Lloyd-Baker, received the honorary award of Doctor of Business Administration in recognition of his achievements in the manufacturing industry.

Mr Lloyd-Baker led the successful turnaround, development and growth of Hayward Tyler. He and his team have also raised more than £10m of funding to support investment in the Luton-based Centre of Excellence Mr Lloyd-Baker’s colleague Martin Clocherty was also honoured, with the award of Doctor of Science for his achievements in the manufacturing industry. Mr Clocherty is General Manager at the Luton headquarters and has played a key role in the company’s continuous improvement programme since 2009.

University Vice Chancellor Bill Rammell said: “Graduation is an important milestone but it is also the beginning of the journey, not the end. It is a day of celebration and recognition and I look forward to welcoming students and guests to the ceremonies.”

Prizes were also presented to Berlinda Abbey (Most Improved Student), Emilia Zalobka (Best Performing Postgraduate), Wezzie Lukhere (Best Masters Project) and Pavel Balonm (Best Overall Masters).

Guests of Honour were Ruth Dearnley OBE, Chief Executive Officer of growing global movement STOP THE TRAFFIK and Mark Anzani, Vice President for Mainframe Strategy and Ecosystems at IBM. Interested in helping with Graduations and other events? Please contact alumni@beds.ac.uk

Noticeboard CELEBRATE AND SHARE YOUR NEWS Getting married?

New arrival in the family?

Or perhaps you've emigrated or completed a big charity challenge?

Whatever your news, we would love to celebrate and share it in our next edition of "Noteworthy".

Please get in touch with any news you have via alumni@beds.ac.uk and you could be featured in our next edition of “Noteworthy”.

More than a Library CALLING THE LATEST MULTI-MILLION POUND INVESTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE THE 'LIBRARY' IS TO DO IT A DISSERVICE. IT'S MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

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he £46m building at the University's Luton campus promises to provide a new 'hub' for student life when it opens midway through 2016.

A chat with the project's architect, Colin Moses of mosescameronwilliams, reveals how the uniqueness of the building – achieved by incorporating a

diverse range of facilities and the opinions and hopes of students – will see it become a landmark for Luton.

Student life "The ground floor in particular will be a great place to be, especially with the Mezzanine level visible around that space," starts Colin.

"You can experience a lot without going up into the body of the building, where the books are and the study takes place."

Construction on the library – carried out by Willmott Dixon – started in 2014, once the views of students had been cemented in the initial planning phase.

"It's going to be quite different," says Colin. "For a library building it is an unusual opportunity to go so tall so for us it is a special building.

"There will be a very regular rhythm on the outside. The skin of the building is as heavily glazed as we can make it, to get good daylight.

"Along one edge of the building there are is a staggered lightwell,where you'll be able to see through to the floors below so there will be a sense of the activity around you."

Money well spent The new library is the latest in a series of investments in facilities at the University, with the £25m Gateway at the Bedford campus the most recent major build to be completed. Surrounded by the Campus Centre, Business School and state-of-the-art student accommodation, the library is set to be a Luton landmark.

"The higher education sector is so competitive these days and students are far more mature in the way they make their selections. Now, what the campus of a university offers and what facilities are available is critical."

"From day one we had student representatives in all our key meetings and they were an essential part of the decision making process," says Colin. "The whole thing is about the student experience.

"When we got to particular points where we had decisions to make, we got together sub-groups of students to inform what we should do.

"It was very direct in terms of influencing choices, for instance how to handle the security and access to the ground floor spaces within the building."

Diverse facilities The ground floor space is set to include a café area, the perfect spot for students to relax after a rewarding study session in another part of the building.

"The range of spaces that we are going to get will add so much to what campus life is about," Colin continues. "The students are going to get a great offer in terms of learning spaces.

"They're going to get the traditional library type of space along with more informal, social and group study spaces. There are going to be more silent spaces and they are going to be on the upper floors with great views."

The view from the top The views are made even more dramatic by the height of the building – there are nine levels in total – and the extensive, panoramic windows that will make the most of the building's scale.

Colin concludes: "The University has been particularly ambitious and has spent good money on buildings that will last. No university can afford to stand still and I think what Bedfordshire has done over the past few years is phenomenal."

To keep up to date with the latest news, please visit the Development and Alumni Relations website

Your Alumni Keeping in touch and staying connected THE UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE’S ALUMNI ASSOCIATION IS MADE UP OF OVER 75,000 MEMBERS STRETCHING OVER 140 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE. Being part of the Alumni community, you can extend your professional and social network to others who have graduated as well as remain part of the life and future of your University.

What we can offer All members of our Alumni Association have access to a range of services: eZInes: Our “Noteworthy” eZine keeps you updated with news, events and opportunities.

Free library membership: Access to the library facilities and books are available to you in your post-University life for free. For more details please contact us.

Careers and Employability Services: The services available to you as a student are still available to you for life as an alumnus including, job vacancies, employability workshops and individual career support.

How you can help There are also plenty of opportunities for you to give back and support the University of Bedfordshire.

Volunteering Come back on campus to help with events, share your expertise and mentor current students.

Fundraising By taking party in fundraising events and challenges, you are able to secure and support the future of your University.

For all enquires about what we can do for you and how you can help, please get in touch.

Contact details Development and Alumni Relations Office Innovation & Enterprise Service Room H011 University Square Luton Bedfordshire LU1 3JU alumni@beds.ac.uk www.beds.ac.uk/alumni LinkedIn- University of Bedfordshire Alumni Office