2016/17
derby.ac.uk
A Year at Derby Vice-Chancellor’s Welcome
3-8 9-10
Learning & Teaching
11-16
Research with Impact
17-22
Enterprise 23-24 Internationalisation 25-28 Our Students
29-32
Alumni & Development
33-34
Our Honorands
35-36
Community Engagement
37-38
Campus Investments
39-40
Facts & Figures
41
Contact Details
42
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University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
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A YEAR AT DERBY
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University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
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SEPTEMBER Nature Connections Festival TV presenter, famed naturalist and photographer Chris Packham hosted the University’s second festival. The free event was aimed at promoting community engagement and education through a shared passion for learning about nature through creative arts and ecologies. It was open to all and featured screenings, exhibitions, practical demonstrations and information stalls.
Dame Margaret Beckett delivers key note at Diplomacy Conference The College of Business, Law and Social Sciences welcomed Dame Margaret Beckett, amongst other distinguished guests and delegates, to its International Conference on Diplomacy & International Relations. Here guests discussed the key issue of diplomacy and the changing nature of relations between people, communities and nation states.
OCTOBER University part of ministerial delegation to Shanghai Senior leaders from the University, including Pro Vice-Chancellor External Affairs, Professor Judith Lamie, joined Universities Minister Jo Johnson MP on a visit to Shanghai aimed at strengthening research collaborations between the UK and China.
Derby first university in UK to launch advanced visionary X-ray suite A new £250,000 cutting-edge X-ray suite was opened to provide the next generation of radiographers with the most advanced skills to help combat the nationwide shortage.
President of the Supreme Court inspires students
University of Derby MOOC first in the UK to get quality mark
Lord Neuberger, the President of the Supreme Court, spoke about the future of the legal system during an event held at the University. He also passed on his top career tips to the audience, comprised of students, academics and legal professionals.
Derby was the first UK university to be awarded the OpenupEd Quality label by review for its Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). OpenupEd is the only quality assurance framework available with benchmarks for MOOCs and the label recognises that Derby offers quality controlled MOOCs in compliance with benchmarks tailored to both e-learning and open education, and keeps up to date with the latest developments.
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NOVEMBER Claude Littner talks business Claude Littner, entrepreneur and star of The Apprentice, visited the University to discuss his varied and successful career, battling cancer and what it takes to make it to the top in business. Claude also shared his experience of working for high profile companies including Unilever, Amstrad and Tottenham Hotspur.
Olympic gold medallists receive honorary degrees Adam Peaty MBE and Hollie Webb MBE, both gold medal winners at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, were awarded honorary degrees. Uttoxeter-born Adam Peaty won Team GB’s first gold medal of the games, setting a 100m men’s breaststroke record in the process. Hollie Webb grew up in Belper and scored the winning goal in the final of the women’s hockey competition.
Gareth Southgate on the future of English football England football manager Gareth Southgate spoke to students on the Football Journalism course about his role and the future of English football. As part of his visit, Gareth was interviewed on camera by two students, Dean Cooke and Holly Percival.
DECEMBER
JANUARY
Derby-led consortium receives £6.9 million to help disadvantaged students
Olympic gold hockey coach joins university
Forensic students investigate cold cases
The University of Derby and nine other educational institutions across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire secured a total of £6.9 million to help increase participation in higher education. The group submitted a plan to deliver targeted outreach activity to raise aspirations and re-engage learners.
After coaching the Team GB women’s hockey team to a gold medal at the Rio Olympics, Craig Keegan joined the University as a Sports Performance Manager where he will oversee the new performance programme. The programme consists of a performance club structure with specialist facilities and scholarships, to create a high performance culture and high performing student athletes.
Derby’s law and criminology students are challenging the justice system by investigating miscarriage of justice cases within the UK and internationally. The initiative called ‘Justice for all’, draws together expertise from criminology, law and forensic science to examine cases that may be considered miscarriages of justice – whereby somebody had been wrongly convicted, or where it was felt the original investigation did not adequately examine all the facts.
Students scoop awards in national trading challenge Three business students won two awards in a national finance trading competition. William Tomlinson, Daniel Hannigan and Miguel Angel Espiragres, all BA (Hons) Banking and Finance students, won both the Portfolio Challenge and Treasury Challenge Awards at the 2016 University Trading Challenge.
The Third Degree comes to Derby
Largest cohort of Nursing Associates in UK begin training at Derby A pioneering education programme aimed at transforming the nursing and care workforce was launched at the University. The Nursing Associate is a new support role which will work alongside care assistants and registered nurses to deliver hands-on care for patients. 110 students – the largest cohort of nursing associates in the UK – began their studies at Derby.
Building works complete on University STEM Centre The University celebrated the on-site completion of its new Derby-based science, technology and mathematics (STEM) building, by contractor Willmott Dixon. The STEM Centre – procured through public sector owned built environment specialist Scape Group’s National Major Works framework – focuses on real-world learning, combining functional space with infrastructure designed for the specific needs of engineering and computing studies. It will be open to students from September 2017.
FEBRUARY
BBC Radio 4’s comedy quiz show ‘The 3rd Degree’ was recorded in Derby in front of a live audience. The show pits a team of three academics against three students with hilarious consequences and is hosted by Steve Punt (Mary Whitehouse Experience, Punt & Dennis, The Now Show).
International speaker delivers lecture
Holocaust survivor visits University to mark Memorial Day One of the last holocaust survivors, Bernard Grunberg, visited the University to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and spoke about his experiences as a Jewish boy during the rise of Nazi Germany. During the event Bernard shared with students his experiences before he left Germany and how he built his life in England.
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International speaker and University of Derby honorand Richard Gerver returned to the University to talk about his career and his latest book ‘Simple Thinking’. Richard studied at Derby and has since gone on to become an award-winning head teacher, international speaker and adviser, working with big-name companies including Apple and Google.
University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
APRIL
MARCH
MAY
Lady Burlington chooses student designs for Chatsworth exhibition
College celebrates successful portfolio re-accreditation
Photography student scoops top prize for close-up nature shots
Laura Cavendish, the Countess of Burlington, visited the University to handpick garments designed by fashion students for a Gucci-sponsored exhibition at Chatsworth House. Lady Burlington viewed toiles designed by eight students and, to their surprise and delight, selected all of them to be exhibited in the Orangery at the Chatsworth exhibition, which also featured designs from Christian Dior, Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen.
The College of Health and Social Care was successful in re-accrediting a range of its portfolio with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), College of Occupational Therapists (COT) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Recently ranked in its annual self-review as a ‘blue’ provider by the NMC, meaning it’s exceeding their quality requirements, the College was also commended for the quality of its Nursing programmes.
A Commercial Photography student won a prestigious award for his close-up shots of nature. Damian Hayes was crowned winner of the Student Award in the British Institute of Professional Photography’s (BIPP) Midland Region Print Competition 2017 after submitting three images he had taken of a monarch butterfly, seed head and a pair of courting flies on a flower.
Publishing house launched ‘Faith in Science’ lecture series The X Factor comes to Derby A large number of hopefuls turned up to the X Factor auditions, which had to be extended by three hours to give students, staff and members of the public their chance to take part.
A four part lecture series entitled ‘Faith in Science’ was held at venues across the University and in the city’s stunning Cathedral. Guest presenters spoke about ‘God and the Big Bang’, ‘Science, Faith and Post-Truth’, ‘Is there more to life than genes?’ and ‘Hasn’t science disproved God?’.
A team of 10 MA Publishing students have released a book through the University’s new publishing house, Peregrine Publishing. The Derby Yearbook celebrates the history and culture of the city of Derby, and is intended to mark the 40th anniversary of Derby achieving city status (7 June 1977).
New Chair of the Governing Council Go Green Week A series of environment-themed workshops and activities were organised by the University to mark ‘Go Green Week’, which aims to get students and staff thinking about reducing their environmental impact.
Stand Alone Professor Kathryn Mitchell, Vice-Chancellor, signed the ‘Stand Alone’ pledge – making a commitment for the institution to support and develop services for estranged students. By doing so Derby joins 22 universities pledging their commitment to ensure that students who are studying without the support or approval of a family network group are supported throughout their studies to stay resilient and enable them to achieve success. Stand Alone supports adults who are estranged from their families by encouraging universities to sign a pledge giving their commitment to developing services for estranged students.
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Derbyshire businessman Stephen Smith has been appointed as the new Chair of the University’s Governing Council. Mr Smith will take up the role from August 2018 following the end of the tenure of the current Chair, Chris Hughes, who has been in the role since 2011.
University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
JUNE The Big Show 2017 The Big Show, a series of live events and exhibitions, took place across the University and city in June. Visitors to the event got the unique opportunity to experience the very best of emerging contemporary art and design practice from our final year students. Their work explores the issues and subjects of today’s world, and also looks ahead, predicting and setting the trends of tomorrow.
JULY
AUGUST
Research project funded by Cancer Research UK
University welcomes record number of visitors from China
A University of Derby academic is part of a team to be awarded £20,000 by The Cancer Research UK Prevention Initiative to fund a research study exploring ways to support family and friends through physical activity following a cancer diagnosis.
A record number of students from China travelled to the University for an Open Day organised specifically for them. The group of 280 students from four different universities - the largest group to ever visit the University from China - were welcomed to the Kedleston Road site by the Mayor of Derby, Councillor John Whitby, and university staff. A series of seminars were hosted on courses offered in Engineering and Technology, Education, Sports, Health and Hospitality, and student ambassadors were on hand to give tours of the campus facilities.
The funding will enable Dr Ainslea Cross and the team to develop of a toolkit for patients and their family and friends to provide information and support on physical activity, as well as to prompt coping planning, and develop tactics for when things aren’t going to plan.
Buxton’s Devonshire Spa wins top title at World Luxury Spa Awards 2017 Buxton’s Devonshire Spa has been crowned Best Luxury Emerging Spa in Northern Europe at the World Luxury Spa Awards 2017.
Gold award for teaching excellence The University of Derby was awarded Gold by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) in the country’s first ever Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), putting it in the top 20% of all providers in the UK. Based on the evidence available, the TEF Panel judged that Derby delivers consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for its students, and is of the highest quality found in the UK.
The World Luxury Spa Awards, which were held in Hanoi, Vietnam, are the pinnacle of achievement for luxury spas worldwide, with award winners setting the benchmark for leading spas across the globe. It’s the first award win of its kind for Devonshire Spa and follows the venue winning the Professional Beauty ‘Day Spa of the Year’ accolade in 2016.
It was publicly announced in August that the University’s £12 million STEM Centre is to be officially opened by HRH The Earl of Wessex on Wednesday 27 September.
International awards for Radio Production lecturer Funding boost for Derby Theatre University owned Derby Theatre announced that it will remain part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio, plus receive an uplift in funding. This will result in it receiving a total amount of £3,180,000 over the next four years (£795,000 per annum), a £1,180,000 uplift on current funding to support key strands of the Theatre’s programme of work from 2018 to 2022.
University STEM Centre to be officially opened by HRH The Earl of Wessex
The new 4,200m² STEM Centre, part funded by a £5 million grant from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), will provide an extension of computer studios and specialist facilities for engineering, technology and computing students. It has been specially designed to enhance applied practical teaching in mechanical, motorsport, manufacturing and civil engineering to support our new programmes, whilst upgrading and extending facilities for electrical and electronics engineering and computer networking.
A University of Derby Media Production Lecturer is part of the Henchman Productions team that scooped two Bronze Awards at the New York Festivals’ International Radio Program Awards 2017. Daithi McMahon, Lecturer in Media Production, produced and edited ‘Left Behind’ and ‘Matches’. Each programme took home a coveted art deco inspired radio microphone trophy for the Best Radio Drama Special category.
Clearing Derby enjoyed another busy clearing period after A-level results day. Staff from across the institution manned the phone lines and, at the time of writing, the University is headed for a record intake of students.
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VICE-CHANCELLOR’S WELCOME It is with immense pride that I write this opening statement for the University of Derby’s Annual Review 2016/17 and reflect on the achievements that we, an institution exuding talented staff and students, have accomplished during the last academic year.
When I joined Derby as Vice-Chancellor two years ago I was impressed by the ambition that was shared amongst colleagues; a desire to continually raise the bar and an absolute commitment to providing our students with the best possible experience during their time here, by delivering excellence throughout all our academic and professional areas. This strong commitment to high quality teaching and learning, and our enhanced rigour in monitoring student performance, has afforded Derby a deserved reputation for outstanding performance in student success. These achievements were formally recognised in the new national Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) in which Derby received gold, the highest rating possible. This achievement is a personal highlight in my career and an extremely proud moment for the whole University and our supporters. However, we continue to address the ever-changing demands of industry and the public sector to ensure that we have high-calibre graduates with both the
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knowledge and skills to make a difference in their future employment. This has led to a 10% increase in our students gaining graduate level employment within six months of finishing their course. Our Award Ceremonies, held in November and July, are the most significant events in our calendar. These are joyful celebrations involving thousands of graduates, supported by their families and friends. It is very humbling to see the pride on each graduate’s face as they walk across the stage to receive their award – knowing that their time at Derby has helped equip them with the tools, skills, knowledge and experience they need to be successful, whatever path they choose. Through high quality teaching and learning university truly does transform lives and opens up endless possibilities. During this academic year the Department for Education identified our city as a social mobility ‘cold spot’ and announced that funding would be made available through its Opportunity
University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
Area initiative. As a result, our city will receive support to enhance social mobility through high quality careers guidance, improved student attainment and stronger links between education and industry. I have taken on the role of Chair of the Opportunity Area Partnership Board, and look forward to working with colleagues and stakeholders to drive forward significant change and ensure improved outcomes and opportunities for the young people of Derby. To further support this agenda our Outreach and Widening Participation teams are working closely with a number of local schools and have engaged with almost 23,000 young people over the year. We have also established an Equality and Social Mobility Unit, headed up by the renowned Professor Alex Nunn, which will aim to improve social mobility within our region. Away from home, our international ambitions continue to grow and we have undertaken a number of successful overseas trips this year. In October we
were part of Jo Johnson’s ministerial delegation to Shanghai, aimed at strengthening research collaborations between the UK and China, and this was closely followed by a second visit to Shanghai and Anhui province as part of a delegation led by the Midlands Engine. We look forward to developing these relationships further as we move into the new academic year, in the hope that we can continue to collaborate on research projects and create exciting opportunities for students here and overseas. In this Annual Review you can find out more about the amazing research taking place here at Derby. As an institution we are committed to raising our research profile and, with the appointment of Professor Nick Antonopoulos as Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, we have increased funding and external engagement from partners interested in our research. Professor Antonopoulos will develop a focused and applied Research Strategy for Derby that will seek to build upon our reputation and advance a culture of research excellence.
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We have achieved great things at Derby this year, and whilst undoubtedly there will be challenges ahead, I am confident that with the strong commitment and support of my Governing Council, staff, students and partners, we can continue to make a real difference and impact upon on our students and our society.
Professor Kathryn Mitchell Vice-Chancellor, University of Derby
Chris Jones, Programme Leader FdA/BA (Hons) Professional Culinary Arts and Management
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University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
LEARNING AND TEACHING
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LEARNING AND TEACHING Our Learning and Teaching Strategy (2016-2020) is underpinned by the three pillars of employability, academic quality and research in the curriculum. Derby is ranked in the top 20 universities in the country for teaching quality (Times and Sunday Times 2017) and 96.3% of our graduates are in work or further study within six months of finishing their course (HESA 2017). We are also pioneering the use of technology-enhanced learning – such as lecture recording systems, live survey tools and digital assessment technologies – across our courses to improve the quality and availability of teaching resources and help students develop their digital skills.
Derby recognised for teaching excellence The University of Derby was awarded a Gold rating by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) in the country’s first ever Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), putting us in the top 20% of all providers in the UK. The TEF was introduced by the Government to encourage and raise the profile of teaching excellence in universities and colleges, and is intended to help people choose where to study, by providing clear information about teaching provision and student outcomes. In its decision letter, HEFCE highlighted the University’s engagement with employers, personalised learning, engagement of students, outstanding resources, and its culture of excellent teaching, as particular areas of strength. The University has also been shortlisted by an international panel of judges for the Higher Education Academy (HEA) Global Teaching Excellence Awards (GTEA). The award, in partnership with Times Higher Education, is open to all providers of higher education and will recognise institution-wide approaches to teaching excellence. BA Dance students with University of Derby Teaching Fellow, Jorge Crecis, at Deda Dance studio
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University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
National award for Criminology teaching In July, two Criminology academics won the National Award for Excellence in Teaching Criminology 2017 from the British Society of Criminology (BSC) Learning and Teaching Network. Charlotte Hargreaves, Head of Criminology, and Dr Michael Teague, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, were presented with the award at the annual BSC conference in Sheffield. The award celebrates outstanding teaching in Criminology across UK Higher Education institutions. Charlotte said: “I’m delighted that we have won this national teaching award. It stands testament to the hard work and commitment of our team to offering our students a world class educational experience through internationalising our curriculum and providing opportunity for all of our students to participate in ‘real world criminology’. “I have witnessed first-hand the impact our visits have had on our students, from serving in soup kitchens in inner city San Francisco, to going on patrol with the Miami Police Department, and how these have broken down perceptions, fed into dissertations and shaped future careers.”
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LEARNING AND TEACHING Higher Education Bioscience Teacher of the Year Dr Ian Turner was awarded the HE Bioscience Teacher of the Year Award in May in recognition of his outstanding and innovative teaching style. The award, sponsored by Oxford University Press, was formally presented at the Heads of University Biosciences (HUBS) Spring Meeting. The chair of the judging panel, Professor Peter Heathcote FRSB, said: “In his unique approach, Ian uses the lecture theatre as a stage and a variety of learning styles and approaches, including role play, props and analogies, to make demanding subjects such as genetics and immunology both enjoyable and accessible to students. “Testimonials from students, and recognition by academic colleagues and his employer, the University of Derby, provided strong evidence to the panel of judges that Ian’s interactive and engaging approach has indeed inspired students to work harder and aspire to be scientists.”
Dr Ian Turner was awarded the HE Bioscience Teacher of the Year Award in May in recognition of his outstanding and innovative teaching style Dr Ian Turner
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University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
Students at the heart of learning and teaching A new Student Experience Learning and Teaching Committee (SELTC) has been established and is co-chaired by the Union of Students. Professor Malcolm Todd, Pro ViceChancellor Student Experience, said the aim of the SELTC was for the University to work in closer partnerships with students and added: “I do not see students as the consumers of an educational product, but rather as collaborators in an exciting and challenging academic endeavour. The creation of this new jointly chaired high level university committee reflects that commitment to place students at the heart of our deliberative and decision making structures.�
Union of Students President Grace Suszek and Professor Malcolm Todd
Our Learning and Teaching strategy places a strong emphasis on providing our students with opportunities to gain experience in real world settings. We recognise that employers are looking for workers with not only the right qualifications, but also the right experience that will help them to succeed in the modern, competitive world.
University of Derby Online Learning Our innovative approach to learning and teaching can be demonstrated through University of Derby Online Learning (UDOL), which is an industry leader in the online learning sector. Through UDOL, we offer distance learning courses and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).
We work hard to provide our students with opportunities in their chosen field. Students are actively encouraged to take part in work placement schemes and some of our courses offer guaranteed placements.
Four new MOOCs have been launched by UDOL in the last year, covering topics such as autism, innovation in operations management, dementia and managing your online presence.
Derby also offers opportunities for students to network with business leaders and industry experts, so they can gain advice first-hand and begin to build up their own network of contacts. Every year we organise a Graduate Recruitment, Internship and Placement (GRIP) fair, which gives students and graduates the chance to meet over 60 local employers including Boots, RollsRoyce and Next.
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Andrew Ramsey carries out research on mussels in the University’s Aquatic Centre
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University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
RESEARCH WITH IMPACT
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RESEARCH WITH IMPACT Research is a fundamental part of our identity as an academic institution. In the last decade we have increased our annual research income by 172% and, in 2014, we celebrated our best ever Research Excellence Framework (REF) results, with threequarters of our output judged to be at least ‘internationally significant’. Professor Nick Antonopoulos was appointed as Pro ViceChancellor Research in April 2017 to further support our research ambitions. Professor Antonopoulos moved to Derby in 2009 and became Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology in 2014. In his new role, he will develop a research strategy for Derby that will seek to build our reputation and foster a culture of research. Professor Nick Antonopoulos
New Research Centres established Our aim is to produce research that makes a difference in the real world, and to do this we have therefore established new research centres that will provide enhanced support and focus for our research community. The new centres are: • The Centre for Business Improvement (led by Professor Carley Foster) will focus on sustainable business, the green economy, customer engagement, and evaluation and applied economics. • The Centre for Education Research and Innovation (led by Dr Deborah Robinson) will focus on career education, educational leadership, Higher Education, mathematics education and Special Educational Needs. • The Environmental Sustainability Research Centre (led by Professor Aradhana Mehra) will focus on ecosustainability, evolution, sustainable
exploitation in bio-geosciences, and sustainability and climate change. • The Health and Social Care Research Centre (led by Professor Derek Ward) will focus on wellbeing, enhancing care for patients, healthy lifestyles, and developing an effective health and social care workforce. • The Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Engineering (IISE) (led by Professor Paul Stewart) will focus on advanced manufacturing strategy and systems, sustainable design and innovation, control and instrumentation, embedded systems, sustainable rail transport infrastructure, and energy and the environment. • The Social, Cultural and Legal Research Centre (SCaLR) (led by Professor Alex Nunn) will focus on inequality, social justice, culture, social cohesion, crime policy, policing, and legal research.
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University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
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RESEARCH WITH IMPACT Reconnecting with nature Dr Miles Richardson, Head of Psychology, has been involved in ongoing research looking at the effect of people reconnecting with nature. One part of this research involved a randomised controlled trial looking at the effects of a ‘daily dose’ of nature, which revealed positive effects on mental health. The experiment is now being expanded as part of a £1 million project in Sheffield to increase wellbeing. The Improving Wellbeing through Urban Nature (IWUN) project will include the development of a smartphone app that will encourage people to engage with the natural world.
Protecting coral reefs Climate change and rising sea temperatures are threatening coral reefs, which contain some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. They also play an important role in protecting coastlines and provide essential nutrients for marine food chains. Dr Michael Sweet, Senior Lecturer in Invertebrate Biology, was involved in the creation of a purpose-built research laboratory in the Maldives. This will enable vital research projects to be carried out, such as growing new varieties of coral that will allow new areas of reef to be replanted. Dr Sweet said: “This was the first project of its kind in the Indian Ocean. We ran short courses, workshops at local and neighbouring islands’ schools, funded internships for Maldivian nationals and delivered lectures at the Maldives National University. We taught local people how to protect the coral reefs, which meant the skills stayed in the country, where they are most needed.”
The promiscuous sex lives of crickets
because of different underlying genetic factors or causes. Personalised medicine is now considered to be best practice.”
Dr Karim Vahed, Professor of Entomology, examined the reproductive behaviour of bush-crickets and found that females actively avoid mating with the same male. The study, a collaboration with researchers from St Andrews, found that each female cricket mated with up to six different partners in the wild. It is thought that females seek new mating partners because this can increase the hatching success of the female’s eggs and is linked to increased survival chances for her offspring.
The project could also lead to the development of more effective drugs, as Professor Anjum explained: “Where drugs only work for a proportion of people with the same illness, data from this platform could help to uncover the genetic reasons for this and provide the basis for new areas of research or new clinical trials.”
For the first time, researchers were able to determine how many males each female had mated with and how many times they had mated with each male. The study also allowed the team to work out which male’s sperm had fertilised the female’s eggs and the factors that affect this.
Dr Boris Ceranic, Programme Leader for the BSc and MSc Architectural courses, is working with visiting professor Derek Latham, founder of Lathams Architects to design and build an environmentallyfriendly residential property. The project is the brainchild of Professor Latham and, once completed, will become his new family home.
Improving analytics for the pharmaceutical industry A team of computing and mathematics researchers are working with Roche, the pharmaceuticals and diagnostics company, to deliver a high-speed analytics platform for use in the development of personalised and precision medicines. The platform will integrate anonymised clinical data with DNA data to allow practitioners to develop new drugs at a faster rate. Professor Ashiq Anjum, lead researcher on the project, explained the potential benefits: “An example of personalised medicine is two patients with high blood pressure receiving different treatment
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Developing sustainable building practices
Professor Latham’s aim was to produce a building with a low visual and environmental impact that adopted the character of the site using local materials. The area is covered with sycamore trees and these will be used in the construction, although this is a risk as the material is known to rot and warp and is vulnerable to insect attack. However, Professor Latham wanted to pioneer the use of sycamore in building. “I wanted to build a truly sustainable house”, he explained. “Not sustainable in the usual tick-box way; I wanted to be more experimental and try things that I couldn’t do with my client projects because they would be too risky.”
University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
The property will utilise ‘passive design’ measures where natural sources of heating, cooling and ventilation will be used to reduce the overall environmental impact. Dr Ceranic and a team of students contributed to the designs and will monitor the performance of the property over the next five years.
Pioneering cancer research University researchers carried out the first pilot study in the UK looking at the rates of a common oral infection in young healthy adults which can cause cancer in the mouth. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a common viral infection which can be passed through close contact and has high-risk strains that can lead to head, neck and cervical cancers. The study, which questioned 124 people aged 18-24 about their lifestyle as well as involving a mouth swab, revealed 4% had a detectable oral HPV infection and indicated that possible lifestyle choices, such as smoking, could increase the risk of contracting HPV.
Committed to equality
We are a member of Athena SWAN and are committed to promoting equality in Higher Education. Online research archive Visit UDORA (derby.openrespository. com/derby) to view our academic research. Observations in the University’s new aquatic research facility, which was opened in November 2016 in partnership with the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham
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ENTERPRISE
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University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
Derby is the fastest growing city in the East Midlands and in the top ten nationally, according to a report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research. As a university, we recognise the role we have in training skilled workers and offering innovation and enterprise support to meet the needs of our thriving regional economy.
Industrial gateway We want to support economic growth in the East Midlands and are keen to partner with local organisations to help make this happen. We are therefore developing an ‘industrial gateway’ that will make it easier for businesses to access support and collaborate on projects driven by the needs of regional industry and the supply chains. The industrial gateway will also improve access to our conferencing and business incubation services, as well as our commercial services in Buxton and Chesterfield. A key element of the industrial gateway will be the development of the University of Derby Science Park, which was unveiled at MIPIM 2017. Based at Infinity Park in Derby, and adjacent to the world headquarters of Rolls-Royce, the University of Derby Science Park will provide a space where entrepreneurs, businesses and researchers can collaborate on innovative ventures. www.uodsp.com
Midlands Enterprise Universities A partnership between seven universities in the Midlands was officially launched in October 2016 to bring jobs and wealth creation to the region. Midlands Enterprise Universities is a collaboration between the University of Derby, Birmingham City University, Coventry University, De Montfort University, University of Lincoln, Nottingham Trent University and the University of Wolverhampton. The partnership brings the institutions together to create a unique pool of skills, research, expertise and facilities, which will be made available to businesses and local authorities to create jobs, boost economic growth and plug skills gaps across the Midlands.
Supporting small businesses We support local SMEs through various Government-funded schemes that aim to fuel business expansion and economic growth. In May 2017, a games development studio in Derby received £50,000 funding from the University’s
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Invest to Grow programme, which is supported by a £16 million grant from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund. Strawdog Studios used the funding to develop its Times Table Adventures game, an educational product aimed at children aged 3-11.
Apprenticeships Technical education is a good alternative to academic study, both for students aiming for a career that requires a specific skillset and companies looking to develop a skilled workforce. The University of Derby can support apprenticeship programmes from Level 2 to 7 and offers flexible entry points. We recently received £250,000 funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to develop degree apprenticeships from September 2017. The degree apprenticeships have been developed in response to the needs of the region and include: Nursing, Civil Engineering Site Manager, Digital and Technological Solutions: Cyber Security Analyst, Aerospace Engineer and Chartered Manager. www.derby.ac.uk/apprenticeships
INTERNATIONALISATION
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University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
Derby is a university with a global outlook and we are working towards developing a genuinely international culture within our community. In the 2016/17 academic year we have welcomed over 900 EU and exchange students and 600 international students from over 100 countries. Not only does this bring economic benefits to our region – Derby’s international students contribute over £14 million to the economy each year – but it also helps broaden the horizons of our student community. We’re proud to be recognised as the second most recommended UK modern university in the International Student Barometer 2016. Derby was also ranked in the top quartile of UK universities for quality lectures and employability. Building partnerships with overseas academic institutions and industries is a key part of the University of Derby’s international strategy, led by our Pro Vice-Chancellor External Affairs, Professor Judith Lamie.
Strengthening links to China Senior leaders from the University of Derby, including Professor Lamie, visited Shanghai in October 2016 as part of a ministerial Professor Judith Lamie delegation led by Universities Minister Jo Johnson MP to strengthen research collaborations between the UK and China. In November 2016, Vice-Chancellor Professor Kathryn Mitchell joined a delegation led by the Midlands Engine to Shanghai and Anhui province. Derby has built relationships with institutions such as the University of
Jiangsu and Tongji University, where we are exchanging students and staff, as well as collaborating on major research projects such as the Sino-UK Higher Education Research Partnership for PhD studies. Hefei University and the University of Derby have also entered into an academic collaboration agreement, allowing for postgraduate student scholarships and academic visits between the two institutions.
The aims are to grow research and innovation, and collaborative taught programme activity, in key sectors such as big data and analytics, smart cities and systems, transport equipment manufacturing, low carbon technology and production, advanced materials, advanced manufacturing and medical/ healthcare technology, cloud computing and the internet of things.
We will soon be welcoming three visiting scholars from Hefei University, who have been sponsored by Anhui Provincial Government, to visit the University for 12 months to work on publications, conferences and research projects. Members of the Ministerial delegation in Shanghai
Shanghai
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INTERNATIONALISATION Exploring the history of the universe with CERN Academics from the College of Engineering and Technology with expertise in data science, cloud computing and electronic engineering, are collaborating on two projects with scientists at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. One of these projects is as an associate member of ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) and the other is with the wider research community at CERN, which is seeking to understand the origins of the universe.
ALICE is a major international project devoted to researching the physics of matter on an infinitely small scale and involves over 1,500 researchers from 37 countries. One of the questions the team is looking at is what happens to matter when it is heated to 100,000 times the temperature of the centre of the sun? These collaborations have created opportunities for staff and students at Derby to work on cutting edge research projects in the field of high-volume streaming data analytics. The partnership with CERN has also generated opportunities to run outreach projects with secondary schools that are focused on science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects.
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University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
International academic and progression partners
Developing our global links We are proud to have academic partnerships with institutions across the globe. We now have a team based in Shanghai, China, and Mumbai, India, and look forward to expanding our international network in 2017-18.
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OUR STUDENTS
Derby is an increasingly popular destination for students, with applications having grown by 16.4% in the last five years. In the previous academic year, the University was ranked sixth in the country for student number growth after an 11% increase in the student population. Our students are our top priority and we work hard to offer an excellent education that will give them the best possible start to their careers.
Student success All students are encouraged to think about how their skills can be used to meet real world challenges. Every year the hard work of many entrepreneurial students is recognised by national and regional award bodies. Gok Wan, the TV presenter and fashion expert, awarded a special commendation to a Fashion student at the Fashanne Awards 2017 in June. Alexey Morozov was awarded the special prize for his tailored cut skirt inspired from the
Socialist art theme of the Russian Constructivism during the 1920s to 1950s. In July 2017, Liam Tuckwood, a Graphic Design student, was awarded a top prize by the Royal Society of Arts Students Design Awards for an interactive debit card that aims to help people save money. Liam’s concept debit card features a face that changes its expression to react to the user’s spending and remaining bank balance, and is linked to an app that helps users to manage their budget more effectively.
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University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
Giving back to the community
Student life at Derby
An inclusive student body
There are lots of opportunities for students to learn new skills, give something back to the community and make new friends in the process. Phantom Media, a student-run media organisation, provides opportunities for students to get involved in journalism, radio broadcasting and TV production.
Derby has an active Union of Students which boasts over 60 societies with a membership of over 1,300 students. There’s something for everyone to get involved, with societies ranging from musical theatre to religious groups to Quidditch. Our students are also regularly involved in one of almost 50 student sports clubs, many of which give students the chance to compete against other universities in the British Universities and Colleges (BUCS) league, with the Badminton, Netball and Football teams winning their leagues last year.
Derby has a vibrant and diverse community of students. We have 146 nationalities represented across our sites and 8.5% of our students have a declared disability.
Many students also get involved in volunteering and fundraising projects for the local community. A great example of this is the student-led Raise and Give (RAG) society, which donated over £60,000 to local causes in 2016/17. Through the Futures Award, students can gain official recognition from the University for extra-curricular activities, such as volunteering, mentoring or work experience.
Around 80 students volunteered as ‘welcome heroes’ at the start of the academic year, each giving up around 10 hours of their time to help new students get settled into university life.
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We partner with the Union of Students to create an inclusive environment on campus. As part of this, we celebrate LGBT History Month in February each year to promote diversity and equality on campus. In March 2017, a Derby-led consortium of universities was awarded £440,000 from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to close the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) attainment gap.
Graduation
We are extremely proud of the achievements of our students, and the University’s Award Ceremonies (November and July) provide an opportunity for us to celebrate their success together. This year we welcomed around 4,500 students, along with their families and friends, to the ceremonies which are a real highlight of the year for everyone involved.
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University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
Students celebrate during the Derby Awards Ceremonies in July.
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ALUMNI & DEVELOPMENT Whilst their time at the University of Derby may have come to an end, our alumni will always be part of the Derby community and we continue to support them in the years following their graduation. Many have gone on to achieve great things; forging exciting and challenging careers in a range of professions across the globe, and many come back to Derby to continue their professional development or give back in some way; for example by supporting our current students through mentoring, offering internships and full time employment opportunities. Whatever path they choose we are proud of all of our alumni and we are delighted to share some highlights from the past year with you.
Alumni highlights If you visited the city between June 9 and July 23 then you may have seen ‘Poppies: Weeping Window’, the stunning display of thousands of red ceramic poppies cascading down from the historic Silk Mill. These were from the installation ‘Blood Swept Lands and Sea of Red’, a display of 888,246 poppies at the Tower of London in 2014, created by artist, and Derby alumnus, Paul Cummins CBE (BA Craft, 2010), and designer Tom Piper, as a national commemoration of the First World War. In June this year Jennifer Birch and Jade Foster (both BA Fine Art, 2017) established Divine Locale, Derby’s only graduate-led art festival, to showcase and highlight the work of local and national emerging contemporary artists. The inaugural festival took place in August and included work from a range of disciplines including live performance, installation, photography, print, digital, media, sculpture and painting. Tae Kwon Do expert Charlie Foster Phillips (BSc Martial Arts Theory and Practice with Sports Massage and Exercise Therapies, 2012) joined the University’s Further Education wing, Buxton and Leek College, in December
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2016 as a full time study coach. Charlie was rated the best female in the UK’s latest Tae Kwon Do black belt rankings. She believes the sport’s five principles – courtesy, integrity, self-control, perseverance and an indomitable spirit – will help as she works with students who are struggling with their academic work.
Development Our newly established Development and Alumni Relations team will develop and strengthen relationships with our network of friends, advisers and supporters who have a shared ambition in the long-term wellbeing and success of the university. Our vision can only be fully realised with the financial support, involvement and advocacy of our closest supporters. Philanthropic support enables us to build on our strengths, enhance student experience, extend research programmes and create the best possible environments within which people can excel. If you’re interested in talking to us about how you can be involved please get in touch – Hannah Hallam 01332 597818 / h.hallam@derby.ac.uk
University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
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OUR HONORANDS
Adam Peaty MBE Honorary Master of the University Adam Peaty is a swimmer who won Team GB’s first gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. More recently he became the most successful British male World Championship swimmer after claiming a fifth global title in the 2017 FINA World Championships and a personal haul of three medals. Adam was awarded an Honorary Masters of the University in recognition of his achievements in sport.
Sue James Honorary Doctor of the University
Mr Bob Betts Honorary Doctor of the University
Sue is a former Chief Executive of Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and was made an Honorary Doctor of the University in recognition of her services to health in the city and the region.
Bob Betts is Managing Director of clock manufacturers Smith of Derby Ltd and Chairman of Marketing Derby. He was made an Honorary Doctor of the University in recognition of his innovative achievements in horology and promotion of the city of Derby.
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The Reverend Canon Professor David Thomas, MA MA PhD Honorary Doctor of Letters David is an internationally regarded scholar and writer on the history and theology of Christian-Muslim Relations. The University awarded Professor Thomas an Honorary Doctor of Letters in recognition of his services to scholarship and his legacy in the field of Christian-Muslim relations.
University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
Sir Stephen Moss Kt HonLLD Honorary Doctor of the University
Hollie Webb MBE Honorary Master of the University
Trevor Clay Honorary Doctor of Education
Sir Stephen Moss is a nurse who has devoted his career to healthcare. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of the University in recognition of his services to health and social care as an outstanding nurse leader and role model.
Hollie Webb is a British women’s hockey player and Olympic gold medallist, scoring the winning penalty, as part of Team GB’s women’s hockey squad, against the Netherlands at the 2016 Rio Olympics. In recognition of her achievements in sport Hollie was awarded an Honorary Master of the University.
Trevor has over 25 years’ experience in further education having previously worked at Arnold and Carlton College and New College Nottingham. In his role as Principal and Chief Executive of Chesterfield College, Trevor led the remodelling of the campus to create a modern and attractive space for students. The University awarded Trevor an Honorary Doctor of Education in recognition of his commitment to the provision of high quality further education, through his contribution to the success of Chesterfield College and its impact on the local community.
Charles W Haycock Honorary Doctor of the University The firm of William Haycock is one of the oldest clock making businesses in the United Kingdom, still controlled by the original family. The University conferred this award in recognition of Charles’s unique expertise, his services to horology and outstanding contribution to Derbyshire’s heritage.
Paul Stein Honorary Doctor of the University Currently Chief Technology Officer at RollsRoyce, Paul’s contribution to aeronautical science and the development of the region’s manufacturing and engineering industries was recognised by being awarded an Honorary Doctor of the University.
James Berresford Honorary Doctor of the University After an early career in theatre management James began to specialise in the world of tourism. He played significant roles in the East Midlands region, running Sherwood Forest and taking the position of Regional Director for the Heart of England Tourist Board before joining the Northwest Development Agency as Director of Tourism. In 2010, James brought his wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role as Chief Executive of Visit England.
Geoff Wright Honorary Master of the University Geoff is the founder of Derby Jazz, a not-forprofit organisation, and was recognised for his achievements, which include developing and fostering new talent through the Derby Jazz education programme, by being awarded an Honorary Master of the University.
Patricia Greene MBE Honorary Master of the Arts Patricia Greene is an actress and longstanding cast member of BBC Radio 4’s The Archers. She was awarded an Honorary Master of the Arts in recognition of her services to radio drama.
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In recognition of James’s significant contribution to English tourism, whilst remaining a visible presence within Derbyshire tourism organisations, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of the University.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Widening participation Education is an important driver of social mobility and Derby has a strong track record in widening participation in Higher Education. Nearly 20% of our full-time first degree undergraduates are from the lowest Higher Education participation neighbourhoods and are often the first member of their family to go to university. UK-domiciled black and minority ethnic (BME) students make up 19.6% of our undergraduate body and 97% of our undergraduates are from state school backgrounds. Social mobility was identified by the Department for Education as a local priority for Derby and the city was designated as an Opportunity Area in October. Professor Kathryn Mitchell chairs the local Opportunity Area board and is working with schools and organisations across the city to help young people reach their potential. We work closely with local schools and deliver a range of activities, presentations and workshops through our Outreach
and Widening Participation teams. This academic year, we have held 571 events and have engaged with 22,724 young people. The Equality and Social Mobility Unit (ESMU) was set up in June to provide a strategic focus for all our widening participation activity at the University. Through this executive-led group, our aim is to become established as one of the leading organisations in the region for aiding social mobility.
Giving back to local people Through our Community Fund we awarded almost ÂŁ17,000 in grants to 21 locally-run projects across Derbyshire in 2016/17. An estimated 1,900 people directly benefited from the funding, which was used to support a diverse range of projects including a LGBT+ youth support network, an initiative to get girls interested in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects, and an exhibition celebrating the vital work of unpaid carers.
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Family Fun Day Record numbers attended our annual Family Fun Day this year, which once again proved to be a popular local attraction. Around 5,000 people attended the free pirate-themed event. Each year our academic teams organise fun activities for all the family, which this year included: a robotics challenge, forensic crime scene investigation, 3D printing, telescope building and map making. There were also a range of sports activities on offer such as archery, cricket, football, rock climbing and trampolining, as well as local food and drink outlets, and stalls from partner organisations including Derby County Football Club and Rolls-Royce.
University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
A young visitor gets the chance to hold a parrot
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CAMPUS INVESTMENTS
Over the last 10 years we’ve invested over £150 million in our facilities to ensure that our students have access to some of the most modern teaching spaces in the country. Last year we invested £28 million in improving our campus infrastructure and teaching resources.
Chesterfield campus opens Our new £6.9 million campus in Chesterfield was officially opened in October 2016. The Grade II listed building, formerly the St Helena Girls Grammar School, provides modern facilities for healthcare, engineering, IT and business courses. It also includes an innovation centre with six business incubation units to support economic growth in the town.
Multi-million STEM building completed A £12 million extension to our Markeaton Street campus will provide an extra 4,200m2 of teaching space for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects. Practical teaching spaces will be available for our new MEng, electrical and electronics engineering, and computer networking programmes. An accessible roof space will also provide new opportunities for teaching communications technology and sustainable engineering practices, such as renewable energy systems and water
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harvesting. The building will be officially opened in September 2017 by HRH The Earl of Wessex.
City centre living for students A new hall of residence close to Derby city centre opened in September 2016. Cathedral Court provides housing for more than 350 students and is the latest addition to the Derby Student Residences Limited (DSRL) portfolio. Another new hall of residence, Agard Court, is currently under construction next to One Friar Gate Square, home of the Derby Law School, and will open in 2018.
New Fashion and Textiles studios Specialist facilities for Fashion and Textiles opened in September 2016, close to our Markeaton Street and Britannia Mill sites in Derby. Covering 1,100m2, the £3 million redevelopment features airy studio spaces, industrial textiles equipment, tutorial and breakout areas, CAD facilities and offices.
University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
Our new ÂŁ6.9 million campus in Chesterfield
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FACTS & FIGURES university for teaching quality
(Times and Sunday Times 2017)
None of our waste is sent to landfill. If it can’t be recycled it’s turned into energy
Accredited Fairtrade University
£150M
TOP10
invested in facilities in the last 10 years
of graduates in work or further study within six months of finishing their course (HESA 2017)
in the world for International Student Centre Support (International Student Barometer 2016)
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for Student Welfare
(Times and Sunday Times 2017)
We generate clean energy on campus through wind turbines and solar panels
annual impact on the UK economy
University of Derby Annual Review 2016/17
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