International Partnership Newsletter January 2015

International Partnership Newsletter - Jan 2015 (Produced by Sue Hazeldine – International Centre)

Greetings International Partners, Happy New Year to you all. This is the first University of Wolverhampton newsletter to keep you up to date with what is happening at the University of Wolverhampton.

Wolverhampton has world leading research Research at the University of Wolverhampton has been commended and is at its highest ever level according to an assessment of all UK universities activity, published today. The Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014) evaluates the quality and impact of research at UK universities across all disciplines.

It grades research from nationally recognised (1*) to world leading (4*) and is carried out every five years, with the last publication in 2008. Vice-Chancellor, Professor Geoff Layer, said: “This truly recognises the development of applied research at the University of Wolverhampton. It demonstrates the progress the University has made and its major contribution to the economic growth regionally, nationally and internationally. “We are delighted that REF 2014 has highlighted and validated the world class work we do within the institution. “Our research makes an impact with business, industry and society and our students will continue to benefit from high quality research-informed teaching.”

University Governor wins National Achiever Award A University of Wolverhampton Governor has been named ‘Achiever of the Year’ at the prestigious Celebrating Construction 2014 National Awards. Martin Chambers, Framework Director at the West Midlands based contractor Shaylor Group, won the top award at a ceremony held in London in November.

Martin was recognised for having played a pivotal role in the Chartered Institute of Building, being its Global President in 2007/8, being a former Chair of Birmingham’s Family Housing Association and director of West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence and its successor organisation MCCE. Chambers also has strong links with academia as a governor of the University of Wolverhampton, external examiner with Aston University and a visiting professor at the University of Westminster. Chambers continues to achieve success by taking a leading role in the successful repositioning of Shaylor Group plc as one of the country’s most sought after SME contractors.

Leading figures in education appointed as Professors Two eminent figures in the field of education have been appointed as Professors at the University of Wolverhampton.

Alan Tuckett was Chief Executive of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) from 1988 to 2011 and launched the annual Adult Learners’ Week. He is currently President of the International Council for Adult Education, and advises UNESCO on lifelong learning.

Peter Lavender is the former Deputy Chief Executive at NIACE, leading On research and development, and is currently an Academic Coordinator at the Open University for the education doctorate there. They have both been appointed as Professors of Education within the University’s Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, working as a job share, and will take up their post from January 2015.

Dr Peter Lavender said: “I look forward to joining a University with such a commitment to widening participation and to promoting equality and diversity.”

Impressive employability record for University

The University recognises the need for students to attain the skills and qualities required by employers in today’s competitive job market.

The University of Wolverhampton is at the forefront of employability development with a dedicated Employability and Placement Unit. The Unit has aided the University’s impressive employment record for graduates, with 94 per cent of 2013 graduates in work or further study six months after leaving. 74 per cent of the graduates in employment have secured Managerial/ professional level roles. The new Enterprise and Employability award will enable students to gain recognition for their skills and experience through work placements and voluntary activities.

University to host mobile learning workshop in Kazakhstan

International Partnership International Newsletter - JPartnership an 2015 Newsletter - Jan 2015

The three day event aims to share research and expertise in the area of mobile learning, which involves devices such as MP3 players, laptops and tablets. The workshop, from 11 to 13 February 2015, will take place in Almaty, Kazakhstan and is funded by the British Council. Twelve UK-based researchers in the area of mobile learning are being sought to participate in the workshop, which aims to showcase projects and initiatives from the UK and create strategies for implementation in Kazakhstan. Professor in Mobile Learning, John Traxler, is a leading expert in the area. He said: “The workshop aims to combine British experience with the possibilities mobile learning offers for Kazakhstan.

Mobile learning has the power to transform the education experience for children and young people in the country, providing access to online sources and global information. “We are looking for contributions from early career researchers based in UK universities who have looked at areas of mobile learning such as language and culture, the challenges it poses and future directions and technologies.”

University awarded prestigious scholarships A total of 13 awards are being made in music technology, engineering and science as part of the GREAT Britain Scholarships– India 2015 initiative. The University was awarded £10,000 from GREAT, a campaign to promote the UK as a destination to study, and this has been backed by an extra £20,000 from Faculties. University Chancellor The Rt Hon Lord Paul of Marylebone, PC welcomed the announcement of the scholarships. He said: “These scholarships enable us to offer opportunities to Indian students wishing to benefit from an education at the University of Wolverhampton.

“The University has excellent links with India and these will become even stronger in the future. We want to encourage creativity, innovation and enterprise.” Jo Gittens, Director, International, said: “We welcome international students from across the globe as it enhances the experience of our UK staff and students and supports our internationalisation agenda. “These scholarships will enable us to further improve our excellent links with India and create opportunities for increased student mobility. They will also help to raise the profile of the University of Wolverhampton and enhance our reputation.”

The scholarships for the current year are worth a total almost 1.5 million pounds (approx. 150 million rupees).

The SU is very keen to engage with the international partners associated with the University, and this has been high on our priorities. The SU will be approaching the University’s Regional Heads to secure their help in canvassing TNE students’ opinions on what Student Unionism means to them and how they feel the SU may be relevant to them (expecting this would likely vary from country to country). We have recently received details of the reps within our partner institutions so we will disseminate in due course. The SU genuinely hopes that such consultation will enable it to develop its TNE support and strengthen the Student Voice, engaging more students, whether physically or remotely. The SU has also welcomed feedback from the TNE providers themselves who will, no doubt, have relevant experience and suggestions. We expect to be able to develop a good working relationship and support from all involved.

We have also worked hard to ensure that a TNE Student Charter was developed, and this has now been rolled out for the academic year 14/15.

Awards for inspirational academics Dr Stephanie Brewster, Dr Matt Smith and Dr David Ellis have all been made Senior Fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA). The honour recognises their contribution to teaching and the support of learning within higher education. Dr Brewster is a Senior Lecturer in Special Needs and Inclusion Studies, and Dr Smith is a Senior Lecturer in Teaching and Education. Dr Ellis is Head of the Department of Humanities and specialises in English and Literature. A key aspect of Dr Brewster’s work is the inclusion of learners with additional needs, and the HEA acknowledge the importance of this in the award. She said: “I achieved fellowship of the HEA following my completion of the PGCert in teaching and learning several years ago and I am delighted to have recently been awarded Senior fellowship.” Dr Smith received his award for his leadership of the English Cluster for Primary ITE, and for taking a lead role in developing and embedding Ofsted-recognised excellent teaching in the national priority subject, Systematic Synthetic Phonics. He said: “I am very proud to be recognised for this work, but would like to publicly thank the entire English Cluster for their efforts and achievements during my time as Cluster Leader.” Dr Ellis said: "The Senior Fellowship is in recognition of two key interests that characterise my role at Wolverhampton: access to higher education and pedagogic innovation.”

International Partnership Newsletter - Jan 2015 The University of Wolverhampton is continuously developing and expanding the services it provides across the region, raising employability levels and generating economic growth, here are some of our recent projects.

University to open new centre in Telford

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The University of Wolverhampton is to open a new centre at Telford’s new multi-million pound Southwater complex. Southwater is a £250m development made up of a cultural, leisure, retail, events, homes and office facilities creating a new heart for Telford Town Centre. An agreement has been made with Telford and Wrekin Council for the University to be based on the top floor of Southwater One. Known as University Centre Telford, it will provide a range of courses, include an advice and information centre for prospective students and a business support function. The centre further reinforces the University’s presence in the town adding to the Telford Innovation Campus at Priorslee, which has just benefited from £2M investment in facilities including upgraded engineering labs. Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, Professor Geoff Layer, said: “We’re delighted to be expanding our offering in Telford having been in the town for 20 years this year. The University will join a new library and the council’s main community centre in the building and hope to have the centre open by March next year.

University to open doors in Stafford The University of Wolverhampton is creating a new base in Stafford, in one of the town centre’s most prominent and historic buildings. After ongoing talks, the University has secured the use of Shire Hall in the town’s Market Square to house a new advice and information centre for prospective students and provide a range of courses. Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, Professor Geoff Layer, said: “We are really proud to be in Stafford. Shire Hall is a beautiful and historic building, right in the heart of the town centre. Councillor Mike Heenan, Leader of Stafford Borough Council, said: “I met with the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton on several occasions and I am delighted that this has come to fruition and will be the start of a long and fruitful relationship in Stafford.”

University to buy former City Brewery site The University of Wolverhampton has unveiled multi-million plans to transform the site of a former brewery in the city to create a new hub for construction education. A deal has been agreed by the University to buy the former Springfield Brewery site in Wolverhampton City Centre. There are plans to redevelop the site to become the home of the new West Midlands Construction UTC (University Technical College), which the University is sponsoring along with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). The University also has plans to relocate its own School of Architecture and the Built Environment to the site making it a local, regional, national and international centre of excellence. Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, Professor Geoff Layer, said: “This will provide a centre of excellence with the most comprehensive construction education and training not only in the country but in Europe.

New Science Building opens The University has opened the first two floors of its new £25m science centre as part of a phased opening. The ground and first floors of the Rosalind Franklin Building in Stafford Street have been completed by contractors Kier.

The first phase completion means the main entrance and lobby area and outreach lab, aimed at getting local schools and colleges more engaged with science, are now open. The first floor houses new chemistry labs for the first cohort of BSc Chemistry, the course having been re-introduced at the University after a 10 year absence. The remaining four floors will be completed as part of the second phase of work and are due to be handed over to the University by the contractors in December with a view to them being open to students from early 2015.

University building is progressing Work is ongoing on the University of Wolverhampton’s new multi-million pound building for business education.

The six-storey building will serve the University of Wolverhampton’s Business School, providing a combination of social and learning space for undergraduate, postgraduate and executive level education.

When complete, the £18m new facility in Molineux Street will provide teaching and social learning space for The University of Wolverhampton Business School with the aim of adding to its growing reputation and engagement with the business community in the region. It is scheduled to open its doors to students in September 2015.