Dialogue - Issue 16

WLV

dialogue

Spring 2012 | Issue 16 | University of Wolverhampton | www.wlv.ac.uk

LIFE THROUGH A LENS Striking images in new exhibition

BRANCHING OUT New Mauritius Campus launched

FACING YOUR FEARS Phobias explained

Welcome

Welcome to the latest edition of WLV Dialogue magazine.

We recently transformed one of our campuses into an ‘emergency village’ for the launch of two new degrees focused on emergency planning and resilience.

The new degrees aim to equip emergency and passenger transport professionals with the skills to deal with major incidents such as accidents or terrorist attacks, and we take a closer look at these innovative qualifications on pages 8-9.

We also have an interview with counselling psychologist Dr Victoria Galbraith about phobias on pages 6-7 and take a look at how music students are gaining invaluable skills through an employability and enterprise module on pages 2-3.

We have also launched a new branch campus in Mauritius as part of our commitment to the global economy. The Campus, launched with partners the Ramnath Jeetah Trust, will offer degrees in law and education. Find out more on pages 16-17.

We hope you enjoy reading this edition of WLV Dialogue. If you have any feedback for us, please get in touch at: wlvdialogue@wlv.ac.uk

Esther Rantzen received an honorary degree from Wolverhampton in 2009 and returned to the University to give a special talk to mark 25 years of the national helpline ChildLine. On pages 22-23, she talks about the early days of the charity and how it has transformed the lives of vulnerable children.

The University recently appointed a new Senior Chaplain, the Reverend Eddie Wynn MBE. Eddie joins Wolverhampton after serving in the RAF and he shares his experiences and hopes for his new role on pages 12-13.

Our next magazine is out in the summer.

Best wishes Vickie Warren WLV Dialogue Editor

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CONTENTS 1

4

8

12

2

14

16

PAGE NEWS

FEATURE

Fine tuning a career – Music students develop employability skills

2

Life through a lens – Striking images in new exhibition

4

Facing your fears – Psychologist Dr Victoria Galbraith explains phobias

6

Planning for disaster – Launch of new emergency planning degrees

8

10

PROFILE Keeping the faith – Meet new Senior Chaplain, Reverend Eddie Wynn

Cover image: Buffalo Road by Steve Brabner Top left: On The Job by Shaoqing Bian

14

INTERNATIONAL Branching out – New Mauritius Campus launched

16

BUSINESS

RESEARCH A teaching revolution – Research looks at impact of modern universities

Mission possible – International development centre celebrates 40 years of excellence

12

Encouraging entrepreneurial spirit – Students take on the Unipreneur Challenge

18

Building networks – Interview with business owner Deborah Murray

20

PEOPLE Bringing hope out of despair – ChildLine founder Esther Rantzen shares experiences

22

Graduate success story – BA (Hons) Creative and Professional Writing and Film Studies graduate Carys Jones

24

What’s on guide – University events

25

2 NEWS

Fine tuning a career Producing an album of your own songs is every young musician’s dream. Writing the lyrics, honing the melodies and perfecting the recording are all aspects that will make the heart of a budding Noel Gallagher or Gary Barlow soar. But the job doesn’t finish there – the album has to be promoted and available on a suitable platform to be a success and, importantly, to make the musician money.

A group of students have been putting their musical skills to the test by producing a CD of their own work for a module focused on employability and enterprise. Tasked with creating ‘a happening’ of their choosing, the students chose to produce an album titled In The Hub, named after the University’s impressive performing arts centre, The Performance Hub. The album features different genres of music, from acoustic to metal, and the third year students had their first taste of stardom when their story was featured on the front page of the Express and Star newspaper.

Dan Chandos-Hall explains: “We had to make something happen and produce a professional development portfolio to show what we’ve done and how we’ve grown.

“It enabled us to look at the different skills you need to do things other than those related to performing, teaching or gigging, and I enjoyed the module more than I thought I would!”

Tammy King agrees: “When we started the module, I met different people and it has been a really good experience. It helped me to identify the skills I have and what I need to improve.”

Students complete the School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure module in their final semester at Wolverhampton. Delivered by industry experts, the module is designed to provide students with key employability skills for the world of work. Working in teams towards creating ‘a happening’, students are encouraged to think freely about the aims of the project and their individual needs in terms of professional and personal development.

Professional musician and education consultant John Hart delivers the module alongside Head of Music, Kevin Stannard.

Kevin explains they wanted the module to be a ‘live’ module, and to be community and industry facing, and with 24 years experience in the industry, John is well placed to advise and guide students hoping to carve their own career in this competitive business.

John says: “The module used to be about putting on an event but a lot of students had experience of that so it wasn’t challenging enough. Now they are challenged to develop the skills they are weaker at and encouraged to move out of their comfort zone. They identify their skills gaps and use the opportunity to develop these areas.

“Importantly they are assessed on the journey of the module – they set their own aims and assess how they have done against those aims. In the creative industries it is ok to fail, so the module allows them to develop by getting things wrong. They may also come up against conflict within their teams, which prepares them for the outside world.”

The groups have used the opportunity to host a live music quiz, where their band plays live music and people have to ‘name that tune’, created music for visuals such as adverts, a ‘dry run’ of a business idea and produced a daytime event featuring art and music in realtime.

Meanwhile some groups have put together workshops to go into schools and care homes, enabling them to interact with the community.

NEWS 3

One such group is Music Mix, who went into a care home for elderly people and people with learning disabilities in Wednesbury in the West Midlands to deliver a performance and music workshop.

Student Jon Green explains: “I worked in a care home for two years and was asked to play a lot of music, and I realised there was a need for people to do workshops and get involved in interactive projects.

“We can sense that it means a lot to residents to have someone spend quality time with them.

“As a mature student, I’ve had a lot of jobs and finishing University I wanted to have a better job than I have had before. The module helps you to develop entrepreneurial skills that are really important in this industry. There are not many jobs so we have to carve out a niche

for ourselves, and I feel confident that I can succeed when I graduate.”

Marie Kristin Dale adds: “The happening was good but that wasn’t the point, it is about the process we have been through. I’ve got to know myself and it has been one of my favourite modules.”

It has also been an eye-opening experience for group member Celine Simers, who says: “It made me realise what being a musician involves. It doesn’t involve me standing on a stage or writing a song. I really needed to realise that. I remember the first three or four lessons – my heart was pounding and I was really excited.”

And this is really the point of the module, as Associate Dean of Research and Enterprise in the School of Sport, Performing Arts and

Leisure, Karen Bill, explains: “The intention is that the School’s new curriculum will enhance the employability of our graduates, fostering enthusiasm for, and expertise in, enterprise and entrepreneurship. These music students and the Employability and Enterprise in Music module are such a great example of this.”

The students have faced numerous obstacles along the way, reflecting what they could encounter in the real world, and have no doubt learned a lot about themselves, their peers and the industry they plan to enter.

For John Hart, their enthusiasm, dedication and creativity has been inspirational.

“I’ve been impressed by their ideas. They have taken on the challenge. It would have been quite easy to take the easy route through this but they have pushed themselves to do things they wouldn’t normally do.”

4 NEWS

Life through

a lens Striking photographs have the power to shock, surprise, excite and move.

Whether they portray significant incidents in a person’s life, scenes of conflict or picturesque landscapes, images capture a moment in time and have the ability to evoke strong emotions and responses.

Creating photographs that are out of the ordinary takes skill, tenacity and dedication.

A new exhibition featuring prints that challenge and fascinate has been brought to Wolverhampton for the first time in its history.

The Royal Photographic Society’s (RPS) 154th International Print Exhibition is co-hosted by the University’s School of Art & Design and the Wolverhampton Art Gallery until 20 May 2012.

Over 100 prints are featured in the exhibition, including one by Divisional Leader for Fine and Art and Photography at the University, Su Fahy, who has received an Associateship of the Society. Su was delighted that her work, titled Tea Party, was selected to be included in the prestigious exhibition, and she thought it would be a great opportunity to bring the show

to Wolverhampton. In addition, she has developed the University’s first wlvfotofest, a programme of photography events surrounding the show. This has included lectures by notable artists such as Justin Quinnell and Ann Walker and student workshops.

Su says: “It was the first time I have submitted to the RPS exhibition, and I think they were keen to get more contemporary photographers on board.

“The idea behind wlvfotofest is to do something different to really put us on the map. I hope to host it biennially and bring together all the exciting events we hold into one week to showcase talent. It also enables us to engage with a global audience as we have brought photography from around the world to the University and art gallery.”

The Royal Photographic Society has long been recognised for the promotion and maintenance of high photographic standards around the world. The

exhibition includes award-winning prints, and having access to outstanding examples of photography is of huge benefit to the students hoping to develop careers in this artistic field.

“We are aiming for excellence in our field of photography and to bring in an international print show can raise the aspirations of our students,” Su continues. “I hope that each year we will be able to bring in a touring show of art and hold a series of events to showcase local talent.”

news 5

this exhibition celebrates the presentation of the visual form.

With the prevalence of digital photography today, people often view the majority of their own images online and rarely develop them into physical prints. But hosting an exhibition such as this reminds students of the intrinsic value and importance of ‘traditional’ photography.

“Photography has now gone digital but the art of the print is still an important part of the process,” Su says. “People are tending to look at photography in a secondary way, online. But

“Another benefit is that it will flag up to students the value of creating interesting work to showcase in an exhibition. We are encouraging that aspiration to put work out there and be counted.”

The show features a wide range of prints, from images of buffalos battling through snow to workmen climbing a ladder with a vivid red backdrop. As with all works of art, interpretation is in the eye of the beholder, making a visit to the exhibition a challenging, interesting and evocative experience.

Picture: Rooftop Tree by Vic Attfield

6 NEWS

Facing your

fears

Everyone has something they are afraid of.

Spiders are a common object of fear, as are flying, snakes and heights. But when that fear causes almost overwhelming anxiety and a desire to avoid an encounter with the object or situation by any means, then it becomes a phobia.

Dr Victoria Galbraith is a counselling psychologist and has recently joined the University’s School of Applied Sciences. She explains that people often develop phobias early on in life by being exposed to a stimulus that they find frightening, and they always hold on to that fear.

“It could also be that a parent, sibling or friend has the same phobia and they learn that behaviour from them,” she explains.

“Sometimes people develop phobias due to something traumatic happening while they were doing the thing they are now afraid of.

For example, if your father announced he was leaving the family home while you were eating your dinner, you may develop a phobia of the food you were eating at that time. You associate that particular object or activity with a traumatic experience.”

People will go to extreme lengths to avoid the object or situation of fear. For example, a person with a phobia of lifts would not consider

NEWS 7

explains that there is a great deal of scientific evidence that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an effective means of treating phobias, as it looks at the cycle of the thoughts affecting the feelings and how those feelings affect behaviour.

“People have a fear of something so they avoid it, and in psychological therapy, we try to break that cycle. This generally involves challenging the thought processes and the behaviour, and gradually exposing yourself to what you are afraid of,” Victoria continues.

“For a fear of flying, for example, it would be expensive to be taking flights as a means of treatment, so we often use imagery, where the person imagines themselves on a plane, taking off, in the air and landing or whatever is the worst part for them. You could also visit an airport, look at the different planes and perhaps even stand near a plane to cause anxiety.

“The treatment is in stages so you start with the things that are the least anxiety provoking and work up to those that are the most, and the client is encouraged to stay with the subject and ‘ride out’ the anxiety.

living on the 10th floor of a block of flats but may also turn down a job offer after realising they will have to use a lift to reach their office.

But while some phobias may seem irrational and even ‘silly’ to an outside observer, they can restrict a person’s whole existence.

“Someone who is afraid of dogs may choose to avoid places where they may encounter a dog, such as a park, and even when a dog is on a lead they may cross the road to avoid it. The way to approach this is to create a ‘fear ladder’ from one to 10. One, might be looking at a picture of a dog. Four, could be staying on the same side of the road as a dog on a lead while 10 could be petting a dog.”

“Phobias can really affect a person’s way, and quality, of life. Most of us have a fear of something and it doesn’t necessarily get in our way but for others it can be quite overwhelming.”

But people are not thrown in at the deep end and expected to deal with their fear unaided.

They are shown relaxation techniques, such as breathing and visualisation, before they are placed in situations of anxiety. The client also needs to want to engage in the process and be motivated to change.

In her practice, Dr Galbraith specialises in psychological therapy and adult mental health, which ranges from the mild and moderate to the more severe mental health difficulties.

Conditions that Victoria works psychotherapeutically with include depression, post-traumatic stress, eating disorders and anxiety-related conditions such as panic and phobias. Whilst there are a host of different psycho-therapeutic approaches available, she

Dr Galbraith is an active researcher and is passionate about the de-stigmatisation of mental health. Alongside her practice work, her research specialisms include attitudes towards mental health and the stigma attached to it.

She has just completed a Masters in applied forensic psychology and has conducted research investigating the attitudes of police officers to their own mental health and their associated help-seeking behaviours.

Dr Galbraith’s most recent area of interest is maternal mental health and ‘how to cope with little ones’.

She is also a popular media commentator, with interviews on Live with Gabby on Channel 5 offering tips on keeping new year’s resolutions and how to spot when someone is telling a lie. She was also the behind-the-scenes psychologist on Chris Moyles’ Face Your Fears week on BBC Radio 1 last year, when members of the breakfast show team had to tackle their phobias.

For Dr Galbraith, helping people deal with issues such as phobias is the reason she entered this challenging but fascinating profession.

“I have always been interested in the way that people become who they are and also in the differences between people. The dynamics involved in the way that individuals and groups behave fascinate me.

“It is very rewarding, and for people to share their life stories with me is a privilege. We don’t really get that opportunity in day-to-day life, but as a psychologist a client has the chance to open up and be themselves. We can share their lives and hopefully help them to move on.”

FACTBOX Dr Victoria Galbraith’s top tips for dealing with phobias • Learn some relaxation techniques (eg. deep breathing).

• Attempt to face your fear in a gradual way – create a fear ladder (eg. 1 – look at photo of dog; 10 – pet a dog).

• Stay with the anxiety until it subsides – this way you will learn that it does subside!

• Ask yourself ‘what’s the worst thing that can happen?’ and then ask yourself ‘how likely is that to happen?’

• Keep trying. Be persistent!

8 NEWS

Planning for disaster Scenes that involve multiple ambulances, fire engines and police vehicles are usually major incidents requiring the breadth of expertise available across the emergency services. On such occasions, the services work together to ensure a swift and effective response that safeguards the lives of those involved.

Staff have to think quickly, strategically and draw on their previous experience and training to ensure as positive an outcome as possible.

It is therefore rare for more than 25 emergency vehicles, including a helicopter and a boat, to be in the same place for reasons other than a major incident. But an emergency village was created at the University of Wolverhampton recently to launch two innovative degrees that have been developed with industry professionals. The impressive village, which included specialist ambulances, a decontamination tent, Network Rail incident response vehicles, a front-line fire engine and police cars, was created to highlight

the strength of the partnership between the University and the emergency services and transport sector that has led to the development of the courses.

The innovative courses – which are an MSc Emergency Planning, Resilience and Response and a Postgraduate Certificate in the Management of Passenger Transport Emergency Incidents – aim to equip emergency and passenger transport professionals with the skills to deal with major incidents, such as accidents or terrorist attacks.

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Professor Linda Lang, Dean of the School of Health and Wellbeing, says: “What really sets these degrees apart is the way they have been developed with our partners in the emergency services and transport sector to ensure they meet the needs of today’s services, which face different challenges and obstacles when major incidents occur.

“We are sure that students completing the courses will gain valuable experience of working in partnership with other agencies so they are well prepared for situations requiring emergency planning expertise.”

Strategic skills Ideal for those already working in the field of emergency planning or in front-line services, the MSc Emergency Planning, Resilience and Response provides opportunities to take part in exercises and training in simulated settings with a range of professional organisations involved in emergency planning. Students will develop strategic leadership skills and gain further experience in multi-agency working as part of their studies.

The Postgraduate Certificate in the Management of Passenger Transport Emergency Incidents is aimed at people who work in passenger transport, those who respond to emergencies such as the ‘blue-light services’ and local authorities, and people seeking employment in these areas. It provides a superb opportunity for people to professionalise their role and for organisations

to strengthen their business by improving their readiness, relationships, response, recovery and reputation.

Willie Baker, a recently retired British Transport Police Superintendent, has been instrumental in establishing the Management of Passenger Transport Emergency Incidents course.

He explains: “Completion of the course means that for the first time people will be recognised as being academically qualified to fulfil their important role. This is a huge benefit not just in terms of staff development but also in strengthening the business and the wider industry.”

Joined-up thinking The successful launch was attended by some notable figures from the emergency services and transport industry, including West Midlands Fire Service’s Chief Fire Officer, Vij Randeniya; Chief Superintendent of West Midlands Police, Chris McKeogh and Chief Operating Officer at Virgin Trains, representing the Institution of Railway Operators, Chris Gibb. Head of NHS Preparedness, Phil Storr, from the Department of Health also spoke at the event.

Anthony Marsh, Chief Executive of West Midlands Ambulance Service, spoke about the strength of the partnership with the University, and the benefits to participants of completing the MSc Emergency Planning, Resilience and Response.

He said: “This exciting new programme draws together the unique partnerships that the University of Wolverhampton has established. Programmes such as this are increasingly important, which we fully recognise, demonstrated by our commitment to supporting and developing the University course. One of the many advantages that differentiates this programme to others is the extent to which we have partnered with other key stakeholders to ensure an appropriate programme is delivered.”

In an ideal world, the sort of incidents that require emergency planning skills would not happen. But it is good to know that those in the blue light services and transport industry are well prepared, effectively trained and experienced to work together to deal with such emergencies when they inevitably occur.

What really sets these degrees apart is the way they’ve been developed with our partners.

10 RESearch

A teaching There are numerous myths surrounding the nature of higher education and the different types of universities in the UK. Some people believe students have very little contact time with their tutors, that ‘blended learning’ is just a cheap option as it uses online elements of teaching and that all students are 18-19 years old when they enrol.

The reality is somewhat different, as anyone who works in a modern university will testify. Researchers at the University of Wolverhampton carried out an investigation into the teaching and learning experience in post-1992 universities on behalf of the thinktank Million+. The resulting report, Teaching That Matters, highlights ‘a teaching revolution’ going on inside modern universities.

Launched by Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts MP, Teaching That Matters argues that transforming teaching in higher education will be an important part of delivering employability, stimulating economic growth and tackling unemployment for the long-term.

It illustrates how modern universities such as Wolverhampton deliver valued aspects of employability through a greater degree of professional development and skills training.

A shift in the role for lecturers, tutors and students themselves is needed as part of the teaching revolution, according to the report, with more collaboration with employers and local communities on real-life projects and greater responsibility for students to lead on sharing skills.

The University’s Centre for Developmental and Applied Research in Education (CeDARE) produced the influential report, which includes case studies from Wolverhampton and high profile success stories such as Oscar and BAFTA winning graduate Peter Bebb, who received a clutch of awards for his role on the film Inception.

Professor Mark Hadfield, Director of CeDARE, explains that Million+ was keen to highlight to the coalition government the nature and provision of modern universities.

“It was really a myth-busting exercise,” he says.

“There are lots of myths about contact time and

types of delivery and we try to challenge these.

We wanted to show the quality of teaching and learning available, its innovative nature and that modern universities have to play the same quality games that all universities do.

We wanted to move away from the notion that modern universities are only good at working with certain types of students.”

The team analysed existing research and looked at policy focused on higher education.

Professor Hadfield explains the findings were very interesting.

“We looked at effectiveness from the students’ perspective using insights provided by the National Students Survey (NSS). We also looked at graduate employment and destinations to consider the benefits of higher education in the longer term.

“Although today’s students and recent graduates have been studying during a recession, the evidence still suggests you are more likely to get a job if you have a degree.

“There are always questions about how we grow the economy. One way is to support small

research 11

revolution and medium sized enterprises to take on one or two people. If we want to grow the knowledge economy it is not about getting more people to go to Oxbridge, it is about getting people who don’t traditionally go to university to go to modern universities. So the teaching and learning experience at new universities is effective in terms of educating people from nontraditional backgrounds and employability, but it also helps the economy on a broader level.”

The report includes case studies of innovative teaching at modern universities, including Greenwich, Bedfordshire and Leeds Metropolitan. One such example is the development of an e-portfolio system at the University of Wolverhampton which is designed to increase the support on offer to students, enhance on–going learning and improve professional practices. Students use ‘Pebblepad’ during work placements to maintain contact with their peer group and tutors. It also allows students to capture their thoughts and experiences and helps to reduce feelings of isolation when they are on placements.

So why are modern universities so adept at

providing innovative teaching?

Mark says: “Million+ universities understand what constitutes powerful teaching and learning and effective pedagogy, so they can innovate in their curriculum because they can base it on what actually works.

“But in the report, we didn’t try to say there was a big split between innovative and traditional teaching. Modern universities deliver lectures, seminars and small tutorials but also offer innovative teaching.

“There are different mediums and spaces and tutors have to work out what is the most effective for the particular group of students they are working with. Any form of learning will get repetitive, but if you mix it up then it will be relevant and traditional methods are an important aspect of that.”

The report also looked beyond the walls of academia and to higher education’s role in the wider community.

“It is not just about employability, it is asking ourselves questions about citizenship, being part of society and taking an active role in your locality,” Professor Hadfield continues.

“It is important to take a holistic view of higher education; it is not just about whether you can get people a job.”

It is rare for a week to go by without a story hitting the headlines about further planned changes to higher education, the challenges of rising tuition fees facing students and their families and questions about the rigour and effectiveness of the teaching experience.

Teaching That Matters aims to inform the policy debates that rumble on concerning higher education, and help define what the ethos and purpose of universities will be in the medium term.

As Mark Hadfield says: “We are in a political and financial context where people are questioning what the role of universities is. This research challenges some of the stereotypes that some people hold of modern universities and articulates some of the real successes and innovations. It is hoped the research will increase the understanding of modern universities’ significance not just to the local but also the national economy.”

Teaching That Matters is available from the Million+ website: www.millionplus.ac.uk

12 PROFILE

Keeping the Reverend Eddie Wynn MBE has been appointed as the University of Wolverhampton’s Senior Chaplain. His predecessor, The Reverend Prebendary Geoffrey Wynne, retired in 2010 after a record breaking 44 years at Wolverhampton.

Eddie joins the University after serving in the Royal Air Force, where he received an MBE in 2011 for his work among the injured and bereaved at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham.

He joined the RAF chaplain’s branch in 2004 and has served at RAF Marham, RAF

Conningsby, the Royal Centre for Medicine in Birmingham, Camp Bastion in Afghanistan and RAF Halton.

Rev Wynn trained part-time on the Northern Ordination course in Manchester from 1998 to 2001 and he was then appointed curate to the parishes of Emley and Flockton in West Yorkshire. He also worked as part-time Chaplain at New Hall Prison and at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

In 2002 Eddie received an MA in Theology and Religious Studies from the College of York St John.

1

How do you feel about being appointed as University chaplain?

It is quite exciting - Wolverhampton is such a vibrant and energetic place, I am really looking forward to working with the students and staff of the University but also networking across the city. I hope to be here a long time but aged 46 I will have little chance of beating Geoffrey’s 44-year record as Chaplain!

PROFILE 13

3

What do you think are the key challenges?

Getting to know people. It is a very diverse city, and I’m keen to get to know individuals and groups across the city and how they interact. In addition, like all higher education (HE) institutions, the University is facing funding constraints and it is about how we deal with that. One of the impressive things is how long people have worked at the University – there are some who have worked here for 25 years, but many are uncertain about the future, so chaplaincy support can be given for staff as well as students.

4

What other environments have you worked in as a minister?

Before I was ordained in 2001, I spent 18 years as a critical care nurse, which involved working with people facing stress and bereavement. I was ordained in West Yorkshire and worked in two small parishes in the Wakefield diocese, before spending eight years with the RAF. I worked at Selly Oak Hospital and received the MBE, although I see this as recognising other people’s efforts too.

I also spent time in Afghanistan at Camp Bastion last year, working with the injured and the medical emergency response teams who go out and get the injured from all sides.

faith

2

What are you looking forward to most about the role?

Engaging with the students and working closely with the Students’ Union, and getting to know what makes them tick. I’ve worked with the traditional age group of students before, as the new recruits in the RAF are often 18 or 19, so I’m not unused to them!

5

How do you think your former role as an RAF chaplain will help in your new role?

was dying, and being part of poignant moments of remembrance and sorrow for people, or being involved in retrieving casualties. But also there were times when we were out on exercise and it was like having your own massive train set to play with! I’m hoping to continue those links through the RAF reserves.

7

The role of the Chaplaincy is to provide support and help to students and staff from a range of faiths - what do you think are the key priorities for this and how do you think we can best achieve them?

The key priorities are finding out which faith groups people come from and seeing if we have gaps in our provision. There is a large Sikh presence in the University and the city, but we don’t have a Sikh chaplain at the moment so we will be looking into that. Although I am a Christian, the Chaplaincy team view themselves as University of Wolverhampton chaplains who are here for everybody.

8

If you were at university today, what would you study?

I think Politics, because it is about people and their daily lives and what really matters to them.

The political agenda is about what helps and hurts people – I find Politics fascinating.

9

Who would you invite to your ideal dinner party?

They both involve working within teams. I worked within a big team in the RAF, and here I will be part of the Chaplaincy team and the wider community of the University.

I think the Archbishop of Canterbury, because I would like to sit him down with Richard Dawkins and watch the debate evolve. But I’d also like to have Rowan Atkinson to add that comedic value as well.

Within a parish, the majority of people share your faith. But here, we will be engaging with people who may not share our faith or have no faith. We are living in a more secular society but the Chaplaincy has a role to play with people who have no faith.

10

6

What are your best or most striking memories of your time with the RAF?

I think they varied from very sad occasions to great team building experiences. The role could involve sitting at the bedside of a young lad who

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I am a musician – I play the tuba. I also like cycling and running, and have completed three London Marathons. For the last marathon I ran in robes and had a sign on my back saying ‘I really am a vicar’ as there were so many people dressed as nuns and priests!

14 Feature

Mission Possible

The University’s Centre for International Development and Training (CIDT) is celebrating its 40th birthday this year. The Centre has transformed the lives of thousands of people in more than 130 countries through training, consultancy and project work. Here we take a look at the main achievements of the Centre and what makes it so successful.

Reaching 40 is quite a milestone, whether you are celebrating (or commiserating) a birthday or marking four decades of happy marriage. It is an opportunity to reflect on what you’ve achieved, the moments that stand out as highlights and look ahead to the future.

The Centre for International Development and Training (CIDT) is celebrating its 40th

birthday this year, and hosted a special event to mark the occasion. Elisha London from the acclaimed Global Poverty Project team visited the University to present 1.4 Billion Reasons, a simple but effective presentation to communicate the realities of extreme poverty and what can be done about it. The message of the presentation, that by making simple changes everyone can be part of the solution, fits in with the ethos and mission of CIDT.

Launched in 1972 and now based at the Telford Campus, CIDT is a self-financing, nonprofit making centre within the University. The focus is to support and nurture people-centred sustainable development across the globe, contribute to poverty reduction and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable people.

Right at the heart of CIDT’s mission is the principle of participation. The people who benefit from CIDT’s work are actively

Feature 15

Philip selects a recent forestry and livelihoods programme in Nepal as one of the most memorable and successful projects. For the last four years CIDT has been providing advisory support for the Livelihoods and Forestry Programme (LFP) which promotes more efficient and sustainable use of forest resources. The programme has been internationally recognised as being very sucessful as it has assisted in helping many very poor people out of poverty.

It is projects such as this which have had a major impact on individuals.

“A lot of people have been changed through

involved in the process, providing a sense of empowerment. This also enables the lifechanging projects to continue long after CIDT staff return home.

One of the guests at the Global Poverty Project presentation was CIDT founder, Professor John Lowe. Before his retirement in 2009, John had worked in 66 countries around the world.

Originally called the Agricultural Education Training Unit, the Centre started life at what was then Wolverhampton Technical Teachers College which was asked to provide a oneoff staff development course for a group of teachers in an Ethiopian agricultural college.

The Centre grew from there.

John explains that in the first 10 years, the Centre worked in a range of places including Malawi, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Egypt and Botswana. Initially the focus was to provide teaching training to people working in agricultural colleges, but this remit widened to natural resources and began to include forestry and fisheries.

Alongside this, the Centre started to host short courses, including the three-month Overseas Technical Teachers Award (OTTA) which enabled participants to complete placements in the UK. John says: “Between 500 and 600 students went through that course over 15 years or so, and as a result we have a lot of people all over the world who will remember us.”

The Centre continued to expand into areas of

research and started to bid for large contracts to deliver projects. An early project in Egypt was focused on teacher training but also helped to set up a small farm. John says they were involved in teaching people to use tractors and even sent a librarian over to help set up a library. Another large project was an educational project in the Soloman Islands, titled The Challenge of Higher Education.

But CIDT’s work was not without its dangers, and didn’t always involve trips to exotic climes.

Afghanistan and Libya are among the less glamorous places John travelled to during his time as Director.

“The Centre has achieved a huge amount,” Professor Lowe adds. “It has remained committed to working with poverty and with the development of individuals and institutions.

We tried to make sure that when we left, people were able to do things a little better than before. Alongside that was a deep appreciation of the environment and the restraints of the people we were working with.

“I am proud of what CIDT achieved but we couldn’t have achieved it without a committed group of people who are dedicated to the work we are doing.”

This is a point picked up by current Head of CIDT, Philip Dearden. “People work for CIDT because of a personal mission or reason. We have 15 core staff members and about 30 CIDT associates, and nearly all our staff have lived and worked in developing countries long term so they have a good understanding of issues around development.”

the training programmes they have been on or the work we have done,” Philip continues.

“We haven’t changed countries but we have changed things on an individual level, and we have made a serious contribution to a number of projects internationally.

“What we have a reputation for internationally is bridging the gap between policy and practice.

We help to interpret policy for practitioners on the ground. Likewise we often help in the formulation of policy from good on-the-ground practice. We are well recognised for that set of expertise. We don’t go in and tell people how to do things – we go in and facilitate. Our motto is ‘helping people to find their own path to development’ so we support, coach and mentor rather than tell people what to do.”

It is this approach that is one of the reasons that CIDT is successful, and has survived where others have fallen by the wayside. But as Phil admits, there have been challenging times.

“We are quietly proud of what we have achieved. We are self-financing and it hasn’t always been easy. Many of our competitors haven’t survived, but we have thrived. The type of work we do has changed dramatically and the reason we are successful is that we have changed to meet the demand.”

A view that John and Phil share is that CIDT continues to make a difference to people living in poverty through inclusion and active participation. They also admit that as well as sharing their expertise and knowledge with people in countries all over the world, their teams have also been able to learn from the diverse individuals and communities they work with.

16 INTERNATIONAL

Branching out The vibrant international student community at the University of Wolverhampton is evidence of its commitment to partnership and development for the global economy.

A unique melting pot of peoples, languages and cultures, Mauritius is now part of our diverse community, with the launch of a new branch campus at the Cybercity in Ebene.

The official launch of the campus took place at Hennessy Park Hotel and was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Dr The Hon. Arvin Boolell, Minister of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology, Hon Rajesh Jeetah and the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Geoff Layer.

The launch event featured a welcome address via video from the University’s Chancellor, The Rt Hon Lord Paul of Marylebone PC, which highlighted Wolverhampton’s commitment to expanding education provision in Mauritius.

The video was produced by students Daniel Anderson and Phil Noakes, with support from the University’s Institute of Media Arts.

Lord Paul said: “The Wolverhampton initiative in Mauritius responds to one of the most significant trends in the area of higher education – the internationalisation of learning and the value of transferring and sharing knowledge.“

Synergy Work is currently under way on the campus in the Cybercity at Ebene, which will be run in partnership with the Ramnath Jeetah Trust, initially offering degrees in law and education.

The programmes to be delivered in Mauritius will be the same in design, content and certification as those offered in the UK and subject to the same quality assurance. The ambitious plans have been spearheaded by the University’s International Centre, which acts as a hub for interaction between staff in the UK and those delivering University of Wolverhampton programmes overseas.

Jo Gittens, Director, International, explains why the University decided to branch out into Mauritius: “There is a synergy between Mauritius’ aspirations to become a regional education hub, attracting high quality overseas

higher education institutions and international students, and our own international expansion plans.

“The Mauritius branch campus is the first of its kind and a number of others in key strategic locations are planned for the future.”

Building our family The University currently has 150 graduates from Mauritius, the majority of whom studied law. The launch of the Mauritius Alumni Association alongside the new campus strengthens the link to global alumni, with Wolverhampton graduate The Honourable Mr Yatindra Nath Varma, the Attorney General

INTERNATIONAL 17

London Centre (Mauritius). In 2004 he went on to complete a postgraduate LLM International Corporate and Financial Law at the University of Wolverhampton and has been involved in various fundraising initiatives, including the Leo Comedy Festival which raised Rs.100,000 for the Save the Children Foundation.

Mauritius is the third international alumni association of the University, following in the footsteps of the Hong Kong Alumni Association and the Indian Alumni Association.

of Mauritius, as its Honorary President.

Graduating from the University with an LLB (Hons) Law in 1998, he became a Member of Mauritian Parliament in 2005, where he was Chairperson of the Independent Commission Against Corruption and a Member of the Public Accounts Committee until he became Attorney General of Mauritius in 2010.

Joining The Hon. Mr Varma as Chairman of the Alumni Association, Reaz Ghanty is the Managing Director of Coprim Conseil Ltee in Mauritius and a Lecturer in Law at the Centre for Legal Business Studies, University of

Membership of the Mauritius Alumni Association is free and open to all graduates from, or currently living in, Mauritius. Members benefit from access to a highly skilled network of Wolverhampton graduates, businesses and experts, as well as a range of other benefits to help them in their own successful futures.

Strong links The University of Wolverhampton has established links with universities in 30 countries and has over 2,500 international students from over 100 countries living and studying in Wolverhampton. With global operations in India, Malaysia, China, Nigeria, Poland and Cyprus, the Mauritius Campus will bring further diversity and play an important role in the University’s internationalisation agenda.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Geoff Layer, says: “Our focus at the University of Wolverhampton is to provide an excellent teaching and learning experience for our students, whether they study with us in the UK or overseas.

“We are proud to have many successful graduates from Mauritius, and are looking forward to building closer links with them through our new alumni association.

“The launch of our campus in Mauritius is a new chapter in our relationship with the country and our key focus is to nurture and enhance educational development.”

We are proud to have many successful graduates from Mauritius.

18 BUSINESS

Encouraging Entrepreneurial Spirit Richard Branson. Michelle Mone. Bill Gates. Mark Zuckerberg. There are plenty of famous entrepreneurs whose success inspires budding business minds.

Faced with a challenging jobs market and armed with ideas and enthusiasm, many people are opting to set up their own companies and go it alone.

The popularity of programmes such as Dragon’s Den, where hopefuls pitch their business proposals, and The Apprentice, which has changed its format to see Lord Sugar offer an investment rather than a job, shows just how many people have ambitions to work for themselves.

The University of Wolverhampton has many innovative initiatives to support their aspirations and help them become both more employable and more entrepreneurial.

The latest has seen students from the University’s School of Law, Social Sciences and Communications taking part in a new scheme aimed at achieving this and giving them the chance to shine.

Unipreneur Challenge aims to promote and develop entrepreneurial skills for young people, develop relationships with businesses in the region, boost enterprise and create potential employment opportunities.

The scheme has been set up by Gary Lennon, entrepreneur and founder of Wist Ltd, which supports learning and development, primarily in entrepreneurship.

He says that at a time when there is so much publicity around youth unemployment, Unipreneur is a chance for students to develop skills valued by employers and improve their future prospects, as well as providing them with inspiration for their own businesses in the future.

Students participating took entrepreneurial ‘scans’ to assess their skills and then undertook workshops to hone these skills. They were placed as teams within businesses for several weeks to work on a live brief, culminating in formal presentations competing for awards.

Five Black Country companies came on board for the pilot – Accord Housing, Beacon Centre for the Blind, Quality Solicitors Talbots, WH Law and ER Grove and Co Accountants.

The students worked on a variety of projects from fundraising to marketing and impressed both the University and participating businesses with their ideas, enthusiasm and ability to rise to the challenge.

Beacon Centre for the Blind gave the students an option of two tasks including asking them to come up with ideas to market the Centre and issues around visual impairment to their peers, as well as planning an event to fit into the charity’s major fundraising campaign Challenge 2012.

Clare Thomas, Fundraising and Marketing Manager, says: “I was very impressed by the students’ enthusiasm and grasp of the challenges which Beacon Centre faces and I am sure that they can bring a fresh perspective to these challenges.”

Equally positive is Derek Simmonds, of Talbots, who says: “I have a long-held belief that there is far more to be done in forging links between employers and education. There are many benefits to be gained for businesses and for students. I find it astonishing that graduates can go through the education process to get the best qualifications possible to improve their prospects, but yet have no exposure to the workplace.

“For those reasons, I was eager to support the University with the innovative Unipreneur Challenge. My goal was to work with my team to provide them with an opportunity to work on a dedicated assignment for them to add value back to our business.”

The project selected was to help package and promote Quality Solicitors Talbots’ mediation services - the Court system has been actively promoting mediation as an alternative route to resolving disputes.

The team, Superlative, identified specific areas where they could provide some immediate assistance adding real value. Their first task

BuSINeSS 19

was to gather information and understand the mediation process, which included one of the team having the opportunity of shadowing a mediator on a property dispute.

in the future to include every university which wants to encourage would-be entrepreneurs and also to boost skills desired by future employers.

Derek says he very much enjoyed working with the team and they presented an outstanding pitch and added value to the project.

He says: “Initiatives like these increase the desire to improve entrepreneurial skills and this results in making students stand out, increasing the likelihood of becoming employed or deciding to become self-employed or to start businesses, having gained confidence and practised the skills that will help them get started.

Katrina Calvin, a final year Social Care and Social Policy student, is one of the students taking part and believes the Challenge has been very beneficial and has helped inspire her for the future.

“I have started to network with lots of different people that I wouldn’t network with on a day-to-day basis,” she says. “The Unipreneur Challenge has helped me to develop a more business mindset. I am more driven to start my own business now.

“I want to develop my concept of establishing a child consciousness foundation and I have already set up my own website.”

Gary is delighted by the positive feedback from participants and hopes Unipreneur will expand

“Businesses need entrepreneurial people so either need to provide training or hire those who display these skills. Students can learn and practise the skills whilst in universities and by having short term engagements with businesses to implement new ideas they will create good value in advance of potential employment.”

For more information visit: www.wlv. ac.uk/lssc or email: Gary Lennon: gary@ entrepreneurscan.co.uk.

The unipreneur challenge has helped me to develop a more business mindset.

20 BUSINESS

Building networks Launching your own business is many things – exciting, daunting, surprising and enlightening. But one thing it can be is quite a lonely affair, especially if you work from home.

That was Deborah Murray’s experience when she started Everything Services Ltd. But moving into the e-Innovation Centre at the University’s Telford Campus transformed the early days of branching out on her own.

“I felt isolated when I was working at home, but as soon as I came to the e-IC my productivity doubled,” she explains. “My business would not have gone the way it has if I had not moved in there. It is a nice, peaceful environment so we can get on with things and we have access to so much help and support from University projects.”

Everything Services Ltd is a business support service, and Deborah describes it as offering ‘whatever you need to run your business to free your hands up’. The idea is that the client can then concentrate on the important things, and not the small things that they didn’t go into business for in the first place. This can be administration, accounting, marketing, transcription, property or legal support, among others, and Deborah employs people who are experts in the different areas to provide the service.

She is based in the e-Innovation Centre, which aims to support the creation and development of new businesses by providing office accommodation and business support services. Small and medium sized enterprises are brought together under one roof in incubation units, and can acquire ‘grow on’ space as their business expands. But even in this business-focused environment, Deborah

felt she needed to get to know her neighbours better, so decided to launch the Cookie Club.

“We are in a building full of businesses, and when I first moved here I couldn’t tell you what my neighbours did. So I started a networking club to enable people to meet other people in the building. The companies in the e-IC are so diverse that we could probably get everything we need here! Then I opened it up to external businesses as well, so we are bringing other companies in to build our networks.”

The Cookie Club meets on the last Friday of every month and costs £5 to attend – including cookies. But the name is actually inspired by the cookies on computers which obtain information, so the people who join become ‘network cookies’. As well as networking, Deborah organises for a speaker each month and themes the activities to fit in with this. On average, the Club welcomes about 22 people each time but you don’t need to be a member to go along.

Deborah has found other benefits of being based in the e-IC, besides valuable networking.

A number of innovative University projects are located at the Telford Campus, including New Technologies for Automatic Identification, Location and Sensing (NTAILS) which aims to help West Midlands businesses adopt new technology such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) technologies such as barcodes, quick response (QR) codes and near field communication (NFC), and IT Futures, the University’s technology and digital media provider.

Deborah says: “I love this building and the whole ethos behind it. It’s also great to be on a University campus and have access to the

different projects here. I’ve received support from NTAILS to develop QR codes, which are fab as I’ve been able to incorporate my logo into the QR code. I am still fine tuning my website, so I have sent this to IT Futures to take a look at and they are compiling a report on Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), the types of web content and what I need to be aware of over the coming months of development. The great thing about being in the e-Innovation Centre is the continued support that is offered through various projects such as these.”

Looking ahead, Deborah’s aspirations are obviously to be as successful as she can be with her business, and to survive in the current economic climate.

“I started the business in the middle of the recession so things can only get better. I want people to realise there is a way to get help with their business without having to employ full-time staff. We can take the pressure off, for example with our call-minding service. 80% of people won’t leave a message, so if you miss a call you lose the business. We answer as their business, as each client has a specific number that their calls come through on, so callers would think we are their receptionist, providing a professional front-line response.

“I just want my business to grow but still have that personal touch that a small business has.”

Deborah’s advice to budding entrepreneurs is to network and meet as many business contacts as you can. This has clearly proven to be a successful tactic for her and Everything Services Ltd. She adds: “Networking really helped me. It is amazing how much advice you can pick up just from having a conversation with someone.”

BuSINeSS 21

It’s great to be on a university campus and have access to the different projects.

22 people

Bringing hope out of despair TV personality and fundraising guru Esther Rantzen received an honorary degree from the University in 2009 in recognition of her significant work in promoting the welfare of vulnerable children through the media. This year marks the 25th anniversary of ChildLine, the first national helpline for children and young people that Esther founded, and she returned to the University recently to present a guest lecture about the charity’s important work.

The mobile phone has transformed the way we communicate. For some, the constant ringing and pinging of smart phones is an annoyance while to others it is the means by which they socialise, plan and organise every aspect of their lives.

But one unexpected benefit of the emergence of mobile phones is that it enables vulnerable children to reach out to charities such as ChildLine. The free, confidential counselling service offers a lifeline to children dealing with painful situations including bullying, problems at school, depression, alcoholism, loneliness and sexual abuse. And while children used to have to wait for it to be safe to use a landline to call ChildLine, they can now use a mobile phone whenever they need.

A new book by Esther Rantzen traces the development of ChildLine to where it is today, helping thousands of children a year from 12 bases across the UK. Running Out of Tears is the story of some of the children who contacted the charity over the years.

“I wanted to find some people who are adults now and talk to them about the reasons they had called and how it had helped. I found that some had rung once while others rang many times, but either way it was transformative,” the former That’s Life! presenter explains.

“Why did it transform their lives? They were children living in really painful situations at

home and they could not see any way out.

Sometimes they were threatened into silence or too ashamed to ask for help. They were basically in despair and could find no way out of their situation.

“I also think the family meal time is a huge loss. It is not the same with people grabbing a curry and going off to watch their own screen.

We need to talk to each other to build these relationships.”

“To speak to someone who would say this is not your fault and you are valuable, made all the difference. That lifting of self-esteem was like bringing sunshine into their lives.”

But despite the painful, terrifying and disturbing stories at the heart of Running Out of Tears, Esther’s book is really a message of hope. While the stories may be tough, the over-riding message is not one of despair and positive stories emerge from the darkness.

Esther is an honorary graduate of the University, and was invited by the School for Education Futures to give a guest lecture to over 100 people about the 25th anniversary of ChildLine. In the first 48 hours after ChildLine’s launch, the phone lines were jammed by children talking about abuse they had not been able to talk about to anyone else. Over the years, the counselling service has grown, with a vital online presence providing additional support to children who may find it difficult to put their problems into words over the phone, and a discussion board where children can support each other.

The problems children contact ChildLine about have changed over the course of its existence.

Esther says: “When we opened up the lines, the biggest problem was sexual abuse. The most common problems now are serious relationship problems within the family. I want us to analyse why. It could be that there aren’t extended family networks anymore.

“Another thing I learned writing the book was that these young people have gone on to become teachers, nurses, social workers and charity workers,” Esther explains. “My daughter Rebecca says saved children save other children. But you don’t hear about the upward spiral.

“The book shows that these calls have been transformative. We work within the perimeters set by the child, and encourage them to think about who cares about them and who they can talk to. We encourage them to pretend to talk to that person, and the roleplay gives the child confidence. The actual conversation may be nothing like that, but saying the words out loud can really help the child.”

Now Esther is turning her expertise to a new venture inspired by ChildLine. She hopes to launch a helpline for vulnerable and isolated older people to provide vital information and advice to pensioners on everything from

people 23

reporting abuse and neglect, to accessing befriending services and how to use online banking.

Esther’s career has included presenting the consumer programme That’s Life!, which ran for 21 years, and hosting her own chat shows on BBC and ITV. She chaired ChildLine for 20 years and is currently its President, as well as a Trustee of the NSPCC since its merger with ChildLine in 2005.

She has appeared in Strictly Come Dancing for the BBC, and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! for ITV. She has even turned her hand to politics, standing as an Independent candidate

for Luton South in the 2010 General Election.

Esther has received a number of awards, including the OBE for services to broadcasting, and the CBE for services to children. And in September 2009, she added to her list of achievements and awards with an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Social Science from the University of Wolverhampton.

Professor Kit Field is Dean of the School for Education Futures, and welcomed Esther to the stage for her lecture. He says: “ChildLine has transformed the lives of millions of children who have felt trapped and unable to escape sometimes terrifying circumstances. The

achievements of ChildLine are testament to Esther’s determination and vision, and hearing her experiences provided insight and inspiration to our students, many of whom will go on to work in a range of careers with children. We are extremely proud to count her among our honorary graduates.”

While the University honour recognised Esther personally, she views it as a broader acknowledgment of the achievements of the successful charity she founded.

She says: “I’m really pleased and proud to be a doctor. It means a lot to me. Not because it measures what you think of me, but what it means is that ChildLine is valued.”

24 SucceSS SToRY

Graduate success story

Carys Jones “Ever since I read my first book I was captivated and knew that I wanted to tell stories of my own,” the BA (Hons) Creative and Professional Writing and Film Studies graduate says.

Her favourite part of the course was the learning environment, with film lectures taking place in the Chubb Building in Wolverhampton as part of the University’s link with the Light House Media Centre.

“I wanted to write a story with a female antihero at the centre who is in a life threatening predicament but ultimately seeks redemption.

Not All Stars Sparkle grew from that original concept.”

“It was amazing to be having lectures within a cinema and when we had to watch films for our course, we got to watch them on the huge screens which was wonderful and really enhanced the experience of the entire course.”

The story features Aiden Connelly, a young Chicago based lawyer who relocates to a small Southern town. Whilst tackling his first case, that of a fallen beauty queen accused of murdering her husband, Aiden quickly begins to uncover some dark secrets about the supposedly idyllic town and soon realises it is far from what it appears to be.

Name: Carys Jones Course: BA (Hons) Creative and Professional Writing and Film Studies Year of Graduation: 2007

The saying goes that everyone has a book inside them, and just two years after graduating, Carys Jones was delighted to see her first novel published.

Not All Stars Sparkle is a crime thriller published through Pegasus Publications and is now available to Kindle readers due to its success.

Writing from a young age, Carys was excited to have produced her first full length novel, which has received impressive reviews.

Carys is proud of how her time at the University shaped her and gave her the valuable skills she needed to succeed as a writer.

“My studies helped me prepare for what was ahead. In terms of my writing, my course helped me develop skills and techniques to fine tune my craft and it always taught me different ways to approach writing a story and creating characters, which I continue to practise.

“University was a big change in that a lot of learning is independent, but I loved that. I felt that in lectures I was exposed to new, exciting ways of thinking and it helped broaden my horizons and also confirm what I eventually wanted to do with my life – which was to be a writer.”

She has some wise words of advice for students following in her footsteps.

“Work hard, write as often as you can to help strengthen your abilities and be prepared for the inevitable knocks along the way. You need a tough skin, but ultimately, as long as you are writing for yourself because it is what you love, then you will be fine.”

Carys’ book is available for purchase at Waterstones, Amazon and Tesco.

my course helped me develop skills and techniques to fine tune my craft.

WhaT’S oN GuIDe 25

What’s on

Guide May Centre for Art, Design, Research and Experimentation (CADRE) Lecture – Researcher and Filmmaker, Pia Tikka will present a public talk.

Date: Tuesday 15 May 2012

Walk of the Black Country – The University of Wolverhampton is sponsoring Free Radio’s Walk of the Black Country, a 10 mile walk from Himley Hall in Dudley to Wolverhampton Racecourse to raise money for Promise Dreams.

Time: 6pm

Date: Sunday 10 June 2012

Venue: MK045, School of Art & Design, University of Wolverhampton

Time: from 10am Web: www.wlv.ac.uk/walk

Contact: Jo Mills Tel: 01902 322213 Email: jomills@wlv.ac.uk

June University of Wolverhampton Open Day – find out about a range of courses, meet the lecturers and current students and tour the excellent facilities Date: Friday 15 June 2012 Time: 10am – 3pm Location: Wolverhampton City and Walsall Campuses Contact: Enquiries Team Web: www.wlv.ac.uk/opendays Tel: 0800 953 3222*

Summer Short Courses – The School of Art and Design has a wide range of short courses available to book this June. The School is opening its doors for two weeks to host a programme of bespoke courses and workshops in a wide range of subjects.

Sc ffe est20 2012 12 Experience the magic of science

When: 18 – 29 June 2012 Venue: School of Art & Design, University of Wolverhampton Web: www.wlv.ac.uk/sad SciFest 2012 – Experience the magic of science, join us for a journey of discovery through stimulating and interactive events which are free and fun for all the family!

Date: Saturday 30 June 2012 Time: 10am – 4pm Location: Wolverhampton City Campus Web: www.wlv.ac.uk/scifest Space for some activities is limited, book online to avoid disappointment.

*If you are calling from a mobile you may incur a charge. The charge may vary depending on your network provider.

Saturday 30 June 2012 university of Wolverhampton city campus, 10am-4pm.

WLV

dialogue

University of Wolverhampton Wulfruna Street Wolverhampton West Midlands WV1 1LY tel: 0800 953 3222* fax: 01902 32 25 17 web: www.wlv.ac.uk/dialogue

Printed on paper from sustainable forests with FSC mixed source credit *If you are calling from a mobile phone you may incur a charge. The charge will vary depending on your network provider