WLVDialogue - Autumn 2011

WLV

dialogue

Autumn 2011 | Issue 14 | University of Wolverhampton | www.wlv.ac.uk

Hitting the right note Tinkling the ivories on Steinway pianos

Creating connections Meet our new Vice-Chancellor

Bad network?

Impact of social media during the riots

Welcome

Welcome to the latest edition of WLV Dialogue.

Our new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Geoff Layer, joined us over the summer. In this edition, he talks about the importance of connections to a 21st Century university and his focus on the student experience.

Social media is traditionally a fun way to communicate with friends and share information, but the riots earlier this year highlighted how these networks could be used for a more sinister purpose. On pages 4-5, we take a look at how social media played a role in the organisation of mass gatherings and the debate about managing its use. Unemployment is also never far from the news, but at the University of Wolverhampton we have a number of initiatives to make our graduates stand out from the crowd in a competitive jobs market. Read more on pages 8-9.

Our new Performance Hub opened its doors to students at the beginning of the academic year, providing excellent teaching and rehearsal space for our School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure.

The Hub took delivery of 15 new Steinway pianos and on pages 2-3 we take a look at what makes these instruments so special.

The University of Wolverhampton Business School celebrated its 80th anniversary recently. Almost 100 business people attended a special event to mark the contribution the School has made to business education and management development in the region. Find out more on pages 20-21.

We also have news about a new Foundation Year aimed at our international students on pages 18-19 and an interview with honorary degree recipient and marathon man ‘Blind Dave’ Heeley on pages 16-17.

We are delighted to have been shortlisted in the CIPR PRide Awards in the Best Magazine category. The winners will be announced in December.

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.

Our next magazine will be out in the winter.

Best wishes Emma Pugh WLV Dialogue Editor

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CONTENTS 1

12

2

8

10

4

18

16

PAGE NEWS

INTERNATIONAL

Hitting the right note – Arrival of new Steinway pianos

2

Bad network? – Impact of social media during the riots

4

Burning desire to succeed – A look at our Fire and Rescue degree

6

Working for the future – Schemes to tackle unemployment

8

RESEARCH Seeking an alternative – Innovative scientific research

10

PROFILE Creating new connections – Meet Geoff Layer

12

FEATURE Heralding a new design – Creating modern coats of arms

14

Marathon man – ‘Blind Dave’ Heeley receives honour

16

Good foundations – Course to aid transition for overseas students

18

BUSINESS 80 years of business success – Anniversary celebrations

20

PEOPLE Power to inspire – Q&A with Senior Lecturer in English Dr Rosie Miles

22

Graduate success story – Accounting and Finance graduate James Goad

24

What’s on guide – University events

25

2 NEWS

Hitting the The sound emanating from the piano is distinct, crisp and beautiful. The hands moving along the keys are graceful, and the atmosphere in the theatre is spellbound and serene.

Great instruments can transform the sound quality of a performance. Practicing on a piano of the calibre of a Steinway, the subtlety of the notes is laid bare and the performer is rewarded for delicacy of touch. The Steinway and Sons brand is renowned for its excellent tone, and musicians who have played the pianos recognise the difference such an instrument makes to a performance.

The University has recently taken delivery of 15 new pianos from the Steinway and Sons family.

The instruments, which include a Steinway

Both accomplished pianists, they were able to see how the pianos are made and sample a range of the instruments for themselves.

model C concert grand, are all housed in the new Performance Hub, a ÂŁ10 million performing arts centre at Walsall Campus.

The building opened its doors this academic year, and the lucky new and returning music students were greeted by the pianos for use in rehearsals, teaching and performance.

The University is now an All-Steinway School, a prestigious accolade recognising that 90% of the piano stock is from the Steinway family.

Wolverhampton is only the third University in the UK to hold this status and the first in the West Midlands.

John Pymm, Dean of the School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure, travelled to Hamburg with the Head of the Music Department, Kevin Stannard, to personally select the four grand pianos.

John explains that the University was keen to secure the pianos to enable students to experience performing on the celebrated instruments, which are located in top concert venues around the world, such as Symphony Hall in Birmingham.

NEWS 3

right note He said: “Steinway pianos are beyond compare – they have a richness of tone which can really elevate the quality of a performance. Our students aspire to greatness, and by ensuring they have outstanding instruments to work on, we are giving them the best possible start to their music careers.

“As an All-Steinway School, we are listed among some of the great music institutions around the world. I have no doubt that this status and the high quality of teaching and facilities available at the Performance Hub will ensure we continue to recruit high calibre students locally, nationally and internationally.”

On delivery day, the 15 new pianos were gathered in the blackbox theatre and a group of undergraduate and postgraduate students were given a sneak preview of the brand new pianos.

For Keith Glazebrook, Sales Manager from Steinways and Sons UK, it is this response from students that makes the job of ensuring the safe delivery of the pianos such a worthwhile and rewarding process.

Having tinkled the ivories for herself, second year BMus (Hons) student Vicki Ellam said: “It is just a whole new experience. It is playing a piano on a different level. They feel so different to a normal piano. The sound that comes out is just lovely.”

He says: “Seeing the excitement in the music students on the delivery day was very rewarding for us as a manufacturer, and we sincerely believe these new pianos will continue to inspire music students for many years to come.”

Samantha Dicken, also in her second year of the same course, agrees: “These are world renowned pianos. For all the students, it is a really big thing to play on a Steinway because they are such good pianos.”

For more information about the School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure, visit: www.wlv.ac.uk/sspal

4 NEWS

Bad network?

The riots that swept across the UK earlier this year spiralled out of control at an alarming rate, with troublemakers targeting towns and cities in a shocking wave of disorder.

London, Manchester and the Midlands were among the places that saw shops looted and buildings burned. The deaths of five people were also linked to the rioting as for several days the country appeared to be held to ransom by thugs.

While years ago such incidents would have been isolated, the nature of today’s social media savvy youth meant messages could quickly go out to a mass audience and gatherings were easily arranged.

Social networks, created for online interaction, were suddenly in the spotlight for a far more sinister reason and debates have since been raging about their use. Without them, would the UK have witnessed such shocking scenes this September?

Paul Brighton, Head of Media at the University of Wolverhampton, thinks not.

Facebook and Twitter were believed to be the main sources of organised trouble and were closely monitored by police. But while these

were undoubtedly used to incite and arrange trouble, another source had been widely overlooked; the majority of activity was actually arranged via Blackberry Messenger.

Paul says: “Facebook and Twitter are in the public sphere and while they were both used to incite riots, Blackberry Messenger, which isn’t in the public domain, seemed to cause the most trouble. It’s like text messaging but with a larger group of recipients, reaching up to around 300 people.

“Up until that point it hadn’t really penetrated the public conscious. The stereotypical perception was that it was primarily used by

company directors, bankers, and political aides sending messages to MPs. The realisation dawned that it was now within reach of people without much money and had become a relatively cheap form of messaging.”

The general perception from users was that they could send messages with total impunity because they couldn’t be monitored. It was journalists covering the riots who first realised how widely Blackberry Messenger was being used but it soon became a police – and political – issue.

NEWS 5

In the wake of such civil disorder, the Government is looking at the feasibility of banning people from using social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook if they are thought to be plotting criminal activity. MPs were recalled from their summer recess to discuss the possibility of stopping suspected rioters from spreading messages online and new legislation could be brought in sometime in the future.

In addition, tough sentences were handed out to those convicted, sending out a clear message to would-be offenders in a bid to deter future incidents.

In a landmark case, two youths were sentenced to four years for inciting riots on Facebook, despite the fact that their attempts did not lead to any violence. Jordan Blackshaw, 20, and Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, 22, both from Cheshire, admitted using their Facebook accounts to encourage rioters.

Their lawyers admitted what their clients did was “monumentally foolish” but argued that their sentences were too long. However, an appeal was unsuccessful and the pair will have plenty of time to think about the consequences of their actions.

Meanwhile, the debates continue. Paul says: “There is a big discussion around whether it’s a breach of civil liberties to close down networks or whether there are ways of doing

it in an efficient, targeted manner. One issue being considered is whether police could do a targeted switch-off.

“At the moment though, it seems you either switch everything off – which is too high a price to pay – or monitor the networks as closely as possible. There has been no decision as yet but a few hundred people shouldn’t be allowed to affect the communication channels for millions of people.”

Regarding the future, he believes there are still more developments ahead: “We haven’t reached a peak yet because technology is still evolving.

“There is increased blurring of public and private so that’s another issue to be considered. There can still be some lack of understanding about mediums such as Twitter, with people forgetting that it’s a public forum.

Worldwide, the influence of social media varies.

In countries such as China and Burma, social networking is limited, with whole areas where access to certain sites is blocked to prevent widespread networking and attempt to control mass communications.

“Celebrities have been caught out with inappropriate comments which could destroy their careers and footballers have sounded off about their managers with words that should be confined to the changing room.

The power of social media was also highlighted in Tunisia and Egypt, where Facebook and Twitter proved very successful in overthrowing the regimes there. It was powerful enough to use social media to create the threat of an uprising and persuade key players such as Barack Obama to convey their support. When it came to Libya there wasn’t the same degree of usage to start with and the dictatorship was such that it wasn’t susceptible to public opinion.

“People are still learning about these mediums and there will be more to come but now they are so widely used, it won’t be simple to keep control of the millions of people who access them.”

Paul says: “China is a key player in the world community but less responsive to world public opinion so the role of social media is weaker. In a genuinely oppressive regime it has much less effect.”

6 NEWS

Burning desire to succeed When picturing a firefighter, the stereotypical image is of a big burly man jumping from a fire engine and heading into a blazing building armed with a hose. But would many people associate the role with someone who has in-depth knowledge of chemistry, maths and engineering?

Today, firefighters have varied and complex roles that involve not only the traditional aspects of attending fires and accidents, but also fire prevention, education, awareness and assisting with counter-terrorism activities. Still a competitive and demanding profession to enter, the fire and rescue services require candidates to demonstrate a high standard of skills, knowledge and conduct.

Following the successful launch of a BSc (Hons) Policing, the University joined forces with West Midlands Fire Service to develop a similar qualification aimed at people hoping to pursue this career. The BSc (Hons) Fire and Rescue degree launched in 2010 with a cohort of 12 students, and the second cohort of 25 has now settled into its first semester of study.

The degree combines rigorous academic elements with practical experience.

The first three modules of the course are physics, chemistry and maths and the students complete the same assessments as those on engineering and forensic science degrees.

Course leader and Director of the Central Institute for the Study of Public Protection at the University, Dr Martin Wright, explains: “Half of the degree is science or engineering based and although some subjects may seem abstract at first, the students quickly understand the practical application of what they are learning.

“There are a lot of misconceptions about fire and rescue - it is highly technical profession.

If there is a crash involving a tanker on the motorway, the firefighters have to assess the danger from the chemicals as well as dealing with the incident. They are often called to deal with suspect devices, as well as chemical, biological and terrorism incidents. All of which demands a highly academic and committed individual and that is what the degree seeks to develop.”

The reality From day one, the students are exposed to the realities of firefighting. During Welcome Week, they visit the West Midlands Fire Service training academy in Smethwick to take part in a day to assess if they have any phobias. This checks their reactions to heights, enclosed spaces and wearing breathing apparatus as these are essential aspects of the job.

If they sail through this tough introduction to the role, the students become community volunteers with West Midlands Fire Service throughout their three years of study. This involves taking part in fire awareness and risk assessment initiatives, such as visiting homes to provide help and advice. They also do safety talks in schools and become community volunteers at Safeside, an interactive scenario at West Midlands Fire Service headquarters in Birmingham. This interesting aspect involves taking groups of young people around the scenarios and talking them through the various risks being demonstrated.

Martin explains that this is an important element of the job, and today’s firefighters spend a lot of their time preventing fires and accidents happening in the first place. The students also complete the firefighter training programme run by West Midlands Fire Service, so they undergo the same training as real firefighters. It is hoped that in the future some students will become retained firefighters.

Commitment Alongside all of this, the students must demonstrate the right commitment and conduct to meet the demanding nature of the profession.

news 7

“It is a very tough degree,” Dr Wright says. “Not only are we assessing their academic conduct but because of the responsibility and their role within the fire and rescue service, they are being assessed in terms of their professionalism. Their conduct, general behaviour in the University and their commitment to their degree is what we are looking for.”

This is a view reflected by second year student Jet Summan, who applied to do the degree after completing a six-week West Midlands Fire Service pre-access recruitment training course and realising this was the career for him.

“I am not from an engineering background, so I found the mechanics and hydraulics hard, but it is brilliant. I’m looking forward to starting the physical training at the Academy in January,” he says.

Jet’s dream is to work for West Midlands Fire Service after he graduates, but he has also applied to London Fire Brigade which was advertising 150 posts and received 8,000 applications, indicating the competitive nature of the career.

“I’m happy to start at the bottom and get my foot in the door and work my way up, and hopefully the degree will provide me with that stepping stone and the knowledge. My advice to anyone considering the degree is to have an open mind and be prepared to work hard.”

Next steps The University has forged an exciting relationship with the Institution of Fire Engineers, which has now accredited the degree. Wolverhampton students are encouraged to become student members of

the IFE when they join the University and to apply for full Membership status when they graduate. The accreditation enables graduates to become members of the IFE without taking further professional examinations.

The next development for all the services degrees offered by the University is to bring the students together for modules around leadership, command and emergency planning.

As well as the Policing and Fire and Rescue students, this will involve students on the three BSc (Hons) Armed Forces degrees, which launched this academic year.

“The rationale is that they will gain experience of other services roles within emergencies as well as building up long term professional relationships across the services,” Dr Martin Wright adds.

Other developments in the pipeline include an MSc in Fire and Rescue Services, which could start in October 2013. Dr Wright is currently consulting with regional fire and rescue services, who are all partners with the University through a Memorandum of Understanding, to ensure this will meet their needs. Martin is also working with the West Midlands Fire Service training academy to develop their vocational training, which will involve lifting their existing courses to higher education quality standards.

Again, this will be a cross-School initiative involving various aspects of the University, from engineering with the School of Technology to fire scene investigation with the School of Applied Sciences.

The course is tough, academically rigorous and physically challenging. Perfect preparation for entering a job which offers a demanding but rewarding career path, as Dr Wright says: “Ultimately when they graduate, our students will have spent three years as a community volunteer having learnt essential skills such as fire prevention, community safety, command and communications. As well as developing a portfolio of evidence they will be eligible to apply to become a member of the IFE, which is a recognised professional body for the fire and rescue service. They will also be a trained firefighter and have a BSc degree.

“We aim to prepare our students as much as possible for a professional career as a firefighter.”

8 NEWS

Working for the future Latest figures showed a total of 234,000 people are currently unemployed in the West Midlands*. But the University of Wolverhampton is undertaking a number of innovative initiatives to ensure its graduates can achieve the careers they hope for.

NEWS 9

A challenging economic climate has led to a downturn in business and a tougher jobs market. Turn on the television, pick up a paper or listen to the conversations taking place in the street and you’d be forgiven for thinking the outlook across the UK is bleak.

Talk to staff, students and graduates from the University of Wolverhampton, however, and an altogether more positive picture emerges. The region may have recently revealed an increase of 8,000 people unemployed, but the University has a range of initiatives to tackle the problem and to work with businesses and graduates to create a thriving workforce for the future.

Professor Ian Oakes, the University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, is leading a drive to boost employability for students and graduates and to secure their future roles in the knowledge economy.

He says: “Whilst we are disappointed about the employment news for the region, there are a number of new developments taking place in the Black Country which we hope will have a major impact on the economy, particularly the establishment of the Black Country Enterprise Zone, the new Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) engine plant and the substantial growth in the aerospace sector all of which will bring new jobs to the region.”

The announcement that JLR plans to create a new engine plant in Wolverhampton has been a major boost to the Midlands.

Professor Oakes believes the move will be a great boost for the region and provide many opportunities for business engagement.

“The University is in discussions with a number of organisations in relation to how we can support the JLR development.” Ideas include bespoke staff development programmes, supply of modern apprenticeships and higher apprenticeships, new technology horizon scanning, research and development and business solutions programmes.

“We are very excited about the potential for working with JLR and the opportunities it will create for the institution and our students and graduates.”

The University’s School of Technology has expert staff in engineering and manufacturing, with strong commercial backgrounds, and looks forward to working with JLR in a number of capacities.

The University has closely collaborated with Wolverhampton City Council on the i54 project, and hopes to be able to extend successful activities to JLR similar to those already being delivered by University experts for local Aerospace Companies: HS-Marson, Goodrich, Timken and Moog. Moog are currently building a factory of the future on i54.

For all types of career, the University has several initiatives in place to support graduate employment and a key priority is to prepare students for the world of work.

One area where the University has excelled is in generating work placements and internships in the region.

Professor Oakes says: “Over the last year, we have provided more than 260 internships for recent graduates, 73% of which have resulted in jobs. We can help businesses grow and become more competitive through the provision of highly competent graduates who will be capable of applying their academic knowledge creatively to solve real business problems. The recent appointment of the University as the regional co-ordinator of the national STEPS programme provides us with even more opportunities for placements in the key areas of science, technology and engineering.”

This success rate is something the University is very proud of. Nationally, there has been criticism of companies for exploiting graduates through internships, which don’t lead to paid employment or add value. Well-known

employers have been named and shamed for recruiting unpaid interns under poor conditions with no job prospects at the end – but the University of Wolverhampton has bucked this trend with carefully chosen partners and gives its graduates valuable experience and business links.

In addition, the University is also introducing new schemes to encourage students to become more entrepreneurial and develop their own business ideas. Professor Oakes adds: “In 2012 we will be launching a new Graduate Incubation Programme which will help our graduates start up their own businesses, stay in the region and generate jobs for others in the future. Part of this will see the establishment of a Graduate Incubation Loan fund”.

“We are also working with our partners and our suppliers to identify employment opportunities for our graduates and provide business mentors for our students.”

These initiatives all help improve career prospects and point towards a future where the Midlands, particularly Wolverhampton graduates, will prosper. * Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS)

We can help businesses grow and become more competitive through the provision of highly competent graduates.

10 RESearch

research 11

Seeking an alternative As a nation of pill poppers, we have become increasingly reliant on a range of prescription and over-the-counter drugs to cure our ills. Whether it is a cough or a cold or a bug that is doing the rounds, we tend to reach for the tablets to alleviate the pain without really thinking about the consequences.

Antibiotics are among the drugs that are prescribed to patients for relatively minor ailments, such as throat infections. But they are also used for more serious illnesses and treatment, such as following an organ transplant or cancer chemotherapy, when a patient really needs help to fight infections.

Increasing evidence of resistance to certain antibiotics has led medical experts to warn against prescribing them for minor illnesses – as they may not work effectively at a later more critical stage in a person’s life.

Ground-breaking research New ground-breaking research at the University of Wolverhampton is seeking to find an alternative to these overused drugs. Dr Martin Khechara is a Lecturer in Microbiology at the School of Applied Sciences and his research group is looking into ‘phages’, which are viruses that ‘eat’ bacteria. These viruses were discovered 90 years ago, but their use petered out when the drug penicillin became widely available in the 1940s. Now with evidence that bacteria that infect people are becoming resistant to antibiotics, phages are once again being investigated as a possible therapy against drug resistant strains of many bacteria.

Dr Khechara explains that phages control the number of bacteria present by acting as its predator. He says: “Everything has its parasite

and even something as small as a bacteria has a parasite that will hunt it down and kill it.

These phages are their predator and control the number of bacteria in nature.

“The world relies on them – and we can also use them artificially for medicine. 20 years after penicillin was introduced, 100% of some bacteria were resistant to it and new antibiotics are not really being discovered today.”

Using the power Martin and the Bacteriaphage Therapeutics Research Group are using water from a variety of sources, including local rivers and the Welsh coast, to carry out their studies. Instead of creating tablets to replace antibiotics, they are looking to develop alternative cleansing products that can kill bacteria before it even reaches a patient. These could be used in hospitals, and could have a major impact on superbugs such as MRSA, which are resistant to antibiotic treatment.

“We can use that power – that natural way of predating bacteria to help combat infection.

We are trying to break the cycle of transmission as 80% of disease is transmitted by touch, even the common cold,” Dr Khechara explains.

“We are aiming towards healthcare environments such as intensive care units, cancer therapy, treatment of AIDS and burns units. Instead of a tablet you can take, we are trying to make things using the viruses.

Some of the ideas for products that can target particular bacteria, such as MRSA, are going to go towards a patent so we can’t say too much about them, but they are certainly exciting innovations.”

Valuable experience The research group consists of Dr Khechara, two part-time research assistants and people on work experience who are either graduates or postgraduates. The group provides valuable training for students during the summer break between academic years, and they will take on small parts of the technical support. Martin explains that this teaches the students the simple techniques that a microbiologist needs in their work.

But an added bonus, and a surprisingly fact, is that while the research is valuable and important, it is also inexpensive.

“We are really proud that we are doing good work that is at the same level of other international groups, without throwing money at it. We are collaborating with people in the West Midlands, as well as working with volunteers, interested people and our excellent Microbiology technicians here at the University, without a huge budget.”

An endless supply There are hundreds of different strains of phages which attack all kinds of bacteria. Dr Khechara explains it will take years to exhaust the research possibilities, so the team have plenty to keep them busy.

“We will never run out of phages to kill bacteria – it is a bottomless source of therapeutics.

“There is good science going on in Wolverhampton. It is on a par with research all around the world into this kind of therapy. This is ground-breaking – we are finding organisms that are new to science every day.”

12 PROFILE

Creating New Connections Connections hold the key for the University of Wolverhampton, as it embarks on a new era aiming to be at the hub of partnerships, business and community links designed to provide a first class experience for its students.

Led by new Vice-Chancellor Professor Geoff Layer, the University strives to be an integral player in the regeneration of the region and beyond and to create and contribute to employment opportunities.

Geoff is keen to give students the attributes valued in the world of work and ensure that employers will value University of Wolverhampton graduates as employees and entrepreneurs for the many challenges ahead.

The key to the regeneration of the economy is to improve individual life chances and that is what the University of Wolverhampton does so well, but as ever we need to offer that little bit more to make even more difference.

The University has always been focused on the student experience but Geoff wants to build on this even further and create a shift towards recognising the role of students as key players in shaping the nature of their educational experience.

“People have talked about students becoming consumers because they are paying fees.

I don’t believe this is the case; they are our partners in a learning experience and we will be working together. The educational process is something they learn from and stays with them forever. We also learn from them and listen to what they have to say,” he says.

“Many of our students come to us from the West Midlands and surrounding areas and in these economically challenging times we will be seeking to provide as many opportunities as possible for higher education.”

His aim is to ensure that they are given every chance for a successful future based on the skills and attributes they acquire at Wolverhampton.

“We want to give students the chance to engage with businesses and different types of organisations and be in a position where all our students will have assessed work experience while at the University,” he says. In addition, he encourages an entrepreneurial spirit and is proud that the University is able to support students in developing their own wealth creation ideas.

Despite the economic downturn, there are still opportunities ahead for the region and the University is keen to capitalise on these. The announcement that Jaguar Land Rover will build a new plant in Wolverhampton has been welcomed by the University, which will develop more business links in the future and have graduates fit for purpose.

Geoff says: “We will make sure that we continue to grow. We will be more business facing and have more links with companies, as well as schools, colleges and the wider public sector.

“It is important for us to be a connected university. We are inextricably linked to where we are and we need to be connected to those around us, as well as increasing our global links.”

Geoff is passionate about providing educational opportunities and is keen for staff and students to have their say about the University’s future, with strategic consultations taking place and ideas being welcomed.

He joined the University in August and was formerly Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Bradford. His background saw him graduate from Newcastle Polytechnic with an LLB (Hons) and enter a teaching and research career.

He joined the Sheffield Business School in 1983 as a Lecturer in Law and became Professor of Lifelong Learning in 1996. Geoff joined the University of Bradford in 1999 as Director of the Centre for Continuing Education, becoming the founding Dean of the School of Lifelong Education and Development in 2001. He held the post of Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) from 2004 until becoming Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) in 2008. In this role, he was responsible for the academic development of the University of Bradford across its teaching, research, knowledge transfer and high level skills activity.

Between 2000 and 2006 he was the Director of Action on Access, an agency established to advise HEFCE on its Widening Participation strategy. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and was awarded the OBE for services to Higher Education in 2003.

Yet despite these many achievements, he believes his appointment as Vice-Chancellor at Wolverhampton is a great honour and the pinnacle of his professional career.

“I will work hard to ensure that the University continues to grow and deliver the exceptional results demonstrated by our graduates,” he says.

“We will create a prosperous future for ourselves and our students. We are a proactive university and I want us to also be a confident university. Our graduates are the leaders of the future and the values we instil in them will help shape that future.”

PROFILE 13

We are inextricably linked to where we are and we need to be connected to those around us, as well as increasing our global links.

14 Feature

Feature 15

Heralding a new design When Kate Middleton married Prince William earlier this year, her father commissioned a heraldic coat of arms for the family to mark the special occasion. The heraldic design featured three acorn sprigs to symbolise the Middletons’ three children, and a gold inverted ‘V’ to reflect Kate’s mother Carole’s maiden name of Goldsmith.

The origins of heraldry lie in the need to distinguish participants in combat when their faces were hidden by helmets, but a University of Wolverhampton graduate is using this ancient tradition to create bespoke artwork. Matthew Evans completed his MA in Fine Art passing with distinction this year and now creates alternative coats of arms, alongside other artistic projects. This innovative concept, with a twist, began when Matthew started creating designs for his friends, which is growing into a successful venture for the 22-year-old.

The Wolverhampton-based artist used his initiative this year when he read an article in the Sunday Express newspaper by Royal Correspondent Camilla Tominey. After reading about the journalist’s desire to have a coat of arms, just like the newly wed Duchess of Cambridge, Matthew wrote to Camilla offering to create one just for her. His design, which was triangular to symbolise Camilla’s two children and husband, featured a rabbit, Wonder Woman, Rioja and a boiled egg with soldiers. The design was printed in the newspaper in July – a great showcase for the graduate’s talents.

Matthew gathered the information for this via a questionnaire to probe Camilla’s

interests and personality. He used a similar technique for a commission he was given at Birmingham’s Royal Orthopaedic Hospital to create 12 heraldic designs for a corridor in a new wing. Matthew created a special survey to gather information about people’s feelings and thoughts about their time at the hospital, including questions about their favourite memory and smells. Participants included a surgeon, a dinner lady, a porter, a matron and a 10-year-old girl who had broken her leg. The designs are now displayed in the hospital.

“It is amazing how much information people are willing to share if you ask. They buy into the idea as it is bespoke and just for them,” Matthew explains.

As with many things in the artistic world, this has led to another commission via one of the committee members at the hospital, and Matthew has created a coat of arms for someone in New Orleans in the USA featuring Superman. He is also working on a design for someone who used to work on Wall Street.

Matthew’s main technique for the heraldry is drawing, enhanced by laser etching to burn the designs into wood. His other interests include the ‘readymade’, print and photography. He describes his practice as ‘exploring codes

of inclusion and exclusion, interpretation and understanding’. Matthew says his work treads ‘a fine line between corny and cool’, and the pieces are often humorous with an injection of cynicism. He showcased an on-going body of work, titled The Treacle Series, at the University’s MA Degree Show at the Public in West Bromwich in September and continues to build his portfolio.

Matthew is positive about his experience doing the MA at the University, and how this has helped him in what is a competitive but rewarding field.

“I think there is a lot of competition but you have to find your own niche. It is all about being self-motivated and taking a chance.

“I want to do a PhD before I’m 30, and education has really helped me to be where I am today. I feel there is potential in my work and it is up to me to make the most of it. The University helped me to be confident and to take a chance on what I’m doing. They instilled a ‘take a risk’ attitude which you have to do at a high level sometimes and also to believe in your work.”

For more information about Matthew’s work, visit www.10bearsart.co.uk

16 Feature

Marathon

Man

The word ‘inspirational’ has a tendency to be overused, but there is no denying that it is entirely appropriate when describing Dave Heeley.

Affectionately known as Blind Dave, he gained international recognition for his bid to become the first blind person in the world to have completed the ultimate endurance challenge of seven marathons in seven days on seven continents.

And not content to rest on his laurels, Dave, from West Bromwich, recently completed his Top to Toe challenge, which saw him cycle and run a total of 1,000 miles from John O’Groats to Lands End. Completed over 10 days and averaging 75 miles each day, including running a marathon and cycling to the next destination, Dave has raised an impressive £55,680.94 so far for Macmillan Cancer Support.

It is epic challenges such as these that led to him being presented with an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters at a graduation ceremony this year. The award was conferred in recognition of his inspirational approach to, and considerable contribution towards, charitable causes.

Attending the ceremony, Dave processed from the University’s buildings in the City Centre to the Grand Theatre, accompanied by his wife Debbie, and joined students from the School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure who were collecting their award scrolls.

Receiving the award, father-of-three Dave said: “To be standing on this stage amongst a wonderful crowd of people at this graduation awards presentation is an absolute honour. It was mind-blowing for me when I found out, I tried to keep it from my pals as I knew what would happen!

“To be in receipt of such an award is an absolute privilege. I would like to finish by saying I feel very privileged and have two simple sincere words – thank you.”

After the ceremony, Dave explained that the news he was to receive an honorary award came out of the blue, and the accolade came a close second to running a lap around West Bromwich Albion’s ground, the Hawthorns.

The story so far At age 10, Dave was diagnosed with an eye complaint called Retinitas Pigmentosa, which meant he was going blind. At 17, despite his career in the army being shattered and all his friends taking driving tests, Dave decided to take a positive route. Regardless of his sight problem, he’s had a varied working career, mainly office bound, other than his short stint on a fork lift truck - he admits he wasn’t always honest about his sight problem. He had his own company for around seven years, distributing suspended ceilings, partitions, dry lining and joinery, and says he loved “the buying and selling but with bad luck, bad debt and bad eye sight, all good things come to an end”.

Enrolling at Queen Alexandra College for the Blind, he achieved skills in Braille, computers, carpentry and wood turning.

Despite his eyesight continually declining, Dave’s life changed overnight when he was introduced to Peter, his first Guide Dog. With renewed confidence, he has had a go at skiing, water skiing, horse riding, cliff jumping, abseiling, and driving motor bikes and even a tank.

After competing in many marathons, including ten consecutive ones in London, Dave completed The Ultimate Challenge seven marathons in seven days on seven continents - in 2008; the first and only blind person in the world to achieve this. It was the challenge that launched Dave’s new career as a motivational speaker.

His achievements don’t end there. In 2008 Dave (and his running guide) won the Outstanding Sporting Achievement award at the BBC Midlands Sports Awards and he has been invited to functions at Buckingham Palace and the House of Lords in recognition of his charity work.

And what next for Blind Dave? His immediate plans are to take a rest, although he is already in training for next year’s London Marathon.

But no doubt the wanderlust will take hold again soon enough.

To sponsor Dave, visit www.justgiving.com/blinddavestop2toe

Feature 17

18 INTERNATIONAL

Good

Foundations For any new student, University marks a major change in their life. A different way of studying, people from various walks of life, often a move away from home.

to potential students about what they felt they needed. The feedback from the first cohort will help shape the course in the future.

of Wolverhampton. They also live in halls of residence. The main point is that they get as much of a University experience as possible.

It’s an exciting time, but one of anticipation and challenges. Imagine then, how daunting all this is for an international student who is experiencing a new country and culture for the first time.

For this first year, Business, Engineering and Science are the core subject areas. This is partly historic because those are strong areas of interest with the international market but also business covers a more generic skillset and ties in with the entrepreneurial spirit of the University.

The University of Wolverhampton’s International Centre already ensures a warm welcome for its overseas students but has now embarked on a pioneering new course to make the transition easier for those who aren’t quite ready yet.

Rishma adds: “We chose business so that students are not thrust into a subject that is completely alien to them. Most students will have come across business concepts as part of their previous studies.”

Dr Megan Lawton, Personal Tutor, says: “A personal tutor has a special relationship with students. On the IFY course our students understand that it’s really important to ask for advice of any kind from their personal tutor who can hear and help them with any concerns particularly about moving to and settling into a new country and learning environment.”

The International Foundation Year (IFY) was validated last year and the first intake of students, from Nigeria, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, started this October.

In the future, the subject range may expand to other areas such as art and design. The International Centre will assess subject areas and respond to market demand.

Rishma Dattani, Deputy Director of the International Centre, says: “This is a brand new idea and we are very excited about it. It enables students to have an introduction to University life and gives them good preparation for a future degree with us.”

The IFY gives students the opportunity to experience university life and prepares them for the next step up to degree level.

In the UK, there are foundation degrees for students but that doesn’t mean much to an overseas audience - an international foundation year does. It gives students a good basis to move directly on to a degree programme if they are successful, so forms part of a four-year course.

Promotion for the course was successfully carried out via regional offices who also talked

Jo Gittens, Director, International, says: “This course enables us to respond to international demand and fits in with the University’s global strategy. We find that some students may not have the English levels we need or the academic qualifications for a degree, so this offers something to bridge that gap for those with potential.”

The course is being delivered in partnership with City of Wolverhampton College but all students are taught on City Campus and assigned a personal tutor from the University

Sila Goddard-Patel, City of Wolverhampton Tutor, adds: “The IFY gives students an active and enjoyable experience including academic study skills and cultural awareness. The course prepares them to fully participate in the academic and social life of an undergraduate and improve their chances of success.”

One of the reasons for the course is to help the students understand English in context but there are many aspects that will benefit the participants.

The IFY recognises that international students may find it hard to settle into a very different learning environment. It helps them adapt to a different culture of study whilst bringing them up to speed in terms of what to expect on a degree programme.

One module called Getting Ahead as an International Student covers orientation into higher education, group activities and learning about the student experience at Wolverhampton.

It also provides an opportunity for students to exchange their understanding about different

INTERNATIONAL 19

cultures, which is aligned to a core University aim for Wolverhampton students to be global citizens.

A separate module, Successful Study, helps the students to better understand their own skills and skills gaps. It also seeks to help them appreciate the importance of active participation in modules, producing work for assessments, understanding feedback, selecting and using information sources including working in a digital environment and gives general tips, which will prove very useful for any degree programme.

In some cultures, it is seen as respectful to copy from experts. At a UK university, however, that would be classed as plagiarism. The module helps students to better understand the conventions here and teaches them how to reference correctly and prevents misunderstandings further down the line.

Another aspect is Jargon busting, which is very important. Tutors ask students to jot down words they come across that they don’t understand so that these can be explained, enabling them to be better prepared as they progress through their journey at the University.

Rishma says: “New students won’t necessarily feel comfortable asking what something means and can be too embarrassed to ask. We wanted to help them overcome that barrier.”

The International Foundation Year is not all hard work though – there are social elements, too, and the University recognises that making friends is one of the most important aspects of studying overseas. The students can join in with the various trips which are organised for all international students. They will also have a chance to be part of activities such as the international festival.

If this first year goes as planned, there are further ambitions for the course. The

International Centre is currently researching market needs and demand and the Foundation Year could possibly expand overseas to incountry delivery and increase its subject offering further.

In the meantime, the Centre continues to be there for all its students.

“If there are any worries or concerns, we are here,” adds Jane Dunn, International Student Support Officer. “The students are always able to come to us for help.”

20 BUSINESS

80 years

of business success

The University of Wolverhampton Business School has just celebrated its 80th anniversary with a special event which saw almost 100 business people from across the region attending.

UWBS Dean Dr Anthea Gregory wanted to showcase the activities and research undertaken by the School’s staff and students and to welcome new businesses who would like to work in partnership with the School.

She says: “We have been successfully delivering management development and business education for the region and beyond for 80 years. That really is something to celebrate.

“We were delighted that so many businesses came to join our celebrations and the feedback we have received has been really encouraging.”

In the early 1900s Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Technical College, from which the University would eventually emerge, was formed. By the 1930s Wolverhampton was regarded as ‘a rising industrial town’ and so the buildings which form the historic core of the modern university were opened in 1931. It was at this time that the first systematic teaching of ‘commerce’ and some of the subjects that today form the basis of a modern business school portfolio, such as accountancy, were offered.

Over time higher education became more widely available. The bigger technical colleges, including Wolverhampton, provided the basis for expansion and polytechnics were formed at the end of the 1960s.

During this period, Wolverhampton became one of the first institutions in the UK to offer an MBA, working with the University of Philadelphia to launch this flagship course. It is now offered by most UK business schools and still offered by UWBS nearly 45 years on, having developed to meet the needs of managers in the 21st century.

BUSINESS 21

Wolverhampton has continued to be at the forefront of business education developments.

In the early 1990s it was only the second institution in the UK to offer a Masters programme in Human Resource Development and became one of the founding partners in the University Forum for Human Resource Development. The School was amongst the first to offer postgraduate programmes in coaching and mentoring and an undergraduate degree in Entrepreneurship.

Last year, the Business School moved from its Compton Park site to its new location on City Campus in the centre of Wolverhampton.

The celebration event, held at Molineux, also marked this successful relocation and gave an overview of the School’s current activities.

Dr Gregory adds: “Our role is firmly based in the region, contributing to the enhancement of the skill base of Wolverhampton and the Black Country, but extends to bringing together students, teachers and researchers from across the world.

“We place particular emphasis on preparing our graduates for employment, giving our students the skills needed for a prosperous future in a competitive environment.”

The employability of graduates is evidenced by the achievements of alumni from the School who have gone on to high-flying careers, with examples including leading one of the big four accountancy firms; presenting TV programmes; becoming CEOs and directors of national and international companies and world-renowned professors.

Research in UWBS is also highly-regarded and staff are sought-after for their expertise, both in business consultancy and for expert comment by the media.

In the future, the School will continue to develop and grow. Rapid changes in technology and communication mean

businesses have to evolve constantly and the University has the expertise to support them and work in partnership to ensure future prosperity.

We were delighted that so many businesses came to join our celebrations.

22 people

Power to inspire Innovative lecturer Dr Rosie Miles has won a prestigious national award for her inspirational teaching. The National Teaching Fellowship, awarded by Higher Education Academy (HEA), celebrates Rosie’s outstanding impact on the student learning experience. The Senior Lecturer in English has gained a national reputation for e-learning, inspiring hundreds of students and academics at both Wolverhampton and across the country.

course and how they engage with the texts we are teaching. I would not go back to pre-VLE use. It has transformed the way I teach. Online discussion forums are places of learning and my students do serious work, but there is scope to try out things online that would not work if you were trying to do them face-to-face and we also have fun. Online there is always space for new things to happen.

3 1

How did you feel about receiving the National Teaching Fellowship?

I was very pleased. It sounds a complete cliché but it is a great honour to receive it. I was very impressed by the University’s support of all the candidates. You don’t enter as an individual - you have to apply with the support of your institution, and they helped us to do the best application we could. I would also not have received the award if it was not for the students and other colleagues in this University and beyond who gave me supporting comments and feedback. Almost the best part of entering was the feedback - you can hope you are doing the right thing but ordinarily you don’t get told what students think of your teaching. To have such nice feedback is lovely.

2

The award recognises your exceptional contribution to learning and teaching, and in particular your national reputation in e-learning.

What do you think are the main benefits to students of e-learning?

On the courses where I use discussion forums in virtual learning environments (VLEs), it is no longer just about what we do faceto-face. There are discussions throughout the week extending what we have done in the classroom. I really do think it makes a difference to the students; to how they view the

Do you have any plans to further develop e-learning for your English students in the future?

I am still developing some of the online stuff I am doing here. I don’t know if it will stretch into other areas in terms of trying out different things. I am not of the view that everything needs to be turned over to an online platform.

What I am doing works and I am of the opinion that if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. I think there will always be the ‘next big thing’ with learning technology, and I am quite sceptical about jumping on the bandwagon. But if it is going to create a great space for students to learn in, I’ll have a go.

4

Where do you get ideas/inspiration for your blog, Ms E-Mentor?

In part ideas come from my teaching. The VLE is a protected space for Wolverhampton students and them alone so it is hard to share exactly what is going on there, and it should not be shared. But I can use the blog to tell the wider world what we are working on, so it covers what I am doing as a teacher as the term goes through, how I am thinking about what I do as an e-tutor and a sense of what the students are doing. I am also quite a magpie with the blog and pick up things that I like, everything from what is happening in my life through to my literary and poetry interests and teaching reflections.

5

What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?

In spite of all the changes in HE, I do try and remember that I am very privileged to work with literature and books, and able to enthuse a new generation about some of the things that have excited me so far in my career. It is a particular pleasure when I see students graduating from the University of Wolverhampton and going on to do further study. We see them flourishing and getting the bug for learning and research and that has been something I have been keen to encourage in students. Students who come here are not always aware of that next step if, for example, there is not that tradition in their family and friends. Postgraduate study is something they might need encouragement to consider, and as academics we can tell them about that. To know a lecturer has thought about them in that way encourages them to think they can do it.

6

What makes the English department at Wolverhampton special?

I am one of a number of colleagues in this department who have tried out different activities in e-learning and we have become very well known for it. I think we should be proud that we are one of the most innovative departments in the country in terms of the e-learning opportunities here. Part of my National Teaching Fellowship application was about how I have gone to other universities and showcased what we do at Wolverhampton and people in other universities are impressed; I am very proud of that and I am very proud of the students. Other academics are increasingly interested in what we do in online spaces that really works.

people 23

9

You have written and published poetry yourself – do you have any tips or advice for budding writers?

Find yourself other writers or poets or short story writers in your community who you can share work with. You then get used to people looking at your work and others have more detachment on the work than you do. But they can also encourage you. I have been in a little group for about 10 years and it has been really important for me to have that. It is not about having people say everything you write is fantastic. Sometimes academics are solitary people and when students write critical essays they are not encouraged to show them to other people. But it is a very different approach in a creative writing world - that kind of sharing is encouraged.

Experiencing creative writing has changed my perspective on myself as an English academic.

It has changed how I think about the subject and how I think about myself as a teacher.

10

7

Your research background is in Victorian literature. What do you enjoy about this genre and do you have a favourite book?

I love the Victorians. Even the rapidly changing 21st Century world we live in has a lot of its origins in the 19th Century. A lot of the changes that went on then influence what we do in our culture and society today. In teaching the Victorians, I try to make those connections for students. The communications revolution that is the internet has its origins in the 19th Century with the start of telephones.

My favourite book is often the last thing I have read or something I have re-read for a class.

Recently we have been reading The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and I think it is the most wonderful and extraordinary book. There has been nothing like it before or since.

8

If you were at University today, which subject would you study?

I am happy with having done English but if I had my time again I would also like to study art history. I have taught myself about 19th Century art and use it in my teaching of the Victorians. I deluge the students with art and try to get them to read images and understand how the Victorians constructed narratives through painting.

Whom do you admire?

The percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie. She is one of the country’s top percussion orchestra and solo performers but she is deaf. I have seen her perform and she is so full of life. She often performs barefoot and hears the sound through her feet. To us it seems impossible how she can do it and do it so brilliantly. She has followed her passion despite what seem to be huge obstacles. I find that very inspirational for us all.

24 success story

Graduate success story

James Goad His exciting career began with his BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance studies at the University of Wolverhampton Business School.

James said he chose the University specifically because of this course.

“The course had two main attractive features for me. Firstly it incorporated a year in industry as part of the four year programme, and this gave me a strong grounding in real work experience, making me infinitely more marketable as a graduate.

“Secondly it was an accredited course with Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) which allowed me to fast-track my professional qualifications.”

The initial appeal of the programme proved to be well founded, as James says it provided him with an excellent grounding in business principles.

Name: James Goad Course: BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance Year of Graduation: 2000 A degree in accounting and finance has opened doors all over the world for James Goad.

James is now the Chief Financial Officer of AXA in Poland, specialising in insurance, asset management and pension funds. He has worked for the financial protection company since 2001 and has held positions based in London, Paris and New York, before his existing one in Warsaw.

“The course contained a good balance of theory and more practical elements such as presentations, business projects etc, as well as a broad range of business related topics which gave a good all round education,” he adds.

In addition, James was impressed by the new facilities he encountered at the Telford Campus, where he was based. He also enjoyed a good social life, and lists making friends and having fun as fond memories of his time at University.

On graduating in 2000, James found that his degree helped him a great deal – primarily because of the two elements that had initially appealed to him. Completing a CIMA accredited course and the experience of spending a year working in industry stood him in excellent stead for his chosen career in the financial sector.

And his advice to students following in his footsteps is to make the most of the opportunities available to you as part of a university education.

“Make the effort to have a broad background of subjects covered, do not be too specialised as this can limit your employment opportunities.

“Many of my fellow students now do very different jobs to what you would expect from an Accounting and Finance degree. I also have had a broad range of experience, and even though I’m now a CFO, I haven’t really ever done a real accounting job.

“My final advice would be to learn a language. I didn’t at university, only at A-level, which I now regret, although I doubt I would ever have tried to learn Polish! You never know when it might come in handy and if you already know more than one language, learning an additional one later in life is much easier.”

The course contained a good balance of theory and more practical elements.

WHAT’s ON GUIDE 25

What’s on

Guide November Postgraduate Open Evening – find out about a range of postgraduate courses, meet the lecturers and current students, and view our new Performance Hub. Date: Tuesday 22 November 2011 Time: 5.30pm-8pm Location: The Performance Hub, Walsall Campus Contact: Enquiries Team Web: www.wlv.ac.uk/pgopenevening Call: 0800 953 3222* School of Health and Wellbeing Public Lecture – Surinder Sharma – National Director of Equality & Human Rights, Department of Health Date: Wednesday 23 November 2011 Time: 5.30pm Location: MH002 Contact: Sue Lewis Website: www.wlv.ac.uk/shaw Email: S.G.Lewis@wlv.ac.uk University of Wolverhampton Open Day – find out about a range of courses, meet the lecturers and current students and tour the excellent facilities Date: Saturday 26 November 2011 Time: 10am-3pm Location: Wolverhampton City and Walsall Campuses Contact: Enquiries Team Web: www.wlv.ac.uk/opendays Call: 0800 953 3222*

NTAILS and Innovation 1st Launch – Event to officially launch two new business projects aimed at the adoption of new technologies.

Location: Wolverhampton Business Solutions Centre, Science Park, Wolverhampton

Date: Tuesday 29 November 2011

Website: www.it-futures.com/ntails

Time: 4.30pm-7.30pm

Call: 01902 323992

Contact: Abi Redmond

Location: Telford Campus RFID Breakfast Meeting – aimed at SMEs looking to adopt RFID technology Date: Tuesday 29 November 2011 Time: 7.30am–9am Location: NTAILS Centre, Telford Campus Innovation Open Day – An opportunity for SMEs within the West Midlands to find out more about the Innovation 1st Project and the NTAILS Project Date: Tuesday 29 November 2011

January School of Health and Wellbeing Public Lecture – Elisabeth Buggins, CBE, DL – Chair of Birmingham Women’s Hospital Foundation Trust presents ‘Leading for Quality’ Date: Wednesday 25 January 2012 Time: 5.30pm Location: MH002 Contact: Sue Lewis Website: www.wlv.ac.uk/shaw Email: S.G.Lewis@wlv.ac.uk

Time: 11am–3pm Location: Visualisation Centre and NTAILS Demonstration Centre, Telford Campus

February

For the above three events contact: Abi Redmond

Sebastian Peake: The Life and Work of Mervyn Peake – In this free public lecture Mervyn Peake’s son, Sebastian, presents an illustrated tour of his life and works.

Website: www.it-futures.com/ntails

Date: Thursday 2 February 2012

Call: 01902 323992

Time: 6-8pm

December

Venue: University of Wolverhampton City Campus, Millennium City Building, Room MC001

Automatic Identification – Making QR Codes work for your business – find out how QR codes can assist your business at a free seminar Date: Wednesday 7 December 2011 Time: 8am–10am

Contact: Gaby Steinke Email: G.Steinke@wlv.ac.uk *If you are calling from a mobile you may incur a charge. The charge may vary depending on your network provider.

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 MAC071 (1)

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