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Welcome to our weekly in Focus update...... |
Past Issues << | Issue 27: Monday 6 November 2006
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We are making our debut at the Lord Mayor's Show this year with a dazzling procession entitled 'The Magic of Learning', in partnership with Investec, the Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, and local schools.
The show is this Saturday morning - 11 November - starting around 10.30. Our float features a mobile ‘gallery of knowledge’, a 16-strong staff and student Samba band, gorgeously costumed dancers, the Vice-Chancellor, students, and children from local schools dressed as magicians, representing the progression from school through university to careers in the City and beyond!
We will be building on the float at the AVA building in Docklands this week and doing samba and costume workshops.
Come and support us on the day!
For full details about the Lord Mayor's show visit: http://www.lordmayorsshow.org/
Student Ambassadors have been handing out leaflets at key entry points to our campuses, this week, and will continue to next, to raise the profile of the Student Charter amongst our students. The leaflets pose a question which encourages students to read the Charter. Completed postcards need to be posted into the red Tell Us boxes at helpdesks and if they get the answer right, students stand to win a free data stick.
While the Student Charter is available on-line and in previous years bound copies have been sent out to each student, the Charter Mark project team still thought there was scope to engage students more fully. Alison Egan said: “We wanted to make sure that students were not only aware of the Charter but had actually accessed it. This is a fun way of raising the Student Charter’s profile as well as showing students that the Charter is there to help them towards their success.”
Get Smart! Get Charter Mark! For more information about Charter Mark and to read our self-assessment visit http://www.uel.ac.uk/chartermark/
Proposed by Ashwani Sharma and Roshini Kempadoo of the School of Social Sciences, Media and Cultural Studies, and working in partnership with colleagues from Goldsmith’s the recently established MeCCSA ‘race’ network will provide a space to support and promote the work of young and established black (which in the context of this network means individuals of African, Asian, Arab, or Caribbean heritage) academics, lecturers, researchers and media practitioners working in Higher Education. The network will facilitate the sharing of information, develop and promote research and seek publishing and production opportunities for black individuals in the fields of media, film, music, communications and cultural studies. It will also be concerned with research into racial and cultural equality in the academy.
There has been an increasing recognition of issues of race, ethnicity, ‘cultural diversity’ and equal opportunities in Higher Education in Britain. Significantly, this is not reflected in the recruitment and promotion of black lecturers, practitioners and researchers particularly in the fields of media and cultural studies. The AUT ‘Diverse Academy’ report in 2005 confirmed that UK nationals from black and Asian backgrounds are significantly under-represented in HE. While there are increasing numbers of black students on undergraduate media courses with some undertaking postgraduate study, relatively few continue with a career in academia.
The network will identify and disseminate areas of good practice. Given the globalised context of academia and the diasporic nature of the network, it will promote equitable exchange of information, knowledge and research for students and staff in Europe and the international context. The network will also promote and contribute to public debate and agenda setting on ‘race’ in the areas of media and culture.
The first MECCSA meeting will take place in the new year and the network has invited Dr.Saër Maty Bâ to join us as a Visiting Research Fellow for the equivalent of a two-month period between October– May 2007.
Dr. Maty Bâ has recently completed his PhD in Film Studies with Dr. Susan Hayward at Exeter University and is currently co-organising the conference 'Re-presenting diasporas in cinema and new digital media' in July 2007 with Professor Hamid Naficy contributing as a keynote speaker.
During his time here, he will contribute to our intellectual life as a guest speaker and he’ll meet with post-graduate students to discuss issues related to their work. He will help the network team to launch the MECCSA race website currently being developed for mid-December.
For more information contact Ashwani Sharma – a.sharma@uel.ac.uk or Roshini Kempadoo – r.kempadoo@uel.ac.uk
Global Development Links (GDL) is a student-led registered charity based right here at UEL. Founded in 2004, the charity offers our students the chance to make a positive difference and gain valuable work experience by becoming involved in all aspects of their sustainable development projects.
Working alongside regional NGOs and secondary school staff, GDL aims to improve rural education in developing nations. The charity’s TRY-IT programme, based in northern Tanzania, offers vulnerable youth the opportunity to access crucial IT and vocational training. By the end of 2007, GDL will have provided IT access to approximately 4000 students and training to approximately 135 teachers, enabling enterprise and skills to flourish in deprived rural communities.
GDL’s work is planned, researched and implemented by students on a voluntary basis. The charity is currently recruiting for their 2007 projects, as well as for communication, planning and fundraising staff to help out in their Knowledge Dock office. Students involved with GDL will not only be making a positive difference to developing nations, they will also be enhancing their future employability prospects.
To arrange for GDL staff to give a short presentation at the end of one of your lectures, please contact John Bainbridge at enquires@gdl.org.uk or extension 7066
LERI are doing a piece of work for London Borough of Newham researching local opinions and attitudes towards the current and potential Night Time Economy in Newham. We would very much like to gage the opinions of staff who live and/or socialise in Newham. We would like to know:
Where do you spend your evenings in Newham?
If you don’t spend your evenings in Newham , why not and where do you go?
What would you like to see in Newham? What wouldn't you like to see in Newham?
General thoughts about the existing night life in Newham
If you or your friends are interested in being participants for this research, we welcome them to drop an email to the following temporary account newhamnighttime@uel.ac.uk
Dates for focus groups - Tuesday 14 November 1.30-3.30pm in Stratford and Tuesday 21 November 1pm-3pm in North Woolwich. There is a modest fee available for participants.
We are pleased to announce the opening of a physiotherapy clinic attached to the Student Health Centre at our Stratford Campus.
A Chartered State Registered Physiotherapist will provide Consultation Assessment Advice and treatment for all musculoskeletal problems such as: acute Injuries including sports injuries, joint problems, occupational injuries upper limb disorders, neck and back pain, slipped /prolapsed disc, sciatica and trapped nerve, postural and muscle imbalance problems and other musculoskeletal problems.
We provide a range treatments including: manipulation, mobilization, soft tissue massage mobilization, electrotherapy, acupuncture and a home exercise programme.
Opening Hours: Wednesday, 5.30 pm-8.30pm
Charges: Students £22/ Session Staff £ 25 Public £35
Contacts: K.I. Thomas MCSP, SRP, MMACP, MAACP Mobile: 07956 671 390 Email: kithomas100@hotmail.com 020 85504708(weekends only)
Johnny Le Roux BSc MCSP SRP Mobile: 07739 694 685
Wednesday 8 November On Bourdieu, Education and Society
Knowledge Dock Centre KD.2.18,Docklands campus 4 - 6 pm
Professor Derek Robbins will introduce his new book 'Bourdieu, Education and Society' (Oxford, Bardwell Press, 2006) followed by a discussion with John Myles and Maria Tamboukou, chaired by Jeremy Gilbert.
Wednesday 8 November Land Governance and Human Rights Main Lecture Theatre 101, Duncan House 6.30 - 8 pm
Dr Clarissa Augustinus, Chief of the Land andTenure Section, Shelter Branch at UN-HABITAT, with Dr Hilary Lim and Siraj Sait.
Monday 13 November Digital dressing: from virtuous to virtual design 4 - 5 pm Business School Lecture Theatre, Docklands campus
Inaugural lecture by Dr Jane Harris, Visiting Research Professor for Fashion Textiles School of Arts and Digital Industries
For details and updated programme information visit www.uel.ac.uk/lectureseries
Meditation can be a tool to self-awareness, change, relaxation as well as providing the opportunity to experience ourselves more deeply. Why not try it yourself?
The hour will be led by Anthony Wall, one of our mature students. Anthony has been teaching meditation and Buddhism for over 20 years in evening classes and on retreats. The evening will introduce meditation from a Buddhist perspective which can be applied by everyone regardless of religious background or interest.
For more information contact Anthony at anthonywall@hotmail.co.uk
To conduct your own search of current funding opportunities, or to set up email alerts specific to your interests, visit www.researchresearch.com.
If you intend to submit an application for funding please contact Becky Whitham in the Graduate School as soon as possible Tel: 020 8223 2731 or Email: b.whitham@uel.ac.uk
The Wellcome Trust - Engaging science: society awards for activities
Deadline: 1 December 2006
Visit: http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/node2540.html
The Council for British Research in the Levant : Research Awards
Deadline: 1 December 2006
Visit: www.cbrl.org.uk/funding_opportunities_more.shtm#1
The Royal Society: International Joint Projects
Deadline: 15 December 2006
Visit: http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/funding.asp?id=2344
The AHRC: Religion and Society - Large Research Grants
Deadline: for outline applications is 11 January 2007; full applications 24 May 2007.
Visit: http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/apply/research/sfi/ahrcsi/religion_society.asp
(The winners of the Stratford Picture House BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S competition were Sajid Hashim, Veronika Perevalova and Anne Stow - All picked randomly.)
James Bond returns to our screensfrom 17 November in CASINO ROYALE.
The film chronicles his very first mission where he is sent to Madagascar to spy on a terrorist, but things don't quite go to plan. Continuing the recent strong run of Bond films, CASINO ROYALE promises to be full of the action, adventure and romance that has made the series so iconic.
Stratford Picture House has three pairs of tickets to give away, just send an email to the following address - stratfordeast.competition@picturehouses.co.uk with the answer to the following question:
WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE NEWEST ACTOR TO PLAY BOND?
Tickets are now on sale, if you’d like to visit the Stratford Picture House website www.picturehouses.co.uk to book!
Taking place on 17 and 18 November 2006 at London’s ExCel centre, The Times Gap Year Show is the only exhibition of its kind, concentrating on gap year travel, independent travel and volunteering abroad and in the UK. Please let your students know.
For more information visit: www.gapyearshow.com
Simply click on the link below to see Staff Development courses for November 06- January 2007
In October we celebrated Black History Month 2006 with a number of special events which both engaged many staff directly in working hard on the organisational aspects of the events as well the important significance of celebrating black history and culture with our diverse staff and student population, and the relevance this has to our curriculum, learning, research and teaching. Notable events included Sequins, Soca and Sweat a documentary film screening at Stratford, a discussion led by members of our Law School and an evening of lectures, poetry readings and debate in our Docklands Library.
We were extremely fortunate that Bernard Forrester Archivist of Texas Southern University's special collections was able to curate a collection of extremely rare and in some cases unique books and pamphlets relating to Britain's past involvement with slavery. Bernard gave a fascinating and inspirational lecture which touched on the value of archiving and collecting materials for research, history relating to slavery and encouraged young black britons to question all that they had been told and to seek out a full and comprehensive understanding of the history of the African diaspora so that they might better understand who they are.
To read an interview with Bernard Forrester and details of Library and Learning Services Black History Month events visit:http://www.uel.ac.uk/lls/BHM2006.htm
External Strategic Development Services (ESDS) raised £79.48 for Breast Cancer Awareness. Here is the picture of those of us who wore pink to support Breast Cancer Campaign.
For a round-up of events see www.uel.ac.uk/events. If you would like items included in In Focus Update send them to me, Karen O’Connor at infocus@uel.ac.uk
Please print off a copy of In Focus Update for those of your colleagues who may not have easy access to email.
© 2006
