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Welcome to our weekly in Focus update...... |
Past Issues << | Issue 79: Tuesday 20 November 2007 |
Strictly exhausting: dance stars come in for testing session at UEL sports science labs.
Strictly Dancing star Brendan Cole (pictured left) and his fellow professional dancers James Jordan and Vincent Simone were left breathless last week after a challenging workout in our state-of-the-art sports science laboratories.
The dancers were subjected to intensive testing on equipment including a giant high-tech treadmill equipped with breathing and heart-rate monitors, in a session scheduled for broadcast on BBC2 ‘It Takes Two’ (Tuesday 20 November, 6.30pm BBC2) and previewed on Sunday evening’s Strictly Come Dancing results show on BBC1.
Researchers from our Applied Sports Science team conducted a series of performance tests on the dancers, normally used when working with elite level athletes. These tests measured different fitness components such as maximum aerobic ability, reaction time using specialised reaction boards, and maximum power output using cycling and rowing ergometers.
Brendan Cole, who spends several hours a day training with Kelly Brook, said: “The session was pretty tough, as the treadmill got faster and faster, and by the end I was sprinting. For me it was a lot harder than dancing live on the show.” The pair are among the favourites to win this year's competition.
James Johnstone, senior lecturer in Sports Science and coach said: “It’s not surprising the dancers found this exercise challenging as they are used to a very different kind of muscular exertion. Their heart rates went way over 180 beats per minute and as high as 195 during maximum effort. But they are all well physically conditioned so they took it in their stride.”
“Dance is a great form of exercise that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and we look forward to doing more work with dance and dancers.”
The new sports science labs are located in the ourCentre for Clinical Education in Podiatry, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, part of our School of Health and Bioscience at Stratford campus.
Our Sports Science team are also providing support to elite and community sports groups including the Newham Sports Academy, training talented local young sports people in the run-up to London 2012, the GB Paralympic Adaptive Rowing team and professional football clubs. For details visit www.uel.ac.uk
For information see http://www.bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing/ittakestwo/
Do you know one of our students who has what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur?
Encourage them to sign-up for the E-Factor competition and get the chance to win £10k to turn their business idea into a reality'.
Register at www.knowledgedock.com/efactor
For more information contact Martin Chan on Tel: 020 8223 7190 Email:m.chan@uel.ac.uk
The outcomes of the 2007 Student Satisfaction Survey are now available and it is pleasing to see that for the fourth year running we see an increase in overall levels of satisfaction with UEL, now up to 71%.
High levels of satisfaction are evident particularly in the Schools of Law and Computing and Technology, and for undergraduate students in the Business School and Social Sciences, Media and Cultural Studies. Satisfaction with programmes has risen for most Schools, with Law, Business and Architecture and the Visual Arts seeing the largest rises as compared with previous results.
Areas of high student satisfaction include:
- Development of subject knowledge and skills
- Teaching provided and enthusiasm of staff
- Programme content and timetable
- Assessment methods
- UEL Direct
- Helpfulness of library, catering and security staff
- Self-service options in the libraries
- Up-to-date software
- Opening hours of our libraries and computing centres
- Cleanliness of eating areas and availability of seating
- Support for students with disabilities and dyslexia
Pictured: Feedback newsletter from Student Satisfaction Survey 2006.
For more information or to obtain a copy of the full report, contact Ruth Carter at Email: r.carter@uel.ac.uk
While the basic conclusions of the report are valid due to the large sample, the low response rate of 14% means results should be treated with caution.
It isn't too late to join the group, just come along to whatever interests you.
TODAY: Oral history interviewing workshop, 5.30pm (University of East London Docklands Campus, 3.13A, East Building, third floor). This session will be very practical, with lots of tips on how to record good interviews and everyone will be able to practice using professional recording equipment. I hope that after this session, some of you might feel confident enough to have a go at recording an interview of your own, or assist another interviewer if you prefer.
For more information contact Toby Butler, Ports of Call on Tel: 07957 294 907 or 0208 223 7309 Email: t.butler@uel.ac.uk
THIS THURSDAY How the white working class became ‘chav’: formations of class and race in Essex further education colleges ( Weds 21 Nov 6pm Lecture Theatre 300LT, Stratford Campus) by Dr John Preston, School of Education. The term ‘chav’ recently entered the Oxford English Dictionary. Like its American equivalent, ‘white trash’, ‘chav’ is generally used as a term of abuse, identifying its subject with bad taste, low education and anti-social behavioural patterns. Little consideration has as yet been given to how real people are affected by the use of this derogatory stereotype.
If you would like to register for one of the Public Lectures, please contact Franc Gooding 020 8223 2884 or email: f.gooding@uel.ac.uk
For full listings check:
Events webpages: http://www.uel.ac.uk/news/events/index.htm
Public Lectures webpages: http://www.uel.ac.uk/lectureseries/
Next week:
An Evening with the Attorney General – Baroness Scotland QC, Wednesday 28 November2007 5pm Main Lecture Theatre, Duncan House, High Street, Stratford, London, E15 2JB
World Aids Day: Leadership in HIV prevention Thursday 29 November2007 12.15pm - 1.15pm, Room EB.G.11, Ground Floor East Building, University of East London Docklands Campus University Way London E16 2RD
UEL EXTRA AT THE BARKING LEARNING CENTRE
Two open events with free taster courses
Tuesday 27 November 2pm - 5pm
Thursday 29 November 3pm - 7pm
For more information and details of the tasters on offer, see www.uel.ac.uk/blc
Colleagues, you are invited to a seminar on 'Youth and Language in London's East End: The role of Friendship Networks and Youth Culture' by Dr Sue Fox at 3.15pm on Thursday 22 November, in TL03.
Sue is one of our graduates and is currently a Research Fellow in Linguistics in the School of Languages, Linguistics and Film at Queen Mary, University of London. Her work on the language of teenagers in East London has received wide press coverage. See, for example, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4898960.stm.
Wednesday, 28 November 4pm - 5 pm Premium Room 2 The ExCel Centre
London East Research Institute with Ashgate Publishing
Panel: Paul Brickell (Leaside Regeneration) Eric Sorenson (TGLP)
Michael Edwards (Bartlett School of Planning) Michael Keith (Goldsmith's
College)
Introduced by Professor Phil Cohen (London East Research Institute and co-editor of London's Turning)
This seminar brings together some leading regeneration practitioners with contributors to London's Turning: Prospects and Legacies for Thames Gateway,to be published in January by Ashgate.This is the first book to comprehensively analyse the Thames Gateway plan, its origins, development and local and regional impact.
The panel will debate the topic 'Is Thames Gateway Ungovernable' in the light of recent initiatives to create more joined up forms of governance and to address the democratic deficit through citizens juries and new styles of public assembly and deliberation.
The seminar is FREE and open to all our staff and postgraduate students. Participants will also receive a free pass to the Thames Gateway Forum Exhbition hall.
To reserve your place, emai: leri@uel.ac.uk with your name, contact details and the number of places you require.
to Professor Phil Cohen Email: p.a.cohen@uel.ac.uk
David Woodhouse has provided a series of links so that we can access information and news from our Academic Board, Governing Body and Corporate Management Team.
Please see the following links:
Academic Board: http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/committees/acaboard.htm
Board of Governors: http://www.uel.ac.uk/governors/board.htm
Good news from the CMT: http://www.uel.ac.uk/vcg/news/index.htm
To conduct a search of current funding opportunities , including all the major competitions , 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 Tim Brooks (Acting Research Funding Officer) in the Graduate School. Tim is retaining his other responsibilities within the Graduate School so the more notice you can give, the better!
East London Chorus is performing Handel's Messiah at St John's Church, Waterloo Road, Waterloo SE1 8TY on Saturday 8 December at 7pm. Do come!
Handel's
Messiah will be performed complete, with no movements cut Baroque orchestra, conducted by Murray Stewart, acclaimed for his exciting interpretations of baroque classics
St John's Church is easy to reach, near Waterloo station
The concert is in aid of Cancer Research UK. Refreshments available in the interval
Ticket price:£12, £10 concs; over 60s/under 18s - if bought in advance on 020 8553 4404. Student standby £3 on the night with student ID.
Competition
To win two tickets to the performance just answer the following question:
How long is it generally thought Handel took to compose Messiah?
(a) 12 days (b) 24 days (c) 36 days. Answers to infocus@uel.ac.uk
East London Chorus is supported by the University of East London, and rehearses at Docklands every Tuesday evening in WB G 02, 7.30-10pm. Do call in if you are interested. Find out more at www.eastlondonchorus.org.uk
Brush up your IT skills and get an internationally recognised qualification online. Contact Greg Price, Organisational Development Manager on ext 4361 or email g.price@uel.ac.uk
Simply click here for the dates for Staff Development courses:
http://www.uel.ac.uk/staff-development/documents/ForthcomingStaffDevelopmentCoursesOct-NOv07.doc
To register for a range of FREE business support workshops from Business Planning to Protecting Your Ideas and E-Business Planning this Autumn get in touch with Sujata Vaishnav Tel: 020 8 223 7286/3301, Email: s.vaishnav@uel.ac.uk
To find out more about the wide range of E-Learning applications available to us in our everyday work, visit:
UEL Plus info: http://www.uel.ac.uk/uelplus/index.htm
SDEL staff development: http://www.uel.ac.uk/sdel/staff_development/index.htm
E-Learning Resources: http://www.uel.ac.uk/sdel/e_learning/resources.htm
More than 200 business leaders, coaches and psychologists from all over the UK attended our conference on the growing area of Positive Psychology and its applications for business, organised by our School of Psychology on 8 November.
The fast-growing field of Positive Psychology is the scientific study of well-being and is increasingly recognised as having major benefits for business.
The one-day conference entitled ‘Positive psychology, well-being and business: cutting-edge science for organisational success’ opened with a keynote from Professor Martin Seligman, past president of the American Psychological Association and world-renowned as the founder of Positive Psychology. Professor Seligman is Fox Leadership Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and author of hundreds of influential books and papers.
Professor Seligman said: “Positive psychology is not just about personal happiness, it is understanding how people and organisations thrive, how we set goals and find meaning in our work and in our lives.”
Evidence shows that employees with higher levels of well-being are more focused and engaged with their work, better team-players, more highly motivated and with less illness and absenteeism. Recognising these advantages, many major organisations around the world are now implementing the findings of positive psychology in the workplace.
Presentations, panel discussions and case studies were led by some of the leading figures in positive psychology, including Dr Susan David of Yale University, Dr Alex Linley, Dr Gurnek Bains, Emma Judge and Dr Ilona Boniwell, leader of positive psychology at the University of East London, the first such programme in the UK.
The conference was widely praised by delegates, and one senior executive said: “I found it to be one of the best conferences I have attended.”
Please send comments or contributions for in Focus Update to: 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.
© 2007
