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Welcome to our weekly in Focus update...... |
Past Issues << | Issue 92: Fri 7 March 2008 |
This week's update on the National Student Survey response rates shows that 16% of eligible students have so far completed the National Student Survey 2008.
While this is the identical to the number of students who had completed it for the same period last year, it is still disappointingly short of the 50 % of completions that we need for our results to be published nationally. We successfully achieved this target in 2007 and hope to do so again this year but this will take a lot of work in terms of reminding our final-year undergraduate students to complete the survey.
A more detailed analysis of the figures shows that currently Psychology students are in the overall lead for completions and SSMCS students are lagging behind. Perhaps, a bit of healthy inter-School rivalry will drive our overall figures up!
The average response rate for institutions starting the survey at the same time as us (4 February) currently stands at 35%, and the highest response rate for a single institution is 71%.
We would like you to:
- Send emails to your final year undergraduate students recommending they complete the survey. We have a 'ready-to-go' email prepared, which details the ten prizes on offer, namely 5 European flights to the value of £120 and five Amazon vouchers.
- Discuss the National Student Survey with your final-year students, and encourage them to complete it if they have not already done so.
The survey is open until the end of April. During this period,The National Student Survey Team based in Ipsos MORI will continue to contact eligible students by email, post and telephone to complete the survey. We have also sent reminder emails to the eligible students and we have ambient media on the plasma screens and screensavers, but we need to do much more if we are to achieve the 50 per cent.
For a copy of the 'ready-to-go' email contact Karen O'Connor on infocus@uel.ac.uk. Eligible students can complete the survey at any time at: www.thestudentsurvey.com
Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks visits our Docklands campus this Monday to launch a pioneering renewable energy initiative. Our Sustainability Research Institute directed by Darryl Newport has teamed up with leading solar energy company Solarcentury to install solar photovoltaic panels and wind turbine technology at its Docklands campus, as part of the government’s Low Carbon Buildings Programme.
130 high-efficiency solar photovoltaic (pv) Sharp panels have been installed on the roof of our Business School and Library. The installation has the potential to generate 17,430 kWh of electricity.
The system also monitors the level of electricity being produced, and links to a screen display in our Knowledge Dock café which shows the current and total levels of energy generated and carbon saved. We are also installing a number of 2.5kW Proven wind turbines on campus. The first has now been set up at the Knowledge Dock Centre and will help generate electricity for the business incubator units and specialist laboratories housed there.
The new technology will save over 10 tonnes of CO2 every year, and will contribute to our targets under phase 3 of the national Higher Education Carbon Management scheme. Supported by The Carbon Trust, we are set to cut our total carbon footprint by over 20% by 2012.
Pictured: Darryl Newport, Director of the our Sustainability Research Insitute next to the photovoltaic array on the Business School and Library Building roof.
Date: Monday 10 March 2008
Times:
12pm - 2pm Main Lecture Theatre, Docklands campus
5pm - 7pm Great Hall, Stratford campus
Pre- registration for the event is essential. So far we have 80 registrations for our lunchtime Docklands Event and almost 200 for our evening Stratford event. To pre-register email events@uel.ac.uk All are welcome and admission is free.
Tea and cupcakes will be served! Don't miss it!
The inspirational writer Cupcake Brown is taking part in a twelve-day UK tour to promote her autobiography A Piece of Cake, and has been speaking to packed audiences across the country. We are delighted that she is able to visit our Docklands campus from 12pm - 2pm and our Stratford campus from 5pm - 7pm, giving our staff and students maximum opportunity to hear from this extraordinary woman.
Cupcake Brown (pictured) will read from, talk about and sign copies of her amazing best-selling book, cited within the New York Times top ten bestsellers' list, as part of our International Women's Day Celebrations.
Cupcake's brutally frank and startlingly funny memoir tells how, aged eleven, she was orphaned and placed in the ‘care’ of sadistic foster parents. Her life rapidly descended into a nightmare of prostitution, violence, and drug and alcohol addiction.
After a particularly horrific crack cocaine binge, Cupcake found the courage and determination to turn her life around. She started studying, won a place at the San Francisco School of Law, and ended up working as an attorney at one of America’s largest law firms. The event is sponsored by the East Thames group.
Marsha John, Diversity Manager at East Thames Group, said: "Cupcake Brown is an inspirational woman, and we are delighted to work with the University of East London to present this exciting event. Like UEL, we aim to make a positive and lasting contribution to the neighbourhoods in which we work, and I’m sure that Cupcake’s talk will provide a tremendous source of hope and inspiration for everyone present."
Mia Morris, Director of Well Placed Consultancy, added: "’A Piece of Cake’ is such a fabulous book that we were absolutely determined to organise a UK tour. This event is a wonderful opportunity to hear first-hand from someone who has succeeded in dramatically transforming her life."
Cupcake Brown's reading will be followed by a chaired discussion and Q&A session led by Femi Bola our Head of Employability at Docklands..
For further details visit: http://www.uel.ac.uk/lectureseries/
This event is sponsored by East Thames Group and jointly organised by UEL and the Well Placed Consultancy.
Many thanks go to to all our staff for your outstanding support at our Stratford and Docklands campuses at this week's Open Evening. We had just over 350 visitors at our Docklands campus and 275 at Stratford. The majority of our visitors seemed interested in undergraduate programmes and from pre-registrations about ten per cent had indicated an interest in postgraduate programmes.
The talks and tours were well attended, particularly the early ones where Professor Andrew Blake addressed around 200 visitors in our Docklands Main Lecture Theatre and Professor David Rose more than 60 at Stratford.
We shot video footage of the evening and interviewed some of our staff and students with a plan to create a short film to use for promotional purposes. Look out for the link!
Pictured: visitors and staff in the Centre for Clinical Education last year.
Prof Nira Yuval-Davis and Erene Kaptani invite you to a two day conference to celebrate the conclusion of the three year research Project Identity, Performance and Social Action: Community Theatre Among Refugees.
Day 1 – 7 March 2008
A discussion of the theoretical, methodological and political issues emanating from the research.
This will be followed by a performance by Playback South and a reception in the evening.
Venue: Oxford House, Derbyshire St, Bethnal Green, London E2 6HG
Day 2 – 8 March 2008
Playback and Forum Theatre workshops in which the conference participants will be able to try out the theatre techniques used by the research project.
Venue: Room UH304 Stratford Campus, University House.
Keynote speakers will include Don Flynn, Prof Paul Heritage, Dr Phil Marfleet and Prof Margie Wetherell as well as members from the refugee organisations that the Research Project worked with. Admission is free, but places are limited.
For more information please see www.uel.ac.uk/ipsa or to book a place contact: Catherine Donaldson c.donaldson@uel.ac.uk or Tel: 020 8223 7085
International Women's Day celebrations, Monday 10 March, 10am - 4pm, Barking Town Hall and Barking Learning Centre
Debbie Brisco, who heads our Information and Guidance Team at Vicarage Fields Shopping Centre in Barking, is on the steering committee for Barking's International Women's Day celebrations..
The celebrations take place within Barking Town Hall and in Barking Learning Centre just opposite.
Some of our Student Recruitment Marketing tean will also be taking part to promote UEL Extra at Barking Learning Centre - so if you're in the area please do drop in and say hello.
For more information about the day, visit: http://www.lbbd.gov.uk/2-news-events/annual/womens-day/womens-day-main.html
Tuesday 11 March, 10am - 4pm, Easter Greetings, University House Foyer, Stratford campus
Wednesday 12 March, 10am - 4pm, Easter Celebration, University Square, Docklands campus
On Tuesday, our Chaplaincy will wish Easter greetings to all!
"Some argue about "a conjuring trick with bones", others delight in the ancient Spring goddess Eostre (from whom our word 'Easter' derives) ... whatever the case, the Chaplaincy invites all to find out more about a "sure and certain hope" that neither 'optimistically' ignores the pain and injustice of the world, nor lets cynical 'realism' cloud its vision." James Ramsay, Chaplaincy.
And on Wednesday the Christian Union invite us all to their Easter celebrations in University Square with Easter eggs, musicians and stalls...
Friday 14 March
2pm– 5pm followed by reception 5pm– 6pm
An Academy of Social Sciences Seminar supported by the ESRC as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science and organised in cooperation with the University of East London.
At British Library, Euston Road, London, NW1
FREE to our staff and research students.
Prior booking is essential, for space reasons, so if you would like to come would you please notify Jo Sherman by email.
The economic and social impact of the London 2012 Olympics Games is the focus of this debate. It will explore the significance in contexts of symbolic meanings of sport, competition between cities, international tourism, emergence of new hybrid global organizations and how the London Olympics highlights urban regeneration and cultural diversity.
Chaired by Mike Rustin, speakers include:
Stephen Timms, MP
Iain MacRury (Gifts and Markets)
Maurice Roche (Mega-events)
John Urry (Global Tourism)
For those who would like to attend, registration is essential. Contact 020 7330 0897, administrator@acss.org.uk or http://www.acss.org.uk
Wednesday 2nd April 2008 Stratford Campus 1pm - 4pm
You are cordially invited to attend the next seminar in our series:
Access, Participation & Achievement: showcasing good practice to support disabled students in Higher Education
by Eleanor Girt, Head of the Disability Dyslexia Access Centre (pictured far left with the Disability and Dyslexia Team), Heather Serdar, Disability Coordinator, School of Education, Speaker from the Disabled Student Voice, and Gurmit Lard, Postgraduate Student
The seminar will cover:
- Inclusive practice in student recruitment, participation & achievement
- Using assistive technology to support active participation
- Designing user-friendly materials for Virtual Learning Environments
- Achieving the 1st Charter Mark for student services
This seminar will aim to engage all participants so come prepared to contribute and play an active part!
There are 80 free places available for this seminar, and these will be allocated on a strictly first-come-first served basis. You should await confirmation of a place before attending.
To reserve your place, please email inclusion@heacademy.ac.uk by 12.00 on Wednesday 26 March. Please indicate if you have any accessibility or dietary requirements at the time of booking. Presentation material will be made available to delegates in advance of the seminar.
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Thursday 3 April, 6-9pm, Docklands Campus, Lecture Theatre West Building and Oscars café bar. This event is FREE.
Please register your place by emailing alumni@uel.ac.uk
We welcome all our alumni to an evening of lectures, information and networking. This careers event will feature 2 key note presentations from successful, creative and innovative alumni who will be talking about their road to success and giving you tips and advice about your future career.
Our guest speakers are:
Honorary graduate Iqbal Wahhab – businessman, entrepreneur and award winning restaurateur and graduate James Kavanagh MRICS C.Geog MinstCES CEnv Director Land Group (Environment, Geomatics, Minerals & Waste, Planning & Development, Rural) at RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors)
The evening will also feature Elizabeth Brown, Founder and Director of McKenzie Recruitment Consultants who will be advising alumni on what recruitment consultants are looking for and recruiting for her company.
We will also be providing information about UEL LIFE (London Investment Fund East) - our new UEL Investment Fund.
Food, drink and networking will be available after the presentations.
Pictured: Honorary Graduate - Iqbal Wahhab, receiving his award form Lord Rix at the Barbican last year.
Wednesday 7 May, 12 - 8 pm. All welcome.
Are you nurturing a burgeoning talent which could really take flight at Mayfest 2008 - our FREE arts and cultural extravaganza? If so we want to hear from YOU! Can you sing, dance, act, perform...Are you in a band......Are you a performance poet, dramatist, writer or stand-up comedian? Could you organise and run workshops for others who want to experiment with their creative potential?
Now in its third year Mayfest incorporates an exciting programme of events, which include: art fairs, exhibitions, public lectures, music, dance, poetry and theatrical performances. Mayfest brings together the work of highly respected creative arts professionals, many of whom are our staff and students. School and community groups also participate in our exciting celebration of culture and creativity.
The Mayfest 2008 programme will soon be live. To sample the events that took place last year visit: www.uel.ac.uk/mayfest
Contactt Mark O'Thomas, Director for our Institute of Performing Arts (IPAD) NOW with your ideas and proposals on Email: m.othomas@uel.ac.uk
Pictured: Solid Harmony Mayfest 2007
Research Update
UK Sport- International Research, Conferences and Networking (IRCN) Programme Grants
Application deadline: Two months prior to conference or commencement of research project
The IRCN Programme aims to support research into, and the dissemination of best practice in, the field of sport for development through several strands, and can offer some funding for worthwhile projects. Priority areas for the programme are research, monitoring and evaluation and dissemination of best practice in the field of sport for development which contributes to the following aims: (i) Education, leadership, coach education and youth development through sport in developing countries; (ii) The promotion of equity in and though sport in developing countries (including gender issues, empowerment and working with those with disabilities); (iii) The use of sport for HIV/AIDS education, awareness and stigma reduction; (iv) Enhancing good governance through sport, including capacity building and conflict resolution. Please visit http://www.uksport.gov.uk/pages/international_conference_programme/
Eduserv Research Grants
Deadline: 14 March 2008
The Eduserv Foundation has £300,000 available for this year's grants call and invites bids for research project funding in these or closely related areas of e-learning and computing: (i) Online identity; (ii) The open social graph, and (iii) Always-on Internet access and mobile computing. In each case we are interested in research and/or development projects that move forward the community’s understanding of the impact that emerging technologies will have on the way learning and research are undertaken. Proposals may focus on the technical, social and/or political issues in these areas, inside and/or outside formal institutional settings (lecture theatres, research labs, campus open spaces, libraries, museums, Internet cafes, etc.). Proposals that combine these areas are particularly welcome. Please visit http://www.eduserv.org.uk/foundation/grants/0708
Royal Society of Edinburg/BBSRC Enterprise Fellowships
Deadline: 4 April 2008
These Fellowships aim to increase exploitation of ideas with commercial potential from BBSRC supported research. The BBSRC Enterprise Fellowships are designed to enable an individual to advance the commercialisation of existing research results or technological developments and will be tenable for a period of one year commencing on or before 1 October 2008. The Fellowships enable the holder to concentrate on developing the commercial potential of their research, whilst also receiving formal training in relevant business skills. Please visit http://www.royalsoced.org.uk/research_fellowships/bbsrc.htm
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
School of Social Sciences Media and Cultural Studies conferences and research seminars:
http://www.uel.ac.uk/ssmcs/upcomingevents.htm
Aqua East is the new Students' Union cafe bar situated in our Student Village on the Royal Albert Dock. The soothing interior design, using swathes of fabric in aqua-marine and vibrant mid-blues will have you believing you're no longer on our Dockside, but instead have been transported to an exciting, exotic ocean environment. The exterior seating catches the midday sun with all the feel of a vibrant pavement cafe.
Let's hope the weather improves soon - but well worth a visit anyway!
Pictured: Aqua East lauch in February.
Blackeyed Theatre, in association with South Hill Park Arts Centre, presents:The World Premiere of OEDIPUS
by Steven Berkoff Director Bart Lee Composer Ron McAllister
Date: Tuesday 4 March
Time: 7pm
Ticket Prices: £7
Box Office 020 8507 5607 or visit www.thebroadwaybarking.com
Arguably the greatest Greek tragedy of them all, Oedipus - even today - is universal and ground-breaking. As the legend that breaks the ultimate taboo, it's an epic journey of emotion, from the pinnacles of love to the depths of despair, exploring the very basis of who we are.
Now, for the very first time, Steven Berkoff's thundering adaptation of the Oedipus legend is brought to the stage by acclaimed company, Blackeyed Theatre. Faithful to the original and told with the same power of classical Greek theatre, Berkoff's incredible play offers a modern edge, with an Oedipus incapable of seeing the inevitable truth and condemned not only by fate but by his own arrogance and self-importance. Unknowingly and unstoppably, he seals his own downfall as events build to a gripping, unforgettable climax.
High octane drama, stunning design and fantastic live music make this an evening of theatre to stir the soul!
Make sure that you get your seat for this great production by calling the friendly Broadway Box Office on 020 8507 5607 today or go online and book your tickets at www.thebroadwaybarking.com.
To WIN a pair of FREE tickets to see this thrilling production send your answers to the following question to infocus@uel.ac.uk:
Competition winner
Margaret Laurence successfully answered the question:
Who has adapted the play? Answer: Steven Berkoff
This 50-hour short course is designed for members of staff teaching or supporting students online (e.g. in WebCT or UELPlus) and will cover the following topics:
• An overview of online and blended pedagogy
• New technologies for learning and teaching
• Guided investigation of learning technologies
This is the first of five short courses in the Applications of Learning Technologies suite, and provides a short course route to completing the full module and becoming an Associate of the Higher Education Academy (HEA). All course activities happen online are facilitated within UEL Plus, the UEL Virtual Learning Environment.
Applications of Learning Technologies is the first module in the MA in Online and Blended Learning, and forms part of the UEL Professional Standards
Framework.
For further information and an application form please go to http://www.uel.ac.uk/sdel/staff_development/courses/accredited_courses.htmustice.
First Aid at Work: 4 Days Tue– Fri 2008, 22 – 25 April, 10– 13 June, 9– 12 Sept, 18– 21 Nov. Fee: £185
Requalify course: 2 Days Thurs and Fri 2008 13 and14 Mar, 22 and 23 May, 10 and 11 July, 16 and 17 Oct. Fee: £110.00
Venue: Docklands Campus
December dates can be added if required. For further information or to book a course: Please contact: Frances Bronzite, 020 8223 4368 or Email: f.s.bronzite@uel.ac.uk
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Staff development course dates
To see which Staff Development Course and their dates are available for February and March 2008, visit: http://www.uel.ac.uk/staff-development/index.htm
To book on a course contactl Nina Harding Email: n.harding@uel.ac.uk
To find out more about the wide range of E-Learning applications available to us in our everyday work, visit:
E-Learning Resources: http://www.uel.ac.uk/sdel/e_learning/resources.htm
SDEL staff development: http://www.uel.ac.uk/sdel/staff_development/index.htm
UEL Plus info: http://www.uel.ac.uk/uelplus/index.htm
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
Five authors and four books came together at a panel discussion at the Piccadilly branch of Waterstone’s last week (Friday 29 Feb) and each of the author's either currently works or has formerly worked here! Around seventy-five people attended the event.
The panel, made up of Dr. Caroline Bainbridge, Dr. Anita Biressi, Dr. Heather Nunn, Professor Barry Richards, Dr. Candida Yates, was chaired by jouranlist and broadcaster David Aaronovitch.
Screening emotion: a panel discussion looked at our collective fascination with the politcs and public display of humiliation. At one end of the spectrum was Professor Barry Richards whose work looks at real or perceived acts of humiliation, which he showed can lead directly to acts of terrorism. At the other end of the scale Dr Anita Biressi and Dr Heather Nunn exemplified the display of public humiliation through reality TV programming,such as Big Brother and Honey we're killing the kids. The speakers put forward the view that by experiencing emotion in the public sphere viewers can experience it at a safe distance without the risk of personal trauma. Determined to look for the postives though, discussion also focused on reality programming which is warm, compassionate and upbeat, such as the recently screened Up My Street.
Dr Caroline Bainbridge discussed her work on the film maker Lars Von Trier in which actors play often disturbing portrayals of conflict and abuse in a documentary format.
Dr Candida Yates's talked about representations of masculinity and jealousy in contemporary Hollywood cinema. Senior Lecturer in Psychosocial Studies, her book is entitled Masculine Jealousy and Contemporary Cinema (publ: Palgrave Macmillan), and provides new insights into the relationship between masculinity and jealousy through the study of representations of male jealousy in contemporary Hollywood cinema.
Pictured: Clockwise L-R Dr Candida Yates, Dr Caroline Bainbridge, Dr Anita Biressi, Dr Heather Nunn, David Aaronovitch and Professor Barry Richards.
Recent press coverage has suggested that plagiarism, collusion and other breaches of assessment regulations are significant problems in higher education.
In practice, the concepts of plagiarism and collusion are not as widely understood as they once were, and we cannot assume that our students know what these terms mean. To address this we are taking positive steps to ensure that our students understand what is expected of them, and the serious consequences of breaching our assessment regulations.
Academic Integrity Week (AIW) is one of these positive steps. During the Week, we highlighted our new Academic Integrity Policy, drawing attention to the standards of academic practice that we expect of all members of our community.
Posters, a leaflet and our plasma screens promoted our policies and procedures, such as: the PLATO guidance on acknowledging references, and our recently-developed UEL Plus academic integrity sites (one for staff and one for students). These sites have our new policy and revised regulations, a student guide to academic integrity and host a number of resources to help students improve their academic writing skills.
A new feature of our student site is a pilot academic integrity quiz, based on our new policy. Study Skills Tutors, in particular, will find this very useful when introducing their students to the concepts of academic integrity.
A portal for Turnitin (the on-line, text-matching service used by most UK universities) went live on the staff site at the start of Academic Integrity Week. This is for colleagues to submit their own work, in order to familiarise themselves with the process and outputs. It should not be used for the submission of any student work.
For more information you can find our new Academic Integrity Policy at http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/documents/AcademicIntegrityPolicy.doc
For PLATO guidance on referencing visit: http://www.uel.ac.uk/lls/index.htm
If you would like items included in In Focus Update please send them to me by Wednesday of the preceding week 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.
© 2007
