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Welcome to our weekly in Focus update...... |
Past Issues << | Issue 95: Tuesday 1 April 2008 |
This week's update on the National Student Survey response rates shows that 34% of eligible students have so far completed the National Student Survey 2008. This is a 5% increase on last week's 29%. IPSOS Mori the market research company carrying out the survey began telephoning students last week, but the Easter weekend probably accounts for the reduced rate of increase. When telephoning began last week, completions jumped by 10%. Each eligible student gets a maximum of eight phone calls to complete the questionnaire over the phone. This means we can't rely on telephoning to get us to the required 50% of completions we need to have for our data to be published nationally.
The nationally published data also feeds into the Times and Guardian university league tables - potentially raising the profile of our degree programmes and institution.
At the same time last year our response rate was 38%, so we still need to try harder, and the average response rate for institutions who began the survey at the same time as us is currently at 48%.
The survey is open until the end of April but we need to do much more if we are to achieve the 50 per cent.
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 five 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.
- Invite UELSU President Caston Matewu, to your third year classes to talk about the survey.
For a copy of the 'ready-to-go' email or to invite Caston to your class, contact Karen O'Connor on infocus@uel.ac.uk. Eligible students can complete the survey at any time at: www.thestudentsurvey.com
Our Rix Centre for innovation in learning disability received a £30,000 cheque from the Jack Petchey Foundation at a ceremony held at UEL’s Docklands campus on Friday 28 March.
The grant will enable the Centre to continue developing an innovative range of projects aimed at supporting local people with learning disabilities, including the Newham Easy Read website, www.newhameasyread.org, launched in November 2007 to ease the transition from school to work for young people with learning disabilities.
Andy Minnion, Director of the Centre, said: “We believe that with the right help a large number of people could become much more independent and self-supporting, so relying less on their parents and the Social Services and enjoying a better quality of life.
“With the crucial support of organisations like Newham Council and the Jack Petchey Foundation, we’re developing a wide range of multimedia tools to encourage engagement with the wider world. Computers are generally seen as anti-social, but they can actually provide a tremendous platform for social interaction and communication.
“It’s been wonderful to see how projects like the Newham Easy Read website have already inspired real enthusiasm and engagement among local people with learning disabilities.”
The Newham Easy Read website is supported by Newham Council and much of its design has been undertaken by local residents with learning disabilities.
The Rix Centre is committed to developing teaching and learning, research and multimedia production for people in the learning disability community. For further information, visit www.rixcentre.org.
Pictured: L-R Chris Bullock, Garth Shephard, Ajay Choksi, Rasime Singh, Chancellor - Lord Rix, Secretary and Registrar Alan Ingle, Zeeshan Naseer, Pippa Sweeny, Andy Minnion
Tuesday 1st April at 5pm-6.30pm in West Building WB2.05. The seminar will be led by Dr. Christine Goodall from Staffordshire University.
If you would like to attend this seminar e-mail Richard Bottoms in our Business School on r.i.bottoms@uel.ac.uk
This seminar focuses on the findings of doctoral research undertaken between 2004 and 2006 in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, England. The main aim of the study was to propose a model of improved community relations between host communities and new arrivals, against the background of the UK government’s asylum seeker dispersal policy. The thesis used a framework built from the trust literature to examine the experience of the host community, in order to understand tensions between them and new arrivals, and difficulties of dealing with difference more generally.
An examination of literature from different disciplines provides a clue to how this might be achieved. It is a common theme that organisations and communities form their identities and the scripts by which they routinise and institutionalise behaviour through the view they hold of their past, which many authors conceptualise as their “story” or “tale”. Harre (2001) argues: “all that is holding us back is our stories, and we can make a better set of tales available” (Harre, 2001 p38). This seminar will examine how leaders can help communities write these new stories, drawing on a variety of literature from different disciplines, including that of organisation and management, to show how leaders can help communities build new identities, incorporating what was best from the past into a new and positive future.
The seminar will also explain the implications of the research for trust theory more generally, and how the findings of this study are also important for leadership and community cohesion in the broader national environment, and in organisations. Additionally, of particular interest to academics and researchers in Business Schools, the seminar will show how research in the fields of management and organisation studies can contribute to a better understanding of community relations and local and national political leadership.
Dr Christine Goodall recently completed her doctorate at Staffordshire University, where she teaches Management of Advice Services. She is also the National Development Officer for the Disability Law Service, based in East London, a national charity providing legal advice and representation in thefields of social welfare law and disability discrimination. She is a member of the First International Network on Trust (FINT), and a recent contributor to the ESRC Seminar Series " Building, Repairing and Maintaining Trust Across Cultures", jointly organised by the Business Schools of Durham, Warwick and Oxford Brookes Universities.
Pictured: Dockside view of Business School and Library building
Wednesday 2 April 2008 Knowledge Dock KD.2.22
Over 50 leading practitioners, policy makers and academics have been invited to attend this seminar with contributions from Australia, Sweden and the UK.
A copy of the programme can be downloaded from our website http://www.uel.ac.uk/continuum/conferences/index.htm
Pictured: The Continuum Team: L-R Maxine Walcott, Tony Hudson, Petula Peters and John Storan.
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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Wednesday 2 April 2008 Forest Gate Youth Zone, 1 Woodford Road, from 11am to 3pm.
On Wednesday 2 April, women from Newham’s diverse communities will get together for a day of inspiration, information and guidance on educational opportunities and community services in and around the borough.
The fair has been organized by the University of East London (UEL) in collaboration with Newham Council and Newham Asian Women’s Project.
Activities will include start-up business advice and the opportunity to browse exhibitions and information stalls. A wide variety of fun and informative workshops will be available, covering topics including healthy eating, dance exercise, CV writing and accessing educational opportunities.
Jasbir Panesar, Community Development Co-ordinator at the University of East London, has successfully organised a series of Education and Training Fairs over the past few years, and has been impressed by growing interest in the community.
Jasbir said: "We are looking forward to an exciting day, especially after the success we had last year. Access to educational and employment opportunities are vital to enable people of all ages to achieve their full potential.”
Free vegetarian buffet snack lunch will be served. For full details and a multi-lingual programme, contact Jasbir Panesar on 020 8223 4356 or Fatima Seedat on 020 8536 1397.
Pictured: Asian Women's Fair March 2007
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. Staff and students also welcome. If you think this is relevant to your students, please forward the details to them and ask them to register their place.
Pictured: Honorary Graduate - Iqbal Wahhab, receiving his award form Lord Rix at the Barbican last year.
Thursday 3 April, 5 pm, Docklands EB 1.63
April 3rd will see the launch of a new group at UEL to bring faiths and cultures together to act for social change. 'UEL Citizens for Change' will join almost 100 other organisations in 'London Citizens' - an alliance which
embraces churches, mosques, trade and student unions and community groups. In its first twelve years, the alliance has made a real difference to the city, winning over £19m for London's poorest paid workers through its Living Wage campaign, and campaigning for justice for refugees and migrant workers.
It has also secured commitments around the Living Wage and affordable housing to make London 2012 the first ever 'Ethical Olympics'. This is a
campaign in which UEL students have played a significant part.
On 9 April, all the member groups of London Citizens will come together in central London to hold to account the candidates for Mayor of London. They will present an 'Agenda for London' which has come out of tens of thousands of conversations in London Citizens member communities.
UEL students and staff are warmly invited to these events. The launch on 3 April will be at 5pm in Room EB 1.63 at Docklands Campus
Food and drink are provided. All are welcome ... for catering purposes please email Angus Ritchie on angus@theology-centre.org if you plan to come. The Mayoral Assembly on 9 April will be ticketed, so let him know if you also want to join the 'UEL Citizens for Change' delegation.
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Wednesday 9 April, 1 pm, Stratford TL 02
Wednesday 9 April, 1 pm, Stratford TL 02 ‘Why We Should Not Just Forget’ - a talk by Professor Rene Weis of University College, London, on the importance of remembrance, with reference to the notorious 1920s “Thompson-Bywaters Case” in East London.
Edith Thompson and Freddie Bywaters were hanged for the murder of Edith’s husband Percy. Edith’s execution led to widespread outrage at the criminal process that led to her conviction and the manner of her death, and was a significant contribution to the debates that eventually led to the abolition of capital punishment in the UK.
An annual memorial service is held each year in the parish church in Manor Park where Edith Thompson grew up. Professor Weis is a Shakespeare scholar who has also written an acclaimed book on the savagely persecuted medieval southern French Cathar movement. His deeply researched and moving book about Edith Thompson, ‘Criminal Justice’, has recently been reissued by Penguin with additional photographs and introductory material.
This talk will be of interest not only to those concerned with issues of gender, the role of the media in individual and social emotions, the justice system and capital punishment, it will also raise concerns about ritual and memorialisation, memory and history in relation to identity, and the spiritual and therapeutic dynamics of public recognition of personal trauma.
Pictured: Book cover from
http://www.tbcs.org.uk/mrsthompson.htm#cj
Monday 14 April 2008 , 5pm – 7:00pm . West Building Lecture Theatre, Docklands Campus.
Author Valerie Mason-John reads from her book followed by a panel discussion chaired by Professor Corinne Squire and Q&A.
Panellists:
Valerie Mason-John
Professor Corinne Squire
Karunadipa (Mrs Malati Wankhede)
Karunamaya (Ms Hilary Swain)
Valerie Mason-John is winner of the MIND book of the year award 2006
In this Public Lecture Valerie Mason-John reads passages from her astonishing and moving book Broken Voices ‘Untouchable’ women speak out. Following the reading Professor Corinne Squire interviews Valerie and then leads a panel discussion with Mrs Malati Wankhede, a community activist born into a Dalit family, and Karunamay (Ms Hilary Swain), who has been supporting social projects in India for the last eleven years. Valerie Mason-John will be available to sign copies of her book at a launch reception, following her Public Lecture.
Broken Voices: ‘Untouchable’ women speak out, documents the lives of the most oppressed people in India: the Dalit women; formerly known as untouchables. In this ground-breaking book the women give first-hand accounts of their lives as wives, agricultural workers, slum dwellers and political activists. The women also speak out about their religious lives.
All welcome, admission FREE. Refreshments served. For further details, contact Franc Gooding on 020 8223 2884 or events@uel.ac.uk For more information about our Public Lecture Series visit: www.uel.ac.uk/lectureseries
Innovation in Assessment lunchtime seminar hosted by the School of Psychology.
Wednesday 23 April 2008 TL01 Stratford Campus 1pm - 1.45pm. Please contact Chris Pawson, c.pawson@uel.ac.uk if you wish to attend.
You are warmly invited to a number of lunchtime seminars, led by our Schools. The aim is to share and disseminate good practice which will support and enhance our student experience . The areas chosen by the Schools have been commended in this year's Validation and Review Sub-Commitee (VRSC) Report.
Innovation in Assessment includes a discussion of a variety of methods including student designed assessment, debating, student research conferences and online assessment.
The lunchtime seminars offer an excellent opportunity for you to learn about areas of good practice and be involved in wider discussion on how this could be taken forward in your own areas/schools.
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
Contact 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: Revellers at Mayfest 2007
Docklands Campus – Friday 27 June 2008.
Whilst the concept of celebrity has traditionally been perceived as a phenomenon of the twentieth century, this conference seeks to reconsider its production and consumption across a broader historical timeframe. Centuries of Celebrity is an interdisciplinary conference which opens up a dialogue between participants in relation to the meaning and value of fame across the centuries and in so doing re-examines what it means to be famous.
Places are limited to 100. For the programme email Janet Riddle at J.Riddle@uel.ac.uk To reserve a place please follow the link below and complete the on-line form.
http://www.uel.ac.uk/gradschool/fame-booking.asp
IIMPORTANT REMINDER for RESEARCH BIDDING PROCEDURES at UEL
Our academics are kindly reminded that for applications of £ 1,000 or more, it is essential they follow the UEL Research Bidding Procedures (“RGA route”) as outlined at http://www.uel.ac.uk/gradschool/research/getfund.htm . If the bid is less than £ 1,000, you only need to follow the “RGM route”, which removes the institutional approval stages, but you still should inform the Graduate School to help us record UEL's bidding activity. All bidders are asked to inform the Graduate School as soon as they hear the result of their applications, whether successful or not. If you need help or advice with a research proposal, please contact Research Support Manager Dr. Tim Brooks (t.brooks@uel.ac.uk) and Research Support Officer Aygen Kurt (a.s.kurt@uel.ac.uk).
RESEARCH UPDATE
The British Association (BA) for the Advancement of Science - Media Fellowships and Perspectives Poster Prize
Deadlines: 31 March 2008 (media fellowships) and 21 May 2008 (perspectives)
(1) The BA Media Fellowships are intended to create a greater awareness and understanding of the workings of the media among practising scientists, social scientists, clinicians and engineers. For more information please visit http://www.the-ba.net/the%2Dba/ScienceinSociety/_Schemes_and_awards/MediaFellowships/index.html. (2) Perspectives Poster Prize - Postgraduate and postdoctoral scientists, engineers and social scientists funded by one of the UK research councils are encouraged to explore the social and ethical implications of their research by entering perspectives - a poster session with a difference. Please visit http://www.the-ba.net/the-ba/ScienceinSociety/_Schemes_and_awards/Perspectives/index.html
Society for Education, Music and Psychology Research (SEMPRE)- Awards
Deadline: 01 May 2008
(1) The Arnold Bentley Fund exists to support new, interdisciplinary initiatives concerned with the advancement or promotion of research in the psychology of music or music education. Examples may include support towards a project, conference, seminar, workshop, exhibition or publication that is particularly innovative or pioneering. (2) The Gerry Farrell Scholarships are intended to support travel in pursuit of identified research objectives in the UK or abroad through the payment of or a contribution towards the costs of travel and subsistence. For more information please visit http://www.sempre.org.uk/awards.html
NERC/ESRC/DFID Joint Funding Opportunity: Ecosystem Service for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA): Strengthening research capacity in developing countries
Deadline for outline proposals: 30 May 2008, deadline for full proposals: 31 July 2008
The Natural Environment Research Council invites proposals for activities to strengthen research capacity to tackle the complex problems associated with the sustainable management of ecosystems for poverty reduction. Please visit http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/programmes/espa/events/ao3.asp
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
Donald Ridley plans to run it with his trombone!
To find out more and sponsor Donald please visit:
http://www.justgiving.com/donaldridley
Pictured: Donald with his trombone.
Staff in External Strategic and Development Services (ESDS) and their close friends are taking part in the Race for Life on Wednesday 7 May 2008. Would you be able to sponsor them? Cancer Research is a fantastic charity and has saved the lives of 1,000s and its our chance to give something back. This is the link to their sponsorship page website: http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/esdsangelsandfriends with many thanks from Jackie Leach and the ESDS Angels and Friends
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Date: Saturday 5 April
Time: 7.30pm
Ticket Prices: Ticket Prices: £15 / £13
Box Office 020 8507 5607 or visit www.thebroadwaybarking.com
‘‘Get thee to a performance!’ Whatsonstage.com
Following a sell out run in the West End, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) comes to theBROADWAY, Barking for one night only on Saturday 5 April at 7.30pm.
The Shakespeare boys are back in town with their irreverent, fast paced romp through all of the Bard’s plays in just 97 minutes. So loosen your doublets, sort out your singlets, clutch your codpieces and join these madcap men in tights as they weave their wicked way through all of Shakespeare’s comedies, histories and tragedies in one terrific rollercoaster ride that will leave you breathless and helpless with laughter!
Shakespeare may well be turning in his grave, but the show that’s become a cult classic transforms his entire works into one of the funniest evenings on the planet. Take a look at ‘Hamlet’ performed forwards, backwards and sideways, ‘Titus Andronicus’ as a TV cookery programme and a rap ‘Othello’. And as the comedies aren’t anywhere near as funny as the tragedies, all 16 are condensed into ‘Four Weddings and a Transvestite’.
The West End’s longest-running comedy - 10 years at the Criterion Theatre – has since conquered the entire globe. This perfect summer treat for kids was praised by the Los Angeles Times as ‘wildly funny’ and by the Montreal Gazette as ‘the funniest show you are likely to see in your entire lifetime’.
Warning! This show is not recommended for people with heart ailments, bladder problems, inner-ear disorders and/or people inclined to motion sickness.
Be sure to book as early as possible for the best seats in the house through the box office on 020 8507 5607 or online at www.thebroadwaybarking.com.
Competition winner:
Michele Farmer won a pair of FREE tickets to see this hilarious production by correctly answering:
Question:
Which of Shakespeare's plays is performed as a rap in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) Answer: Othello.
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!
Opening hours are Wednesdays and Fridays from 5pm until after midnight.
Pictured: Aqua East launch in February.
First Aid at Work: 4 Days Tue– Fri 2008, 22 – 25 April, 10– 13 June, 9– 12 Sept, 18– 21 Nov. Fee: £185
Re-qualify course: 2 Days Thurs and Fri 2008, 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
To see which Staff Development Course and their dates are available, 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
The premiere of This is my Africa took place at the Barbican last week ( Weds 26 March). The forty-five minute film directed by Zina Saro-Wiwa, daughter of the Nigerian writer and environmental and human rights campaigner, executed in 1995, Ken Saro-Wiwa, presents a warm, witty and thoughtful understanding of a vast and diverse continent.
The screening was sponsored by Diversity Arts Forum, as well as Unilever and Africa Beyond. Commisioned by the Africa Centre, in making the film Zina asked a set twenty questions of eminent participants, such as: film maker John Akomfrah, broadcaster Jon Snow and actor Colin Firth, to find out what Africa means to them.
Their answers which include their favourite novels, foods, artists, images and jouneys establishes a rich cultural and artistic tradition for the continent, which educates, entertainsand invites the film's audience to find out more.
Pauline Desouza (pictured left) is a Diversity Arts Forum Director and UEL Senior Lecturer. Pauline, plans to invite Zina Sara-Wiwa to Mayfest this year, and to screen the film.
Pictured: Pauline Sesouza, her son Jules and Zina Saro-Wiwa
UEL's first and second teams took to the pitch to settle their differences once and for all in March, and with high expectations automatically leaning in favour of any first team, the second team had a point to prove.
The game began briskly with the first team hitting the post in the 13th minute, and in the 39th they got the goal many would have said they clearly deserved.
The second team made a valiant comeback in the next half half by scoring in the 65th and 78th minutes. Yet, the first team sought to scupper their plans when they equalised with only 3 minutes to go. With the final whistle gone; it was to be a corner kick that would prove to be the final blow for the first team; when the second team scored their golden-goal header. Final score 3-2 and exclusive bragging rights for a second team that impressed its spectators.
Match analysis by: Junior Ayanbeku
Pictured: UELSU's first and second football teams.
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.
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