University Of Gloucestershire Appoints Its First Professor Of Sustainabili

A leading Professor of Sustainable Development, Daniella Tilbury has joined the University of Gloucestershire and will head up a new Sustainability Institute.

The Institute, under the leadership of Professor Tilbury, will co-ordinate the wide range of sustainable practises currently undertaken by the University, which has established an international reputation for it’s achievements in sustainability theory, leadership and practise.

Professor Tilbury, who comes to Gloucestershire from the Macquarie University in Sydney, was the founding director of the Australian Research Institute in Education for Sustainability (ARIES), which was established by the Australian government department of the environment and heritage. Her research work in strategic development has attracted over six million dollars from national and international resources including the United Nations, World Conservation Union, the European Union and British Council.

Since undertaking her doctoral study at the University of Cambridge in the 1990s, Professor Tilbury has facilitated sustainability, education and change management programmes for NGOs, corporate and government agencies across the globe, has lectured in over 50 universities and produced over 100 books and articles.

Professor Tilbury holds a number of high-profile international roles including chairing

the United Nation’s Global Monitoring and Evaluation Experts’ Group for the Decade of Education in Sustainable Development and co-leads the UNESCO-IUCN Indicators project in the Asia Pacific.

“There is a real opportunity for the University to contribute meaningfully, and uniquely, to the global sustainability agenda.” said Professor Tilbury.

“We will be building upon our excellent portfolio of sustainability work to provide education, training, research and support for policy-makers and leaders in both the public and private sector.”

The University of Gloucestershire is recognised as a sector leader in sustainability by the Sustainable Development Commission, the Higher Education Funding Council for England and for being the first English university to achieve registration to ISO 14001,

the internationally recognised standard for Environmental Management systems.

The University embeds it’s commitment to sustainability through its teaching, research, management, administration, supporting business and industry and by working with local authorities.

For more information about sustainability and the university’s work please visit http://www.glos.ac.uk/sustainability/index.cfm

Diversity Under The Spotlight At University Of Wolverhampton

Diversity under the spotlight

Diversity and equality in education and healthcare will come under the spotlight at an event at the University of Wolverhampton tomorrow.

The Diversity in Action Conference will present findings from local research and showcase student work to promote diversity, equality and cultural competence in professional training and higher education.

The programme includes accounts of diversity in education from students, a talk about the issue of veiling and and a presentation about widening participation in higher education by the University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Geoff Hurd.

Tomorrow’s (Friday, November 16) event at the Wolverhampton City Campus will be attended by students, staff and representatives from the police force, ambulance service, community groups, colleges and Primary Care Trusts from all over the West Midlands.

Key speakers include Surinder Sharma, who is the National Director for Equality and Human Rights at the Department of Health.

Organiser Dr Patricia Bond, Reader in Primary Care at the University’s Centre for Health and Social Care Improvement, said: “The purpose of this conference is to disseminate the findings from a research project led by Professor Mel Chevannes, former Dean of the School of Health, and Dr Patricia Bond, Reader in Primary Care, entitled ‘Mainstreaming cultural competencies and equality in the nurse curriculum’.

“In doing so, we wanted to open up a forum for discussion about cultural competency in Higher Education and use this opportunity to showcase student work. To kick-start the process of discussion we have some excellent external and student speakers.”

Dance Experts Take To The Floor At Major Event

Dance science researchers from the University of Wolverhampton have pirouetted their way to success after clinching three awards at an international event.

Six University representatives attended the 17^th Annual Meeting of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science, held in Canberra, Australia.

Frances Clarke, a Lecturer from the dance department at the School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure, received the President's award for Poster Presentation. Her presentation was about stability during dance movements in two types of jazz shoe. 

Manuela Angioi, a PhD student, received a Student Award, in recognition of her research on video analysis of contemporary dance performances.

And Emily Twitchett, also a PhD student, was awarded the Poster Design Award, for her work, which portrayed physical demands of ballet performances.

The University had further success, as PhD student Jeff Russell headed up the Reviewer’s Panel, which decides the various awards offered to participants for the quality of poster presentations and content, and Dr Matt Wyon was appointed to the Board of IADMS as well as presenting, and Professor Yiannis Koutedakis chaired a number of lectures and movement sessions at the event.

Professor Koutedakis said: “Our University is one of the leading institutions in dance medicine, and particularly dance science, in Europe and we are delighted with our success at this event, which is the most prestigious meeting in the field.”

63 per cent of diabetics risk serious foot problems by wearing the wrong-sized shoes

More than six out of ten people with diabetes are walking around in the
wrong-sized shoes, exposing themselves to serious foot problems that
could lead to amputation, according to research in the November issue of
IJCP, the International Journal of Clinical Practice.

Published to coincide with World Diabetes Day (14 November) the study,
by the University of Dundee, has been welcomed by an expert in podiatry.
She says that ulceration can have serious implications for patients and
health services, including impaired quality of life, increased
amputation risk and even elevated death rates.

The United Nations, which passed a landmark resolution in December 2006
recognising diabetes as a chronic, debilitating and costly disease, has
designated World Diabetes Day as an official United Nations Day for the
first time in 2007.

And the World Health Organization has said that the number of people
suffering from diabetes could double to 366 million by 2030 and that 80
per cent of diabetic foot amputations could be prevented.

A hundred patients aged 24 to 89 volunteered to take part in the
shoe-size study carried out at a general diabetic clinic at Ninewells
Hospital Medical School in Dundee, Scotland.

Patients who were also attending specialist foot clinics were excluded,
as were patients who had problems standing or were wearing specially
provided footwear.

"All the patients had their feet fully examined and measured while
they were both sitting and standing" explains co-author Dr Graham
Leese, a consultant at the clinic, which forms part of University of
Dundee.

The team found that 63 per cent of the patients were wearing the
wrong-sized shoes. For example, 45 per cent were wearing the wrong width
fitting, with the majority being too narrow.

"When people stand up their feet change shape as the arch of the foot
flattens and the foot becomes wider and longer" explains Dr Leese.
"Taking both these sets of measurements into account, only 37 per
cent of the patients were actually wearing the right-sized shoes.

"Interestingly, patients who didn't have problems with lack of
feeling in their feet - a common problem with diabetes - were just as
likely to wear badly fitting shoes as those who did.

"We also discovered that almost a third of the patients said they
took a different shoe size to the one they were actually wearing. This
isn't helped by the fact that shoe sizes vary from make to make."

45 per cent of the volunteers had experienced previous problems with
their feet, including ulcers, callouses, bunions, corns or swelling.
Despite this, 22 per cent never checked their own feet and only 29 per
cent checked them daily.

Foot problems could be reduced by adults being offered foot-measuring
services in shoe shops, say the researchers. They would also like to see
manufacturers developing standardised shoe sizes and expanding the range
of length and width fittings that they offer, especially for patients
who have no feeling in their feet.

Podiatry expert Andrea Parnes, from the University of Ulster, agrees.
She points out that, given the scale of the problem, it would make
commercial sense for manufacturers to work with health professionals to
expand their existing ranges.

In her accompanying editorial she calls for greater research into the
problem, pointing out that the study also raises concerns about patients
with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

The current issue of IJCP also includes a special supplement, which
expresses support for the United Nation's resolution on diabetes and
highlights practical examples that have been shown to improve diabetes
care.

These range from raising government awareness worldwide to empowering
patients at grassr
oots level.

New Dundee Research Collaboration to Evaluate Drug Safety Risks Early

Evaluating the safety of drugs early in development to ensure the

safety of patients is a major issue facing the pharmaceutical industry
as shown by some recent high profile withdrawals of new drugs in the
later stages of testing.

CXR Biosciences Ltd. today announces a major new £3 million
collaborative research and development program aimed at predicting the
safety risks of new drugs earlier in their development. The three-year
project is a collaboration between CXR Biosciences, Wyeth
Pharmaceuticals, and the University of Dundee and is co-funded by the
Technology Strategy Board. An important feature is that this
collaboration aims to take the results of industrial and academic
laboratory research directly into clinical practice.

A team of scientists at CXR Biosciences headed by Professor Roland Wolf
will work with Wyeth scientists and core lab staff based at the new
Translational Medicine Research Centre (TMRC) in Dundee. The University
of Dundee is also part of the collaboration involving the research group
of Professor Mike Ferguson at the College of Life Sciences, and clinical
researchers Dr. John Dillon and Professor Andrew Morris at the School of
Medicine.

The scientists will identify 'biomarker' proteins whose presence in
the blood indicates the very earliest effects of a drug that could
eventually lead to toxic damage in organs such as the liver, heart or
muscle. The researchers will then develop assays to measure circulating
levels of these biomarkers to allow the early evaluation of the possible
toxic effects of new drugs before side effects develop. The tests could
also be useful in the diagnosis of certain types of disease.

The assays will be used in the laboratory to identify drug candidates
that present too high a safety risk to be advanced into clinical trials.
They will also be used in the clinic to give warning of drugs that could
cause harm if treatment were to be continued or if the dose level were
to be increased.

Professor Roland Wolf, co-founder of CXR Biosciences said: "This is
an extremely exciting programme of work linking academic research with a
biotechnology company and a major pharmaceuticals company. It is unique
in such drug safety programmes in taking the science all the way from
the laboratory to the clinic".

Professor Mike Ferguson from the University of Dundee said: "We are
very pleased to contribute our expertise in the technology of
'proteomics' to this important programme. It is particularly
satisfying to collaborate with clinicians and scientists from the
biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries in a truly
multi-disciplinary study that will lead to safer medicines for
patients" .

NOTES TO EDITORS

About CXR Biosciences
CXR Biosciences Ltd. is dedicated to advancing innovative approaches
for drug development and safety assessment and supports numerous
programs to research and commercialise new technologies for the
pharmaceutical industry. The company has business relationships with
over sixty customers and collaborators, including pharmaceutical
companies, chemical companies, biotechnology companies, leading
universities and research institutions. CXR Biosciences Ltd. is located
in Dundee, Scotland. More information can be found at
www.cxrbiosciences.com

About the Technology Strategy Board
The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led executive
non-departmental public body, established by the government. Its
mission is to promote and support research into, and development and
exploitation of, technology and innovation for the benefit of UK
business, in order to increase economic growth and improve the quality
of life. It is sponsored by the Department of Innovation, Universities
and Skills (DIUS).

Contact:
Dr. Peter Mulderry, (petermulderry@cxrbiosciences.com) Head of Proje
ct
Management, CXR Biosciences Ltd.
Tel : +44 (0) 1382 432 156

SCRYMGEOUR RESEARCH SEMINAR - University ofAberdeen

SCRYMGEOUR RESEARCH SEMINAR

Peter Duff, Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of
Aberdeen, will be giving the final Scrymgeour Research Seminar of this
semester on Wednesday 14 November at 4pm.

His talk is entitled "Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission:
Reflections on Miscarriages of Justice".

Professor Duff has published extensively on many aspects of criminal
justice policy, evidence and procedure, including victims, juries, and
disclosure of evidence. He has been a member of the Scottish Criminal
Cases Review Commission since its inception in 1999.

The Commission has dealt with a number of high profile cases, and has
recently referred the case of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi,
convicted of the Lockerbie bombing, to the High Court of Justiciary."

The Scrymgeour Research Seminar series is organised and hosted by the
School of Law at the University of Dundee. Today's event takes place
at 4 pm in the Mooting Court Room at the School, which is based within
the Scrymgeour Building in Park Place.

Yorkshire batsman is bowled over by Leeds Trinity's new sports facilities

 Yorkshire batsman is bowled over by Leeds Trinity’s new sports facilities

 

Yorkshire county cricketer Andrew Gale took time out from training to join the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Brian Cleasby, and the Bishop of Leeds, Rt Rev Arthur Roche, at the official opening of Leeds Trinity & All Saints’ new sports centre last Thursday.

 

At the opening ceremony Andrew and the Lord Mayor unveiled a plaque in the sports hall before the Bishop, who is Chair of the Board of Governors of Leeds Trinity, said prayers to dedicate the new building.

 

Andrew, who was named Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s Cricketer of the Year in 2006 for his excellent batting, showed Leeds Trinity’s student cricket team how it should be done during a session in the indoor nets in the new sports hall.

 

Andrew said, “This is a top facility, so my best advice for the lads is to make use of it and keep practising!”

 

Bishop Arthur was so impressed with the new sports facilities that he opted to try them out for himself, taking the bat while Andrew bowled him a few balls.

 

The Bishop said, “The new sports centre is an immense achievement, providing an exceptional facility for the whole area and an opportunity for the interaction that is vital between an institution such as ours and the local community.”

 

Leeds Trinity has invested over £2 million in the new sports centre, which is open to the whole community.

 

With membership costing just £19.99 a month, and an excellent range of facilities on offer, the centre already has 600 members signed up and is being used widely by Leeds Trinity’s students and staff, external sports clubs and local residents.

 

For more information call our sports centre team on 0113 283 7155 or visit www.trinityfitness.co.uk

 

Public Lecture On Peptides - University of Wolverhampton

NEWS RELEASE

Public lecture on peptides

A University of Wolverhampton professor will give a free public lecture on new discoveries in the scientific field of peptides.

Professor John Howl, an expert in Molecular Pharmacology, will give the next talk in the University’s Public Lecture series on Wednesday, 21 November, at 6pm.

His talk, Adventures in Peptide Space, will focus on current research into peptides, which are folded strings of amino acids. Professor John Howl will illustrate the diverse properties and numerous applications of peptides in chemistry, biology and medicine.

Professor Howl said: “The presentation will consider the history of peptide synthesis and some modern trends within the field. I will present some of our more recent findings at the University of Wolverhampton.”

The lecture, which is free and is open to all, will take place in the Lecture Theatre in the Millennium City Building at the University’s Wolverhampton City Campus.

Cardboard furniture the future for Unis?

Cardboard furniture the future for Unis?

A University of Wolverhampton student is hoping to take the world of design by storm with his new line in furniture – made of cardboard.

David Chidlow, who has just completed his final year in Product Design (Furniture), has designed recyclable, flat pack furnishings that could revolutionise university residences.

The set of drawers is made of corrugated cardboard, with plastic fixings, and could be decorated by students to individualise them. The shelves also act as a lid for the drawers, creating three boxes which could be sent out in flat pack form to students before they start university.

David, from Worcester, recently exhibited his prototype at the Degree Show exhibition at the School of Art and Design.

The 21-year-old student is hoping that a business sponsor might be prepared to take on his idea and make it a success.

He said he came up with the idea as a means or personalising furniture for students leaving home for the first time. “It would be like having new furniture for each student, and cardboard is cheap, recyclable and sustainable,” David said.

“You can print directly onto it, apply digital images or perhaps city maps or useful contacts information, or leave it completely blank and decorate it yourself and have a totally individual piece of furniture. At the end of the year the cardboard could just be recycled.”

David added the drawers were light-weight and sturdy, and special coatings could be added to make them water and flame proof. He has looked into the possibility of making a wardrobe using the same principles.

If you are interested in David’s idea, email him at contact@davidchidlowdesigns.co.uk.

College News: Bedford College Offer Unique Training for Care Home Management

Foundation Degree helps training need in care industry - Bedford College is offering a unique 3 for 1 deal to those in care home management.

This fast growing industry is struggling to keep up with the changing training demands made upon aspiring and existing managers – now there is a solution which provides the relevant professional training in care and management as well as the very latest degree level learning.

The package covers NVQ Level 4 in Care, the Registered Manager’s Award and the Foundation Degree in Care Management which separately would cost over £4,000 but is offered over two years at £1,225 per annum.

It is a fast and furious course because that is the way customers want it. They attend college one afternoon a week and the rest is home or work-based evidenced study. It takes two years to complete all three qualifications.

None of the quality is lost because much of the learning overlaps – and students have the benefit of sharing experiences at their weekly college sessions – from which they gain a great deal.

“It’s a tough job being a care home manager and we want to provide all the help we can,” explained Assistant Director of Care at Bedford College, Margaret Bond.

The benefit of the courses, in particular the Foundation Degree, run in conjunction with the University of Bedfordshire, is that it empowers managers to deal more effectively with professional challenges such as inspections by the Commission for Social Care Inspectorate (CSCI) which monitors care homes against the Care Standards 2000 legislation.

One graduate of all three courses is Remi Wamala who is Manager of the Crescent Nursing Home in Bedford. This home for clients with mental health needs is part of the Apex Care Home Group, a family owned business, which has three homes in total in the county.

Said Remi: “Completing these courses meant we at the Crescent Nursing Home could provide improved care plans, improved supervision and improvements to our services in general.

It enabled me to get better CSCI reports because I was able to provide inspectors with the information in the right way to demonstrate the professionalism of care which is actually provided here.

Now two fellow staff members are taking the course as we can see the practical benefits. It has really helped to motivate people.”

Apex Care Homes General Manager Andrea Thasan said: “It is very helpful to have access locally via Bedford College to professional training for our staff. This is an ever-changing industry where we have to balance our time between providing the best possible care for our clients whilst having to evidence we are doing just and complying with all the current legislation. Apex Care Homes prides itself on its record of providing a caring and supportive environment from well trained staff for all our 100+ residents in our homes in Bedford and Luton.”

Bedford College provides all levels of NVQ training relevant to the care industry from Level 2 and 3 and including Level 4. In some cases funding can be found to help cover the costs. >From September 2007 the College will be mapping the Foundation Degree in Child & Adolescent Studies to two NVQs to provide the same value for time and money!

Photo shows Remi at the Crescent Care Home with Bedford College’s Margaret Bond and Karen Snowdon, left

Related Links
College News
Student News
Bedford College News

University of Gloucestershire Signs Agreement with Gloucestershire College

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gloucestershire, Professor Patricia Broadfoot and Greg Smith, Principal of Gloucestershire College have signed an official agreement that will build stronger links between the two education providers.

Managers from both organisations met at the Hester’s Way campus of Gloucestershire College this week to about ways of working together in the future for mutual benefit of their students. The collaboration will include opportunities of progression for students from further education courses to University level study, working on a joint international student recruitment strategy and developing joint courses.

Vice-Chancellor, Patricia Broadfoot said, “This partnership will strengthen, expand and formalise the existing links that exist between our two institutions and provide opportunities in the future that will enhance educational and training opportunities within the county and beyond.”

Greg Smith added, "It is vital to the future development of the Gloucestershire economy and the economic well-being of the county that the two institutions creatively combine their collective resources to jointly develop a first class further and higher education system, in order to develop the skills base of our county. I therefore welcome this step change in our relationship with the University of Gloucestershire."

Staff from the institutions will meet on a regular basis to develop joint policies and strategies.

Related Links

University of Gloucestershire News
Student News
University News
College News

BBC New Music Shorts 2007 Winners Announced

Five aspiring filmmakers have won the opportunity to make a £5000 music-based short film that will be premiered at the BBC Electric Proms and online on BBC Film Network, before commencing a UK festival tour.

The winning ideas for BBC New Music Shorts 2007 were chosen from 456 entries and films will be made under the guidance of experienced producers from Warp Films. Each ‘short’ is inspired by music from four leading independent record labels - Domino Records, 679 Recordings, Warp Records and Ninja Tune.

The commissions are as follows

Track: 'Slippin' by Wiley (Ninja Tune/Big Dada)
Filmmaker: Jason Nwansi
Synopsis: Kids on a school trip to a museum have a strange encounter with some mummies. Thriller meets Night at the Museum in this funny, original take on a grime video.

Track: 'Dry Lips' by Lightspeed Champion (Domino)
Filmmaker: Stephen Irwin
Synopsis: Champ faces his self doubts about his ability to fly after his lady love leaves him. A story with a heart told in eloquent black and white animation.


Track: 'Twin Tub Twin' by King Creosote (679 Recordings)
Filmmakers: Anastasia Kirillova / Matteo Manzini
Synopsis: The stories of couples who've been together over 50 years come together in this charming and unsentimental film on how relationships last. A unique and ambitious short that blends animation and documentary.

Track: 'Bad Is As Bad Does' by The Earlies (679 Recordings)
Filmmaker: Jonny Madderson
Synopsis: A satire on what happens behind closed doors at a G8 summit on world poverty. A live action black comedy that is more about the humour than the politics.

Track: 'Farewell Farewell' by Gravenhurst (Warp Records)
Filmmaker: John Thole
Synopsis: A man in a costume makes his way to a party in a field, where he finds himself turned into a human pinata. Surreal, absurd and yet completely satisfying, the idea also combines a very different and unique experimental filming technique.

BBC Electric Proms, Film Network and New Talent invited budding filmmakers to submit ideas for ‘shorts’ in April. The selection panel included producers and commissioners from Warp Films, the record labels and the BBC, who were all highly impressed by the level of the applicants this year. The submissions were of a high standard, with many of the applications including extensive visuals and personalised submission packs.

BBC Electric Proms Festival Director Lorna Clarke said: “Film and new talent are an integral part of the Electric Proms, and the New Music Shorts are a great example of the kind of creativity we are wanting to celebrate.”

BBC Electric Proms Film Programme Producer Pamela Casey said: “The high quality of entries made the selection process a difficult one this year. The range of styles and stories in the commissioned projects will blow everyone away when they're finally premiered at the Electric Proms.”

BBC New Talent Campaign Producer Shirley Rush said: “These winners represent the diverse mix of highly talented filmmakers emerging in the UK and we hope this experience will develop their skills further and provide an opportunity to establish new contacts and networks in this competitive industry”.

Following the successful inaugural festival, BBC Electric Proms 2007 will take place from 24 to 28 October 2007. The event will be broadcast across BBC television, radio, online and via the red button for digital viewers. The five winning films will also be available to view exclusively on the Film Network website www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork


Related Links
Student News
University News
College News

Drama for Young People Tackling Gun & Knife Culture opens in London

Drama for young people, by young people tackling gun and knife culture opens in London 28 July

A thought-provoking drama going on a national tour this summer will tackle the spate of knife and gun killings that has plagued youth culture and community at large. The two hour long drama Life on the Stairs put together by London-based FAITH Drama Productions, headed up 25-year-old Gbemisola Ikumelo, uses drama with hip hop, grime and dance to try to keep young people away from a life of crime.

The organisers hope the play will highlight the importance of positive living and speak to young people about the negative effect of gang war, gun/knife crimes and revenge killings.

Last year, the play written by Gbemisola Ikumelo, a 2003 Carlton Hobbs Award winner, debuted at the Stratford Rex in London to rave reviews. Around 1,000 people turned up over five days to watch the gritty, uncompromising and often hilarious drama. Among the guests were celebrities Antonia Okonma of ITV’s Bad Girls, Josephine Melville of Casualty fame and Chandra Ruegg from the ex-Channel 5 drama Family Affairs.

This year, the play has been revised and will go on its first national tour focusing on the cities of London and Birmingham. More than 35 young people will form the cast and crew of the play. In London, Life on the Stairs will show on July 28 at People Show Studios, Pollard Road, London E2 6NB at 2pm and 7pm. The afternoon show is followed by a post-show discussion. And in Birmingham, Life on the Stairs will show for eight days from 3 to 11 August at the Crescent Theatre, Sheepcote Street, Birmingham B16 8AE.

Many of the young actors appearing in the play come from disadvantaged backgrounds – some have faced poverty, homelessness and even had a first hand experience of criminal gang culture. For these young adults, being involved in the play has given them the opportunity to turn a new leaf.

“I used to be involved with a gang,” states 18-year-old Michelle*, “but joining this (FAITH Drama Productions) has given me the chance to hang out with different peeps and gain self-confidence and better acting skills.”

19-year-old Chantelle from Birmingham adds, “Our roads today are getting worse. You never know when another life may go. Young men are being killed like it's a joke. When I found out someone I knew, Meshack Tesfa Bernard- Brown had been shot last year and Odwayne Anthony Barnes just been stabbed a few months ago, I was upset as these are our talented young men, which is why FAITH Drama Productions is such an important organisation as they are allowing teens to realise that they have been blessed with talents to go out and help other people."

Throughout the year FAITH trains volunteers through weekly drama workshops resulting in a showcase of their newly learned abilities on Life on the Stairs. Gbemisola Ikumelo explains, “We believe the story and issues raised in this play is very relevant to young people. We hope to rally the youngsters to speak out against gun crime and gang violence."

FAITH has also launched a three minute online video campaign to generate support for Life on the Stairs. The campaign aims to get a minimum of 1,000 people pledging a pound to support the drama. More info about FAITH Drama Productions at www.faithdrama.org.uk or by phoning +44 (0)7958 172 398

Tickets to the show costs just £5. For the Birmingham show, call the Crescent Theatre box office on 0121 643 5858 or visit www.crescent-theatre.co.uk/Y2007/life_on_the_stairs.html

To book tickets for the London show, contact 07958 172 398

Hand in glove success for Bedford College

Students from Bedford College have been awarded first prize and runner-up prizes in a British Glove national competition - looking at safety gloves.

Przemyslaw Pencak on the National Diploma Graphics Course was first and Claire Deacon, on the same course, was runner-up. Przemyslaw will receive £300 and Claire £100 at a luncheon to be hosted at the Worshipful Company of Glovers of London at Plaisterers' Hall, One London Wall, London on 4 July.

The competition, which is open to all UK graphic design students, is

a key component of the British Glove Association's on-going campaign in support of safety of hands and fingers in the work place.

Entrants were required to design a poster campaign for a beer and

spirits company which is attention grabbing, impactful and hard

hitting. The campaign is required to make employees aware of the

serious hand injuries that can result if they do not wear gloves and

to raise the profile of health and safety at work and how wearing

gloves is an essential part of this. It should highlight the risk of

injuries from lacerations from broken glass, heat burns and chemical

burns.

According to the Health & Safety Executive, over one milion people

suffer an injury at work each year and many of these are hand injuries.

The winning posters will also be printed and, with the help of BGA

members, will be distributed to workplaces throughout the country.

The work of Bedford College students will on display in an end of term exhibition in June

Aberdeen Students Set For Taste Of Chinese Real Estate Market

Two University of Aberdeen business students will travel to the Far East this summer after being chosen to take part in a prestigious real estate programme.

Emma Byrne, a third year property student and Ian Austin, a second year, are set to spend several weeks getting to grips with the Chinese Real Estate market – the fastest growing in the world.

The Aberdeen pair have both been selected for the UK/China Exchange Programme run by major international real estate company CB Richard Ellis and the UK’s Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) – beating off competition from across the country. Only six students from the whole of UK will make the summer-long trip.

Emma has been assigned to CB Richard Ellis’s Beijing office and Ian to its Shanghai HQ. Each will spend six to twelve weeks in general practice work experience, after which they will submit a short research paper. Their flights, accommodation and living costs are all covered by the programme.

Ian (19), who has just completed the 2^nd year of a degree in Property and Finance, said he was “thrilled” to have been selected to go China.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m looking forward to the challenges and the doors that will be opened for me,” he said. “China’s real estate industry is developing at an incredible rate and the programme will allow me to gain priceless experience that will be invaluable when I graduate and look to secure a job in a big property firm like CB Richard Ellis.”

He added, “By having a successful career I hope to fund my main ambition - owning and piloting a light aircraft!”

Dr Deborah Roberts, Property Programme Director at the University of Aberdeen Business School, said both students were in for a “fantastic” experience.

“The Chinese Real Estate Market is the fastest growing in the world and Emma and Ian will be thrust into the thick of it over the summer,” she said. “It’s hugely exciting for them, and it’s also wonderful for the Business School to have two of our students winning places on the CB Richard Ellis/RICS programme.”

This is the first year that the scheme has operated. It is hoped it will run for five consecutive years giving eligible students the chance of general practice work experience in CB Richard Ellis offices within Greater China, with a view towards permanent recruitment of overseas educated graduates.

June Creative Café At The University of Northampton Welcomes Leading Brand

Book a date in your diary this Friday, 8 June, when the Portfolio Innovation Centre’s popular Creative Café welcomes Mike Skidmore, a leading brand and business strategy consultant to talk on ‘Promoting and selling creative services’.

Mike has a background in marketing and brand communications, running his own London based consultancies with roles such as creative, managing & strategic director, supporting clients in the creative and professional service sectors. A Fellow of the Chartered Society of Designers and at one time on the national council with responsibility for developing and training design best practice, Mike will cover:

• Positioning and differentiation – standing out in the market ‘noise’.
• Understanding the client buying cycle – building relationships and knowledge in preparation for ‘the sale’.
• Presentation strategy – effective presentations that differentiate and build empathy.

Running from 10:30am, the Café is based at Avenue Campus’s Portfolio Innovation Centre, the successful base for new start up creative businesses in Northamptonshire and surrounding counties. There are currently 14 tenants based in the Portfolio Innovation Centre in a range of creative industries including fashion design, photography, product design and IT development.

To register for the Creative Café, please email: sasha.findlay@northampton.ac.uk

The University of Northampton’s Portfolio Innovation Centre has been part-funded by the European Social Fund and is also supported by the Northamptonshire Partnership and Arts Council England.

University of Dundee Arts Students Land Dream Jobs

A Dundee art student, and three graduates who studied in the city, have landed dream jobs at one of the world’s most famous art festivals.

Gyl Rae who is currently a student at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art at the University of Dundee, and Stuart D.Fallon, Emma Prat and Lottie Gerrard, graduates of the same college, have been appointed Invigilators for Scotland and Venice 2007 - the Scottish exhibition at this year’s Venice Biennale of Art.

The four, whose role as invigilators will provide a crucial link between visitors and art works by helping to promote the exhibition and ensure artwork on display is secure, will spend two and a half months working in Venice.

Hosted by the Scottish Arts Council, National Galleries of Scotland and British Council Scotland and curated by Philip Long, Senior Curator, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, the Scotland and Venice 2007 will be open to the public from Sunday 10 June until Friday 2 November 2007 at the Palazzo Zenobio, in the Dorsoduro district of Venice.  The exhibition features new work by artists representing Scotland, Charles Avery, Henry Coombes, Louise Hopkins, Rosalind Nashashibi, Lucy Skaer and Tony Swain.

Recognised as the world’s largest and most prestigious international showcase for contemporary visual art, the Venice Biennale of Art takes place every two years. More than 65 countries participate in the five-month event, with each country hosting an exhibition or pavilion dedicated solely to the work of its chosen artists.

On hearing of his appointment, Gyl said: ‘I'm due to graduate from Duncan of Jordanstone only a week before I fly out to Venice. I can't think of a more exciting and inspiring way to start my art career, working at the foremost contemporary art event in the world.  Without a doubt, working at the Scottish Pavilion, with some of Scotland's most exciting and interesting  art will definitely have a huge impact on my practise.’

Lottie Gerrard, who graduated in Fine Arts, in sculpture, from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and who has worked at a number of galleries, including the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, the Dean Gallery, and the Talbot Rice Gallery, said: ‘This is an incredible opportunity for me at this stage in my career to be around such exciting artists, to see the exhibition being installed and also to respond to visitors' reactions. It's a unique chance to be part of such a significant event and I cannot wait to get out there and see it all!’
Jenny Brownrigg, Curator of Exhibitions Department, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art at the University of Dundee, said: 'DJCAD places much importance on the professional as well as creative development of our students during their studies here. It is therefore with much pleasure we see that these four DJCAD students and graduates have been successful in becoming invigilators for the Scottish exhibition at this year's Venice Biennale.’

Amada Catto of Scottish Arts Council said: ‘It is hoped that the exceptional opportunity which is being offered to these young fine art graduates will enable them to further develop their professional skills and networks within the unique context of the Venice Biennale.

‘Their knowledge of Scotland’s position within the international art scene and their insight into the work of each of the artists on show at the Scotland and Venice 2007 exhibition, will provide visitors with an enriched experience of Scotland’s participation within the world’s most prestigious contemporary visual arts festival.’

Six Invigilators and two Senior Invigilators have bee appointed. The Invigilators will be divided into two groups, each led by a Senior Invigilator. The first group will begin work in Venice in June and help assemble the exhibition. In August they will be replaced by the second team, who will help dismantle the exhibition in November 

Computer gamer blasts out a new future - University Of Wolverhampton

The first female student to complete a course in computer games design at the University of Wolverhampton will be among those showcasing their work at a Degree Show.

The BA Degree Show at the School of Art & Design will take place from Monday, June 11 until Thursday, June 14.

The event is an opportunity for members of the public to see displays of animation, ceramics, glass, furniture, digital media, photography, fine art, textile design and others created by students as part of their degrees. It also allows people interested in studying a course at the School to see the kind of work they could produce if they were to join the University.

Among those set to display their hard work is Naheed Akther, 20, who is in her final year of a BA (Hons) Computer Games Design at the University of Wolverhampton.

Her computer game, Arabian Star’s Revenge, is a 2-dimensional asteroid type game where the player has to avoid the fast bouncing zombie cowboy asteroids in a space environment. The player only has a limited amount of time to blast the zombie cowboy asteroids out of the galaxy.

Naheed, who came into art and design by chance while making her choices for higher education courses, said: “I enjoyed the three years of this course and I learned many things about the industry and the different software used for certain areas of game production.

“Many people associate computer games as a predominately ‘male’ hobby. However this is not true and is only a stereotype. But this male dominance was seen on the course with the ratio of boys overtaking the girls. Now that I am in the final year, I am the only female student left.

“However this didn’t turn me off from progressing in the course, rather it encouraged me and was a way of motivation for myself to succeed and become the first female graduate on my course.”

The show is open to the public from 10am to 4pm, from June 11 to 14, at the School of Art and Design next to the Molienuex Stadium on the Ring Road, Wolverhampton.

Students who have completed courses in 3D Design, Graphic Communication, Journalism and Editorial Design, Interior Design and Video and Film Production will also exhibit their work at the Degree Show.

University Of Northampton - Discover your potential at June Open Day

If you have always thought you would like a career working with children, want to go into graphic design or see yourself as a future midwife or engineer, The University of Northampton’s Open Day this weekend could be the first step to achieving your goal.

The University opens its doors on Sunday, June 10, giving potential students the chance to find out more about the hundreds of courses on offer.

Visitors will be able to speak to tutors, see demonstrations of typical lecture activities and hear about student finance, as well as take a look inside the University’s Halls of Residence.

They will also be able to see the top quality equipment and talk to staff in the University’s brand new Sports Gym, which opens later this month.

Studying at University is not just a three-year course option, living away from home – many students study part-time and carry on working whilst living at home and there’s also the option to do a degree in two, or even four, years.

So there’s plenty on offer and University staff will be on hand to help visitors enjoy the day, while getting all the information they need.

Registration takes place at both Avenue Campus in St George’s Avenue and at Park Campus in Boughton Green Road, 10-11am and the Open Day is on until 3pm. A free bus service between Campuses is available to everyone who wants to visit both Campuses.

Potential students can register for the Open Day in advance, please contact 0800 358 2232

Conference tackles issue of non medical prescribing

Over 90 delegates from healthcare from across the UK are attending a conference at The University of Northampton next week which explores issues around the practice of non medical prescribing, an area of nursing which has seen rapid development over the last decade.

From June 2006, appropriately educated and experienced nurses have been able to prescribe all licensed drugs and a range of controlled drugs from the British National Formulary following successful completion of the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) approved Nurse Independent & Supplementary Prescribing (NISP) Course.

The NISP course offered by the School of Health at the University enjoys an established reputation for providing a quality programme for experienced nurse practitioners working in the Northamptonshire catchment area. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is now very much high on the agenda in healthcare for continuing excellence in this area of practice.

The University will welcome some prestigious keynote speakers to Park Campus next Wednesday, 6 June, including Liz Plastow, Prescribing Lead from Nursing & Midwifery Council, Professor Molly Courtenay, RCN Joint Prescribing Adviser and Professor Matt Griffiths, Visiting Professor for The School of Health, RCN Prescribing Adviser. The conference will be jointly opened by Dr Sue Allen, Dean, School of Health and Louise Proctor, Managing Director of the Northamptonshire Primary Care Trust, as a partnership initiative.

Geoff White, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader, Teaching for Non- Medical Prescribing, School of Health, The University of Northampton, commented:

“Our NISP course is extremely challenging. On completion of this course nurses are qualified to prescribe medicines within their professional scope of practice to complement the care they deliver. The initial evidence suggests that nurses who successfully complete this course demonstrate improved nursing outcomes for the patients they serve, whilst gaining additional knowledge, skills and competencies as part of their personal and professional development.

“Non medical prescribing is very topical and we are pleased to host this conference in partnership with NTPCT aiming to support future continuing professional development here at The University of Northampton”.