Download - WLV dialogue - Issue 13
Summer 2011 | Issue 13 | University of Wolverhampton | www.wlv.ac.uk
WLVdialogue
Moving forwardRetiring Vice-Chancellor reflects
Sweet healing Research into the healing power of sugar
no place like hoMe The evolution of staycations
Welcome to the latest edition of WLV Dialogue.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Caroline Gipps retired from the University this summer after six years of successful leadership. Our cover picture is a piece of student artwork which featured prominently in Caroline’s office.
The student experience is an important part of Wolverhampton’s
mission, and the University was delighted to win a prestigious CASE
Europe 2011 award for a fundraising project to transform its Students’
Union Centre. Ken Harris has recently become only the fifth person
since 1931 to win a second term as Students’ Union President and on
pages 22-23 he explains what the University and its SU means to him.
We hope you enjoy reading this edition of WLV Dialogue. If you have any
feedback for us, please get in touch at: [email protected]
Our next magazine will be out in the autumn.
Best wishes
vickie warren
WLV Dialogue Editor
In this edition, Caroline reflects on the University’s achievements and the
changing face of the higher education sector.
During Caroline’s time at the helm, the University’s research performance
has improved and there are many interesting and pioneering studies
under way. Moses Murandu from the School of Health and Wellbeing is
researching the healing powers of sugar, and on pages 8-9 we take a
look at this innovative study.
China recently opened its first glass museum and among the exhibits
are creations by University of Wolverhampton staff and graduates. Read
more about our links with the Shanghai Museum of Glass on pages
4-5. Elsewhere internationally, the University is continuing to develop the
provision of courses delivered overseas at partner institutions, known as
transnational education. Find out more on pages 18-19.
Budding entrepreneurs are able to launch a business alongside their
studies through the SPEED WM programme. On pages 16-17 some
of the students and graduates explain how the scheme has benefitted
them.
Welcome
PAGE
12 224
coNTeNTS 1
newS no place like home – The evolution of ‘staycations’ 2
clear vision – Opening of China’s first glass museum 4
good to talk – Lecturer receives national policing award 6
reSearchSweet healing – Study into healing powers of sugar 8
taking the hot desk – Research looks at new 10office environments
profileMoving forward – VC Professor Caroline Gipps reflects on 12her six years at Wolverhampton
featUreSpeed stars – Budding entrepreneurs launch businesses 16
international global view – Expansion of transnational education provision 18
BUSineSSpebble power – Partner business clinches top award 20
people
putting students first – Q&A with SU President Ken Harris 22
graduate success story – Three students launch business 24
what’s on guide – University events 25
PAGE10 1684
2 NeWS
a sunny, dry Spring can do wonders for
the Uk tourism industry. people who have
not yet booked a foreign getaway for
their summer break start to consider the
possibility of a heatwave, and use it as
an opportunity to explore the gems right
on their doorstep and maybe save a few
pennies.
Known as a ‘staycation’, more and more
people are opting to stay in Britain and either
enjoy day trips near home or travel to another
part of the country. A recent study by the hotel
chain Travelodge estimated that staycations
could give the UK economy a £7.2 billion
boost this year, with over a third of people who
responded to the survey saying they planned to
holiday in the UK.
Peter Robinson is Principal Lecturer and Head
of the Department for Leisure. He explains
the notion of staycations emerged in the USA
in 2008 as a way of describing a change in
people’s holiday patterns away from long haul
destinations.
“Essentially it has evolved as a reaction to the
increased cost of travel and the perceived risks
of travel, for example delays and cancellations
to flights due to volcanic ash clouds. If you stay
in the UK, you can go by train or in your own
car – although it has to be said that these forms
of travel are not always cheap.”
While unpredictable weather means the UK
cannot appeal to the holidaymaker solely in
search of sun, sea and sand, the country has
a lot to offer the ‘wanderlust traveller’. This is
someone interested in learning more about
heritage and culture, which is closely linked to
slow tourism; this describes tourists who want
to get to know an area by exploring it in depth.
These travellers often select alternative forms of
transport such as walking, cycling, or heritage
transport. They make a real contribution to the
economy because they stay within a single
destination for a longer period of time.
Peter explains: “Staycations are at their most
beneficial when people spend money in local
shops. If people are buying food and souvenirs
locally that can, in turn, benefit the destination
through increased employment, business
opportunities and taxes.
“When people are on holiday, they are inclined
to spend more money. If people stay in their
like homeNo place
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own homes and do day trips they can also
choose to enjoy higher priced activities, such
as theme parks. Some places, such as Alton
Towers and Warwick Castle, promote numerous
special offers and discounts, and what might
once have been considered an expensive day
out then becomes affordable.”
Advertising has also assisted the tourism
industry in the UK, with Visit England, Visit
Scotland and Visit Wales all investing in
television adverts that raise awareness of what
is on offer at home.
“UK attractions have changed their image,
and staying at home and going to certain
destinations is more accepted. There is not
that sense of peer pressure that you have
to go abroad at least once a year, as we are
increasingly surrounded by publicity promoting
UK destinations.”
The popular paid and free destinations remain
largely unchanged, with places such as Alton
Towers, the Eden Project, Chatsworth House,
Kew Gardens and the national museums in
London featuring highly.
“What is interesting is that a number of those
attractions have increased what they offer.
Longleat, known best for its a stately home and
safari park, now offers a variety of additional
attractions for the family market, including
mazes, a train and even a Postman Pat Village,
whilst Alton Towers has developed into a US
style resort with hotels, a waterpark and an
adventure golf course sharing the site with the
theme park. Some places have realigned their
pricing strategy to appeal to the staycation
market.”
The one thing you can never guarantee in
Britain is the weather. In 2004, flash floods
caused extensive damage to the historic
Cornish village of Boscastle while the Severn
Valley Railway in the Midlands suffered
£2.5million worth of damage due to a landslide
in 2007. People may be put off by two or
three seasons of bad weather, but Peter says
these attractions have received overwhelming
support from the public and increased visitor
numbers when they re-opened.
“There is also an increased acceptance of the
unreliability of the British weather. The tourism
industry has helped by promoting indoor
activities and all-weather attractions,” he says.
But there are downsides to staycations. Peter
explains the UK is seen as quite an expensive
destination and people may still be able to find
a last-minute cheap week away in Majorca for
less than the cost of a week in the UK.
“If there is an increase in day trips then there
may be a decrease in overnight stays in
bed and breakfasts and hotels, resulting in
a negative affect on the hospitality industry.
However the accommodation industry is very
good at offering discounts and developing
new markets.”
It is also important to recognise, as Peter says,
that we still need inbound tourism, as that
tends to be the higher spending market, and
the US and Japanese markets remain relatively
stable, with many new travellers visiting the UK
from China and India.
The School of Sport, Performing Arts and
Leisure offers courses which allow students to
consider contemporary issues in the tourism
and hospitality industry. Students explore
how people travel and what influences their
decision-making processes on the tourism,
hospitality and event and venue management
courses. They also explore how the hospitality
industry relies on different markets and
therefore promotes itself to key audiences.
The growth of staycations could even be of
relevance to sports management, as the 2012
Olympics will undoubtedly have a positive
impact on tourism with people flooding to the
capital.
It is clear that the tourism and hospitality
industries have risen to the challenge of
tempting Brits to consider staying close to
home.
glass has a long and illustrious history in
the Black country. Stourbridge and dudley
have been home to world renowned glass
companies such as royal Brierley and
Stuart crystal, and the industry can trace
its roots in the area back to the early
1600s.
The University of Wolverhampton was a pioneer
in the education of glass art, and its glass
design course was the first in the country.
Established in 1854, the course has been
in continuous operation ever since and over
the last 40 years distinguished alumni have
successfully launched educational glass and
professional practice all over the world.
Among the celebrated graduates is Professor
Zhuang Xiaowei, who studied for a Masters in
Glass at the University. He attributes his own
artistic and professional success to his time at
the School of Art & Design (SAD).
When he was appointed as the Director of the
new Shanghai Museum of Glass, he decided to
return to his artistic origins and include striking
artworks by staff and graduates from the
University of Wolverhampton in the collection.
Stunning glasswork by current staff members,
Professor Keith Cummings and Stuart Garfoot,
along with former Dean of the School of Art
& Design Professor Andrew Brewerton, were
acquired as part of the permanent collection,
alongside works by successful graduates,
David Reekie and Colin Reid.
The official opening was attended by the
Dean of the School of Art & Design, Dr Bryony
Conway, who facilitated the acquisition
and shipping of the precious works. At the
grand opening, Dr Conway spoke about the
University’s delight at being associated with this
new venture.
“I think the museum highlights the very
significant contribution of Wolverhampton to
the development of glass art in China. It also
raises the profile of glass at the University.
Our students graduate from a highly regarded
course. In addition, there is the international
link which we learn from – it is never a one-way
flow.”
Andrew Brewerton was instrumental in setting
up this link with China. He visited China in
1996 and put on an exhibition, the New Glass
Economy, in Shanghai. This was followed by
the commissioning of a glass sculpture for the
new Shanghai Public Library, made by alumnus
Colin Reid.
iconic landmark
The Shanghai Museum of Glass is an iconic
building in itself, created within a former glass
factory. The space integrates the building’s
original structure and unique characteristics
whilst also benefiting from modern functionality.
Its mission is to share the countless possibilities
of glass, and the museum is designed to
juxtapose the past and present. The ground
floor focuses on the history of glass in
China, while the first floor is an exhibition of
international glass art. The beautiful displays
are a mixture of contemporary Chinese and
international artists, over half of whom are from
Wolverhampton.
So what is the secret of the success and
longevity of the glass design course? Bryony
Conway attributes this to the broad appeal of
the course and staff expertise.
“We have wonderful facilities and a fabulous
academic and technical team. It is a course
that allows for a variety of different pathways.
clear vision
china recently opened its first glass museum showcasing both the country’s heritage and contemporary international designs. among the exhibits are creations by the University of wolverhampton’s staff and graduates, which form part of the permanent collection.
4 NeWS
Students can focus on glass art or follow the
architecture or design pathway, and that is
represented in the expertise of the staff team.
“Professor Keith Cummings started his life as a
fine artist, and is particularly strong in glass art,
with his original and complex art forms. He is a
hugely influential scholar of glass art.
“Stuart Garfoot spent 20 years working for
German companies Rosenthal and Thomas as
a designer, and his design work is absolutely
beautiful – pure, modern classic design. David
Green is a specialist in architectural glass and
we recently recruited a research fellow, Dr Max
Stewart, who has developed his own work in
highly expressive glass sculpture.
“Art, and particularly glass, is not only about the
creation of beautiful objects – it also requires a
scientific understanding of the material.”
him with the material and the resources to get
a glass programme off the ground at Shanghai
University.
Dr Conway continues: “It is the glass industry
that is financing the Shanghai Museum of
Glass. That is a really powerful lesson for us.
They are working closely with industry to make
a success of the development of academic
glass.”
So what makes the Wolverhampton glasswork
on display in Shanghai special?
“Personally, I love the magical quality of glass,
the way light interacts with glass,” Bryony
explains. “A piece by Stuart Garfoot, Ice Chi
Family, uses bits of crushed glass – like ice
chips – on the graceful forms, and the depth
of the purple is gorgeous. The deep red of
Colin Reid’s column of glass has an amazing
vibrancy about it. There are some wonderful
pieces.”
For more information about glass at
Wolverhampton, visit www.wlv.ac.uk/sad
industry links
Also key are links with industry, and the School
of Art & Design is continuing to build upon
these. Representatives of the glass industry
have created the British Glass Foundation, and
they are working with the University to organise
an international glass symposium in 2012. Dr
Conway also explains that a glass stakeholders
group has been established to ensure the
region makes the most of its glass heritage and
works positively together.
As well as being located in a transformed
glass factory, the Shanghai Museum of Glass
can trace its own roots to strong partnerships
with industry. After completing his Masters at
Wolverhampton, Zhuang Xiaowei returned to
Shanghai University but found there was no
glass workshop and no money to develop this
area. He went out and worked with small and
medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in China,
encouraging them and helping them to develop
successful glass businesses. They provided
NeWS 5
Photographer: Simon Bruntnell
Photograph: diephotodesigner.de, Berlin/Germany
Jenni joined the University seven years ago as
a Senior Lecturer in the HR Department at the
University of Wolverhampton Business School,
specialising in Learning and Development,
Leadership, Coaching and Mentoring
programmes. Prior to that, she worked in the
private sector, initially for the Prudential as
a Human Resources Manager and Training
Manager and then for drinks company Britvic
as Performance and Development Manager.
She later worked for a consultancy in
Shrewsbury offering training, development and
mentoring.
how do you feel about winning the
British association for women in
policing (Bawp) award?
I feel very honoured and surprised! It is nice
to see the Police are valuing mentoring within
the force. It is great that they have invested
the time of the mentors and mentees and
allowed me to go in and work with them, on an
ongoing basis. Speaking to both the mentors
and the mentees, there is a surprising amount
of learning coming out of it for both parties, in
terms of increased awareness and personal
development, particularly in the area of coping
strategies during times of change.
the project you won the award for
was with west Midlands police –
could you tell us a bit more about
what this involved?
One of my Masters students in Coaching and
Mentoring worked for West Midlands Police
and asked me to come in and share a bit of
knowledge. They felt there was a need for a
programme targeted at supporting women
in the Police, and as this was an area I was
studying for my PhD, it seemed sensible that I
could advise them and so I ended up doing the
training.
The project gave women in the force the
opportunity to be trained as mentors and
they were then matched with women who
identified themselves as requiring someone to
support their personal development and career
progression. I delivered two days of training for
the mentors and a half day session with the
mentees. I also created a handbook, and I met
up with the mentors and mentees every couple
of months for over a year to see if they needed
any extra support.
The mentees mainly talked about the positive
impact it had made on their motivation. Often
the mentors were surprised at the learning
they had gained, above and beyond what
they expected. Mentoring is often seen as
an altruistic activity by mentors but there are
hidden benefits: they learn new things about
how to support each other and also reflect on
their own career. It makes a difference for both
parties in their role with the general public and
also the teams they work with.
It is encouraging that the Police are rewarding
learning and development activities and that
goes to show the changing culture. It is still
a male dominated profession but there are a
growing number of senior women now and the
purpose of the mentoring was for women to
see the opportunities that exist.
what interests you about coaching
and Mentoring?
I have worked in various HR, training,
development and consultancy roles and it
is amazing how having a conversation with
someone can make such a difference. A
chat about where someone is up to, how
they are feeling and showing an interest in
someone can have a massive impact on their
confidence levels. All the different roles I have
taken have been about helping people realise
their potential, and often the simplest things
reap the biggest rewards. Mentoring is about
encouraging someone to see what the future
might hold for them.
You teach modules focused on
coaching and Mentoring, what is
involved in these?
All our coaching and mentoring teaching is a
mixture of theory and practice. We discuss
the theoretical underpinning, such as what
works and what doesn’t work, but also teach
the practical aspects too. These are popular
optional modules at the Business School.
Some Coaching and Mentoring practitioners
may be sceptical about university courses
because they feel it might be too theoretical but
we recognise the importance of the two things
together.
what characteristics make a good
coach or mentor?
If you asked West Midlands Police about
what makes a good mentor, they would say
someone who listens, cares, shows empathy
and empowers the mentee to do it for
themselves. Most of those would be good skills
for a coach too. In West Midlands Police, it was
important to have mentors that understood
the workplace and would listen, encourage
and support the mentees to make changes
for themselves. I would say a poor coach or
mentor would be someone who told people
what to do or did it for them.
Good to talk
1
2
3
4
5
6 NeWS
Senior lecturer Jenni Jones is celebrating after receiving a top national award in recognition of her work on a mentoring scheme for west Midlands police. She was presented with the prestigious British association for women in policing (Bawp) Special recognition award 2011 at a ceremony in June.
what sorts of benefits are there for
people taking part in a mentoring
scheme?
The benefits are for the individual, their teams
and the organisation. On an individual level, it
is beneficial in terms of personal development,
skills and attitudes. There is always surprise
from both mentors and mentees about how
much they have learnt about themselves,
their job, their views and aspirations. For the
mentee, it is more obvious as it is focused
on them, but the mentor can gain a lot of self
awareness and satisfaction too.
There are also benefits for the team or
department in terms of the skills and new
knowledge they can share. An example would
be ‘active listening’, which can become
a normal part of your working day rather
than just something you do in a mentoring
scenario. The impact is beyond the individual
and that is often a positive surprise to people
at senior levels. People understand not only
about themselves but also how they work and
behave and what impact this has on others,
and that has got to be a good thing.
what is the most rewarding aspect of
your work?
Seeing people learning and growing. I
have worked here for seven years on both
undergraduate and postgraduate programmes
and it is so satisfying to see people in their
first year and again in their final year and the
difference being here has made for them.
Mentoring is a bit like that too. You start
building a relationship and a rapport and often
the person is not sure what they want. You
work together and over time the student or
mentee becomes more able to recognise what
they want, plan towards it and then do things
for themselves. They become independent
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6
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Sponsor Michael Cullen from Cooneen, Watts and Stone, Jenni Jones from the University of Wolverhampton and BAWP President and Assistant Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police Service Cressida Dick.
of you and that is very satisfying. It is about
giving people the tools to do it themselves
– you do not have all the answers but are
helping people to find their own way.
mentoring is about encouraging someone to see what the future might hold for them.
that is precisely what Moses Murandu is
researching currently. it is one of the more
unusual research projects being carried
out by University staff, but it is also one
of the most interesting. his work could
have major implications not only for the
health service in the Uk but for developing
countries all over the world.
Senior Lecturer Moses grew up in Zimbabwe,
and whenever he or his brothers suffered
injuries, his father Majazi Aron would use
granulated sugar to heal the wound and reduce
pain. It was only when Moses moved to the
UK that he realised this simple but effective
treatment was not used everywhere.
8 ReSeaRch
Sweet healingif you were asked what the best use for sugar is, what would you say? Sweetening your tea perhaps, or maybe baking a tasty cake. But would healing wounds cross your mind?
The sugar works because bacteria need
water to grow, and applying sugar to a wound
draws the water away. Because there is less
water the body responds by getting the heart
to beat faster and increase blood flow to the
area. This brings white cells that fight infection
and oxygen and nutrients that enhance cell
regeneration.
ReSeaRch 9
However, Moses faced an uphill struggle to get
his research into the healing effects of sugar
under way, visiting three different health trusts
without success. His fortunes changed when
he was introduced to consultant vascular
surgeon at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham,
Mr Malcolm Simms, who had worked in
Uganda himself and encountered the use of
sugar there.
Moses carried out six months of research into
the effects of sugar on wounds such as bed
sores, leg ulcers and even amputations on
patients on the vascular ward at Selly Oak. In
2009, he submitted an abstract detailing the
project to the prestigious Fondation Le Lous
and was awarded the Scientific Research
Innovation Award, worth £25,000.
This has enabled the project to develop further,
and a randomised control trial is currently
under way at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in
Birmingham. For this, Moses is using two types
of sugar – white granulated sugar from sugar
beet and white granulated from sugar cane.
There was slight activity with brown sugar, and
for this reason only the two white granulated
sugars are being used.
Moses, a Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing at
the School of Health and Wellbeing, explains:
“The cleaning of the wound was good and the
reduction of odour was very good. We found
the pain was reduced for the patients that had
the sugar treatment. The cost of our dressings
was quite manageable and the nursing and
medical staff were happy from the survey
we did.
“The most important survey is the patients, and
they loved it. Many of them were very surprised
that it worked and others wondered why it had
not been used before. Some of them actually
said, ‘do you mean the sugar you use in tea?’
and we said ‘yes!’”
An important consideration is the effect on
diabetic patients. Moses explains diabetic
patients were tested and monitored closely
as the sugar was applied. The results were
encouraging, as the sugar worked and there
was no blood sugar level increase.
The next stage of the research will involve
evaluating all the results and looking at the
economic impact.
“With wound management, we need a dressing
that can reduce pain, be effective and also be
affordable,” Moses says. “We are not only trying
to do this for the UK, we are trying to do it
globally and there are countries that don’t have
the money that developing countries have. It will
benefit other countries like Zimbabwe where I
came from.”
Moses emphasises that at every stage, his
motivation has been the patients he wants
to help heal and get better. He is extremely
grateful for all the support he has received
along the way.
“I am so grateful to the University of
Wolverhampton and School of Health and
Wellbeing for allowing me to enter academia
because without them, I could not have
reached the stage I am at now.
“I was in a clinical setting before and could
see the suffering, but could do nothing
because I had no background to influence the
policy makers. I owe a lot to my father for his
encouragement. He was a very poor man but
he always said we had to help people whenever
we can. That was embedded in me, and
what I wanted to do was to see patients
getting better.”
Moses describes Mr Simms as an ‘angel
sent by God’, and is also grateful to Dr Carol
Dealey, Research Fellow at the University
Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
and University of Birmingham, who bridged
the gap between them. Moses also pays
tribute to Professor Colette Clifford, who was
his supervisor while he was completing his
Masters at Birmingham, and gave him so much
encouragement to pursue his research.
The pioneering sugar research continues to
attract a lot of interest and discussion, and was
featured on the BBC’s The One Show recently.
And seeing sugar being used on hospital wards
could happen sooner than you might think.
The project is expected to take two years, and
Moses estimates it could be in use by the NHS
within three years.
One thing is certain, Moses Murandu is
extremely committed to his sugar research
and however long it takes, will persevere and
overcome whatever challenges may face him
along the way for the sake of the many patients
he believes will benefit from his work.
10 ReSeaRch
with companies seeking to make
savings wherever possible, all aspects
of the working day are being placed
under the spotlight. whether it is hours,
staff numbers or workload, businesses
across the board are looking for ways to
economise. one interesting way being
investigated is the work environment
itself, and how different infrastructures
can impact on productivity and team
dynamics.
The evolution of the non-territorial work space,
often referred to as ‘hot desking’, is an area
that is receiving attention from academics in
various fields. In this type of workplace, staff do
not have a pre-assigned desk and can work
in a different position every day. Depending on
the size of the organisation, this could be four
desks in a room or 100 desks spread over two
or three floors.
Office space is expensive to hire or build, and
there are also environmental costs of heating
and maintaining a building that is not fully
occupied. Therefore businesses are seeking to
save money by using the space as effectively
as possible. In a non-territorial office, there are
often fewer workspaces than employees, as it
is highly unlikely everyone will be in at one time.
Occupational Psychologist at the University of
Wolverhampton, Dr Jane Carstairs, explains
this kind of working environment has become
possible due to advances in technology.
Wireless technology means staff can set up
a laptop anywhere and even work on mobile
phones.
There are, of course, advantages and
disadvantages to this set-up, particularly in
relation to staff members’ sense of identity.
“Having your own space allows people to
gain control within that small environment and
personalise it with pictures and little things
that define their identity. The threats to that of
the non-territorial office can result in a lack of
motivation and even stress,” Dr Carstairs, from
the School of Applied Sciences, explains.
“There have been some studies that suggest
people find working without the ability to
personalise their space quite a stressful event.
This emphasises how important perceived
control is in being able to cope with stress.
The worst case scenario is that it could lead
to people having time off work. If there is a
reduction in people’s satisfaction with the
environment and job then that can impact on
people’s commitment to the organisation. In
extreme cases they might find a job elsewhere.”
In environments where people do not have
assigned desks, research has found there are
instances of people getting into work early just
so they can occupy a favoured desk. People
may also attempt to personalise the space
by leaving something on a chair or table so
they can return to it the next day. Older staff
in particular report difficulty carrying around
heavy books and laptops and are more
likely to favour a return to conventional office
arrangements.
Another disadvantage is a lack of team
cohesion. Staff members may not be seated in
close proximity to the people they are working
with on particular projects. However, as Jane
explains, there is also conflicting research
indicating that the non-territorial environment
can benefit performance as well.
“If a team is dynamic and different people
work together at different times, you can
choose to sit with them and that could improve
performance for that piece of work. There is
also a suggestion that non-territorial offices
enable the generation of ideas.”
A further advantage is that it is more egalitarian,
and if you get in early enough to grab a
window seat then you are entitled to it. But
Jane says there have been suggestions that
people of higher status will sometimes make it
clear a particular desk ‘belongs’ to them.
Dr Carstairs explains an important factor which
has been widely recognised by researchers
investigating the impact of moving into a new
office environment is consultation with staff.
“It is important to get employees to have buy-
in concerning the design of their space and
their environment, giving them ownership and
control over some aspects,” she adds.
“It is also important to bear in mind the type
of work being done. If people have a highly
cognitive type of job they will often have
more difficulty coping with the physical and
psychological character of an open plan office
than people involved in administrative or routine
work. Staff members will benefit from having
quiet areas where they can hold meetings or do
more demanding work tasks. Many open plan
and non-territorial offices have meeting rooms
specifically for this purpose.”
Jane, who has worked at Wolverhampton for
six years, has been researching workplace
design, and a paper based on her work with
Interior Design Consultant George Mylonas
was presented at the 9th Australian Industrial
Organisational Psychology conference. The
report included recommendations for further
research, and Jane explains teasing out what
it is about the non-territorial office space that
relates to reported improvements or reductions
in performance would be beneficial, as existing
research has produced ambiguous findings.
It would also be useful to assess whether
it is actually the effect of entering a new
environment that is being reported rather than
the office arrangement itself.
She adds: “There is a need for longitudinal
studies to see how employees adapt over time.
There may be savings in terms of space but this
may be coming out in terms of performance
and turnover.
“The key thing is for architects, designers and
managers to be flexible in their approach and to
allow change if it is necessary.”
ReSeaRch 11
Taking the hot desk
Situated in the centre of Wolverhampton, the
University is at the heart of the city. The view
from Professor Caroline Gipps’ office window
looks out over the landmark St Peter’s Church
and across to the council Civic Centre. But
Caroline admits that before she joined the
University, she knew little about the city, and
was pleasantly surprised.
“I first looked at Wolverhampton the night
before the informal visiting day. My husband
and I walked around and I thought ‘this looks
like a nice place’. When I first started at the
University I was surprised at how big it was
and how good the facilities were. I also felt that
it was very well managed.”
Now, six years on, Caroline holds a pivotal role
in the city and has built strong partnerships
with other leading organisations, such as
Wolverhampton City Council, Wolverhampton
Wanderers FC, City of Wolverhampton College
and the Primary Care Trust.
“I think the University is a key player in the
city. In fact, after the City Council, we are the
biggest institution. Our fortunes are inextricably
linked with the fortunes of the city. I work
closely with the Chief Executives or Chairmen
of the other organisations to ensure we are
pulling in the same direction,” she says.
“There is no doubt that the University brings
a lot to the city. For many years we were the
only organisation doing any building and our
students bring a significant amount of income
into the region. The West Midlands has a low
percentage of people with higher skills and that
is where we play the most important role. That
said, there needs to be the right sort of job
available for our graduates to be able to stay in
the region.”
innovation and opportunity
Caroline believes the great strengths of the
University have remained consistent for the last
50 years. The University’s crest features the
words ‘innovation and opportunity’ and she
feels this is absolutely relevant.
“We provide opportunities for young people
and adults to get a higher education
qualification where otherwise they might not
have thought of coming to university. We give
them a good practical degree that changes
their lives. Another strength is the way we work
with business to innovate and support their
aims,” she explains.
The needs of the University’s graduates and
students are at the very core of its mission,
and they remain the best ambassadors for
what the institution seeks to achieve. Caroline
is extremely positive about the thousands
of students who have collected their degree
scrolls during her time.
“Every experience I have had of
Wolverhampton students shows me they are
confident and able to speak for themselves.
Whether it is the Students’ Union sabbatical
officers or other students giving a presentation,
I am always impressed. Our students never let
us down. Recently the Students’ Union gave a
presentation of the Quality Assurance Agency
(QAA) audit, and it was so professional that the
auditors wished they had videoed it to use in
training.
“I have really enjoyed getting to know the
Students’ Union Presidents every year. I
have always had a monthly meeting with
the President and watching them grow in
confidence and voice throughout their year in
office has been a delight.”
highlights
Looking back over the last six years,
there have been many successes and
achievements. The University itself looks
different, with a number of new buildings
opening their doors. The Administration and
Teaching building opened at City Campus
North in 2007, providing excellent space for
learning and teaching as well as offices for
administration staff. Within the last year, the
University of Wolverhampton Business School
relocated to refurbished accommodation at the
City Campus. Over at Walsall, a new Education
and Teaching building opened in 2008 and The
Performance Hub, a new multi-million pound
performing arts centre, will be completed this
summer, ready for the next academic year.
“We have very good teaching facilities. We are
very lucky to have finished them as universities
that need to do building work in future will find
the money hard to find. The one building we
still need to do is a new science facility. The
plans are quite well advanced and we will find
a way of doing that.”
Professor Gipps lists another highlight as the
University’s improved research performance.
The Research Assessment Exercise (RAE)
2008 rated elements of research as world
leading.
“As a lifelong researcher, I was very pleased
about that, and it put to bed the myth that
we are a teaching only institution. It feeds our
knowledge transfer activity, at which we have
always been good, and now I think we are
excellent.”
moving forward
12 PRoFIle
this summer, professor caroline gipps retires from her role as vice-chancellor of the University of wolverhampton after six years of successful leadership. the University has enjoyed many successes, as well as faced challenges, during this period and the higher education landscape looks very different from her early years at the helm. here professor gipps reflects on the various achievements and looks ahead to a new era.
moving forward
PRoFIle 13
There is no doubt the University brings a lot to the city
14 PRoFIle
Turning to the student experience, under
Caroline the University has reviewed the
undergraduate portfolio and is in the process
of reworking postgraduate courses. The aim
was to prepare students for the world of
work. A new position of Dean of Students
was created and a range of services brought
together under this unit. The University has
increased social learning spaces, which are
extremely popular with the student body. The
Students’ Union was transformed into the
Ambika Paul Student Union Centre, which
opened last year offering a coffee bar area
with comfortable seats and plasma screens,
a study zone with computers, meeting rooms
and offices.
Strategic thinking
On a personal note, Caroline says she has
enjoyed the people the most, and setting
up and managing teams in particular. She
highlights working with the Executive team
and the Board of Governors, who have always
been supportive. She also mentions her PAs
Beryl Feely and Louise Tonks, and the Senior
Management Group including the Deans and
Directors.
“I will miss the people the most, and thinking
about strategy. Over the last six to nine
months, the changes we have had to think
about are bigger, more significant and less
thought through than in any other era of
education I can think of. I have really enjoyed
the challenge of thinking through how we
should respond and react to them.”
This is, of course, a reference to the
changes to tuition fees and the withdrawal
of Government funding. Professor Gipps
states this is the biggest challenge facing the
University and the sector as a whole.
“We really have no idea what is going to
happen in applications for September 2012
and the years following. There could be a
downturn nationally, but then I think it will pick
up again as people realise the importance of
getting a degree.”
This is a theme Caroline picked up on in a
public lecture in June, titled Who Goes to
University? And Why it Matters. She explained
that being educated to degree level offers
benefits to the individual in terms of career,
interesting work, increased income and a
range of other non-financial benefits.
“But it also benefits society, in having people
educated to a higher skills level. I am not trying
to say that everybody should go to university
– far from it. I am pleased the Government
is encouraging more apprentices and more
vocational routes into the professions but I do
believe that people who have the ability and
motivation to go to university should be able
to.”
looking ahead
Caroline retires from her position as Vice-
Chancellor this summer. Professor Geoff Layer,
who was previously Deputy Vice-Chancellor
(Academic) at the University of Bradford, has
been appointed to the role. Looking ahead,
PRoFIle 15
Caroline feels she is leaving the University in a
strong position.
“I think our reputation locally and regionally
is strong and we have excellent courses. We
are in a great financial position and have good
reserves and cash flow. Given the future costs
of higher education, we are in a good position
having a large travel-to-study population. The
next few years will be choppy, but we are in as
good a position as we can be.”
And what is Professor Gipps looking forward
to most about her retirement?
“Not getting up early!” she says. “I am also
looking forward to travelling slowly. I have
travelled a lot with work, but I have never really
seen places because of being busy.”
Caroline cites Hong Kong as being her
favourite place she has visited during her time
at Wolverhampton, and her last overseas trip
for the University was for the conferment of
honorary degrees to three significant figures in
India, which included her first visit to Chennai.
As well as travelling, Caroline says she will
still be doing a few things related to higher
education. She will continue to Chair the
Higher Education Academy national fellowship
scheme and she will be assisting the Frank
Buttle Trust. She would also like to write a
book, which would be a biography, and she
and her husband are renovating a house in
London.
Until recently, Caroline would have listed being
President of the British Educational Research
Association as her greatest achievement.
But she has received the good news that her
book, Beyond Testing, will be republished as a
special edition because it is considered to be a
classic in its field.
“I would have to say that is my highlight now,
and I’m tickled pink,” she adds.
And she still has an ambition to fulfil. Caroline
will become a grandparent for the first time this
summer, and she says she would like to teach
her grandchildren to sail, as she taught both
her sons.
When asked if she has a favourite memory
from her time as Vice-Chancellor, Caroline
recalls a striking incident involving a group of
students.
I will miss the people the most, and thinking about strategy.
“About four years ago, I was walking through
the Harrison Learning Centre entrance to
the campus, probably to get a coffee, and I
walked past a rather rowdy group of students.
I slowed down to listen to what was going on.
“One young woman was telling the others
about a fantastic lecture she had been to. She
said, ‘I have just been to the most fantastic
lecture – it was on the Enlightenment. It
was mind blowing.’ I just thought that was
wonderful. It encapsulated what we do – we
get people to think.
“What I like about that is the motto of that
period of history, the Enlightenment, was ‘Dare
to Think’ and that is exactly what this lecture
had got this young woman to do.”
16 FeaTURe
as lord alan Sugar would no doubt tell you, launching
a business is no mean feat. But a programme at the
University of wolverhampton is enabling budding
entrepreneurs to launch a business idea alongside
their studies.
SPEED WM offers students and graduates from any course
the opportunity to develop their business ideas while
receiving specialist advice and support.
Partially funded by the European Regional Development
Fund, SPEED WM provides students with experienced
mentoring support, tailored training, networking
opportunities and a limited amount of financial support.
Here we meet some of the students and graduates
benefitting from the programme.
SPEED stars
Lynsey Harris
Launching a quirky jewellery business through SPEED WM has
helped Lynsey Harris to increase her self confidence while doing
something she loves.
Her business Lynsey Luu includes items such as bracelets and
necklaces with comical elements inspired by things she enjoys
like Monty Python and Terry Pratchett. The Textiles graduate is
now hoping to expand into prints for stationery and clothing.
She says: “You can get jewellery from anywhere on the high
street but I wanted to offer something quirky and a bit different.
I wanted to offer people things that I like.
“I had produced the brand myself but SPEED WM helped
me to get business cards and other materials. It also paid for
the moulds so I can produce my items in mass quantities.
My mentor really helped as she is always there but does not
sugarcoat things – she tells me the truth.
“The benefits of doing this alongside your studies are that you
can use things like the School of Art & Design studio space. I
also used my modules towards my business, for example my
final major project is about using print for stationery and shoes.
“My self-confidence was very low before I did SPEED WM.
We had a talk from business mentor Ian James and it was so
inspiring. The programme has changed my life.”
FeaTURe 17
For more information, visit
www.wlv.ac.uk/speed
Gavin Phillips
Freelance animator and illustrator Gavin Phillips found
SPEED WM enabled him to think big with his business
plans.
Producing bespoke content for the educational,
commercial and cultural sectors, Gavin completed a
year out before starting on the SPEED WM programme
in 2010.
SPEED WM has helped Gavin’s business Cyberdonk
Developments to work in partnership with other
companies, enabling him to take on bigger projects. One partnership has been with a
company called Igloo working on using 360 projector screens with the Xbox Connect. He
hopes to produce a full animated film in 360 in the future.
Gavin, who graduated with a BA (Hons) Animation in 2009, says: “The mentoring has
been excellent. You have the framework around you, so when you get into an area you
don’t understand there is someone there to help you through it. The main support has
been the advice and guidance.
“It has helped me to have the confidence to branch out into other areas and begin to
turn those potentials into reality. As an artist you only have two hands so you can reach
capacity really quickly. SPEED WM has enabled me to create strong partnerships with
other companies that can help me take on bigger projects and ideas.”
Duduzile Moyo
Whilst growing up in southern Africa,
Duduzile Moyo always enjoyed looking
at beautiful objects and finding out
how they were made. Now she is
able to put that passion to good use
through her business, Chic Exotik
Interiors Limited, which sells home
accessories with a contemporary
African twist.
Duduzile, who is about to start her
third year of an Interior Design course,
says: “My vision is to have a design
studio. I want to source as many
creative things as possible from Africa
– it has so much to give and I want to
be the person that will be the link.
“SPEED WM helped me in terms of
the knowledge, the expertise, the
contacts and the funding. The best
thing is that it has developed me
as a person. I am able to deal with
situations and challenges which is
what you need in a business but also
as an individual.
“I think it helps to link what we are
studying with our business, as we
need to look at the bigger picture. It
has helped me focus on what I want
to be doing – designing beautiful
spaces.”
Luke Mills
After working for other people for ten years,
Luke Mills felt it was time to give running his own
business a go.
Set to graduate from the School of Technology in
2012 with a Masters in Computer Science, Luke
launched Computer and Information Systems, a
business focused on software development and
background software for e-commerce websites.
Luke says the help from mentors has been really beneficial. “I’m a software developer, not
a businessman, so SPEED WM has helped me to build up the business side. It encourages
you to manage your expectations of what you are going to get out of your business and
the work you need to put in. The last three months I have been working seven-day weeks
but it is for a good cause.
“My mentor Phil Oakley really helped me to focus, and it is good being able to ask
questions. I wanted to submit a proposal for a tender so I emailed SPEED WM and
the mentors for advice. They came back to me with the information to put together a
proposal.”
And Luke hopes to expand his business in the future by employing someone from a
college part-time, to enable him to focus on research and development to build and
advance his products.
the benefits for international students
of coming to the Uk to study are well
documented. degrees from this country
remain highly regarded, and students
experience a different culture and way
of life. But it is not always possible for
students to travel overseas to study,
and the development of transnational
education (tne) is enabling them to
reap the rewards of a university degree
developed in the Uk.
TNE refers to education provision from one
country delivered in another, and the University
of Wolverhampton has been a key exponent
of this mode of study for some years. The
University delivers programmes in a range of
subjects at partner institutions all over the world,
from China to Cyprus and from Russia to Sri
Lanka. In most cases, the students are working
to the same programme as their counterparts
in the UK. And at the end of it all, the students
have the choice of collecting their degree scrolls
close to home or travelling to the UK to attend
graduation ceremonies in Wolverhampton.
Long-standing partners include the School
of Computing and Professional Education
(SCOPE) in Hong Kong, which offers courses
in law, business and construction and Asia
Pacific School of Sports and Business
(APSSB) in Singapore, which has a partnership
with the School of Sport, Performing Arts
and Leisure and provides courses in sports
management and sports coaching. A more
recent addition includes Sri Lankan-based
Columbo International Nautical and Engineering
College (CINEC), where students can enrol
on engineering courses, with a suite of other
courses starting in September 2011.
China
Malaysia
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Qatar Hong Kong
Cyprus
France
Wolverhampton RussiaGlobal view
“Some of the work we are doing currently is
looking at ways of supporting students more
directly at the TNE institution so students here
and over there can learn from one another.”
There have already been examples of students
working together on projects with international
partners. A small group of School of Technology
students on the BSc (Hons) Construction
Management course worked with students in
Hong Kong and both reported that it broadened
their understanding. With technology such
as Skype, there are further opportunities for
interaction between students in Wolverhampton
and those studying the same courses overseas.
Rishma adds: “Wider internationalisation is about
more than recruitment strategies. It is something
that makes a difference in terms of the curriculum
and the mindset of the student, so when they
graduate they are going to be more employable.”
18 INTeRNaTIoNal
Traditionally popular courses have been those
focused on business, engineering, computing,
leisure and tourism, but new markets are being
developed. A BA (Hons) in Broadcasting and
Journalism will be available at Han Chiang in
Malaysia and work is under way to deliver one
focused on Applied (Occupational) Psychology
in Singapore.
Rishma Dattani, Deputy Director, International
Centre, says the courses are ones that serve
that particular market or region, and the
University is striving to build up its portfolio to
include some form of partnership with each of
its eight Academic Schools.
There are two modes of delivery in TNE.
The ‘flying faculty’ refers to academic staff
travelling to the partner institution to deliver
the particular course and modules, usually on
a block basis. This has been the core method
of teaching until recently, with a move towards
‘supported delivery’. This shifts focus onto the
partner institution providing the teaching and
assessment, and the University supporting in a
quality assurance and monitoring role.
internationalisation agenda
Rishma explains one of the reasons for the
University’s commitment to TNE is that it
supports the internationalisation agenda.
“Our strategy is not simply about students
coming here or us having partnerships
overseas. There is such a lot of value in terms of
the benefits for staff. They learn from staff at our
partner institutions about the different learning
and teaching pedagogies, cultural aspects and
building international case studies that can be
used with students studying at home.
China
Malaysia
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Qatar Hong Kong
Cyprus
France
Wolverhampton Russia
INTeRNaTIoNal 19
global context
The academic staff ensure that teaching
material is contextualised, so it is not UK centric
and is relevant to the international students’
experiences and knowledge. They use local
examples to support concepts, theories and
processes and in turn the lecturers bring
that information back and weave it into their
teaching in the UK.
Aside from the wealth of knowledge brought
by the University’s academic experts, there
are further benefits for students at the partner
institutions.
“We have found that although we have over
2,500 international students studying here in
Wolverhampton, there are still a proportion
that are not able to come. This could be due
to costs or other commitments. By delivering
courses more locally to them, the fees are going
to be slightly lower, as are the living expenses
and travel costs, and they may have the option
to combine work or other responsibilities with
studying part-time. As an institution, we support
the widening participation agenda, and this is
similar, but in a global context.”
Rishma explains the University is investigating
ways to support partner institutions further, for
example with recruitment.
“We are looking at delivering transnational
education in a more strategic and multi-
dimensional way. The next stage in our thinking
and development is a Global Hub. Students
would spend a semester or year at one place
and then travel to another for the following
semester. For example, students could enrol in
Cyprus and complete their first year there, their
second in Wolverhampton and return home for
their third.”
pivotal role
The International Centre at the University has a
pivotal role in the plans to develop transnational
education. The team strives to provide central
support to the Academic Schools offering
the courses, and continues to investigate
opportunities for further collaboration with
current and potential partners. There are
also plans to expand provision beyond
undergraduate and postgraduate programmes
to include short courses, staff development and
continuous professional development (CPD).
With a strong vision and an excellent track-
record in the delivery of transnational education,
the University of Wolverhampton is well placed
to take on the challenges posed by a new era
in higher education. The international market is
broad and diverse, and exciting opportunities
for collaboration are never far away.
For more information, visit www.wlv.ac.uk/tne
20 BUSINeSS
of service.
He adds: “We have a great product and good
relationships with our customers. We also have
a sound strategy for moving forward with the
company and a good financial track record
despite the recession. PebblePad is principally
used in education but can be used in business
and professional organisations. We still have lots
of potential for the future and I think the judges
liked that. I also think they were impressed with
our range of marketing activities and the way
we have worked with our customers to develop
our product. Internationally we have already
expanded into Australia as a market, picking up
15 customers and we now have an employee
there, so they saw the global potential.”
PebblePad is an online personal system that
allows people to record and plan their activities,
put them together on a structured website and
create presentations. For example, if a student
has a 3,000 word essay, the tutor could ask
for an action plan about what they are planning
to write and then record how they have
reacted to feedback. The lecturer may then
see a first draft of the essay and give feedback
before the student submits the final version.
As well as universities, PebblePad is used by
professional bodies for continuous professional
development (CPD) which requires participants
to record aspects such as the time spent
on CPD.
The benefits for students are clear, as Colin
explains: “By recording and reflecting on
activities, individuals develop a deeper level of
understanding. Learners often say that only by
stepping back can they fully understand the
bigger picture of what they are learning. With
PebblePad being an internet-based system,
students can access it from anywhere and on
a range of devices such as mobile phones.
It also lasts the whole time the student is at
the institution and beyond so individuals can
develop a rich picture of their learning and see
the journey they have made. We often hear of
students creating a portfolio of themselves to
send to potential employers to support their job
applications.”
Pebble Learning has had a long relationship
with the University. Colin and co-founder
and Development Director Shane Sutherland
both worked at the University previously, and
the first version of PebblePad was piloted
at Wolverhampton during 2005/06. This
pilot allowed the company to gain valuable
feedback to help develop it into a commercial
product. Pebble Learning also has strong
recruitment links with the University. Of the 17
people currently working at the firm, 13 are
Wolverhampton graduates, and Colin stresses
this is because of the high calibre of students
at the University. They also work closely with
the Blended Learning Unit and IT Services
to continue to develop PebblePad so it can
meet the educational needs of students at
Wolverhampton and beyond.
In addition, the company is based at the Telford
Campus, located in a grow on space at the
e-Innovation Centre. The Centre provides
start-up and growing businesses with state-of-
the-art accommodation in a modern building
with hi-tech support. As Pebble Learning has
grown, the company has taken on more and
more space within the landmark building.
“We are a technology company so a
fundamental requirement is for a computer
infrastructure that works, as is having a modern,
comfortable working environment. Having a
University address was particularly helpful when
we were starting as it gave us credibility with
potential customers.”
The relationship has developed further
through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership
(KTP) with the University. KTPs are a three-
way partnership between a company, a
in the last ten years, the way students
learn has transformed. while books and
written exams still have their place in the
lecture theatres of a modern university or
college, online learning has a central role
in the teaching and assessment process.
Pebble Learning, based in the University’s
e-Innovation Centre, has been at the forefront
of developments in this field. In 2004, the
company identified a gap in the market for
an e-portfolio tool and developed the online
personal system PebblePad that allows
individuals to record and plan activities and
create presentations. Principally used by the
education sector, the business has the capacity
to expand into other markets, and is already
making significant in-roads internationally.
This success story was recognised recently
when Pebble Learning won the Shropshire
Company of the Year Award. The company
was also a finalist in the Technology,
Enterprise and Innovation category of the
awards, organised by Shropshire Chamber
of Commerce. This achievement follows on
from a highly prestigious platinum award at
the Instructional Management Systems (IMS)
Learning Impact Awards in California last
year, as a result of a joint submission with the
University’s Blended Learning Unit.
“We were excited and elated to win the
Shropshire Company of the Year Award. It
was a surprise as we were up against stiff
competition from big organisations so we were
genuinely delighted to pick up the top prize,”
says Colin Dalziel, co-founder and Operations
Director of Pebble Learning.
The Company of the Year award recognised
all-round performance, and Colin believes that
contributing factors to its success are a quality
product that meets the needs of customers
combined with a focus on providing a high level
Pebble powerpebble learning, an innovative business based at the University’s telford campus, was recently named Shropshire company of the Year. the business has a long and successful relationship with the University, which is continuing to develop through the employment of talented graduates and a knowledge transfer partnership.
BUSINeSS 21
highly qualified graduate (or ‘Associate’) and
University academics to work on a strategic
project for the business. For Pebble Learning,
the two-year project involves Associate
Konstantinos Kourmpoglou investigating cloud
technology and how this could support the
company’s development, alongside academic
Steve Garner from the School of Technology.
Colin explains: “One of the services we offer
is for Pebblepad to be supplied as a fully
hosted and managed service. The role of
the KTP Associate is to reseach how we
provide this service better by researching
server technologies. The aim is to make
recommendations for improving our current
provision as well as investigating options for
the future.
“Traditionally our model is to own and manage
our own servers, but now cloud computing
is increasingly popular, where the server is
provided by a collection of servers usually made
available by a large specialist organisation.
“Part of the role of the KTP is to look at how
PebblePad could take advantage of this
technology. There may be a cost benefit, but
what is more likely is that we can capitalise
on higher capacity and improve resilience.
For example if a server we are using reaches
capacity because of heavy load, rather than
the system slowing down, it switches over to
the cloud and uses capacity outside the normal
Pebblepad. This would be particularly useful at
peak times, for example when 10,000 students
are all trying to submit assignments on the
same day.”
Although it is early days for the KTP, Colin
says the benefits include accessing the rich
resources of skills and facilities at the University.
It also enables them to dedicate someone to a
potential area of growth for the business.
Looking ahead, the company is working on
redesigning the system to enable organisations
to create bespoke forms for their learners in
any learning situation and expanding into other
sectors. The international market offers areas
for growth, and the new version of PebblePad
will provide multi-language support to enable
local versions anywhere in the world. With the
support of the University of Wolverhampton,
Pebble Learning is looking forward to
continued growth.
For more information about Pebble Learning,
please visit www.pebblepad.co.uk
22 PeoPle
Putting students first
ken harris is the University of
wolverhampton Students’ Union
president. in april, ken won a second term
as president, only the fifth person since
1931 to do so at the University. ken is a
mature student, having spent 14 years
working in sales before deciding to take
his interest in British Sign language to the
next level by applying to the University.
During his first year as President, the Students’
Union was completely refurbished thanks to
a donation from the Ambika Paul Foundation
and HEFCE’s Matched Funding scheme. The
success of the fundraising project resulted in
the University receiving an award at the recent
CASE Europe 2011 Leadership, Matched
Funding and Volunteer awards.
what is the role of the Students’
Union president?
I am the direct link between students and the
University. One of the things I do is update
the Vice-Chancellor about student matters
such as any needs or problems the students
have. Representation is the main thing we do,
and that can be at a local or national level. It
can also be for students that need advocacy
or support at a University hearing, general
advice on their studies or the social side of
the University. I also lead the Union Executive
team, which includes the Vice-Presidents and
the part-time officers.
why did you decide to run for a
second year?
It has been an amazing year and I have been
able to achieve so many positive things with
the rest of the team. Some of the projects
couldn’t be realised in a year, for example the
re-opening of the Students’ Union at Walsall,
which will happen in September. I want to
cement what we have done in the first year and
carry it through to the second year.
what are your plans for the
year ahead?
We have been discussing how the Learning
Centres’ opening hours could be adapted
to further meet student needs. I also want to
focus on helping students to get better access
to grants and other funding that is available.
There is money set aside to help students so
we want to make them aware of alternative
sources of funding.
I also hope to spend more time at Walsall and
increase the Students’ Union presence.
the Students’ Union has been
transformed in the last year thanks to
the ambika paul foundation and the
Matched funding scheme – how has
this made a difference to students?
It has made us more visible and accessible to
students. We went out and spoke to students
and asked them what they wanted from their
Students’ Union. One of the main things was
social space where they can relax and study.
We took that on board and that has helped us
to create the new SU.
Before we were hidden away from students,
but they are the reason we are here. It is
really important that we are right at the heart
of where students are. People know who we
are and where we are now, so we have seen
an increase in the numbers of students using
our services, coming to us for representation
and getting involved in our activities and
volunteering. People come to the union now
and use us, even just to have a coffee between
lectures.
what sort of feedback have you
received from students about the
new-look Students’ Union?
They have said it is relaxing, vibrant and a
place they want to spend time in. I have people
come over to get advice about all sorts of
things, from their course or graduation or even
where the prayer room is.
You have studied an undergraduate
and a postgraduate course at
wolverhampton – what do you think
are the strengths of the University?
The cultural diversity. There are lots of people
from different cultures and backgrounds and
everyone just gets along. I studied a BA (Hons)
in Deaf Studies with History and that course
has a great reputation, especially among the
Deaf community. I am doing a Masters in
Conflict Studies and the lecturers are experts
in their field.
what are your plans and ambitions
after this year?
I’d like to either continue with research
in Deaf Studies or working for a Deaf
organisation. At the moment I do a lot of
work related to international students and
student employability and I am finding that
really interesting so maybe something in that
area. But I would definitely like to put my sign
language to use.
if you were going to sum up the
University of wolverhampton
Students’ Union in three words, what
would they be?
Putting students first.
what do you enjoy most about your
role?
Every day is different. I get to work with a team
of officers and staff to make positive changes
for current and future students. It is never a
dull day! I am never bored – there is always
something new.
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PeoPle 23
video gaming has been a lucrative
industry worldwide since the 1980s and
Matt clark, Sam cobley and John tearle
are not alone in having spent a large part
of their childhood engrossed in games
consoles. however, few people can
claim to have made a career out of their
favourite pastime, let alone a successful
business with financial backing from a
major firm and interest from nearly a
quarter of a million consumers – without
actually having a product on the shelves.
Raw Games is a computer games company
which was formed in June 2010 by John,
Matt and Sam. The three friends met at the
University of Wolverhampton whilst studying
the same course and had all wanted to get into
the industry for some time, as Sam explains:
“Computer Games Design is one of those
dream jobs I always wanted to do but hadn’t
seriously considered as a career. After I left
school I got involved in the computer modifying
community and realised that I wanted to make
games for the rest of my life. I didn’t have any
formal qualifications in the area and saw the
University offered a degree to give me the best
chance of breaking into the industry.”
Less than a year after it was founded Raw
Games received the backing of AIM-listed
Legendary Investments, which acquired
an initial 42.5 per cent equity stake for an
undisclosed sum. The company’s first game,
which is currently under development, is called
‘The Spire’ and has already generated a rush
of excitement in the market. A teaser trailer for
the game received more than 230,000 views
within the first week of release.
Raw Games also works closely with
universities in the region, including
Wolverhampton and Birmingham, to help
games development students and recent
graduates get the right skills they need to
break into the industry. John emphasises the
trio is keen to acknowledge the skills and
experiences they gained from undertaking
their degree.
“Our time at University gave us some great
experience with project and resource
management. As we did lots of group work
we soon became an efficient team who met
deadlines and produced results. Obviously this
has proved invaluable when running our own
company and managing a team of developers.”
The team is also aware their success in the
current financial climate is something of a
rarity, especially in the notoriously competitive
games industry and with very little business
experience between them, as John adds:
“Starting our own business seemed to be a
Name: Matt clark, Sam cobley, John tearle
Course: Ba (hons) computer games design
Year of Graduation: 2010
24 SUcceSS SToRy
Raw GamesGraduate success story
great way to break into the industry whilst
maintaining creative control over the project we
had worked so hard on during our final year.”
Matt highlights that a big part of the group’s
success is their working relationship and their
shared history as students.
“The immediate difference is that they aren’t
just my work colleagues, they are my best
friends. We get along like any close group of
University mates would do, which makes the
working atmosphere less tense and more
productive. I’m a strong believer in a relaxed
working environment when it comes to the
creative industries. It’s very exciting to be
working with people who are as passionate as
you about making games.”
Although the team is currently working on their
eagerly anticipated release ‘The Spire’, their
plans for the future reflect their enthusiasm for
the constant advancements within the industry
they are now a part of, as Matt says:
“We want to continue to make top quality
content for our games. Our team is highly
skilled already, but there is always room for
improvement. Having that positive attitude will
hopefully attract more people with equally as
much talent and commitment to developing
content for current and future projects here at
Raw Games.”
Teamwork is ultimately what the three
entrepreneurs credit the most for their
success, and forms a major part of the advice
they give to students wishing to follow in their
footsteps, as Sam says:
“Get involved with a group project as soon as
possible, either with fellow students or one of
the many computer modifying teams out there.
It will provide you with great team working skills
whilst teaching you the development process
and make you attractive to employers. Finally,
always strive to be the best and don’t give up!”
WhaT’S oN GUIDe 25
August October
September
What’s onGuideUniversity of wolverhampton open day – find out about a range of courses, meet the lecturers and current students and tour the excellent facilities.
Date: Saturday, 20 august 2011
Time: 10am to 3pm
Location: wolverhampton city and walsall campuses
Contact: enquiries team
Website: www.wlv.ac.uk/opendays
Call: 0800 953 3222*
University of wolverhampton open day – find out about a range of courses, meet the lecturers and current students and tour the excellent facilities.
Date: Saturday, 8 october 2011
Time: 10am to 3pm
Location: wolverhampton city and walsall campuses
Contact: enquiries team
Website: www.wlv.ac.uk/opendays
Call: 0800 953 3222*
the crystal lecture – an annual event for business people hosted jointly by the University of Wolverhampton Business School and Chartered Management Institute. This year’s speaker is Terry Last, CEO of Tarmac.
Date: tuesday, 18 october 2011
Time: 6pm to 8.30pm
Location: Mc001
Contact: Marie porello
Call: 01902 323874
2011 University of wolverhampton graduations – students from all Academic schools receive their awards.
Date: thursday, 1 September to friday, 9 September 2011
Location: the grand theatre, wolverhampton
Ma degree Show – students from the School of Art & Design exhibit their work.
Date: friday, 24 September to Sunday, 9 october 2011
Location: the public, new Street, west Bromwich
Email: [email protected]
Call: 01902 322058
Website: www.thepublic.com
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University of Wolverhampton Wulfruna Street Wolverhampton West Midlands WV1 1LY
tel: 0800 953 3222* fax: 01902 32 25 17 web: www.wlv.ac.uk/dialogue
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