Annual Review A Distinctive Learning Experience

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1 A Distinctive Learning Experience

2 Contents Achievements... 3 A stimulating learning culture Forewords... 6 Inspiring staff Mission, Vision and Foundational Values.. 10 Excellence in research and innovation #MyChesterStory Publications Our campuses and sites Staff engagement Conferences Factfile A holistic student experience Joining the University community The student journey Outstanding student support Chaplaincy Enriching educational opportunities Volunteering and mentoring Innovative student research and creative projects Enhancing employability Eminent guests Investment in facilities Commitment to sustainability A community focus Outreach activities Educational partnerships Engaging with business Beyond our boundaries Global connections Honorary graduates The alumni community Senior Staff and Members of the University Council Financial Results Established: The University is one of the longest established English higher education establishments still in its original form, predating all but Oxford, Cambridge, London and Durham. Students: 20,700 (69% undergraduates, 31% postgraduates). Staff: 1,660. Chancellor: Dr Gyles Brandreth. Vice-Chancellor: Canon Professor Tim Wheeler DL. Campuses: Four in Chester, one in Warrington, one in Thornton, in addition to NHS sites on the Wirral and in Crewe and Macclesfield. Partner organisation: University Centre Shrewsbury (with Shropshire Council). UK strategic alliance partner: University Centre Reaseheath. Associate colleges: Coleg Cambria (from ); University College Isle of Man; Wirral Metropolitan College; West Cheshire College (until ). Honorary graduates include: HRH The Prince of Wales KG, KT, GCB, OM, AK, CD, QSO, PC, ADC; Joan Bakewell, The Rt Hon Baroness Bakewell of Stockport, DBE; The Most Rev and Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York; Terry Waite CBE; Sir Ian Botham OBE; Loyd Grossman CBE, FSA; Sir Andrew Motion FRSL; Sir Ken Dodd OBE; Tim Firth; Sue Johnston OBE; Phil Redmond CBE; Gyles Brandreth; Matthew Kelly OBE; Estelle Morris, The Rt Hon Baroness Morris of Yardley; Ronald Pickup; The Earl of Derby; Sir Tony Robinson OBE; Neville Chamberlain CBE; Viscount Michael Ashbrook JP, DL; Professor Sir John Enderby CBE, FRS; Shirley Hughes CBE; Beth Tweddle MBE; Colin Parry OBE; The Rt Hon Frank Field DL, MP; Martin Lewis OBE; Kenneth Baker, The Rt Hon Lord Baker of Dorking; David Pickering FCA, DL, FIoD; Professor Alan Emery FRCP, FRCPE, FLS, FRSA, FRSE; Gillian Burns MBE; Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBE; the Singh Twins; John Lea DL; Colin Daniels; Mark Cavendish MBE; David Parr; Sir Philip Craven MBE; Dame Carol Black DBE, FRCP; Amanda Wakeley OBE; Sir David Lees; Roderick Hunt MBE; Professor Sir Cary L Cooper CBE, FAcSS; Helen Willetts; Lieutenant General Professor Sir Edmund Burton KBE, DL, MA, DSc, FBCS, FIET. 2

3 Achievements Achievements 4th out of 130 institutions and first in the North West 15th overall out of 117 institutions for student experience 26th out of 129 institutions for teaching quality 95.3% of undergraduate leavers in employment/ further study Proportion of academic staff holding a recognised teaching qualification Higher Education Statistics Agency/Higher Education Academy report to Higher Education Funding Council for England, December th for academic experience 10th for student welfare Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey th out of 129 institutions for student experience = 61st out of 129 institutions overall The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018 Percentage of UK domiciled fulltime first degree undergraduate leavers in employment/further study six months after completing their course Higher Education Statistics Agency, Employment of Leavers UK Performance Indicator for Million University s contribution to the region, according to an economic impact assessment report in 2015 World-leading research in 14 areas of the University s research activity 27,801 hours of voluntary work contributed by students and staff in the last year 24,500 raised for charity by Chester Students Union Clubs and Societies 65 companies are supported by Commercial Operations at Thornton Science Park, Riverside Innovation Centre and NoWFOOD, employing a total of 554 company staff and engaging with 46 students 3

4 Achievements Equality Challenge Unit for commitment to advancement of gender equality: representation, progression and success University of Chester (overall) and Department of Psychology Positive judgement in all areas relating to academic standards and the quality of learning opportunities for students (Institutional audit, 2010) First University in the North West White Ribbon Campaign to end violence against women Return to Practice Course of the Year Return to Practice (Nursing) programme at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Leighton Hospital) 1st Food and Drink category Hospitality and Residential Services Highly Commended Research and Development Student category, Alex Lerczak Student Experience Award The Porters Employer Engagement Award Faculty of Business and Management Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship Environmental Industry Award Sustainability Unit Energy and Carbon Lab University Entrepreneur Award Alumna, Emma Woollard for The Language Guys External Relations Team of the Year (Highly Commended) Marketing, Recruitment and Admissions University Leadership Award (Highly Commended) Ian White HR Excellence in Research award from the European Commission Participant in National Union of Students sustainability programme Top 50 Future List Alumna, Stephanie Hooker North West Engineering Excellence Awards Design Project of the Year Harry Small, Mechanical Engineering student Wolfram Young Researcher Award Luis Ferras, Mathematics PhD student Winner of the Energy category of the Daily Telegraph STEM Awards Maisie Snowdon, Mechanical Engineering student 4

5 Achievements 20th overall out of 127 institutions 100% for Mathematics in the 'value added' category 1st for German for Teaching Quality and Student Experience 85.9% overall satisfaction score and top 10 for international Whatuni? Student Choice Awards 2017 =1st nationally (for comparison of degree results with entry qualifications) The Guardian 2018 Subject League Tables 2nd for Chemical Engineering and Music for Teaching Quality 3rd for Biological Sciences for Teaching Quality The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide % above the sector-wide average National Student Survey st out of 154 universities in the People & Planet University League with a First Class Honours award for environmental and ethical performance Teaching Excellence Framework 2017 Rated Outstanding by Ofsted for Primary and Secondary Initial Teacher Education the only provider in the North of England to achieve such recognition in the last three frameworks of inspection 5

6 Forewords Forewords Canon Professor T J Wheeler DL Vice-Chancellor and Principal Our 2017 Annual Review reflects on how the University provides A distinctive learning experience for its students a factor which has always been of paramount importance to its success and longevity. This hallmark is illustrated by some of the key institutional achievements, such as: finishing ninth for academic experience out of 117 institutions in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey (and 15th overall); gaining Silver in the Teaching Excellence Framework; and being ranked fourth out of 130 institutions (and first in the North West) for the proportion of academic staff holding a recognised teaching qualification. The tradition of excellence in Primary and Secondary Initial Teacher Education has been upheld since These areas are rated as Outstanding and we have the distinction of being the only provider in the North of England to achieve such recognition in the last three frameworks of inspection. The diverse and innovative types of teaching provided by the University s seven different campuses, and the growing array of courses designed to meet the needs of both students and their current and future employers, mean that it remains at the forefront of higher education provision in the region. The opportunities for students to broaden their horizons through activities such as volunteering, Work Based Learning, Chester Students Union (CSU) activities and Study Abroad, enable students to tailor their learning experience according to their aspirations, while making a real difference to the wider community. As a result, this Annual Review contains a whole host of examples where students have capitalised on their time in higher education in order to accomplish their goals. The many and substantial achievements of our student body, and the University as a whole, would not be possible without the wisdom, imagination and dedication of staff, who provide a supportive and inspiring educational environment, in which students can flourish. In addition, the often revolutionary research conducted by staff and students is enhancing the profile of the University, establishing links with institutions and researchers worldwide, making a real contribution to the knowledge economy and creating a vibrant learning culture. I was delighted to welcome the new Chancellor, Dr Gyles Brandreth, to his inauguration in Chester Cathedral and we look forward to enjoying his closer involvement with the institution a relationship which began over 20 years ago when he was a staunch advocate for the University in his role as MP for Chester. He recognised then the value that the University brings to the North West, as a major employer, raising the profile of the area internationally, attracting students, increasing visitor numbers, supporting local communities and developing international links. Now, it brings in an estimated economic value of approximately 400 million each year. Some of my highlights in include the graduation of the University s first engineering students from Thornton Science Park and the opening of the industry-focused Energy Centre on that campus; the continued development of public sector and creative industries courses at the Warrington Campus and its reinforced connections with the local community; a steady increase in students at University Centre Shrewsbury and a second Gold medal in succession for the institution s show garden at the prestigious Shrewsbury Flower Show; the growing relationship with University Centre Reaseheath and establishment of the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Science; the thriving arts scene at the Kingsway Campus; the engagement with the business world and sector-leading activity around the new degree apprenticeships at the Queen s Park Campus; the many accomplishments of students and staff in the Faculties of Education and Children s Services and Faculty of Health and Social Care at the Riverside Campus as they embrace careers of service, true to our Mission; the sporting achievements of the Men s Basketball team, who won the BUCS Northern Cup and Women s Eight Rowing team, who finished 11th nationally and qualified for Henley for the second year in succession; and the range of eminent guests and home-grown talent, who share their knowledge and expertise with staff, students and the wider public at the Parkgate Road Campus. One of the most exciting and significant initiatives in the history of the University is the proposed development of a Chester Medical School, which would seek to address the lack of a specialist training facility for doctors in Cheshire, Wirral and Shropshire and national skills shortages. This facility would allow the expansion of training for health and social care workers in the area, introduce specialist medical facilities for the local community and help to relieve service pressures. It would also position the University very favourably for the future in an increasingly competitive higher education market in the UK and internationally. I am proud and privileged to share all the examples on the following pages, which give a flavour of how the University and its committed staff continue to provide a distinctive learning experience for students, a constant thread throughout its 178-year history. I would like to thank every staff member and student who has contributed to the University s progress over the past year and we look forward to the next 12 months with optimism. 6

7 Forewords The Rt Rev Dr Peter Forster Lord Bishop of Chester, Lord President of the University Council and Pro-Chancellor Chester Students Union Sabbatical team The University continues to develop in a most pleasing and encouraging way, consolidating initiatives of recent years and planning for the future. The UK higher education sector is vibrant and diverse and increasingly competitive. Each institution needs to play to its strengths, and for the University of Chester this will include Professor Tim Wheeler and The Rt Rev Dr Peter Forster. drawing on its particular traditions and history to frame a distinctive student experience. The Annual Review illustrates this in various ways, and provides a rich testimony to our strengths. Above all, though, there are lots of ways in which we can further improve what we offer to the noble world of university education and research in the years ahead. At the heart of Chester Students Union's (CSU) work are our core values of democracy, inclusivity, representation, supporting students and staff, and engaging with the community and our valued stakeholders. This year has been exceptional in terms of demonstrating these, with productive campaigns; a record-breaking number of students actively involved in clubs and societies; sporting success; the enhancement of the student experience and the empowerment of the student voice. CSU champions the interests of students through its partnership with the University. Twentytwo members of the Students Union Council were recruited to represent students across the Chester campuses, debating, engaging with and carrying out projects on behalf of students. We work in close collaboration with the University to support and manage the Student Academic Representatives (StARs). In , no fewer than 870 StARs were recruited and trained to act as the liaison between the departments and students, to ensure that students gain the most from their academic experience. CSU also held the annual Above and Beyond Awards (AABs), now in their fourth year, which celebrate outstanding work from staff and StARs nominated by, and voted for, the students themselves. CSU engaged with over 4,000 students over the year, gathering feedback, opinions and ideas relating to academic and non-academic issues and services. For example, research was conducted into the key environmental issues for students. As a result, we lobbied successfully to install solar panels on the CSU building and our Waste not, want not campaign collected 861 bags for the British Heart Foundation, raising 12,054 For these actions, we achieved Gold and the Environmental Hero Award at the Green Impact Awards. Students also ran a community clean-up day in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council, helping to dispose of large unwanted items and tidying up the areas around the Garden Quarter for the benefit of local residents. A record-breaking 4,000 members joined our sports clubs and societies, helped by the Activities Team and Sabbatical Officers #ILoveCSUCampaign. We are proud of all their achievements, which include improving sporting links with the community, supporting national campaigns, raising a phenomenal 24,500 for charity ( 3,500 more than last year) and significant competitive success. Varsity 2017 saw more than 450 students travelling to Salford to compete in a range of sports. Chester did not win this time, but there s always next year! In the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) competitions, four new teams entered the 7

8 Forewords leagues and the sports teams had a 51% win rate overall against other North West universities, ensuring that the overall league position of 72nd was maintained. There were no fewer than seven league winners this year, three of them from the Netball Club. Two teams made the cup finals, Women s Water Polo and Men s Basketball, and the latter was triumphant in the BUCS Northern Conference Cup, having surpassed its runner-up position last year. Through a new CSU Media Team, we hope to raise awareness of the great work done by our Sports and Societies within the University and the wider community and, in turn, encourage students to develop better communication skills. Our Advice and Representation Team (ARC) worked with over 750 students, to provide support throughout their University experience. ARC hand-delivered information booklets to all first years properties, prompting an increase in accommodation queries. Contractual advice is the largest area of demand and we want to ensure a fairer deal for students on accommodation through lobbying and campaign activity. ARC also highlighted sexual health, facilitating 194 sexual health tests, and worked with local charities, such as the Antony Nolan Trust and Body Positive, to educate students and raise awareness around issues facing young people today. In terms of being heard more effectively, CSU also enabled more than 20 students to attend the National Union of Students (NUS) National Demo to promote free, accessible higher education and an end to cuts. We facilitated a campus referendum, in which students voted to remain affiliated to the NUS, while the Generation Vote campaign resulted in more than 500 additional students registering to vote before the General Election. Our issue-led campaigning also extended to generating a better understanding of sexual consent, saying No' to LGBT+ Phobia, anti-drink spiking and encouraging students to look after their mental wellbeing during exams. This year, we have invested in a new online system, which offers students more social opportunities, while they are sharing good practice about their academic studies and volunteering. We always strive for a healthy work/life balance for our students. The CH1 Bar creates a real sense of belonging and it attracted a packed programme to kick-start the year and welcome the freshers. There were more than 80 comedians, student bands and headline acts, along with live music, karaoke, sober nights with activities and student-led events, such as drag races, in aid of local and national charities. At the Warrington Campus, involvement has been very impressive. The number of societies has trebled and the revival of the hall championships saw the participation of all residential students. Introducing the Text the porters system provided additional support and gave a more accessible way to communicate with staff. CSU is also extremely proud to have supported Faculty of Health and Social Care students in setting up the Blackburn Fund, in honour of the late Lucy Blackburn, which offers those on Nursing programmes help with course and placement costs. It is really rewarding to see the growth of University Centre Shrewsbury, where the University and Students Union are providing superb opportunities for the first cohorts of undergraduate and postgraduate students. There has been an outstanding response to student-led campaigns, on topics ranging from dyslexia, mental wellbeing and sexual health, to the work of the Student Council and Chester Students' Union Sabbatical team. the volunteering opportunities available for students. The extensive social calendar began with a welcome river cruise and concluded with a masquerade-themed Summer Ball. All these activities show how CSU goes the extra mile to enrich the experience of all students, building relationships with them, empowering them to broaden their horizons and maximise their learning potential, welcoming, embracing and celebrating diversity. As a result, our students can benefit from a fulfilling and memorable higher education experience, tailored to their individual needs. 8

9 Forewords Dr Gyles Brandreth Chancellor It is a considerable honour to have been invited to succeed the 6th Duke of Westminster as Chancellor of the University of Chester. My installation took place in the matchless setting of Chester Cathedral on 17 March 2017, coincidentally the anniversary of the death of one of my heroes, the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, and the birthday of one of my favourite authors, Penelope Lively, who once said, We all need a past that s where our sense of identity comes from. The past is very relevant to the present of the University which began its life as a pioneering college of education founded in 1839 to train teachers for Church of England schools. The concept of education for a life of service remains at the core of the University s ethos and Mission and is one of the many reasons I am so happy to be Chancellor. What does a university chancellor actually do? I wondered that, as well, when the invitation came my way. In the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth a university chancellor is the ceremonial head of the university. (The executive head is the vice-chancellor; the chair of the governing body is customarily the pro-chancellor.) I canvassed other university chancellors to discover what the role involved. Chiefly, I was advised, it calls for enthusiasm and a capacity for shaking a lot of hands. I trust I am up to delivering both. My commitment to the University dates back to the 1990s when I was Member of Parliament for the City of Chester. My admiration for what it is achieving grows deeper as I get to know it better, meeting the undergraduates, graduates and staff at each of the University campuses. I see my role as an honorary ambassador for the University, in serious ways (speaking at educational conferences, for example) and in fun ways (wearing my University of Chester Chancellor s jumper on Countdown, for example) and I know that my principal duty is to preside at graduation ceremonies whenever I can. At my first ceremony I shared wisdom that I had sought many years ago with the graduands. As a graduating student myself I had written to the great wartime general, Field Marshal Montgomery of Alamein, asking him what he believed were the qualities a young person needed to succeed in life. His reply was characteristically concise: 1. Moral courage always do what you believe to be right. 2. Complete integrity no lies, no deceptions, honesty and transparency. 3. Ceaseless hard work. Those virtues, I believe, reflect the values that underpin the strength and success of this remarkable university. At the next graduation ceremony I attend, I may add some wisdom from Marcus Aurelius: When you get up in the morning, reflect on what a precious privilege it is to be alive to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. Dr Gyles Brandreth. The University offers a truly distinctive student experience that is challenging, rewarding, exciting, worthwhile and fun. As the new Chancellor, I am conscious of the precious privilege of being part of it. 9

10 Mission, Vision and Foundational Values Mission, Vision and Foundational Values Mission The University, a Church of England institution founded in 1839, continues to be guided by Christian values and is justifiably proud of the open, inclusive and supportive environment that characterises the institution. The University welcomes students and staff of all faiths or none. It seeks to provide all its students and staff with the education, skills, support and motivation to enable them to develop as confident world citizens and successfully to serve and improve the global communities within which they live and work. This Mission, which has helped shape our development and diversification, continues to actively inform its future planning and enrichment as a University. Vision At the heart of the University s Vision is an unwavering commitment to ensuring an outstanding student learning experience, developing the expertise of staff, providing teaching excellence, and actively growing research and scholarship. Through these actions, the University hopes to make a positive impact on the lives of students, staff, and the communities that it serves, enabling the institution to make a significant and growing contribution to the region, nationally and internationally. In valuing and celebrating its long history and traditions, the University is committed to engendering a sense of pride and shared ownership in all that it does. It is dynamic and enterprising in its approach to developing new opportunities. Foundational Values Mindful of the University s history and Christian foundation: We recognise the dignity and worth of every individual. Therefore we value every member of the University; we endeavour to help each student and member of staff to discover his or her gifts and talents and grow to full potential; and we foster wellbeing for all. We recognise the vital role of education in the service of society. Therefore we encourage the acquisition of knowledge and the development of skills; and we acknowledge a responsibility to look for every opportunity to put that knowledge and those skills to good use throughout the community. We recognise the inherent value of the pursuit of truth and freedom of enquiry. Therefore we find joy in discovery; we take pleasure in invention; we celebrate human creativity; and we seek wisdom, embracing it wherever we find it and strive to apply it to every aspect of life. In humility, we aspire to honour these values and hold ourselves accountable to them. 10

11 #MyChesterStory #MyChesterStory is the real story of Chester as told by students, alumni and staff. It is a hashtag that is native to the University, narrating the lives of anyone and everyone with a connection to the University Loving doing these illustrations for placement #illustration #watercolour #artist #fineliner #royalmail #chester #cathedral Grosvenor Park Found a Roman key today #roman #uniofchester #archaeology #finds Linebackers #americanfootball #Legion #linebacker #55 #outside #strongside #runthemover #defense #redandblack #MyChesterStory is now an integral part of the culture of the University. As the institution continues to grow and evolve, this hashtag captures the contributions that students, staff and alumni make to the University community and beyond. The University of Chester means many different things to many different people and it is these personal perspectives that combine to provide a contemporary overview of this historic institution. Adam Bodger, Marketing When your boyfriend is a trainee dancer and you re a trainee photographer The reflection in the water #reflection #beauty #mirror #norway #norway16 #mychesterstory #geography Can t believe I ve handed in my dissertation! So proud of myself #universityofchester #mychesterstory #dissertation #psychologythesis 11

12 Our campuses and sites Our campuses and sites Parkgate Road Campus is where our story began and is home to a number of academic departments, many of the University s central support services and accommodation. Kingsway Campus has a focus on creative arts, hosting an array of outstanding art, design and performance-based facilities. Riverside Campus provides specialist facilities for professional courses such as teacher training, childhood studies, nursing and midwifery. Queen s Park Campus is a short walk from the lively city centre and is home to the University s business school. Thornton Science Park is a centre for scientific research and hosts our computer science, engineering and mathematics courses, alongside innovative and growing businesses. Warrington Campus is a self-contained site that specialises in delivering vocational courses with an applied approach to learning. Specialist areas include business, education, health, media, policing and sport. Guildhall Shrewsbury is a modern, selfcontained campus building that provides a personal approach to your learning. It overlooks the River Severn and is a short walk from the bustling streets of Shrewsbury. University Centre Reaseheath is the base for our agriculture and veterinary science courses. It is one of the UK s leading landbased colleges and houses a licensed zoo, equine centre and food innovation centre. 12

13 The diverse and innovative types of teaching provided by the University s seven different campuses and the establishment of University Centre Reaseheath, offer a growing array of courses designed to meet the needs of both students and their current and future employers and this means that it remains at the forefront of higher education provision in the region. Professor Tim Wheeler, Vice-Chancellor and Principal. 13

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15 A holistic student Uni room is all sorted and looking pretty! Ready to move in today #uni#mychesterstory #begins #today #fresher Gentle jog at the #universityofchester #v02max #tritraining #maxedout Kangaroos are officially my second favourite animal #kangaroo #animal #ballaratwildlifepark #studyabroad #Australia #mychesterstory Fruity freebie! Our Queen s Park Library is offering free fruit and a reusable water bottle to help our students with exam Drama school days #thehammondschool #mychesterstory #musicaltheatre

16 A holistic student experience Joining the University community The building of relationships with prospective students makes the process of integration into the University community a gradual and supportive experience, empowering students to take their first steps into higher education. The award-winning Marketing, Recruitment and Admissions (MRA) team gained further national recognition in for its work in engaging with students in new and innovative ways. The team was shortlisted in the Outstanding Marketing/Communications Team category in the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards 2017 and was Highly Commended in the External Relations Team of the Year category at the Educate North Awards These accolades emphasise how targeted marketing activity, together with a sustained outreach programme, can connect with future students and encourage them to seek the opportunities available at the institution. The MRA team travels to higher education fairs in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey to meet prospective students in person, so that they can discuss how higher education can help them to achieve their goals. Prospective undergraduate and postgraduate students have many opportunities to explore the seven specialist campuses through a range of Open Days, Applicant Days and Campus Tours. These events brought more than 6,500 people (plus their accompanying families and friends) to the institution in , eager to see how they could benefit from a distinctive student experience. One of the most innovative ways in which the MRA team is able to reach prospective students is through a strong presence on social media. There is an active student base which posts messages about their own experiences on Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat, and on Twitter and Instagram through the hashtag #MyChesterStory. In addition, a student team of digital ambassadors contributes to the University blog and regularly takes over the Snapchat channel. All of this carefully planned activity, which is informed by market research, allows prospective students to gain an authentic idea of the student experience at Chester, directly from those in the midst of their studies. The whole relationship is nurtured through social media, and supplemented by targeted information via the newly designed website, s and flyers, so that the contact continues to build throughout the application and acceptance process. This means that students develop a growing sense of connection with the University, which facilitates a smooth transition into student life to begin their own #MyChesterStory. Staff from the Marketing, Recruitment and Admissions team. uochester #MyChesterStory #MyChesterStory material. pecandante Starting the adventure #Chester #England #mychesterstory #mychesterstory #uochester frannutrition Eeeeek! Not long til placement now :D #mychesterstory #placement melaniecawthorne I did it! Four years of hard work and now I ve finally graduated! #mychesterstory #universityofchester #chester #graduation #graduationday melanie_97_ I have great accommodation #University #uochester #mychesterstory #grosvenor aridiyanto Chester High Cross stands at the centre of the city of Chester and is surrounded by old town buildings #Chester #mychesterstory 16

17 A holistic student experience The student journey Students have a wealth of opportunities in which they can make a significant contribution to their subject area, the University, Chester Students Union (CSU) sports clubs and societies and the wider community throughout their higher education experience. The annual Valedictory ceremony and prizegiving celebrated the significant achievements of students in the fields of voluntary work, sporting success, contributions to the community and University life. Some of the recipients included the joint winners of the Ede and Ravenscroft Award Prize for Excellence, who were Rachael Lambe and Daniel McKenzie from the Warrington Campus. Rachael (Adult Nursing) was shocked to see how many people were sleeping rough in the town in winter. She raised funds for and created survival packs for them and then worked closely with fellow Nursing students and numerous agencies to organise distribution to those in need. Daniel (Community Policing and Criminal Investigation) volunteers for the Cheshire Constabulary Special Constables for an average of 105 hours a month and by this stage had made six arrests, taken witness and victim statements and used his skills and own personal experience of autism to help calm the mother of a missing person. He has taken an active role in the Police LGBT network, represented Cheshire Police at national conferences and been the LGBT representative on Constable to Sergeant Assessment panels. Daniel also volunteers on the training team for the Warrington Police Cadets and provides support to his fellow students. Five students received an Outstanding Contribution to Community Award: Bethany Pennington (Learning Disability Nursing) volunteers with Hosanna House & Children s Pilgrimage Trust and Sports4all; Daniel Bushell (Psychology) volunteers with the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust in the occupational therapy team and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services; Heather Carr (Health and Social Care) volunteers with Tomorrow s Women Wirral, previously volunteered with Age UK, was involved with peer mentoring and acted as both a Student Academic Representative and a student ambassador; Keith Terrill (Games Development) volunteers with the Army Cadet Force; and Lauren Cooper (Psychology) volunteers with PAPYRUS, the national charity for the prevention of young suicide, was the charity secretary for the Psychology Society (CUPS), and was involved with the Time to Chat group on campus. Rebecca Brown (Media) was awarded the Department s K M Herring Award for making an outstanding contribution in the field of visual craft. This was in recognition of the work produced for her final major project, which explored the potential of landscape and nature photography as a treatment for sufferers of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Anca Stan (Graphic Design) received the prize for achievement in Graphic Design and had a project recognised by one of the most prominent package design websites in the world. Her fictitious Aura Wine branding was featured on the website, Packaging of the World, which showcases the most creative work worldwide. Anca created bottle labels and an embroidered fabric sleeve, which she described as crafted to be passed on from generation to generation. A dyslexic student, who failed his GCSEs, earned a first-class honours degree in Marketing and Tourism and the Dean s Commendation Award for Outstanding Performance. Tariq Malik The Valedictory ceremony prize winners. Anca Stan. Tariq Malik with Dr Andy Lyon. 17

18 The University of Chester has never failed to amaze me with its continued support and opportunities available for all students, regardless of skills. It brings the best out of each individual and allows them to flourish, not only on an academic level, but also on a personal one. I would not have chosen any other university for my student journey. Rumer Cooper, Events Management student. explained: I was told in school that if I didn t pass my GCSEs, I wouldn t get anywhere in life. When I told them my dream was to travel the world and help people in indigenous communities, my head teacher laughed at me. But I ve done it. And from a boy who failed his GCSEs to become an academic student who achieves 80% in my assignments just shows that if you enjoy and persevere with a subject, you can achieve anything. Tariq has already travelled to Cambodia twice to teach English to children in a remote village and is now on a graduate training scheme with a national restaurant chain. Events Management student, Rumer Cooper, achieved the Ian McDonald Memorial Award for her outstanding contribution to the Faculty of Business and Management and its students and the Chester Difference Excellence Award, for her volunteering and extra-curricular efforts. An outstanding student, she was a Student Academic Representative and assisted with numerous projects, events and open days. CSU sports clubs and societies lie at the heart of student life and the 115 sports and societies have more than 4,000 members spread across the seven campuses. The sports clubs range from the traditional, such as Hockey, Football and Rowing, through to Sub Aqua and Quidditch. The most popular clubs have proved to be Running, Fitness and Yoga, which have collectively encouraged more than 300 new members to participate. CSU has worked with local clubs, national governing bodies and Active Cheshire to set up new, exciting partnerships and schemes to offer a wide range of activities. Initiatives include Active Cheshire s Give it a Go and Intramural Sports, while the This BUCS Girls Can campaign increased the number of females involved in university sport nationally from 50% in to 60% in Around 50 sports teams compete in the BUCS (British University College Sport) leagues and seven play in national individual and team competitions. The Chester campus teams finished 72nd in the league and fielded four new teams, while Men s Football was the first team to join the BUCS league for University Centre Shrewsbury. The top five clubs were Football, Tennis, Netball, Basketball and Volleyball. There were seven league winners (including the Netball first, second and third teams) and a total of 162 wins, 138 losses and 19 draws. The Tennis Club won the Touchtennis Varsity The Women s Eight Rowing team, competing against the University of Oxford at Henley. Cup and the Men s first team was unbeaten in the league, gaining promotion into Division 1A. The Men s Basketball Club and Women s Water Polo team secured their places in the Northern Conference Cup Finals, with Men s Basketball winning the trophy. The National League Basketball Club narrowly missed out on promotion to Division 2 a level at which only a few University teams compete. The Women s Eight Rowing team finished 11th nationally and competed at Henley for the second year running, having benefited greatly from international level coaching and dedicated support. The sporting links with the community include the Rugby League Club s collaboration with Chester Gladiators and the Women s Football team, who benefited from a professional training session from Liverpool Ladies Football Club Manager, Scott Rogers. 18

19 A holistic student experience The CSU societies provide opportunities to socialise, travel, make new friends, develop skills, follow interests and give something back to the community. This integral part of student life was showcased by the #ILoveCSUSocieties week, which raised awareness of the societies on offer, such as the Swing Dance, Disney, International Development, Debating, Green, Video Gaming, Wild Chester and Rock Societies. Subject-related societies include Psychology and Midwifery, while the opportunities to travel included the Catholic Society s visit to Rome in support of the refugee crisis. All these activities enrich the student journey and provide opportunities for students to expand their horizons. Millie Frith has made the most of her student experience during her Marketing with Events Management course. She was the Women s Captain for the Rowing team, gained a 2:1 degree and clocked up more than 300 hours of volunteering for the University s Chester Difference Award, which recognises a range of extra-curricular activities. Her actions involved raising 5,000 for charity by cycling from London to Paris and helping to rebuild schools in Nepal following an earthquake. She also reached Everest Base Camp in Nepal and hopes to climb Mount Everest in the future. She said of the University s scheme: The Chester Difference Award has opened my eyes to opportunities I d never dreamt of. The University and six student nurses were finalists at the Student Nursing Times Awards. Ellen Bassett, (Learning Disability Nursing) was nominated in two categories Most Inspirational Student Nurse and Outstanding Contribution to Student Affairs. Ellen suffers from a chronic illness and endured multiple hospital stays during her degree. Despite this, she has persisted with her studies and stayed heavily involved in student life, such as being Chair for the Student Quality Ambassador project, Vice President of the Feminist Society and Charities Officer for the LGBT+ Society. Ellen is also part of the PowWow project, which has been nominated for Teaching Innovation of the Year for its work to help with the communication needs of adults with learning disabilities in acute hospital and medical settings. Rachel Jones was nominated for Student Midwife of the Year, as one of the original committee members who set up the Midwifery Society and is now President. She liaises with staff and students to organise events such as study days and conferences, while enhancing relationships between midwifery students. She also attends practice development meetings and instigated a buddy system for new student midwives. The Cat Radio at the Warrington Campus was nominated twice for the Student Radio Awards, held at London s O2 Arena. The student-run radio station took the silver award in the prestigious Best Student Radio Chart Show category, while Radio Production student, Tommie Watts was a finalist in the Best Male category. Highlights from The Cat Radio s Chart Show included an exclusive interview with the chart-topping band, The 1975, an interview with Chesney Hawkes and a performance from the late Viola Beach. Graphic Design student, Brian Taylor, won second prize in a national graphic design competition for his exhibition stand designs. The competition was hosted by Display Wizard and the brief was for any UK-based higher education student to design two display stands representing the social and cultural benefits of studying at their institution. Brian received a 100 grant and a graphic design internship with the company. Sally Hiscutt, Director of the company, said: We loved Brian s design, as it showed how the University can help its students grow in their environment. To receive an award in this competition is a very big achievement considering the number and quality of entrants we received. The PowWow project. Brian Taylor with his display stand. A Radio Production student was selected from hundreds to produce a programme on BBC 19

20 A holistic student experience won the University s Institute of Biomedical Science President s Prize in She has now progressed to work as an Associate Practitioner in the Department of Blood Sciences at the Wirral University Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Kirsten Colley (left) with co-organiser Laura Williams. Radio Manchester. Catherine Warren applied to be a part of the Over to You project when a team of up to 100 non-journalist volunteers took over the airwaves for a week in various roles. Catherine was chosen after an interview process at Media City in Salford and produced a three-hour show for Mike Sweeney on BBC Radio Manchester, which she said was absolutely amazing. Sky One s Got to Dance finalists, Lee Crowley and Nichollette Whitley, performed as special guests for a unique event in Warrington, organised by a Music student. For the Passion was organised by Kirsten Colley and included a variety of workshops, such as hip hop, salsa, contemporary, tap dance, circus skills, a masterclass from Joe Broughton from the Urban Folk Quartet, and an after party. Tourism students in York. As part of their International Tourism Management programme, first-year students had a behind the scenes visit to Hull, the UK City of Culture, to see the investment and regeneration taking place to boost the region s tourism. As part of a three-day visit to the area, they heard from key speakers from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Students were also inspired by hearing from alumna Hannah Allen, who works for Scarborough Spa after carrying out her Work Based Learning project there and graduating from her course with a first-class honours degree. Games Development students were rated among the best in the country for the second year running, after the biggest ever UK student game jam. The Senate, a team of first-year students, won the Best Concept prize, with its game Legion, created during the 48-hour competition run by Ukie. Twenty-one UK student teams took part, including three from the University, and created a full game from scratch over the two days. Taylor Collins said: this has been an amazing experience and I feel honoured to have the opportunity to represent the University of Chester. Thornton Science Park was one of the worldwide venues for Global Game Jam, the world s largest video game creation event, which attracted 36,000 competitors from 95 countries. Seventeen Games Development students participated, with the help of Department of Computer Science staff, and they completed four games over the weekend. Elysia Broome not only achieved a first-class honours degree in Biomedical Science, she also Holly Jevons gained a first-class honours degree in Events Management as well as the Chester Difference Award for her outstanding volunteering and other extra-curricular activities. With a passion for the arts, Holly was a Volunteer Events Assistant with Chester s new Storyhouse Theatre and as a Company Stage Manager with the Grosvenor Park Young Company. She was also an usher at the graduation services and a Student Ambassador in the University of Chester Business School. She said: Volunteering in a range of different working environments has helped me to develop a range of skills and all of this experience will help with her career in the arts. Student midwife Caroline Ingram was runnerup in the NHS Learning Matters North West Health and Care Awards 2017, run by Health Education England. Caroline came to the University via the widening participation route, and was nominated for the motivation and determination she demonstrated in overcoming significant illness during her studies. The opportunity to travel the world has been the reward for Rebecca O Brien after upgrading her Travel and Tourism HND to a Tourism Management degree. Rebecca studied at West Cheshire College for her HND and joined the University of Chester Business School for the final 20

21 A holistic student experience year. She is now following her dream as a cabin crew member for an international airline and putting her knowledge of tourism management to good use. She is also planning to mentor students making a similar transition from local colleges to a university environment, so that they can benefit from her successful experience. The Student Quality Ambassadors (SQAs) from the Faculty of Health and Social Care travelled to Altcar Training Camp near Liverpool to complete team building and leadership exercises with other SQAs from the region. This offered the opportunity to meet others, participate in activities and share experiences. One participant said: I learnt how important it is to work as a team and realised that there is a leader in every individual. Master of Business Administration students in the Faculty of Business and Management were offered a unique leadership development retreat in Snowdonia. In partnership with the National Mountain Sports Centre at Plas y Brenin, students used mountain walks, climbing and abseiling to explore the principles of leadership and followership, communities of practice and ethical management. Nic Leeds, who graduated with a BA in Business Studies in 2015, has brought a new superfood to UK supermarkets using the skills he learnt during the course. Nic grows kiwi berries at his family s Withers Farm in Herefordshire and launched the product in the UK, promoting its health benefits. The berries have proved to be popular and Withers Farm now supplies Natural Hazard Management field trip. Games Development students with the Best Concept prize. Rebecca O Brien. 200 Waitrose stores and some Tesco, Marks & Spencer and Co-op stores. The Department of Geography and International Development offers students a range of distinctive national and international fieldwork activities and Work Based Learning opportunities. These enhance employment prospects, develop subject knowledge and skills, provide first-hand experience of the topics studied and give students a rewarding and memorable time. Student midwife, Lauren Field, represented the University at the Florence Nightingale Conference at St Thomas Hospital, London. She was previously nominated for an NHS Learning Matters North West Health and Care award in the Widening Participation in Health and Care category, and was encouraged to attend the conference by the midwifery team for her outstanding approach to the programme. Joined by Pre-Registration Nursing students Sarah Parrington and Michael Warburton for the Florence Nightingale Commemoration Service at Westminster Abbey. Lauren said: It was an honour to represent my fellow student midwives at such a fantastic event, but also to act as an ambassador for the University of Chester. A former graphic designer turned a personal tragedy into a way to help others through her Counselling research. Ella Haselden decided on a change in career direction after closing her business and the death of her father. She chose the MA in Clinical Counselling because it offered theory, professional skills development, personal development and membership of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy). Ella used her own experience of miscarriage as a starting point for her own research and found that the opportunities on the course for personal therapy, journaling and quiet reflection offered her time and space to re-create a narrative and make meaning of her loss which were not available at the time. She explored whether this was common for mothers with early miscarriage and hopes that her research, presented at the BACP conference, increases awareness of the possible impact of early miscarriage and the role of acknowledgements in helping women to find peace and comfort. Ella added: Gaining the MA in Clinical Counselling has been life changing. It has enabled me to break free from the restraints of low self-worth and I am now competent in facilitating others on their journey to freedom. 21

22 #MyChesterStory Becky Lees A combined degree of Law with Journalism was chosen by Becky Lees, who wanted to study in the North West in a small, close-knit campus community close to a city centre. Little did she know that she would end up being a sabbatical officer for Chester Students Union (CSU), complete a Master s degree and find employment at the University. Becky made the most of undergraduate student life and found it to be by far the best three years of my life living with amazing people, playing and coaching football (which she loves), volunteering in the community and working in the CSU. She found her combination of courses stimulating and challenging and welcomed the opportunity to try new things, meet new people and develop a greater understanding of the world within a safe, supportive environment. Becky stood for election as Vice President because the CSU had inspired, empowered and supported her and she wanted to give something back to the organisation and people who had changed her life for the better. She found it the greatest honour to represent 19,000 students and, in return, she always put her heart and soul into the work of contributing positively to student life at the University and beyond. She championed the Student Academic Representative system (StARs) and the Above and Beyond Awards during her term of office and represented the educational interests of students at a national level. studied for an MA in Theology, Media and Communication, which explored how different groups or communities are represented in the media and the effect in shaping ideologies in wider society. She said of part-time study: The department really went above and beyond to make sure every student felt part of a wider learning community, where we could make friends and continually motivate and support one another along the way. As someone who has seen higher education from many perspectives, Becky advises students to follow her example and participate fully in student life, challenge themselves and follow their passions. She concluded: Not only have I studied two exceptional courses, I continue to be inspired everyday by the people I have met here; staff, students and members of the local community. #MyChesterStory has helped me to realise my long-term career goals, which are shaped by the desire to change people s lives for the better. A natural progression from this sabbatical post was to her role as Student Engagement Officer in Academic Quality and Support Services. Alongside helping students, she also 22

23 A holistic student experience Outstanding student support The University takes pride in the award-winning support services available for students on all aspects of their higher education experience. Specialist help from Student Futures means that students can make the most of their opportunities and benefit from a rewarding time at the institution. John Smith s bookshop staff issuing the free Aspire book bundles to new students. The University has a strong reputation for welcoming students from a wide range of backgrounds and providing them with a high quality and supportive experience, characterised by an emphasis on both academic and personal achievement. This is especially evident in the opportunities offered for the development of employability skills and work-related learning. The University underpins its work in this area with a commitment to high quality learning and teaching and to the provision of strong support services to include, retain and develop successful learners who may have diverse entry profiles. Student Futures provides students with practical information and advice on any non-academic aspect of the student experience, such as settling into student life, helping with any problems that may arise and offering opportunities to try new things and learn different skills. These areas include wellbeing and welfare, inclusion and disability, community liaison and financial support, student counselling, volunteering and mentoring and sport and recreation. A greater degree of tailored help is available for groups such as commuting students, students from care backgrounds, international students, and students with disability, in order to allow them to participate fully in student life. In addition, advice, support, counselling, and learning opportunities are available throughout each course. The University upholds the highest professional standards and is committed to meeting the needs of students with sensitivity and care. There has been a national rise in students accessing wellbeing and mental health support services and this has meant adapting services and introducing innovative ways in which to help those affected. For example, The Active Wellbeing Programme is now a fixture in student life after the success of the pilot study for students with low-level anxiety, low mood and low confidence. This scheme offers personalised support from a wellbeing assistant and a 12-week exercise schedule, which has proved to be overwhelmingly positive for participants. The University promotes independence alongside responsibility for self and others, and safety awareness through initiatives such as the Intervention Initiative: a bystander education programme which aims to train students in the signs of sexual coercion or domestic abuse, and how they can intervene safely to stop them occurring. The University is the first in the North West to achieve the White Ribbon Award for the role that it plays in creating an environment where students can feel safe from violence against women. A sexual violence taskforce has also been established, to ensure that the institution remains a safe and positive environment in which to work and study. Financial support For , the estimated average fee paid by students at the University after fee waivers is 8,866. While tuition fees are set at 9,250 for home and EU students studying full time for first degrees (and 7,650 for foundation degrees), the estimated average cost to a student studying at Chester, after allowance for University-provided financial support, is 8,

24 A holistic student experience Asim Khan (back row, third from right) with the Basketball team. Bethany Bolton. Megan Gaunt. In keeping with the Mission, Vision and Foundational Values, which advocate extending opportunities for education to all, the institution offers an extensive range of targeted measures to help provide financial support for around 40% of students, particularly those from less advantaged backgrounds. The Office for Fair Access is an independent body, set up to promote widening participation in higher education for under-represented groups, following the introduction of tuition fees. The University is committed to a comprehensive support package for students for , which includes the following measures: Chester Bursary: An award to the value of 1,500 is given to any new full-time undergraduate degree entrant paying a tuition fee of over 6,000, who has a declared household residual income of 25,000 or less. This comprises 500 of benefits in each year of the programme. Chester Bursary for Part-time Students: This bursary has a total value of up to 1,500 in cash and is applied on a pro-rata basis, based on the credit intensity at each level of study. Eligibility is based on new part-time undergraduate degree entrants paying a tuition fee of at least 7,000 (full time equivalent), enrolled for a minimum of 40 credits at the start of Level 4, and with a declared household residual income of 25,000 or less. Care Leavers Bursary: Available to verified care leavers on a first come, first served basis. The scheme normally provides care leavers with 7,000 of benefits over the three years of their programme. Young Adult Carers Bursary: In partnership with organisations such as Cheshire Young Carers (CYC) the University has developed a targeted financial support package for young carers. This is in the form of a bursary package totalling 4,500 over three years of study (or up to a maximum of 6,000 if the award is made from the Foundation Year of the programme). Foundation Year: All students (home and EU) on the University s extended degree programmes including a Level 3 foundation year, receive a 1,000 fee waiver in the first, foundation year of study. All full-time students starting their first year at University in September 2017 were eligible for the University of Chester Aspire Books offer, which consisted of a package of essential textbooks for their undergraduate course. This scheme is run jointly between the University and John Smith s bookshop on campus. The government-backed Postgraduate Loan scheme allows students to apply for a loan of up to 10,000 as a contribution towards the course and living costs. If courses are longer than one year, the loan is divided equally across each year of the course. The Chester Alumni Fund: Supporting current students was a founding principle of the original College Club and this ethos is continued with the Chester Alumni 24

25 A holistic student experience Fund. This provides support for students to participate in a range of memorable and meaningful activities that benefit the student experience. As part of the Chester Alumni Fund, the Cestrian Award is given annually to initiatives by students showing excellence in sports, community or academic work. This could include competing in sports at an international level, leading special projects, or running academic conferences. An annual allocation of up to 1,500 is available for students requiring financial assistance for a specified activity, without which they would struggle to achieve their goal. The University Mission Committee has limited funds for University Mission Awards, which provide support for student projects and activities which are consistent with the University s Foundational Values and Mission Statement; for local community projects and voluntary work by students in Chester, Warrington and the surrounding area; for students who are past participants of projects, activities or volunteer work which are consistent with the University s Foundational Values and Mission Statement, who are returning to do volunteer work or study related to their activity; and for students competing in sporting activities at national or international level. Sports scholarships are available for existing and prospective students who compete for the University in British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) events and at a national or international level. This consists of a package of financial support and other benefits such as strength and conditioning sessions, access to a resident sports therapist and athlete education workshops. Santander Universities has increased support to the University as part of its commitment to 83 UK universities and over 1,200 worldwide, in countries including Argentina, Brazil, Italy, France, Russia, Spain, China, Portugal, USA, Germany, Mexico and Singapore. This partnership with higher education institutions, which has seen donations of more than 1.5bn since 1997, provides scholarships, mobility grants, support for special projects and academic and non-academic awards. As Chester is a participating university, its students can benefit from the range of funding options. For example, in students and staff received five Community Service Awards, four Community Project Fund grants, eight International Research Excellence Awards, 21 Ambassador Awards, four Awards for Excellence in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship and 21 SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) Internships. Since 2010, the University has supported the Helena Kennedy Foundation s Article 26 project, to promote access to higher education for people seeking sanctuary in the UK. The University aims to make higher education a reality for one student per year who is seeking sanctuary in the UK and who does not have access to student finance. The bursary comprises a full tuition fee waiver and limited financial support to help meet study and travel costs. Student Futures Support can advise on a range of other external options to supplement students income while studying at the University including: Financial Assistance Funds; Childcare or Adult Dependants Grants; Parents Learning Allowance; Disabled Students Allowance (DSA); NHS Learning Support Fund; and bursaries from sponsors or charitable trusts. Recipients of financial support American student Asim Khan gained a sports scholarship for his role as an integral member of the Basketball team, runners-up in both the BUCS and National leagues and winners of the BUCS Northern Cup final. Asim is studying for a Master s degree in Exercise and Nutrition and has played basketball in the US National Collegiate Athletic Association divisions. Other sports scholars include Megan Gaunt and Bethany Bolton, who both study Community Policing and Criminal Investigation at the Warrington Campus and play Water Polo at national level. They were part of the University s women s team, which reached the BUCS Northern Cup final, and are teammates in the GB women s team, which is preparing for the 2018 European Championships. Finally, Psychology student Bethany Stephenson was part of the Chester Vixens Cheerleading squad, which won the Future Cheer Competition for the third year in a row. As well as representing the University and mentoring some of the younger members, she competes internationally for Coventry Dynamite and is now aiming for the 2018 World Championships. The Cestrian Award supported an innovative project to create teaching materials, based around the unique landscape and history of Bardsey Island, in North Wales. The team is postgraduate secondary school teachers, Dr Sian James and Bethany Parsonage, who both have a keen interest in the ecology and archaeology of the island. A Foundation Award for Excellence has allowed Jessica Brown to continue her passion for landscape history through the MA in Past Landscapes and Environments in the Department of History and Archaeology. She thrived on her History degree, gaining a marketing internship with the National Trust at Erddig, was nominated for the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales Marketing Excellence Awards and won the Museums Marketing Champion award, funded by the Welsh Government. She presented at the Royal Historical Society Symposium Putting History in its Place, undertook several memorial condition surveys at Chester Cathedral on behalf of Historic England and Civic Voice and won the subject prize at the University s Valedictory Awards. Liam Metcalf-White has benefited from another Foundation Award for Excellence towards his PhD research on the Visible Recovery Movement (VRM). This grassroots social phenomenon brings together those identifying 25

26 A holistic student experience Elizabeth Henwood and Emily Williams (second and fifth from right) in Uganda. Santander Scholars reception. as in recovery, primarily from an addiction, but also mental ill health, and other illnesses. Liam presented at the British Sociological Association conference as a Master s student and aims to use the funding to disseminate the findings from his ethnographic study of the VRM in the UK and USA at similar events to raise awareness of his research. Elizabeth Henwood and Emily Williams used their Mission Committee Awards to travel to Uganda to work for the charity Team4U on the Development with Dignity programme. This aims to show young women and girls their own worth and to enable them to menstruate with dignity. Elizabeth undertook dissertation research on how menstruation affects the education of girls in urban and rural areas through focus groups and interviews with teachers and charity workers. Emily and Elizabeth assisted with running sports sessions for schools, taught Maths and English to children who had dropped out of school and helped with empowerment and menstruation information sessions. Elizabeth said: This trip to Uganda helped me to use and grow my gifts in working with children and research, while Emily added this trip enabled me to become more of a global citizen by helping others less fortunate than myself to unlock keys to the future with education and resources. The annual Santander Scholars reception celebrated the successes of staff and students supported by the Santander Universities Scholarship awards. Successful Santander Scholars spoke about their experiences, such as Professor Tony Wall (Faculty of Business and Management) and Business Student, Eli Mitchell, who was successful in the Venture programme and received Santander funding to launch his business LoveChester. He said that the event provided an insight into the involvement that Santander has in the lives of students and the way in which my story is interwoven into the broader tapestry of Santander Universities funding and facilitation within the University. It was nice to mix with other beneficiaries, to hear their stories, be energised by their enthusiasm and inspired by the pursuit of their passions. Biological Sciences student, Mariann Biro, was selected for a fully funded place at the British Ecological Society (BES) Summer School in Pembrokeshire. She was awarded one of only 50 places for first and secondyear undergraduates to spend a full week immersed in ecology, ecological research and the wider community. The latest recipient of the Sanctuary Award for asylum seekers gave this anonymous reflection on the experience at Chester: My first year went amazingly, I loved every bit of it. It is an experience I will get once in a lifetime. I never thought the University would give me so much support and help on everything from helping with my grammar to helping me get through personal issues. My Sanctuary Award has made the impossible possible and I will always be grateful to the Student Futures Support team and the people who gave me the Award. 26

27 #MyChesterStory Muhammad Uzair Nayyar A career in accountancy has been the reward for a student who has benefited from the Helena Kennedy Foundation s Article 26 project to promote access to higher education for students seeking sanctuary in the UK. As a result, Muhammad Uzair has been supported by the University during his BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance degree and his hard work was rewarded with a permanent accountancy job at the end of his studies. Muhammad Uzair s family is from Pakistan and they migrated to the UK when he was 12 years of age. Despite the hurdles he encountered, Muhammad passed his GCSEs with flying colours and also gained valuable experience and confidence with the RAF Cadets. His aptitude for business and finance was identified at school and this influenced his choice of A level subjects and career aspirations. Muhammad Uzair wanted to study at Chester because it offered his chosen course with the addition of accreditation to professional bodies. However, without access to financial support he would not have been able to take up the opportunity. He opted to apply for the funding provided by the University and, after a rigorous process, he was selected as that year s Article 26 funding recipient. Now, having had the chance to celebrate his achievements at the graduation ceremony in Chester Cathedral, he described this momentous occasion as the best experience of my life. Muhammad Uzair said: My advice for students is don t give up, even if things don t go to plan. Always give 100% to prove your worth and opportunities will come your way. He continued: #MyChester Story has been a life-changing experience and I thank the Vice-Chancellor and the University s student support staff for giving me this opportunity to make my dream into reality. This financial support, together with his father s ethos of hard work instilled at an early age, has enabled Muhammad Uzair to capitalise on his student experience. This was evident during the Work Based Learning placement that he arranged in the accounts department of Slater Gordon Solutions, where his combination of skills, knowledge and ability resulted in a job offer on completion of his course. 27

28 A holistic student experience Chaplaincy Chaplaincy is a place where Friendships are formed and nurtured through Learning more about God, ourselves and others, where Worship, both individual and corporate, inspires our participation in God s life and Mission. Friendship Creating a sense of friendship and community is a key part of the role of the Chaplaincy team and there is a wide range of activities on offer across the University, including off-campus social trips and spiritual retreats. There are communal spaces for staff and students to socialise in a relaxed setting across the campuses, in addition to multifaith spaces and quiet gardens. Regular events are held to build relationships and support the wellbeing of students and staff. For example, the weekly Faith and Food where students prepare and share a meal in Chaplaincy House and the Slow-Down Meditation where students and staff can practise mindful meditation together. Friendships are also fostered with faith communities on campus, such as a sponsored walk around the Chester City Walls to bring together students, staff and friends from the Sponsored walk. Christian Union, the Catholic Society, Chapel and the Light Project (a Christian training scheme accredited by the University). Chaplaincy staff also work in partnership with Student Futures Support to ensure that extra pastoral support is available for students. Learning Chaplaincy has a central place within the learning environment and provides opportunities for students and staff to learn from each other, experience different types of worship, meet people from different faiths and attend guest lectures from prominent academics, clergy and charity workers. For example, the Wednesday evening worship programme took Faith and Service as the theme and speakers were welcomed on topics such as Chester Aid to the Homeless, working with children and families, international development and pastoral support within the University. Chaplaincy continues to engage with the wider University community by participating in and running events in the Diversity Festival, attending Wellbeing Fairs, promoting sustainability and championing the University s Fairtrade status. Examples of collaborative working include Fr Robert Clack s role as a Visiting Lecturer in Music alongside his Chaplain s role, and he was formerly Remembering the Manchester bomb victims. Director of the Choir. Chaplaincy Assistant James Wallace is also a Senior Residential Tutor, recently completed his MA in Sports Chaplaincy and received an Above and Beyond Award nomination for the second year running for his part in providing practical and spiritual support, displaying faith in action and making Chaplaincy accessible for all. Worship The weekly services aim to express both the Church of England foundation and commitment to ecumenism. In Chester the services consist of an ecumenical service on Wednesday evenings in the Victorian chapel for students and staff which is followed by sharing food together, a joint weekly service of Holy Communion with the parish church of St Oswald and St Thomas of Canterbury and a Roman Catholic Mass. The main weekly service in Warrington, Monday night in Chapel has taken a more informal approach to worship by focusing on the needs of the community, with conversation around faith and ethics all celebrated with food and drink. The University marks key occasions throughout the annual calendar with services open to all and these include the Carol Service, Remembrance Day, Founders Day, Valedictory and Prizegiving and Foundation Hour, in addition to services for specific events, such as a minute s silence following the Manchester terror attack. Mission Chaplaincy is a worshipping community, deeply committed to participation in the Mission of God in both word and action. Its involvement in Discipleship, Care for Others, and matters of Social Justice and Environmental Stewardship all form part of a broad Proclamation of the Good News of God. By working alongside those of other faiths and none, Chaplaincy aims to play its part in a world in which peace, fairness and sustainability are a growing reality. 28

29 A holistic student experience Enriching educational opportunities The University s range of new subjects and different ways in which to study means that students can tailor their own educational programme according to their aspirations and circumstances. With opportunities including innovative ways of learning, Study Abroad options, new courses and Work Based Learning there is an abundance of choice for prospective students. The Postgraduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Life Sciences is preparing a portfolio of postgraduate medical programmes for the proposed Chester Medical School. These are aimed at practising doctors and health professionals in the health sector, or medical practitioners wishing to enhance their independent practice through Continuing Personal Development or a personal development plan. The first two courses are a Physician Associate at MSc or Postgraduate Diploma level and Doctor of Medicine in Internal Medicine. Further postgraduate and undergraduate taught medical programmes are planned, together with a range of other Continuing Professional Development courses for health professionals. The provision of high quality research supervision would give the capacity to extend the existing research programmes with six acute hospital trusts, two mental health trusts and a host of primary care providers, to further trusts on a regional, national and international level. New undergraduate courses across the seven campuses include: Sport Marketing and Management; Marketing and Advertising Management; Forensic Psychology; Medical Science; Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies; and Initial Teacher Training with Media Studies. New postgraduate courses include a Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Surgery (through CPD Solutions), an Integrated Master s degree in Business and an MSc in Engineering Management. A range of new subjects is now offered through the Foundation Year Pathway, such as Applied Chemistry with Biotechnology, Natural Sciences, Geography and Human Nutrition. The Department of Modern Languages also offers part-time language evening courses in Arabic, French, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Welsh, which are all open to the wider community. Successful accreditation of courses by external bodies is an endorsement of the quality of teaching for students, while exemptions from further study allow students to achieve professional qualifications in a shorter time. The Department of Chemical Engineering received unconditional accreditation of the BEng degree in Chemical Engineering and the Institution of Chemical Engineers assessors were impressed with the strong links with industry, the provision of learning facilities, opportunities to hone interpersonal skills and the excellent use of Institution of Chemical Engineers accreditation panel. visiting staff. The Accounting course gained accreditation from the Institute of Financial Accountants, which adds to the maximum exemptions available with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, plus exemptions from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and the Association of Accounting Technicians. This means that students enjoy a faster route to full qualification as an accountant following their degree. An innovative partnership between local NHS Trusts and the University has created a new support role for nurses across Cheshire and Wirral. Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has successfully led a local partnership bid to be selected by Health Education England as one of only 11 pilot sites across England to pioneer the new nursing associate role. This is designed to bridge the gap between health and care support workers and graduate registered nurses and offers opportunities for healthcare assistants to progress into nursing roles through the new higher apprenticeship route. Changes to the Non-Medical Prescribing programme were endorsed by the Health and Care Professions Council, which enables dietitians and therapeutic radiographers to enrol on the course. The Faculty of Health and Social Care s Mentorship provision was endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, allowing partners in the States of Jersey to 29

30 A holistic student experience status, alongside paid employment and lucrative funding for employers. Associate teacher Josh Moss. run the programme. Teaching on the MSc Endodontology programme, run by SimplyEndo, has also been approved for Formby College. The Faculty of Education and Children s Services Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Partnership was praised by Ofsted for its outstanding teacher training provision. All the University s early/ primary years (3 7 and 5 11 age phases) and secondary partnerships with schools were judged to be outstanding. Professor Tim Wheeler, Vice-Chancellor said: We are all extremely proud that this report recognises the high quality of the ITE provision provided by staff within the Faculty of Education and Children s Services, partner Teaching School Alliances and our partner schools, colleges and early years settings. Their hard work and commitment is to be commended as they continue to review and make improvements. It is very heartening that head teachers reported so favourably to inspectors on the contribution made to their schools by our Newly Qualified Teachers. The Faculty of Business and Management launched its first Summer Schools in Tourism/ Events and International Business. These offer two weeks of experiential learning at venues across Chester and the North West, along with master classes and a trip to London. The inaugural Summer Schools hosted American students from Palumbo-Donahue School of Business at Duquesne University. The Faculty of Education and Children s Services has developed a BA (Hons) in School Business Chartered Management Degree apprentices. Emilia Hoyle with Michael Dicker. Leadership, in collaboration with the National Association of School Business Managers. Specifically designed for School Business Managers, this programme offers applicants a degree within the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship Standard and attractive funding for employers. The groundbreaking Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship won the Employer Engagement Award at the 2017 Educate North Awards. This unique programme was developed and delivered by the Centre for Work Related Studies (CWRS) through the Work Based Learning framework and offers a BA (Hons) in Business Management and Leadership, three diplomas with the Institute of Leadership Management (ILM) and Chartered Manager CWRS works closely with local partners and employers to drive the apprenticeship agenda in the North West, expanding upon the University s intake, which represented 24% of all Chartered Management Degree apprentices in the UK. Two of these apprentices won the Apprenticeship Award Best Individual, sponsored by Barlows Electrical at the High Sheriff s Awards for Enterprise. The students were Lucy Brown, who works for West of England Textiles Ltd, and Emilia Hoyle, who is employed by Heat Trace Limited. The new award was introduced in recognition of the growing importance of the new apprenticeship degrees to employers. The University s first apprentice at Airbus, Catherine Hill said: The opportunity to study for my degree at the University Chester Business School, while working for Airbus, has given me a fantastic head start in my career. CWRS is currently expanding its apprenticeship offer by developing an MA/MSc and an MBA under the new Senior Leaders Master s Degree Apprenticeship Standard. Both programmes will be uniquely mapped to the ILM Diploma of Leadership and Management at Level 7 and will attract Chartered Manager status. The University s collaboration with the Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was recognised by nominations at the Student Nursing Times Awards for the Partnership of the Year category and the Return to Practice Course of the Year. The latter, aims to bring experienced 30

31 A holistic student experience Samuel Mendy. Lilli Goddard at the University of Chester Business School. Royal Caribbean interns. nurses back into the profession through a salaried, flexible, innovative and supportive programme at the Leighton Hospital site, which has seen a 100% success rate. This achievement resulted in the category win for the Return to Practice Course of the Year and Tracy Bullock, Chief Executive of Mid Cheshire Hospitals, said: We are very proud of winning this award. It s a reflection of all the hard work that has gone into our Return to Practice programme, which truly embraces the needs of former nurses so that they can return to a career in nursing. An international student, who is registered blind, has completed an MA in Project Leadership and Design (WBIS) through the innovative negotiated Work Based Integrated Studies framework. Theresa Robberts joined the programme in 2014, despite living and working in South Africa. The Centre for Work Related Studies carried out all liaisons and supervision via e-learning to supplement Theresa s workbased practice and this flexibility allowed her to study from another continent. A graduate has used the skills from his studies to transform his business and inform his charity work. Samuel Mendy is a Chartered Certified Accountant and a Senior Partner at YBSM Partners in London. He studied for a Master s degree in Strategic Leadership and said: Without the WBIS programme, I don t think I would have been able to transform my company and gain the strategic advantage of remote working. All my accountants are now working remotely from home and clients premises, which has increased production, staff motivation and the client base. Samuel has also supported the development of higher education networks in Gambia, where the majority of young people who want to study abroad cannot afford the fees and meet the visa requirements. The charity MANPEH links Gambian students with institutions in the UK, USA and Canada, who provide online qualifications to help young people gain places to study abroad. Samuel hopes to continue his studies in order to work in Africa, support organisations, entrepreneurs and charities and inspire other people to achieve their full potential. The MSc in International Finance is the goal for current student, Lilli Goddard, who has been sponsored by her employer the Faenol Fawr Hotel in Bodelwyddan, North Wales. She works there as a Trainee Manager, and said of her experience: My first degree was in Film and TV Production and when I graduated I was offered a job by the hotel where I had worked for seven years. I wanted an academic qualification for my new career direction and the Hotel partsponsored me to do my MSc part-time for two days per week whilst working four days a week. I love it. It puts everything in perspective because I am training practically towards my job. Study Abroad options allow students the opportunity to enrich their experience by 31

32 A holistic student experience Marantha Peterside. Students bound for Disney, Florida. Ayfer Aram. studying abroad for a semester, a year, or for a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate degree. The Study Abroad team provides advice and assistance to those who wish to explore this option and also to those who choose shorter placements overseas. A group of students gained first-hand experience of the tourism industry through an exclusive partnership with Royal Caribbean International. Seven second-year students studying Tourism Management and related business subjects joined the Royal Caribbean team for a month s placement. The group was chosen via a competitive selection process which considered their academic performance and performance at interview. The students were given projects by different areas of the business with the support of a dedicated mentor. Laura Cuthbertson said: I absolutely loved my internship! Royal Caribbean International are great to work for and the people are welcoming and supportive. I am very grateful to the University and Royal Caribbean International for coming together to create this internship opportunity and feel very lucky to have been chosen to be a part of this amazing experience. One of the first interns on the Royal Caribbean partnership scheme, Marantha Peterside, valued the chance to improve her employability skills on the placement, which included visits to Barcelona and the Isle of Wight. As a Global Entrepreneurship and Business Management student, she went on to study for a year abroad at Kennesaw State University in Georgia and welcomed the opportunity to travel and learn about different cultures. Marantha majored in Marketing and International Marketing and made the President s List for academic excellence while studying in the US. She said of the experience: I think it is important that students consider a Study Abroad programme, as it not only helps with broadening your academic knowledge, but also helps with your personal development. This is why I have chosen to focus my dissertation on the benefits of the Study Abroad scheme for students. Ten Events Management students have had the opportunity to study in Florida for a year and gain valuable experience at Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort and Loews Hotels. The academic exchange agreement with Yummy Jobs and Central Michigan University means that the University is one of only 11 UK higher education institutions to offer this exchange. Luke Brisco, International Recruitment Manager, Yummy Jobs, said: The University of Chester is one of the most supportive academic institutions for students looking to experience life-changing opportunities and we are truly happy to welcome its fantastic students on to our programmes with some of the world s most admired companies. Beijing was the destination for Ayfer Aram, who chose to do her Work Based Learning in a well-respected law firm in China. As a Law with Business student, she worked in many areas of the company, developed skills and decided on her career plans. She said that with the support of the University you are never left alone 32

33 A holistic student experience and she learnt so much about the Chinese language and culture during the trip, as well as making friends from around the world. Ayfer felt that China allowed me to develop in an amazing way and was offered a position at the company after graduation. An elective nursing placement in Ghana was a life-changing experience for Jessica Joy. The Pre-Registration Nursing student worked at Effia-Nkwanta, the regional hospital in Takoradi, in a range of different departments, spent time in a small village hospital and taught healthcare to children and families. She took protocols, policies and guidelines with her for the hospitals and was able to demonstrate procedures which saved time and money. She was inspired by the nurses and doctors, who worked so hard and remained so strong in an environment where patients were dying purely due to lack of resources, and would recommend Ghana as a placement to other healthcare workers because of the community welcome. Geography student, Ethan Harvey, travelled to Costa Rica for his five-week Work Based Learning Placement, with multiple opportunities to get to know the country and its people. He stayed with families, studied Spanish, helped endangered turtles, lived in the rainforest and conducted research for his dissertation. He said of the experience that it helped him to develop as a person and that Each and every step you take opens up a new pathway, or a new perspective on how the world around you operates and the circumstances in which people live. Megan Pancutt (Adult Nursing) travelled with four other Leighton Hospital students from her cohort to the hospital in Bathalapalli in southern India through the Rural Development Trust (RDT). During their time with RDT they saw how cultural issues such as poverty, gender inequality, arranged marriage, education and religion affected the population and made the students appreciate their lives in the UK to a greater extent. Megan concluded: The warmth and kindness we received from the staff at the RDT was truly heart-warming. It was 110% the best experience of my training, and something I will value as a true stepping stone in my nursing career. Norwegian student Mikal Leroy used his Work Based Learning placement to travel to China and use some of the skills gained through his International Business course. He gained an internship with the British Chamber of Commerce in Chengdu and worked with an international team on tasks such as writing speeches, designing posters and compiling articles on the local economy. He felt that he had a priceless experience that gave him a new perspective on Chinese culture and business and recommends that all students should step out of their comfort zone to create memories of a lifetime! Ellen Bassett (Learning Disability Nursing) travelled to Kuala Lumpur to undertake a four-week placement at CareSpeech, which is a speech and language therapy centre for children with autism and learning disabilities. She found the families to be very supportive and the Mikal Leroy. Jessica Joy. Ellen Bassett. 33

34 We have been delighted with our student placements great young people with a very professional attitude towards their placements and our work. The University has some fine ambassadors in these students! Nigel Hughes, YMCA Wirral. placement was a valuable learning experience, as she relished the cultural differences and the experience boosted her confidence. She said: This trip was the best thing that I have chosen to do during my time at University, and I m very grateful I got the opportunity to do so; it really was an adventure and has definitely changed me for the better. The University has always been a pioneer in Work Based Learning with over 20 years of experience in offering students the opportunity of a five-week work placement as part of their second-year curriculum, or for longer periods of time to meet other requirements of specific courses. As UK universities are under increasing government pressure to strengthen university and employer engagement, the University is at the forefront of developing employable graduates with transferable skills and the ability to adapt to a changing workplace. Second-year students are assessed through a 4,000-word report on their placements and there are other written requirements for longer spells of employment. The combination of practical experience and the assessment means that they have the opportunity to apply and develop knowledge, integrate theory with practice and explore possible future career areas. All of these factors help to develop employability skills for students and shape their expectations about the world of work. The Work Based Learning team oversaw 1,411 placements in for around 1,400 students on a range of programmes. Placement co-ordinators, who work in the Work Based Learning Department and are specialists in various job sectors, work closely with local and national businesses to secure a range of placement opportunities for students to help them meet their career aspirations and develop their employability skills. Each student is allocated an academic tutor who, with the placement co-ordinator, helps to ensure that effective support is in place for students and placement organisations. They also work together to provide an essential quality assurance and enhancement role, which is not only focused on academic standards but also manages the relationship, expectations and perceptions of all stakeholders. As a result, 92% of placement providers agreed that having a student on placement was a positive experience. The programme evaluation reports show that a significant number of students have developed greater self-confidence, together with personal and professional growth, through meaningful engagement with the placement experience. Placement providers feel that the programme helps to equip students for employment and they highlight the positive experience of hosting a student and the benefits it can have on their business. As the placement is assessed and credit bearing, students have to reflect critically on their learning, which differentiates the programme from many others and helps to embed significant learning to aid and prepare students for securing and undertaking graduate jobs. The following examples demonstrate how Work Based Learning benefits both students and employers. Alanna Bolton (Geography), joined Consulting Engineers, Betts Associates, as a Flood Risk Technician for her placement, working on a range of projects assessing the risks around fluvial flooding. She found the experience to be a brilliant insight into working life, a taster for a potential career path and probably the best opportunity you ll have at University! Richard Nicholas from Betts Associates said, The students bring an element of enthusiasm and a new approach, a fresh view. It also gives us the opportunity to assess for future possible employment, as it helps with de-risking the employment of staff. A work placement with Power Solutions led to a permanent job for Luke Murphy (Business Studies). The company is one of the leading UK business energy consultants and Luke created a marketing strategy for a new product on his placement that impressed the team. He now works as a Site-Works and Metering Consultant, where he manages clients, contractors, engineers and energy suppliers, to help to ensure that gas, electricity and water connections are fitted correctly and efficiently. Luke is responsible for a team of staff and its performance as well as successfully creating, implementing and developing new strategies. Roanne Wood (Journalism and TV Production), completed her Work Based Learning module at The Unsigned Guide and secured a job after completing her degree. Roanne made a good impression with her proactive approach and the ability to apply skills she gained during her degree. Roanne now works as a Music Researcher 34

35 A holistic student experience for The Unsigned Guide, which involves a mix of skills such as communicating with music industry contacts, interviewing bands and artists, curating blog content and co-hosting a monthly show on Amazing Radio. Photography student, Emma Simpson, completed her Work Based Learning at Everton Football Club, where she shadowed the Club photographer, Anthony McArdle, at a range of events. She photographed football matches for the men s and women s teams, the end of season awards ceremony, training sessions, charity events and did some portrait photography for the players. This work will feature in her final year exhibition and the placement has confirmed that this is her chosen career path. Emma concluded: It was the most incredible experience and I learned more than I ever expected to about sports photography. Elspeth Woolsey (Radio and Television Production) was able to identify the areas of the media industry that interested her through her work placement and gained useful contacts at the same time. She worked with Bauer Media on her final year Major Radio Project and this led to a job as Creative Partnerships Project Manager for this entertainment network, which includes brands such as 4 Music, Kerrang and Heat magazine. Two students worked at the charity Yellow House, in Liverpool, which utilises theatre, film and other techniques to help improve the emotional wellbeing of young people from socially excluded and disadvantaged backgrounds. Jessica Carroll (Tourism Management), and Megan Boden (Criminology), had an insight into Yellow House s services and the management skills needed within a third sector organisation. They were also able to engage with the young people visiting Yellow House and give them an idea of life at university. Jas Dhillon (Marketing), thrived in her sandwich year work placement at a field marketing company, where her enthusiasm and willingness to develop further were identified by colleagues. She was subsequently offered a permanent role at Mars and worked with the company s pet care brands, creating and delivering the national marketing plan and growing key accounts. Jas now works as a National Account Manager at Red Bull, a role which heavily relies on strategic marketing and interaction with high street and discount stores. Jas said of her learning experience: The small campus really attracted me to Chester, as well as the very friendly staff and students. The course was accredited to the Chartered Institute of Marketing and unlike a lot of universities, Chester offered the option of a four-year course, with an inclusive sandwich placement in the third year. With greater competition for jobs after university, I wanted to stand out as a graduate. Everton Football Club. Image credit: Emma Simpson. Megan Boden. 35

36 We are extremely proud of all our volunteers and the great work they do as ambassadors of the University. Volunteering is a great way of gaining new skills, meeting new people and making a huge difference to the lives of other people. Dr Chris Haslam, Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Corporate Development and the Student Experience. Volunteering and mentoring Continuing the long-standing tradition of public service to the community, students and staff contributed 27,801 volunteering hours in , in addition to the 24,500 raised for charity by the Chester Students Union (CSU) sports clubs and societies, the 9,000 raised by the Events Management students, a range of other fundraising efforts and the support offered by school mentors to 230 mentees in local schools. The annual Volunteer Celebration Evening recognised the outstanding efforts of students in giving back to the community. The total number of registered student volunteers was 1,466 and their chosen charities included Cancer Research, Childreach International, Claire House Hospice and Girlguiding. Sixtynine students received University of Chester Volunteering awards (gold, silver and bronze), which recognise the level of volunteering hours, together with related activities such as workshops and presentations based on their experience. Abigail Hunt (Games Development) won the Charity s Choice Award for being Abigail Hunt. a long-standing and exceptional student volunteer with the Dee Sign Choir, giving up her time and raising 180,000 for the charity over a 12-year period. PAPYRUS, a national suicide prevention charity, was the Students Choice charity for providing an outstanding student volunteering experience, having been Student Volunteer Celebration Evening. Volunteer Celebration Evening. 36

37 A holistic student experience nominated by Lauren Cooper (Psychology). CSU sports clubs and societies volunteer and fundraise for a variety of charities and this is a selection of their activities, which raised an impressive 24,500, an increase of 4,000 on the previous year: The Orchestra Society raised over 2,000 from performances in Chester city centre and elsewhere. The Tennis Club ran the Liverpool Half Marathon and raised 2,000 for Diabetes UK. The Swimming Club raised over 1,800 for charity and volunteered with Chester Terrapins and Chester Aid to the Homeless. The Thespian Society performed A Midsummer Night s Dream to an audience of 250 guests and raised over 1,400 for MIND. The Fencing Club undertook an 8km memory walk in Delamere Forest for the Alzheimer s Society and raised 678. The Equestrian Club has spent over 200 hours volunteering with local charity, Horse Sense, an equine rescue and rehabilitation charity, and helped to rehome four horses. The Ultimate Frisbee Society held a Cheese and Wine evening for residents at the Homedee House retirement accommodation. At Chester, boxes were collected for Operation Christmas Child and a Harry Potter Movie Marathon held to raise money to support families of disabled children via Caudwell Children. At Warrington, over 500 was raised through Hockey and Netball matches in aid of Epilepsy UK, as well as a 53,000 metre Rowathon for Joining Jack, a Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy charity. School mentoring offers the opportunity for students to inspire school pupils to reach their full potential, either through group or one-toone contact. Fourteen schools participated in and 48 school mentors supported 230 mentees with advice on issues such as gaining greater self-esteem and motivation, helping with school work and organisational skills and raising aspirations. Peer mentoring opportunities to help new University students are also available and 170 students acted as mentors to help others with the transition into higher education. Events Management students organised a range of fundraising events, which gave them valuable experience and benefited their chosen charities to the tune of 9,000. These included: The Treasure Trail, run by 4Paws Events to support and raise awareness of Manchester and Cheshire Dogs Home. Connect Events Chester hosted a 1940s themed tea party in aid of Age UK Cheshire. The 4Paws Events team. The PARC Events team. 37

38 A holistic student experience The Lord Mayor, Cllr Angela Claydon, with Events Society students. Alan Critchley. Morgan Dowling. PARC Events organised Let s Eat Safari and raised 532 for Chester Women s Aid. One Moment Events raised 505 for The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre after the success of its Parisian chic wine tasting event. The Alder Hey Hoedown, organised by Eventions, raised more than 1,000 for Alder Hey Children s Charity. VI Events raised the highest figure of 1,479 at dinner in aid of local brain injury rehabilitation charity B.I.R.D. Sixty-five volunteers from the Events Society were praised by the Lord Mayor of the City of Chester for helping Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) staff with a series of Christmas events. Cllr Angela Claydon presented a certificate to each volunteer who worked on events such as the city s Christmas Lights Switch On, Chester Lantern and Winter Watch Parades, Frodsham Christmas Festival and the Roman Saturnalia. President of the Events Society, Laura Jones, said: Working on these events is hugely important, as it provides a fantastic opportunity to gain insight and invaluable experience on live events. The Events Team at CWaC is really supportive and provides guidance and mentoring. The gruelling Marathon des Sables was the objective set by Porter, Alan Critchley and former student, Lynton Dawson. Both completed the 156-mile route in the Sahara Desert carrying food and emergency equipment in temperatures exceeding 50 C. Alan finished in 43 hours over the six days raising over 2,000 for Bloodwise (formerly Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research), a charity supporting his mother-inlaw with leukaemia. Lynton, who now works as a tutor with Premier Training International, finished in just over 45 hours and raised money for Families for HoPE which supports families and children diagnosed with holoprosencephaly a birth defect of the brain. Psychology student, Morgan Dowling, organised a charity barbecue and fun day for local families at the Chichester Arms, Garden Lane and raised over 1,300 for Child Bereavement UK. Morgan organised the event for the charity, as it had supported her after her father s death. She thanked everyone who helped to make it such a success and wanted to ensure that other people like me receive the amazing support I was given, and also to raise awareness of the charity. She continues to volunteer for the cause and has been trained to help at workshops for families facing bereavement. Generous students and staff from the Warrington Campus and the Faculty of Health and Social Care raised more than 2,500 for Warrington Disability Partnership (WDP). The charity aims to help remove social barriers faced by disabled people, their families or carers and to support independence throughout work and life. Events included a cake sale by student nurses; a Wear Your Christmas Jumper to Work Day; a staff member completing a 10km assault 38

39 A holistic student experience Dig the Quarter s wildlife garden. Catering Services staff with charity collection boxes. Ben Hultum with Rose Winchcombe. course; the staff Great Warrington Bake Off and a Faculty of Health and Social Care Christmas Jumper Day. The founder and chair of WDP, Dave Thompson MBE, DL, MBA, who is also an honorary graduate, said: The donation towards our Legacy Appeal is fantastic; it is already making a difference to our work. Students and staff helped Dig the Quarter community group to prepare ground for a wildlife garden in the Garden Quarter. The project is part of Chester Zoo s Wildlife Connections campaign, aimed at encouraging local communities to reconnect with nature and create wildlife-friendly spaces. The team of 10 student volunteers worked alongside Dig the Quarter to provide an area ready for planting with wildflowers. Students, staff and visitors have helped to raise more than 1,400 from spare change collected at the catering outlets in The proceeds were donated to the Hospice of the Good Shepherd, Clatterbridge Cancer Charity and Marie Curie, to support the care of patients in the local area. Ben Hultum from, Learning and Information Services, competed at the Brompton World Championship bike race in aid of Rose Winchcombe, the daughter of colleague Jo, and finished 252nd out of 574 riders. He raised over 1,000 towards Rose s treatment at the Family Hope Center in the US. More than 100 staff and students at the Warrington Campus put their skills and stamina to the test when they took part in a 24-hour football match to raise over 350 for CRY a national charity which works to reduce the frequency of sudden cardiac death in the young. The event was organised by Warrington Campus Fitness Instructors and CSU. Staff and students supported a fashion show in aid of Children Today, a local charity providing specialist equipment for disabled people up to the age of 25. The event at the Doubletree Hilton attracted over 100 visitors and included clothes supplied by Fashion Design students. The event raised 4,000 for the charity and a Christmas Fair held at the Riverside Innovation Centre raised a further 700. A sponsored walk raised over 650 to create a garden space at Wrexham Maelor Hospital. Clerical Assistant Leighton Williams organised the walk at Erddig Hall to raise money for the mental health facilities, to acknowledge how much he and his family appreciated their support from the Hospital. World Mental Health Day 2016 saw Faculty of Health and Social Care staff and students raising more than 600 for PAPYRUS a national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide. A 10-mile walk in aid of PAPYRUS and Barnardo s Cymru took place at Barmouth; Warrington staff and students donated steps on a lunchtime walk, and held a three-legged hope walk. At Chester a walk was held, medals were handed out for acts of kindness, happy photos were shared on Twitter, and an anti-stigma information stand, tea and talk, mindfulness and art sessions were all on offer. 39

40 A holistic student experience The Warrington 24-hour football match. World Mental Health Day. Leighton Hospital cake sale. The Dry January Challenge resulted in Helen Roberts raising 870 for Breast Cancer Care. Helen, a Work Based Learning Placement Coordinator, achieved this through sponsorship from friends and colleagues and her efforts were prompted by family experience of the disease. Pre-Registration Nursing students raised over 300 for the children s ward at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust: Leighton Hospital through a bake sale. The September 2015 cohort of Adult Nursing students raised the money for refurbishing and updating the play area on the ward. Free blood pressure checks were offered to the public by volunteer Pre-Registration Nursing students alongside Chester Rotary Club and the Stroke Association at the Forum Shopping Centre in Chester. Over 150 people took part and received information on the dangers of high blood pressure and stroke-related illness. Madeleine Mansfield, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Business and Management, completed an 11,000ft sky dive for charity, reaching 157mph in freefall before the parachute opened. Madeleine raised 700 and said The Christie does such amazing and ground-breaking work to improve the lives of people with cancer and I am always happy to support the charity so they can impact on more lives. Kerry Hemmings developed a passion for midwifery after the birth of her first son and she completed an Access course before starting her degree at Chester. As part of the Midwifery Society, she has encouraged other members to join in her multiple fundraising efforts. Four students accompanied Kerry and her three children for the sponsored Walk for Wards at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. She also finds time around her studies to fundraise for the Labour Ward at Leighton Hospital. The Ward uses memory boxes provided by the charity 4Louis for parents whose babies are stillborn or die soon after birth so that parents and midwives can collect precious memories. Kerry has raised funds for these boxes through multiple cake sales and completing the Tough Mudder with her family, because she has seen how much they are appreciated. She feels privileged in her role as a midwife and believes that the care and support we offer during this painful and sensitive time is paramount to our role and for the grieving family members. 40

41 A holistic student experience Innovative student research and creative projects The opportunity to investigate topics in depth and produce original work is a key part of student life for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. These varied projects help students to build a portfolio of skills and often achieve wider recognition. PhD student, Luis Ferras, has won a Young Researcher Award at an international Mathematics conference. Luis is benefiting from the collaboration between the University and several Portuguese universities, as he is from the University of Minho, Guimarães, and is studying in the Department of Mathematics at Thornton Science Park. Luis was awarded the Young Researcher Award from Wolfram Research and received his award during the 3rd International Conference on Numerical and Symbolic Computation Developments and Applications in Portugal. During the conference, Luis presented work focusing on how fractional derivatives can be applied to the field of rheology (the study of the flow of matter). Dr Jason Roberts, Head of the Department of Mathematics said: Luis is an absolutely outstanding student and this award proves that his ability and potential is recognised at an international level too. We look forward to seeing his future achievements in this field. A Business Management and Entrepreneurship student was named in the Top 50 Future List at the Northern Power Women Awards. Stephanie Hooker achieved a first-class honours degree, and then completed a Master s (with distinction) in Business Consultancy in Supporting Employee Development through the Work Based Integrative Studies (WBIS) programme. Steph believes it was her Master s degree research paper that contributed to her receiving this recognition, as this investigated the gender imbalance at management level within STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) orientated organisations across the region. The Top 50 Future List is designed to recognise the influencers and change makers of the future, who are making a difference in their environments and communities. Steph was also nominated in the One to Watch category at the awards and now works as a procurement analyst/buyer at URENCO UK Limited, while studying for her Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) qualification. Connie Hancock, Head of the Department of Business and Finance, added: Steph was always a winner to me and her inclusion on the Top 50 Future List is testament to her hard work. She is a credit to the University of Chester Business School, and I am very proud of her achievements. A North West Engineering Excellence award and a first-class mark was the reward for Harry Small s design project, submitted as part of his degree. Harry won the Design Project of the Year in the awards, hosted jointly hosted by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of Engineering and Technology. He received the most votes in the North West for having demonstrated the application of chemical engineering design principles to deliver an Luis Ferras. Stephanie Hooker at the Northern Power Women Awards. Harry Small. Fiona Nelson. 41

42 A holistic student experience innovative solution in his individual design project. Harry is also Secretary of the IChemE Chester and North Wales Members Group and serves as the main link between the University and local companies, helping to bring together students and professional chemical engineers. A Master s graduate, who received a distinction for her work, is using her academic knowledge to support stroke survivors and their families. Fiona Nelson has worked with a range of people, including children and adults with disabilities in educational, social care and health settings, and currently works for the Stroke Association. During her MSc (Conversion) Psychology degree, she opted to explore the perceptions of psychological support from the perspectives of stroke survivors, carers and family members. She found that many intrinsic as well as social factors influence perceptions of psychological support, which may prevent stroke survivors, carers or family members from seeking or accepting help. The study highlighted the importance for this group to recognise how perceptions of psychological support may be formed through an individual s level of understanding, prior experiences and social influence. Fiona has used her knowledge for the benefit of the Stroke Association and returned to the University as a guest lecturer to present to Psychology graduates about stroke recovery. She hopes to pursue a career in clinical psychology. Skills learned during Sarhan Al Zeidi s PhD studies will help to boost the employability of people in Oman. Mature student Sarhan successfully completed his doctorate at the Business Research Institute and his thesis explored the economic and social development of skills in Oman, focusing on supporting his government s policy of providing jobs in the Sultanate, for its people. On his return home, Sarhan was promoted to the position of Director General of the Royal Cavalry, where he oversees human resources and skills development across around 20 departments of the Royal Court of Affairs. He said: Studying in Chester was one of the best decisions I have ever made. While completing my PhD, I learned a great deal from my supervisors their experience and knowledge helped me understand how I can further develop the skills of the people I work with in my home country. Tom Day is using a new Augmented Reality headkit in his PhD work to help train powered wheelchair users as part of its use in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Thornton Science Park. The HoloLens is described as the first selfcontained holographic computer which allows wearers to engage with digital content and interact with computer-generated holograms projected in front of their eyes. The equipment is being used for research purposes, including as a tool to aid medical students, by providing virtual models for training and educational scenarios. Tom said: We have already had success with a Virtual Reality version where you are completely immersed in a virtual world. However, Augmented Reality allows you to see the real world and augment it with computergenerated objects. This offers many advantages for my research and it s a great time to be studying for a PhD in this area at Chester! The growing problem of cyber bullying among school children and teenagers was highlighted in research conducted by an MSc student in Family and Child Psychology. Peter Macaulay completed his dissertation, on Bystander Behaviour in Response to Traditional/Cyber Bullying Scenarios: A Consideration of Victimisation/Perpetration, Empathy and Severity. It focused on youngsters Sarhan Al Zeidi. Tom Day with the Microsoft HoloLens kit. Microsoft HoloLens images. Peter Macaulay. 42

43 A holistic student experience understanding of online risks by looking at their behaviour in response to different bullying scenarios and his interest in keeping young people safe online in a tech-savvy world grew alongside the project. Peter gained a distinction for the research and he won a scholarship to continue his studies into e-safety at PhD level. Artwork was installed at two Chester city centre car parks, following a joint project between Cheshire West and Chester Council and the University. A group of Fine Art students developed the work for the Market and Trinity Street car parks after staff from the Department of Art and Design worked closely with Ken Prior, Parking Manager at the Council. The project saw artwork by 25 students installed and Councillor Louise Gittins, Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing at the Council, said: The new artworks have caught the attention of car park users. I hope the students have benefited from working in these unusual areas, giving a unique canvas for their work. A group of Business and Marketing students from the University of Chester s Business School conducted market research for businesses on providing safe WiFi for their customers in the city. The research was conducted for RDI, a Chester-based business that created Friendly WiFi the world s first safe certification standard for public WiFi for businesses across the world. The research aimed to find out the views of local businesses towards filtered WiFi and being part of a standard. The students found that just under half the respondents from city centre businesses could not confirm that their WiFi was filtered, even though most respondents felt they had a responsibility to provide it safely. Bev Smith, RDI Director, said: To engage with our local university is important and it is great to see such talent in the students that worked on this project. BA (Hons) Photography student, Matthew Lainchbury, chose to create a photobook for one of his third-year projects and the resulting zine, Pre-Match, follows the lives of Liverpool FC fans and the changes in their football day experience. It was displayed at the Open Eye Gallery Zine and Photobook Fair in Liverpool and is stocked in the Open Eye Gallery s shop. Having gained a first-class degree, Matthew hopes to travel to gain more experience of different cultures and then begin a Master s degree in Photography. Students working with the Informatics Centre were tasked by CyberSafr to develop a user friendly and easy way to use cyber security applications to help users keep their homes secure from hackers. The group worked on the problem of vulnerability as part of a Work Based Learning project and initial designs and prototypes for different solutions were produced. Based on this work, the Informatics Centre then developed a proof of concept web application, optimised for mobile devices, which allows a user to enter a list of devices they own, receive notification when a known vulnerability is found and to access advice on protection. Two research students from the Department of Biological Sciences used prized scholarships from the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) to increase their knowledge Car park artwork. Beverley Smith of RDI with students and staff. Matthew Lainchbury. 43

44 The students spent hours chatting to and listening to older people attending Brightlife events, creating a level of trust whereby the older people felt comfortable to open up and share precious memories. We have been so impressed by the compassion, maturity and respect the students have demonstrated, not to mention their wonderful photography skills! Chris McMahon, Social Prescribing Manager at Brightlife and exhibition organiser. Beneath the Surface exhibition. about welfare in captive fish and amphibians. Jack Wootton received his scholarship for Reducing Negative Effects of Tank Surface Impacts in Captive Male Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) and presented his work at the annual UFAW Animal Welfare Student Scholars Meeting in Essex. Jack has now completed Master s level research on sustainability and welfare in the eel fishing industry in Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland. Martin Pearson won his UFAW scholarship for his work on welfare indicators in captive frogs: Impact of Visitors on Morelet s Tree Frog in a Public Aquarium and presented his results at the annual UFAW Animal Welfare Student Scholars Meeting in Stirling. Martin has now finished his MRes looking at enrichment impacts on behaviour in adult African clawed frogs. Brightlife Photography students. Epilogue, the final-year student photography exhibition, was held at the Tower Gallery at the Warrington Campus. This was the culmination of three years study for Digital Photography students and explored themes such as anxiety, grief, death, the subconscious mind, architecture and landscape. External Examiner Ken Grant of Belfast School of Art (University of Ulster) said: These are well resolved and powerful pieces that stand amongst the best engaged work I ve seen at graduate level recently. Beneath the Surface was the title of the finalyear degree show for Fine Art, Graphic Design and Fashion. This was situated across 600 square metres at the Kingsway Campus and Professor Neil Grant (Head, Department of Art and Design) said: It is an exciting time for the Department of Art and Design students, who are encouraged by acclaimed visiting artists and staff to work beyond the present as they define the future of visual culture. The work of four Photography students was showcased in an intergenerational exhibition at Storyhouse in Chester and at other Cheshire locations. The exhibition, Keys to My Memory, captures intimate dialogues between strangers of different generations and was produced for Brightlife, the Big Lottery Fund project. Lorna Elwin, Abi Miller, Beth Grimes-Thomas and Tim Newman s exhibition came to Storyhouse as part of the Great Get Together weekend, inspired by the late MP Jo Cox. 44

45 A holistic student experience Fashion students with some of their designs. Aspiration Live. Enterprising Chinese students carried out valuable market research for the Faculty of Business and Management on their five-week work experience placement. They worked on a project examining the UK higher education system and how UK universities market their international courses. They particularly focused on the use of social media and how it can reach the student market in China. A presentation was made to management at the end of their project and their conclusions have informed the Faculty of Business and Management s marketing plans. The best of local live music was celebrated at the annual Commercial Music Production showcase event, Aspiration Live 2017 at the Warrington Campus. The event was organised by Music Production students in the Department of Media and was a chance for them to showcase both their own music acts and those from the local community that they have been developing and recording over the year. A special catwalk event, showcasing student collections and seasonal styles, was held at the Grosvenor Hotel in Chester as part of CH1ChesterBID s Style in the City campaign. CH1ChesterBID, in partnership with the University, hosted an evening of glamour as the style spectacular featured the work of the first cohort of Fashion students at the University alongside professional models, who showed a range of seasonal garments and style trends available in the city centre. Alyson Moyes is using her PhD work to undertake a clinical research project aimed at monitoring the changes that occur to patients undergoing Flexible Ureterendoscopy Surgery (FURS) for the treatment of small kidney stones. Alyson, who also completed her degree in Biomedical Science at Chester, found that several changes to routine blood tests were evident following FURS during the pilot study. The findings were published as a journal article and presented at international meetings. This work is being carried out in collaboration with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and the North Wales and North West Urological Research Centre at Wrexham Maelor Hospital. Alyson s continuing research on the blood and biochemistry markers after this operation may help to identify patients at increased risk of complications. Aspiration Live. 45

46 #MyChesterStory Maisie Snowdon A coveted finalist s place in the Telegraph STEM Awards 2017 was the reward for Maisie Snowdon, who harnessed her practical and creative abilities on an innovative dissertation project on tracking devices for birds of prey. Maisie opted to study Mechanical Engineering at Thornton Science Park, having had an interest in design and solving practical problems from an early age. Throughout her three-year course, Maisie took full advantage of student life and acted as a Student Academic Representative for Mechanical Engineering, represented the University in the Women s Hockey 2nd team and was an active member of the Swing Dance Society. However, it was her talent, ideas and hard work in the academic environment that led her lecturers to suggest that she enter competitions to gain wider recognition. As a result, she and fellow student James Home won the Thornton Transport Innovation Challenge for their car-sharing app idea to reduce the environmental impact of travel. The third year of Maisie s course gave her further opportunities to put her problem-solving skills to work on the dissertation project. She was inspired by the falconers at Chester Cathedral Falconry and the poor battery life of the wireless tracking devices on birds of prey. Maisie looked at harvesting the energy used by a falcon in flight through the use of a piezoelectric energy harvester to power the device and it was this project which saw her win through to the national final of the Telegraph STEM Awards in the Energy category. It may have laid the foundation to develop a potential technology disruptor in the bird tracking industry. Maisie said of the competition that it was a massive confidence boost and really was an amazing experience. Maisie has now progressed to a Master s degree in Product Design and Management and plans to work as a design engineer in the future. Her advice for students after her experience is to gain as much experience as possible and: Go to your lectures, start your coursework the day you get it and enter every competition relevant to what you are doing. Make friends with your lecturers and they will get you through anything. Yu Jia, Maisie s dissertation supervisor said: Her work has been exceptional on all fronts, factoring in both technical development and feasibility for the end-user application. 46

47 A holistic student experience Enhancing employability The need to provide students with the skills and experience to enter the workplace is a key part of the distinctive learning experience, which is borne out by the fact that 95.3% of the 2016 leavers were in employment and/or further study six months after completing their course. Student Futures Careers and Employability offers opportunities such as the Enhance Your Employability sessions, the Chester Difference Excellence Award and Graduate Head Start programme, which, together with the many activities offered by academic departments and the Work Based Learning scheme, mean that students can gain a clear advantage in a competitive jobs market. Student Futures Careers and Employability offers advice and support for students on all aspects of preparing for their chosen career. The Career Consultant team carried out 495 career guidance sessions, 610 drop-in sessions, 276 curriculum sessions and 742 e-guidance responses this year. Eighty-one Enhance Your Employability training sessions were held for 751 students and the average monthly vacancies nearly doubled to 228 from the previous year. Other innovations include the extending of the Graduate Head Start scheme to final year students from Easter, so that they can benefit from the extra assistance with securing employment at an earlier stage; the launch of the Student Planner for all new students; the roll-out of Career Hub, the student/ staff/employer interface; the re-brand of the Venture Create theme; a new tailored freelancing programme for the Kingsway Campus; and the Business Blast programme for Warrington. The popular UniJob scheme facilitates the employment of students in temporary vacancies across the campuses and 216 students participated in in a variety of roles. Sabrina de Sa won the Student Employee of the Year Award: Commercial Impact at the Valedictory Service for her roles as a UniJob bank member, Work Based Learning student, Research Assistant in the Department of Psychology, and caller for the Destinations of Leavers in Higher Education survey. She won the Above and Beyond On Campus Award and was a regional winner in the National Association of Student Employment Services Commercial Impact category. Sabrina said: I recognise that I would not be in this position if it weren t for the support and guidance from the outstanding Psychology Department and the amazing team that makes up the Careers and Employability Department. This award is not just a personal recognition but, in my opinion, underpins the brilliance of the Department of Psychology and everyone who has helped me along my journey at University. The Chester Difference Award was created four years ago to provide recognition for the many extra-curricular activities, in which students engage during their time in higher education. All the activities recorded, such as part-time work, volunteering, employability training, additional short courses or being a captain or committee member of a Chester Students Union club or society, are valuable in building up a portfolio of skills for future employment and allow students to develop on a personal level. In addition, the opportunity to use their skills for the benefit of the local community often leads to continued participation in community activities for students after their studies have finished. Students, staff and community representatives celebrated the achievement of students gaining the different levels of the Chester Difference Award. In there were 720 students in the scheme, with 66 achieving the Chester Difference Award, 17 the Chester Difference Plus Award and 18 the Chester Difference Excellence Award. University staff, students and community members gave the speeches at the event and James Bullen (Geography and Natural Hazard Management) said: The awards evening proved that we are making a difference collectively in communities and in societies. On a more personal level, it s not just the hours you put in, or the great award you can put on your CV, but it is about the enjoyment of the scheme and the enthusiasm to use the skills you ve developed and take that further into your career. The Careers and Employability team developed a new Graduate Profile to highlight how graduates can stand out in the workplace. Based on six core attributes, including specialist skills, networking James Bullen. Sabrina de Sa. 47

48 A holistic student experience turnover of less than 50 million. Marc Smith, from Contour Showers, said: My experience of the Internship Programme was extremely positive and I would highly recommend this initiative. Josh Luckhurst (far right). and self-awareness, the Profile aims to prompt students and staff to think about the longer term value of a degree and can be used during career planning and guidance discussions. The Profile is available through the University s new CV guide on the University s careers resources website and is included in handbooks and as posters in academic departments. Fifteen students were employed as Student Ambassadors to evaluate the current student perception of Careers and Employability s issues and services through surveys and personal contact. Their project themes include the importance of extra-curricular activities, the role of academic departments and how students could better understand and articulate their employability skills to potential employers. Their ideas included more flexible drop-in sessions and the availability of more online training videos. A further group of student Project Assistants then turned these suggestions into practical applications, such as online video material and the new student-focused information guide for incoming students. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the North West can benefit from a highly successful internship initiative offered by the University and Santander Universities, which has recently been expanded. The Chester Internship Programme provides current undergraduate and postgraduate The Young Enterprise Start Up competition teams. Staff with the Graduate Profile. students with valuable work experience and is also an opportunity for businesses to benefit from the extra resource, while gaining fresh perspectives and new ideas from some of the latest graduate talent. The Programme allows SMEs to employ up to three interns to help address a period of increased workload, or to provide support with a specific short-term project on a full-or part-time basis. Interns are paid a guaranteed salary of 300 per week, only half of which is paid for by the business, with the other half being match-funded by Santander Universities and other University funding. In order to participate in the Programme, the organisation must have been based in the North West, have fewer than 250 employees and an annual The University of Chester Business School hosted the regional stage of the Young Enterprise Start Up competition and was represented by three teams, Innovia, Embrace and BBCozy. Innovia make bespoke photographic gifts and team leader, Alex Clarke, was also nominated for Entrepreneurial Student of the Year. Embrace makes leather bracelets which double up as USB pen drives and BBCozy produces traditional baby slings. The student teams worked on the project over a year and had to provide business reports, showcase their products or services and then answer questions from the expert panel of judges. Business Management student Hannah Kennedy-Haynes, and her start-up company BBCozy reached the Young Enterprise Start-Up Final in Liverpool. Her team, including four international students, was one of only 10 in the UK to reach the final. Hannah also achieved the Dean s Commendation Award for Performance from the Faculty of Business and Management at the Valedictory ceremony. After graduating from the Sports Journalism course in 2015, Josh Luckhurst is now covering top sports stories for the Press Association (PA). He was one of hundreds of applicants and landed one of two Trainee Multimedia Sports Journalist roles with PA Sport. Since then he has seen his work published across a range of national and international titles and channels including The Independent, Sky Sports.com and MSN. Josh uses a range of skills taught on the 48

49 A holistic student experience University of Chester Business School Master s students. Hamza Hussain with Santander staff. Sports Journalism degree at the Warrington Campus and benefited from placements at York Press and the Press Association before graduating. He said: If you are keen to get into industry, I d say do as much work experience as you can while you re at university. Several Master s students from the Business School have gained key full-time roles during their studies. For example, Alex McConnell was only halfway through his Work Based MA when he was recruited as Finance and Operations Manager by Chika Russell, Chief Executive Officer of London-based Chika s. Rebecca Small (Chester Business Master s Degree) has been appointed by global marketing company Armstrong in Chester as a direct result of her final MA assignment, which gained a distinction, and her performance at interview. She said of the course: This Master s has given me the confidence to go out into the working world with a better understanding of what it takes to succeed. Angel Barry (BA Hons, Business Studies) has joined the UK operations of the Müller brand at its UK base in Telford after choosing the one-year Business Master s Programme. Zuzana Mihalikova is also progressing through her one-year Master s degree within the Centre for Work Related Studies after completing her BA (Hons) in Events Management and Tourism. She overcame strong competition to land a full-time role within the marketing team at EA Technology. Business Management student Hamza Hussain won the 1,000 University Enterprise Challenge, sponsored by Santander Universities, impressing the judges with his frozen curry base concept. Seven start-up teams had to prepare full business plans and pitched them to a panel of judges from the business community. Runnersup were Go Rawr, run by Business student Natasha Chipampe, featuring range of exclusive cacao products, while Resolade, run by James Horne, Lars Larson and Mikal Leroy, came in third place with its exothermic drinks. The Embrace team led by Ben Summers (Business) was highly commended for its pen drive bracelets. A position as an Accident and Emergency Nurse at Alder Hey Children s Hospital was the result of Jenni Hollingsworth s final year placement. Despite difficult personal circumstances, and with the help of University staff, Jenni excelled and she graduated with a high 2:1. She enjoyed a variety of placements on the course and after her final one at Alder Hey, she secured a permanent role there on graduation. Jenni s current role involves caring for children and their parents who arrive at the ward with acute, lifethreatening injuries and illnesses. The Venture programme is part of the consortium-led Cheshire and Warrington Business Growth Programme Project, supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which is designed to inspire students to be enterprising and develop the skills and knowledge to start a business, enter selfemployment, freelance or innovate within an organisation. The events are designed to challenge students (and graduates for up to three years after graduating), give them exposure 49

50 A holistic student experience Football Focus talked to students about his life as a journalist in TV and radio; Conservative MP for Eddisbury, Antoinette Sandbach took part in a Question and Answer session with BA Education Studies students; Gary Kennedy, Chairman of Connect Group plc, spoke to MBA students at the University of Chester Business School; alumnus Colin Telford, founder of The Candidate, talked to students in the Warrington School of Management; Helen Jennings, Campaign Officer for Tourism Concern, spoke to Tourism students; and entrepreneurs Garry Hill, Paul Harter and Harry Keen spoke at a digital business event for University Centre Shrewsbury students. Gary Kennedy with students on the MBA programme. to the business world and encourage them to make the first steps in starting a business. As part of the Venture scheme, those who have received 12 hours of support can pitch for up to 5,000, courtesy of Santander Universities, to help with the start-up costs associated with their business. The Pitch involved students preparing a 500-word business summary and a 60-second video pitch and submissions were narrowed down to a shortlist of eight. Those shortlisted were invited to bid in person for the start-up funding and business support prizes. Jordan Tew (Global Entrepreneurship and Business Management) and Jessica Saunders (Health and Social Care), were awarded the top prize of 2,500 for their app Stu sdeals. This is designed to help students to find local bargains and events of interest within the city, working alongside local businesses. Prizes of 1,000 were awarded to Andrew Davey (MA, Design), for social enterprise Gro Space, a co-working space in Chester for start-ups, and Ryan Holland (Fine Art and Graphic Design), for Hoz Designs, which offers bespoke packages for promotional videos. Michelle Parkinson (English Literature) received 500 for The Speak Easy, a monthly event of literature and entertainment and a community service offering workshops to promote wellbeing. Faculty of Business and Management single honours students have the valuable opportunity to work for a year out in industry, either in Psychology Careers Conference. the UK or overseas after their second year of studies. Thirty-eight students participated with companies such as Bentley, IBM, L Oreal, Welocalise, Porsche, Marks & Spencer, Marketing Cheshire and Cheshire West and Chester Council. Many placement students have been offered jobs on completion of their degree, such as Meera Ghedia (International Business) at Golfbreaks.com and Jake Gardiner (Business), who has been recommended for the Graduate Programme at Microsoft. Students have many chances to engage with leading local and national figures to learn more about their specialist subjects and how they have progressed in their chosen careers. For example, Dan Walker, from BBC Breakfast and Larger events tailored to the needs of students are run jointly by individual departments and Student Futures Careers and Employability. For example, the Department of Psychology careers conference attracted key speakers such as Professor Coral Dando, Forensic and Chartered Psychologist, University of Westminster; Dr Jamin Sohrabi-Shiraz, Educational Psychologist, St Helens Council; and Clinical Psychologist Lisa Heaton Brown, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust. They all shared their experiences with the students and there was a networking session with representatives from organisations including Here and Now Chester, Hospice of the Good Shepherd, Health Box CIC and the Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust. Professor Ros Bramwell (Head, Department of Psychology), said: As employability is now a fundamental aspect of the students University journey, our Department is devoted to providing students with optimal guidance for their future careers. 50

51 #MyChesterStory Tommie Watts Pull quote example. The building of relationships with prospective students makes the process of integration into the University community a gradual and supportive experience, empowering students to take their first steps into higher education. A new career in Australian radio beckons for Tommie Watts, as he begins life on the other side of the world with his first-class degree in Radio Production with Commercial Music Production. Tommie lived and worked in Canada for a few years and wanted to pursue his interest in commercial music on his return to the UK. He found that the course at the Warrington Campus allowed him to study a broad range of themes in a modular format, as well as to nurture his passion for radio. The Warrington Campus provided excellent facilities in a convenient location and, despite living some distance away, Tommie took full advantage of the opportunities saying that: As a mature student I recognised the importance of participating in as much extra-curricular activity as possible, to enhance what is a very brief time in higher education. instrumental in me achieving an ambition to present on commercial radio when I was given the opportunity to present a show on Signal Radio. Another success was a 24-hour radio show he organised in aid of the Warrington, Halton and St Helens Branch of the RSPCA. Tommie worked with RSPCA staff to produce interviews and radio packages about animals needing care or new homes, with contributions from DJ Rasp and other students, during the marathon event which raised funds for the charity. Tommie s multiple efforts throughout his Name degree were recognised at the Valedictory ceremony by the Hilary Tucker Prize for the greatest contribution to the Warrington Campus. The broad approach to Tommie s course has given him many future career options, but it was the experience on The Cat student radio station which was the highlight of his degree. Tommie developed presenting skills and confidence through his weekly shows on the student-run station. He was a finalist at the national Student Radio Awards and The Cat won a silver award in the Best Student Radio Chart Show category. Tommie is now moving to Australia to be with his fiancée and has started to build his network of contacts in the radio and music industry, where his first-class degree from Chester is well regarded. Tommie s advice for other students is: to ensure you take every opportunity to develop your knowledge, skills and talent. He said: Being nominated for national awards allowed me to gain valuable insights into commercial radio and to make valuable contacts in the music business. This was 51

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53 A stimulating learning High Growth Centre University of Chester Thornton Science Park Impressed with the new Three years of student rep ing #student #university #unilife #studentlife #studentrep #mychesterstory #chester #hoodies These lecturers are a credit to Chester University. A fantastic lifetime experience being taught by @wildo2015 What a day #study #teaching #holidays #assignment #chesteruniversity#newlyqualifiednurse Made some happily ever after potion today #shreksaywot

54 A stimulating learning culture Inspiring staff Staff members play a critical role in shaping the educational experience for students through sharing their knowledge, providing a supportive learning environment and achieving excellence through significant professional and personal milestones. The University was ranked first in the North West, and fourth nationally, for the proportion of its academic staff holding a recognised teaching qualification. The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) commissioned the data, which was collected from 130 institutions in by the Higher Education Statistics Agency. HEFCE acknowledges that teaching qualifications demonstrate the commitment of staff and their organisation to the continual improvement of students experience of higher education, and that they have become central to universities strategies for improving learning and teaching. All of the University s staff are highly trained and experienced in their subject areas and 82% are also qualified teachers. Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim Wheeler, said: This is excellent news for the University. We pride ourselves on our teaching quality and teaching excellence is at the heart of the institution s 177-year history. To have it recognised statistically is the icing on the cake. The Learning and Teaching Institute (LTI) supports all staff involved in teaching or supporting learning to gain professional recognition from the Higher Education Academy (HEA) for their activities. A number of schemes operate to assist staff in different roles and at different career stages to achieve a level of HEA Fellowship. In , these schemes included a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education for newly appointed academic staff (with a similar qualification in Professional Education for new staff in the Faculty of Health and Social Care), conversion courses for those with a teaching qualification from other educational sectors, and an in-house recognition process catering for more experienced staff and those who support learning in other ways. The latter scheme is supported by a team of Senior University Teaching Fellows in Faculties, who mentor colleagues in preparing their applications. In the academic year, 17 staff gained Associate Fellowship of the HEA, 57 achieved Fellowship, and eight were awarded Senior Fellowship. The LTI team also successfully led the reaccreditation of the University s HEA programmes, which will lead to an improved and expanded range of routes to all categories of HEA Fellowship in The University was awarded a Silver rating in the Government s first Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), declaring it a high quality provider which allows its students to achieve Gill Miller. Image credit: The Geographical Association. excellent outcomes. The University was praised by the panel for its wide range of activities supporting the development of employability skills by students, with around two thirds taking part in a Work Based Learning module. The awards were decided by an independent panel of experts, including academics, students and employer representatives. Drawing on national data, and evidence submitted by each university or college, the TEF measures excellence in three areas: teaching quality; the learning environment; and the educational and professional outcomes achieved by students. An invitation to participate as a member of a national committee for the development of a UK National Sustainable Nutrition Strategy was accepted by Professor Lynne Kennedy (Head, Chris Murphy. Department of Clinical Sciences and Nutrition). National and international experts in public health and nutrition were invited to take part in a four-step consultation process to update the Department of Health s national nutrition advice, and to incorporate the global millennium goals for achieving sustainability into the dietary habits and practices of the UK population. Gill Miller (Senior Lecturer, Geography and International Development) has been elected as the Junior Vice President of the Geographical Association, which is the leading national association for teachers of the subject. The appointment will mean that Gill will serve as Senior Vice President in , and then President of the Geographical Association in Gill 54

55 A stimulating learning culture said: I am passionate about geography and its vital, central place in the education of our young people. It will be a privilege to contribute to making our vibrant and exciting subject indispensable to learners of all ages. Ian White, Domestic Bursar and Director of Hospitality and Residential Services, was highly commended for the UK Leadership Award at the Educate North Awards. He has worked at the University for over 30 years and has led on sustainability, launched multiple new catering outlets, steered several of the University s 175th Anniversary year celebrations and taken over the newly created Hospitality and Residential Services Department. The Catering team celebrated multiple wins at The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO) Awards, which attracted over 100 competitors. Artisan baker Dave Quinn won gold and best in class for his Bread Display and Coffee Shop Cake in the Salon Culinaire category, silver in the Cookie Challenge and bronze for his Afternoon Tea. Chef, Chris Murphy, achieved gold in the Campus Speed Cook Challenge, while Head Chefs, Les Barnes and Darren Boddy, won bronze in the Chef s Challenge, which was judged by TV chef Brian Turner CBE. Les Barnes also gained bronze in the Cup Cake Challenge and Second Head Chef, Jackie Rowlands, received a merit for her Tray Bake. Professor Sue Hooton OBE (Nursing and Quality Improvement), is working on a range of initiatives with the Innovation Agency, (previously known as the NHS Academic Health Science Network for the North West Coast). Sue is providing academic input to support the regional Q programme, funded by the Health Foundation, which has a national ambition to recruit 5,000 improvement fellows across the UK to create a national improvement network of health and social care professionals. She is also assisting with a real time evaluation of the Innovation Adoption Accelerator programme on a part-time secondment basis. These early projects are leading to productive networking across the North West and demonstrating the strength of partnership working with the Innovation Agency. The Department of Psychology has been recognised for its commitment to gender equality for staff and students through a Bronze Athena SWAN Award from the Equality Challenge Unit. Although the University holds this Award at an institutional level, Psychology is the first department to achieve this status. Athena SWAN is a national scheme which recognises a commitment to advancing equality and diversity in universities and colleges. To achieve this, a dedicated team of staff and students, led by Dr Suzanne Stewart (Senior Lecturer) and Professor Ros Bramwell (Head, Department of Psychology), collected data and reflected on different aspects of working life relevant to gender equality. The result was the establishment of a new Equality and Diversity Working Group to oversee the implementation of the team s action plan and build improvements to equality and diversity into daily working life. Les Barnes and Darren Boddy. The Department of Psychology Athena SWAN team. Professor Sue Hooton OBE. 55

56 A stimulating learning culture Autism training for Cheshire Police. Dr Dimitra Antonopoulou (left) with Professor Kamvissis. The North West Cross Institutional Action Learning for Women programme is a collaborative project involving seven North West universities, which was funded by the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education. This has led to the availability of a new online resource ACTION: A Good Practice Guide to Action Learning in Higher Education. It was developed by a group of organisational development professionals in higher education in the North West, including Gemma Edwards (Learning and Development Business Partner, Human Resources), and provides advice, guidance and downloadable resources to help to run institutional or crossinstitutional action learning programmes. A conference was also held in Liverpool to raise awareness of the initiative. An autism support committee was established at the Warrington Campus, to raise awareness of the condition and support students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Pam Moss (Student Support Officer, Student Futures) and Jo Sullivan (Lecturer, Department of Social Work and Interprofessional Education) deliver formal teaching sessions for staff explaining how ASD impacts individuals and how to support students in a higher education setting. They have developed an online resource with advice and support for staff who need further information when working with students with autism, plus a support group for students. In addition, they have provided training for Cheshire Police on supporting autistic colleagues and worked with members of the public with ASD. Dr Lisa Peters (Policy Implementation Officer, Academic Quality Support Services), made sporting history when she became the first person from Wales to umpire at a World Curling Federation event at the European C Group Championships in Andorra. Lisa, who is the Chief Umpire for the Welsh Curling Association, had previously umpired in Scotland and England but this was her first time at a WCF event. This follows on from her achievement in 2008, when she became the first female to represent Wales in a world curling championships, at the World Mixed Doubles Championships in Finland. The 2017 Young Enterprise North West Enterprise Ambassador Award at the UK final was the reward for Connie Hancock (Head, Department for Business and Finance). This was for her work in organising the regional Young Enterprise Start Up competition, held at the University for the first time, which attracted entries from across Cheshire and Warrington. Exceptional contributions to University life were celebrated at the fifth Above and Beyond Awards (AAB) which attracted nominations for over 200 staff and students. Cherelle Mitchell, CSU President, said: The AAB Awards recognise the positive impact that both students and staff (academic and non-academic) have on students learning and the student experience. The winners were: Most helpful feedback Dr Ian Seed (Senior Lecturer, Department of English); Most Inspiring Lecturer Heidi Spring- Jones (Senior Lecturer, Department of Modern Languages); Most Innovative Lecturer Kristian Rozells (Senior Lecturer, Department of Performing Arts); Outstanding Personal Academic Tutor/Professional Mentor Dr Sarah Evans (Lecturer, Department of Performing Arts); Outstanding Postgraduate Supervisor Denise Meakin (Senior Lecturer, Centre for Work Related Studies); Outstanding Academic Support Staff Dr Mandy Urquhart (Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology); Outstanding Non- Academic Support Staff Sam Moss-McCleave (Student Wellbeing Adviser, Student Futures); Responsible Futures Green Party Society, Bethan Trigg and Kimberly Hoar (Co-Chairs); StAR of the Year: Claire Culshaw (Nursing); Special Recognition: Department of Psychology; and CSU Choice Award: Academic Quality Support Services. Fellowship of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses was awarded to Helen Kirk, (Visiting Lecturer, Faculty of Health and Social Care), in New Orleans. Helen gained this recognition for her major international contributions to occupational health, and it was the first time that the award has been given to a nurse from outside North America. Helen is Associate Lead Nurse (Workforce) at Public Health England, the national agency that leads on health protection and promotion. The A F Pallas Prize was the reward for Dr Dimitra Antonopoulou from the Academy of Athens for the best work in Mathematical Analysis in the last three years, authored by Greek researchers. The award, which she shares with her academic collaborator, Professor Spyridon Kamvissis from the University of Crete, was presented at an 56

57 A stimulating learning culture official ceremony in Athens in the presence of Academy members and Government representatives. The prize was for research focusing on a fundamental problem within the theory of partial differential equations. Dr Sonya Hill (Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences) was voted on to the Council of the Primate Society of Great Britain. She is also a trustee of the Jane Goodall Institute which protects chimpanzees and inspires people to conserve the natural world, to improve the lives of people, animals and the environment. In this role, she was an invited guest at the Earth Optimism conference in Cambridge, as part of Earth Day Clatterbridge-based Viki Whaley (Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health and Wellbeing), received the coveted title of Queen s Nurse. This accolade is awarded by The Queen s Nursing Institute in recognition of commitment to high standards of patient care and continually improving practice. The European Commission s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety appointed Professor Qasim Chaudhry (Institute of Food Science and Innovation) as its Chairman. He leads the Luxembourg-based Committee, which ensures that consumers in Europe are protected against harmful chemical substances in everyday household products. Professor Chaudhry is a leading expert in the area of chemical and nanomaterial safety and is a member of working groups of the European Food Safety Authority, based in Italy, where he provides expert advice to support its work on food and feed safety. Professor Francesco (Frank) Michelangeli (Department of Biological Sciences), is now the Treasurer and Financial Executive Director of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies, as well as being the only UK representative on the Executive Board. The Federation is a charity that represents over 37,000 scientists and academics, funds postdoctoral researchers in Europe and enhances molecular bioscience research, knowledge and education through congresses and workshops. He is also actively involved with the Biochemical Society and the Royal Society of Biology. Professor Jason Powell (Department of Social and Political Studies) is an Honorary Director of the Geriatric Respite Care Foundation in Uganda, which has a strong commitment to ageing and public policy impact at a global level. Professor of Ageing and Mental Health, Paul Kingston, has been appointed to the Board of Skills for Care, to share his expertise at a national level. Skills for Care provides practical tools and support, to help adult social care organisations in England recruit, develop and lead their workforce. He is also the Independent Chair for Adult Safeguarding and Children s Safeguarding in Wigan; Independent Chair for Adult Safeguarding Blackburn with Darwen and the Home Office Expert Advisor (Adult Safeguarding) for the Disclosure and Barring Service. Connie Hancock (back row, third from right) with Young Enterprise Start Up competition entrants. Professor Frank Michelangeli. Dr Andi Mabhala. 57

58 A stimulating learning culture occasion: It was amazing to be a part of the Games. The best part was meeting so many people who have had transplants and to hear their stories. It has been truly inspirational. Dr Andi Mabhala has achieved membership of the UK Faculty of Public Health through Distinction. This is the standard setting body for specialists in public health and is a joint faculty of the three Royal Colleges of Physicians (London, Edinburgh and Glasgow). Professor Tony Wall launched the International Thriving at Work Research Group with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. The Group, involving experts from business, health and education faculties, undertakes research and development work to promote resilience, wellbeing and thriving in the workplace. It also launched the first annual monitor of resilience management in the UK, which will act as a national benchmark for workplaces. Faculty of Business and Management staff and students with their awards. Mental Health First Aid England report. Dr Andy Lyon (Head, Department for Marketing, Tourism and Events Management), was appointed to the Board of Marketing Cheshire following a close working relationship on a number of projects and initiatives. One of the first outcomes was a workshop with staff from both organisations, to examine how the relationship could be strengthened. The Westfield Health British Transplant Games in Liverpool was the destination for Tim Brown, Deputy Head of the Department of Marketing, Tourism and Events Management. All 800 athletes had benefited from transplantation and this was the first appearance at the Games for Tim, who had a kidney transplant in He achieved a silver in the 50 metre freestyle swim and said of the Students and staff from the Faculty of Business and Management were recognised for their research, with prizes sponsored by the Global Centre for Work Applied Learning (GCWAL) and the Chartered Association of Personnel and Development. Award winners included: Henry Sidsaph (research student); Terry Smith (Senior Lecturer, Department of Marketing); Vicky Evans (Lecturer, Department of Business and Finance) and team; Karen Cregan (Senior Lecturer, Department of Business and Finance) and Jo Lowndes (Senior Lecturer, Department of Mental Health and Learning Disability); Professor Tony Wall (Faculty of Business and Management) and Mark Jamieson (research student). The GCWAL International Impact Prize was awarded to Dr Ann Hindley and Dr Maeve Marmion (Senior Lecturers, Department of Marketing, Tourism and Events Management), which recognised their work in Exploring the Benefits of Tourism Experiences for Seniors. Dr Hindley received free registration and 1,000 towards attendance at the Learning for Change and Innovation World Congress in Adelaide to present the reasearch. A report for Mental Health First Aid England was the result of research carried out by Karen Cregan (Senior Lecturer, Department of Business and Finance), Jo Lowndes (Senior Lecturer, Department of Mental Health and Learning Disability) and colleagues. A Whole University Framework for Mental Health is a readyto-use framework to support student and staff wellbeing. It has best practice examples of how universities and their stakeholders are using Mental Health First Aid training to build healthy, supportive environments in which to study, work and live. This project arose as part of discussions with other universities through the Regional Engagement and Wellbeing Networks for Higher Education, set up by Karen and other regional chairs, to allow the sector to share best practice in these topic areas and identify key areas of concern. Mental Health was one of these and the resulting framework is now being used to develop mandatory training in higher education institutions on a national basis. 58

59 A stimulating learning culture Excellence in research and innovation The University s vibrant research culture plays a fundamental role in its internal and external activities. The specialist knowledge and expertise of staff and students continues to underpin the links between research, knowledge transfer and business services, which operate on an international scale. The new Digital Humanities Research Centre (DHRC) uses digital technology, such as big data analytics, to allow the efficient discovery of patterns in large sets of data. Based in the Department of Humanities and run by Dr Patricia Murrieta-Flores, the Centre has already seen multiple successful funding bids for national and international research projects. These have involved researchers from the Faculties of Humanities, Arts and Media, Science and Engineering, and Social Sciences working with high-profile collaborators from around the world. Some of the DHRC s successful funding bids include: The Reception of English Saints Shrines as Tangible Art: A Digital Barometer. The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art has funded the first fully searchable, public online database of English medieval shrine imagery before, during, and after the Reformation. The Society of Antiquaries of London has funded a cutting-edge, interdisciplinary pilot project entitled Developing Computational Approaches for Historical Graffiti. Deploying the Dead: Artefacts and Human Bodies in Socio-cultural Transformations (Deepdead) is an international, interdisciplinary project exploring the relationship between long-dead bodies and myths of national or community origin, and how they reinforce or challenge historical narratives in England and Central Europe. Mapping Intangible Places: Towards the Analysis of Vague and Imaginary Space in Literature with Spatial and Digital Technologies is using the DHRC s recently developed methodology in spatial analysis to identify and analyse the relationship between place and material culture in a variety of spaces and thresholds manifested within literary worlds. Arts and Humanities Research Council funding is allowing the generation of maps and 3D visualisations of some wellknown literary works, in collaboration with Lancaster University. The Trans-Atlantic Platform for the Social Sciences and Humanities is supporting an international research team to explore the early colonial history of the Americas through a collection of significant 16th-century sources relating to the colonised territories. The Digital Humanities Research Centre team. Insights from evaluative research led by Professor Elizabeth Harlow (Department of Social Work and Interprofessional Education), were harnessed by honorary graduate Sir John Timpson CBE, when he founded the Alex Timpson Trust in memory of his late wife. Professor Harlow s report on the Centre for Adoption Support for a regional partnership highlighted the challenges facing adoptive parents, and especially the lack of teachers awareness of the emotional needs of adopted children and their families. This led Sir John to set up a national working group to explore the needs of looked after and adopted children in schools and Professor Harlow was invited to participate. The Alex Timpson Trust was then established to raise awareness of attachment and how to care for looked after children in Professor Elizabeth Harlow. 59

60 A stimulating learning culture The haemophilia project: University and HCD Economics staff. Members of the Cancer Survivorship Research Team (Dr Brooke Swash, Professor Nick Hulbert-Williams, Dr Melissa Pilkington). Dr Annie Scudds and Dr Nicola Lasikiewicz. schools, following the couple s own experiences of fostering 90 children and adopting two. Professor Harlow was commissioned to act as a consultant for the Trust for one day a week and is also a trustee of the charity. The first major focus is to explore how effectively attachment theory, and its relevance to the classroom, is being promoted nationally by Virtual School Headteachers and other charities. The Trust has now provided 750,000 for the University of Oxford s Rees Centre to evaluate these efforts and Professor Harlow is working closely with the Centre, the Trust and the University through her role on the steering group. Most importantly, through all of this work and the dynamism of Sir John, the message about attachment and how to care for looked after children in schools is resulting in positive change. A Faculty of Health and Social Care team has been working in collaboration with HCD Economics to evaluate the burden of disease for haemophilia. The team conducted one of the largest studies examining the burden of haemophilia an inherited condition that affects the blood s ability to clot across five European Union countries. As part of the outputs from the research, an exhibition on the research was held at the Warrington Campus, along with information on the condition. Dr Nicola Lasikiewicz and Dr Annie Scudds (Senior Lecturers, Department of Pyschology) are exploring the use of FitBit technology as a way of encouraging exercise in healthy full-time employees. The aim is to observe the beneficial effects of physical exercise on mood, work-related recurring thoughts and sleep quantity and quality. An international team led by researchers from the Chester Research Unit for the Psychology of Health (CRUPH) is studying how people cope with the psychological effects of cancer. The project is a collaboration with academics from Queen s University, Belfast, University of Edinburgh, McGill University and University of Sydney. The project has been supported by a large number of UK and international cancer support charities, who are helping with the recruitment of a large number of people affected by cancer. In a novel approach to participant recruitment, this study is also recruiting patients through print and social media (Facebook and Twitter) in an effort to identify participants 60

61 A stimulating learning culture Dr Christina Stanley. Dr Carolina Font Palma with Faculty of Science and Engineering colleagues. The chocolate cravings and consumption study. who may not be linked in with the mainstream cancer support charities. This is because the team wants to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in the study. Participants in this research will be completing questionnaires on a three-monthly basis over the two-year project period to see what psychological variables predict better wellbeing and quality of life in cancer survivorship. It is hoped that the findings from the study will establish the best possible way to provide emotional and psychological support for those diagnosed with different types of cancer. Dr Christina Stanley (Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences) has been working with a group of international scientists exploring how the understanding of relationships between animals could be applied to the work of wildlife managers and conservationists. Greater knowledge of the social structure can help to identify the flow of information, or the spread of disease and could be used as an indicator of forthcoming population changes. Animal Behaviour Lecturer, Dr Krista McLennan, has developed a system to measure pain levels, based on sheep facial expressions, with a high level of accuracy. The Sheep Pain Facial Expression Scale was developed while undertaking postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge and the research group has now developed this system further by using machine learning techniques to automate it. This could make significant improvements to sheep welfare by allowing remote recognition of sheep in pain. Dr McLennan also recently collaborated with Boehringer Ingelheim to produce a booklet on how to use facial expression to assess pain in sheep as part of their farm animal wellbeing series. A scientist, who is focusing her academic career on improving renewable energy, has won an award for her research. Dr Carolina Font Palma (Lecturer, Chemical Engineering) won the Applied Energy Award for highly cited research and review papers published in the journal. Dr Font Palma s research explores how tar is formed during biomass gasification and greater understanding of this process will help to improve renewable energy in the future. A team from the Department of Psychology led a study with the Universities of Wolverhampton and Warwick, which analysed people s chocolate cravings and consumption. This research, led by Dr Lee Hulbert-Williams, Professor Nick Hulbert-Williams and Dr Kevin Hochard, aimed to combine both mindfulness and acceptance techniques and use a defusion method to discourage participants from eating chocolates that they carried for a week. It compared these techniques with a distraction control and results showed that those who had been part of the defusion and acceptance interventions groups took fewer chocolates, compared with the distraction control group. A research study published in Nature Scientific Reports showed that chimpanzees use different gestures to communicate with different types of social partners, just as people communicate 61

62 A stimulating learning culture staff from different trusts could connect and contribute their experiences to the project, the team identified and designed a preceptorship framework representing best practice for the Health Education England website. Staff from the Department of Clinical Sciences have undertaken a number of research projects in conjunction with external organisations. Orla Flannery and Dr Sohail Mushtaq (Senior Lecturers) secured 13,500 from the Wellcome Trust to deliver health workshops for Stockport Leisure in the community. Chimpanzee in the Budongo Forest. differently. Dr Anna Roberts (Visiting Research Fellow) collected the data on wild chimpanzees in the Budongo Forest, Uganda for the study and collaborated with Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Dr Sam Roberts. The Centre for Ageing Studies commissioned the Mass Observation Directory to collect data on dementia via a panel of 500 members of the public, who respond to written questions on a regular basis. The aim is to explore the public understanding and perception around dementia, as studies suggest that knowledge about dementia is relatively poor amongst both caregivers and the general population. As most people with dementia remain at home with care from a spouse or relative, the Centre is analysing these responses to gain a greater understanding of the participants experiences and memories of dementia, as observed in their friends or relatives. This study has been funded by the University s Quality-related Research allocation. Staff in the Centre for Ageing Studies have developed a bespoke training course for volunteers interested in becoming co-researchers in the Lottery-funded Brightlife initiative. Brightlife is a five-year, 5-million project focused on reducing social isolation in older people. The University is evaluating Brightlife s different approaches, which are aimed at helping people aged over 50 years create and maintain social Centre for Ageing Studies staff with Brightlife volunteer researchers. relationships that contribute positively to their mental and physical health. Volunteers who successfully complete the training course become active members of the University s Brightlife evaluation team. Health Education England (North West) commissioned research from the Faculty of Health and Social Care to review and analyse the preceptorship programmes for newly qualified midwives, nurses and healthcare professionals across the region. NHS preceptorship schemes are designed to operate as a transitional phase of up to a year with support and mentoring from a preceptor. Following the initial work, which included two conferences where Evaluation of the Children s Health and Monitoring Programme On Track project was funded by Royal Manchester Children s Hospital. This has involved Orla Flannery working with schools, health professionals and parents, to gain their feedback on the resource. Lecturer, Lizzy Parker, completed a 12-month collaborative project with Cardiff Metropolitan University. This was a dual centre study investigating the cardio metabolic impacts of sit-stand desk work among contact centre agents in a public (DVLA) and private (Virgin Media) setting. The results were presented at the British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation Exercise Professionals Group Study Day in Birmingham. Novel techniques to establish evidence for best practice in the husbandry of the frog laboratory model Xenopus laevis have been developed by 62

63 A stimulating learning culture Dr Lottie Hosie (Senior Lecturer) and Professor Tessa Smith (Department of Biological Sciences) within the Amphibian Behaviour and Endocrinology Group. Despite its use in research, such as medical genetics, this species has no guidelines around its welfare, largely because the tools for non-invasive assessment of welfare did not exist. The Group s research has shown that amphibians experience stress during transport and simple measures like altering the background colour of the tanks can reduce frog stress. Chaudhry and John Banks and Dr Mebs Surve of Swift Analytical Ltd. The Centre s work is aimed at developing and promoting scientific understanding of the various special dietary needs, necessary methods and tools to ensure the authenticity and quality of food products. The Centre is establishing close links with stakeholders within consumer forums, industry, and regulatory agencies, to facilitate the development and promotion of authentic and high quality food and other consumer products for a wider spectrum of society. The Westminster Centre for Research and Innovation in Veterans Wellbeing has been established to support the military community, through innovative and high quality research, educational provision and community engagement. An example of its work is a study to determine the number of military veterans registered at four GP practices in Fylde and Wyre. This is in recognition of the fact that veterans often have particular health issues and the information will allow services to be tailored to their specific needs. The new Restricted Diets Research Centre, based in the Institute of Food Science and Innovation, is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK focusing on the needs of consumer groups with specific dietary restrictions. It aims to meet a current gap in the food sector relating to the needs of consumer groups with certain dietary restrictions. It offers Research and Development, expert advice, education and training to relevant stakeholders and was established through a collaboration between Professors Qasim The Faculty of Business and Management has collaborated on projects with colleagues in the US, Australia, South Africa and Russia and secured a number of grants. Current research includes: Four Research and Knowledge Transfer grants to investigate manager resilience across business, health and educational organisations. Three Research Excellence Framework Quality Research grants to investigate alternative approaches to management education in Australia; Ageing and Tourism; and Higher Degree Apprenticeships. Three Erasmus+ grants to lead collaborative projects in France and the Netherlands, and contribute to the reform of the Russian higher education system. Four teaching and learning innovation grants. A 25,000 knowledge transfer consultancy project was completed by the Department Westminster Centre for Research and Innovation in Veterans Wellbeing Military Veterans and their Families Wellbeing Symposium. of Sport and Community Engagement, in association with Bury Metropolitan Borough Council, to understand women s participation in sport and physical activity. The Research Centre for Education, Creativity and the Arts through Practice (RECAP) based in the Faculty of Education and Children s Services, has been awarded 256,000 for the Project Beyond Text. This three-year Strategic Partnerships Project will see RECAP leading a team of partners in Estonia, Finland, Spain and Palestine. The project is primarily concerned with introducing new and innovative methods into higher education by the use of artsbased research in a variety of educational and professional contexts. The partnership involves higher education institutions and cultural organisations collaborating to enhance practice in higher education, and aims to attract emerging researchers into arts-based methods, to enhance the potential of their research. It seeks to increase the quality and relevance of higher education by giving more credence to methods of research and assessment that go beyond text through training practitioners and educators in arts-based research methods. This will increase the relevance of higher education to those who may not be able to engage with traditional forms of assessment and will give professionals in other educational contexts greater opportunities to conduct research. 63

64 The growing skills shortage in sectors like construction and engineering will not be filled unless employers help more young women into relevant apprenticeships. Young Women s Trust is excited to be partnering with the University of Chester to give employers a better understanding of the action they can take to improve the gender balance in their workforces. Dr Carole Easton OBE, Chief Executive, Young Women s Trust. The Research Centre for Education, Creativity and the Arts through Practice team with University of Bethlehem colleagues. Beyond Text will recognise the value of research that is already occurring in professional contexts and help those outside the academy to conduct rigorous and recognised research in new and innovative methods. The Department of Chemical Engineering has successfully appointed three PhD research positions, through funding from the European Regional Development Fund, as part of the Faculty of Science and Engineering s Eco- Innovation project. These positions involve collaboration with industrial partners and a further three positions are scheduled to follow. The Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering is working on the electrification of domestic central heating systems, following previous University research on advanced thermal storage. The Renewable Integrated and Sustainable Electric Heating System (RISE) project is being funded by Innovate UK and led by the Building Research Establishment Ltd (BRE), in collaboration with partners including the University, EDF Energy, Glen Dimplex and Eastbourne Homes. A prototype RISE heating system was installed in the Prince s Trust House at the BRE Innovation Park in Watford, which showed that it is the first commercially and grid sustainable all-electric heating system to achieve a better annual running cost than a gas condensing boiler. Glen Dimplex is now working with the University team, including Professor John Counsell (Head of Department), and the other project partners to commercialise the RISE technology. The Department is exploring other hybrid energy technologies as part of its research group s Intelligent Systems Architecture activities, such as Smart Grids, Internet of Things, Unmanned Airborne Vehicles (UAVs) and Robotics. These new technologies are resulting in a number of European Regional Development Fund PhD studentships at Thornton Science Park, which explore machine learning for industrial control systems, demand-side energy strategies and schemes, such as thermal and electrical storage for commercial and domestic buildings. This extends to the use of energy storage with hybrid local energy generation systems, such as combining Combined Heat Power (CHP) generation with Photovoltaic generation at a local scale, to create a fully integrated Combined Heat and Photovoltaic (CHPV) system with energy storage. Further research is planned to assess the impact on the National Grid of the integration of electrical vehicles with either all-electric hybrid heating systems or hybrid local energy systems. The Department is leading international research into Terahertz technologies for scanning and characterising materials and for use as non-invasive sensors in control systems and condition monitoring. It is also highly active in the research of multi-antenna communication technologies, such as LiFi, that perform significantly better than WiFi in terms of communication speeds. Professor Chantal Davies (Director, Forum for Research into Equality and Diversity) is working with Young Women s Trust to explore how employers can encourage more women into male-dominated sectors like engineering, IT and construction. The research aims to gain a better understanding of current employer practice and barriers to recruiting women into sectors where they are under-represented, together with possible solutions, such as open days and work experience, job application support and targets for recruiting women especially through apprenticeships. The research will lead to the charity providing guidance for employers on how to implement these measures, because employers say they lack knowledge on what action they can take under the current legislation. 64

65 #MyChesterStory Margaret Hanson A 27-year break from studying has resulted in a wealth of valuable experience for Margaret Hanson to apply in her groundbreaking PhD research on the life experiences of older men in Merseyside and Cheshire. Margaret was born in Liverpool, attended school in Cheshire and studied French and History at Brasenose College, Oxford. She worked at Price Waterhouse and then moved into the public sector as a Community Development Officer with Scope in Cheshire and Merseyside. She worked as a Political Research Assistant at the House of Commons, joined Cheshire County Council in Social Services, was a Campaigns and Policy Officer with the TUC and a Public Relations Manager at Co-operative Financial Services. Despite fitting in work around childcare, she also served as a Councillor for Vale Royal Borough Council for 11 years and then for a further nine for Flintshire County Council, including six years of chairing the Social Services Committee. She was the Chief Executive of Age Concern in North East Wales for eight years and is currently the Vice-Chair of Betsi Cadwaldr University NHS Trust. In 2010, Margaret decided to begin postgraduate study with a Master s degree in Public Health (MPH) under the supervision of Professor Lynne Kennedy. After receiving a distinction for a systematic review on active ageing and its potential impact on the wellbeing of older UK men, she realised that the lived experiences of the oldest old men, especially those from working class backgrounds, are completely ignored in the public health literature. Having returned to work in the NHS and Social Care, Margaret then chose to explore this subject further, starting a PhD in 2015 in the University s Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Life Sciences with Professor Kennedy (Head, Department of Clinical Sciences and Nutrition). Alongside her research, Margaret now contributes to postgraduate teaching and research supervision, while enhancing her skills for the benefit of her NHS role. Margaret remains passionate about raising awareness of the needs of this group of men and says that working with my participants is both a real privilege and a great pleasure. She hopes to capitalise on all the knowledge and expertise gained from her varied career in her research, and for this to have a lasting impact on future social and health policy. She said: I would really love to ensure that in the future society better meets the needs of older men. Currently, older people s services are designed predominantly for women, delivered by women and used by women. Since the turn of this century, however, this situation has altered rapidly with some 560,000 men over 85 in the population of England and Wales. That s a great number of people whose voices aren t being heard at the moment and I hope my research will contribute to changing this situation. 65

66 A stimulating learning culture Publications University staff produce many publications in their specialist fields, ranging from writing journal articles, book chapters and whole publications, to editing collected volumes and editions of journals. A selection of their publications follows and includes titles published by the in-house University of Chester Press and Flash: The International Short-Short Story Press. Professor Saphwan Al-Assaf (Department of Clinical Sciences and Nutrition), edited The Radiation Chemistry of Polysaccharides with Professor Xavier Coqueret, Khairul Zaman, Haji Mohd Dahlan, Dr Murat Sen and Dr Piotr Ulanski. Dr Alec Charles (former Head, Department of Media), wrote Political Animals: News of the Natural World. Dr Mark Gant (Head, Department of Modern Languages), edited Melodies, Rhythm and Cognition in Foreign Language Learning with Dr Maria Carmen Fonseca-Mora. Professor Elaine Graham (Department of Theology and Religious Studies), wrote Apologetics without Apology: Speaking of God in a World Troubled by Religion. Dr Simon Grennan (Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Art and Design), wrote A Theory of Narrative Drawing. Professor Phil Harris (Executive Director, Business Research Institute), edited The Sage Handbook of International Corporate and Public Affairs with Dr Craig S. Fleisher; and edited Lobbying in Europe: Public Affairs and the Lobbying Industry in 28 EU Countries with Professor Alberto Bitoni. Dr Dawn Llewellyn (Senior Lecturer, Department of Theology and Religious Studies), edited Religion, Equalities and Inequalities with Dr Sonya Sharma. Dr Sharon Morley and Dr Paul Taylor (Deputy Heads) and Dr Jo Turner (Lecturer, Department of Social and Political Science), edited A Companion to the History of Crime and Criminal Justice with former colleague Dr Karen Corteen. Professor Timo Obergöker (Department of Modern Languages), wrote Prise de possession. Storytelling, culture populaire et colonialisme; and co-edited La chanson dans le film français et francophone depuis la Nouvelle Vague with Dr Renaud Lagabrielle. Professor Peter Stokes (former Deputy Dean), Neil Moore (Senior Lecturer) and Professor Caroline Rowland (Sub Dean, Faculty of Business and Management), edited Organizational Management with Dr Simon Smith and Peter Scott. Professor Howard Williams with The Archaeological Journal. Professor Deborah Wynne (Department of English), edited Charlotte Brontë, Legacies and Afterlives with Dr Amber Regis. Dr Ian Seed (Senior Lecturer, Department of English), was longlisted for the Best Translated Book Award for Poetry 2017 for his translation of Pierre Reverdy s The Thief of Talant. Professor Howard Williams (Department of History and Archaeology), edited Archaeologists and the Dead: Mortuary Archaeology in Contemporary Society with Dr Melanie Giles. He also finished a six-year period as Editor of The Archaeological Journal for the Royal Archaeological Institute. Flash: The International Short-Short Story Press Drs Peter Blair and Ashley Chantler (Senior Lecturers, Department of English), edited Funny Bone: Flashing for Comic Relief. University of Chester Press Dr Ian Seed (Senior Lecturer, Department of English), edited Crossings Over: Poetry from the Cheshire Prize for Literature Graeme White (Emeritus Professor of Local History), edited Landscapes Past and Present: Cheshire and Beyond with alumna, Dr Sharon Varey. Ingimund s Saga: Viking Wirral, was written by Professor Stephen Harding. The University of Chester Press also assisted with the publication of Bolesworth and the Barbours: A History of the Bolesworth Estate and the Barbour Family, by Wendy Bawn and Diana Barbour. 66

67 PETER LANG Annual Review 2017 A stimulating learning culture Political Animals News of the Natural World Lobbying in Europe Public Affairs and the Lobbying Industry in 28 EU Countries Edited by Alberto Bitonti and Phil Harris AleC ChArles Funny Bone Flashing f r C mic Relief Edited by Peter Blair and Ashley Chantler 67

68 A stimulating learning culture Staff engagement The chances for University staff and students to disseminate their research at a local, national and global level means that they are able to make a genuine impact in their field. The following examples give an indication of the scope of public engagement undertaken by staff from across the institution. Chester Literature Festival Dr Graham Atkin (Senior Lecturer, Department of English) Staging Shakespeare. Dr Simon Grennan (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Art and Design) The Extraordinary Significance of January Dr Francesca Haig (Visiting Writing Fellow, Department of English) Writing Dystopian Fiction. Dr Eileen Pollard (Lecturer, Department of English) with Mike Poulton Hilary Mantel and the Road to Wolf Hall. Raymond Salter (Visiting Lecturer, Department of English) Shakespeare and Religion. Arranged by the Department of Modern Languages New Engagements in French Literature and Politics Eduard Louis and Geoffrey de Lagasnerie. North American Ornithological Conference (NAOC) Washington DC Dr Howard Nelson (Senior Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences) Conservation of Caribbean Forest Endemic Birds Bringing Science and Conservation Together ; and with Dr Ellie Devenish-Nelson (Visiting Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences), Doug Weidemann and Jason Townsend Red List Status of Forest Endemic Birds in the Caribbean. Professorial inaugural lectures Professor Nick Hulbert-Williams (Department of Psychology) I m Through with Playing by the Rules of Someone Else s Game : A Rejection of Mainstream Ideas about Psychological Suffering and a (RE) Discovery of Contextual Behavioural Science. Professor Craig Twist (Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences) From the Lab to the Langtree and Beyond: Translating Sports Science to Real-World Practice. Professor Jan Gidman (Associate Dean, Faculty of Health and Social Care) Reflections of the Complexity of Learning in Practice. Professor Nigel John (Department of Computer Sciences) Bits, Bytes and Blood. Professor Oliver Scharbrodt (Department of Theology and Religious Studies) Mid-East Professor Jan Gidman. by North-West: Locating Islamic Studies in the Academic Study of Religions. Professor Emma Rees (Institute of Gender Studies) Who Broke Feminism? The Obligation of Privilege. Chester Research Unit for the Psychology of Health Public Lectures Dr Nicola Lasikiewicz (Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology) But How Do You Feel? Exploring the Potential Motivators and Benefits of Weight Loss. Dr Brooke Swash (Lecturer, Department of Psychology) Being Human: Exploring the Impact of Illness and Loss in Modern Healthcare. Professor Nigel John. Dr Kevin Hochard (Lecturer, Department of Psychology) They Mostly Come at Night. Mostly. Sleep Disturbances Impact on Suicidal Behaviours. Dr Lee Hulbert-Williams (Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology) The Stressed Ape: Why Human Beings are so Prone to Stress and What to Do About It. University Centre Shrewsbury Lecture Series Dr Rachael Abbiss (Visiting Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology) The Early History of the Other Shrewsbury. Dr Lucy Andrew (Lecturer, Department of English) Reading Group Meeting: 68

69 A stimulating learning culture J K Rowling s Harry Potter and the Philosopher s Stone: Twenty Years Later ; Breaking the Mould: Challenging Stereotypes and Celebrating Diversity in Children s and Young Adult Fiction. Katie Baker (Visiting Lecturer, Department of English) Rereading Elizabeth Gaskell: Cranford. Professor Claire Griffiths (Department of Modern Languages) From Battlefield to Burkini: A Journey into Franco-African History. Professor Elizabeth Mason-Whitehead (Institute of Medicine and Faculty of Health and Social Care) From Leprosy to Ebola: The Impact of Stigma in Medicine, Health and Social Care. Dr James Pardoe (Senior Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology) Georgian Shrewsbury: Town of Leisure A Study Day in Memory of Julia Ionides ; and with Emma-Kate Lanyon Whose Heritage Is It Anyway?. Dr Tom Pickles (Senior Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology) Kingship, Warfare, and Conversion in Early Anglo- Saxon England. Professor Alan Wall (Department of English) A Writer s Irony. Professor Chris Walsh (Department of English) Tolkien and his Work. Professor Deborah Wynne (Department of English) The Story of Silk. Grosvenor Museum Lunchtime Lecture Series Dr Meggen Gondek (Head, Department of History and Archaeology) Not Just Jewellery: Personal Adornment with Purpose. Dr Jennifer Hillman (Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology) Saintly Bodies, Sacred Bones: The Cult of Relics in Early Modern Europe. Dr Katherine Wilson (Senior Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology) A Consumer Revolution?: Households as Urban Theatres in the Later Middle Ages. British Ecological Society Liverpool Dr Matt Geary (Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences) Using Point Process Models to Investigate Habitat Use by Hen Harrier on the Isle of Mull. Dr Anna Muir (Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences) The Potential for Acclimation and Adaptation in Response to a Changing Climate in a Reef Building Ecosystem Engineer. Dr Achaz von Hardenberg (Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences) Higher Risk of Gastrointestinal Parasite Infection at Lower Elevation Suggests Possible Constraints in the Distributional Niche of Alpine Marmots ; and Chair of a session on Parasites, Pathogens and Wildlife Disease. Professor Cynthia Burek with PhD student Zainab Hussaini in Edinburgh (second and fourth right). Institute of Gender Studies Research Seminar Series Dr Rebecca Collins (Deputy Head, Department of Geography and International Development) No Sex Please, We re Naked : Locating Sanctuaries for the Desexualised Nude. Professor Timo Obergöker (Department of Modern Languages) Masculinity and Pop Culture in 1980s France and Britain. Dr Jo Turner (Senior Lecturer, Department of Social and Political Science) More a Home than a Refuge : Battery House, Winchester. Faculty of Health and Social Care Seminar Series Susan Benbow (Visiting Professor of Mental Health and Ageing) Older People and Domestic Homicide. Dr Gill Buck (Senior Lecturer, Department of Social Work) Excelling with Dyslexia and Dyspraxia. Dr Dimitra Antonopoulou (Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematics) On Stochastic Dynamics and Sharp Interface Limit For a Class of SPDES From Phase Separation Problems, International Workshop on Backward Stochastic Differential Equations, Stochastic Partial Differential Equations, their Interplay and Applications, Edinburgh. Helena Astbury (Alumni and Development Officer, Corporate Communications) Not Jane. : Graphic Animation as Gothic Retelling, Temporal Discombobulations: Time and Experience in the Gothic conference and publication, Guildford; Creative Showcase and prize winner for photographic work, Reimagining Gothic: Gothic Spaces conference, Sheffield. Professor Cynthia Burek (Department of Biological Sciences) Afghan Women s Barriers to Access Higher Education. International Conference of Graduate Women, Cape Town, South Africa; BBC Radio Wales 69

70 A stimulating learning culture Dr Peter Cox at the World Bicycle Forum in Mexico City. Dr Elizabeth Kealy-Morris. Science Café; and with PhD student Zainab Hussaini, The Impact of Conflict on Women and Girls, Edinburgh. Professor Peter Cox (Senior Lecturer, Department of Social and Political Science) German Environment Agency, public lecture, Mannheim; expert panel member at Science Meets Practice: Making Research Relevant, and Cycling as a Tool For a More Equitable and Inclusive Society, International Velo-City Conference, Nijmegen; worked on special exhibition Balancing Act: 200 years of the Two- Wheeler, Deutsches Museum, Munich; and keynote speaker, Cycling Cultures: Diversity and Change, World Bicycle Forum, Mexico City. Dr Wendy Dossett (Senior Lecturer, Department of Theology and Religious Studies) In Return for a Bottle and a Hangover We Have Been Given the Keys to the Kingdom : Reflections on the Language of Salvation in Twelve Step Recovery, Chester Theological Society, Chester. Professor Basma Ellahi (Department of Social Work and Interprofessional Education) Exploring the Health Status of Older Persons in Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa Nutritional Epidemiology Conference, Marrakech, Morocco. Professor Alan Finnegan (Department of Public Health and Wellbeing) Nurses in Conflict, Third International Nurse Education Today Lecture, Enhancing Nursing Through Educational Research (ENTER) Conference, Edinburgh. Dr Ann Hindley (Senior Lecturer, Marketing, Tourism and Events Management) Exploring the Benefits of Tourism Experiences for Seniors, Global Centre for Work-Applied Learning Learning for Change and Innovation World Congress, Adelaide, Australia. Dr Lottie Hosie (Senior Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences) Refining the Laboratory Husbandry of the African Clawed Frog, Xenopus laevis, International Association of Animal Technicians, London; Marking Time: The Importance of Considering Timeframes When Combining Physiological and Behavioural Stress Assessment, Universities Federation for Animal Welfare Symposium: Measuring Animal Welfare Why is it Still So Difficult?, London. Dr Nikos Kavallaris (Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematics), with Athanasios A. Pantelous Optimal Portfolio and Consumption Allocation: Under a Disappointment Aversion Type Utility Function, Quantitative Finance and Risk Analysis conference, Corfu, Greece. Dr Elizabeth Kealy-Morris (Lecturer, Department of Art and Design) The Artist s Book: Making as Embodied Knowledge of the Practice and the Self, public exhibition at the Kingsway Campus. Professor Andy Lovell (Department of Mental Health and Learning Disability) Keynote speaker at the National Autistic Society workshop Reducing 70

71 A stimulating learning culture the use of Restrictive Practices and Physical Interventions, Manchester. Dr Fotini Karakatsani (Lecturer, Department of Mathematics) On the Error Control for Fully Discrete Approximations of the Time-Dependent Stokes Equation, Foundations of Computational Mathematics Conference, Barcelona, Spain. Dr Julie Kirkham (Lecturer, Department of Psychology) Pretence and Creativity During Childhood and Beyond, Centre for Research on Play in Education, Development and Learning (PEDAL), Cambridge. Professor Frank Michelangeli (Department of Biological Sciences) meeting organiser and presented four lectures, Federation of European Biochemical Societies Molecular Life Science Workshop, Riga, Latvia. Dr Simon Oliver (Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences) Pelagic Thresher Sharks (Alopias pelagicus) Risk Travelling Across Borders to Use a Grass-Roots Conservation Area in the Philippines, International Marine Conservation Congress, St John s, Canada. Simon Pringle (Visiting Professor, Department of Geography and International Development) Sustainability, Innovation and the Evolution Towards a More Circular Economy, Chester. Dr Cian Quayle (Programme Leader, Department of Art and Design) The Aesthetics of Distance Home and Away or Somewhere Else, 3rd Visualising the Home Conference, Carlisle; Merz Sites: Project Space and Research-based Practice, Merz North 4 Symposium, York. Dr Paul Skillen (Programme Leader, Education Studies) interviewer for second series of Scouse Pop on Made in Liverpool TV; Scouse Pop talk, to Göttingen University students, Liverpool. Dr Jon Talbot (Senior Lecturer, Centre for Work Related Studies) keynote address Past, Present and Future: Integrating Prior, Current and Future Oriented Experiential Learning into a Personalized Curriculum, Annual Conference of the National Institute on the Assessment of Adult Learning, Atlantic City, USA. Professor George Turner (Department of Biological Sciences) Adaptive Radiation and Conservation, Chester. Dr Achaz von Hardenberg (Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences) The Links between Parasites, Behaviour Life History Variation and Genetics in Mountain Mammals, Using Causal Inference Methods for Ecological Research, Biosciences Seminar Series, Swansea. Professor Howard Williams (Department of History and Archaeology) Cremation and the Archaeology of Death (as part of Dying Matters Week), Denbighshire Memorial Park and Crematorium, St Asaph. Dr Julie Kirkham. Dr Paul Skillen (right) on the Scouse Pop set. Dr Jon Talbot. 71

72 A stimulating learning culture Conferences The University hosts a range of networking events that bring together significant numbers of visitors, staff and students to share their academic and professional expertise. Connect and Thrive was the theme of the annual two-week Diversity Festival, which included a keynote speech by Paralympian and Commonwealth Games Medallist Jade Jones. Other events included Be the Best You Can Be, hosted by Dr Lorraine Dacre-Pool (Chartered Psychologist and Principal Lecturer, University of Central Lancashire); a public speaking masterclass by Victoria Pritchard (Voice Coach and Actress); a Developing Your Research Career event, plus further seminars, lectures, workshops and conferences on topics such as addressing the BME attainment gap; gender; crime; racism in football; disabled people and employment; Gypsy, Roma and Traveller awareness; African dancing; drumming; and Zimbabwean Harmonies. The third Talking Bodies international conference on identity, sexuality and representation was hosted by the Institute of Gender Studies and attracted delegates and speakers from all over the world. This biennial conference creates a dialogue on varied topics surrounding the body between scholars, practitioners, researchers and postgraduate students from a wide range of disciplines. These include art, performance, art history, social history, history of science, medical humanities, literary criticism, theology, (eco)feminism, political theory, medicine and jurisprudence. Five-hundred delegates attended the Annual Conference for the Higher Education Careers and Employability Professionals Strategy in Action: Innovate, Influence, Impress. This was held by the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) and focused on the work of careers professionals in shaping student experience and influencing the strategies of universities around employment. One of the workshops featured the University s innovative Venture entrepreneurship programme, which benefits from the expertise of many of the region s entrepreneurs. An audience with Warrington Wolves was held at the Warrington Campus with the theme: A Community Business Adding Economic, Social and Wellbeing Value to the Town. The speakers included Steven Broomhead (Non- Executive Chairman of Warrington Wolves Rugby Super League Football Club), Karl Fitzpatrick (Chief Executive Officer) and Tony Smith (Head of Coaching and Rugby), together with some first team players. The Royal Historical Society (RHS) Symposium 2017 Putting History in its Place: Historic Landscapes and Environments, was organised by the Department of History of Archaeology. In addition to the Symposium, which Jade Jones. Warrington Wolves. Talking Bodies international conference. 72

73 A stimulating learning culture provided a forum for scholars to consider the relationship between historical change and historic landscapes and environments, there was a visit by seven representatives from the RHS to the Department and a roundtable of papers by historians from the University. The Engaging Communities in Archaeology conference was run by Department of History and Archaeology students at the Grosvenor Museum and was open to the public. Topics included appraisals and critiques of community archaeology projects and assessments of new strategies for engaging people in archaeological ideas. Guest speakers were Dr Lorna Richardson (Umeå University, Sweden) and Dr Mike Heyworth MBE (Director of the Council for British Archaeology). The Westminster Centre for Research and Innovation in Veterans Health and Wellbeing hosted the Military Veterans and their Families Wellbeing Symposium, which attracted over 100 veterans, their families and those working with the armed forces. Speakers included Professor Peter Carter OBE; the North West Brigade Deputy Commander Colonel Phil Harrison; Medical Dean, Brigadier Robin Simpson; and Chris Matheson, MP for Chester, plus presentations on how Warrington Wolves and Everton Football Club work with the veteran population. Issues explored at the event included healthcare, law and opportunities through sport. A Healthy Futures workshop was an opportunity for head teachers, teachers and other staff from Archaeology students presenting their finds to the public in Chester. primary, secondary and special education to hear about projects, programmes and interventions to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for students in schools across the North West. The Healthy Futures project has been developed by the University of Chester and Health Education England. Changes have included physical activity, nutrition, sexual health, employability and life skills, fitness and physical health, mental health, drugs, alcohol and bullying. Cybersecurity student, Richard Bloxam-Rose, organised a Cybersecurity Conference at Thornton Science Park. Richard is President (Computer Science) of the University s STEM (Science Technology Engineering and The Westminster Centre for Veterans Health and Wellbeing team. The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Conference. Maths) Society and arranged for a number of cybersecurity experts to speak at the event, such as Detective Superintendent Jon Betts, Head of Criminal Justice and Custody at Cheshire Constabulary; Taz Wake, Cybersecurity and Risk Consultant at Halkyn Consulting Ltd; and James Simpson, Cybersecurity Consultant and Director at Secti Ltd. The University co-hosted the prestigious 23rd Annual Research Conference of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Research and Reflective Practice for the Counselling Profession. Eleven of the University s postgraduate students and graduates were among those taking part in a competitive peer-review Sarah Vince Cain at the Healthy Futures workshop. Richard Bloxam-Rose. process and they presented on a wide variety of topics, many investigating the impacts of various situations on counsellors. Experts on rural issues from across the country including policy makers, practitioners and academics attended a seminar exploring all aspects of rural life in England. The event was organised by the Rural Services Network, hosted by the Department of Geography and International Development and welcomed members of the Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers. Speakers included Professor John Shepherd (Birkbeck College, University of London); Ian Baker (Small Woods Association); Jeremy Pickles 73

74 A stimulating learning culture Simon Thacker (Lead Consultant Psychiatrist, Royal Derby Hospital); Jacob West (National Lead, Primary Care and Acute Systems); and Dr Wendy Burn (Royal College of Psychiatrists). Rural Services Network Seminar. The National Rapid Assessment Interface and Discharge Network Event. Nutrition Society s Student Conference organisers. Students from three faculties worked with members of the Nutrition Society s student section to organise the first Nutrition Society Student Conference. This event offered support and advice to nutrition students and topics included sports nutrition and animal nutrition, plus networking sessions, and the chance to ask a careers panel about their nutrition career path. Keynote speakers were Dr Louis Levy (Head of Nutrition Science, Public Health England) and Professor Alan Jackson (University of Southampton). Branding conference delegates. (East Riding of Yorkshire Council) and Lois Mansfield (University of Cumbria). A symposium on branding and reputation management was held jointly by the University of Chester Business School with the Manchester Business School. Twenty academics from 12 countries attended the conference to debate topics such as the measurement of brand image, personal branding and how manufacturers should compete with retail brands. In order to share the findings to date from the local evaluation, the Centre for Ageing Studies held a half-day feedback session for members of the Brightlife Partnership Board, Older People s Delegates at the Chester Forum. Alliance and Brightlife Team. Brightlife is a Big Lottery funded project led by Age UK Cheshire that seeks to address social isolation and loneliness among older adults. Presentations were given by members of the research team and volunteer co-researchers and the early findings suggest the intervention has contributed to a drop in loneliness among the participants and that improvements could be made in targeting the right people and the type and range of activities provided. Working in partnership with Brightlife, the Centre for Ageing Studies also held a half-day workshop, Ageing: Myths and Misconceptions, which provided interactive sessions on perceptions of ageing and sessions on dementia, capacity, and alcohol use. The fifth National RAID (Rapid Assessment Interface and Discharge) Network event was hosted by the Faculty of Health and Social Care, to give practitioners the chance to share their experiences of this service. RAID teams are specialist multidisciplinary staff in acute care hospitals. They support excellent physical and mental health and aim to work together to share best practice, find solutions to common problems, strengthen links between liaison mental health services and facilitate collaborative working on research and innovation projects. Speakers included Dr Peter Byrne (Homerton University Hospital NHS Trust); Professor Allan House (Professor of Liaison Psychiatry, University of Leeds); Dr Business leaders and academics from the region joined counterparts from China to discuss the economy at the Chester Forum. Sessions included a review of the economy, politics, international economy and partnerships with China; reflections on developing business and entrepreneurship in China and the UK: exports, investments, tourism trends and issues; and an open panel session to explore potential collaboration and sharing experiences in developing business. The Forum was established as part of the UK and China Business: The Marco Polo Initiative and Belt Road Initiative, to aid dialogue on key issues that impact on trade and public affairs communication between Europe and China, and is focused on improving links between the two. 74

75 A stimulating learning culture Eminent guests Public lectures from visiting experts provide the University community and the wider public with opportunities to learn from their knowledge and experience, and are an integral part of the stimulating academic environment at the institution. The following selection lists some of these individuals who visited the University. Annual Haygarth Lecture Professor Paul Lincoln OBE (Chief Executive of the UK Health Forum, Member of the Royal College of Physicians, Association of Directors of Public Health and Professorial Fellow to the Royal Society for Public Health) Non Communicable Diseases A Preventable Catastrophe. Annual Professor Glyn Turton Lecture Ian McMillan (poet, writer and broadcaster, The Bard of Barnsley ) Talking Myself Home. Address at Founders Day Service The Rev Dr Jeremy Law (Dean of Chapel and Chaplain, Canterbury Christ Church University). Warrington Campus Philip Cox (Chief Executive, Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership) Growing the Cheshire and Warrington Economy (Almost) a Year After the Referendum. David Keane (Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire) Police and Crime Plan for Cheshire. Dr Louise Minchin (BBC Breakfast presenter and honorary graduate) Dare to Tri. Councillor Faisal Rashid (133rd Mayor and first citizen of Warrington) The Importance of Economic Development: Making a Difference in Every Part of the Community. Dave Thompson MBE, DL, MBA (Founder and Chair of Warrington Disability Partnership) Disability Equality Matters: A Look at One Man s 27 Year Journey as a Patient, Service Influencer and Policy Maker. Institute of Gender Studies Research Seminar Series Dr Kristin Aune (Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University) Representation of Religion on the British Feminist Webzine The F Word. Dr Jenny Slater (Senior Lecturer, Department of Education, Sheffield Hallam University) School Toilets, Development and Queer Disabled Bodies. Department of Geography and Development Studies Duncan Green (Senior Strategic Adviser, Oxfam) How Change Happens book launch. Ian McMillan. Dr Louise Minchin. Councillor Faisal Rashid. Dave Thompson MBE, DL, MBA. Duncan Green. 75

76 A stimulating learning culture Professor Mark Miodownik Stephen Twigg MP, (Liverpool West Derby and member of the Commons Sub-committee on the Independent Commission for Aid Impact) International Development: The Way Ahead for the UK. Faculty of Science and Engineering Christmas Lecture Professor Mark Miodownik (Director of the Institute of Making, University College London) Materials for the 21st Century. Chester Theological Society Professor Joan Taylor (King s College London) The Essenes in the Ancient Literary Sources. Conservation Biology Research Group Paul Furnborough (North East Wales Wildlife) The Use of Occupancy Models in Great Crested Newt Population Management. Dr Meryl Gelling (Wild Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), University of Oxford) Trichomonas sp. infection in Water Voles and Current Findings on Streamside Vegetation Management s Impact on Habitat Use by Water Voles. Dr Gonzalez-Suarez (Lecturer in Ecological Modelling, University of Reading) Conservation in the Anthropocene: Species Traits, Human Impacts, and Uncertain Futures. Dr Jonathan Green (Senior Lecturer in Marine Biology, University of Liverpool) How Tracking Seabirds is Important for Conservation. Dr Diogo Veríssimo (David H Smith Conservation Research Fellow, Johns Hopkins University) Identifying and Measuring Conservation Success. Faculty of Health and Social Care Sharing Public Health Seminars Dr Kate Arden (Director of Public Health, Wigan Council) The Role of Public Health in Local Government and National Policy. Professor Paul Cosford CBE (Director, Public Health England and Visiting Professor) Leading Strategies Dealing with Health Inequalities and Health Improvement. Nick Phin (Deputy Director, National Infection Service, Public Health England and Visiting Professor) Leading Public Health England s Response to the Zika Virus. Professor Alex Scott-Samuel (Senior Clinical Lecturer in Public Health, University of Liverpool and Visiting Professor) International Policy Perspective of Health Impact Assessment. Asmait Yohannes (Vice-Chair of Nursing, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York) Executive Leadership and US Healthcare Systems. Department of Biological Sciences Dr Karina Wright (Lecturer, Orthopaedics and Tissue Engineering, Keele University; and Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Oswestry) Autologous Stem Cells, Chondrocytes, Or the Two (ASCOT): A Phase II Clinical Trial for the Treatment of Cartilage Injury. Department of Social and Political Science Emily Crowley (Deputy Director, Student Action for Refugees) Volunteering with the National Network of Student Groups Working to Improve the Lives of Refugees in the UK. Animal Behaviour and Welfare Research Group Marco Smolla (Department of Computational and Evolutionary Biology, University of Manchester) Evolution of Culture Through Social Learning. Department of Clinical Sciences and Nutrition Research Seminars Dr Bartek Buczkowski (Senior Lecturer in Nutrition, Manchester Metropolitan University) Are All Carbs Equal? The Story of Sourdough Bread. Dr Tom Butler (Lecturer in Food Science, Manchester Metropolitan University) From Pharma to Fork: The Role of Nutrition in Heart Failure Management. Helen Grealish (Health Promotion Research Centre, National University of Ireland, Galway) How Does Academic Research Influence Policy in a Small Western Democracy? Empirical Evidence for the Translation of Research into Policy. Informed-Sport and Don MacLaren (Emeritus Professor of Sports Nutrition, Liverpool John Moores University) Nutrition X: Safe Supplementation in Sport. Modi Mwatsama (Director of Policy and Global Health, UK Health Forum) Public Health Priorities for a Future Food and Farming System: The Government s Proposed Sustainable Healthy Eating Strategy. North Wales & North West Urological Research Centre (NW2URC) Vaughan Gething AM (Welsh Health Minister), visited the NW2URC for an overview of current clinical research. Faculty of Health and Social Care Seminar Series Helen Leyland (Research Facilitator, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust) Alcohol Use in the Over 65s: Is Mental Health a Contributory Factor?. David Seedhouse (Professor of Values Based Practice, University of Worcester) A Theory of Everything for the NHS. 76

77 A stimulating learning culture Dr Jane Traies (Research Associate, University of Sussex) Older Lesbian Lives in the UK: Redressing an Imbalance in LGBT Ageing Studies. Professor Martin Vernon (National Clinical Director for Older People and Integrated Care, NHS England) Frailty: Why it is Important?. World Social Work Day Promoting Community and Environmental Sustainability Siobhan Maclean (Social Work Trainer and Consultant in Social Care and Social Work, Honorary Secretary of the International Federation of Social Workers, European region) Journeying Towards a Sustainable Social Work Professional Identity. Participants also attended a variety of sessions hosted by staff and students and there was a musical theatre production from Liverpool drama group New Centre Stage. Performing Arts, Kingsway Campus Fallen Angels Dance Theatre Upon Awakening. Ollie Crick From Street to Salon, Solo!. Faculty of Health and Social Care Historical Society Dr Claire Chatterton (Staff Tutor, Open University in the North West) It Turned Us Yellow All Over : Health Care Provision for Munition Workers During the First World War (to celebrate the refurbishment of the Riverside Museum); Nursing Men Following Facial Injury and Surgery During the First World War Rekindling the Desire to Live? (joint events with the Royal College of Nursing s History of Nursing Society, RCN HoNS). Professor Paul Horan (Trinity College Dublin), Irish Nursing Narratives : Caring for Soldiers of the Crown and the Harp in War and Rebellion (joint event with the Westminster Centre for Research and Innovation in Veterans Wellbeing). Dame Betty Kershaw (Professor Emeritus, University of Sheffield, Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing and former President) The Northern Powerhouse : Cotton Town Nurses Who Shaped the Profession (joint event with the RCN HoNS). From Street to Salon, Solo!. The Best of Both Worlds: A Busker s Opera. Farucchio Peru is Extraordinaire. Alison Matthews and Leo Burtin The Best of Both Worlds: A Busker s Opera. Teatro Pomodoro Farucchio Peru is Extraordinaire. Lucho Guzman Ceniza (Ashes). Judita Vivas Seven Petticoats. Dr Niall McCrae (Lecturer, King s College London) Irish Days, Mauritian Nights: The Experiences of Nurses from Overseas in British Mental Hospitals, 1940s to 1990s. Dr Alison O Donnell (Lecturer, University of Dundee) The Craiglockhart War Hospital: The Men, The Women and the Hydra (joint event with the RCN HoNS). Dr Claire Chatterton with Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Adrian Lee. 77

78 A stimulating learning culture Investment in facilities The Estates and Facilities team has carried out a programme of continuing improvements to the University s seven campuses, including the unveiling of the prestigious Energy Centre at Thornton Science Park, and has received recognition for its key role in reducing the carbon footprint of the University. In addition, the proposed Chester Medical School could expand the community health and clinical teaching facilities for the city of Chester and its surrounding areas. The Energy Centre at Thornton Science Park is a nationally significant facility, primarily aimed at supporting and enabling energy research, innovation, technology development and demonstration, in order to meet the growth needs of the sector. The development was part-funded by the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, which contributed 6.8 million from its Local Growth Fund, alongside 8 million invested from the University, to create a facility for the development, testing and demonstration of current and future energy technologies. The building includes four industrial test bays to accommodate large units and equipment, a suite of equipment including an intelligent multi vector micro grid (multiple energy sources and storage units connected to the same local power grid), purpose-built industrial space, a coffee shop, a boardroom with video-conferencing facilities, office and laboratory space and room for plant or technology installation. Examples of the technologies for testing and development include new types of photovoltaic solar cells, thermal systems based on stored and pumped heat and advances in low power motor drives. Designed to promote growth and acceleration in the development and exploitation of technologies for the energy market, the Energy Centre provides a flexible place, where industry and academia comes together to innovate, develop and demonstrate new intelligent energy technologies. Further improvements at Thornton Science Park include the creation of a new dropoff and pick-up point with bus stops, shelters and a new turnstile system for 190,000 and the refurbishment of Building 38 (the Sutton Building, which houses Learning Resources) for 100,000. Three new Biology laboratories have been created on the Parkgate Road Campus for the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Life Sciences at a cost of 750,000. These can accommodate 126 students for teaching and research and ipad Minis have been installed into each workbench so that students can search for information, collect and record data and lecturers can screencast their PC to the ipads. Other work on the Parkgate Road Campus included major refurbishments of Catherine, Margaret and Alexandra Halls, the NoWFOOD Centre and the swimming pool, together with new road surfacing and drainage, representing an outlay of 273,000. The Energy Centre. Industrial test bays in The Energy Centre. 78

79 A stimulating learning culture Biology laboratories. The proposed Chester Medical School building. James Lavott s exhibition. Phil Barton s Nature Rearranged exhibition. Across the other campuses, the improvements included the upgrading of the dance studios at the Kingsway Campus, the Phase 2 refurbishment of the Guildhall at Shrewsbury for 120,000, work on the windows of the Martin Building at Warrington for 250,000 and improvements to seminar spaces, common rooms and the Students Union Building for 500,000. The North West Media Centre s new Tower Gallery at Warrington saw its first public art exhibitions, with the work of Phil Barton and James Lavott, and the facility also hosts the work of students and holds film screenings. Working closely with the Sustainability Unit, the Estates and Facilities team installed LED lighting at a cost of 500,000, which has resulted in better teaching and learning environments and a reduction of 60% in energy usage. Together with the implementation of other environmental measures, this has resulted in shortlisting in three categories for the Environmental Association of University and College s Green Gown Awards and winning the Educate North Award for Environmental Sustainability. This demonstrates the University s ongoing commitment to providing a sustainable environment for students and staff. The need to address the lack of a specialist training facility for doctors in Cheshire, Wirral and Shropshire has led to the planning stages of a purpose-built facility on Parkgate Road for the new Chester Medical School. It would consist of a 12,000 square metre, state-of-the-art building with cutting-edge facilities, including four lecture theatres, an anatomy and dissection room with 3D virtual tables, a clinic with consulting rooms to provide medical services for older people, six science laboratories, a library and an IT suite. This facility would allow the expansion of training for the region s health and social care workers, help to alleviate staffing shortages and expand the medical facilities for the local community. 79

80 A stimulating learning culture Commitment to sustainability A whole host of awards has been forthcoming for green initiatives, as students and staff work together to embed sustainability across the University s campuses, community, cultures and curriculum. The University joined 48 other UK universities in pledging its commitment to avoid investment in fossil fuel industries. Professor Tim Wheeler, Vice-Chancellor, stated, We think it is important that efforts are made to stay within the parameters of degrees limit of global warming, as signed by 195 countries at the Paris Climate Change agreement in We have therefore decided to confirm our commitment to the Fossil Free Declaration and, in doing so, our aspiration to be a part of the transition to a low carbon economy. The University celebrated recognition of its environmental awareness in the higher education sector s 2016 Green Gown Awards. The University s Hospitality and Residential Services team came first in the Food and Drink category, in which it was commended for its wide range of sustainability initiatives. These have been undertaken through the key areas of food procurement and waste, packaging, and catering equipment. Residential and Hospitality Services was recognised for the crucial role it plays in contributing to the institution s sustainable future and how it seeks to lead by example, such as gaining accreditation with the Vegetarian Society and Coeliac UK. The team has also replaced disposable polystyrene takeout boxes with a recyclable eco takeout box, to avoid containers going to landfill. The judges said: Chester won because of the Eco-Box project, supported by an excellent holistic sustainable food approach. In the Research and Development Student category, Alex Lerczak was highly commended for his MSc project, which investigated the perceptions of staff and students about how sustainability is embedded in the curriculum. His research was instrumental in introducing a period of curriculum change at the University and he achieved a distinction for his work. This has led to a number of student projects and the establishment of a teaching and research network focused on sustainability. Student Karen Elliott (BSc Hons, Geography) was a finalist in the Sustainability Champion category for raising awareness about sustainable matters and encouraging peers to think and act more sustainably. She was a key volunteer for Green Chester (a University-wide environmental initiative), gaining over 150 volunteering hours in the process. The University followed up this success with nominations in three categories for the 2017 Green Gown Awards. The Sustainability Unit was shortlisted in the Carbon Reduction Ian White with the Green Gown award and an eco takeout box. Alex Lerczak with his Green Gown award. The Seaborne Library Green Impact team at Veggiefest. 80

81 Jen Strong (NUS) with Shaunagh Smith. vvcategory for its Carbon and Energy Innovation Lab, which was created to implement a coordinated approach to energy and carbon reduction across the institution. The University was also a finalist in the Food and Drink category for its work in putting sustainability at the heart of everything it does and its holistic approach to encouraging and advocating the environmental and health benefits of vegetarian and veganism. Shaunagh Smith, an Administrative Assistant in the Estates and Facilities Department, was also shortlisted in the Sustainability Champion (staff) category for her volunteering work for the Sustainability Unit, including at evening and weekend events. In addition to her work at the University she supports local community projects and youth groups and won the The University of Chester s Christmas Tree at Chester Cathedral. Sustainability Star award at the University s 2017 Green Impact Awards. The Energy and Carbon Lab s work has resulted in 3,361 tonnes of CO 2 saved since , the equivalent to 950 car journeys around the earth. This has been achieved by upgrading more than 11,000 light fittings with more efficient LEDs and making adjustments to the Building Energy Management System, to improve control and efficiency. In addition, solar panels installed throughout have generated 639 MWh of electricity over the duration of the project. An energy survey was carried out and a Christmas shutdown campaign promoted in order to encourage staff and students to switch off equipment. This resulted in a reduction of 20% from the previous year. The holistic approach to energy reduction secured a win for the Energy and Carbon Lab in the Environmental Industry category at the Educate North Awards for the third consecutive year. The Sustainability Unit decorated the University s contribution to the Christmas Tree Festival at Chester Cathedral and the theme was repurposing and upcycling. Staff and students from across the University transformed objects into decorations; including snowmen from light bulbs and Christmas trees fashioned out of old book papers. A dozen messages on how to have a more sustainable Christmas were hung from the tree, inspired by the Twelve Days of Christmas. The University has gained national recognition for its sustainability initiatives and achieved a 2:1 in the People & Planet University League. This reflects the commitment from across the University to create a collaborative and holistic approach, to deliver positive impacts on the local environment, communities and economy. The integration of global Sustainable Development Goals, and the setting of ambitious targets, aim to ensure that the environment is protected for future generations. Tamara Hunt, Sustainability Officer. 81

82 A stimulating learning culture during their Work Based Learning placements to develop ideas to engage fellow students in tackling the issue of climate change. Working with the University s Green Chester initiative, this placement aimed to increase environmental knowledge and action among new students. The students developed climate change resources, which are now available across the University. Green Impact teams secured NUS funding of nearly 1,000 for projects to promote sustainability to staff and students and create a positive impact in their local environment. Examples of the activities funded were: Warrington Biodiversity Workshop. Veggiefest Green Chester collaborated with the Warrington Grounds and Gardens team to encourage more biodiversity across the campuses with the Warrington Biodiversity Workshop. Using funding provided by the NUS Green Impact initiative, they purchased natural materials to make an insect hotel in the Forest School, plus some smaller versions for other campuses. Bird boxes were also installed to attract species such as wrens, wagtails and sparrows. Staff and students sampled a wide range of vegan and vegetarian food at the first Veggiefest. Hosted by the Green Impact team from the Seaborne Library, with support from Catering Services and the Sustainability Unit, the event saw businesses and departments promoting vegetarianism and veganism as effective ways to reduce carbon footprints. The event encouraged people to take responsibility for what they eat and reduce the environmental impact of food through seasonal and local eating. The Department of Social and Political Science hosts a collection point for students and staff to make donations to the Cheshire West Food Bank. This followed presentations at the Sociology Festival, which raised awareness of the urgent problem of food poverty experienced by families in the local area. Dr Ann Hindley (Senior Lecturer in Marketing, Tourism and Events Management), worked with a team of seven research assistants The Strategic Economic Development Directorate purchased bird feeders, pedometers and a charity donation jar for its Green Impact events and campaigns. The Department of Geography and International Development bought 70 reusable water bottles to give away to staff and students during a Bring Your Own Bottle campaign. The Learning and Information Services team at the Queen s Park Campus established a wellbeing area in the library for students to take a break and enjoy free fruit and water, particularly during exam periods. The Students Union at Warrington ran a successful Bee the Future initiative by visiting a local primary school to help children to plant bee-friendly seedlings, which were then returned to Campus for planting. 82

83 A stimulating learning culture Seventeen Green Impact teams of staff were honoured by the Sustainability Unit at the University s Green Tie Awards. These were held at the Queen s Park Campus and a range of special Green Impact prizes were awarded after student-led audits had evaluated their actions. Recipients included the Seaborne and Queen s Park Libraries, Warrington Grounds and Gardens team, Residential and Hospitality Services, the Strategic Economic Development Directorate, Samantha Stewart, Lisa Peters, Sarah Alderson, Yvonne Ankers and Shaunagh Smith. Stalls at the event included Veggiefest, the Waste Not Want Not campaign and the University allotment, while donations were collected for the West Cheshire Foodbank. The procurement of goods and services accounts for around half of the University s carbon footprint. As a result, the University signed up to the NETpositive Supplier Engagement Tool, to encourage and enable suppliers to create bespoke action plans to improve their performance on sustainability. The Procurement and Sustainability teams have encouraged 800 of the University s suppliers to participate and 80% have completed their action plans. These documents now form an integral part of the review of contracts for the largest suppliers. The University achieved first-class honours classification and was ranked 21st out of 154 universities in the 10th annual People and Planet University League the UK s only comprehensive and independent green ranking of universities. Students and staff were recognised for their excellent work in Environmental Policy and a 100% score in Education for Sustainable Development reflects the institution s and Chester Student Union s commitment to the externally assessed Responsible Futures accreditation. This is an NUS programme that provides a structured framework of criteria to encourage action on embedding sustainability into formal and informal learning. For example, the Sustainability Unit encourages students to develop sustainability knowledge and skills through coursework, dissertations and voluntary work, and by creating opportunities with academic and professional services departments. The improvement in policy and strategy has been achieved by outlining specific, measurable targets for areas within the Sustainability Strategy. These include: water; biodiversity; procurement, construction and refurbishment; and transport and community, as part of the revision of the institution s Carbon Management Plan. A score of 50% for Carbon Reduction was awarded for the previous year because of the big investment in LED lighting and solar panels, the change to a green electricity tariff, plus improvements to data and monitoring and reporting. The green tariff change and PV solar electricity generation meant that the Energy Sources score improved from 13% to 48.3%, while ethical investment also improved from 13% to 45% following the People and Planet Fossil Free declaration. All of this action to minimise the University s impact on the environment has resulted in the University climbing up the national rankings to 21st place and gaining the top classification. Student auditors at the Green Tie Awards. Solar panels at the Parkgate Road Campus. 83

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85 A community Chester is so beautiful #yesterday #lazysunday #chester #uoc #mychesterstory #uniofchester #oldclock #chesterwalls #goneforastroll #finalyear run.lana.run Volunteering for the RSPB at Burton Mere #MyChesterStory My favourite picture from today #wildlife #documentaryphotography #mychesterstory #chesterzoo #photography #monkey #zoo beth.pittaway So proud to help organise Accelerate: The Pitch 2017! Everyone did so well and the event ran smoothly #thepitch2017 #unijob The end of #mychesterstory

86 A community focus Outreach activities The University s Outreach team works closely with students, teachers and careers advisers to extend the participation of under-represented groups in higher education, through activities designed to raise the aspirations of students, and increase their awareness of the benefits of a university education. The Outreach team offers a variety of informative and enjoyable events that are tailored to the needs of schools, colleges and their prospective students. More than 4,600 prospective students were hosted as part of 79 events by the Outreach Team at the University campuses and their 177 off-campus visits connected with a further 9,300 prospective students. The on-campus primary activity included 21 campus visits, which involved over 50 local primary schools and 1,733 pupils. These focused on assisting the pupils in their transition into secondary school, while also introducing the concept of higher education and instilling the importance of attainment for their future aspirations. The University is currently a member of multiple networks, which are delivering the four-year Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) National Collaborative Outreach Programme. As part of the involvement in the Higher Horizons+ network (including higher education partners across Cheshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire), the University is hosting a hub of staff, which is aiming to meet the objectives of this project within target wards in the local area. The project aims to provide additional outreach activity to these wards in order to complement existing activity delivered by institutions as part of their individual Office for Fair Access agreements, and to boost the numbers of students progressing into higher education from these targeted, under-represented groups. This project was initiated by David Cameron to increase the number of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds entering higher education by 2020, and the scope has since been expanded. The University is also a member of the Shaping Futures Merseyside Collaborative Outreach Programme, which works with higher education partners across Merseyside. The Outreach team, supported by colleagues across the University, has been involved in a research project with the Equality Challenge Unit entitled Increasing Diversity: Recruiting Students from Underrepresented Groups. This research explores the issue of how to diversify the student intake in line with the University s Equality and Diversity Charter. The following examples show some of the outreach activities hosted at the University in Years 10 and 11 pupils from Sandymoor School in Runcorn used the Chemical Engineering labs at Thornton Science Park to complete mandatory practical work in the new GCSE Pupils from Sir William Stanier School, Crewe. Science syllabus. Students learned how to carry out an acid base titration technique, to determine the unknown concentration of an acid solution and used complex equipment that is not practical in a school setting. Dawn Johnson (Head of Science, Sandymoor School), said: The students have had a fantastic time in world class, cutting-edge facilities and it has been a really valuable experience. More than 75 girls from schools and colleges across the North West and Midlands celebrated International Women s Day with a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) day at Thornton Science Park. The Faculty of Science and Engineering hosted the event to show them what can be achieved Criw Celf arts group from Powys. 86

87 A community focus School students with the Skybolt rocket. by women in science, and activities included building a simple computer controlled airship and taking part in a cyber-intelligence and digital forensics operation. Seventy children from four high schools Winsford Academy, Sandymoor School, Whitby High School and St Margaret s Church of England Academy, Liverpool became rocket scientists for the day at Thornton Science Park. Faculty of Science and Engineering staff teamed up with Starchaser Industries to provide the unique one-day science workshop for the children in Years 8 and 9, where they designed, built and launched their own model rocket. Starchaser s Rocket Propulsion Lab gave demonstrations on how it had developed rocket engines, which helped students to understand the complexities and challenges of reaching space. Around 100 school pupils from Cheshire, Warrington and North Wales took part in the Cheshire Challenge at Thornton Science Park. Mixed school teams from 10 schools undertook a series of practical applied-science or technology-related challenges, led by members of a team of students, including some from the Faculty of Science and Engineering. The activities included a robot challenge, an E-FIT challenge, an electric car challenge and a brain diagnostic challenge. The prizes were presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, David Briggs MBE, KStJ, who also gave a talk to students. The winning team consisted of four girls from both The King s School and Uptonby-Chester High School. A series of STEM workshops organised by the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Royal Air Force resulted in 280 young people from the North West visiting Thornton Science Park. Years 8 and 9 pupils, together with RAF cadets, learnt how to build and fly a computer controlled airship and participated in a simulated cyber-intelligence and digital forensics operation, to bring cyber-criminals to justice. The Faculty of Business and Management hosted two taster events with Years 11 and 12 students from local schools at the Queen s Park Campus and gave the visitors experience of Business, Finance, Marketing, Tourism and Events Management. Students from eight schools enjoyed a Dragon s Den style challenge, learnt about brand image and found out what kind of entrepreneur they are. The Faculty of Business and Management hosted the Cheshire, Warrington and Merseyside final of The Company Programme, the popular Young Enterprise schools competition at the Queen s Park Campus. Young Enterprise helps young people to develop a wide range of employability skills and this initiative encouraged school teams of entrepreneurs aged to set up a business/company with support from volunteer mentors. Teams had to submit a company report, set up and run a trade stand for the judging panel and then present to the judges and dignitaries. The winning teams were Technichs, from St Nicholas Catholic High School, Hartford, for its car accessories kit; and Memoreads, from Christleton High School, for a child s language learning book. Both companies gained commercial contracts for their products showing the high quality of the entries. Young Enterprise is the UK s leading charity that empowers young people to harness their personal and business skills through connecting schools, colleges and universities and the world of work, and Lisa Conway (Senior Lecturer, Department of Business and Finance) is Chair of the Cheshire and Warrington Board of the charity. Department of Art and Design staff shared their expertise with the next generation of visual artists at a workshop held at the Kingsway Campus. In conjunction with the Criw Celf arts group, this was to generate interest in art and design amongst school pupils from North Powys. The group is funded by the Arts Council of Wales, and supported by Powys County Council, in order to provide opportunities for young people aged between 12 and 18, who have been identified as being able and talented in the visual arts. The participants come together around seven times a year to work with professional artists and visit exhibitions, university fine art departments and artists studios, as part of a national initiative to nurture young talent. Dr Jeremy Turner (Senior Lecturer) said: This is a great opportunity for the University to support and generate interest in the visual arts amongst children, who are in the process of making important decisions about their future education and possible direction. 87

88 A community focus Educational partnerships The University s close relationship with other key educational institutions in the region, especially University Centre Reaseheath and University Centre Shrewsbury, means that a higher proportion of people in surrounding communities can gain access to a distinctive higher education experience, tailored to their needs. The Faculty of Education and Children s Services is collaborating with St Helens College on the development of the BA (Hons) Early Years Practice Top-Up and with Wirral Metropolitan College on the development of the BA (Hons) Early Years Childcare courses. The Faculty has continued to develop its schools partnership across the region for both core and School Direct provision, thus supporting the flow of newly qualified teachers into the profession. In response to the Welsh Government s educational reforms, there have been some exciting initiatives taking place across North Wales in collaboration with 20 nominated lead schools. University Centre Reaseheath University Centre Reaseheath is part of a leading specialist institution based in Nantwich, Cheshire and is home to the University of Chester s Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Science. Set within 300 hectares of farm, parkland and woodlands, students can enjoy this tranquil and rural setting while making the most of the cutting-edge, industry-standard facilities. Undergraduates can study on a range of high quality agricultural, food production, veterinary and animal-based courses, which have been designed in consultation with industry to ensure that graduates have the academic knowledge and practical skills that employers need. Over 50 million has been invested into technical training resources at Reaseheath, including an industry leading food centre, a unique horticultural centre for plant production and research, an equestrian centre, an animal centre and a zoo. A further 31 million will be invested over the next four years to increase the on-site halls of residence and extend the Higher Education Centre. Other future projects include an agri-technology centre and a sports centre, to complement the existing high-tech gym and 3G rugby pitch. The following examples show some of the highlights for higher education students at Reaseheath. Animal Science Three groups of Animal Science undergraduates encountered animals and built up their knowledge of their management in the wild and in captivity through international study tours. The students, studying Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Wildlife Conservation University Centre Reaseheath s Team Africa. and Ecology or Zoo Management, were able to support the work of professionals during practical sessions. Team Africa visited South Africa for an educational visit to Balule Game Reserve, where they enjoyed game drives and walks, wildlife sightings and assignments from rangers. They spent a further week at Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre working closely with native species. Team Peru learnt about ecology and conservation in the Amazon and visited Cusco, the Inca capital. Team Zoo visited three zoos in the Netherlands and each offered different insights into animal husbandry, enclosure design, zoo education and the conservation role of modern zoos. Highlights included a tour of the endangered reptile breeding facility at Rotterdam Zoo, James Shora. 88

89 A community focus Equine Science students with Professor Graham Suggett. RHS Flower Show garden at Tatton Park. viewing manatees at the Royal Burgers Zoo and attending a talk at the European Zoo Association HQ at Artis Zoo. Four Animal Management undergraduates presented their projects at the annual British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums Research Conference in Edinburgh. For example, Zoo Management student, James Shora, observed how the coati (a South American carnivore) at Beale Wildlife Park was less likely to fight over whole food than chopped food. The presentation of his findings reversed the standard practice and could influence the way captive coatis are fed in the future. Dissertation Supervisor, James Brereton, said: The fact that the undergraduates presented at a leading conference is a great opportunity for them, and a tremendous addition to their CV. Reaseheath Animal Management student, Sam Stringwell, was invited to present the findings of his dissertation research at the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums Terrestrial Invertebrate Working Group (TIWG) Conference at Longleat. Sam compared the prevalence of invertebrates in international zoos, which helped TIWG committee members to evaluate the impact of their invertebrate collections on public opinion. He also considered what bird, mammal and invertebrate species were most common in zoo collections worldwide. Sam said: This was a wonderful opportunity to network with zoo professionals and to gain further knowledge of the cutting-edge research being conducted in the industry. Equine Science BSc Equine Science undergraduate Rhiannon Elsmore has become the fourth Reaseheath student to have been awarded a prestigious internship. The annual award is made jointly by the BEF (British Equestrian Federation) and the Virginia Tech Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center (MAREC). The UK winner spends a three-month internship in the USA at MAREC, the world s leading equine breeding and research centre. Rhiannon won the internship jointly with Harper Adams University student, Connie Dale, while another Reaseheath student, Faye McTigue, was runnerup. Rhiannon and Connie will follow last year s winners, Michelle Hand and Zoe Greenwood, who both graduated with first-class honours in Equine Science from Reaseheath. Another Reaseheath graduate, Charlotte Woolley, won the internship in 2014 and has gone on to study for a PhD in Neurobiology at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh, while James Rayner, Course Manager at the Equestrian Centre, is also a former recipient and was able to benefit from a further year s BEF placement at MAREC. Horticulture Reaseheath undergraduates designed and created a show garden for a special educational needs school which won a silver medal at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. From a Different Angle will be relocated at Sandside Lodge, Ulverston, Cumbria, when the construction of a new replacement school has been completed by Seddon, the construction company and sponsor of the show garden. Eight undergraduates studying for a BSc in Landscape Management or a Foundation Degree in Garden and Landscape Design were led by Lecturer in Landscape Architecture, Craig Bailey, and supported by Reaseheath s Horticultural Department. From a Different Angle is designed to offer a safe, usable outdoor space suitable for young people with special needs, featuring raised beds, sensory planting, colour therapy and a shaded seating area. Ed Wootton, Regional Director of Seddon Construction said: We were delighted to work in partnership with a leading specialist college such as Reaseheath, to produce a garden which is built for purpose and will hopefully deliver pleasure to pupils at the new Sandside Lodge for many years to come. 89

90 A community focus The show garden team at the 2017 Shrewsbury Flower Show. University Centre Shrewsbury s show garden. University Centre Shrewsbury University Centre Shrewsbury (UCS) has continued to establish itself as a unique institution that offers a range of distinctive courses and a rounded student experience in this vibrant and historic town. Founded through the groundbreaking partnership between Shropshire Council and the University, UCS has been focused from the outset on high quality teaching and research, fostering entrepreneurship and making a positive impact across Shropshire and beyond. In the institution welcomed its second intake of undergraduates, its third cohort of postgraduates and its first international students; work commenced on the new student accommodation; innovative courses were established; a range of insightful events were held; and further links created within the community. UCS students benefit from a personalised experience that is tailored to their needs and interests through their academic studies, together with extra-curricular options and personal welfare support. The new programmes on offer include a BA in Events and Festivals Management, a BSc in Medical Science and an MA in Military History. Students represented UCS at civic events, joined local clubs and groups and supported local and national causes with fundraising activities. Among these were a shoebox campaign for Shrewsbury Ark, a drop-in centre for homeless and vulnerable people; a charity quiz, cake sales and a raffle for Children in Need; and a rowing challenge for Pengwern Boat Club in Shrewsbury, to raise money for adaptive rowing equipment. Across the institution, a priority has been participation in local schemes and partnerships to enhance the region s prospects. As part of this community involvement, UCS has strengthened its relationships with organisations such as: Team Shrewsbury, the community action group for the town; Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents Association; the Marches Growth Hub, which offers businesses a single point of access to information and guidance; and Shropshire Chamber of Commerce. UCS has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the newly formed Shrewsbury Colleges Group, and with 90

91 A community focus University Centre Shrewsbury student, Emily Kulik Jones. The Guildhall building, the learning and research base. Fairness Respect Equality Shropshire (FRESh), a society that promotes equality and diversity in the region. In addition, UCS has signed the Armed Forces Covenant with the Ministry of Defence, formalising its support of the Armed Forces Community, which has an extensive presence across Shropshire. In recognition of all of this work, UCS was presented with a Silver Award in the Community category of the 2017 Shrewsbury Mayor s Awards. UCS has also contributed to key local events, including exhibiting a show garden at the prestigious Shrewsbury Flower Show and winning a second consecutive gold medal. The institution s own public events, which are open to everyone and free wherever possible, were held at the learning and research base at the Guildhall in Frankwell Quay and the iconic 16th-century Rowley s House. Audiences heard about diverse topics, ranging from the Practical Pathways Conference, which aimed to provide participants with practical and immediate ways of tackling mental health issues in children and adolescents, to a seminar exploring the complex relationship between man and mountain, featuring Dr Rob Casserley, who has climbed Mount Everest eight times. In addition to lecture theatres and seminar rooms, the Guildhall offers laboratories, a café, library and 24-hour computer facilities, and is close to high quality student accommodation at Mardol House in the bustling, medieval town centre. The footprint of the institution is also growing, as the construction of further, purpose-built accommodation has started at the nearby Tannery site. This moderate expansion is consistent with the long-term aspiration for UCS to grow steadily and proportionately over the next five to 10 years, to the point where it can become an independent University. Professor Anna Sutton, Provost of UCS, said: Thank you to everyone who has supported us in our development. We are looking ahead to the coming academic years with great enthusiasm, whether it s seeing our new students settle into university and community life, welcoming the public to more events, breathing new life into The Tannery site with the construction of new student accommodation, expanding the courses we offer or sharing our research. 91

92 A community focus Engaging with business The University continues to expand its engagement activity through the strengthening of links with businesses, the provision of business support and students gaining valuable industry experience with regional, national and international partners. Highlights include the opening of the multi-million pound Energy Centre at Thornton, multiple ministerial visits, the support of 65 companies at Thornton Science Park, Riverside Innovation Centre and the NoWFOOD Centre, the 554 staff employed within these businesses across the three sites and the 46 students engaging with these commercial tenants. The Commercial Operations Directorate offers a unique business opportunity for expert business support, together with the collaboration between business and relevant academic departments. The Directorate operates from three key commercial sites: Thornton Science Park (TSP) a high-tech site near Ellesmere Port equipped for innovative and growing businesses in the energy, environmental, automotive and advanced manufacturing sectors; Riverside Innovation Centre (RIC) based at the Riverside Campus in Chester city centre, which offers start-up business office space and professional meeting facilities; and the North West Food Research Development Centre (NoWFOOD) located at the Parkgate Road Campus in Chester, which provides a centre of excellence for food science and technology for producers across the region. The University is delivering business expertise and support to over 34 SMEs and entrepreneurs through the Cheshire and Warrington Business Growth Programme, a European Regional Development Fund initiative designed to support business growth. The activities include masterclasses, workshops and one-to-one support across the sites. Over 80 SMEs and entrepreneurs have received support from the University through this tailored scheme. The Energy Centre at Thornton is a state-ofthe-art facility, designed to promote growth and acceleration in the development and exploitation of technologies for the energy market. The Centre was opened by the Rt Hon Jake Berry MP, Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, and attended by those who had played a key part in its foundation. Formerly known as the Intelligent Energy Systems Demonstrator, the project was funded by Cheshire & Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (Local Growth Funds) and the University. It has attracted attention from large, multinational, energy-related companies, The opening of the Energy Centre at Thornton with the Rt Hon Jake Berry MP. including ABB, which has deployed a stateof-the-art microgrid control system for the Campus, which is a UK first. The Energy Centre at Thornton has four tenants on site from the energy sector who benefit from the high tech facilities, business expertise support and the ability to engage and collaborate with the Faculty of Science and Engineering. ABB s five-year partnership with the University involves the Departments of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Natural Sciences through the Thornton Energy Research Institute, alongside ABB s teams in energy, industrial automation and SMART Cities. The collaboration includes ABB delivering industrial lectures, joint research and development, the provision of equipment and technical consultancy, joint technology events, ABB s input to the curriculum and student placements. Ian Funnell, UK Managing Director of ABB said: I am excited by the potential of our collaboration with the University of Chester. Our country s energy systems are transforming, yet it remains vital for them to deliver cost effective, resilient and low carbon heat and power. We will be working alongside the University to develop the new technologies and people needed, not only to keep pace with the energy transformation, but 92

93 A community focus Catherine Richardson, The Literacy Company. also to lead it. Thornton s location, both close to our UK headquarters and in the centre of a very energy intensive region, makes the University an ideal partner for us. The Thornton campus continues to attract interest from businesses within the energy, environmental, automotive and advanced manufacturing sectors, with almost 40 companies located there. This has generated further interest from the Government, with a visit from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP, keen to learn more about the innovative work being being delivered on site. An example of this is Blue Sky Linda Neill, The Literacy Company. Bio, a research and development firm which specialises in the development of disruptive, high-output, bioprocessed, renewable energy producing technologies. Its main goal is to reverse the process of rising atmospheric CO 2 to produce a zero-carbon energy future. The company received official government support from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and had one member of staff when it relocated to TSP in Following ongoing support from the Commercial Operations team, there are now five members of staff and it received a nomination for The People s Choice Award, organised by Pitch at Palace. Nick Bartlett, Technology Director at the company said: I couldn t praise the support received highly enough. It is unprecedented. A multi-million pound eco-innovation programme, aimed at boosting businesses in Cheshire and Warrington, was launched at Thornton Science Park. Eco-Innovation Cheshire and Warrington connects businesses and universities to achieve business growth and innovation through funded Research and Development (R&D). Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the Cheshire and Warrington area will have unique access to the resource, excellence and expertise of the University of Chester and Lancaster University. It provides SMEs with the opportunity to be part of a structured programme of collaborative R&D interventions and activities and supports SMEs to innovate and commercialise new low carbon products and services. The aim is to accelerate a transition towards a low carbon economy in all sectors, and to involve businesses that innovate in a wide range of product, process and service areas. The NoWFOOD Centre provides a hub of excellence for food producers across the region, supporting them with business growth through tenant incubation spaces as well as bookable production kitchens and sensory and analytical testing facilities. Just Thai Kitchen is a Cheshire-based business that specialises in creating authentic Thai ready meals and was the Centre s first commercial client. Nooch and Miles Tufft were able to scale up production and have developed the concern into a growing and profitable micro-business with all the support they have received. Miles said: Without the NoWFOOD Centre our business just wouldn t exist today. A year ago we were dreamers with an idea. Today we are a microbusiness selling a range of food products in multiple shops across Cheshire. The RIC continues to provide business incubation space and expert business growth support to over 20 businesses. It has been designed to nurture and develop start-up companies by providing them with opportunities to network with on-site specialist staff and organisations. Alongside the business support to commercial tenants, the RIC also has facilities for external clients, including bespoke meeting facilities. The Rt Hon Damian Green MP visited to learn more about the work that is being done to support small local businesses at the RIC and to hear first hand from a student placed within one of the companies on a Work Based Learning summer placement. An example of a successful company based at the RIC is The Literacy Company, which works closely with schools to improve standards in English and to enhance the curriculum. Cofounders Linda Neill and Catherine Richardson started the company, having taught English at local schools and they identified a gap in the market. As a result, the business has received advice from the Commercial Operations team and other businesses on topics such as HR, graphic design and promotional products. Four and a half years later, the company now employs two members of staff, two subcontractors and four associate consultants. It has also seen a 123% growth in turnover since 93

94 A community focus The High Sheriff s Awards for Enterprise Cheshire Scaffolds Ltd. Laser Quantum Ltd Cheshire Business Exporter of the Year, sponsored by ESL Fuels and West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce. Steven Pendergast, Bluestones Investment Group Cheshire Business Leaders Award for the Outstanding Cheshire and Warrington Entrepreneur of the Year. Philip McEvoy (Operations Director at Argent Oil) Outstanding Cheshire and Warrington Business Leader Award. Heat Trace Best Company Award, sponsored by Barlows (UK) Ltd. The University of Chester Business School is integrating Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) into its education programmes. PRME is a voluntary engagement platform for business schools and management education-related institutions, which was established by the United Nations to transform management education, research and thought leadership on a global basis. Key goals are to embed responsible management into the curriculum, reduce energy consumption and deliver carbon literacy training to all students. This initiative also provides the opportunity for collaborations with other UN PRME members worldwide. moving to the RIC, and works with schools across numerous local authorities including Birmingham, London, Bolton and Staffordshire. Catherine Richardson said: The RIC is a great base for meeting clients, networking with other companies and having an expert on hand who can direct us to appropriate business support. More than 300 guests gathered at Chester Racecourse to celebrate the achievements of businesses from across the county. The High Sheriff s Awards for Enterprise was hosted by the High Sheriff of Cheshire, Kathy Cowell, and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim Wheeler. The guest speaker was New York Times best-selling author, consultant, educator, broadcaster, former NBA star, and elite psychologist, John Amaechi OBE. The winners were: Direct Food Ingredients High Sheriff s Award for Enterprise, sponsored by Cheshire & Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, LDF and O2. The Ice Cream Farm Mornflake Oats Award for Innovation. Kawneer (UK) Ltd High Sheriff s Award for Responsible Business Practice, sponsored by Your Housing Group. Barlows (UK) Ltd Roberts Bakery Family Business Award of Excellence. Cheshire Scaffolds Ltd Award for Training, Development and Opportunity for Young People, sponsored by Chess and Click Consult. Lucy Brown, Emilia Hoyle and James Sydenham joint winners of the Apprenticeship Awards, sponsored by Barlows (UK) Ltd. Chester Zoo for its Islands at Chester Zoo project Special Enterprising Project of the Year Award. Kathy Cowell, the High Sheriff of Cheshire, said: It was a delight to host these business awards and to see the range of companies who entered we had entries from a range of businesses who are geographically dispersed across the county and of varying sizes. Despite the differences there were some clear recurring themes among the companies, such as standards, quality, total focus on the customer and passion and it was lovely to celebrate these businesses. The Business School has launched the International Professional Faculty for Banking, Accounting and Finance to play an important and strategic role in developing Banking, Accounting and Finance programmes. This is an elite group of progressive and proactive business leaders and the exclusive partnership has been established to advise on a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in these fields. The group includes business leaders from: Handelsbanken; Virgin Money; RSM UK; Santander UK plc; MBNA, M&S Bank; Ellis and Co; Bank of America Merrill Lynch and KPMG. The role of the business leaders is to give guest lectures; collaborate with academics to shape the curriculum to ensure that future workforce development needs are met; provide current case studies to give exposure to real world problems and mentor students as they progress through their courses. 94

95 A community focus Beyond our boundaries The University plays a significant role in the region through bringing in approximately 400 million, hosting numerous public events, supporting cultural projects, such as the new Storyhouse, and its students and staff contributing to a wealth of community activities. The establishment of Storyhouse, Chester s new 37 million theatre, library, restaurant and cinema, has resulted in the joint creation of a new role of Senior Lead for Cultural Education and Research. This is to liaise between Storyhouse and the University, to ensure that the best of learning and research is shared and developed between the institutions. Leading in all areas of higher education decisionmaking at Storyhouse, the role ensures that the collaboration develops innovative, arts-based practices for consulting the public and community groups on the programming of learning activities and social, cultural and educational events at Storyhouse. An example of these activities is an arts-based evaluative report being compiled by the University s Research into Education, Creativity and Arts through Practice (RECAP) centre into the Storyhouse Young Leaders Programme. Further developments have also seen the co-creation of credit and non-credit bearing programmes, modules, and continuous professional development from Levels 4 8, for students and school teachers. As a result, a single Work Based Learning module has been established in the Department of English, which brings second-year students and the Fallen Angels dance company together in Chester Re:Told. A number of Master s degree programmes are being developed and delivered in conjunction with Storyhouse, such as the MA in Drama, the MRes in Storytelling and the MA in Creative Practices in Education. Alongside these developments, numerous other projects and engagements have evolved during the partnership and strengthened this beneficial and powerful synergy of ideals between Storyhouse and the University (see page 103 for further details). The new outward facing Philip Barker Centre for Creative Learning (PBCCL) centre is exploring the role, use and understanding of creativity, creative learning and practice over the course of people s lives. The PBCCL was established in 2016 in response to the decline in creative learning approaches with young people and the opportunity for a greater involvement of creative practice through the arts in the health system. The Centre operates in collaboration with the cultural sector, delivering innovative approaches, principally within the areas of education, health and social care, to develop practice, disseminate evidence and to be an advocate for change. The learning from these collaborations feeds into the development of courses across the Nick Ponsillo, Director of the Philip Barker Centre (PBCCL). University, maintaining student learning at the leading edge of practice and complementing the work of RECAP. Funded by the Philip Barker Charity over a five-year period, the PBCCL builds on the long-standing partnership between the Philip Barker Charity and the Faculty of Education and Children s Services, most notably with the celebration of the University s 175th Anniversary. The Student Futures Community Liaison team works hard to promote positive engagement between its students and the local community, in collaboration with Chester Students Union (CSU). The following examples show some of the ways in which students are educated about their responsibilities to the local community and the collaborative work that takes place between the University and local residents. Chester Student Community Guide. Students moving into private sector accommodation in Chester are directed to the Chester Student Community Guide and the University hosted Welcome to the City talks for new residential students. These are given by local community champion Matt Baker, police liaison representatives and CSU and are designed to give new students a positive message of welcome, promote a positive student experience, share some student safety messages and help new students understand their responsibilities as members of the wider community. University staff work closely with local residents associations. For example, Louise Collins (Community Liaison Manager) regularly attends meetings of the Garden Quarter Residents and Traders Association 95

96 A community focus and worked with them on an innovative Welcome Festival, designed to introduce students to the mixed community and its members and businesses, including a street party, tours of the area and a GQ s Got Talent Competition. The Community Liaison Manager is part of a working group led by CH1ChesterBID (the Business Improvement District for Chester) which is preparing a Purple Flag accreditation bid for the night-time and evening economy in Chester. Purple Flag is a positive initiative that indicates an entertaining, diverse, safe and enjoyable night out throughout the UK and Ireland and is now being extended internationally. The University takes part in a collaborative working group to share good practice with the local providers of purpose-built student accommodation. The University and Community Liaison Committee consists of representatives from Cheshire West and Chester Council, the local police force, residents associations, CSU sabbaticals and relevant members of staff from the University. The Committee is a very proactive and positive forum for discussing community engagement with the University. The Community Liaison Manager welcomes enquiries from local organisations for engagement with students and works with both the Volunteer Co-ordinator and CSU to encourage students to engage with the community. For example, a cheese and wine evening was organised jointly by the Ultimate Frisbee Team, CSU and the Community Liaison Manager at a Garden Quarter retirement residence and also an afternoon tea at a local care home. The University works with Chester Civic Trust on Heritage Open Days, when the local community can visit sites, such as the iconic Chapel on the Parkgate Road Campus and the University of Chester Riverside Museum, and plans to open further locations of historical interest. The Community Liaison Manager engages with partners on community projects, such as Cheshire West and Chester Council s Waste Not Want Not Campaign. The Campaign promoted better use of the Recycle First service and proved to be very successful, winning awards for its efforts to encourage students to donate items they would normally throw out to local charities before they leave for the summer break. The University of Chester Business School held its annual carol service in the historic Churchill Building at the Queen s Park Campus. Everyone from the local community in Handbridge was invited to enjoy spiced, mulled wine and apple juice and mince pies after an uplifting service of carols, readings and music by Deva Brass. A series of pop-up restaurants was held by Residential and Hospitality Services, to welcome local residents to two Chester campuses to enjoy a special meal prepared by award-winning chefs. These included: a Valentine s Day meal, a Sunday lunch and a Christmas meal at the Senate House Dining Rooms on the Parkgate Road Campus; and a Mother s Day meal and a Christmas meal at the De Gaulle Brasserie, Churchill House at the Queen s Park Campus. Ian White (Domestic Bursar and Director of Hospitality and Residential Services), said: We take a real pride in what we do and the feedback we ve had from everyone who s attended the pop-up restaurants has been phenomenal. Some of the first actors to perform at Chester s new Storyhouse were Drama and Theatre Studies graduates, Hayley Riley and Louise Community clean-up. Evans. They write and perform theatre which explores many complex life issues through their company, Haylo Theatre. In particular, they target difficult subjects in the health, social care and education sectors through bespoke theatre performances and workshops. They performed their play Over the Garden Fence as part of the Women of the World (WOW) festival at Storyhouse. Hayley and Louise s play encourages audience engagement and conversation around dementia and highlights the importance of the individual behind the illness. Hayley said: Professionals, mental health care services, carers and families have seen our plays as a tool to bring people together and discuss prevalent and complex issues. Haylo Theatre. 96

97 A community focus The leading poet, writer and broadcaster Ian McMillan presented the county s finest poets with their awards at the Cheshire Prize for Literature evening. The first prize of 2,000 was presented to Cheryl Pearson, for her poem The Cartographer s Daughter and she had her winning entry read out by Ian McMillan. Three runners-up received 250 and they were: Helen Kay for her poem Dad: Latin at the Village School, 1969 ; Joy Winkler with Shakkei Borrowed Scenery and John Paul Davies, for his poem The Darkroom. Cheryl Pearson, who was also celebrating having her first book accepted for publication, said: It feels fabulous to win and was very unexpected. I knew there would be so many amazing entries and I came to see Ian McMillan more than anything! I feel overwhelmed. The best entries from the Cheshire Prize for Literature were celebrated at the anthology launch for Crossings Over: Poetry from the Cheshire Prize for Literature The selected poems, including those by the winners and runners-up, were gathered together in Crossings Over, edited by Dr Ian Seed (Programme Leader in Creative Writing). Each writer was presented with a copy of the anthology by the High Sheriff of Cheshire, Sarah Callander Beckett, and Dr Seed read out the winning poem by Cheryl Pearson. He said: It has been a great privilege to edit the anthology Crossings Over, and an honour to work with all the poets involved. The Westminster Centre for Research and Innovation in Veterans Wellbeing hosted a workshop for committee members of the Cheshire Armed Forces Covenant Partnership. Representatives from Cheshire West and Chester, East Cheshire, Halton and Warrington Councils were joined by attendees from the Ministry of Defence, The Royal British Legion, Defence Medical Services, Ex-Forces Action Network, Cheshire Police, Warrington, Cheshire and Wirral Clinical Commissioning Groups, Cheshire Fire and the Department for Work and Pensions. The workshop addressed issues such as Education and Working Together, and the event helped to provide additional information and structure in assisting the Partnership to improve engagement with Cheshire s veterans. An unexpected rediscovery by Llangollen Museum of a fragment of medieval effigial grave-slab, perhaps commemorating Abbot Hywel of the Cistercian religious house of Valle Crucis Abbey, has led to a high-profile peer-reviewed article by the University s Professor Howard Williams (Department of History and Archaeology). Gillian Smith, the Manager of Llangollen Museum, had identified the significance of the find and secured it on temporary loan to the Museum for local people to see. Together with Gillian, local historian David Crane and The Cheshire Prize for Literature prize winners. The Cheshire Prize for Literature anthology launch. 97

98 A community focus archaeologist and artist, Dr Aaron Watson, Professor Williams led new research exploring the significance of the monument, which was published in the Royal Archaeological Institute s The Archaeological Journal and disseminated through social media, blog posts and public talks. The slab is not only the first-ever known effigial slab of a Welsh medieval abbot and bearing the abbot s name, it is also a rare example of an abbot shown in mass vestments, uniquely holding a book and paten. His expression is also rare: he is smiling rather than the more usual sombre expression, raising the question of whether this reflects his personality rather than merely a stylised image. The slab therefore sheds new light on mortuary and commemorative practice in Wales in the Middle Ages. The research is a fascinating example of how liaison with local people and a local museum, following a chance rediscovery of a unique artefact, can lead to exciting new research of international significance which benefits the local community. Teachers and advisors events have been delivered across the Chester, Shrewsbury and Warrington sites, in order to provide useful information, advice and guidance to colleagues working within local schools and colleges. For example, staff in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies organised teacher training days throughout the year on the A level Religious Education syllabus. As part of the Diverse Narratives project, Dr Tim Grady (Reader) and Dr Hannah Ewence (Senior Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology) hosted an event at Chester Catholic High School. Together with Dr Mike Bird from the Faculty of Education, they encouraged trainee teachers to use a range of source materials in teaching the history of the First World War to school pupils. Other Diverse Narratives activities included an exhibition with Handforth Parish Council in Handforth Library on internment in the First World War and, in collaboration with Tata Chemicals and local historian, Alan Lowe, the dedication of new graves for two Belgian refugee boys who died in Northwich during the conflict. Professor Stewart Ainsworth (Department of History and Archaeology and former Channel 4 Time Team presenter) is using knowledge from the discovery of Chester s Roman amphitheatre almost 90 years ago to help him and a team from the University of York start the process of finding York s lost amphitheatre. Professor Ainsworth was part of an English Heritage team involved in the Chester Amphitheatre project in and is helping to discover whether The King s Manor could be the site of the legionary amphitheatre. He presented the evidence gathered from Chester and how this might translate to York, at a public lecture with Tim Sutherland as part of the Eboracum Roman Festival. A Chester Archaeology student, Rowena Young, was also involved in surveying the area in front of King s Manor for evidence of the amphitheatre using Ground Penetrating Radar. She said: It was a brilliant project to be a part of. Chester student, Rowena Young (left), in York. Dance with Drama and Theatre Studies graduates, Josh Slater and Eleanor Russell, set up their contemporary dance theatre company, encompass Collective, four years ago having been awarded 2,000 by Santander Universities as part of the Venture programme. They have now been based at the Kingsway Campus in Chester for four years and run regular weekly contemporary dance technique classes at discounted rates for students. They also perform full length professional shows and audition new performers at Kingsway Campus. Josh, who is also a Visiting Lecturer at the University and is studying for an MRes in Arts and Media, said: All of our dancers are graduates from Chester over the last four years. We believe in guiding graduates and emerging artists to support the ecology of dance and theatre in the region. encompass Collective. The Department of Sport and Community Engagement conducted an evaluation of a Sport England-funded external project, sponsored by Bury Metropolitan Borough Council (MBC). The work focused on the experience of women and girls who did not remain engaged in sporting activities and those providing them. Bury MBC piloted various different interventions for this I Will If You Will project and the Department utilised different methods of enquiry to enable Bury to understand some of the reasons why women lapsed from the project. The work was utilised as part of the final project evaluation report provided by other consultants for Sport England. A student won the opportunity to have her artwork displayed at The Beatles Story Museum 98

99 A community focus The Edwards family at the dedication of the Elgan Edwards Building. in Liverpool as part of Armed Forces Day. Julie Cassels is enrolled on the University s Artists Access to Art Colleges (AA2A) scheme, which provides placements for practising visual artists and designers in higher and further education institutions across England. The competition was run by the Chester Military Museum and offered the opportunity to redesign a military jacket from the Museum s collection with full creative licensing. For her garment, Julie replaced the lining with photographs of all the medal ribbons held in the Museum digitally printed on to fabric, and also incorporated QR codes to interpret and explain the historical relevance of Cheshire army uniforms. The University of Chester Law School Building was dedicated to the late Judge Elgan Edwards at an event attended by judges, barristers, academics and family members. Judge Edwards was the UK s longest serving circuit judge and presided over some of Chester s highest profile cases. He also sat on the University s Governing Council and played a large role in establishing the Law School. His wife, Carol Edwards, said: The dedication ceremony was a very special occasion for the whole family, and we are thrilled that an annual prize is to be awarded in his name. Two former students, Gary Lloyd and Bettina Carpi, hosted a live contemporary dance theatre event with 17 dance performers and six musicians from the Department of Performing Arts. The Mirror of Love featured music composed by Gary (Combined Studies), Lawrence Allen with Chris Millward and Tom Hignett. dance performances choreographed by Bettina (MA in Dance), and a prose piece written by Alan Moore (author of Watchmen). Alan wrote The Mirror of Love in 1988 to protest against the government s Clause 28, which banned the promotion of homosexuality by UK local authorities. Gary said: The aim is to celebrate our progress as a society in the UK in issues of equality, gender identity, freedoms and personal choices. Bettina and Gary hope to stage the piece at universities and for it to tour as a fully-funded professional production. They concluded: Working with both Music and Dance students here has been incredibly useful for us. Professor Cynthia Burek was chosen to feature as one of 14 case studies in Raising Horizons: 200 years of Trowelblazing Women a national touring exhibition celebrating women in science. The concept is a creative collaboration between photographer Leonora Saunders and TrowelBlazers, run by three archaeologists and one palaeobiologist. The women were chosen for their pioneering work in the field of archaeology, palaeontology and geology and Cynthia was photographed as Dr Catherine Raisin, who was one of the first women to become a Fellow of the Geological Society and the second woman to receive a Doctor of Science qualification. Professor Burek is a Director of the British Federation of Women Graduates, Chair of the International Fellowships Committee at the Graduate Women s International conference, Director of the UNESCO recognised GeoMôn (Anglesey) Geopark, and is involved with the Heritage Lottery Funded project Saltscape in Cheshire. Part of Chester s Forum Shopping Centre became a pop-up art gallery for Art and Media MRes work by Technical Demonstrators, Chris Millward and Tom Hignett. Chris s project, Everyday Aesthetics, focused on audience engagement with modern art exhibitions through curating the work of six artists who observe their surroundings and record their own visual experiences through the camera lens. Tom s exhibition focused on digital art and how items can be viewed in a different way and change when they are digitised. Forum Shopping Centre Manager, Lawrence Allen, said: Chris and Tom s pop-up gallery was very well received by our shoppers. 99

100 A community focus The Kingsway Solstice was a free, public festival-in-a-day, featuring students, staff and resident theatre companies showcasing their work for the festive season. The performances included: Untangling Christmas by graduate company Performing Pathways; Kingfisher by student and poet David Longworth; The Kingsway Cake-Off provided by students Isobell Rowett and Ben Lanchin; Site Stories by Drama and Performing Arts students; The Heist by graduate company Quintus, led by student and writer Rhodri Hales; Student Band Performances ; Dr Timothy Jones Christmas 101 by student Toby Jones; Ruby Ring A Ghost Story by Master s student Sam Minshall; Chance The Kingsway Players by a student theatre company; Dario Fo A Tribute by students Jay Giblin and Alex Deane; Cross Currents Dance Evening by Dance students; Slideshow Shakespeare The Winter s Tale by Master s student Richard Wiseman from Uproot Theatre Company; and A Slice of Shakespeare by Dr Shelley Piasecka (Senior Lecturer) and Dr Sarah Evans (Lecturer, Department of Performing Arts). The University hosted the first regional Total Gymnastics Academies (TGA) Championships, giving the next generation of aspiring gymnasts the chance to showcase their skills in front of Britain s most successful female gymnast, Beth Tweddle MBE. Around 160 children, aged four and upwards, took part in the event and Beth helped to hand out medals to the children. Beth, who is an honorary graduate and Director of TGA, set up the business to inspire and educate people of all ages and abilities about gymnastics. Classes are held weekly at the Parkgate Road and Warrington Campuses and across Cheshire and the North West. She said: What a fantastic event and a huge thanks to the University of Chester for all the help and support. Georgia Swarbrick, a Physical Education student, said: I found out about the opportunity to become involved with Total Gymnastics through an from my tutor and have now been an academy coach for just under a year. The University operates a cardiac rehabilitation programme at the Parkgate Road Campus, which is used by approximately 80 patients a week from the local community. A further 60 members of the public have participated in 12-week courses of walking netball or walking football. First World War memorials around Cheshire and further afield have had their future assured thanks to students at the University. History undergraduates worked in partnership with the charity Civic Voice, to research First World War memorials in their home areas and secured listed status for 20 monuments, with more expected to follow. Dr Tim Grady (Reader in Modern History) explained: The war memorials project was part of the centenary commemorations of the First World War and we ran it in partnership with Civic Voice, which has been awarded government funding to help preserve the thousands of memorials across the country. Very few of these memorial sites are currently listed on the National Heritage List for England. Civic Voice is aiming to reverse these oversights by Beth Tweddle MBE and the Total Gymnastics Academies gymnasts. achieving Grade II listing status for many of these war memorials. This will help to protect and to preserve these important sites of memory for future generations. Elizabeth Parker (Lecturer, Department of Clinical Sciences and Nutrition) is a contributing member of the Active Cheshire Physical Activity Task Force. Active Cheshire is the lead body for sport and physical activity in Cheshire and Warrington and has set up a Physical Activity Task Force (PATF), bringing together leaders in education, business, community, health and sport. PATF aims to work towards Cheshire and Warrington becoming the most physically active subregion in the country, by mapping out current provisions to inform future movement. Two new fitness tests designed by Professor Kevin Sykes (Emeritus Professor of Occupational Health and Workplace Fitness) have been developed as alternatives to the Multi Stage Fitness Test (MSFT). The Chester Treadmill Police Walk Test and the Chester Treadmill Police Run Test will give forces two alternative fitness tests, carried out on treadmills, as an aerobic alternative for those officers deemed medically unsuited to the twists, turns, stops and starts of the recognised MSFT. The tests were validated by Dr Michael Morris and colleagues from the Department of Clinical Sciences and Nutrition and endorsed by the College of Policing. Professor Sykes said: The original Chester Step Test was devised by myself for the UK Fire Service back in the nineties. I am delighted that we have been able to design similar tests 100

101 A community focus Department of Sport and Community Engagement students. to help ensure that Police officers continue to meet, or exceed, the necessary fitness standards required. Professor Nick Hulbert-Williams and Dr Lee Hulbert-Williams have been working with a range of cancer care organisations, including CanTeen (the Australian Organisation for Teenagers and Young Adults affected by cancer) and Maggie s Cancer Centres, to provide Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Enhanced Communications Skills Training for use with people affected by cancer and their families. This builds on Professor Hulbert- Williams s research, which demonstrates the value of ACT in improving wellbeing and psychological adjustment in this population. Nick also visited research colleagues at universities in Sydney and Melbourne, was a guest speaker at Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer in Adelaide, visited the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Melbourne and ran an introductory ACT training course for staff at Sydney Children s Hospital. Dr Matt Geary and MRes student Rachel Davies secured funding from the British Dragonfly Society for an MRes project, in partnership with Cheshire Wildlife Trust. This is to investigate habitat associations of white-faced darter dragonflies in Delamere Forest. Members of the Conservation Biology Research Group have also been working with Cheshire Wildlife Trust to support natterjack toad conservation at Red Rocks Nature Reserve. Other research links include the Wildlife Conservation Society, West African Primate Conservation Action, Birdlife International, Scottish Natural Heritage and the RSPB. A PhD student who is carrying out research on the critically endangered Grenada dove in the Department of Biological Sciences, has been selected as one of only 20 PhD students for the British Ecological Ambassador scheme. The ambassadors attend local schools to deliver lessons and develop outreach activities linked to the school curriculum, in order to encourage and inspire pupils to consider future study and careers in ecological science. The Department of Sport and Community Engagement continues to work closely with Warrington Wolves, and especially the club s Charitable Foundation. A number of students supported the community team in the delivery of Rugby League coaching sessions to both primary and secondary school children. A final year BSc Sports Coaching student conducted his research dissertation with the Academy Team to investigate the effectiveness of the coach athlete relationship. Students also benefited from learning from talks by Warrington Wolves staff, such as Tony Smith (Head of Coaching) and Phil Jones (Head of Youth). Staff and students from the same Department worked closely with pupils of Christ Church CofE Primary School as part of a continued commitment to engage with the Warrington community through sport. Having gained their Handball coaching qualification, which is embedded into a Sports Coaching Level 4 module, students went on to practise and develop their skills through an after school Handball club. The pupils play at the Warrington Campus and the club has been managed effectively over two half terms by a third-year student on the Applied Sports Coaching module. While staff are there to support and offer professional advice, the club has provided an integrated approach to the development of student sports coaches, with Level 6 students providing active mentor support to Levels 4 and 5 students acting in lead delivery roles. As testament to the hard work of students, the club is now in its fourth year and provision will be expanded to cover Rugby League as well as Handball. Trainee detectives are among the members of the Police force benefiting from an Immersive Learning Experience at the Institute of Policing on the Warrington Campus. Over the past four years, the training facility, which is run in partnership with Cheshire Police, has trained in excess of 300 police officers and staff. By using projected images and sound systems, the Hydra training facility, which features five syndicate rooms, a control room and plenary room, allows officers to experience challenging situations close to real life, as they tackle incidents and investigations without leaving the classroom. Trainee detectives from Cheshire Police used the facility to take part in a three-day intensive exercise at the end of their seven-week detective training course. DC Robert Scott from Cheshire Police, who is also a Hydra Facilitator, said: I ve been a detective for years and there s nothing better than this from a training perspective. It s a fantastic facility. 101

102 A community focus Institute of Policing team. University of Chester Riverside Museum. Policing courses have been offered at the Warrington Campus since 2008 and over 1,000 students have gained their qualifications at the site. The Institute of Policing is led by Geoff Elvey, who is also the Chair of the Higher Education Forum for Police Learning and Development and sits on the College of Policing s Police Education Qualifications Framework Board. This Board has been consulting and working with the community and the police service over proposals to recognise, accredit and promote the professionalism of people working within policing in the UK. Among those proposals is the establishment of a qualifications framework for policing, through working in partnership with the Higher Education sector, to set minimum education levels by level of practice or rank. The Institute currently offers a Foundation Degree in Policing, Law, and Investigation; a BSc in Community Policing and Criminal Investigation; and a Certificate of Knowledge in Policing. Work is underway on developing a Higher Level Degree Apprenticeship for police constables, a Level 6 top-up for officers who hold foundation degrees, and an in-service degree programme that will seek to accredit previous experiential learning and offer opportunities to gain academic qualifications. The Institute is also investigating a move towards postgraduate policing education, where the key postgraduate themes would display a move towards cybercrime and strategic leadership. The University of Chester Riverside Museum welcomed over 1,000 visitors to the Riverside Campus to see its collection of curiosities from the worlds of medicine, nursing, midwifery and social work, and the First World War: Returning Home exhibition. Visitors ranged from tourists from all over the world, local residents, prebooked community groups, families visiting on University Open Days and groups of students from different faculties as part of their respective courses. The First World War: Returning Home exhibition was refurbished through the generous support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Heritage (a social enterprise founded by alumnus, Dean Paton, to engage museums, schools and communities with the past). The exhibition portrays what a soldier invalided back from the Front would have found on his return to Cheshire and the re-opening was celebrated with a talk on munition workers by Dr Claire Chatterton (Staff Tutor at the Open University in the North West, Chair of the Royal College of Nursing s History of Nursing Society and volunteer at the Riverside Museum), at which visitors had the opportunity to view the refurbished display and the permanent collection. The Museum was established by a small group of volunteers from the Faculty of Health and Social Care Historical Society, which aims to unite individuals with an interest in medicine, nursing, midwifery and social work across the University and the wider community. Professor Elizabeth Mason- Whitehead (Institute of Medicine and Faculty of Health and Social Care) said: Our successful collaboration with Big Heritage on the First World War: Returning Home exhibition marks a significant turning point in the Museum s nine-year history. Our dedicated volunteers have worked closely with Big Heritage staff to enhance the exhibition, which presents the First World War to the people of Chester and beyond in a unique and special way. 102

103 #MyChesterStory Si Poole Si Poole s educational journey has included studying for multiple degrees, primary school teaching, educating teachers, championing the arts in the curriculum and now a key liaison role between the University and Chester s innovative new theatre, cinema and library Storyhouse. Having grown up in rural Cheshire, Si studied English Literature and Language and was living in Germany when he made the decision to return to Cheshire for his PGCE because of his desire to teach and the University s reputation for teacher education. He followed on from this course with a further Master s degree in Folklore and Cultural Tradition before taking a break to tour with his band, the loose kites. He came back to Chester to do another PGCE in Singing in the Curriculum and then taught every year group in primary schools and music performance to students at West Cheshire College. A natural progression was to move into teaching at the University and his decision was influenced by his passion for the arts and culture. In primary schools, he saw arts become increasingly marginalised and resolved to become an advocate for the arts and culture in teaching. Si explained: I could ensure 30 children in my care got a good arts and culture education, or I could try and inspire 100 teachers-to-be to carry the same torch. If I inspired only half of the teachers that would be 1,500 children receiving positive arts and cultural experiences. During his time working at the University, Si has gained numerous fellowships too, including Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts and Fellowship of the Chartered College of Preceptors (also known as the College of Teachers). He is currently studying for a Doctorate in Education which explores the craft of songwriting, particularly through a psychogeographer s lens. He said: I chose this area as it brings together all of my passions and my love of the rural landscape of Cheshire my home. In the University, he is Programme Leader for the Master s degree in Creative Practice in Education and is heavily involved with the work of the Research into Education, Creativity and Arts through Practice centre, both in the UK and overseas. Si s appointment in 2017 as Senior Lead in Cultural Education and Research means, among other responsibilities, that he is the liaison person between all of the University s faculties and departments and Storyhouse. This combines many elements from his educational journey, his creativity and passions and connection to the local community. He said: I m still pinching myself every morning. It s my dream job. I can t deny it is probably the toughest role I ve ever had, but it s incredibly rewarding and a humbling honour to be involved with such a momentous happening for Chester and Cheshire. 103

104 A community focus Global connections The University has extended its worldwide network of contacts through accepting students from 130 countries, the fostering of partnerships with overseas institutions, interaction with international visitors and the activities of staff and students travelling abroad for research. Highlights from the International Office include: Shortlisting in the International Category at the WhatUni? Student Choice Awards Almost 400 new full-time full-fee paying international students enrolled across all academic levels, faculties and sites. The first international students enrolled at University Centre Shrewsbury, with numbers to increase in the future. The first cohort of 26 international students enrolled on to the new foundation level provision. In partnership with the Institutional Compliance Team, UK Visas and Immigration performance saw Tier-4 student visa rejections below 5%, an enrolment rate of 97% and a course completion rate of 92%. The MSc Food Science and Innovation joint programme application with Shandong Agricultural University was approved for delivery by the China Ministry of Education and the first cohort is due in A successful first US Federal Aid compliance audit was conducted by the USA Department of Education. The extension of the US Federal Loans license was granted for three additional years so that more American students can be welcomed. The appointment of a University MBA graduate as the in-country exclusive representative in India has resulted in a threefold increase in Indian students enrolling, compared with the previous year. Outbound Study Abroad students have been placed at 15 different destinations including Japan, Australia and Taiwan. The 2017 International Prospectus was published in Mandarin for the first time. Many international students have participated in Work Based Learning, such as Lora Misikova at Moneysupermarket.com. Professor Allan Owens has embarked upon a year-long #60 Pre-texts Tour, which includes destinations in the UK, Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Japan, Hungary, Palestine, Spain and Sweden. Allan is a Professor of International students. Drama Education and Co-Director of the Centre for Research into Creativity, Education and the Arts through Practice (RECAP), a Distinguished Teaching Fellow and a National Teaching Fellow. The staging of #60 Pre-texts worldwide forms part of the major EU-funded international project at RECAP called Beyond Text. This is based on the premise that research should be accessible to the wider public in forms that include, but go beyond written text. Allan said: The #60 Pre-texts Tour is founded on my practice-based research into drama as a way of asking How can we best live together? Drama pre-texts provide an opportunity for people to come together to learn, to make, to express, to think creatively and so perhaps to understand differently. Pengefei Wang. The University s growing links with China were further strengthened through the work of a visiting scholar. Pengefei Wang is from the Technology Transfer Centre at Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics (SINANO), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). This is one of the top advanced science academic institutions in China. CAS awarded her a scholarship to support her development and research at the Business Research Institute, under the supervision of Professor Phil Harris and Dr Wing Lam. She liaised with colleagues across the University, helped a number of regional businesses, including EA Technology at Capenhurst, in supporting their collaborative work in China and visited a number of university research centres and businesses across the UK. Pengefei said: I greatly enjoyed my time in Chester and the University has provided 104

105 A community focus problems from Fractional Calculus, which has a growing number of applications within Materials Science and Medicine. Ferry journey in Canada by Dr Cian Quayle. major support for my personal development and work. I have learnt a great deal from sharing experiences and observing advanced best practice in the UK, and will aid future collaboration and initiatives between our two countries in any way I can. A doctoral student was awarded a fellowship place on a scheme that sends teachers to developing countries to pass their expertise on to others. Sharon Smith is studying for a Doctorate in Education and travelled to Uganda with Limited Resource Teacher Training (LRTT), a charitable organisation that enables teachers from the UK to travel to developing countries to provide much-needed teacher training. Sharon conducted research on the impact and influences on pedagogy in an environment where resources are limited, and how global communities of practice are established by the LRTT programme. She said: I have loved being a teacher and have always believed that high quality teaching and learning gives students the best possible chances to succeed. This has been an opportunity to help students in challenging contexts and really make a difference. An overseas education research officer from the Japanese government visited the University to research the institution s approach to Work Based Learning in higher education. Yasumasa Shinohara is a Senior Specialist in the Overseas Education Research Unit, part of the Lifelong Learning Policy Bureau at the Japanese Ministry of Education in Tokyo. His role involves monitoring UK Higher Education and advising colleagues within the Japanese government on educational policy and practice. Yasumasa said: Sharon Smith. The University of Chester is a leader in the field and Chester s experience will inspire colleagues in Japan. The Department of Mathematics hosted a year s research visit by Dr Fabio Rodrigues, as part of the prestigious Ciência sem Fronteiras (Science without Borders) Brazilian scholarship programme, which allows Brazilian students to study at top universities worldwide. Fabio is a graduate of the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil, where he graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics and an MSc and PhD in Applied Mathematics. Fabio worked with Professor Neville Ford (Pro-Vice- Chancellor, Academic, and Director of the University s Mathematical Sciences Research); Dr Jason Roberts (Head of Mathematics); and PhD student, Neil Osborne, and they explored Further international links were fostered by the Department of Mathematics: Dr Nikos Kavallaris hosted a research visit by Professor Takashi Suzuki, Osaka University; Dr Dimitra Antonopoulou hosted research visits by Professor Israel Michael Sigal, University of Toronto and Professor Spyridon Kamvissis, University of Crete; Dr Joe Gildea hosted Professor Steven Dougherty, University of Scranton, USA; Dr Yubin Yan hosted Yanzhi Liu (Assistant Professor at Luliang University, PR China) in order for them and Dr Jason Roberts to collaborate on research; and Dr Nikos Kavallaris visited the Center for Interdisciplinary Research, Bielefeld, Germany to collaborate with Professor Michael Rockner and Dr H. Hatzikirou. Dr Cian Quayle (Senior Lecturer, Department of Art and Design) received Quality-related Research funding from his Department for a field trip to Vancouver, to research the life of the author, Malcolm Lowry. Cian s research and practice retrace Lowry s footsteps and life in Vancouver and the significance of its environs and surrounding landscape in his writing. The visit involved filming and photography in Vancouver and research at the University of British Columbia Special Collections and Malcolm Lowry Archive. This research was presented at Under the Volcano, 70 Years On: A Malcolm Lowry Conference hosted by the Bluecoat and Liverpool John Moores University. 105

106 A community focus Signing the Memorandum of Understanding with the University of the South, Sewanee. International activity from the Faculty of Health and Social Care has included the following: A Memorandum of Understanding was set up by Professor Alan Finnegan (Faculty of Health and Social Care), with South Florida University. This aims to improve staff and student exchanges, research and teaching opportunities. Five students from India commenced the MSc Professional Nursing at Warrington in a joint initiative with Warringon and Halton Hospitals NHS Trust. Two Pre-Registration Nursing students from Tamk University of Applied Sciences, Finland, visited for a work placement as part of the Erasmus+ student mobility exchange. Tiina Käki and Anni Kosonen undertook a ward-based placement with the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and a community-based placement with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Research Assistant, Iclal Sena Gezer, from Hacettepe University in Ankara (Turkey), visited through the Erasmus scheme to work with Basma Ellahi (Professor of Public Health Nutrition). This resulted from a 10-year relationship between Basma and the Nutrition and Dietetics department at Hacettepe. Australian reablement expert Dr Ricki Smith was the recipient of a Churchill Fellowship from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust and visited to work with Valerie Ebrahimi (Senior Lecturer, Social Work and Interprofessional Education); Dr Hazel Chapman (Senior Lecturer, Department of Acute Adult Care) and Tim Mann (former Head, Social Work) on the first book on reablement: Reablement Services In Health and Social Care: A Guide to Practice for Students and Support Workers. Professor Bernadette Melnyk and Dr Jackie Hoying visited from The Ohio State University to deliver the COPE (Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment) programme. This is an evidence-based train-the-trainer programme for school teachers and academic staff and was developed to support children in schools, to enhance the teacher s understanding and extend their knowledge base of specific health and wellbeing strategies. A pilot study with local schools using the programme is to be implemented and the project has the potential to enhance links with The Ohio State University and the international research in the Faculty. Dr Michelle Mattison, in collaboration with Professor Penny Cooper (University of London), the Department of Justice, New South Wales Police Force and the Judicial Institute (New South Wales, Australia), undertook research and delivered training to over 400 justice system practitioners, in order to implement the first pilot intermediary scheme of its kind in Australia for victims of child sexual abuse. Dr Carolina Font Palma visited the National Institute of Electricity and Clean Energy (INEEL) in Mexico to work with Dr Zdzislaw Mazur and Dr Abigail Gonzalez Díaz from the Turbomachinery group. Carolina (Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering) benefited from the UK Carbon Capture and Storage Research Centre (UKCCSRC) International Research Collaboration Fund, to work on the planning of the design of experiments for a recently installed microturbine and its integration with a planned CO 2 capture plant. Some of the results were presented at the Ninth International Conference on Applied Energy in Cardiff. The University has recently extended academic opportunities for research collaborations and student exchanges. Two further Memoranda of Understanding have been signed with the University of the South, Sewanee, in Tennessee and Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Both mark the beginning of new collaborations between Chester and these two American institutions, as the University seeks to foster and open up more academic possibilities, not only for undergraduate students and research purposes, but also in the recruitment of doctoral students. Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim Wheeler, said: This is a very exciting opportunity for the University to build on and develop its international reputation in research. We are really looking forward to being able to welcome more US students to Chester and to enable staff to enhance research through collaborations and exchanges with worldleading academic colleagues in America. The Department of Biological Sciences international activities include: Dr Matt Geary, from the Conservation Biology Research Group, went to the Dominican Republic to discuss developing a research project on the Hispaniolan Amazon parrot (Amazonus ventralis), as well as other 106

107 A community focus Hispaniolan endemics, with Professor Stuart Marsden (Manchester Metropolitan University). project aims to examine the role of additional immune-related genes, including KIR3DL2. PhD student Susan Wiper travelled to Rwanda for her research titled The Social System and Behaviour of the Golden Monkey (Cercopithecus mitis kandti). Dr Alison Fletcher (Reader) is collaborating with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International and Karisoke Research Center, in order to support Susan s PhD study. Professor Cynthia Burek supervised an undergraduate student on Desert Watch in Lanzarote to monitor birds in this Global Biosphere. The student s research on bird behaviour and different substrates spans two UNESCO designations and Cynthia and her student gave a presentation on the results to visitors from the Horizon 2020 Human Brain Project. Level 5 Field Ecologists visited Coto Donana, southern Spain, to gain practice in a range of ecological techniques, including mammal and vegetation surveys and behavioural sampling of wild horses, deer and waterfowl. MSc Wildlife Conservation students travelled to Suriname to gain further insights into wildlife conservation in South America. Dr Geraldine O Connor (Lecturer) went to the National Cancer Institute in Maryland, USA, to work on samples from patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis. This inflammatory arthritis is very strongly associated with the presence of the HLA-B27 gene and the Animal Behaviour graduate, Fay Taylor, now works with the Durrell Conservation Academy in Mauritius, having discovered her passion for bat conservation while studying there. She carried out a project on the virtually unknown insectivorous Mauritian free-tailed bat, which has now been classed as endemic to Mauritius and classified as Endangered, following her research. The visit of Dr Brad Hastings, Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Humanities at Mount Ida College in Massachusetts, has resulted in greater co-operation between the institutions. Dr Meriel D Artrey (Head) and colleagues in the Department of Social and Political Science (SPS) hosted his visit and it has resulted in the first Study Abroad placement for SPS students. SPS and the Faculty of Social Science are engaged in ongoing dialogue over the development and furtherance of work with the College. The award of a Barbara and Eddie Askew Bursary from The Leprosy Mission (TLM) allowed Professor Elizabeth Mason-Whitehead (Institute of Medicine and Faculty of Health and Social Care), to investigate the impact of stigma on the lives of patients and staff of TLM Hospital, Naini, India and the communities of the Allahabad district. A visual methodology instrument for assessing stigma was developed with TLM in Delhi, James George and the CREATE team in Naini. Using this approach to such research is a relatively new concept and it is hoped that Fay Taylor with a bat. through the dissemination of results, refinement of the methodology and another visit, the scope will be extended. In the meantime, Elizabeth is using the work of The Leprosy Mission in conference papers, teaching, research, doctoral supervision and publications. The University has expanded its provision through the international Mountbatten Institute with the new Postgraduate Certificate in International Business recruiting significant numbers in London and New York. The students undertake Work Based experiential learning at leading asset management firms in Manhattan and the City of London and the course is designed to complement the existing MA in Entrepreneurial Leadership in Global Business. The partnership is managed by the Centre for Work Related Studies and uses the University s Work Based and Integrative Studies (WBIS) accreditation framework. Family affected by leprosy at Naini leprosy colony. Image credit: The Leprosy Mission. The Department of Sport and Community Engagement is involved in a 30-month, EU funded project entitled From Strategy to Action (S2A): Supporting the Professionalisation of Sport Organisations through the Definition of Work-Based Competencies and the Development of Fit- For-Purpose Training For Sport Administrators. The project is focused on the skills needed by sport administrators who have a crucial role in the delivery of sport in paid and voluntary middle management roles in local, regional, national and European sport organisations across Europe. There are 12 European partners involved and the Department s role is to write the curriculum for sport administrators in Europe, following previous work phases of auditing and understanding the European sport and leisure industry more effectively. 107

108 A community focus Honorary graduates The impressive graduation ceremonies in Chester Cathedral are enhanced by honouring the contributions of prominent figures in local, national and international contexts. Image credit: Ede & Ravenscroft. Professor Dame Carol Black DBE Doctor of Science Professor Dame Carol Black DBE, FRCP, FMedSci is Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Newnham College Cambridge. Her other positions include Expert Adviser on Health and Work to NHS England and Public Health England and member of the Bevan Commission on Health in Wales, UK Active and the West Midlands Mental Health Commission. She cochaired an independent Government review on British sickness absence, resulting in the national Fit for Work Service. Dame Carol is a past-president of the Royal College of Physicians, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and the British Lung Foundation, and past-chair of the Nuffield Trust. She established a centre for the research and treatment of connective tissue diseases at the Royal Free Hospital and is a trustee for the National Portrait Gallery, the Work Foundation and Uppingham School. 108

109 A community focus Image credit: Ede & Ravenscroft. Lieutenant General Professor Sir Edmund Burton KBE Doctor of Science Sir Edmund Burton KBE, MA retired from a 38- year military career in His service included the appointments of Military Attaché, British Embassy Washington; Commandant of the Royal Military College of Science and Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Systems). He undertook reviews of GCHQ s New Accommodation Programme and of the UK s Information Security. Other responsibilities include Executive Chairman of the UK Police IT Organisation, Chairman of the Information Assurance Advisory Council and the Advisory Council of the Trustworthy Software Foundation. Sir Edmund has been running The Philip Barker Charity with his family for 25 years. This has made grants of over 1.5 million to local charities, including the funding of Manchester Camerata Orchestra s Outreach Education Team s activities with the Faculty of Education and Children s Services, and the University s new Philip Barker Centre for Creative Learning. Professor Sir Cary L Cooper CBE Doctor of Science Professor Sir Cary L Cooper CBE, FAcSS is the 50th Anniversary Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at the Alliance Manchester Business School. He is the author/ editor of over 120 books, has written over 400 articles for academic journals and is a frequent media contributor. Among other positions, he is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and Royal Society of Medicine, President of the British Academy of Management, Companion of the Chartered Management Institute and Fellow of the (American) Academy of Management. Sir Cary has been an adviser to two UN agencies, published a major report for the EU s European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Work Conditions and was a special adviser to the House of Commons Defence Committee on its Duty of Care enquiry. He received a CBE for his contribution to occupational health and a knighthood for his services to the social sciences. Professor Janet Hemingway CBE Doctor of Science Professor Janet Hemingway, CBE, BSc, PhD, DSc, FRS, FMedSci, FRCP, FRES (Hon), FAAM, Foreign Associate National Academy of Sciences USA, HonFFPH, initially trained as a geneticist and is currently Professor of Insect Molecular Biology and Director of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. She has worked for 38 years on the biochemistry and molecular biology of specific enzyme systems associated with xenobiotic resistance. Professor Hemingway has been Principal Investigator on projects of more than 60 million and is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Royal College of Physicians, American Academy of Microbiology and Royal Society, as well as being elected as a Foreign Associate to the US National Academy of Scientists. She was awarded Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for services to the Control of Tropical Disease Vectors and Honorary Fellow by the Faculty of Public Health and Royal College of Physicians. Roderick Hunt MBE Doctor of Letters Educated at Chester College (now the University), Rod Hunt graduated in 1959 in Divinity and English. He completed the ACEd course run by the (then) Oxford University Institute of Education, submitting a study on Educational Provision for the Disadvantaged in California. He was a teacher for 19 years before becoming a full-time writer in To date he has written over 600 books, nearly 500 of these for Oxford Reading Tree, which have been translated into over 15 different languages. He has also written for children s television and schools radio broadcasting. Rod and illustrator Alex Brychta received the prestigious British Educational Suppliers Association Outstanding Achievement Award and he was the inaugural recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award from Renaissance Learning UK in He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and of the English Association and was awarded an MBE in

110 A community focus Image credit: Ede & Ravenscroft. Professor Michael Jones Doctor of Business Administration Robin Jones Master of Laws Brian Kerr OBE Master of Business Administration Sir David Lees Doctor of Business Administration Professor Mike Jones worked in human resources for over 20 years before joining the Pilkington Group as Group Management Development Manager. He then became Managing Director of its subsidiary leadership business, which led to a Visiting Fellowship at Manchester Business School and Lancaster University School of Management. He was Director General of the Association of MBAs, established the global MBA degree accreditation service and is an international expert on the degree. Other positions include: Director and Professor of the Foundation for Management Education; Visiting Professor at the University of Chester Business School; various Government committees; Regional Director of Age UK; Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development; member of the Worshipful Company of Marketers; and Freeman of the City of London. Solicitor Robin Jones was born and raised in Chester and educated at the King s School in the city. He studied Law at the University of Liverpool and, following qualification in 1970, he began his career in commercial and commercial property law at Wayman-Hales in White Friars, Chester. He progressed to become Senior Partner at Wayman-Hales before it was taken over by Hill Dickinson. He became Managing Partner at Hill Dickinson and this was then taken over by Knights in Knights is the first private equity backed commercial law firm in the UK and Robin acted as consultant until his retirement. He was also a former President of the Law Society for Cheshire and North Wales. He married Carolyn Jones in 1971 and they have two children and grandchildren. Robin is a keen cricketer, golfer and Liverpool supporter and is an ambassador for the oncology unit at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. Brian joined the Civil Service at 16, was promoted to Bombardier (Corporal) during his National Service, returned to the Civil Service, and worked at an engineering firm. He joined the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and left after 37 years as Employee Relations Director of British Nuclear Fuels Limited. Brian was a Saughall Parish Councillor for over 40 years (12 as Chairman), Ward Member for Saughall on Chester City Council for 12 years, on the Executive Board of the Cheshire Association of Local Councils, Cheshire Association Council Member of the National Association of Local Councils and Chair and Vice-President of the National Association. Other positions include Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Chairman for Chester Aid to the Homeless and Chair of Cheshire Community Council. Brian received an OBE for services to local government. Sir David Lees was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery and then joined Binder Hamlyn & Co as an Articled Clerk. He became a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, was Chief Accountant at Handley Page Limited and Finance Director for Handley Page Aircraft Limited. Sir David joined the GKN Group as Group Finance Executive and served as Chairman and Chief Executive. Other positions included Chairman of Tate and Lyle plc and the Court of the Bank of England. Sir David was appointed a Knight Bachelor, received the Officer s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the ICAEW Award for Outstanding Achievement. He is a Deputy Lieutenant of Shropshire, Honorary Patron of Shrewsbury Town FC and Chairman of the Advisory Board for the University Centre Shrewsbury. 110

111 A community focus Image credit: Ede & Ravenscroft. Image credit: Ede & Ravenscroft. Image credit: Ede & Ravenscroft. Stephen Morgan CBE Doctor of Business Administration Amanda Wakeley OBE Doctor of Fine Art Helen Willetts Doctor of Science Rob Wotton Doctor of Science Born in Liverpool, Steve Morgan is the founder of Redrow plc, which he started at the age of 21 with the aid of a 5,000 loan from his father. Under his leadership, Redrow became one of the UK s most successful homebuilders and a FSTE 250 Company. Steve is also Chairman of the Bridgemere Group of Companies, which has significant land and commercial development interests in the UK and Europe. In 2001 Steve founded The Morgan Foundation, a charity which is one of the largest providers of funding for children s and family charities across the North West and North Wales. The Foundation has donated over 32 million and was the main funder for Wolves Aid and Wolves in the Community. In 1992 Steve, who is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Builders, was awarded an OBE for his services to the construction industry; this was followed in 2016 by a CBE for his philanthropic services. Amanda Wakeley is an iconic London-based luxury fashion label, which captures the essence of Amanda s European lifestyle and is reflected in her aesthetic vision of clean lines, impeccable cut, fit and effortless glamour. The collection comprises a strong and rapidly growing presence in daywear, spanning flawless tailoring, luxury sportswear, sumptuous cashmeres and an expanding line of statement accessories and fine jewellery. Best known for her glamorous evening, cocktail and striking bridal dresses, these styles underpin every seasonal collection. Since 1996, Amanda has co-chaired the committee for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, raising substantial sums for vital breast cancer research. In 2010 Amanda was awarded an OBE for her services to the fashion industry. She has also won numerous accolades, including three British Fashion Awards. Helen Willetts was born in Chester and grew up in Colwyn Bay on the North Wales coast. She first became interested in meteorology whilst studying A level Geography at Eirias High School. In 1993, she graduated from the University of Nottingham, with a first-class honours degree in Physics. In 1994, Helen began a five-month forecaster training course at the Met Office College. In 1994 she moved to Cardiff Weather Centre and from April 1995 she appeared as a forecaster on BBC television and radio in Wales. In October 1997, having successfully completed her final training, Helen transferred to the BBC Weather Centre in London. Helen s main sporting interest is badminton, having played internationally for Wales. She was awarded the Television and Radio Industry Club award for Best TV Weather Presenter in 2006 and enjoys walking, cycling and travelling. Rob Wotton studied Health and Community Studies at the former Chester College from 1987 to 1990 and became Students Union President from 1990 to 1991, during a sabbatical year. He then went on to London College of Printing and gained a postgraduate qualification in Radio and Television Journalism. Rob became the Sports Editor of the multi award-winning Capital Gold Sports team, covering football nationally and internationally, before moving to Sky Sports. He has been a presenter for Sky Sports since 1998 and during that time he has fronted an array of live action from La Liga to Football League and from Non-League to NASCAR Speedway. The constant thread of his time with the company has been in front of the cameras on Sky Sports News, the 24-hour sports news channel. As one of the founder presenters of this channel, Rob has delivered breaking news ever since it went to air in

112 A community focus The alumni community Whether alumni are new graduates, or studied or worked at the University many years ago, they form part of this network, which helps former students and staff to keep in touch with the institution, and the many people who have contributed to its longevity and success. The Alumni and Development Team has engaged with alumni worldwide through digital communications, such as social media platforms, making it easier for more people to share their memories. The new blog is populated with alumni stories and information to connect the community between each issue of the annual alumni magazine, The Cestrian. The Annual Alumni Reunion was hosted on the Parkgate Road Campus and was an opportunity for generations of former students to gather, share memories and enjoy the events held by the Alumni and Development team. For example, Dr Stan France, former Lecturer and Secretary of the Alumni Association, gave a guided tour, explaining how the institution has evolved since its foundation in The Alumni Executive Committee formed a Working Group to discuss alumni relations, ongoing projects and progress on initiatives from the Executive Committee meetings. Ethan Wade, a recent alumnus, was welcomed on to the Committee to give a fresh perspective on alumni relations. The Alumni and Development Team is now working towards filling in the gaps in the class photo display in the Old College corridor, which currently includes pictures from 1892 to A Media Production (TV) with Advertising student, Bwalya Mutale, has gone on to make her mark in the competitive world of TV production, after studying at the Warrington Campus. Shortly after graduation, with the help of a media placement scheme, Bwalya was successful in securing a year at Lime Pictures the production company behind Hollyoaks, Evermoor, The Only Way Is Essex and Geordie Shore. Now, after being employed there for six years, Bwalya is working as a Script Supervisor and her duties include following every storyline in the script and checking for continuity and errors. Elsie Road, a unique mobile bar business, was set up by Chris Smith (Events Management and Drama) in 2014, with his friend Tom Hardy. After his studies, Chris worked in a managerial role in a Chester bar, while Tom worked as a craftsman building teardrop caravans. They decided to combine their professions and run a cocktail bar from a mobile caravan. The venture has taken Elsie Road to events across the country, including a garden party for Amanda Holden, large festivals, corporate events and the switch on of Christmas lights. The duo are expanding the company through organising their own events and travelling to mainland Europe. Chris Smith [left] and Tom Hardy. Bwalya Mutale. Alumni on the climbing wall at the Annual Reunion. 112

113 A community focus James Locke. Professor Liz Barnes. An award-winning Mental Health Nurse, James Locke, is committed to helping patients with mental health illnesses, after graduating from the Pre-Registration Mental Health Nursing Programme. James was a member of both the Pre-Registration Nursing Committee and the Programme Planning Team, where he represented students at meetings with staff and gave feedback on how the course was delivered. He achieved the Chester Volunteering Gold Award and The Chester Difference Excellence Award for his commitment to making a positive difference to mental health nursing, and was chosen to meet HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, when he visited the University. As a qualified Mental Health Nurse, he hopes to support future students with their work placements and undertake a Master s degree. Dr Jason Roberts, who gained his three degrees from the University and is now the Head of the Department of Mathematics, has been elected as Fellow of one of the most prestigious UK mathematics bodies. Jason studied for a BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science and then an MSc and PhD in Mathematics. He gained Qualified Teacher Status and taught in secondary schools for five years, before returning to teach at the University, working his way up to Head of Department. Jason received his Fellowship of the Institute of Mathematics and Applications (IMA) in recognition of his work as a mathematician and educator. Because the IMA accredits UK Mathematics degrees, he is now eligible to act as an assessor and is also a Chartered Mathematician, Chartered Scientist, member of the London Mathematical Society, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and STEM ambassador. While most people enjoyed Christmas with their families, Rachel Quinn spent hers helping refugees in Dunkirk s refugee camp. Rachel graduated in 2006 and now teaches at Chorlton High School in Manchester. To raise money for the trip, Rachel ran a Choose Love campaign at her school which raised over 1,200 through sponsored events, wristband and badge sales, a barefoot walk and a concert and raffle. On Boxing Day, Rachel and her mum, Sue, drove a van of supplies down to the French port to help those living in shocking conditions. She said: They were really lovely people. They are just ordinary people trying to get away from something terrible to make a better life for their families. Rachel said of the experience: It was extremely heart-warming to work as a whole school for such a great cause and described the refugees as truly inspirational. A succession of Sport and Exercise Sciences graduates have made their mark in preparing Team GB competitors for success. Chris Connelly (BSc Sport and Exercise Sciences, 2012; MSc Sports Sciences Performance Analysis, 2013) was promoted from Analyst to Senior Analyst within GB Boxing. His Analyst position has been filled by Jessica Smith (MSc Sports Sciences Sports Biomechanics, 2017). Two 2017 BSc Sport and Exercise Sciences graduates, Daniel Ward and James Latham, travelled to international boxing tournaments in Germany and Macedonia, providing performance analysis support, following their successful Work Based Learning placement with GB Boxing. In addition to his work with GB Boxing, Dr Edd Thomson (Lecturer in Sports Biomechanics and Performance Analysis; BSc Sport and Exercise Sciences, 2009; PhD, 2015), has been appointed as a consultant mentor to GB Paralympic Swimming and is now working with another former Chester student, Matt Milligan (BSc Sport and Exercise Sciences, 2013; MSc, Sports Sciences Sports Biomechanics, 2015), through this new role. A former PE and Mathematics student has become the Vice-Chancellor of Staffordshire University. Professor Liz Barnes decided to study in Chester because of an enjoyable Open Day, met her husband at the then College and participated in many sporting activities during her time as a student. She opted to teach both subjects in the Midlands before gaining a Master s degree at Sheffield University and entering higher education as a Lecturer in Physiology at Teesside University. Professor Barnes stayed there for 23 years, was the first University Teaching Fellow, developed technology enhanced learning and internationalisation and was Dean of Social Sciences and Law. She became Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Derby and then moved to Sheffield Hallam University as Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Her latest appointment at Staffordshire University makes her one of a growing number of female vice-chancellors at British universities. 113

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115 Senior Staff Members of the University Council Financial Our campus always looks stunning at the change of seasons #autumn #UniversityofChester #campus Reading about psychotherapy and emotions in the sunshine #summersday #reading #beautiful Launch of Landscapes Past and Present and 30th anniversary of Chester Society for Spring has definitely sprung #Warrington campus. Grounds staff have worked #TBT Our Alumni Garden in the sunlight this morning - behind you can see Beswick building, formerly the practice school in the early 20C

116 Senior Staff and Members of the University Council Senior Staff and Members of the University Council Senior Management Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Provost (Thornton) Education and Children s Services Social Science Vice-Chancellor and Principal Canon Professor Timothy Wheeler DL BA, PhD (Wales), FE Teachers Cert, CPsychol, CSci, AFPBsS, FSS, FRSA, MCIPR, MIOSH, MIIRSM, CCMI Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost (Shrewsbury) Professor Anna Sutton Cert Ed, BEd, MEd (Wales), FRSA Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University Secretary and Director of Legal Services Mr Adrian Lee MA (Oxon), LLM (Staffordshire) Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Corporate Development and the Student Experience) Dr Chris Haslam BSc (Newcastle), PhD (Southampton), DMS (Open) Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise) and Principal of Reaseheath College Meredydd David OBE from HND (Welsh Agricultural College), MPhil (Aberystwyth) Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Neville Ford MA (Oxon), MSc (Manchester), PhD (Liverpool), FIMA, FHEA Professor Nick Avis BSc (Reading), PhD (Sheffield) Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Provost (Warrington) Professor Annette McIntosh-Scott BSc, PhD (Edinburgh Napier), Dip CNE (Queen Margaret, Edinburgh), Cert Ed (Jordanhill College, Glasgow), RN, SCM, RCNT, RNT, FHEA Chief Financial Officer and Bursar Mr Richard Waddington BA (Newcastle), MBA (Chester), ACMA Executive Deans of Faculties Arts and Media Dr Brendan O Sullivan GMus (Huddersfield), PGCE (Manchester Metropolitan), MA (Liverpool), FHEA Business and Management Professor Ruth Ashford until BEd (Manchester Metropolitan), PhD (Lancaster), FCIM, MCIPR, Chartered Marketer, FHEA Professor Clare Schofield from BA, PhD (Manchester Metropolitan University), FHEA Professor Anna Sutton Cert Ed, BEd, MEd (Wales), FRSA Health and Social Care Professor Annette McIntosh-Scott BSc, PhD (Edinburgh Napier), Dip CNE (Queen Margaret, Edinburgh), Cert Ed (Jordanhill College, Glasgow), RN, SCM, RCNT, RNT, FHEA Humanities Professor Robert Warner until BA, MA (York), MA (Oxon), PhD (King s College, London), FRSA Dr Brendan O Sullivan from GMus (Huddersfield), PGCE (Manchester Metropolitan), MA (Liverpool), FHEA Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Life Sciences Dr Chris Haslam BSc (Newcastle), PhD (Southampton), DMS (Open) Science and Engineering Professor Nick Avis BSc (Reading), PhD (Sheffield) Professor David Balsamo BA (Middlesex), MSc (London), MSc (Oxon), DSocSci (Bristol), CQSW Deans of Support Departments Academic Quality and Enhancement Dr Karen Willis BA (Dunelm), PGCE (Manchester Metropolitan), MA (Open), EdD (Bristol) Chapel The Rev Canon Dr Peter Jenner MA, PhD (Cantab), Dip Theo (Nottingham), DPS (St John s College, Nottingham) Postgraduate and Knowledge Transfer Professor Neville Ford MA (Oxon), MSc (Manchester), PhD (Liverpool), FIMA, FHEA Student Support and Guidance The Rev Dr Lesley Cooke (Professor Emerita) to Cert Ed, BEd (Cantab), MA, PhD (Leeds), Dip Theo (Cardiff), AFBPsS, FHEA 116

117 Senior Staff and Members of the University Council Directors of Professional Services Departments Corporate Communications Registrar Members of the University Council (Senior Executive) Commercial Operations and Chief Executive, Thornton Research Properties Ltd Paul Vernon BSc (Manchester) (Senior Executive) Human Resources Julie Dagnall BA, MA (Liverpool John Moores), FCIPD (Senior Executive) Strategic Projects Office Charles Woodcock BA, BSc (Lancaster), PGCE (Keele) (Executive) Business Research Institute Professor Phil Harris BA (York), PhD (Manchester Metropolitan), CertEd, Chartered Marketer, FAMS, FCIM, FIPR, FRSA, HFAMS Careers and Employability Dr Kate Daubney to BSc (Leeds), MA (York), PhD, PGCLTHE (Leeds) Jayne Dodgson BA (London) Domestic Bursar and Director of Hospitality and Residential Services Ian White MIH Estates and Facilities Peter Hay to BSc, MSc (University of the West of England), MRICS, MCIOB, MBIFM, MRSPH International Centre Jonathan Pritchard LLB (Keele), LPC (University of Law) Learning and Information Services and Chief Information Officer Brian Fitzpatrick BSc, MBA (Open) Marketing, Recruitment and Admissions Richard Bengree BA (Lancaster), MA (Liverpool John Moores) Jonathan Moores BSc (Imperial College), MSc (Dundee), ARCS Research and Knowledge Transfer Dr Elizabeth A Christopher BSc (Dunelm), BSc (Open), PhD (Dunelm), MRSC Student Futures Sean Dunkin BSc (Sheffield), PhD (Wales), PGCE [HE} (Bolton), FHEA President The Rt Rev the Lord Bishop of Chester, Dr Peter Forster Deputy President Canon Dr Jeff Turnbull Secretary to the University Council Adrian Lee Christine Allen BEM Francis Ball Colin Daniels Meredydd David from Dr Martin Degg John Evans Professor John Fisher Jeannie France-Hayhurst from Professor Dean Garratt to Karen Howell from Nick Jenkins The Very Rev Professor Gordon McPhate Dr Anna Mackenzie from Cathy Maddaford Cherelle Mitchell Chester Students Union President David Munt Marion Needham to Sandra Rudd Dr Liane Smith Margaret Steward Professor Anna Sutton Emily Thrane from to Sandra Verity Canon Professor Tim Wheeler DL, Vice-Chancellor 117

118 Financial Results Financial Results Year ended 31 July, 2017 Income Expenditure Tuition fees and education contracts 93,664,000 Staff costs 68,221,000 Funding body grants 10,338,000 Other operating expenses 35,743,000 Research grants and contracts 894,000 Depreciation 7,111,000 Other income 15,938,000 Interest and other finance costs 2,577,000 Investment income 421,000 Total income before endowments and donations Donations and endowments 121,255,000 11,000 Total expenditure Surplus for the year 113,652,000 7,614,000 Total income 121,266,

119 Credits Editorial: Corporate Communications Design: Graphics, Learning and Information Services Photographs: Media Services, Learning and Information Services; University of Chester staff and students, unless otherwise stated. University of Chester 2018 To obtain this information in large print, audio, electronic or another alternative format please call or

120 CREATING COMMUNITY OUR MISSION SINCE 1839 OUR FOUNDATIONAL VALUES RECOGNISE: The dignity and worth of every individual The vital role of education in the service of society The inherent value of the pursuit of truth and freedom of enquiry In humility, we honour these values and hold ourselves accountable to them. SERVING Last Fencing session of the year #MyChesterStory #uocfencing #uocsociety University Of Chester Riverside Campus Riverside Campus looking perfect #mychesterstory #riverside #spring veterinary microbiology... agar plates galore... with such pretty colours!! #uni #microbiology #mychesterstory #chester #uni #bioveterinary FOUNDED IN Me with my exhibition at the degree show. Very happy to have completed my degree, now onto the next project! Thornton Science Park There are some gems about What feels like the end is often the #mychesterstory Facebook.com/uochester Twitter.com/uochester YouTube.com/uochester Instagram.com/uochester Parkgate Road, Chester CH1 4BJ Tel: Fax: #MyChesterStory It is truly an honour to receive this honorary doctorate from the University of Chester. My four years spent at Chester were among the happiest in my life. While it is over 25 years since I left, the memories and the spirit of the institution have never left me. Dr Rob Wotton, Health and Community Studies ( ), Chester Students Union President ( ) and Sky Sports News presenter