life - october 2012

Fun of the fayre page 04

aiming high for higher educationpage 06

Wave-ing goodbyepage 08

International dance festival will harness innovations

Online www.beds.ac.uk Email [email protected] October 2012

See page 2

Life

02 Life – October 2012

CommuniCations team ContaCtsRose taylorHead of Communications & [email protected]

Kevin CunninghamCommunications officer [email protected]

simon Wesson Communications assistant [email protected]

Caroline Jacobi Communications administrator [email protected]

Darren matthews events manager [email protected].

ContRibutoRsJohn o’brien, Cherrelle emanuel and natalija al-mutava

Got a news story? Please contact the comms team.

A highly prestigious event that will showcase performances by leading national and international dance artists is to be held at the University of Bedfordshire in April 2014.

The International Digital Dance Festival is a collaboration between DanceDigital - a national organisation that works with artists across the world to harness and develop new technologies in dance performance - and the University’s Performing Arts and English department.

Held at the Bedford campus over three days, the event will see key players in the field present performances, installations, practice-led research, workshops and discussions.

Tamara Ashley, artistic director of DanceDigital is also Senior Lecturer in Dance at the University.

She said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to see world-class artists presenting their work and also to see some innovative collaborations between artists, software developers and designers.”

The event will be open to the public and will provide various opportunities for students including the offer of Fellowships and the chance to work with renowned artists over the coming year-and-a-half in the run up to the festival.

Dr Ashley said: “It positions the University and DanceDigital in an interesting place in the Eastern region where there is a lot of research going on into this kind of technology. It will create a hub of excellence and pave the ground for future projects.

“It is really exciting. This will help us to negotiate key future projects and collaborations between the University, DanceDigital, artists and software developers. The festival will showcase how artists and software developers are reconfiguring the ways in which performances are made and experienced.”

Professor Helen Bailey, Head of Performing Arts and English said: “This partnership with DanceDigital provides an example

of the ways in which we at the University are thinking creatively about the importance of students’ direct experience of professional practice and the significance of applied research in spurring on industry innovation”

DanceDigital is now a resident company within the University.

Professor Bailey, who brokered the relationship between the University and DanceDigital added:

“This two-year Arts Council funded project marks the first stage of a three-year partnership between the University and DanceDigital. This partnership will ensure that we further develop our respective national and international profiles in dance and technology research.

“The project provides great opportunities for students, professional dance artists, academic researchers and the general public to become involved with some of the most cutting edge interdisciplinary practice at the interface between new technologies and dance making.”

Dance Festival technology event will nurture innovative collaborations

News Online www.beds.ac.uk

bodysong by nina Kov, Dance Digital associate

The violence and devastation in war-torn Syria, where some 28,500 have perished (official figures) seems a million miles away for most of us as we watch the horrendous scenes on the news.

But for Syrian-born University of Bedfordshire academic Abdulmaten Taroun it is a reality.

The Business Systems lecturer has been living in fear for his family ever since the crisis - part of the wider Arab Spring - started back in March, 2011 - when protesters demanded the end to nearly five decades of Ba’ath Party rule, and the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad.

His hometown of Baba Amro, Homs, has been ripped apart; his family are spread across the world after being forced to move from their now-demolished home, with one uncle in prison and three cousins missing.

The past year and a half has been challenging for Dr Taroun, to say the least, with the additional task of completing a PhD which he had found hard to concentrate on while worrying about his family in Syria.

This week he told Life how the last 18 months has been one of the toughest in his life.

“Whenever I have been able to find time to study I have done so; I was trying to cope with the pressure of the work and keep up with the news at the same time,” he said.

“It’s been very, very difficult, like carrying two very heavy burdens. I have tried to push myself to do it all, but obviously it was very painful. At times I felt like I couldn’t do anything at all, I couldn’t cope with the pressure and it is made worse because I know this battle could go on for a very long time. When I was watching the news all I could think about was my family and the innocent people there.”

At one point Dr Taroun had no direct contact with his family and only found out they were safe via relatives.

He discovered some had fled their home and sought

sanctuary in another town, while his sisters had reached foreign shores.

His family are not the only refugees. Some one million people have escaped from Homs. There is a total of 4 million internally displaced people, who left their homes to safer destinations across Syria. There are another 350,000 refugees who have fled internationally to camps in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and Iraq.

But Dr Taroun, who specialises in civil engineering and construction management, said many are often in “awful living conditions”.

To do the little he can to help his people, Dr Taroun is working with the charity Syria Relief – a charity providing help and support to Syrian people in need, in Syria and outside the country.

He said: “In Syria there are situations now where there are 12 people living in a 20 square meter room. Many people who have fled their homes are living with relatives (or have no where to live).

“This charity is trying to go beyond the government and get the aid straight to the people.”

Dr Taroun came to the UK in September 2006 to study for a Masters at Edinburgh, then a PhD at Manchester.

He added: “When I came here to study I had hoped that one day I would go back home and take what I had learnt to my country. But now I know I can’t because I would be forced to become a soldier and either kill or be killed.”

Life – October 2012 03

email scams: Watch out and be safeWe all need to be wary of email scams. Here are some simple ways to be cautious. if you can answer ‘yes’ to any of the following you may be about to be scammed! • Have you been told you have won a lottery you have never entered?• Has someone said they can pay

your fees or accommodation debt for a fee?

• Have you received an email from a ‘friend’ saying they are abroad with no money or passport and asking you to send funds?

• Has someone asked you to pay a cheque in to your bank account?

• Has someone said they have a flat or a room for rent and asked you for a deposit without seeing the room?

all of these scenarios are based on real cases experienced by university of bedfordshire students resulting in lost money and stress as a result.

if an offer seems too good to be true…it is!!!

For further information contact the Student

Information Desk (SiD) or Beds SU Welfare and Advice Service at www.bedssu.co.uk/

Top flatsthese are the new swanky apartments some 274 bedfordshire students have been welcomed into within the last few weeks.

Wenlock Court, near the Luton campus, boasts en-suite and wi-fi facilities for every resident, with undergraduates having the choice of standard or deluxe flats or studio rooms.

“This battle could last a long time”

Got a story?

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Anyone who wishes to donate to Syria Relief can text “syra14”

followed by the amount you wish to donate to 70070. You can log on to www.syriarelief.com for more details.

Dr abdulmaten taroun

Wenlock court

Dr Abdulmaten Taroun tells Simon Wesson about the anguish of watching Syria being torn apart

News


Online www.beds.ac.uk

Fun of the fayre

The newbies appeared in their hundreds as the Luton and Bedford campuses opened up for the Freshers’ Fayre.

Without doubt the most popular attraction for the students at both events was food – with hungry Freshers making the most of free pizza slices and sauces to try.

Obviously food wasn’t the only thing on the undergraduates’ minds. After an incredible summer of UK sport - which here at the University saw 200 staff and students helping at the Olympics - the new students were shown that the Uni will be able to more than accommodate their athletic needs.

The Beds Students’ Union has been busy revamping all the sports teams to form under ‘The Bulls’ name and undergraduates were welcomed to try out for male and female teams in sports such as dodgeball, taekwondo, kickboxing and volleyball, as well as all the more common sports.

Other stalls at the Freshers’ Fayre looked at supporting students throughout their years, by joining clubs such as Bedford’s African Caribbean Society or Luton’s Arab Society.

Local businesses were also present in abundance offering top rates to students as they plan their nights out across the year.

Daniel Login, Beds SU President, said they were “really happy” with the Fayre and with a “fantastic” Freshers’ Week for both new and returning students.

“The Fayres provide opportunities for students to engage with businesses and organisations from the local community as well as the University and Students’ Union.

“We believe they are really beneficial to students, especially first years, who might not be 100 per cent aware of what is available to them.

“Hopefully this good start can continue into what we hope will be a very positive year for all.”

Fantastic Freshers week for new and returning students

The BAckpAck To BRIeFcASe SeRIeS oF AlUmnI GUeST lecTUReS START AT lUTon ThIS monTh:

WeDnesDay 31 oCtobeRCampus Centre lecture Theatre G101, Welcome Reception from 6pm, Lecture 7- 8pm

sue LaWtonmsc Human Resource management, Director for innovation, WeConnect internationalsue has worked in the not-for-profit business development and microfinance sectors in uK, the usa and Central america.

WeDnesDay 21 novembeRCampus Centre lecture Theatre G101, Welcome Reception from 6pm, Lecture 7- 8pm

PaRtHa Dey anD PRof. James CRabbePartha Dey is Chief executive of the Luton based national sameday Couriers. in 2011, he scaled mount everest to research global warming. He is founder member of the university’s Knowledge network.Professor James Crabbe is Dean of the faculty of Creative arts, technologies and science.

SYmphonIA AcADemIcA conceRT SeRIeSthe first in the symphonia academica’s university of bedfordshire Concert series 2011/12, bringing music into the community, starts with autumn Colours, on Monday, 5 November, 7.45pm, Library Theatre, Luton Central Library, St George’s Square, Luton featuring music by elgar, fauré and Ravel. With choral music by award-winning Luton youth Cantores.tickets £14/£8 concessions/under 18s free on the door – box office 01582 547474

poSTGRADUATe eDUcATIon AnD SpoRT open evenTThursday 25 October, 2pm-8pm, Bedford campusfind out about the education and sport courses on offer. academic and support staff on hand to answer questions. to reserve a place visit: uob.cc/pg-library, email: [email protected] or call 01582 743512

cYBeRcRIme GUeSTSpeAkeR evenT TUeSDAY, 6 novemBeR, lUTon campus, 5.30-7.30pm room A004 Denis edgar-nevill developed one of the first msc courses in the uK in Cybercrime and founded the Cybercrime forensics specialist Group.spaces are limited on this free event - email [email protected] to book a place.

knoWleDGe neTWoRk GUeST SpeAkeR evenT WITh DAvID hAll 25 October, mercedes benz Bedford, from 5.30pm Companies mr Hall has been involved with have become sector leading organisations. He will share experiences of his successes and talk of challenging traditional thinking.for tickets, £20 for Knowledge network members (£30 for non members) to include wine and buffet, call 0800 328 5334 or email [email protected]

mIRAnDAmoDMonday, 5 November, 5- 6.30pm, free, Radisson Park Inn Hotel, 2 St Mary’s Street, Bedford, MK42 0AR this session will focus on digital technologies and their implications for educational policy and practice. to book a place visit: uob.cc/mm-life

freshers’ fair at Luton


Lecturer hosts mural workshop

Design for Communication Course Leader Noel Douglas visited Cuba over the summer and held a mural workshop in Havana. It focused on the slogan ‘We are the 99 per cent’, used by the Occupy movement, an international protest movement against social and economic inequality.

During the four day workshop a group of artists, designers and students from Universidad de la Habana discussed ideas, planned it and then painted the mural over one day and one night.

The result was this eight metre high mural painted on the wall of the University’s Faculty of Arts and Literature building by students who had

to climb on to scaffolding to reach the height.Noel said: “I was really pleased with the

result. We managed to produce a mural that is aesthetically different from the many murals you see in Cuba, but that still has a strong message, I couldn’t have done it without the help of the great team in Havana.

“The University was so happy with it and they want us to come back and do more on the rest of the building.”

The mural was part of the Havana Bienniale, where art and artists from the Cuba and the Global South are celebrated.

Look no further for quality careers advice Careers and Recruitment services offer free support and advice for all students - past and present.

sue Glenister, a Careers information adviser based at the Luton campus said: “Careers can help first year students to find part-time work to fit in with their studies.

“We can also help with Cvs and job applications and prepare students for job interviews.”

for second year students considering a year out on work placement Careers has links with some 4,000 organisations nationally including the bbC, tui and Channel 4.

Careers also offers specialist services to final year students, postgraduates and recent graduates looking for jobs.

to be notified of suitable vacancies register on JobsavviGrad.

to find out more visit Careers and Recruitment services at Luton

(Room H003), at bedford (next to the siD Desk, Learning Hub) or log on to www.beds.ac.uk/careers

on the busesCentrebus, which operates the university’s shuttlebus 901 service between the Luton, butterfield and Putteridge bury campuses, has introduced special discount rates for bedfordshire students on routes across beds, Herts and bucks.

students must present their university student iD Card to get the discount.

for example, within the Luton and Dunstable area, students pay a savercard rate at £1 for single journeys and £4 for weekly tickets.

student travel on other Centrebus services is offered at child rate, for journeys starting or finishing in bedfordshire, again on presentation of the iD Card.

Discount tickets are available on the bus or by visiting students.

centrebus.comstaff can join the Centrebus travel Club to get 15 per cent off standard single and return fares on nearly all Centrebus services. annual membership costs £11. Discount cards are available from drivers. all students and staff can still travel free on the 901 service between Luton and Putteridge bury campuses.

News

By Caroline Jacobi

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Aiming high for higher educationBill Rammell has taken the helm at the University of Bedfordshire at a time when higher education is treading choppy waters.

But the Vice Chancellor is undaunted. His vision is clear - improving student experience, increasing inter-nationalisation and widening participation.

As one of many who benefited from the move to give more people the opportunity to go to university, the former Labour Minister for Higher Education is keen to return the favour.

“I have a very passionate belief that many more students should have access partly because of my own background,” said Mr Rammell, who grew up in a council house, in Harlow, Essex and went to the town’s Burnt Mill Comprehensive before graduating from Cardiff University with a BA in French.

“It is both for social good and economic necessity as 50 per cent of the jobs being created over the next decade are those requiring graduate level qualifications. And unless we educate, up skill and equip people to cope with that change we will not flourish as a nation and a society. I’m absolutely passionate about that.

“That’s going to be really at the heart and the core of the vision I have for the University of Bedfordshire.”

He is also an “incredibly strong believer” in the power of globalisation of higher education, a sector in which the University of Bedfordshire has done well.

“To have campuses where you have students from all different backgrounds, all different nationalities and all different faiths and beliefs from across the planet is potentially an enormous power for good and we have to ensure students integrate and we maintain quality,” he said.

Mr Rammell was member for Harlow District Council for 12 years and Member of Parliament for Harlow for 13 years (1997 to 2010). His Parliamentary roles in that time included that of Minister of State for the Armed Forces and Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, as well as Minister of State for FE and HE.

In spite of the long political history, he “definitely” has no plans to go back into politics and says he feels lucky to get another opportunity “to make a difference”.

Bill Rammell has taken the reigns at the University of Bedfordshire. Rose Taylor spoke to the former Labour MP to hear his plans for the future

At Bedfordshire he will draw on his experience at students’ unions (SU)– he was president of Cardiff’s SU, Regional Officer at the National Union of Students, Manager of King’s College London SU and General Manager of the University of London Union – to ensure students are well looked after and take with them real experience along with their academic degrees.

“In the new marketised environment universities that thrive will be the ones that really value students, involve them and deliver exemplary student services,” he said.

“The focus we give to personal tutoring and feedback, for example, is going to be critically important.”

He believes universities will increasingly be “judged by their employment outcomes” and

Features Online www.beds.ac.uk

vice Chancellor bill Rammell


scholarshipopportunitiesare you a new Home or eu student starting a degree this autumn?

the vice Chancellor’s scholarship is open to new students. successful applicants can receive a scholarship worth up to £27,000 in value over three years.

this scholarship is only awarded to one student per faculty each year.

for further information and to make a formal application

for this scholarship, please access the link and complete the online application at www.beds.ac.uk/studentlife/orientation/scholarships/vcClosing date for applications is 5pm, Wednesday, 30 november 2012.

Cleared to skydivefollowing a hectic Clearing period over the summer, two colleagues from the university’s uK/eu admissions team decided to let their hair down - with a charity skydive from 10,000 feet!

emilie Wigmore and anna Rechnio, pictured below, who are based at fairview House, Luton campus, parachuted at sibson airfield near Peterborough in september. as Life went to press, they had raised some £1180 for World Cancer Research fund.

to make a donation, visit emilie and anna’s web page called

admissions girls raising money! at virginmoneygiving.com

hopes to remodel the delivery of some of the campus services to provide job opportunities for students.

“That has the merit of providing them with the financial support and also equipping them with skills to put alongside their formal academic programs,” he said. “That can give them the best chance in the future.

“At all levels we need to be equipping our students with the experiences and skills that will best enable them to flourish in the world of work.”

Does he then not subscribe to the school of thought that universities should be for pure academics and any vocational qualifications should be down to apprenticeships or polytechnics?

He said: “No other country is having this navel-gazing debate about ‘are we getting too many people to go to university’, they are actually getting on and delivering it.

“We need more people at graduate level if we are to compete internationally: in countries like South Korea 80 or 90 per cent of school leavers go on to higher education. They are not having this debate.

“If I am honest, some of the criticism we and other universities like us at the forefront of widening participation face are from a lobby within this country that bluntly doesn’t agree on access to education and takes the view that by expanding access you devalue the benefit to the minority.

“It is a peculiarly British obsession of wanting to hold back opportunity. And I think that‘s wholly wrong.”

As Higher Education Minister Mr Rammell was among those who voted in favour of top-up fees.

Features

Does he hold the same view of the new Government’s tripling of fees?

“Do I believe in co-financing?” he asked. “Yes I do, partly out of necessity because higher education will never receive as much public spending as schools and the health service. Therefore, to square the circle financially, you do need a postgraduate contribution.

“I also believe it out of conviction; that there is a significant financial benefit to going through university. “

Graduates are estimated to earn on average net of tax around £100,000 more over their working life than someone with two A-levels.

“Given that personal benefit you should repay a proportion of a benefit,” he said. “Also, the employers should contribute and I think as a country that’s one of the areas that we are lacking.

“The reservation about the current situation is it’s not co-financing, it’s effectively complete privatisation as graduates are being asked to bear the whole responsibility.

“To say society does not get a benefit and the state does not get a benefit is wrong. So the balance is out of kilter.

“Having said that, I believe the £9,000 fee is still affordable because the repayment threshold has increased from £15,000 to £21,000. On a monthly basis under the new system you pay less after graduation.

“Of course, over the course of your working life you’ll pay more, but frankly when is the period where it’s most important to the graduate? It’s when you first start out. It’s when you’re first working. It’s when you’re first looking to set up home. It’s when you might firstly be thinking about having children.”

Irrespective of the cost the Vice Chancellor encourages students to go to university.

“University transformed my life and for many, many people that’s the case and I want to see that opportunity to spread further afield,” he said.

“Part of the reason why I am so passionate about the internalisation of education is because the years that I spent teaching in Paris as a part of my degree were among one of the most informative experiences of my life, where I really grew and developed as a person.”

As Vice Chancellor, he hopes to provide opportunities for students from the University of Bedfordshire to spend time working and studying overseas.

The economy, higher fees for students and, caps on student numbers are just some of the challenges universities face. Mr Rammell remains undaunted: “I’ve always been incredibly committed to higher education. Some of the changes being driven externally are a leap in the dark so you need a strong vision to help you navigate that. I feel enormously privileged to have this opportunity. And I’m confident I can lead Bedfordshire through the challenging period.”

mr Rammell at the Division of art and Design student exhibition

Got a story?

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Wave-ing goodbye to batteries

Choose Life by Revd andrew Goodman Coordinating Chaplain, Luton campus

Life is a brilliant title for the university newspaper - as I was reflecting on the title the message ‘Choose life...’ (from the bible verse, Deuteronomy 30:19) came to mind.

a decision to study at university can be a decision to ‘choose life...’ it may be the next life-stage after school or college. or because you sense you have certain gifts and abilities you want to develop.

sometimes i find when talking to students that the choice to study is an even deeper ‘choosing life’ for them. i worked for several years as a social worker with children and families and found i enjoyed preparing training days for my team.

a colleague at the time said to me: ‘you’d make a great training officer’, and that was ‘it’ - i sensed i could choose life and enrolled on a course in training Practice and made the switch to social services human resources.

i think of the student who came to university to make a positive choice for her than the marriage her parents had in mind. i think of a student who was studying accounting to fulfil her parents’ wishes, but really dreamed of doing art and Design. i think of someone made redundant who found new life in studying anew.

What can guide us then, in making our choices to choose life? i’d like to suggest those moments which we experience as life-giving - the ones we feel thankful for, that lift our hearts and cheer us up.

on 13 november Hindus celebrate Diwali - the festival of lights, marking the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Let’s choose life this month, choose the good in our lives, light and knowledge! Choose Life!

Revd andrew is based at the tree House chaplaincy

Research Online www.beds.ac.uk

Radio waves could soon be used to power small electronic devices in place of batteries, thanks to technology being developed at the University.

The Computer Science and Technology Department is working on enhancing their ‘energy harvesting’ technology, which uses radio waves to create electric currents.

The latest development shows that it could be used to power smart meters - intelligent utility meters, which monitor how much energy has been used in your home and sends back messages every few hours to your supplier, eliminating the need to estimate bills and expected to be in every UK home by 2020.

As smart meters start to take over from conventional utility meters, a total of 142 million could be found in the UK and all could benefit from the University’s technology.

This, according to Professor Ben Allen, could save 3413 technician labourers and 28 million batteries per year.

The Head of Centre for Wireless Research said: “Our

unique selling point is reducing utility companies’ operating costs associated with smart meter battery changes. We are not currently aware of any competing technologies. Other similar technologies require a bespoke transmitter rather than using ambient energy.”

The Department is optimising the efficiency of its technique of harvesting power – for which a patented was filed in September, 2011 - and this month the team is testing a concept demonstrator.

Professor Allen explained the science is “very simple” and “similar to that in basic £5 kits, which powers ear pieces” via radio waves - something you can purchase across the counter in high street shops.

“The structure behind it (energy harvesting from radio wave) is very simple really; but it’s the thinking behind the design that makes it work as efficiently as possible, which is where things start to get a little more complicated,” he said.

Could the technology potentially be used for larger devices?

Professor Allen said: “At the moment it’s a very, very low amount of power supplied – about the same as your average iPod battery, we can in principle power wall clocks and could look into things such as water sensors in rivers.

“That could change in the future as research continues.”

The Computer Science and Technology Department’s immediate focus is to get the technology out there and help to reduce the world’s “reliance” on conventional batteries – around 30,000 of which go into landfill in the UK each year.

Will you be voting?Journalism students found that hardly anyone knew about the upcoming elections of a new Police and Crime Commissioner.

Working with bbC 3 Counties Radio, they questioned 306 people. 83 per cent had no idea about the elections and just 22 per cent said they would vote.

the public will elect a Police and Crime Commissioner in 41 of the 43 police forces across england and Wales - the City of London Police and the met are excluded – on 15 november.

Professor ben allen

Journalism students abbi Henderson, left and sam Holden


Honoured Professor David Kirk has become fellow of the national academy of Kinesiology.

Professor Kirk, pictured below centre, Director of the institute for sport and Physical activity Research, said: “it is a great honour to be elected to the national academy and to receive recognition from some of the leading scholars in the field.”

the national academy of Kinesiology is an honorary organisation composed of fellows who have made significant contributions to the field of kinesiology – the scientific study of human movement.

Quartercentury Registrar, alice Hynes presented sally mayne with a long service award for 25 years service at the university in the summer. sally is a field administrator within the business school Registry.

Get your trainers onafter a successful first year Get into sport is back.

Get into sport is the university’s sport participation programme, open to all students and staff.

sessions run during the evenings and weekends and offers you the chance to play sports in a fun, social and friendly environment. best of all - Get into sport is completely fRee.

so whether you are a new or returning student, now is the perfect time to get involved. activities are filling up fast but some spaces are still available – for example hockey or aerobics in Luton, or, netball, football and badminton in bedford.

visit www.beds.ac.uk/sportbeds/into to see the full programme and sign up to join in!

Get into sport also offers a large variety of coaching

and volunteering opportunities - email [email protected] for more details.

Post grad pointinformation about postgraduate study at the university is now even easier to find following the launch of a new Postgraduate information Point at the Luton campus (at Park square reception).

Here students can find out about the many postgraduate study options available at

bedfordshire. there’s a wide range of

information on display, as well as application forms and a multi-touch screen for students to interact, register their interest and find out more about our courses and what it’s like to study a postgraduate course.

free massage the sports therapy clinics offer free sports massage and injury treatment from second and third year sports therapy students, fully qualified in sports massage.two clinics are now running: Sports massage for general aches and pains - back, shoulders, arms and legs. Sports Injury for assessment and treatment of injuries.all sessions take place at room e203, Luton campus, and supervised by a qualified sports therapist. each treatment lasts 45 minutes and is a great opportunity to do something different in your lunch break – get a massage!

Even an unexpected fire alarm could not stop students learning at the Butterfield campus as a lecture moved out of the classroom.

The National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome-UK (NOFAS-UK) visited the campus to talk to more than 30 final year student midwives of the dangers of drinking during pregnancy.

As the charity’s founder Susan Fleisher began her presentation, the fire alarm sounded and the building was evacuated.

Undeterred, Susan simply

restarted her presentation on the grass outside the building until the group were told it was safe to return.

Susan said: “Midwives know that women should not drink alcohol in pregnancy but they are not always fully aware of the affects that this can have on the child long after birth, later in life.”

“When midwives have the facts at their finger tips, it is much easier for them to explain to mothers-to-be the effect that alcohol consumption can have on their child.”

Alcohol alarm

to book a session visit www.beds.ac.uk/clinic

Guest speaker susan fleisher with midwifery students at butterfield

Postgraduate information Point now at Park square Reception


Treasure trove

An almost hidden gem within the University hit the limelight recently when television crews arrived to film the Bedford Physical Education Archive.

Archive Director, Stephanie Daniels, was interviewed on Clare Balding’s BBC documentary; The history of women in sport and the Olympics and appeared on Anglia TV as part of its coverage on the number of British women who won medals at the London 2012 games.

The Bedford Physical Education Archive, located in Room 0.02, Block A, at the Bedford campus - originally known as the Bedford Physical Training College - charts the history locally, nationally and internationally of women’s role in sport from as far back as 1903.

Its setting is not exactly glamorous, but within a room probably no bigger than your lounge at home is a place where you

could find yourself engrossed for hours.

Its growing collection of memorabilia and documents bequeathed by former students provides a unique insight into the development of women’s physical education and sport, and also provides intriguing information about 20th century social history.

Among the collection - including uniforms, kits, old films and photographs, bats, balls and other sporting items - is a story about how important Bedford was in shaping national Physical Education.

It unwinds from the college’s founder Margaret Stansfeld - a figure of quite some national importance.

Miss Stansfeld ensured PE was firmly in the school curriculum; enabling women to train as PE teachers, to have a career at a

time when traditionally women stayed at home. She also ensured schoolchildren would be fit and healthy.

From reading about Margaret you will be sent on a trail, featuring oral interviews from former staff and students, as well as important admin, syllabi and curriculum documents, all of which reveals how Bedford produced teachers of International-competition standard, and how many significant women trained there.

These include Phyllis Coulson OBE, who is the founder of Central Council for Physical Recreation, Phyllis Spafford OBE, who is the founder of the Keep Fit Association, and Baroness Sue Campbell, Head of UK Sport. For this reason alone, the Archive is worth dropping by.

For a visit - or to even volunteer - contact Stephanie or Karen Davies, Archivist, on 01234 793257.

ballet masterclass the Leader of Performing arts at the university is to have his name in lights alongside some of the all-time biggest stars of ballet.

italian born Dr Giannandrea Poesio, pictured above, has been selected by the Royal ballet school to represent his nation, thanks to his research into the “mysterious” 19th century italian ballet, when they look at how European ballets influenced the Royal ballet and its school during the five-week course - ‘a focus on style’.

Dr Poesio said it’s an honour to be following elisabeth Platel, of Paris, niels balle, of Denmark, altynai asylmuratova, of Russia, and Gailene stock, of the Royal ballet school (all former stars, now directing prestigious schools), when he holds his own masterclass at the event at the Convert Garden-based Royal ballet school on sunday, 21 october.

“the other four masterclass leaders are superstars, they are like the brad Pitt and angelina Jolie of the ballet world; they are huge,” he said.

Dr Poesio is a dance historian, who practically explores history by reconstructing how he perceives 19th century italian ballet was (as there is no school today and very little documents).

for more on this story and how to attend visit the university’s website: www.beds.ac.uk/news

Online www.beds.ac.uk

The Physical Education Archive at the University’s Bedford campus was a little known treasure trove – until the Olympics. The University’s Communications Assistant Simon Wesson popped along to find out what this Aladdin’s Cave contained

Karen Davies (seated) with stephanie Daniels at the Physical education archive


60 seconds with...aleksandras sepel, 20, first year animation ba (Hons) student at the Luton campus. aleksandras is from Kaunas in Lithuania.

Why did you choose to study at the university of bedfordshire?an in-depth research on animation courses in various universities showed bedfordshire offered a more traditional approach to animation with a more solid classical base. What’s been the best part of being at the uni so far?freshers’ Week! also, we were involved in setting up and participating in an exhibition during our introduction week, which was just great.What’s been the most surprising thing about being at the uni so far?the buildings are brilliant. i was astonished by the variety of new modern technologies provided for art design. Where is your favourite place in the world and why?in my bed for sure! but seriously speaking i loved my trip to scotland with its beautiful castles.Who is your hero and why?my dad is my role model. He taught me how to be kind, caring and calm in any situation and all the best qualities a man can teach his son. What are your hobbies?i love drawing, playing guitar and creating animation shots.What would you be doing if you didn’t go to the university?i would keep trying each year and meanwhile would search for a job within the animation field to get some handy experience and doing what i enjoy doing the most.What three things would you take to the desert island?Private jet, pilot, my hamster.

I could see a few familiar faces muttering to one another under their breath as I walked into the college refectory. Others pushed past the crowds to take a peek. It was my debut public appearance in a hijab (headscarf).

A cliché, perhaps, but I had reached the point in my life when I finally ‘found myself’. I was studying for my A Levels at Luton Sixth Form College at the time.

My new image didn’t go down too well with my family. They passed it off as the ‘latest phase’ that I would grow out of.

Admittedly, my history of frequent transformations had often involved periods of ‘strange’ dress sense. Trackies topped with boyish hoodies, rock chick exhibition of ripped up baggy jeans, accessorised with dangly chains and black platform boots, the tomboy look among them and all very un-Asian in the conventional sense.

It’s five years since my lovely locks have been seen in public. I admit there were times when I’ve yearned to let my hair down (in the true sense of the term) at weddings and social gatherings.

As a Muslim I believe the hijab helps protect a woman’s modesty. I also believed the world saw me differently with a hijab, until one particular incident.

It was at an English wedding of my mum’s Catholic friend’s daughter. The best man, when he was introduced to me, took my hand and leaned in, and gave me a peck on my cheek!

I was annoyed that a principle of my religion had been breached, but was overwhelmed at not being treated differently to anyone else in the room because of my headscarf.

I am glad to say there were many similar occasions when I was not judged by what I wore on my head but by the person I was.

Today the headscarf is commonly worn by British Muslim women and has become a huge fashion trend in the UK. The number of YouTube tutorials on ‘how to do your hijab’ and the expensive accessories that are now available in Asian stores are evidence of the rising trend.

Ayesha is Marketing Assistant in the Faculty of Creative Arts, Technologies and Sciences.

Ayesha’s found herself a new look

ayesha Hafiz

aleksandras sepel

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beds su has a new name for sport teams at the university – bedfordshire bulls.

the union’s activities manager John o’brien said: “the aim of the bulls brand is to develop a better sense of pride about our sporting success.”

beds su offers students a range of sporting activities. they include: athletics; badminton; basketball; boxing; cheerleading; cricket; dodgeball; football; handball; hockey, kickboxing, martial arts, netball, rugby union, ski and snowboarding, swimming, taekwondo, tennis, trampolining and volleyball.

for information on activities at the bedford campus email [email protected] or visit room P0.85. for Luton activities email [email protected] or visit room G111.

you can keep up to date with the latest news about the sports teams through facebook - search for ‘bedfordshire bulls’ - and through twitter @bedsunibulls.

beds su will be holding a competition

to name the new mascot–look out for more info at beds su offices at bedford and Luton.


The ninth annual Sportfest between Bedford and its twin town Bamberg in Germany was held last month.

More than 300 athletes competed in nine sports during the two-day competition.

A highlight included Bedfordshire’s Women’s football team playing host to the Bamberg team at Alexander Sports Centre, in Bedford.

The Bedfordshire team gave an impressive performance, keeping the Bamberg team firmly pinned in their own half for much of the game.

Karissa Rodney put the University in front before half time, despite torrential rain. Amber Willetts scored two further goals in the second half to complete the score line University of Bedfordshire 3 Bamberg 0.

David Pears, Senior Sports Lecturer and the Women’s football team coach said: “I am delighted with our team’s performance. It was a positive start the British University College Sport

(BUCS) season and the opportunity to forge links with our colleagues in Bamberg will hopefully enable this to be a regular fixture outside of the Sportfest competition.”

David and the team joined the other athletes and dignitaries for a gala dinner at Bedford’s Corn Exchange where Amy Crumpler (team captain) collected the Winner’s Trophy, retained from 2009.

Julia Lines, the University’s Sport Development Manager, said: “The Sportfest competition has been running since the 1980s and the University is proud to be associated with a competition that cements the friendship between the towns and sports clubs in such a positive way.

“This year’s competition was brought forward from 2013 to coincide with the London 2012 Olympics. The next Sportfest takes place in Bamberg in 2016, where hopefully Bedfordshire will bring home the trophy once again!”

Sports Online www.beds.ac.uk

England 3Germany 0

bulls together

Delightful victory for Bedfordshire womens football team over Bamberg at Sportfest

Womens football action at sportfest, Photo courtesy of bedford borough Council

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