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Perceptions of Death in Collective Memory: Numbers | Spaces | Texts
Perceptions of Death in Collective Memory: Numbers | Spaces | Texts Project & Collaboration Dr Sibylle Erle, FRSA, FHEA (Reader in English Literature), Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln Dr Makrina Agaoglou (Postdoctoral Researcher), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Institute of Mathematical Sciences (ICMAT), Madrid Sophie Ungerer, FHEA, ARB (Senior Lecturer & Architect), University of Brighton Phase 1: Completed. We have submitted a proposal to present our work at Academic and Creative Responses to Death and Dying, organised by the Chaplaincy at BGU. Phase 2: Collaboration This collaborative project has been an inspiring journey into new territory for all three if us, bringing together a mathematician, an architect and myself, a Reader in English Literature. I am still scared of numbers, but I am getting better at reading graphs and listening to my colleagues. This collaboration has brought us together. We started breaking down complex ideas for each other and in return learned to look at our disciplines from a new angle. We are not afraid to push back and insist on what we feel passionate above. We are now playing to our strengths, and we are having fun! Why collaborate? I work on William Blake and my chosen field of research is well established. I enjoy trying to break new ground and make new connections between ideas and different fields of research. I am good at making connections between ideas that might seem unexpected but often flourish. I am also good at underestimating myself. When things go wrong, sometimes it is difficult to draw a line (let go) and move on. To make it work there needs to be openness and respect between colleagues, trust in cooperation, determination, focus, persistence, and excellence. As we are moving into the second phase of our project, I am excited to explore where our collaboration will take us as a team and me personally. At BGU Blake and Death are taught as part of the Romanticism, Young Adult and Children’s Literature modules (Undergraduate English Programmes – joined and single honours) and the MA Children’s Literature and Literacies strand of the MA English Literature. -
BGU awarded silver Hedgehog Friendly Campus
The university improves on their previous bronze accreditation after implementing a number of hog-friendly measures across campus. -
Bishop Grosseteste University’s results in Research Excellence Framework 2021
BGU is committed to supporting excellent research in all its forms. Research and knowledge exchange at the University also achieves impact in its local and regional communities, as well as nationally and internationally, it underpins its doctoral programme provision, and engages students in research-informed learning and teaching. BGU’s submission to REF 2021 reflects a period of significant growth in its research and knowledge exchange. Two more Units of Assessment have been added to the three that were returned in REF 2014, there has been a four-fold increase in the number of staff submitted, a near three-fold increase in the number of outputs, and a four-fold increase in research income. The University submitted work reflecting established fields of research expertise in Education, English Language and Literature, and History, and made its first entries in Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience and in Theology and Religious Studies. The results include published outputs of world-leading quality and acknowledge fields of internationally excellent public impact, and a rich, vibrant, and diverse research environment and culture. Vice-Chancellor, Revd Canon Professor Peter Neil, said: “These results mark an important milestone in BGU’s development as a provider with a reputation for excellence in research and knowledge exchange. “We have embraced the spirit of inclusivity in the REF and reflected research activity and interests across the whole of the institution. This successful outcome emphasises the breadth of our research, includes outputs which are regarded as internationally excellent and highlights our public impact with local, regional and international reach. “I am extremely grateful to colleagues for all their hard work in expanding and enhancing research at BGU over the last seven years. I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of our external partners in supporting many areas of our research.” -
BGU graduate sets up a social enterprise
Denise has over 40 years’ experience of teaching music and is a BA (Hons) Health and Social Care graduate from BGU. Denise explains “I have been employed for many years in the health and social care sector, working with young people in rehab, supported living and care home residential settings, young people and adults with learning difficulties and those suffering with mental health problems. I am passionate about helping them achieve their goals. I had thought about studying for a degree for years and after a change in personal circumstances decided that it was the right time to embark on the journey. I chose to study at BGU as the location is ideal and the group size relatively small. Any feelings of apprehension about going to university and worrying about being too old or not being able to cope with the work were soon dismissed. I had excellent teaching staff, was made welcome and put at ease. The student group consisted of a variety of ages, and I never once felt out of place. It was a friendly and supportive group. Admittedly at times it was difficult fitting everything in, work, an elderly parent to care for and the ongoing demands of family life; a husband, grown up children and grandchildren! I was determined to get through the whole experience and so pleased I did. I would not have missed it for the world. "Throughout the years I have used music, art and craft to improve wellbeing, build confidence and self-esteem, enabling people to perform and entertain. I believe that the arts can have a lasting and powerful effect on an individual's health. They can be a fun way to socialise and make friends.” Denise said “the support I received from Sarah at BG Futures has been extremely valuable and important. It has helped and encouraged me to continue and develop the confidence needed to run my own business. OUR ECLECTIC ARTS is available for anyone aged over 18 years and caters for all abilities. The service is bought to clients whether in their own home, residential or community setting. At present I am concentrating on a 30-mile radius covering Lincoln to Louth as well as coastal areas. "Regardless of age, if anyone is thinking of starting their own business my advice is to ask for help and advice and to talk through your ideas with friends and family. Do your market research to offer something different and go for it. To encourage others, I always say, if I can do it, so can you.” Sarah adds “Denise’s market research revealed that there are a limited number of organisations delivering wide-ranging art activities, in the community, to individuals that have difficulties accessing services. OUR ECLECTIC ARTS is dedicated to offering a broader range of activities within the Arts. Denise has a client centric approach and a genuine interest in improving people’s lives. This has been reinforced by choosing to operate as a social enterprise whereby trading profits will be reinvested to do more of this good work.” For more information about OUR ECLECTIC ARTS contact Denise on dpopple8@gmail.com Instagram: oureclecticarts Facebook: Our Eclectic Arts If you are a BGU student or recent graduate and are interested in finding out what support is available from the BG Futures team click here. -
Bishop Grosseteste University celebrates excellent National Student Survey results
For three subjects in particular BGU placed in the top ten in the UK, with Literature and English finishing in first place with a satisfaction score of 100%, Sport Science ranking second with 96%, and Health Studies rising to 10th nationally with a 90% satisfaction score. The NSS is an annual survey for undergraduate students that invites them to share feedback on their university experience. Around half a million students are asked to give their opinions relating to various aspects of their course, including teaching quality, assessment and feedback, and learning community. The results help prospective students make informed choices about their education and provide important data for universities and colleges to improve their student experience. The latest survey results show BGU has made substantial improvements in ranking across all NSS core question categories. In the 2022 survey, BGU is ranked in the top 30 for eight out of nine categories – including first for timely feedback, third for student assessment and feedback, and sixth for learning resources. Satisfaction with access to learning resources has also improved, with satisfaction with library resources climbing to 4th, and access to course specific resources rising to 14th. Other highlights also include Education and Teaching Training course areas, placed in the top 25 which is their highest ever ranking to date, and Childhood and Youth Studies reporting above sector satisfaction rates. Rob Boast, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Students) at BGU, said: “The community at BGU prides itself on ensuring that students are a name not a number, and we’re pleased that so many of our final year undergraduates, who experienced all the turbulence of learning throughout the pandemic, have shared such positive feedback about their time with us. “As a small university we are perfectly positioned to offer our students a personal and tailored experience, so it is encouraging that areas such as academic support, assessment and feedback, learning community and student voice have reported high satisfaction rates. “The sharp rise in our ranking across several categories reflects a lot of hard work from our staff across all departments, working collaboratively to provide a student-focussed learning experience, and we will continue with our ambitious plans to expand on our outstanding record for student progression, achievement and employability on a national level.” -
The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023 ranks Bishop Grosseteste University fourth for social inclusion and teaching quality
The guide, published by The Times and Sunday Times, evaluates factors such as student satisfaction, degree completion rates, and graduate employment prospects, to produce a guide of 132 higher education institutions that allows prospective students to make an informed choice about their education. In the 2023 edition, BGU ranked fourth for teaching quality and 13th for the overall student experience. With data from the recent National Students Survey (NSS) informing their rankings, the guide commented on the ‘extraordinary turnaround in rates of student satisfaction.’ The guide also ranked BGU fourth nationally in their Social Inclusion Ranking, which measures the proportion of students from whole sections of society including disadvantaged backgrounds. In a further breakdown for social inclusion, BGU is also fourth for recruiting students from areas with a low uptake of higher education, fifth for the number of students in receipt of the student disability allowance, and sixth for the recruitment of students who are the first in their family to attend university. The tables for subject rankings also showed an increase in ranks for Education, English and Psychology at BGU. The Rev’d Canon Professor Peter Neil, Vice-Chancellor of BGU, said: “We are incredibly pleased with the positive results in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023. “Being ranked fourth for both teaching quality and social inclusion is testament to the high-quality provision that our students receive. We are delighted that BGU’s long-standing commitment to ensuring education is accessible to students irrespective of their socio-economic background has been recognised.” -
Carers’ Conference 2022
Earlier this month, we were delighted to host the 'Engaging, identifying and supporting carers within education and employment learning' Conference. This was a joint collaboration between BGU's Health and Social Care Community and Every-One, with an aim to raise the profile of unpaid carers. “An unpaid carer is described as someone who looks after a relative or friend who due to ill health, physical or mental illness, disability, frailty or addiction cannot manage without support” - Lincolnshire County Council A variety of guest speakers spoke throughout the day, along with BGU staff and students, all of whom shared their experience of being a carer. Over 80 delegates participated from a number of different healthcare providers in Lincolnshire. Representatives from Lincolnshire Coop, Lincolnshire County Council, Every-One, Carers First, Kisimul School, Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust and North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, were all in attendance, alongside our Health and Social care students. The students played a vital role at the conference, in terms of co-hosting and facilitating workshops. Speaking about the conference, The Rev’d Canon Professor Peter Neil, Vice-Chancellor of BGU, said: “As an institution we take carers very seriously and have obtained the Carers’ Award on repeated occasions which is in recognition of both the work with our students and staff who have caring responsibilities. It was good to have BGU being described as a centre of excellence for this particular group, and it was pleasing to hear so many positive comments from delegates and organisers about our students’ engagement with this as they will be the professionals with a role in taking the agenda forward as future innovators” Thank you to everyone who participated and attended in the conference. We look forward to seeing you again at future events. To find out more about our Health and Social courses at BGU, click here. You can also follow the team on social media: Health & Social Care Twitter Feed – follow us @BGUHSC Health & Social Care on Facebook – join us today https://www.facebook.com/groups/413626524138455/?ref=share -
BGU Vice-Chancellor announces retirement
The Vice-Chancellor of Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), the Rev’d Canon Professor Peter Neil, has announced he will retire at the end of July 2023. He is the second vice-chancellor of the institution since it gained university title in 2012 and amongst the longest serving VCs in the UK. During his ten-year leadership, BGU has transformed from its former status as a university college with a strong tradition in teacher education to become a higher education provider that is shaped by a flourishing suite of research and knowledge exchange activities and an enhanced campus estate. Since 2013, the portfolio of taught provision has expanded to include professional studies, social sciences, and the humanities. The volume, scope, and quality of research at BGU has improved significantly with a four-fold increase in the number of researchers returned to the Research Excellence Framework between 2014 and 2021. Knowledge exchange has also gathered momentum during this time, especially through projects in partnership with the public sector. Throughout BGU has remained steadfastly committed to its person-centred approach and focus on the students’ experiences. Professor Neil said: “It has been an immense privilege working for Bishop Grosseteste University as one of the key education providers in the city. It is a very special place and its values and ethos remain as strong today as they did when the then College was opened in 1862. "I am extremely proud of what we continue to do for students and of the contribution that BGU and our community make to the life of the city, county and beyond.” The Chair of University Council Anne Frost said: “Professor Neil has been one of the longest serving Vice Chancellors of this very special education institution. The Council would like to thank him for everything he has done for the university in that time and wish him well for his retirement. We will now begin the recruitment process to find his successor.” Professor Neil - who is also a Canon of Lincoln Cathedral - will leave post at the end of July. -
Not A Luxury: How BGSU is tackling period poverty
In December 2022, I created the ‘Not a Luxury’ campaign following a difficult interaction with a student who had found herself in a desperate situation. Despite its negative origins, my hope is that the campaign will have a positive impact for everyone at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU). I was working in my office when a group of students knocked on my door. I answered the door to be met by two young female students, one of whom was visibly upset and being encouraged to speak by her friend. When she gathered the breath to speak, she asked me if I had a tampon. Thankfully, I did. This brief interaction left me thinking of a few things: why do students feel like they can’t ask for what I would consider to be a totally normal request? And why are these products not readily available to those who need them? After some research I found that in 2022, nearly one in eight women in the UK struggled to buy menstrual products for themselves and/or a dependant. This began a personal mission for me to not only provide free period products for staff and students, but also to raise awareness for the issue of period poverty and destigmatise the use of these products. This is because nearly half (46%) of women who struggled to afford sanitary products in the last six months kept sanitary pads or tampons in for longer or used tissues (46%). 10% doubled up their underwear. The ‘Not a Luxury’ scheme aims to provide free period products to all staff and students via bathroom stalls, by placing a small bag of products in a sign-posted stall in a publicly accessed toilet. It also aims to de-stigmatise the use and discussion of these products through raising awareness and encouraging open discussion. This scheme been designed to grow and evolve to respond to the needs of the BGU community. Starting with the product distribution on campus and with the next aim to increase the number of sanitary bins in the toilets on campus. I am very proud to say that this scheme is not alone. Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with student leaders from all around the UK at the NUS National Conference. It was at this conference where I was asked to speak about the ‘Not a Luxury’ campaign. This was received very well and presented an opportunity for other student leaders to discuss their own, similar schemes with some even going as far as to refer to BGSU as a ‘trailblazer in inclusivity’. Attending the NUS conference To succeed, this campaign needs continued support from both staff and students. The main motivation of the campaign is to provide products to those who might not otherwise be able to access them or purchase them. It’s just one way that BGSU is trying to help people who need it, with zero-judgement. The ‘Not a Luxury’ campaign has been fostering understanding, providing much-needed products to those who need them, and shining a light on gender non-exclusive use of period products. To show your support or for more information email connor.short@bishopg.ac.uk or come to the student’s union building and ask for Connor. Period products are a right, not a luxury. -
Business student completes placement with geocaching magazine
Bishop Grosseteste University student, Lewis Garrett-Pughe, recently completed a placement with PinPoint, a magazine which explores the hobby of geocaching. Geocaching is a real-world GPS treasure hunt game, where players use mobile technology to find containers hidden by other players. There are over 3.5 million geocaches and 350,000 players worldwide, in every country except North Korea! BA Business student Lewis was placed with PinPoint for the final dissertation module of his programme in the spring of 2023. He was involved in a number of tasks and projects during this time, including designing a readers' feedback survey, editing and proofreading, interviewing contributors and contributing to web design. PinPoint, the UK’s only print magazine about this game, was launched in spring of 2022 following a Kickstarter campaign by two lifelong friends, Jane Spencer and Andy Wright. Jane is a professional editor, proofreader and publisher, working with authors, publishers, businesses and organisations. Andy is a BGU alum and has also held a number of roles at the university, including Careers and Employability Co-ordinator. Andy said: "It’s been an absolute pleasure having Lewis with us these past few weeks. He’s turned his hands to such a range of tasks and has challenged us to think about the way we do a few things. He’s been a great member of the team." The final day of Lewis' placement was spent at 'London Calling' a large-scale gathering in Marylebone, London, known in geocaching as a Mega Event. The convention saw players and suppliers from across the UK and several European countries gather for a day-long jamboree of puzzle-solving, litter-picking, searching and trading, as well as several social activities in the capital. Lewis was involved in selling magazines, including subscriptions, interacting with attendees, engaging with potential contributors and networking with a range of suppliers and event managers. Reflecting on his time with PinPoint, Lewis said: "I am grateful for the placement opportunity with PinPoint over the last three months. "I have learnt a lot of new skills as well as developed my existing knowledge along the way with the help of the organisation. It's great to get an insight into how a small business operates."
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