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Student Podcast Explores the Narratives and Cultural Impact of Video Games
Second year student Josh Sykes has launched a new podcast exploring the narratives of video games. Created as part of his work studying English Literature at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), the podcast offers listeners the chance to join Josh as he, and guests, discuss how settings and stories are shaped along with how games can offer explorations of topics such as war and mental health. Despite having no previous experience creating podcasts Josh explains what drew him to the project: “The English@Work module presented a unique opportunity to explore my own interests and hobbies whilst at the same time allowing me to discover how these interests can be applied to workplace scenarios. For me, I have a deep interest in the world of videogames including the way settings and stories are shaped to the way in which games can engage with the player through explorations of topics such as war and mental health. Thus, through the English@Work module, I could explore these topics in a greater detail whilst also illustrating how I can take the topic of videogames and apply it to any workplace situation. At the start of this project I was new to the world of podcast and audio production but through the progression of it I was able to develop a good level of knowledge in editing and recording of audio files whilst also developing a critical eye for what was best placed in the podcast. The experience of creating the podcast has been enjoyable and I am pleased with the final outcome and the feedback received has been positive, but I am also pleased that I chose to do the podcast project as it allowed me to meet a variety of people from experts on videogames to audio professionals as well as develop a variety of skills that I did not possess at the start of the project.” You can listen to the first episode of the podcast, where Josh is joined Esther MacCallum-Stewart, an Associate Professor at Staffordshire University and an expert in narratives in games, by clicking here. English@Work is a second-year module that focuses specifically on employability and opportunities to apply subject-specific skills and knowledge and develop an enhanced awareness of the transferability of those skills through project-based learning. In partnership with BG Futures team, and this module embeds students’ understanding of their transferable communication skills and information literacies in specific, employability contexts. Dr Claudia Capancioni, Programme Leader for English at BGU, praised both Josh and his peers for how they have embraced their projects despite wider international complications: “The sudden and unprecedented circumstances caused by Covid-19 had an immediate impact on the projects our students worked on this academic year but our students' reaction and resilience have given us fantastic stories of achievement. Colleagues from across BGU who have worked with the students, including our BG Futures team and Nikki Smith, Lecturer in Business, have been incredibly impressed with their efforts and particularly how successfully they have adapted and transformed their projects demonstrating incredible resourcefulness, and creativity.” For more information on how you can become apart of BGU’s learning community, visit our website, or speak to a member of our Enquiries Team. -
Self-determination explored at special symposium
Researchers from around the world attend symposium organised by BGU academic -
Lecturer Helps Develop New Risk Assessment Tool for Animal-Assisted Interventions
Dr Mirena Dimolareva, Lecturer in Psychology at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), together with colleagues and the University of Lincoln and Virginia Commonwealth University, USA has published a risk assessment tool for animal-assisted interventions in any settings. The tool is free to use for staff and practitioners nationally and internationally, in any setting (including education, nursing homes, hospitals) and aims to provide unified, standardised guidelines for animal-assisted therapy as well as animal-assisted interventions and activities. It is a comprehensive tool which takes into consideration the animal and human care and welfare. Speaking following the publication, Dr Dimolareva discussed what drove the research and what users could expect from the new tool: “Animal-Assisted Interventions in various settings have become extremely popular in recent years. Most often, therapy dog visits are organised for hospitals, nursing homes, schools and other educational settings with some scientific research showing beneficial effects. Other animals such as cats and reptiles also provide visits, but the beneficial effects are less known. As a new area of work and research there is lack of clarity around these visits and interventions. Furthermore, thorough risk assessments which consider all involved- the service users, staff, therapy animals and handlers are often overlooked. This free-to-use detailed Risk Assessment Tool was created to provide information on the risk related to Animal-Assisted Interventions as well as a Risk Assessment Template for any setting. The aim is to unify the field and thoroughly consider the safety and well-being of all involved. It is flexible and easy to use, providing the opportunity to incorporate procedures and protocols relevant to the different institutions hosting the animals and handlers.” The publication and attached tool is available for free by clicking here.. If you have a subject you’re passionate about exploring then BGU is perfect place for you to start. Find out about our supportive and collaborative learning environment, by visiting our website, booking onto one of our Open Events or by speaking to our Enquiries Team. -
History of German PoWs in Britain explored in new book by BGU Historian
Alan Malpass, recently appointed Lecturer in Military History at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), has had his book 'British Character and the Treatment of German Prisoners of War, 1939-48' published by Palgrave Macmillan. The book examines attitudes towards German prisoners of war held captive in Britain, drawing on original archival material including newspaper and newsreel content, diaries, sociological surveys and opinion polls, as well as official documentation and the archives of pressure groups and protest movements. Moving beyond conventional assessments of POW treatment which have focused on the development of policy, diplomatic relations, and the experience of the POWs themselves, this study refocuses the debate onto the attitude of the British public towards the standard of treatment of German POWs. In so doing, it reveals that the issue of POW treatment intersected with discussions of state power, human rights, gender relations, civility, and national character. Speaking following publication, Alan discussed what drew him to the study and how it feeds back into the Military History course at BGU: “Having been brought up watching films of British POWs in Germany and the Far East, the captivity of hundreds of thousands of German POWs in Britain instantly interested me when I was told of them having worked on the land collecting in the harvest. If asked about the fate of POWs during WWII, I think most people would immediately think of Steve McQueen attempting to jump the barbed-wire fence on his Triumph motorcycle in The Great Escape and Alex Guinness collapsing on the plunger at the end of The Bridge on the River Kwai. Certainly, I was very surprised when I first learned of the German military cemetery in Cannock Chase and that German POWs were held at a camp just down the road from my parents’ house in Staffordshire during the war. Hopefully the book will help shed further light on this marginalised episode in British memory of the conflict. Given the prominence of Colditz Castle and the Great Escapers in our popular understanding of the Second World War, I wanted to investigate the debates, concerns, and memories the British had concerning the enemy prisoners who were held across the UK in wartime and post-war Britain”. “Prisoners of war might be ‘out of the fight’ when captured, nevertheless their experiences and roles, especially as workers for their captors, are important to consider when studying war and warfare. The history of POWs is as long as that of warfare itself and the codification of international laws to help protect them from abuse is intricately bound up with the development of ethical thought towards conflict. While combat and the ‘face of battle’ are central elements in the study of warfare, our BA (Hons) Military History Course also emphasises the wider social, ethical, and cultural impacts of war and its aftermath”. The BA (Hons) Military History degree course at BGU explores the county’s rich aviation and military heritage, from the medieval period through to the present day, alongside a global coverage of the history of war and its broader impact. If you are interested in joining these discussions, visit our website or contact our Enquiries Team for more information. You can also connect directly with our Military History team on Twitter -
BGU Academics Awarded €178,000 Erasmus Funding for Well-being Research
Academics from Bishop Grosseteste University’s (BGU) Well-being and Workload in Education RKEU group have been awarded 178,000 euro of Erasmus+ funding to research and develop the well-being of initial teacher education students. The group from BGU, who will be leading this international project, consists of Dr. Emma Clarke, Dr. Phil Wood, Shaun Thompson and Aimee Quickfall. They will be working with colleagues at the University of Eastern Finland and Kobenhavns Professionshojskole, University of Copenhagen. Aimee, who is Head of Programmes for Primary and Early Years at BGU, commented that: “It is great to be working with our Finnish and Danish colleagues again on a topic that is dear to all of us – the continued success and happiness of our teacher trainees.” The aim of the project is to produce a package of resources for ITE students, school mentors and university staff, including ‘well-being toolkits’ that will be tailored to Finnish, Danish and UK contexts. Shaun, who is Regional Partnership Lead at BGU explained this: “It is really important to consider different education systems and also the different people that need support with well-being. If a student struggles with their well-being during their training, mentors and university tutors also need resources to support their trainee in their context; on placement, in tutorials, at a distance and in person.” The project will run for three years and include events in all three countries to share findings with students, school mentors and initial teacher educators. Emma pointed out: “The project has a real activist aim – we want to improve the experiences of teacher trainees as widely as we can.” To that end, the project outcomes will include a website with free to access online resources, blogs and advice, as well as the toolkits for supporting trainee well-being. Phil explained that: “Although the toolkits and resources will be based on research carried out at BGU, UEF and Copenhagen, there will be useful materials and findings for teacher trainees, mentors and tutors in other contexts and countries.” If you’re interested in a future in education, our BA (Hons) Primary Education with QTS (3 year undergraduate degree), BA (Hons) Primary Teaching Studies with QTS (15 month top up degree), and PGCE courses are the perfect ways to begin or continue your adventure on the path to becoming a fantastic teacher! If you have any questions, our Enquiries Team are ready to help. Contact them today or visit our website to find out how to take your next steps. -
BGU Business Students Embrace Learning on a Global Scale
BGU Business Students Embrace Learning on a Global Scale BGU students are being given the opportunity to engage in a live international business project that will allow them to gain direct hands-on experience in working with students from around the globe. Coordinated by Chris Jackson, BGU’s Programme Lead for Team Entrepreneurship, the project will engage up to 100 students from universities in the UK, USA, Finland, Ecuador, China and Nigeria. Participants will be split into groups of ten and then issued with a business challenge by a company with a global presence. Says Chris: “This is a great opportunity for any young person to develop and test the skills and attributes they will need as they move forward into the world of work. The project will need them to come together as a team, decide for themselves how they want to address the task, establish objectives and delight the client. It’s about as real as it gets.” “Lockdown restrictions have seen us all have to adapt to new ways of working that can present challenges that haven’t been experienced before. While some people wait for a new ‘normal’ to return, the wheels of enterprise have to keep turning. We have a responsibility to make sure our learners don’t get left behind or miss out on any opportunity to explore new ways of working”. Participating students will experience many challenges, including language and cultural differences, coping with time zone disparities and having to find effective ways of communicating, not to mention any basic issues such as shyness. Each team will have access to an experienced international Team Coach. “The role of the Team Coach is neither to lead or instruct”, explained Chris. “Our role is more as a ‘guide on the side’ than ‘sage on the stage’. When learners say, ‘we don’t know what to do’, then we might simply ask them what they might do and encourage them to find alternative solutions to the problem. Of course, they might not make the ‘right’ decision first time, but we want them to become curios about the world they live in and more so discover what is ‘right’ for them”. The challenge begins in October and will run through to December, although interest is such that there are already plans to extend the initiative through 2021. The initiative is open to any student who wants to learn about teamworking and active enterprise on a global scale. For further information please contact Chris Jackson at chris.jackson@bishopg.ac.uk To find out how you can create your own successes in our collaborative learning community, visit our website, speak to a member of our Enquiries Team or join us on one of our Open Days. -
BGU English to Plot New Worlds in Celebration of the Humanities
The English team at Bishop Grosseteste University are celebrating the Humanities this November as part of the Being Human 2020 festival. Being Human is the UK’s national festival of the humanities led by the School of Advanced Study (University of London) in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. As part of their contribution to the festival’s theme, ‘New Worlds’, the team are sharing the passion for the outdoors and literature of the environment of our staff and students with two virtual events: Plotting Outdoor Worlds Café on Friday 20th November 2020, 10:00am - 11.30am Plotting New Worlds Outdoors on Tuesday 24 November 10:00 - 12.00pm -
How Research is Driving Innovation in Health Care at BGU
At Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) we’re proud to offer a diverse range of health care related courses designed to train and upskill at all levels, be they budding professionals or seasoned practitioners. Innovation is the driving force of these courses, particularly the MA Health and Social Care Leadership along with the MSc Primary and Community Care, which look to explore opportunities to take the health care profession to a new level. -
How to construct the meaning of Christmas: Winners announced for English Language and Teaching Essay Competition
'The Language of Christmas' by Hannah Loder has been announced as the winner of the 2020 English Language and Teaching (formerly TESOL) essay competition at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU). Designed to get people into the festive spirit, entrants were invited to submit short essays discussing how their favourite Christmas advert uses language and images to construct meanings and good feelings over the festive period. Hannah’s essay explored the John Lewis Christmas advert of 2020, titled ‘Give a Little Love’, which focused on the importance of kindness and community spirit during such a turbulent and unpredictable period of time. As winner she will receive £250 and you can read her essay here: -
New article highlights fathers' experiences of caring for a child with a life-limiting illness
Academics from Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) have worked with colleagues in the NHS to publish an article highlighting fathers' experiences of caring for a child with a life-limiting illness. The article, ‘A meta-ethnographic study of fathers’ experiences of caring for a child with a life-limiting illness’, systematically explores the literature on fathers’ experiences of caring for a child with a life-limiting condition. Using a meta-ethnographic approach, the study synthesised qualitative evidence to shed light on fathers’ experiences, as the often-forgotten parent in a field of research that has predominantly focussed on the mothers’ narrative. Findings revealed that fathers’ caregiving experiences are still shaped by assumptions about masculinity and fatherhood within medical care institutions, and they often feel disconnected from and side-lined by health professionals. Fathers’ responsibilities in caring for their ill children and supporting the family unit as a whole are often under-represented in paediatric palliative care research and clinical settings, and this study highlighted the multitude of difficult emotions and devastation that fathers experience at their child’s circumstances. Led by Gianina Postavaru, who is a Lecturer in Psychology and has a background in health psychology, the study highlighted a number of important findings that can inform the types and frequency of support that health professionals provide during the illness journey. These findings will be presented at two conferences this year: 2021 Qualitative Health Research Network Conference, University College London (17-19 March) and Chronic Living quality, vitality and health in the 21st century: an international conference, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, 23-25 April. Findings will also be disseminated to the Bereavement and Loss subgroup, as part of the NHS CHAIN on 28th January. Gianina has also been invited by Kasia Figiel, the Senior Commissioning Editor for SAGE Research Methods (SAGE Publishing) to contribute a filmed dissemination of the research on 12th January 2021. Co-authors of the article included Helen Swaby, Lecturer for the undergraduate Counselling Programmes and MSc Mental Health, Wellbeing and Resilience at BGU and Dr Rabbi Swaby, Paediatric Registrar, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. The full article is available to access by clicking here. To find out how you can create your own successes in our collaborative learning community, visit our website, speak to a member of our Enquiries Team or join us on one of our Open Days.
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