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BGU awarded British Council Funding to strengthen China Partnership
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) is delighted to announce that, following a highly competitive application process, it has been awarded £30,000 through the British Council’s ‘Generation UK’ initiative. This initiative aims to help 80,000 students from the UK boost their employability, enhance their long-term job prospects, and develop a global mind-set through study and work experience opportunities in China. BGU’s project will provide opportunities for students and staff to engage in partnership visits to Hengyang Normal University (HYNU). Delegations from BGU first travelled out to HYNU in July 2017 and in September 2017 colleagues from HYNU visited BGU to collaborate and formalise the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding. Securing this funding represents an important next step forwards in the development of the partnership. BGU’s project is led by Dr Steven Puttick, Head of Programmes: Secondary, FE & Research Education, who spoke of his excitement on the potential of the project: “I am delighted that BGU have been awarded these funds which represent a significant investment that recognises the growing international reputation of the institution. We are really looking forward to developing our collaboration with colleagues at HYNU, and are excited about the opportunities this will help us to create.” The project is one part of the broader Lincolnshire – Hunan twinning partnership, and will also enable BGU to significantly build on these relationships. Following the award Dr Nick Gee, Head of the School of Teacher Development at BGU & a Visiting Professor at Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, praised BGU’s growing international profile: “This funding recognises our flourishing international reputation within South East Asia, where we now have multiple partners offering fantastic learning opportunities for our highly successful TESOL provision.” BGU International manager Wayne Dyble added: “This funding will provide us with the opportunity to develop a sustainable relationship with HYNU and importantly gives students an excellent opportunity to enhance their cultural awareness and knowledge of China as a country and provide added value as they develop graduate attributes which will be invaluable to their careers in a global marketplace.” BGU have a global outlook on education, and our courses offer unprecedented opportunities to Teach & Travel. You can find more information about all of these, including our BA in English Language and Teaching and MA Course in TESOL on our website, or by contacting our Enquiries Team. For further information on all the international activities taking place at BGU visit our news page or contact our International Department to find out what exciting opportunities are available to you. -
Students combine magic, puzzles and some Ancient Egyptian to bring Maths to life
Third year students on the BA Primary Education with QTS course at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) visited Monks Abbey Primary School where they used a variety of exciting challenges to help two Year 4 classes engage with maths. The BGU students are part of a mathematics subject leadership group and visit Monks Abbey every year to support pupils and increase interest in the subject. As part of their efforts they led the children through 21 'Crystal Maze' style mental challenges focusing on number and shape. These included identifying numbers in Ancient Egyptian script, making tangram pictures, completing a pentomino puzzle of Bengali numbers, putting numbers in a magic square and working out how to move all the discs to create the Tower of Brahma. Each student worked with two or three children, prompting them with questions to support their thinking. Dr Ashley Compton, Senior Lecturer in Primary at BGU, described the benefits these sessions could offer to both the school pupils and BGU’s students: “Students from BAPE have been going to Monks Abbey for the past ten years to lead this activity and the school are always eager to have us back. Every year the children have ended the session excited about problem solving in mathematics and it helps broaden their understanding of what mathematics can include. Our students meanwhile are able to gain experience in how different children respond to a range of problem solving activities as well as being able to refine their questioning skills. As potential mathematics subject leaders it lets them see the potential for organising special events which can help raise the profile of mathematics in school and increase a positive attitude toward the subject.” If you’d like more information on how to begin your adventure in the world of Primary Education, visit our website or contact our Enquiries Team today. -
Students Explore Religious Experiences Across Lincoln
PGCE Secondary Religious Education students from Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) took their learning outside of the classroom spending a day visiting local Jews and Muslims at their respective worship centres. At the Lincoln Central Mosque the students were guided round by Imam Moulana Zaman, Head of Education and General Manager of the new mosque, who explained how the Muslim community had developed in Lincoln and discussed what the community hoped to achieve with the impressive new building. In the afternoon the students then visited the upstairs synagogue in Jews House, Steep Hill. Richard Dale, from the local Synagogue Management Committee, talked about the history of Jews in Lincoln and explained in an informal manner what it is like to be Jewish in contemporary Britain. He encouraged the group to attend one of their bi-weekly services at the synagogue, followed by food, and emphasised that visitors are always welcome. Mark Plater, Subject Leader for PGCE Secondary Religious Education at BGU, lead the trip and praised the opportunities it provided the students: “The day was a great opportunity to experience and learn more about modern lived religious experience first-hand. Our students will now be able to feed these experiences back into their future teaching. We are very lucky in Lincoln to have a diverse religious community and we are grateful to both the Lincoln Central Mosque and the Synagogue Management Committee for being so welcoming” If you’re interested in a future exploring and discussing religion then our Theology courses and RE teaching pathways could be for you. Visit our website or contact our Enquiries Team today for more information. -
Lecturer’s Artwork Forms Part of Exhibition Celebrating Velázquez’s ‘Las Meninas’
Artwork by Dr John Rimmer, Senior Lecturer in Secondary PGCE Art at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) has been included in a collaborative exhibition ‘Enough is Definitely Enough’ celebrating the impact of Velázquez’s masterpiece ‘Las Meninas’. Whilst some art historians reflect the view that everything, or perhaps even nothing, has been said about ‘Las Meninas’, artists have long been actively influenced by the centuries old painting by Velázquez; with their responses, in turn, offering influence back to enable new readings. Now over 40 artists have come together to build upon previous interpretations by renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Richard Hamilton, Francesco Goya and Eve Sussman. Dr Rimmer’s contribution will be his new video 'Three Hundred and Sixty Degrees of Desperation'. With the artworks made for ‘Enough is Definitely Enough’ there is potential for new relationships with Velasquez's original painting to open up. ‘Enough is Definitely Enough’ runs from 30 March to 13 April 2019 at General Practice in Lincoln (25 Clasketgate) and regardless of whether you are an art expert of simply an enthusiast all are welcome. The exhibition will be open Friday and Saturdays 11am - 4pm and is free to the public. BGU have been training high quality teachers for over 150 years so when it comes to education there is nowhere better to study. You can find more information on the wide range of innovative PGCE courses offered by BGU on our website. Or contact our Enquiries Team to find out how to begin your journey into teaching. -
Raising Standards of Early Years Provision and Care
Dr Pat Beckley, Senior Lecturer in Primary at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), was invited to speak and participate in a meeting at the Hallam Centre in London, organised by Inside Government, to discuss issues involved in raising standards of Early Years provision and care. Dr Beckley presented key findings of the book she has recently edited, Philosophy and Practice of Outstanding Early Years Provision and Supporting Vulnerable Children in the Early Years. The presentation highlighted the importance of working in partnership with all those involved in the care and education of young children, including parents, carers and the professionals around the child, to create a holistic approach for each child. The presented findings raised how particularly important this holistic approach could prove in changing circumstances, where challenges for parents, carers and young children who are vulnerable present themselves. Comparisons of learning and development in differing cultural contexts and approaches were raised along with why similar key factors in settings, such as knowledgeable practitioners and leaders with a shared vision, promoted successful outcomes for children. Settings in different contexts in England were used as examples to illustrate the outstanding pedagogy and practice observed. The philosophy that guided the settings was considered and how this had evolved through collaboration with a range of stakeholders. Photographic examples of how this was implemented in practice were shared, such as through creativity, bought and natural resources, exploration, investigation, indoor/outdoor learning and areas supporting time for children’s thinking. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (1943) was used as a reference guide for settings and how the unique philosophical ethos of each setting would strengthen responses when striving to raise standards. The complexity and commitment of the role of the practitioners working in early years was emphasised. The subsequent discussions following the presentations were lively and raised concerns about workload, training, valuing Early Years practitioners and funding issues. Dr Beckley explained why these areas are so important: “The birth-eight age phase represents a crucial stage in young children’s development, influencing individual wellbeing and life chances. It is vitally important that informed decisions on issues are made to promote and enhance the early years’ sector and those who work in it, to give all children worthwhile experiences as a foundation for their lives” Chairing the meeting was Professor Leon Feinstein, Director of Evidence, Children’s Commissioner for England and participants included Ruth George, member, APPG Childcare and Early Education and Jonathan Broadberry, Head of Policy and External Relations, National Day Nurseries Association. If you’re interested in a future in Early Years provision or Teaching there are few institutions that can provide a better experience than BGU. You can find information on our range of education based courses on our website, or by contacting our Enquiries Team. -
Speakers announced for International Climate Change and Education Symposium
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) are excited to announce its list of speakers for the upcoming International Symposium on Climate Change and the Role of Education. Taking place at BGU on the 12th and 13th of April the symposium is setting out to explore how society can adapt the far reaching effects of climate change to overcome the challenges it poses along with the crucial role Education plays in engaging and empowering people to act to alleviate the impacts of the climate change. Speakers over the two days include Virginia Murray (Head of Global Disaster Risk Reduction, Public Health England), Nathalie Fomproix (International Union of Biological Sciences) and BGU’s own Dr Sarah Hemstock along with over 90 other additional contributors. The symposium has been organised by BGU in partnership with the International Climate Change Information Programme (ICCIP), Hamburg University of Applied Scientists and the Baltic University Programme. You can view a programme for the symposium on our website and places can be booked by contacting Bronwen Robson. -
BG Futures Tenant White Wealth Management share their start-up story
White Wealth Management, a BG Futures tenant since October 2017, are approaching the end of their journey with the Business Incubation Hub. Danny White, owner and director, shared his start up story and reflected on how being a BG Futures tenant has benefited his business. Danny worked in NatWest bank from 2001 and became a Regulated Financial Advisor in 2005. Following changes in regulation in January 2013 the majority of UK banks exited the face to face financial advice market. Danny developed his new skills in a role at a company in Nottingham for two years. During this time, Danny worked towards becoming a Chartered Financial Planner and, in 2017, became a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society; it was in October of the same year that he decided to set up White Wealth Management. Danny felt the initial transition from employment to self-employment was a fluid one: “I had a set of skills that were easily transferable in terms of employment. Through contacts from my previous roles, it was quite clear there was a demand for advice in areas such as pensions and inheritance tax which was exacerbated by UK banks exiting the advice market.” Of course, setting up his own business was not without its challenges: “I found it really difficult getting used to cash flow; some complex pension cases could mean there would be a 9-12 month wait for remuneration” Ultimately, though, Danny felt encouraged by the amount of referrals he received from other financial advisors, as well as glowing recommendations from clients; thus spurring him on to grow and develop his business. Through all of his experience being self-employed, good and bad, Danny feels it is key to have a plan when you start your entrepreneurial journey but above all: “Research your market and be prepared to fail and adapt” When asked about his time at BG Futures Danny said: “The BG Futures approach to building a community atmosphere is great. In addition, the managed office space at BG Futures is great value, professional with some great facilities.” Becky Goodman, Enterprise Development Manager at BG Futures, praised Danny’s growth and his impact on BG Futures: “It has been great to see Danny’s business flourish during his time with BG Futures, and it has been great to have White Wealth Management as part of our community. White Wealth Management have contributed greatly to the BG Futures offer, supporting the BGU Enterprise Club networking events, the charity events we have held, and to our community in the Business and Enterprise Centre by being there for other co-businesses and their colleagues. We will certainly miss Danny and his team when they move on after their 2 year period of business incubation with us in BG Futures” If you have got a vision for your own business but aren’t sure where to begin then the BG Futures team are the perfect place to start. With facilities and expert support available in their incubation centre, they’ll be able to get you on the road to success. Visit our website or contact them today to see how you can start your own adventure. -
Visiting professor shares teaching practices from across the continent
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) welcomed Professor Catalina Barragán from the University of Almería in Andalusia who was visiting the UK to find out more about the systems and processes which underpin the English primary school system. Teaching is a highly respected profession in Spain, with most primary teachers staying in the profession until they retire, and the English primary school system is held in an equal high regard. As part of her trip Professor Barragán visited two locals before spending time with BGU’s PGCE students to experience their training. This was a rewarding experience for both groups and Professor Barragán noted the focus given to teaching standards by all of the PGCE trainees whose seminars she had attended being particularly impressed by their professional manner and the genuine commitment to a career in teaching they communicated. Based on her experiences in Spain and her time exploring English primary education and teacher training, Professor Barragán’s was able to identify a number of key areas where English and Spanish practices differ, along with others where both nations followed similar approaches: “I found the emphasis given to the core subjects, reading, writing and maths, in the first years to be very different from schools in Andalusia. For example, in Almería and Andalusia as a whole there is much more focus on integrating the study of a modern foreign language from the earliest years, and this is often integrated in to the whole curriculum so that areas like maths or science can be taught in English. “In addition I was interested in the use of Teaching Assistants in classrooms as this is unknown in both my region and Spain as a whole. Schools employ trained teachers to support groups of children with special needs or linguistic diversity. In England there is also an impressive focus on outdoor learning which does not get such an emphasis in Spain.” “However I have found that in both countries there is a shared focus on the need to teach strategies to recognise and support the emotional well-being of children, including a recognition of the valuable role of parents, and the need to develop effective anti-bullying strategies.” While at BGU Professor Barragán worked closely with Dr Mark Larrad, Senior Lecturer in Primary, whose own research is focused on the different approaches in Andalusia and England to the training of teachers. Both are hopeful that her time at BGU will lead to further collaboration between the two institutions possibly including exchange visits for trainee teachers, joint research and shared practices. If you’d like more information on how to begin your adventure in the world of education, visit our website or contact our Enquiries Team today to find out more about our range of PGCE and Primary Education courses. -
Lincolnshire entrepreneurs rewarded in county Young Enterprise Final
The county’s future entrepreneurs were rewarded for their hard work as part of the Young Enterprise Lincolnshire County Final at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU). The final, which took place in the University’s Robert Hardy Building, saw six teams of Sixth Form students from four schools across Lincolnshire pitch and show off the businesses they set up at the start of the academic year. Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School’s Revival team were the big winners on the evening, scooping the Lincolnshire Best Company 2019 award as well as the Best Financial Management award. Other winners included Signa Printing of Caistor Grammar School, who were awarded Best Presentation, and Lincoln Minster School’s Retro Clothing who picked up the Best Marketing award. In addition, Tidy Tools from The Priory Academy LSST were announced the Best Company 2019 Runners-Up. Young Enterprise is a national charity that aims to give students key employability skills outside the classroom. Throughout the academic year, students come up with a business and then sell its products at events. They have to manage their businesses finances, marketing and social media. Becky Goodman, Enterprise Development Manager at BG Futures, explained why the project was held in high regard by BGU: “It was great to host the Young Enterprise Lincolnshire County Final here at BGU. As a university we are passionate about enterprise and developing enterprising skills, competencies and mind-sets. “Being enterprising is something that individuals can apply to all aspects of their life and work and it is great to see the YE teams exhibiting these great qualities so early on in their careers.” Jack Green, of Dunholme Chillies and Viper Printing, was one of the guest speakers at the final and praised the impact of the Young Enterprise initiative: “The Young Enterprise initiative is a great opportunity for teenagers to have the opportunity taste what life is like in business. There is a huge amount that isn't taught in mainstream education, but having the hands-on experience allows these students to learn more about different areas of business and how to engage with people in different areas. “I'm sure each student has learnt something new and I would encourage any student with an interest in business to take part in Young Enterprise.” If you’re interested in a future in business or in starting your own company, our business courses are the perfect path to take. You can find more information on them on our website or by contacting our Enquiries Team. Any businesses who would like to work with our learners to share their knowledge and expertise can contact BG Futures, BGU’s Careers, Employability and Enterprise team, by emailing bgfutures@bishopg.ac.uk List of Winners: Best Presentation – Signa Printing (Caistor Grammar School) Customer Service - Hey Happy(Caistor Grammar School) Best Financial Management – Revival (Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School) Best Marketing – Retro Clothing (Lincoln Minster School) Best Team Work – Integration (Lincoln Minster School) Best Company 2019 Runners-Up – Tidy Tools (The Priory Academy LSST) Lincolnshire Best Company 2019 – Revival (Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School) -
History lecturer awarded grant for spy clothing exploration
Dr Claire Hubbard-Hall, Senior Lecturer in History at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), has been awarded a Janet Arnold Award by the Society of Antiquaries of London to support her research project SOE Spy Clothing: Dress & Deception during the Second World War. The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was established 1 July 1940 with the task of co-ordinating subversion and sabotage abroad. Each country was assigned its own section and staff that worked alongside partisans and resistance fighters to liberate Europe from Nazi occupation. Dr Hubbard-Hall will be working with Dr Adrian O’Sullivan, a former intelligence linguist and fellow intelligence historian, to examine the ways in which the SOE clothed and disguised its agents throughout the Second World War. Dr Hubbard-Hall discussed why the subject of agents’ clothing was of such great interest to both her and the wider historical community: “Intelligence historians currently find themselves at a turning point, where new approaches to the writing of intelligence history have been called for that transcends the study of operations and policy, whilst drawing when necessary upon the methodologies of adjacent disciplines such as dress history. At present, no serious study has been undertaken into the way secret intelligence organisations disguised their agents through the use of appropriate national and regional dress, determined by the assigned operational location. An agent’s life was fully dependent upon being able to ‘pass’ effectively without drawing enemy attention, and authentic cover clothing was an essential part of an agent’s camouflage. This pilot study is the first academic study of wartime spy clothing and will inform our understanding of the importance of dress history within Second World War intelligence history.” If you would be interested in joining these discussions our new BA (Hons) in Military History, which reviews the evidence for conflict from the medieval period through to the present day, is the perfect place to start. Visit our website or contact our Enquiries Team for more information. Dr Adrian O’Sullivan will be visiting the university on Thursday 9 May to speak on the subject of his latest book The Baghdad Set: Iraq through the Eyes of British Intelligence, 1941-45 (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019).
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