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BGU offers a ‘flavour of teaching’ to aspiring educators
Over 70 aspiring educators from across the country came to Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) earlier this month for a taste of life as a teacher. Run by the Primary Team (part of the School of Teacher Development at the BGU); the Pre-Teaching course focused on providing attendees with opportunities to gain hands on experience as well as advice from existing professionals. Each morning session was filled with practical activities allowing participants to test out their skills. Having prepared an exercise (including sourcing necessary and appropriate materials) they had to teach a small group of fellow attendees with exercises on offer including play dough making, Second World War history and ocean exploration. The afternoon sessions were focused on guiding the attendees through the application and training process. Aimee Quickfall, TD Head of Programmes for Primary and Early Years at BGU, praised the positive impact the course could offer: “The Pre-Teaching course is an opportunity for aspiring teachers to get a flavour of teaching with sessions designed to cover all aspects of life in education, not just what it feels like to run a lesson but also what a collaborative profession teaching is. Through this we can ensure that even when they hit difficulties they will know they’re not on their own”. The course was certainly a hit with the participants; Emily McCloud, a second year Early Childhood Studies student at BGU, felt that it provided a great opportunity for preparation ahead of beginning her journey into teaching: “I was quite nervous going into the course, becoming a teacher is a big task, but I feel so much more prepared now. It’s been amazing to get a taste of what is to come”. You can find out more about our PGCE programmes, including further Pre-Teaching courses on our website or by contacting our Enquiries Team. -
BGU and Italian scholar make successful bid for prestigious Research Fellowship
Dr Gioacchino Curiello, a scholar from Pisa in Italy, has been awarded a highly sought after British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship worth £250,000 which will allow him to come to Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) as a paid researcher for three years. Dr Curiello fought off over four hundred other applicants for the annual award in a year when the British Academy described the competition “as particularly tough”. The Fellowship award recognises outstanding early career researchers offering them opportunities to strengthen their experience of research and teaching in a university environment. Dr Jack Cunningham, Bishop Grosseteste University’s Reader in Ecclesiastical History, mentored Dr Curiello throughout the process and he described the impact the award would have: “Dr Curiello’s award is not only enormously important for BGU’s research environment, but hugely important for the world of Grosseteste studies in general.” This award enables Dr Curiello and Dr Cunningham to work together on Robert Grosseteste’s 13th Century work On the Divine Names. During his three years at BGU Dr Curiello will travel to libraries in Paris, Florence, Oxford and the Vatican in order to consult the oldest medieval manuscript copies of Grosseteste’s great work. Eventually, the end product will be a published critical edition of this highly important book which will make a significant contribution to our understanding of one of the Middle-Age’s finest philosopher-theologians, and possibly Lincoln’s greatest ever bishop. BGU is dedicated to bringing cutting edge and innovative research to the Higher Education sector. If you are interested in becoming a part of that drive, contact our Enquiries Team or visit our website today to discover fascinating new opportunities. -
BGU Lecturer Takes Part in Critical Climate Change Research
Dr Sarah Hemstock, Programme Leader for Geography at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), has contributed to a new multi-disciplinary book on climate change: A Critical Approach to Climate Change Adaptation: Discourses, Policies and Practices. Drawing on examples from across the world the book explores how adaptation measures are interpreted, transformed, and implemented at grassroots level and how these measures are changing or interfering with power relations, legal pluralism and local (ecological) knowledge. Its mission is to challenge established perspectives of climate change adaptation by taking into account issues of cultural diversity, environmental justice and human rights, as well as feminist or intersectional approaches. Dr Hemstock’s chapter focuses on improving the prospect for climate change adaptation in the Pacific Islands Region (PIR) via formal education along with the increasing recognition by practitioners and policy makers working across the globe of the importance of bringing together disaster risk management (DRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA). For Dr Hemstock contributing to the book offered a great opportunity to bring together her academic work at BGU with her personal research interests: "With two of our Geography undergraduates involved in a research project looking at the inclusion of marginalised groups in decision making around climate change adaptation in the Pacific small island developing states, the publication of this book is very timely. "It is the result of research collaboration over around five years and I am very happy to have contributed to a project that explores a diverse range of themes relevant to successful climate change adaptation. "My work on development projects has led to my interest in the role of education to improve the resilience of Pacific island communities; this publication will put this approach to climate change adaptation into a wider multidisciplinary context." You can find more information on our Geography courses on our website or by contacting our Enquiries Team. -
BGU to Host Relational Schools Conference 2018
Have our schools lost sight of the HUMAN dimension? Are we allowing children to be themselves? Is there an over-emphasis on results? If these issues concern you and you would like to have a space to meet, share concerns, and act for change then a place at the Relational Schools day conference on Friday 22 June at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) is for you. The conference, titled ‘Human Scale School’, will be focusing on Human Scale Education (HSE), an education movement committed to small scale learning communities based on the values of democracy, justice and respect. HSE works directly with schools and parents to promote human scale learning environments where children and young people are known and valued as individuals. HSE believes that ‘humanity of scale’ and the ‘primacy of relationships’ should not only inform the design of our schools but should also influence our public sector services. This day event offers a rare opportunity to gain high quality Continuous Professional Development, with input from inspiring and innovative, internationally recognised researchers and practitioners. Activities run from 9:30am to 4pm in the Robert Hardy Building at our campus on Longdales Road (LN1 3DY). The event is free to BGU staff and students and you can book your place at on our events page. For any questions email Rosalyn Spender or Mark Plater. -
BGU Representatives to Deliver "Fearless" TED Talks
Dr Caroline Horton, Reader in Psychology and PhD Programme Leader at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), will be delivering a talk designed to help people become fearless as part of this year’s TEDx Brayford Pool Event. Dr Horton’s talk, titled “Sleep well, Dream will, Be fearless (almost)”, will discuss her research within DrEAMSLab along with highlighting the ways in which sleep processes our emotions. This will be Dr Horton’s second TEDx talk and she was delighted to be returning: “It’s great to be part of the TEDx family. I am a passionate campaigner for open science and knowledge exchange, and am particularly happy to contribute to this in Lincoln. TED offers the opportunity for big ideas to reach thousands of people quickly and easily, which makes academic ideas far more accessible than the average journal article or traditional output.” This year’s event, the second TEDx Brayford Pool event in Lincoln, will be held on Saturday 30 June with 17 presenters all examining the event theme of “Fearless”. In addition to Dr Horton speakers include BGU Education Studies & Applied Drama Student Joshua Cudmore who will be discussing how ‘The Power of Theatre’ can help combat fear. Also joining the lineup is award-winning campaigner, actor and presenter Adam Pearson, who has fronted the critically-acclaimed documentaries Horizon: My Amazing Twin, Adam Pearson: Freak Show and The Ugly Face of Disability Hate Crime. The full presentation titles for all the speakers have officially been launched and tickets are now available from the TedX event box office. All the presentations across the event promise to widen your horizons and change your life so make sure you don’t miss out. You can find more information on the range of courses and opportunities on offer at BGU on our website or by contacting our Enquiries Team. -
BGU ignites entrepreneurial spark in Brno
Dr Elinor Vettraino, Head Coach and Programme Leader for Business and Enterprise at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), was invited to Brno in the Czech Republic to share practice, experience and knowledge with staff and teacher educators at Masaryk University focusing on the development of entrepreneurial learning. Accompanying Dr Elinor Vettraino was BGU Student Daria Pipczynska, Team Entrepreneur and Director of Entity, a first year team company on the BA (Hons) Business (Team Entrepreneurship) programme at BGU. Dr Vettraino was pleased to see the trip offer a forum for international cooperation and development between two dynamic institutions: “It was an exciting opportunity to engage in a knowledge exchange process that will benefit both BGU and Masaryk.” As part of this international visit to Brno Dr Vettraino and Miss Pipczynska delivered a workshop on innovation using Team Academy methodology to teacher coordinators and social innovators. In addition they engaged in a number of meetings with Masaryk Universities faculties of education to move forward future international collaboration relating to entrepreneurial education, something that Miss Pipczynska was excited to see develop: “I was both excited and grateful to be invited to share my knowledge and experience of our Team Entrepreneurship programme. I look forward to supporting Masaryk as it develops on its entrepreneurial journey.” A highlight of their trip was their invitation to the South Moravian Innovation Centre (JIC) 15th year anniversary celebration event. This evening event came after exciting and significant meetings with JIC and Impact Hub, two prominent social innovation organizations in Brno with a view to create collaborative ventures. For Dr Vettraino the visit was an important step forward in BGU’s international relations: “The celebration event we attended highlighted the importance of maintaining innovative partnerships during a time of geo-political instability in Europe. The timing of these conversations were therefore very apt.” For more information on business programmes at BGU please contact our Enquiries Team or visit website. -
BGU Exhibition on #Vote100 Launched at Lincoln Central Library
Last night the ‘Vote100: A Lincolnshire View of Women’s Suffrage’ exhibition opened at Lincoln Central Library. Designed to bring people together to learn about Lincolnshire’s contribution to the cause of Women’s Suffrage; the exhibition is packed with a collection of original newspaper articles, Women’s Liberation postcards and posters supported by rich and deep research from across the county. Curated by History and English staff and students at BGU – Dr Andrew Jackson, Dr Claudia Capancioni, Elaine Johnson, Sian Hope-Johnson and Jasmine Mills – it examines the input of people from Lincolnshire, set in the context on the progress towards achieving the vote in 1918, and the equalising of the franchise in 1928. For Sian Hope-Johnson, MA in English student at BGU, being involved in creating the exhibit was a fantastic experience: “We’ve been able to put together a historical showpiece with a really unique viewpoint that highlights how even small local activities could have a national impact. The history of Women’s Suffrage is very close to my heart, without these women I wouldn’t have the rights I do today, so to be able to work directly on the curation of this exhibition has been incredible.” Louise Woolley, Lincoln Central Library Manager, was delighted to be able to host such an important educational display: “We were incredibly keen to put together an exhibition celebrating Lincoln’s contribution to Women’s Suffrage and the results of BGU’s work are fantastic. We only expected a small exhibition but the team at BGU have helped us to put on our biggest exhibition ever!” The ‘Vote100: A Lincolnshire View of Women’s Suffrage’ exhibition is open and free to the public until July 5. Everyone is welcome to visit so make sure you get down to Lincoln Central Library for an eye-opening and enriching experience. The exhibition forms part of a series of events celebrating important dates in the history of women’s voting rights and the extension of the franchise by #Vote100BGU at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) and in Lincoln through 2017-18. You can find more information about BGU’s other #Vote100 events, community activities and exciting range of courses on our website. -
BGU Student Wins Place on UK Literacy Association Panel
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) Education Studies student Hayley Booth has won an NEU sponsored conference place at the United Kingdom Literacy Association International Conference in Cardiff and an opportunity to meet prize-winning children’s authors and illustrators. Hayley was nominated by Education Studies tutor, Helen Hendry, after taking part in the United Kingdom Literacy Association book awards shadowing scheme. The national scheme takes place each year and offers students around the UK the chance to vote for their favourite new children’s book in a range of age group categories. To be awarded the conference place, students were required to demonstrate an outstanding contribution to the shadowing process. Hayley, currently in her second year of Education Studies at BGU, used one of the shortlisted texts ‘The Night Gardener’ by the Fan brothers as a creative stimulus for teaching in a recent school placement. She also involved her Year 1/2 class in sharing all the shortlisted books. This then led to an in school book display as well as many repeated readings of ‘Oi Dog!’ by Kes and Claire Gray, which was picked out by the pupils as their favourite. Speaking on Hayley’s success Lynda Graham from the UKLA said: “Many congratulations to Hayley and to Bishop Grosseteste. We had a record number of strong entries this year. We loved your report of Hayley's passion, commitment and energy. For Hayley, taking part in the award and building the UKLA nominated books into her teaching has been a fantastic experience: “I really enjoyed reading the nominated books and being able to use them when I was on placement to see what the children thought of them. It gave me an insight into popular picture-book authors and what I can use in future lessons when I become a teacher” You can find more information on all our courses, including Education Studies, on our website or by contacting our Enquiries Team. -
SENI Students Experience the Power of Inclusive Leadership
Special Educational Needs & Inclusion (SENI) students from Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) had the opportunity to boost their leadership and management skills with a trip to Eon’s Blackburn Meadows Renewable Energy Plant in Sheffield. As part of their degree course the group of Level 6 students have been studying the benefits and practices of inclusive leadership with the visit to Blackburn Meadows offering an opportunity to see it in action at a multi-company. Following a presentation on organisational management by David Lowles, Blackburn Meadows’ Asset Manager, the students were given the chance to tour the plant’s educational centre and production areas. Along with the hands on experience of inclusive leadership the trip, to one of the only renewable energy plants in the country, offered the students the chance to gain knowledge in a number of new educational areas including renewable energy, environmental protection and off site learning. Dr Julia Lindley-Baker, Programme Leader for SENI at BGU, was delighted with the range of experiences enjoyed by the students: “On top of the fascinating presentations from the staff at Eon; our students were able to gain a unique insight into environmental sustainability and understanding of different leadership styles which allowed them to reflect on graduate opportunities in a diverse educational setting. “It was also fun exploring how waste wood is turned into electricity for both domestic and district heating systems. Now we know how Ikea flat packs and snooker tables keep the city warm!” You can find out more about the opportunities available on our SENI courses by visiting our website or by contacting our Enquiries Team. -
Learning Conference Offers ‘Opportunities for Excellence’ at BGU
Earlier this month Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) welcomed delegates from across the country to its annual Learning and Teaching Conference. Spearheaded by the University’s Centre for Enhancement in Learning and Teaching (CELT) Team, the conference delves into the biggest issues and questions surrounding the provision of Higher Education, with this year’s theme being ‘Opportunities for Excellence’ It aims to provide those involved in the provision of Higher Education an opportunity to refresh and develop their skills to help them stay ahead in a constantly evolving sector. Key themes and strands are identified for the conference to ensure sector relevance and enable dissemination of best practice. This year’s event focused on three key strands: Times of Change, Digital Capabilities and Student Journey. A number of engaging key-note speakers joined the conference including Professor Wyn Morgan, Vice-President for Education at the University of Sheffield, who discussed ways to navigate the constantly shifting Higher Education landscapes, and Dr Rachel Maxwell, Head of Learning and Teaching Development: Policy and Practice, Institute of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education at the University of Northampton, who examined the potential and opportunities for large-scale pedagogic transformation to active blended learning at universities. Part of a packed programme including breakout sessions run by BGU staff, the speakers helped the conference cover a diverse range of topics including leadership; global; digital capability and technology-enhanced learning; transformative learning, teaching and assessment; student engagement and experience; student wellbeing (one of BGU’s key institutional goals); and quality assurance and enhancement. Over one and half days the conference was met with high praise from an incredibly engaged set of attendees, with the “excellent” and “fascinating” key-notes being picked by Elizabeth Farrar, Senior Lecturer in Primary Education at BGU, as her highlights whilst Caroline Meredith, who is studying for a Professional Doctorate (EdD) at Nottingham University, praised the “amazing” work of the CELT team in putting the event together. The CELT team are dedicated to promoting enhancement in learning and teaching and regularly run events and conferences to encourage this. Many of these are open to the public and if you would like to be part of them you can find more information on the exciting plans ahead on our events page.
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