Search results
-
Welcome Week 2022 roundup from CELT
As part of the Freshers’ Marketplace, CELT set up a stall introducing students to the support provided by the team. Here, CELT members briefly explained the services of Learning Development, Digital Learning and Student Engagement, as well as promoting organised activities. This year saw the introduction of events not only during enrolment week, but also two weeks post-enrolment. The aim of this was to maintain engagement with students for not only enrolment week, but for the following weeks. Events were advertised via the Welcome Week programme, Blackboard and posters were displayed around campus. CELT decided to lay on a greenscreen and mini carnival for enrolment week. Greenscreen - students visited CELT to have their picture taken, with a background of their choice, either as an individual or with friends. The photo was then put into a keyring as a keepsake which the students collected a little later. One of the challenges of this was the clothing choice of students. Unfortunately, those who turned up in a green top disappeared into the background! However, this added to the humour of the event. Mini carnival – thankfully the weather was on our side so this took place in the courtyard outside CELT. Many traditional games including tin-can-alley and hook-a-duck, were available for students to participate in, with the aim to win a prize. Hook-a-duck was extremely successful and proved to be a hit with students. This was in part, due to the ‘CELT generated’ storm which made the game more difficult but definitely more fun. Those who took part, including the Vice-Chancellor, will know what this means! Follow-on activities On the following two Wednesdays (28 September and 5 October), and at the request of the Students’ Union to continue student engagement post enrolment, further events were laid on by CELT. On each Wednesday, the green screen continued to make an appearance, but this was accompanied by the CELT Escape Room. In teams of a maximum of 6, students had to answer puzzles in 4 rooms, each room giving a number to a padlock. Only on correctly working out the padlock number, were they able to escape (and win some goodies). A varied level of help was provided by CELT staff but thanks to persistence and determination shown by our students, they managed to escape! The carnival will be making a reappearance on 9 November in the Students’ Union building, between 12 noon and 3pm. Come and join us for more fun and goodies. See you soon! CELT -
BGU graduate sets up supercar charity business
Recent Bishop Grosseteste University alum Laurent McCready is supporting important causes through fundraising efforts and charity supercar events. Initially conceived as a business venture, LincsAutoClub aims to create a community of local people with an interest in supercars – luxury and performance – as well as classic motors. Alongside Co-Founders Will Hunter, Blake Keal, Sam Fearn, and Will Johns, Education Studies graduate Laurent was keen to collaborate with other small businesses by hosting events at local coffee shops, country parks, and even the bomber command centre. After a few successful events, the team saw an opportunity to use their time and efforts to raise money for good causes. Since then, LincsAutoClub has supported a variety of charities including Cancer Research UK, Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, and Lincolnshire Emergency Blood Bikes Service. The team also like to get out and about in the local area, taking part in the annual Santa Fun Run and using money raised to provide meals to vulnerable people over winter. According to Laurent, the team is not only driven by their shared love of cars, but by their desire to give back to the local community. He said: “We have an amazing community of guests supporting LincsAutoClub who all enjoy the fundraising events. “I just want to help other people and the charity work we do enables us to see the difference we make first hand.” Click here to learn more about LincsAutoClub. -
Lincolnshire Research Centre wins venue award
Lincolnshire Open Research and Innovation Centre (LORIC) has won Venue of the Year at The Growth Community 2023 Awards. The Growth Community's Erin Newberry presenting the award to LORIC Data Analyst Mateusz Marek Founded in 2017, LORIC is part of Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) and works to promote a different way of thinking about data for businesses across Greater Lincolnshire and level the playing field for small businesses. At the centre, University researchers and data experts are on hand to guide businesses through using data and Open Data to grow and innovate. The centre is based in the renovated St Hughes building on Newport, Lincoln which has been designed to provide a high tech collaboration space for researchers, organisations and local businesses. LORIC hosts The Growth Community's fortnightly meetings, where local business representatives and entrepreneurs can attend for free and identify opportunities to work collaboratively with other attendees. The high standard of facilities and extra support the LORIC team offered set them apart from the other award nominees. The Growth Community's Founder Nicky Thomas said: “Finding a venue that recognises the value they can get by partnering with a networking organisation, like The Growth Community, is harder that you would imagine. LORIC from the start became active members of our group. Committed to building relationships and helping each other to grow. "They have never just been ‘room hire’; they have supported our members and guests and played a massive part in the success of the Lincoln group. We are so grateful to have had them along on our journey.” Linette Wallace, Business Development Officer at BGU said “When I was introduced to Nicky Thomas from the Growth Community, she was looking for some urgent corporate venue space to host her bi-weekly networking events. I was delighted to offer not only the space in our beautiful building, but to provide direct business development support to group members. "It has been fantastic news to learn that we have won “Venue of the Year” award, as we have always strived to welcome and assist the Growth Community members at every opportunity, also with bespoke consultancy support through the LORIC initiative." The group meet Fridays, 10-11.30am every 2 weeks at LORIC, for further info: E: loric@bishopg.ac.uk -
International students share traditional dinner with University representatives
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) recently held a dinner party for its first-year international and Erasmus students at the university's urban diner, The Refectory. The students in attendance were from all over the world, including some from India, Germany, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, USA, Ghana, and Switzerland. At the event, everyone was able to enjoy a traditional fish and chip supper and spend the evening getting to know each other better. The university hosts a series of meals throughout the year, with Christmas, March, and summer being the usual times for the events. The dinner was an excellent opportunity for the students to meet with different people from across the university, including representatives from senior leadership, admissions, faculty, marketing, international team, and the Students' Union. International Manager Wayne Dyble welcomed the students to the dinner, highlighting the importance of the event in helping them integrate and feel at home in the university. Deputy Vice-Chancellor Scott Fleming also joined in, showcasing his linguistic skills by greeting the students in many different languages. "We are thrilled to host events like this for our international students. It's a great way to help them feel welcome and supported while studying with us" said International Manager Wayne Dyble. There are currently 80 international students enrolled at BGU. The University is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for its international students, and this dinner was just one of the initiatives in place to achieve this goal. Lehr Bhargava from Singapore is studying SENDI and Drama and also acts as the Students' Union's Racial Diversity Officer. She said: "Because of events like these, I've been able to create a community of people who are in the same position as me. The support here has been great." -
BGU Students visit the National Civil War Centre
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) Archaeology, History, and Military History students recently embarked on a trip to the National Civil War Centre. Located in the heart of Newark, the centre features interactive exhibits, immersive displays, and a vast collection of historical artefacts. Visitors can learn about the causes of the conflict, the key events and battles, and the impact the war had on society and culture. During the trip, the ten students had the opportunity to handle various artefacts and objects from the British Civil War, which provided them with a hands-on learning experience outside of the classroom. The fully-funded trip is part of the subject provision that Foundation Year students receive, and it serves as a highlight for them to celebrate completing Semester one. Dr Erik Grigg led the excursion and - having spent a decade working in heritage - recognises the value of the hands-on learning that museums can provide. He said: "Trips like these are incredibly valuable for students as they provide an opportunity to get out of the classroom and engage with history in a more immersive and tangible way. "The National Civil War Centre is a fantastic resource, and being able to handle artefacts and learn from knowledgeable guides brings the subject to life in a way that traditional study might not." -
BGU alum Pete Wharmby launches new book on life with autism
Former Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) student, Pete Wharmby, has published his second book, "Untypical: How the World Isn't Built for Autistic People and What We Should All Do About It". The speaker and writer explores the topic of autism and the autistic experience. His work seeks to elevate the public's awareness of autism and highlight the unique challenges faced by autistic individuals in a world that does not always accommodate their needs. At the age of 14, Pete moved to Lincolnshire with his family. After completing his teacher training in English and Drama at BGU in 2008, he spent the next 13 years teaching, including at schools around Lincolnshire. It wasn't until 2017 that he received his autism diagnosis, which came as a turning point in his life. According to Pete, his diagnosis allowed him to finally understand why he had always felt different. He said: "It was a profound sense of relief to have my diagnosis confirmed. All the miscommunications and hyper fixations I'd had started to make sense. "I also realised that I had been able to connect so well with the autistic students I had taught because we had the same type of brain. I continued to teach with a renewed determination to create safe and welcoming spaces for my students, particularly those with autism." With a newfound understanding of his condition, he began to explore and share his experiences, which culminated in his first book, "What I Want to Talk About: How Autistic Special Interests Shape a Life" in 2022. The inaugural publication takes readers on a journey through his special interests, illuminating the challenges of autistic experience along the way. According to Pete, there's a significant lack of knowledge surrounding autism, and even well-meaning people can make common mistakes around communicating with autistic people. His second book, Untypical, seeks to shine a light on the condition for non-autistic people, offering suggestions of how people can better support the individuals in their life with autism. Preferring to offer a "warts-and-all" portrayal of autism, Pete promotes an authentic representation of what it is like to live with the condition, although he acknowledges that every autistic person will have different experiences. He aims to dispel myths and misconceptions and inspire open discussion around neurodiversity. Pete said: "It's actually quite handy being known as an autistic person, because I don't have to mask when I first meet people. "I did one public talk where I had an autistic meltdown just before I was due to speak. I could've cancelled it at the last minute, but instead I took it as an opportunity to share the experience with the audience; to speak about what had happened and the emotions I was experiencing." Pete regularly speaks at conferences and events, often as the keynote speaker, on topics such as autism in education, the experience of autistic students and teachers, the importance of monotropism and special interests and much more. Learn more about Pete and his work here. -
Aspiring teachers get creative
A cohort of future teachers recently had the opportunity to flex their creative muscles during a full-day workshop exploring creativity in education. The events of the day aimed to empower the soon-to-be educators with tools and techniques to integrate creativity into their teaching practices, enabling them to create a dynamic and stimulating learning environment for their students. The Primary Education students enjoyed workshops, group tasks, and open discussion about the subject. Guest speakers also shared their expertise on the module subject, which is all about the curriculum choices a school may make. Across the day, three speakers worked with the group, including actor, writer, and teacher Ben Keaton from Creativity Academy, an organisation that visits schools and delivers workshops 'to give primary school teachers and their students the joy of making things.' BGU Senior Lecturer Emma Rogers said: "I'm really grateful that Ben Keaton was able to join us for the morning to share the work on creativity that his Creative academy is doing in schools around Lincolnshire." The students also heard from Liam Bielby, an Assistant Mathematics Hub Lead from the East Midlands East Maths Hub. Liam shared with the students the work of the maths hub and how they work with schools in the local area and the support available for early career teachers Kateřina Dvořáková also visited the university from Czechia. As the Senior lecturer at the Faculty of Education, University of South Bohemia, Kateřina specialises in pre-service training of primary English teachers. She said: "My stay at BGU was absolutely fantastic. I I could observe a number of lessons and the teaching practice of the TESOL students. "There have been several students from our university at BGU recently and more study visits are being planned. A semester at BGU can help our students improve their English and teaching skills and learn about Britain's culture and daily life." Kateřina gave BGU students a fascinating insight into teacher training in Czechia. Students heard that, in her country, it takes five years to train to become a Primary school teacher so all teachers have a Master's qualification. Emma Rogers added: "It was an insightful and productive day for students and staff alike. "Everyone really enjoyed hearing from all three speakers, who offered the students a diverse selection of different voices and experiences." -
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships - Celebrating Six Months of Achievements
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) at BGU, has reached a significant milestone, marking six months of transformative activities since December 2022. -
BGU spreads kindness for Mental Health Awareness Month
In a bid to promote mental health awareness, Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) recently visited three colleges in the local area to distribute free cookies and provide valuable mental health resources and support information. The initiative took place as part of Mental Health Awareness Month and aimed to offer support and assistance to students during the busy exam period. The team from BGU visited Boston College, Franklin College in Grimsby, and John Leggott College in Scunthorpe to spread some kindness. At each college, they distributed an impressive total of 350 still-warm cookies, baked lovingly by the University's own urban diner Refectory. As well as handing out cookies, the team gave each student a postcard with a QR code that linked to a wealth of mental health and wellbeing resources and support. Students were encouraged to make use of these services or pass them on to a friend that may need them, especially during the busy exam period. Students at each college were also reminded to 'Keep it kind' with free badges gifted by the University. Linc Higher's Boston College Engagement Officer Lorraine Breeton said: "I would just like to thank BGU for coming along to support Boston College students by signposting to information on Mental Health awareness month, and of course, bringing those delicious cookies. They certainly cheered many (350!!) people up!" During mental health awareness month, BGU is also running the campaign, '31 Good Deeds for May', urging everyone to engage in a simple act of kindness each day. The student advice team have hosted a number of events throughout the month, including a wellbeing walk through Lincoln's historical quarter, opening a relaxation station on campus, and running Talk-About events where students can receive judgement free advice. A member of the BGU team said: "It was wonderful to meet all these students and spark some insightful and open conversations around Mental Health Awareness Month. "If the resources we've shared help even one person, it's worth it. At the very least, we hope we've sweetened the students' day with a free cookie!" -
Honorary Award recipients announced
Each year, Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) has the opportunity to award Honorary Doctorates and Honorary Fellowships at its graduation ceremonies. BGU staff and students, retired staff and alumni and current or former University Council members were invited to nominate candidates for honorary awards. Honorary Fellowship is awarded in recognition of outstanding contributions to the University; whilst Honorary Doctorate is awarded to those who have made outstanding contributions to academic achievement, social, economic or cultural life. We're pleased to announce this year's award recipients, who will be honoured at graduation celebrations in July 2023. Bishop Grosseteste University Vice-Chancellor Rev Canon Professor Peter Neil said: “We are proud to be awarding this year’s honorary recipients for their expertise and service in their respective roles. I am delighted to welcome them to our wider BGU community. “Each one of them is inspirational in their own right and all serve as excellent role models for our students in how to make a positive impact on society.”
Explore BGU
Browse our wide range of degree courses and find the perfect one for you.
Open days are the best way to find out what BGU has to offer.
Download your copy of our prospectus to find out more about life at BGU.