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Winter Comes to BGU as Celebration of Women’s Voting Rights Continues with a Week of Unique Events
Throughout the 2017/18 academic year students and staff at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) have been hosting events as part of Vote100, celebrating 100 years of women’s voting rights. With Tuesday 6 February marking the centenary of the Representation of the People Act (the first step towards all women getting the right to vote) BGU’s activities step up a gear with three special events to honour the occasion. Delving deep into history The week begins on Monday 5 February with an open lecture helmed by the renowned British historian Martin Pugh. Titled ‘Parliamentary Reform in 1918: Continuity, Reform or Revolution?’ Martin will be a exploring a number of important and relevant questions surrounding the Representation of the People Act 1918 and its impact on British history. What effect did the war have on the campaign for the vote? Why was the Act so comprehensive? What was the significance of the terms of the Act for women? We’ll be examining all these questions and more. Winging our way to Westeros On Friday 9 February our amazing Student Union team have put together two events for an evening of ‘Women Leading Change’. Transporting the BGU campus to the land of Westeros; the evening will include a debate on ‘Who Should Sit on the Iron Throne’. Participants will be able join a house, declare for their female leader, and argue her case with other Game of Thrones fans (cosplay not essential but always welcome). Alongside this there will be another debate, but this time focused on the recent US election. Delving into the complicated world of American politics the speakers will be discussing whether, if she were a man, Hilary Clinton would have defeated Donald Trump. Joining BGU amongst the dragons and political intrigue will be guest speakers Lincoln MP Karen Lee, former BGSU President Becca Smith and BGSU Manager Abigail Rogers. Both events promise a fiery atmosphere and are not to be missed. Be a part of Vote100 All the Vote100 events throughout the week, and indeed the rest of 2018, are open to the public and will offer the opportunity to gain a fascinating insight into the history of women’s suffrage and learn how the movement affected and changed BGU. You can read more about the events we have already hosted, as well as what is still to come, on our website. -
BGU welcomes Professor Scott Fleming as its new Executive Dean
Professor Scott Fleming will join the senior management team at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) from Cardiff Metropolitan University, where he is currently Director of Research and Graduate Studies. Scott takes up his new role as Executive Dean Research, Knowledge Exchange and External Engagement from 1 April 2018. He will immediately be focussing on growing BGU’s research capability and capacity, and steering the development of BGU’s Lincolnshire Open Research and Innovation Centre (LORIC) Professor Fleming is a highly experienced academic who is recognised for his development and leadership of research governance and knowledge exchange at Cardiff Met over a number of years. His personal research interest is primarily in the sociology of sport and leisure, and in addition to his own track record of publication, he brings a wealth of experience in cross-University researcher training, staff development and support for Graduate Studies. Professor Jayne Mitchell, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln, said: “We are delighted to welcome Scott to BGU. He brings a wealth of experience and an outstanding academic background as a researcher, educator and innovator. Perhaps most importantly, he also shares our ambition to sustain and further develop research, knowledge exchange and external engagement at BGU.” Professor Fleming said: “I’m delighted to have been given the opportunity to take forward BGU’s ambitious plans for development of this portfolio. I’m looking forward to the challenge and can’t wait to get started.” -
#12DaysofBGU Day 9: Knights’ Trail
This summer Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) sponsored a knight as part of Lincoln’s Knights’ Trail. The Knights’ Trail was a sculpture trail through Lincoln to mark 800 years since the Battle of Lincoln and the sealing of the Charter of the Forest. A pair of talented artists from Birmingham designed the BGU’s statue ‘Knight and Day’, which was one of 35 knights on the trail around Lincoln. The event, organised by Lincoln BIG, ran from 20 May until 3 September and the knight statues and BGU’s knight was stationed near Newport Arch not far from the university’s campus. Kieron Reilly and Lynsey Brecknell, the designers of BGU’s knight, said, “Our design ‘Knight and Day’ shows off Lincoln’s beautifully unique skyline in silhouette form against a bold sunset, including our sponsor Bishop Grosseteste University,” Before the trail got underway, sponsors had the opportunity to host their knight. ‘Knight and Day’ embarked upon a tour around campus and we welcomed a number of visitors to see it. Children attending BGU Sports Centre’s Easter Sports Programme stopped by for a photo with the knight. We were then delighted to welcome pupils from St. Francis Special School to visit campus and see the knight. Read more about the Knights’ Trail. -
Mathematical Masterclasses Continue at BGU
On Saturday Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) is hosting the third session in a series of exciting mathematical masterclasses for students nominated by local schools. Organised by the Royal Institution of Great Britain these mathematics enrichment activities for local Year 9 students are part of a national network of masterclasses run by local volunteers, who are current or former mathematics teachers in Lincolnshire. So far the classes have seen 35 students working on a series of hands-on mathematics tasks related to constructing ellipses (led by BGU’s own Dr Elizabeth Kimber) and investigating the magical capabilities of mathematics led by Dr David Crawford. Following these illuminating classes the masterclass programme will continue on Saturday 17 March with a special session focusing on ‘The power of 2’, led by Dr Vinay Kathotia. Through a mix of play, group work, pattern-recognition and proof, the Power of Two masterclass takes a modern view on an ancient mathematical problem. It weaves together number systems, past and present, empowering students to explore how mathematics can help model and make sense of our world. Elizabeth Kimber – Programme Leader for Mathematics at BGU - is a keen supporter of the masterclasses and was delighted to be able run one on campus: “Mathematics is an incredibly diverse and invigorating subject. These masterclasses are a perfect opportunity to bring the wonder of the subject to curious minds and I am proud that BGU could be a part of that”. Do you know someone who would enjoy taking part in these classes next year? You can find more information on the Royal Institution website. Alternatively, students can ask their mathematics teachers about the masterclasses. Find out more about Mathematics at BGU. -
BGU Welcomes International Delegates
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) welcomed government officials and industry leaders from the Chinese province of Hunan as they visited campus for a tour of facilities. Exploring the BGU campus as a part of their wider visit to Lincoln on 18 April, the delegates were particularly interested in the work of BG Futures, who are dedicated to supporting small and start-up businesses, as well as the exciting projects and hard work being undertaken by BGU’s Business Team Entrepreneurship students. With many of the delegates coming from the Province’s food industry the entrepreneurial efforts of BGU students setting up their own food based companies were something of a show-stopper. Hunan is largely agricultural, making Lincolnshire an ideal location for business partnerships, and has a population of around 70 million, bigger than the entire UK. Recent focus within the Province has been on developing its machinery, steel, tobacco, food processing and electronics sectors in addition to its traditional rice and cotton growing and now industry leaders are looking to expand their international connections. Wayne Dyble, International Manager at BGU, highlighted the importance of the visit to a number of BGU’s ongoing projects around the world: “The International Team at BGU have been working incredibly hard to bring the University to the wider world. We are already engaged in projects throughout Hunan Province with Hengyang Normal University (www.hynu.edu.cn) and Hunan First Normal University and it’s fantastic to see our endeavours continue to grow with today’s visit.” You can find more information on BGU’s international projects on their website. -
BGU Academics return to Thailand
Academics from Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) returned to Thailand earlier this year to continue their overseas consultancy with the Thai government on improving teacher development. Professor Chris Atkin and Dr Nick Gee, Head of School of Teacher Development, participated in a workshop hosted by the British Embassy in Bangkok to build on recommendations for initial teacher training first presented to Thai government in August 2016. Other participants included representatives from the University of Ulster, the University of Leicester and the University of Aberdeen. Supported by the Thai Minister for Education (who championed BGU’s original recommendations) and the UK Foreign Office the event covered a number of training ideas to aid teachers in understanding the impact of their work on students and communities. It also marked the launch of a new competency framework for teachers in South East Asia. In addition to launching the framework the workshop offered an updated review of initial teacher training in Thailand and looked to encourage further opportunities for collaboration between BGU and the Thai Education Sector. The event in Bangkok was incredibly well received and as a result BGU have been asked by two Rajabhat universities to send out representatives to provide teacher training courses. Having led the original review in 2016 Professor Atkin was delighted to see the project have such a positive impact: “The success of the initial review has placed BGU at the heart of educational policy reform in Thailand. It is a distinct honour to have our experience and expertise as providers of teacher training so emphatically recognised by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Thai government. “It is a responsibility we do not take lightly. At the heart of successful education are highly trained teachers. We look forward to continuing our part in supporting trainee and experience teachers across Thailand.” Supporting educational reform in Thailand is just one part of BGU’s activities in South East Asia. Following the initial review in 2016 BGU Vice Chancellor, Revd. Canon Professor Peter Neil, visited Thailand last December. During the visit he exchanged a memorandum of understanding with Phranakhon Rajabhat University in Bangkok and met with members of the Teachers’ Council of Thailand as well as colleagues from the country’s 38 Rajabhat universities. You can keep up to date with all of BGU’s projects in Thailand and across the world on our news page. Find out more about Teacher Training at BGU. -
BGU Sports Students Run Tag Rugby ‘Megafest’ Alongside the RFU
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) students worked alongside the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and a number of Lincolnshire schools to put on a Tag Rugby ‘Megafest’ for 200 primary school pupils from across the county. Run by BGU Sport, Coaching & Physical Education students with organisational support from Jenny Elsom (Priory City of Lincoln Academy & BGU graduate) and Michelle Mamby (Pembroke Priory - School Games Organiser with the Youth Sport Trust) the all-day event offered skills workshops in the morning followed by competitive games in the afternoon. Both sessions were designed to not only get children active and engaged in sport, but also to build wider skills in including team work and communication. Seb Adams, a 2nd year Sport, Coaching & Physical Education student currently on a Sport Promotion & Leadership placement with the RFU, explained why offering such events for children was an important aspect of their course: “Children can lose opportunities to experience new sports as they reach secondary school. To be able to offer them a chance to take part and have fun with rugby surrounded by expert coaches is fantastic for both their mental and physical development.” BGU works alongside a number of sporting organisations as a part of the Sport, Coaching and Physical Education course including the RFU who are directly involved in the practical delivery of the rugby coaching modules. David Cotton-Betteridge, Community Rugby Coach for England Rugby, has been working with the BGU sports students as part of the Young Ambassador Programme which targets potential coaches. He was pleased to see the students bringing the sport to a new generation of players: “It’s been great to work on this event with the student coaches here at BGU. The Megafest is a fantastic opportunity for children to experience and most importantly enjoy rugby, the day was a great success and we’re already looking forward to next year”. If you are interested in pursuing a future in sports education and coaching you can find more information about Sport courses at BGU on our website or by contacting our Enquiries Team. -
BGU Academics Share Practice and Advice with Chinese Nursery Head Teachers
Last week Alison Riley – Programme Leader Early Childhood Studies (ECS) – and Mary-Louise Maynes – Senior Lecturer ECS – of Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) met with a group of Chinese Nursery Head teachers to discuss the practice and provision of Early Years Education. The visiting Heads were viewing nursery schools across the Lincoln area, exploring different options and methods of provision with the meeting at BGU offering a chance to talk informally and for the teachers to understand how Early Years education is taught. The work carried out on the ECS course at BGU facilitating the training of teachers to work in the Early Years sector was of particular interest to the delegates. With staff in their nurseries mostly untrained in education provision they were keen to find out about the different forms of training for early years professionals in the UK. With educational provision for under twos increasing in China, the Head Teachers were also very keen to hear about the work BGU does with its students to develop their understanding of the needs of young children in the 0-2 age range as encouraging this sector is an important objective for them in China. Mary-Louise Maynes was delighted with the success of the visit and excited at the prospect of further collaboration in the future: “They were full of enthusiasm for making links with BGU and we hope to create some opportunities in the future for us to share ideas about practice. At the end of the session they gave us a number of gifts made by staff and children in their nurseries which we are looking forward to sharing with our students“ You can find out more about our Early Childhood Studies degree along with our full portfolio of degrees on our website or by contacting our Enquiries Team. -
BGU Students Present to National Teaching Conference
Second year Primary Education students from Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) shared their research into 21st Century Digital Literacies at the Annual TEAN (Teacher Education Advancement Network) Conference in Birmingham earlier this month. Led by Senior Lecturer Emma Rogers the students – Charlotte Hallam, Fiona Sanderson, Millie Holland, Christina Flynn, Ellie Marshall and Amelia Challen – presented their collaborative study to a engrossed audience of academics and professionals from Higher Education institutions across the United Kingdom. Their project, funded by the Learning and Teaching Innovation Fund from BGU’s CELT Team, involved 3 Primary classrooms where students and pupils experienced collaborating within a digital space. Their confident presentation was not only well received by the delegates but also a fantastic opportunity for the students (alongside other BGU colleagues) to demonstrate their innovative research skills to the wider Higher Education industry. Emma Rogers was keen to champion their achievements: "It was a great opportunity for the students to present to other universities and they really rose to the challenge. “They represented our University with professionalism and confidence. A wide range of universities were represented at the TEAN conference, with lecturers from around the country sharing their research and developments. “BGU was very well represented with a number of colleagues from the Primary team delivering workshops." The Teacher Education Advancement Network (TEAN) is a collaborative initiative for teacher education providers and associated organisations that strives to improve the quality of teacher training available across the four countries of the UK. 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 degree course leading the battle against assignment cheats
The use by students of essay and assignment writing companies has hit the headlines once again with a number of YouTube vloggers coming under fire for endorsing academic cheating. A BBC Trending investigation discovered over 1000 videos encouraging students to save themselves time and effort by paying online services to complete written assignments and presentations on their behalf. YouTube has since removed the videos but the investigation still highlights not only how widespread the practice has become but also the battle faced by universities to ensure that the work submitted by students is their own. To help combat the problem, a number of the degree programmes at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) have begun to evolve new assessment methods, as Senior Lecturer Chris Jackson explains: “The use of assignment writing services can be an issue when assessment relies on written assignments which are not necessarily contextualised to the learners own life or direct experience, relying predominantly on hypothetical or theoretical argument. The approach to learning which BGU has adopted in its BA (Hons) Business (Team Entrepreneurship) degree programme offers an interesting alternative to the reliance on theoretical critique. On this course, assessments are both practical and written, requiring students to synthesise their personal learning journey with appropriate theory and/or resource. In this way, the evidence each student produces is highly individual and it would be extremely difficult for an unrelated third party to be able to fulfil the requirements of the assignment brief. BGU are one of seven universities in the UK who have adopted the Finnish Tiimiakatemia, or Team Academy, methodology of “learning by doing” in the field of business education. Although this method of assessment cannot be used as a panacea to the issue - nor is it appropriate in every situation - it raises the question of how appropriate current assessment methods are and to what extent they evidence personal learning. The use of assignment writing services, though not illegal, is expressly forbidden at BGU. If any of our students are struggling with their assignments or workload we would encourage them to seek support from our Student Advice Team who will be able to help them get back on top of things. You can find more information on our Business (Team Entrepreneurship) course, as well as our full portfolio of degrees on our website.
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