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BGU collaborate with Czech University to support the student experience
Academic staff from Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) visited the Faculty of Education at Masaryk University (MUni), situated in the city of Brno in the Czech Republic, to explore opportunities for supporting student experience. The visit built upon a collegiate partnership between MUni and BGU, which focuses on academic and professional standards, improving student experience and opportunities for sharing good practice in learning and teaching. Dr Claire Thomson, Head of the Centre for Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT), and Caroline Meredith, Academic Lead for Flexible and Distributed Learning, facilitated a workshop for MUni colleagues, to explore evaluative frameworks for student experience, retention and attainment. Colleagues discussed strategies to develop students’ positive engagement with University life, which aligns to BGU’s Graduate Attribute framework. Claire shared evidence of CELT's substantial student engagement and enhancement work over the past eighteen months. This includes many examples of good practice in engaging students in academic and personal development activities, student wellbeing initiatives and student-focussed conferences, all of which contribute to students’ identity as successful learners who belong firmly in BGU’s learning community. This responds to research findings, in which students’ sense of belonging and their self-image as successful learners have been shown as crucial to student retention and achievement (What Works? Student retention and success; Thomas, Hill, O’Mahony and Yorke, 2017). Colleagues also had detailed discussions around the programme-level annual monitoring process at BGU, and compared it to the evaluative framework being developed at MUni’s Faculty of Education. A highlight of the visit for Claire and Caroline was an excursion to the elementary school at Bosonožská. They met senior staff, observed some learning and teaching and enjoyed a traditional Czech school lunch with teachers and children of the school. Colleagues examined and discussed the embedding of Professional Standards in curriculum design at BGU, and discussed ways this could be developed at MUni. MUni staff plan a return visit to BGU in 2020, to share approaches and strategies for the assessment of placement experience with students in Lincolnshire schools. If you would like to become a part of BGU’s growing international community, visit our website, speak to a member of our Enquiries Team or join us on one of our Open Days to find out how to take your first steps. -
BGU to explore Georgian culture at triennial Burney Society conference
On 30 and 31 July, Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) will host the triennial conference of the Burney Society (UK), which brings together academics and members of the public interested in the life and works of members of the Burney family in the Georgian period. The Burney family included the novelists Frances and Sarah Harriet Burney, musical historian Charles Burney, explorer Captain James Burney, and many more. The conference will consider how the Burneys and their circle engaged with or constructed narratives of marginality and/or centrality; their relationship to marginal and/or mainstream culture and society; and the imaginative use they made of such categories. Keynote speakers at the conference include Dr Gillian Dow (University of Southampton, former director of Chawton House Library) and Professor Lorna Clark (Carleton University, Canada). There will also be an opportunity to hear some of Charles Burney's compositions during a musical interlude. Anyone wishing to know more about the conference can contact the organiser, Dr Cassie Ulph (Lecturer in English), or alternatively visit the society's website for full programme and ticket information (discounted registration rate available for BGU staff and students). Alternatively, tickets and accommodation for the event can be booked on the BGU e-commerce site. BGU regularly welcome guests from all the world to thought-provoking and intriguing events, you can keep up to date with all the exciting ones still to come on our news and events pages. -
Doctoral Students present at Cathedral Group Conference
Emma Rogers and Tracey Kilcoyne, Senior Lecturers in the School of Teacher Development at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), successfully submitted their abstracts to the Cathedral Group’s annual doctoral conference at Liverpool Hope University, and presented their research progress to fellow Doctoral students. Emma Rogers explored the reading identities of student teachers in her presentation entitled 'Investigating the lived experiences of student teachers' as readers and the shifting identify of student teachers who teach reading' and how a teacher’s ability to inspire young readers is bound to the teacher’s identity as a reader and knowledge of children’s authors. Tracey Kilcoyne's presentation entitled 'Exploring Nurture Groups through staff voice' explored the apparent influences on the presentation of Nurture Groups through the voice of Nurture Group staff. Utilising an exploratory mixed methods framework to identify the extent of this variance, combined with an interpretive phenomenological approach to explore the views of the respective Nurture Group staff, it aimed to create a greater understanding of Nurture Groups and their operation. Following the conference Tracey described her excitement at the impact of the event on her current and future work: “The conference provided an opportunity to share our work and review the progress so far, along with an opportunity to meet others at different stages on their doctoral journey. It was great to be able to experience presentations covering such a diverse range of disciplines and I’m excited by the potential future collaborations that may come from the networking we able to do” Our academics and students are regularly invited to present at conferences around the world, you can follow all their travels on our news page and find out how you can start your own adventures on our course pages. -
Collaborative learning community drives student satisfaction in latest NSS results
Following the release of this year’s National Student Survey (NSS) results Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) is pleased to have again received high satisfaction levels from its graduating students. Seeing the overwhelming majority of our student body engaging with the NSS this year has been immensely satisfying and we’d like to thank our students for providing valuable feedback to us on the issues that are important to them. Creating an environment where students feel that they can not only make their voices heard but be an active part of developing their university experience is a key element of our drive for excellence. Dr Rob Boast, Executive Dean Learning, Teaching & Student Engagement, is leading this collaborative partnership between staff and students and is excited to see where it can take BGU in the future: “At BGU we are dedicated to placing the student voice at the heart of what we do so it is fantastic to see our efforts reflected in the increasing satisfaction scores. For areas such as ‘Student Voice’ and ‘Learning Community’ BGU has outperformed the average for the sector. The NSS provides an excellent opportunity for us to evolve and improve as an institution and we look forward to further engaging with our students on their experiences so that together we can continue creating a positive and rewarding learning environment.” BGU also saw increased scores in a number of other areas including ‘Academic Support’ and ‘Assessment & Feedback’, which was also above the average for the sector. For BGU Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Scott Fleming, these areas of increased satisfaction also demonstrate the value of the challenge laid down by the NSS to universities: “Following previous surveys we introduced a number of new initiatives to increase satisfaction in our academic support and feedback so it is incredibly rewarding to see that work receiving a positive response from our students. However it is important that we, along with all our fellow universities, see the NSS as a challenge to keep striving for consistently high satisfaction across the entire student experience and continuously improve as an institution rather than an opportunity to rest on the success of specific areas. We are committed to ensuring our students enjoy a level of quality throughout their time with us and I look forward to seeing what we, working in partnership with our students, can continue to accomplish over the next five years of our new University Strategy”. To find out how you can become a part of BGU’s collaborative learning community you can visit our website, speak to a member of our Enquiries Team or join us on one of our Open Days. -
BGU students invited to share their guidance in developing ‘Reading for Pleasure’
Students on the BA Primary Education with QTS course at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) have been sharing their good practice to encourage children to ‘read for pleasure’ with other HE institutions and schools. -
Successful Scoping Event Creates New Opportunities for Women in Third Sector Leadership
Earlier this year staff from the Psychology department at Bishop Grosseteste University, working in partnership with Involving Lincs and the Community Fund, facilitated a scoping event relating to resilience in leadership, specifically focusing on women in the Third Sector in Lincolnshire. The event heard from sector leaders to establish opportunities, aspirations, successes, barriers and needs and was well received by those in attendance who praised its "Great communication, fantastic insight into the working reality of women in leadership" In response to the feedback from the scoping meeting, efforts are now underway to run a second opportunity for Women In Third Sector Leadership on Thursday the 19th of September. Thomasin Nicholds, Lecturer in Psychology at BGU and one of the event organisers, explained what participants could expect from it: "The second event has been designed by some of the participants of the last session, to develop peer support opportunities and a greater understanding of mentoring. Individuals will be exploring the benefits of developing these professional relationships in order to enable their own wellbeing at work and that of their colleagues. The theme running through the event will be how we ensure a resilient leadership in the third sector, with further exploration as to what this means specifically for women leaders. A working group of leaders has designed the session and are keen to consider the Leadership needs across the third sector, via new and existing resource, all facilitated by partnership working." You can book your place to join in the event here. In addition to sector leaders there are also opportunities for students to be involved both in the running of the day and with follow up work in project and research development. For more information contact Thomasin Nicholds, Lecturer in Psychology at BGU. If you are interested in finding out more about studying Psychology at BGU, visit our website, contact our Enquiries Team or join us on one of our Open Days. -
Successful Students See Support Service Soar From Strength to Strength
Enterprising students Damian Taylor (MA Health & Social Care) and Neil Martin (BA History) are the latest success story to emerge from BG Futures Business and Enterprise Centre at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU). Having joined the BGU Enterprise Club just a few months ago the duo have gone from strength to strength with their growing business EarlyBird Lifestyle Support and are already working from their own premises. EarlyBird Lifestyle Support is a friendly well-being service based in Lincoln and serves the city and surrounding areas helping people with tasks such as cooking, cleaning, collecting prescriptions and medication, food shopping, trips out, escorting individuals to appointments and more. Speaking to the BGU Futures Team, Damian discussed how the support from the Centre helped him, Neil and their team reach their goals: “Being able to become residents in the BG Futures Enterprise Room has allowed us the time and space to work productively whilst in the early stages of our business. One of the main benefits is that it has allowed us to present ourselves to local authorities and other community professionals as a legitimate and professional business. The guidance and advice we have received from Becky has been incredibly important for us and invaluable. The enterprise centre is a fantastic resource for new and upcoming businesses. You may have the misconception that you have to have it all figured out with a full business plan before you receive support, this is far from the truth, you can be at the very being stages of an idea! Mixing this support with my 10 years front line and management experience in the sector, along with the Health & Social care provision at BGU, has really enabled Neil and I to create a service that brings both health care and social care together which allows us to offer holistic and bespoke person centred support with a wider understanding of social injustices and the adult social care crisis. I would encourage anyone even thinking about going into business or anyone with a concept for self-employment to come in and speak to someone. I can guarantee you won’t regret it!” Becky Goodman, Enterprise Development Manager at BG Futures, was equally full of praise for the hard work of Damian and his team: “It has been great to work with Damian and Neil over the past few months, and I am excited to see how the business grows and develops over the coming months and years Damian first contacted us following a visit I made to his MA Health and Social Care course and after meeting with both Damian and Neil it became clear that the business needed the space to grow. The duo moved into the BGU Enterprise Club room in BG Futures, and from there we have watched them grow from strength to strength, from recruiting staff, to sourcing promotional products and hope that we have made a real impact to their start up journey, and continue to do so as they take up an office of their own with us in the centre.” The Careers, Employability and Enterprise team strive to support all students during their studies to research and plan their career, and to improve their employability. The BGU Enterprise Club hosted by BG Futures also provides students with Business Start-up support and guidance, in addition to free office space*, and the opportunity to pitch for start-up funding. 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. Support from EarlyBird is available to anyone in Lincolnshire and the surrounding area, to find out how they can help you visit their website, or get in contact via email at info@ebls.co.uk or on 01522424161. On the 31st of August EarlyBird will be running a charity fundraiser in aid of Alzheimer’s Society. Join them from 10am at Freshney Place, Grimsby, as they attempt a ‘Coast to Coast’ 168 mile cycle. Alternatively you can donate to their efforts here. *Competitive process applies. -
Explore Punk Aesthetics and Sexuality/ies at a free event this October
Punk has arrived in Lincoln! Between August and November 2019 Lincoln Castle are exhibiting work by artist Jamie Reid and designer Vivienne Westwood. In response to this, academic staff at BGU are hosting an event which draws upon some of the voices often ignored or marginalised in the re-telling of punk history as well as representations of punk and its cultural legacy. The event, titled 'Punk Aesthetics and Sexuality/ies', will be held on Saturday 19th October and promises 'an evening of words, film and art'. There will be a discussion panel of academics, zine community representatives and band members, a short documentary from the Rebel Dykes, and a live set from Kermes. The event has been organised by Laura Way (Lecturer in Sociology) and Francis Stewart (Implicit Religion Research Fellow) as part of their ongoing work as members of the Punk Scholars Network and is part of a series of themed events. This will be a free event however spaces are limited so booking is essential. Refreshments will also be provided and there will be a 'zine’ table on the night. Whilst a free event, donations on the night will be welcomed towards covering the costs involved. As a non-profit event all money received will go to the contributors. Full details of panel members and documentary details will be detailed on the event’s blog and Facebook event page. Remember booking is essential, tickets can be booked here. If you would be interested in joining these discussions in even more depth visit our website or contact our Enquiries Team for more information on our wide range courses including a selection of joint honours BA Sociology and Theology degrees. -
BGU join the Lincoln Book Festival 2019 to Celebrate the life and legacy of Queen Victoria
This September staff and students from Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) joined the Lincoln Book Festival to celebrate the bicentenary of the births of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert with ‘V for Victoria!’ with a series of events from 23rd to 28th September capturing the ways in which the city connects the life and legacy of Queen Victoria. From the most recent publications on Queen Victoria, the British Empire and Victorian authors such as, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, John Ruskin, and Janet Ross, but also Ada Lovelace, Charlotte Brontë’s publisher, William Smith Williams, there were exciting events for a variety of interests. BGU has been collaborating with the Festival for a number of years and that relationship further increased this year spearheaded by Dr Claudia Capancioni, Programme Leader for English at BGU, whose specialism is Victorian Literature. Staff and students were actively involved in the festival programme’s activities with our trainee PGCE students in English and Drama and staff opening the festival by leading workshops for school pupils who took part in a creative writing competition, Flash Fiction, and the creative writing programmes run by First Story and Writing East Midlands with the Society of Authors for Fiction. Later in the week BGU sponsored ‘If Words Could Kill’, an evening with Claire Harman and Ambrose Parry (aka Chris Brookmyre and Dr Marisa Haetzman). There was murder most foul in this two-part author event with Harman’s Murder by the Book, which focuses on a true crime murder that shocked Victorian London, and the thrilling new novel, The Way of the Flesh, Parry wrote about the hunt for a killer in 1847 Edinburgh. The University's involvement continued on Friday with Dr Capancioni introducing Janet Ross, a Victorian historian and biographer who entertained guests such as William Gladstone, Robert Browning, Mark Twain and Virginia Woolf at Poggio Gherardo, her villa near Florence. In Leaves from Our Tuscan Kitchen: or How to Cook Vegetables, Janet recorded the recipes of Giuseppe Volpi, her cook for over 30 years, which her guests loved and requested - George Frederic Watts in particular. Published in 1899 and still in print, it appeared at a time when vegetables were considered only as an adjunct to the main course, this recipe book has become an established resource for all British chefs interested in Italian food. Together with The Cheese Society and The Straw Collection, ‘In the Tuscan Kitchen of Janet Ross’ offered a taste of Ross’s recipes through sampling the cheese she used, accompanied by Tuscan wines. Since the summer, the city of Lincoln has contributed to an array of national events including the series organised by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, which will be the topic of the forthcoming lecture by the V&A director, Tristram Hunt, at Lincoln Cathedral on 10 October. If you are interested in finding out more about studying English at BGU, visit our website, contact our Enquiries Team or join us on one of our Open Days. -
BGU Military History Course Gifted Resources Worth Over £14,000 by Osprey Books
Staff and students on the new BA (Hons) Military History degree at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) are enjoying an exciting range of new resources thanks to a generous donation from Osprey Books. Part of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, Osprey, an Oxford-based company specialising in illustrated military history books, commands an impressive catalogue of published works ranging from ancient warfare to the latest military technology. In total they have donated 1,191 volumes, with the full cost running to £14,500, covering military and aviation history subjects. With titles including Air Campaign Series ‘Battle of Britain 1940’, Command Series ‘Napoleon Bonaparte’ and Elite Series ‘The Persian Army 560-330 BC’ the donation will form an amazingly valuable collection of reference material for Military History students at BGU for years to come. Dr Claire Hubbard-Hall, Programme Leader for Military History at BGU, discussed what students on the course could expect to explore thanks to the donation: “This sizeable and generous donation from Osprey books will provide an invaluable reference resource for students studying Military History at the university. The books provide a global history of warfare focusing on the nature and conduct of war, the role of battle and reform at sea, on land and in the air, as well as the strategic impact of airpower, and major war and battle narratives.” The Military History degree course at BGU explores the county’s rich aviation and military heritage alongside a global coverage of the history of war and its broader impact. If you are interested in joining these discussions, our new BA (Hons) in Military History, which reviews conflict and its relationship with society 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.
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