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BGU Commits to Greater Public Engagement
To demonstrate its commitment to engaging with the wider community, Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln has joined the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCPPE) and signed up to its manifesto. The move is part of BGU’s wider stakeholder engagement work which forms an important part of the university’s five-year strategy. The term ‘public engagement’ describes the many ways in which higher education, learning experiences and research can be shared with the general public. The NCPPE says public engagement “is by definition a two-way process, involving interaction and listening, with the goal of generating mutual benefit.” The Reverend Canon Prof Peter Neil, Vice Chancellor of BGU, commented: “I am very pleased that Bishop Grosseteste University has now signed up to the NCCPE’s Manifesto for Public Engagement. “This is a reflection of our long-term public engagement strategy and of our continuing dedication to our various communities. I am looking forward to encouraging further public engagement efforts by the university and all its members.” BGU has been increasing its investment in staff volunteering, which builds on the successes of its existing student volunteering scheme. High levels of student volunteering have helped BGU to establish itself amongst the top three universities for employability in the whole of UK, as seen from the latest Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey published by HESA, the Higher Education Statistics Agency. BGU also offers public lectures on campus and innovative skills development courses ranging from journalism to paediatric first aid and from writing skills courses to Makaton. The university’s enterprise incubation centre, BG Futures, plays an important role in engaging with the business community and the campus hosts regular national and international conferences. -
Big Issue Founder to Speak at Lincoln Conference
Lord John Bird, founder of The Big Issue, will be the keynote speaker at a conference in Lincoln next month which will help school leaders to improve the emotional wellbeing of young people. Think2Speak LIVE at Bishop Grosseteste University on Thursday 13th October is the first conference of its kind to be organised by Think2Speak, a community interest company based at BG Futures at BGU. The company and the conference aim to show those who work with young people how they can support their emotional wellbeing and understand the impact and value of doing so. Think2Speak, set up by Lizzie Jordan and Naomi Watkins, provides workshops, advice and consultancy to support schools where young people are affected by issues surrounding matters such as self-harm, suicide, HIV, domestic abuse, puberty, LGBT and mental health. John Bird, who was brought up in an orphanage, served time in a young offenders’ institution and often slept rough in London as a young man, will share his story and describe how his childhood and those he met influenced his life. “Staff in many schools have difficult conversations with young people that could be handled much better,” said Lizzie. “When schools ask for help we go in to support the senior management team, the teachers and the pupils with a range of services, including training, workshops, counselling and advocacy. “Our inaugural one-day conference is all about discussing the difficulties schools are facing, the benefits to the whole school for investing in emotional wellbeing, and signposting staff to the support that’s available.” In the morning there will be a series of short, focused TED-style talks covering the personal impact, the academic perspective and the school experience of the value of investing in emotional wellbeing of students, young people and the wider community. In the afternoon delegates will go back to the classroom to participate in a series of bookable workshops on topics including domestic abuse, puberty, HIV, suicide and self-harm. The sessions will make use of combinations of teacher training and demonstrations of the student workshops available to both primary and secondary schools. Simon Blake, Chief Executive of the National Union of Students, will also give a presentation on the day. Think2Speak LIVE is free of charge for senior leaders working in education. This includes head teachers, assistant heads, principals, deputies, business managers, heads of department of schools, colleges and universities, and heads of local authority education departments, national curriculum and government-funded education organisations. Limited paid for tickets are available – details are available at https://www.think2speak.com/think2speak-live/ -
It’s Not Too Late to Apply to BGU
If you’re considering applying to university for this September, or if you didn’t get the A-level results you expected, it’s not too late to apply through Clearing. That’s the message from Bishop Grosseteste University which has recently been ranked second highest public university in England for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey. The results published on Wednesday (10th August) show that 92% of BGU students are satisfied with their university experience – that’s 7% higher than last year’s score and 6% higher than the sector average.The admissions team at BGU in Lincoln is on hand to deal with enquiries during Clearing, which begins on Thursday 18th August when students across the country will receive their A-level results. The call centre will be open from 8am until 6pm on both Thursday 18th August and Friday 19th August and the number to call is 01522 583698. Prospective students can also visit the university at an open day on Friday 19th August from 10am until 5pm. The day provides an opportunity to see what Bishop Grosseteste University has to offer, take a minibus tour of Lincoln and speak to staff and students about courses and life as a student. “A-level results week can be a stressful and worrying time for students and their families, but remember that we are here to help and advise whatever your situation,” said Karen Richardson, Head of Student Recruitment and Admissions at BGU. “It’s always a busy period for us but as always we will do our best to ensure that students are not left worried or uncertain about their place at university.” Case study: Glen Hughes An Education Studies and Psychology student who was looking for a new career challenge and applied to Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln through Clearing has graduated with an honours degree. Now he’s aiming to continue his education by studying for a master's degree in Forensic Psychology at the University of Lincoln. Glen Hughes (25) was disillusioned with his job as a carer and convinced Olivia Sagan, Academic Co-ordinator for Psychology at BGU, to offer him a place. He graduated with a BA (Hons) degree in Education Studies and Psychology on Wednesday 20th July. “I was pretty bored with my job and I rang up not expecting a place,” said Glen. “When I spoke to Olivia she gave me a place and I was like, what is going on here? I don’t think it really dawned on me that I was actually going to university! “My advice to anyone contemplating going to university through Clearing is: don’t hold back, just do it. When I contacted BGU I was bored out of my mind and they gave me what I needed.” Glen, from Bracebridge Heath near Lincoln, has been involved in a number of roles at BGU that help promote both the Education Studies and Psychology courses; he worked as a student ambassador and is now interning for Olivia and helping with her research projects. Before entering Clearing Glen studied for a BTEC in Health and Social Care at Andover College. He then moved to Lincoln and was a carer with Bupa for two years. Top Tips for Clearing If you’ve just got your A-level results and you’re not sure what to do next, consult Karen Richardson’s handy set of tips for students who will be entering the Clearing system: Don’t panic! If you stay calm you’re more likely to take in all the information you need to succeed. If your grades fall short, wait for that important acceptance/rejection indication on Track before you put yourself into Clearing. You never know – your first-choice university might still accept you. Don’t give up! You may well get a place on a similar course that’s just as good – but you’ll need to shop around. Don’t rush your decision. The UCAS system doesn’t even let you trigger the formal process of accepting a Clearing place until 5pm on results day, so you have the chance to shop around. Be realistic. If you’ve seriously blown it then think hard about re-sits or another course altogether – you can always re-apply next time around. UCAS is offering a free (for landlines) Exam Results Service on 0808 100 8000 where trained, professional careers advisers will be available to give help and advice. Be prepared to make lots of phone calls and to be persistent! Keep your nerve – you may need all your negotiating skills to persuade an academic that they should take you on. Enlist the support of friends and family – keep them informed, as they’ll be a great help to you when you have to make that difficult final decision. Be prepared to explain to universities why you didn’t do as well as you hoped in your exams – and be honest. If you don’t get the grades you need it’s not the end of the world – there are plenty of other opportunities to consider. -
Children’s Spirituality Top of the Agenda at BGU
A total of 75 delegates from more than 15 countries converged on Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln for the biennial four-day event. Led by Dr Kate Adams, Head of Research at the university, and held in partnership with the International Association for Children’s Spirituality (IACS), the conference ran from Tuesday 26th until Friday 29th July. Dr Adams said: “There is a significant recognition that the spiritual dimension of life is often undervalued in societies which are consumer-driven and market-orientated. We wanted to explore the many elements of children’s spirituality through dialogue between those from different disciplines and cultures.” Entitled Spirituality and the Whole Child: Interdisciplinary Approaches, the conference attracted many of the world’s leading experts, practitioners and postgraduate students and was a forum for those working in education, social work, chaplaincy, psychology, youth work, ministry and neuroscience. Keynote speakers came from prestigious universities from across the globe and included John (Jack) Miller from the University of Toronto, Canada; Joyce Ann Mercer from Yale Divinity School, USA; and Jacqueline Watson from the University of Exeter, UK. They shared their research, insight and wisdom and stimulated debate on alternative schooling, restorative spirituality for traumatised children and integrated working to support children respectively. An additional 44 papers and workshops were delivered covering themes relating to spirituality in different contexts. These included the early years through to adolescence, music, art, meditation, mindfulness, children’s literature, resilience and religious approaches. During the conference, Dr Adams was elected as Co-chair of the association. “I am honoured to have been voted in to this role by our members,” she said. “IACS is an inclusive community which values the spiritual lives of children and young people, irrespective of their faith or lack thereof. It is particularly pertinent to BGU as a church university to be central to this significant work which is being conducted across the globe.” A series of social events took place during the week and included the formation of a community choir by conference delegates. The choir was led by Frances Kelly, a recent recipient of a British Citizen Award for services to community music-making in Lincolnshire. The delegates also enjoyed a bespoke tour of Lincoln Cathedral as seen through children’s eyes as well as a conference dinner showcasing the outstanding talents of BGU chef Jack Bridges and his team. -
Excellent student satisfaction
BGU is the second highest ranked public university in England for student satisfaction. Figures released today from the National Student Survey show that 92% of BGU students are satisfied with their university experience - that’s 7% higher than last year’s score and six percentage points higher than the sector average. Significantly seven courses reported overall satisfaction above 92%. Education Studies, Theology & Ethics achieved 100% satisfaction while three other courses – Early Childhood Studies, Primary Education with Recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status and Applied Studies – all recorded satisfaction levels of 97%. Dr Ruth Sayers, Executive Dean Learning, Teaching and International, welcomed today’s findings: “This is an excellent result for BGU and demonstrates our commitment to working in partnership with our students to improve their teaching and learning experience. We take what our students tell us very seriously and are always keen to hear what they have to say. We’ve introduced a number of initiatives to help give them a greater input including a new student engagement facilitator role which has been created to enhance and further develop a culture of staff and students working in partnership across the university. We’re also delighted with the overall response rate, which was 81% of eligible final year students, and would like to thank the Bishop Grosseteste Students’ Union (BGSU) for their support in encouraging people to take part.” BGSU President Kieran Parrish said he is thrilled with the outcome: “This shows that the students recognise the high quality of service they are actually getting from the university and that the relationship is one which is strong and transparent. From an SU point of view it is excellent to see how engaged and happy the students are, however, we know that there is always room for improvement. We are relishing the chance to build upon this and push ourselves to provide better for the students in the future.” The NSS statistics follow on from a succession of positive results for BGU. In April, the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) published its review which found that BGU met its expectations in all areas – academic standards, learning opportunities, information and enhancement. In July, the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey revealed that BGU is one of the top three universities in the UK for student employability with 97.2% per cent of students who leave BGU with an undergraduate degree finding work or continuing to study six months following graduation. Also during the year, Ofsted gave a very positive rating for all of teacher education – early years, primary, secondary and further education – and praised BGU for having a “clear vision and an extremely strong commitment to their engagement with partners in the FE and skills sector”. The Reverend Canon Professor Peter Neil, Vice Chancellor of Bishop Grosseteste University, said it’s been an extremely successful year. “We’ve achieved some outstanding results this year which show that we provide outstanding facilities and support,” he explained. “It is also worth highlighting that we’ve recorded increases in all of the eight NSS question categories and attained one of the biggest rises in the country for overall student satisfaction. We conduct our own in-house survey every year and receive very positive feedback but it is very encouraging to see our students saying this in public. However, there is no room for complacency and we will keep growing the range of subjects on offer and further invest in improving our up-hill campus so that we can continue giving the students an excellent experience.” -
Need a New Career Challenge? Why Not Apply to University?
An Education Studies and Psychology student who was looking for a new career challenge and applied to Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln through Clearing will receive his degree at Lincoln Cathedral on Wednesday. Now he’s aiming to continue his education by studying for a master's degree in Forensic Psychology at the University of Lincoln. Glen Hughes (25) was disillusioned with his job as a carer and convinced Olivia Sagan, Academic Co-ordinator for Psychology at BGU, to offer him a place. He will graduate with a BA (Hons) degree in Education Studies and Psychology on on Wednesday 20th July. “I was pretty bored with my job and I rang up not expecting a place,” said Glen. “When I spoke to Olivia she gave me a place and I was like, what is going on here? I don’t think it really dawned on me that I was actually going to university! “My advice to anyone contemplating going to university through Clearing is: don’t hold back, just do it. When I contacted BGU I was bored out of my mind and they gave me what I needed.” Glen, from Bracebridge Heath near Lincoln, has been involved in a number of roles at BGU that help promote both the Education Studies and Psychology courses; he worked as a student ambassador and is now interning for Olivia and helping with her research projects. Before entering Clearing Glen studied for a BTEC in Health and Social Care at Andover College. He then moved to Lincoln and was a carer with Bupa for two years. -
BGU Short Courses Help Develop Employability Skills
Do you want to improve your interview technique or develop skills to help you in the world of work? Two upcoming short courses at Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln can help participants do just that. The university is offering two one-day courses: Interview Techniques in February or June, and Preparation for Work in April. Both courses can help a range of people from those already in employment, to those looking for employment or their first job and those going back to work after time away. Interview Techniques on Friday 24 February or Monday 12 June 2017 will give participants the skills to help stand out during an interview, whether it be for work, further education or another venture. Participants will learn valuable interview techniques throughout the day before completing a practice interview to demonstrate their skills. The course is open to everyone and costs £60pp or £50 for BGU students and alumni. The Preparation for Work course can help participants improve communication skills at work, boost confidence and prepare you for the expectations of the workplace. According to the UK Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), "Businesses are looking for young people who stand out from the crowd. They want you to demonstrate that you have a clear idea of where you’re going in life and show signs of having the personal qualities and confidence to get there" This course is designed to help you be aware of your own skills and how you can transfer them to a work environment. Open to everyone, the course on Wednesday 26 April 2017 costs just £35pp. For more information and to book please contact Gemma Fogg by emailing gemma.fogg@bishopg.ac.uk or calling 01522 583621. -
Ex-Student Dan Returns to BGU as Gary Barlow
Former Bishop Grosseteste University student Dan Hadfield will be back on campus on Saturday (1st October) to perform as Take That star Gary Barlow. Dan, who performs as the singer as well as acting as Gary’s official lookalike, will be singing some of Gary’s best known hits at 7.30pm in The Venue. Having performed alongside Gary Barlow and appeared on the X Factor, Dan is known as the number one Gary Barlow tribute act and performs his solo show across the country as well as abroad. He has appeared on the BBC comedy Miranda and last year amazed guests at a wedding in Cheshire by performing with Gary to the bride and groom! Dan worked in higher education for a while at both BGU and the University of Lincoln, but had a change of heart when he decided to turn his hobby into a full-time career. “It will be wonderful to see Dan back on campus performing all those Gary Barlow and Take That hits live,” said Hannah Clipsham, Events Manager at BGU. “We’re very proud of his achievements as a graduate of BGU and we’re sure this concert will be a special night for everyone.” The new Refectory at BGU will be offering a pre-show curry – to book a table email refectory@bishopg.ac.uk or call 01522 583795. Tickets to the concert cost £15 – to book visit www.thevenuelincoln.co.uk, call 01522 585635 or email daisy.wedge@bishopg.ac.uk. Find out more about Dan at www.garybarlowlookalike.com -
Win a signed Lincoln City shirt with BGU!
PLEASE NOTE: COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED As part of Bishop Grosseteste University’s ongoing partnership with Lincoln City Football Club, and to celebrate the Imps’ promotion to the Football League, we are delighted to announce a competition to win a signed shirt. We are giving away a Lincoln City home shirt (complete with BGU logo!) signed by the first team squad. For details on how to win please see below. BGU’s sponsorship of Lincoln City Football Club provides many mutual benefits for both the university and the club. From our sports students receiving coaching from Danny Cowley, The FA Cup visiting the university, to laptops provided by BGU helping the Imps on their remarkable FA Cup run, the opportunities this season have been plentiful. Study the new BSc (Hons) Sport, Coaching and Physical Education degree at BGU and you could receive coaching from Danny Cowley. Competition For your chance to win a signed Lincoln City home shirt simply like this Facebook post and comment with your answer to the question: What is the full name of our new Sport degree? Terms & Conditions for BGU’s signed Lincoln City shirt prize draw: There is 1 prize of a Lincoln City home shirt signed by the first team squad. Open to UK residents, excluding employees of Bishop Grosseteste University. Closing date for entries is 4.00pm on Tuesday 2 May 2017. Only one entry per person. Entrants must like and leave a comment with the correct answer on this Facebook post. The winner will be chosen at random. The winner will be informed by a reply to their comment plus a Facebook message on Tuesday 2 May 2017. By participating in this prize draw, entrants confirm they have read, understood and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook -
BGU students shadow national book awards
BGU Education Studies students are taking part in the United Kingdom Literacy Association (UKLA) book awards shadowing scheme this year. This national scheme takes place annually and offers students the chance to vote for their favourite new children’s book in a range of age group categories, 'shadowing' the official UKLA awards panel which includes teachers and literacy experts across the UK. The author selected by students nationally will receive a special award at the UKLA international conference in July. A group of 17 second year BGU Education Studies students volunteered to meet with lecturer Dr Helen Hendry and children’s librarian Janice Morris for four lunch-time meetings throughout this year’s second semester. They chose the 3-6 age range as the books are quick to read and fun to talk about! The meetings are informal and include time to talk about likes, dislikes and reactions to the text and illustrations. The students have been trying out the books on willing children of friends and family, and during school placements. They also used the official UKLA criteria to consider the relationship between words and illustrations, the author’s use of language, and to try to choose the book which young readers would want to read over and over again. Helen Henry said “involving the Education Studies students in shadowing the UKLA book awards is a fantastic way of widening their knowledge of current high quality children’s literature. This will be important for many of their future careers in education. “Through our informal discussions and consideration of the award criteria they really get a chance to think about what children gain from sharing stories and how picture books can be a powerful tool in the classroom. “This project also highlights the wonderful selection of children’s books and teaching resources in our library and encourages our students to use these when planning creatively on placement in partnership schools. It is a real pleasure to share the books with our students and debate and discuss our favourites!” Two students who respond to the shadowing event in an innovative way, perhaps by involving pupils and schools, can be nominated to attend the UKLA conference and meet the authors. At the end of May the student shadowers can vote individually online for their chosen winner. BGU students clearly know their books for children as last year both of the groups' favourites won their UKLA categories. Richard Byrne's 'This book just ate my dog' won the UKLA Students Award and Alex T. Smith ‘s ‘Little Red and the very hungry lion’ won the overall UKLA Book Award 2016 for its age range. We will find out in July if our students can pick a winner again! Do you want to get involved with the shadow book awards next year? Find out more about studying Education at BGU.
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