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TV Archaeologist to Launch New Degree at BGU
Well known TV archaeologist Julian Richards will launch a new Archaeology and History degree to be offered from September 2015 at Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln. BGU currently offers single honours History but will run a joint degree next year which will be launched at a two-day event on 14th and 15th October 2014. Julian Richards, well known for his appearances on Meet the Ancestors and Blood of the Vikings, will deliver a lecture at BGU entitled Bringing the Past to Life at 6.30pm on Tuesday 14th October. He will also be involved in a school activity earlier in the day at BGU, leading children from Ermine Primary School through a mock excavation so that they can learn how archaeologists work and what they can discover.These activities will take place from 10.30am until 11.30am and from 1.45pm until 2.45pm on Tuesday 14th October and reporters / photographers are welcome to attend. Zoe Tomlinson, Community Archaeologist at BGU, is excited to have Julian Richards launch the new degree at BGU. “Julian is the ideal person to launch our new degree because not only has he undertaken some really interesting fieldwork but also published books and articles for both the general reader and for academic study,” she said. Julian Richards is recognised for his work on Stonehenge and has written a number of books on archaeology for both adults and children. The new joint honours degree will offer a wide variety of modules across the subjects of archaeology and history. The course includes the opportunity for students to experience a live excavation project and develop key practical skills in both field and lab-based techniques. BGU has particular strengths in public and community archaeology and students will also gain skills in these areas as they study Britain’s Roman and mediaeval past. Dr Craig Spence, Senior Lecturer and Academic Co-ordinator for History and Archaeology at BGU, explained: “The relationship between archaeology and history is particularly strong and close to us at BGU, because we understand history is not just understood through documents but through a dynamic consideration of words, images, buildings and artefacts. “Studying archaeology at BGU gives students the opportunity to get really hands on with the past.“It is a privilege to be based in a city filled with such great history. As a result we make excellent use of the archives and museums in the ancient city of Lincoln which help to tell its 2,000-year history from Roman foundation to industrial renaissance in the 19th and 20th centuries.” Alongside the launch event, BGU has organised a Young Person’s Photography competition. All shortlisted entrants will be invited to the university to attend Julian Richards’ lecture on 14th October, where he will announce and present the prize to the competition winner. The winner of the competition will be chosen by a panel of four judges: John Rimmer, Academic Co-ordinator for Art and Design and Visual Arts at BGU; Lynne McEwen, award-winning freelance photographer; Steven Cole, photography teacher at William Farr School, and Sam Gordon, Manager of the Lincoln’s Bishops’ Palace for English Heritage. Spaces are limited for the Bringing the Past to Life lecture on 14th October. To register contact Bronwen Kane on 01522 583622 or email bronwen.kane@bishopg.ac.uk. For more information about all of the history and archaeology courses on offer at the university please contact Dr Craig Spence: craig.spence@bishopg.ac.uk. -
RAG to Riches for BGU Student Fund Raisers
Bishop Grosseteste University's Students' Union (BGSU) has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award after raising over £46,000 for charity. It's a finalist in the Most Improved Fundraising Group category at this year's FIG (Find, Invest, Grow) National Student Fundraising Awards next Wednesday (27th August). Run by elected students to represent the interests of students, BGSU raised around £5,000 during the last academic year. This year, however, it has managed to raise an impressive £46,031.32 - eight times more than last year! Chris Robertson, former Raise and Give (RAG) Officer and newly elected SU President, said: "It's amazing to see how far BGSU has come this year. To have raised almost 10 times more than last year's amount and be nominated for a top award are both incredible achievements! "I would like to thank everyone who has helped us either by taking part in an event or making a donation. We couldn't have done it without your support." The money has been raised through a number of activities including a week-long hitch-hike from Lincoln to Croatia and a jailbreak challenge where students had to travel as far away from Lincoln as possible in 36 hours without any money; the winning team managed to travel to Paris. The majority of the cash, however, was raised by a group of 41 students who went on a three-week volunteering trip to Romania to help teach English to children and renovate local buildings. The group managed to collect over £37,000 thanks to individual donations and taking part in various fundraising events including sponsored sports matches and the Lincoln 10K. Twelve different charities will benefit from the £46,031.32 raised, including Cancer Research UK, Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research and the Bishop Grosseteste University Foundation Fund. The Reverend Professor Peter Neil, Vice Chancellor of BGU, said everyone at the university is extremely proud of what the students' union has managed to achieve. "The amount the students have managed to raise during the past 12 months is phenomenal and will make a massive difference to a lot of people's lives," said Professor Neil. "I wish BGSU the very best of luck at this year's FIG National Student Fundraising Awards and hope they come back with a trophy. Even if they don't win it is still an incredible achievement and will hopefully inspire our students to raise even more in the coming academic year - although admittedly £46,031.32 is a hard target to beat!" The winners of the 2014 FIG National Student Fundraising Awards will be announced at a ceremony on 27th August 2014 at the National Railway Museum in York. -
Survey Shows Student Satisfaction Rising at BGU
Figures released today from the National Student Survey show that 88% of BGU students are satisfied with their university experience - that's higher than the national average of 86% and three percentage points up on BGU's score last year. BGU's Foundation Degree in Applied Studies (Early Childhood) achieved 100% satisfaction while three other courses - Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), Education Studies & English and Education Studies & Mathematics - recorded satisfaction levels of 95%. The proportion of BGU students completing the survey has also increased significantly; from 64% in 2010 to 72% in 2013 and 87% this year. The Reverend Professor Peter Neil, Vice Chancellor of Bishop Grosseteste University, welcomed today's data published by HEFCE, the Higher Education Funding Council for England. "This is an excellent result for BGU," he said. "We are always keen to hear what our students are telling us about their experiences here and the message is clear from these findings - we are doing better and better. "The most significant change this year is that the number of students completing the survey increased by 15 percentage points on last year; this means that the feedback from students is much more robust. The staff are committed to giving the students an excellent experience and will be looking at the areas the students are highlighting as things which they perceive needing improvement. But all in all this is a very good result for BGU." The latest figures come hot on the heels of a survey published last month which showed that BGU is one of the top five universities in England for the proportion of graduates who are employed or in further study six months after graduating. According to the DLHE survey (Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education) published by HESA, the Higher Education Statistics Agency, on 3rd July 2014, 96.5% of Bishop Grosseteste University graduates had found a job or were continuing their studies six months after graduating in 2012/13. The Which? University Guide currently ranks BGU fifth in England for graduate prospects and lists BGU as having the highest average graduate salary in the East Midlands. -
Great War Talk to Honour Tragic Beechey Brothers
Eight Lincoln brothers joined up to fight for king and country in the Great War – but only three returned. The story of the Beechey family of Avondale Street in Lincoln will be told next week by author Michael Walsh, whose book ‘Brothers in War’ (2006) tells the tragic story of Barnard, Charles, Frank, Harold and Leonard Beechey who were all killed in World War One. Mr Walsh will give a talk on the subject at Bishop Grosseteste University on Monday 10th November organised by the City of Lincoln branch of the Historical Association and the university.There will also be a special Lincolnshire at War exhibition, supported by the Lincolnshire County Council Archives, which will feature a selection of the Beechey brothers’ letters on display alongside other First World War artefacts. This will be the first time these documents have been put on public display outside of the archives. Descendants of the Beechey brothers will be attending the event, which takes place in Armistice Week and two days before The Last Post is premiered at Lincoln Drill Hall.The Last Post is a new play which has been written for the Lincoln Mystery Plays Company, based on hundreds of letters home written by the eight brothers that are kept in the Lincolnshire Archives. The Beechey Boys WW1 event begins in the Robert Hardy Building at BGU at 5pm on 10th November with refreshments and a book signing by the author supported by Waterstones, and the talk will start at 6pm. There is a £3 charge for the event but BGU staff and students and members of the Historical Association can attend free of charge. The talk is just one of a number of historical events regularly staged at BGU, which will launch a new joint degree in Archaeology and History from September 2015. We currently offer single honours History but the new joint honours degree will offer a wide variety of modules across the subjects of archaeology and history. We have particular strengths in public and community archaeology and students will also gain skills in these areas as they study Britain’s Roman and mediaeval past. -
BGU Investigates the Effects of Student Boredom
A professor at Bishop Grosseteste University has been researching the reasons why university students become bored and whether or not it affects their final degree outcome. Research carried out by John Sharp, Professor of Education at BGU, suggests that the final year grades of certain university students can be affected by their proneness to boredom. Boredom manifests itself in two forms: ‘trait boredom’ or the predisposition of an individual to becoming bored, and ‘state boredom’ or the actual experience of boredom in the moment. Professor Sharp’s study is mainly looking at trait boredom in the first instance. “So far the findings of the study suggest that students identified as having a lower predisposition to boredom tend to perform better in their academic work, resulting in higher final degree grades in comparison to those for whom the opposite is the case,” said Professor Sharp. To measure academic boredom and other related-factors, a sample of 324 final-year undergraduate students taking education-based courses and aged between 21 and 40 completed a series of questionnaires including a new boredom proneness scale. They were also asked to rate and comment on which modes of course delivery interested them the most or left them cold. Further interviews with a smaller sample were undertaken to enrich and shed light on the questionnaire data. Professor Sharp is hopeful that the findings from his study will enable tutors to better evaluate and inform their teaching methods and to find strategies to keep their students who are prone to boredom engaged as well as to help students recognise and better understand the signs and symptoms of boredom to become more effective learners. “Lecturers can use the information to minimise the number of students becoming bored during on-campus learning periods and ways to stay engaged during private learning,” said Professor Sharp. “The fact that we’re able to measure boredom and spot trends in outcomes is extremely useful, because it now gives us the opportunity to act and do something about it.” A similar study in Australia is being co-ordinated by Dr Brian Hemmings at Charles Strut University in Australia. Professor Sharp and Dr Hemmings have collaborated on this and other projects over several years. It is expected that Professor Sharp’s study will be published in four parts with the first currently under review at the Journal of Further and Higher Education. The full study will be completed in the next 18 months. -
Extra Funding to Encourage Young People into University
More young people will be encouraged to study at university thanks to new government funding which has been secured by Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln. Today (Thursday 8th January) the university was promised £24,000 over two years to support its collaborative work with other universities and colleges to widen participation in higher education. The money will be used to extend and increase BGU’s widening participation activities across the region and enable the university to engage with pupils from more schools. BGU is involved in three networks which work to improve access to higher education to young people from all backgrounds. “This new funding of £24,470 from HEFCE (the Higher Education Funding Council for England) will provide a great boost to our widening participation activities,” said Karen Richardson, Head of Student Recruitment and Admissions at BGU. “Hopefully we will be able to reintroduce summer schools and help to raise the aspirations of students who would not otherwise think that studying at university was for them.” Lincolnshire is characterised by comparatively high attainment at GCSE but low levels of participation in higher education – only 32% of 18-year-olds go on to higher education courses at university or college compared to the national average of 38%. * BGU’s widening participation activities target people from disadvantaged socio-economic areas, people with no history of higher education in their family, black and minority ethnic groups, males (for teacher training courses) and mature students. The university currently runs two access to HE programmes: First Steps 2 Study and Next Steps 4 Study. First Steps 2 Study is aimed at Year 9,10 and 11 pupils and involves a student ambassador from BGU, campus visits and a visit to the school, while Next Steps 4 Study targets Year 12 and 13 pupils who take part in debates, workshops, seminars and presentations both at school and at the university. BGU is a member of three networks involved in widening participation: the North East Midlands Collaborative Outreach Network, the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers, and Magna Carta – Education for Liberty (which is led by the University of Lincoln). Other partners in the Magna Carta – Education for Liberty network include Lincoln College, Boston College, North Lindsey College, Grimsby Institute and Grantham College. Partners in the North East Midlands Collaborative Outreach Network include BGU, the University of Nottingham, the University of Derby, Nottingham Trent University, West Nottinghamshire College, Central College Nottingham, Loughborough College and Stephenson College in Coalville and Nottingham. The funding announced today is part of a new £22 million national scheme involving 226 higher education institutions and reaching 4,300 secondary schools and colleges. The National Networks for Collaborative Outreach (NNCO) will deliver a nationally co-ordinated approach to working with schools, universities and colleges to help people access higher education. Greg Clark, Minister for Universities and Science, commented: “A record number of students entered higher education in 2014, with entry rates for students from disadvantaged backgrounds increasing by over 10% to its highest ever level. “However there is still more work to do to ensure all students who want to study hard can benefit, irrespective of their background.” * Latest HEFCE statistics for 2011/12. -
Bishop Grosseteste University Gears Up for Clearing
The admissions team at Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln is primed and ready to deal with enquires during Clearing on Thursday 13th August when students across the country will receive their A-level results. Admissions Assistant Laura Dovey (24, pictured) will be one of the people answering the phone, offering advice and support during Clearing, and she knows better than most what it can feel like to go through the process. In 2010, Laura from Lincoln, had taken a gap year and was planning to start a photography course at university in September when the course was cancelled at the last minute. “I was left without a plan and without a place at university,” said Laura. “My second UCAS choice was the BA English Literature course at BGU, but I wasn’t sure if I had already missed out on a place.” Laura was asked to use the Clearing process to apply for a place and was the first to get through when the lines went live at 8am. Laura said: “I discussed my qualifications with the admissions team and spoke to the senior course leader. I was delighted when I was offered a place on the English Literature course.” Following three years of study Laura graduated in 2013 with a first-class honours degree, something she puts down to the university, she said: “The atmosphere at BGU is one of inclusivity and support. “When I arrived I was quiet and shy, but thanks to the nurturing nature of my lecturers and encouragement from my friends I left feeling much more confident, both in myself and my work.” Laura and the rest of the admissions team will be ready to advise and support the next wave of students as they navigate the Clearing process. The call centre will be open from 8am until 6pm on both Thursday 13th August and Friday 14th August and the number to call is 01522 583698. Prospective students are invited to attend the university’s open day on Friday 14th 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. The open day also provides an opportunity for those who are starting (or hoping to start) in September to speak face-to-face to BGU staff about any anxieties regarding qualifications and pick up a free Freshers’ Wall Planner which contains all of the important events Freshers may want to attend. “The days following A-level results day can be a stressful and anxious time for those students who have not yet finalised their plans,” said Karen Richardson, Head of Student Recruitment and Admissions at BGU. “It’s a busy few days 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.” 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 -
Take That BGU! Dan Makes a Welcome Return
A former Bishop Grosseteste University student is set to make a glorious return to the campus to perform as Take That star Gary Barlow. Dan Hadfield, who performs as the singer as well as acting as Gary’s official lookalike, is singing at BGU on Friday 6th November in The Venue from 7pm. Having performed with the man himself and appeared on the X Factor, Dan is known as the ‘number one Gary Barlow tribute artiste’ and performs his solo show across the country as well as abroad. He has also appeared on the BBC comedy Miranda. Dan said: “I know that it will be a pleasure to perform at BGU again. My mind goes back to performing in the university’s Stars In Their Eyes competition as David Gray with my friend Euan on guitar. We were the only entrants to perform live, and covered ‘Say Hello, Wave Goodbye’, a nine-minute song which brought the house down enough for us to win the competition.” Dan also worked in higher education for a while at both BGU and the University of Lincoln, but left that behind to perform as Gary. He is currently writing his debut album of original music, set for release in 2016. Hannah Clipsham, Events Manager at BGU, said: “It’s great that we can welcome back a former student to the university to perform. To have one who’s done so well in his chosen career is pretty special. This should be a night to remember, and we can’t wait to hear all those Take That hits live!” Find out more about Dan at www.garybarlowlookalike.com Tickets for the evening cost £15, with all funds raised going to the BGU Foundation Fund, which helps enhance the student experience and supports making a difference to people’s lives. The university is also offering a pre-concert meal to book in advance in the Refectory from 5pm to 6.30pm. To book, call 01522 583795 or visit www.thevenuelincoln.co.uk For further details contact the Conference and Events Office on 01522 583681 or email jessica.lyons@bishopg.ac.uk -
New Partnership Brings Imps and BGU Closer Together
Bishop Grosseteste University and Lincoln City FC have welcomed a deal which strengthens the partnership between the two organisations. Today BGU and Lincoln City announce a new three-year deal which will see BGU continue as the club’s main sponsor and home shirt sponsor. But the strategic partnership between the university and the football club goes much deeper than that: the two organisations will be working ever more closely together on student engagement, teaching and matchday activities. BGU has an outstanding reputation for teacher training and the Imps’ new management team of brothers Danny and Nicky Cowley were both PE teachers in Essex before joining Lincoln full-time this summer. The Reverend Canon Professor Peter Neil, Vice Chancellor of BGU, says the partnership will work on a number of levels. “Three years ago we were pleased to support the club and raise our profile by signing our first sponsorship agreement,” he said. “But now the relationship is more meaningful and, we hope, more beneficial to both sides. “We have already had discussions with Danny and Nicky about how our academic sport department can work together with the club. This year we will launch our new single honours BSc degree in Sport, Coaching and Physical Education and we are in the process of validating a new foundation degree in Football Coaching with Lincoln College. “Clearly there are synergies here that we can explore, and we are delighted that Lincoln City has appointed a dynamic and successful management team to move the team forward on the pitch.” BGU has already donated two laptops to Danny and Nicky to assist them in their day-to-day player performance analysis, and the university is looking forward to more student engagement from Lincoln City too. Lincoln City players will be contributing to sports courses at BGU from next semester and helping to coach the BGSU football team, while the BGU Lions cheerleading team will have an enhanced role at the club on matchdays. The increased engagement follows the first ever Cathedral Cup match between BGU and the University of Lincoln which was played at Sincil Bank, Lincoln City’s home ground, in February. Lincoln City manager Danny Cowley commented: “We are thoroughly looking forward to working in partnership with BGU going forward. Nicky and I both wholeheartedly believe in education. “BGU have fantastic facilities but more importantly young, intelligent and vibrant people whom we as a club must utilise either as supporters or working with the club. We can provide these young people with exposure to a professional football environment where they can practise and apply their knowledge and skills. “This can be a great opportunity for them to begin their career in a forward-thinking and people-centred environment. We as a club will certainly gain from their expertise. “All successful partnerships have an element of give and take. We really feel this is a relationship where both organisations can benefit from each other. Together we both will be stronger.” -
Roger Mosey to Step Down as Chair of BGU Council
The broadcaster and former BBC Editorial Director Roger Mosey is to step down from his role as Chair of Bishop Grosseteste University‘s Council this summer. Mr Mosey, who is also Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge, has come to the end of his three-year term and the university has begun the search for his successor. He will leave his post in July 2016. When he was appointed as Chair in June 2013 he was renewing old associations with the city of Lincoln: his BBC career began in 1980 when he joined BBC Radio Lincolnshire as a reporter. He went on to be Editor of the BBC’s flagship Radio 4 Today programme, Controller of BBC Radio 5 Live, Head of BBC Television News and the BBC’s Director of London 2012 responsible for the corporation’s coverage of the 2012 Games. “I have hugely enjoyed my time at BGU, and it has been a privilege to work with the university during a key period of its development,” said Mr Mosey. “We have successfully negotiated a number of major reviews, and the Vice Chancellor and his team have done a great job in laying the foundations for future success. I’m now going to focus more on my role in Cambridge, but I leave BGU with many fond memories.” The Reverend Canon Professor Peter Neil, Vice Chancellor of BGU, commented: “The University Council has benefited hugely from the leadership provided by Roger. He brought a wealth of experience and insight to the role which proved invaluable during the last three years, which have involved considerable change in the institution and in the sector. He leaves us in a very positive position.” Recently the university has passed a rigorous review of teaching and learning by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), received glowing reports from the British Psychological Society when it approved BGU’s psychology courses and received a positive report from Ofsted following an inspection of its teacher training provision. The recruitment process to fill the vacant position of Chair of the Council has now begun and BGU expects to announce its new Chair in the summer.
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