University Lecturer Celebrates Success in the National Training Awards for Supporting Green Tourism

Dr Andrew Clegg, Subject Leader for Tourism Management at the University of Chichester is celebrating his success in the National Training Awards 2009. In recognition of his work, in partnership with Tourism South East and local businesswoman Sandra Barnes Keywood, Andrew was named as winner of the National Training Award – South East Prize for Providing Education and Training 2009 for delivering training relating to green tourism for small businesses.

As part of his work at the University, Dr Clegg works as a consultant and trainer for Tourism South East. Andrew is the national master trainer for the “Green Advantage” programme, a one-day course looking at sustainable business management. Dr Clegg’s award recognises his work in developing training designed to help businesses recognise the value of being green, and seeking accreditation in the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS). The GTBS is a national programme that awards gold, silver or bronze stars to tourism sector companies based on their environmental practices.

The National Training Awards recognise excellence in training and for this award Andrew had to demonstrate the drivers for the training, the nature of the training developed, and how training had impacted on business performance. The feedback from the NTA highlighted the calibre of the training being delivered ‘Judges found that the energy and enthusiasm of the entrant was really infectious...the overall training package has been well modified to engage tourist operations and leads to these companies offering a greener tourist package...the mix of theory vs practice is very good’.

Andrew also provides training in partnership with the Green Training Company, run by Sandra Barnes-Keywood, an award winning green business champion who also runs the Old Chapel Forge B&B in Lagness. Dr Clegg has worked with Sandra to develop a suite of training programmes that support business adoption of green business practices, and in doing so help demonstrate the business case for green tourism not only through savings in cost-efficiency but also how being green can contribute to the overall quality of the visitor experience.

As Dr Clegg points out ‘in the current climate green tourism makes good business sense as it encourages businesses to look critically at how to save money. However, green tourism is not just about energy efficient lightbulbs and the aim of the training courses I have developed is to help businesses recognise the wider social and environmental remit of sustainable tourism. Most importantly it is about getting businesses to recognise that green tourism can have a significant impact on the overall quality of the visitor experience’.

Dr Clegg is keen to acknowledge the help of Sandra Barnes-Keywood – ‘Sandra has helped me to make the training real and without her input I would have not won this award’. Dr Clegg is also grateful to Tourism South East for running the courses he and Sandra have developed. As he explains ‘Tourism South East take an instrumental role in supporting sustainable tourism across the region and I am grateful for the opportunity to deliver this training for them and for the tremendous support they have provided’. Dr Clegg will not however be resting on his laurels. Later this month he will be visiting Malta with Tourism South East to help Malta Tourism develop their own green training programme.

Contact: Dr Andrew Clegg 01243 812017 Email: a.clegg@chi.ac.uk

University of Chichester to offer heart MOT to young athletes

Join local Olympians and take the test …

The University of Chichester, in collaboration with Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), is offering young adults aged 14 to 35-years a unique opportunity of having a heart MOT test to assess the structure and function of their heart.

The test, comprising an ECG (electrocardiogram) and where appropriate an ECHO (echocardiogram), is a once in a lifetime test currently being offered too professional, Olympic and recreation athletes.

The University of Chichester is excited in the role it will play in becoming a Southern Centre for CRY and helping CRY deliver their vision set out for 2009:

'to work with cardiologists and family doctors to promote and protect the cardiac health of our young by establishing good practice and screening facilities devoted to significantly reduce the frequency of young sudden cardiac death throughout the UK.'

Expert technical and medical practitioners from CRY, supported by a fast-track referral system, will conduct the tests.

One hundred places are available on 23rd October 2009 from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. and will cost £35.00. All testing will take place at the Bishop Otter Campus in Chichester. To secure a place book on-line now at www.c-r-y.org.uk/

Dr Marcus Smith, Principal Lecturer and Field Leader in Exercise Physiology at University of Chichester, said: “For the price of a text book or a night out you will be given peace of mind that you have a healthy heart and can participate safely in a lifetime of sporting and physical activity. The University is committed to developing closer links with local schools, colleges, and sports clubs and for one individual it may perhaps be the most important test they undertake. I have two sons who fit the 14-35-age category that take part regularly in school and club based sport in the local community. As a parent, and given that every week 12 apparently fit and healthy young people die in the UK from undiagnosed heart problems, this is a service I feel cannot and should not be ignored. Both will be booked in, providing the 100 spaces have not already been taken!”

Dr. Steven Cox, CRY Deputy Chief Executive, said ‘“Although it is essential to look out for the warning signs, our experience is that so often there are no symptoms prior to death and the only way the condition could have been detected would have been if cardiac tests were conducted.’

For more information visit: www.c-r-y.org.uk/

National Poetry Day at the University of Chichester

Writers and scholars from the English Department at the University of Chichester are to mark National Poetry Day on Thursday, October 8th, with a special event.

Members of the public are invited to mingle with staff and students at a free evening forum on 'The Role of Poetry in 21st Century Life'. The discussion will be hosted by the West Sussex Poet Laureate Dr Hugh Dunkerley, who will invite questions from the floor. The forum will be followed by a reading, accompanied by music. The reading is to feature poems written by members of staff from the English Department. The readers include Hugh Dunkerley and the English Head of Department Diana Barsham. They will be joined by Stephanie Norgate and Dave Swann, who also lecture in English and Creative Writing at the University.

Other participants at the forum include Art Department lecturer Chris Aggs, a well-known local artist, whose paintings often use poetry as a source of inspiration. Although now known as an accomplished artist, Chris was originally a student of literature, graduating in English at Oxford University. Stephanie Norgate is an acclaimed poet, whose book 'Hidden River' was published last year by Bloodaxe Books, one of the world's most prestigious poetry publishers. Hugh Dunkerley's latest collection, 'Hare' is forthcoming from Cinnamon Press, while Diana Barsham and Dave Swann are also working on new books of poetry.

Organiser Dave Swann said, "Poetry is a marginal activity for most. Yet those people who would normally ignore it are often drawn to poetry at important moments in their lives. "When people are born or die or get married, it seems natural to look to poetry for meaning and help, or consolation and hope. "In times that sometimes seem starved of beauty, I believe that poetry continues to have a special role in explaining this strange world of ours and also maybe of suggesting other ways in which we could live, particularly at a time in history when so many of our institutions are in crisis. "Staff at the University want to mark this annual occasion by inviting members of the public and students to come together and discuss the state of poetry in the UK, and its relevance to our busy 21st Century lives. "We warmly invite people to come and relate their personal experiences of poetry, and to describe its contribution to their lives, in what we expect to be an enjoyable and inspiring evening."

The event will take place in Cloisters Chamber at the Bishop Otter Campus on Thursday, October 8th, from 7pm to 9pm, and all members of the public are welcome to attend. Entry is free.