Perfect Day – Melissa springs to double gold 15/12/10

A University lecturer taught her rivals a lesson when she picked up two gold medals at the British veterans’ trampolining championship.

You might wonder why Melissa Day, who is only 28, is taking part in a veterans’ event but she explained it was the description given to competition for trampolinists and gymnasts who have stopped competing at international level.

Melissa, who lectures in sports psychology at Chichester University, travelled to the British championships in Lowestoft, Suffolk, with team-mates from the Kingston Trampoline Academy in Surrey. They won team gold - and Melissa took an individual gold.

“I certainly wasn’t expecting to do that well,” she said. “It was a great experience. I don’t compete much these days, I spend more time coaching, and it was nice to be able to show the young people we coach that we still have what it takes to win medals.”

Melissa took up trampolining when she was nine and competed for more than a decade, rising to a standard where she did well at national contests. She is now involved on the sports pyschology side of the England trampolining squad.

And Melissa is already starting to think going back to defend her title at the vets’ championship next year.

“It would be nice to do that, although now I’ve won gold and the team have too, the pressure and expectation will be on us to win again.”

Article reproduced with permission of the Chichester Observer Series, Thursday 9 December 2010.

University academic to feature in BBC documentary on Victorians 10/12/10

A senior history academic at the University of Chichester will feature in the final part of a BBC 2 documentary series by Ian Hislop about the Victorians.

Dr Sue Morgan, Reader in Gender History, will be appearing on The Age of the Do-Gooders at 9pm on Monday 13 December, where the pleasures and perils of booze and sex are the focus for the final episode of Ian Hislop's series about Victorian reformers, campaigners and philanthropists.

Drawing on Sue's specialism in 19th and early 20th century gender history, she will be talking about how the Victorian imagination was challenged, appalled and intrigued by prostitution, as well as how the Contagious Diseases Act worked.

The TV appearance will mark the conclusion of a busy year for Sue – in May, she published her sixth book, a major edited collection entitled Women, Gender and Religious Cultures in Britain, 1800-1940 (Routledge), which was an international collaboration of British, US and Canadian scholars.

It was the publication of this book that led Wingspan Production to approach Sue to advise on the documentary. The series has examined a number of influential Victorian reformers and their attitudes to child welfare, sex and drink, re-evaluating their legacy for the 21st century. Sue's pioneering work on late-Victorian campaigns around prostitution and male sexuality, particularly the flurry of Church and State interventions on the subject during the 1880s and 1890s, formed the basis of the final programme in which Sue will appear.

Sue said: “It was a pleasure to be involved in this series as an advisor and as a talking head. My greatest delight was that a woman reformer, Ellice Hopkins, who led a huge populist movement on ‘social purity' in the 1880s, and who I had rescued from complete obscurity as a PhD student at the University of Bristol in the early 1990s, gets some major air-time in the final programme, where Ian Hislop reads from Hopkins's best-selling 1883 essay True Manliness. That was the most exciting and moving moment for me in the whole thing.”

National recognition for University staff 09/12/10

Two members of staff from the University of Chichester have received national awards, recognising their contributions above and beyond their normal roles.

Gianna Knowles, senior lecturer in primary education, picked up the top prize for her photography skills in the British Council's 2010 Erasmus Competition. As part of the Erasmus international exchange programme available to University staff and students, Gianna spent four weeks in April teaching trainees teachers from across Europe and America at the University of Jönköping, Sweden.

In her free time, she travelled around Scandinavia by train, including travelling to the Arctic Circle. The portfolio of prize-winning photographs was compiled from pictures taken while travelling and living the day-to-day life of a Swedish university lecturer and sought to illustrate the benefits of taking part in the exchange programme.

Gianna received her prize in a ceremony at the British Council offices in London alongside prize winners in a range of categories from other universities across the UK.

Gianna said: “I would urge anyone who has the chance to take part in the scheme to do so. Not only did it give me the opportunity to teach in a different University and work with students and colleagues from many countries, but it also broadened my knowledge and understanding about education generally.”

Venetia Allan, senior lecturer in music, has been honoured by the Noise Abatement Society for her voluntary work to raise awareness of noise induced hearing loss due to MP3 player misuse.

She received the Trude Adler Award for her work in developing the UK's first Key Stage 3 curriculum to help the Society to educate young people about safe listening and hearing health. She also worked with Chichester District Council this year to organise an awareness event at the University, spreading the message to an older audience. Venetia was presented with her award at a ceremony at the House of Commons.

Venetia said: “I am surprised and flattered by the award from the Noise Abatement Society - this is a very worthwhile campaign and it has been a pleasure to be involved with such a dedicated team of people.

“I hope that the award will help to get the message of the campaign out there - that it is a positive thing for young people to love their ears! Through the adoption of the curriculum programme by schools, I hope that we can let as many people as possible find out about safe listening times and levels for personal music players.”

To find out more about the Noise Abatement Society, visit http://www.noiseabatementsociety.com/.

University of Chichester rejects UCU ‘Universities at risk’ report 08/12/10

The University of Chichester strongly rejects the attempt by the University and College Union (UCU) report to classify the university as at ‘high risk’ of serious impact from the Browne Review proposals.

Professor Clive Behagg, Acting Vice-Chancellor, said: “I trust that people will not be misled by this report which completely fails to gauge the capacity of a university to thrive in the new framework. It fails to take into consideration the current financial position of universities, the impressive track record of institutions in managing change, or their capacity to replace the lost Government funding with fees.

“We do not accept the assumptions, methodology and conclusion which have been arrived at with the sole purpose of influencing the House of Commons vote tomorrow night. The data has been specifically handpicked and conflated to purposely produce a result that sees the maximum number of universities classified as ‘at risk’ in UCU’s self-invented scales.

“It is absurd to list the University of Chichester as being ‘at risk’.

“Chichester’s applications are up by 40 per cent against a national rise of 12 per cent. Student satisfaction scores and completion rates are amongst the highest in the modern university sector. We clearly have a desirable product that students want to purchase and they will do so in the new framework.

“Chichester is financially sustainable, now and in the future. HEFCE stipulates universities should retain 30 days of cash in reserve - Chichester has 104. We achieved a surplus this year of £2.2m over an income of £37m (our highest ever), we have £9.5m in reserves and are currently investing £13m in new capital projects that will make us one of the best placed institutions to deal with the challenges of the future.

“There have been many wild speculations on the future since the publication of the Browne Review. UCU should reflect upon the unnecessary damage it could do to confidence in institutions, that are as successful as they are stable, by its unfounded crystal-ball gazing.”

Awards recognition for English students and lecturers 07/12/10

The high quality of work produced by the University of Chichester's English and Creative Department has been underlined once again with national awards for current students and lecturers.

Chichester put its stamp on this year's Bridport Competition, which bills itself as ‘the richest open prize' with a total prize fund of £14,000 and attracting almost 15,000 entries in three categories: short stories, flash fiction and poetry.

Two of the University's postgraduate students won supplementary prizes in the short story competition. Honoria Beirne, who is in the final stages of an MA, received a prize for her story Shake Me, Shake Me, and Katherine Orr, currently studying for a PhD, received her prize for The Human Circadian Pacemaker.

Senior lecturer Dave Swann was long-listed in the poetry category, while associate lecturer Jane Rusbridge was the guest writer at the Bridport Literary Festival, at which the winners of the Bridport Competition are announced.

Jane has another reason to celebrate, as her novel The Devil's Music has been nominated for the 2011 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, the world's most valuable annual literary prize for a single work of fiction published in English. Nominations to win the first prize of 100,000 euros come from libraries around the world – Jane's novel was nominated by a library in Finland. The shortlist will be announced in April 2011.

More information on the Chichester winners at the Bridport Competition can be found on the Thresholds website.

Further student success has come courtesy of Jac Cattaneo, who has won the Royal Academy of Arts short story competitions 2010. Jac, studying for an MA at the University, won the prize for her story Lessons in Tightrope Walking. Further information can be found in an article on the Thresholds website.

Adverse weather – information for staff, students and visitors 05/12/10

Poor weather conditions have affected much of the UK, including Sussex and Hampshire. This has affected the day-to-day running of the University of Chichester, and this page is designed to provide students, staff and visitors with the latest information.

Monday 6 December

The University will be open for business as normal on Monday 6 December after the disruption caused by the snow last week. There has been no significant damage from the thawing snow.
Below freezing temperatures (-4c) are forecast overnight, and so the estates department will be out early on Monday morning to grit campus roads and paths.

As a result, students, staff and visitors are advised to wear appropriate clothing, including sturdy shoes or boots, and take extra care when moving between buildings, especially on the untreated roads and paths.

Students and staff should also take particular care if parking on either of the non-University car parks that the institution has use of during the week. (Chichester Rugby Club car park and the London Road car park in Bognor Regis)

The inter-campus bus service is expected to run as normal. This page will be updated if we are notified by the bus operator of any timetable changes because of the weather.

Student assignment deadlines

Information has been published by the Academic Quality and Standards Unit about what students should do if an assignment was due in on Thursday 2 or Friday 3 December. Students should check their University email accounts for information.

Taking care in adverse weather

The Highways Agency has published advice on how car drivers should be prepared during the severe weather, which can be accessed by visiting the Highways Agency website.

For those who travel by train, details of any amended rail services can be found on the Southern Railway website or the National Rail enquiries website.

David Morrissey is next guest in University media talk series 24/11/10

Actor and director David Morrissey is to be the next guest at the University of Chichester in the series of ‘The Dept. of Media Presents…’.

David will be in conversation with programme co-ordinator Dr Adam Locks on Wednesday 15 December at the University’s Bishop Otter Campus in Chichester. David is best known for television roles in State of Play, Sense and Sensibility, Blackpool, Red Riding, The Deal, Doctor Who and most recently, Thorne. Highly respected as a theatre actor he has also featured in many films including Hilary and Jackie, Captain Correlli’s Mandolin, Stoned, Basic Instinct 2, The Reaping, Centurion, and Is Anybody There? In addition to acting, David has his own production company Tubedale Films, directing and producing the 2009 film, Don’t Worry About Me.

Adam said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our students as well as members of the community who are interested in TV and film to gain a unique and personal insight into the industry. We are thrilled to have David as our guest as he is one of the busiest and most highly respected people in the business.”

Previous guests have included Star Wars producer Robert Watts, Avengers writer/producer Brian Clemens, former Chair of BAFTA and highly successful TV and film producer Hilary Bevan Jones, and actor Philip Glenister, best known for playing Gene Hunt in Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes.

To book a place at this free event, which begins at 5.15pm, e-mail c.farnfield@chi.ac.uk.

Former England basketball coach joins University teaching staff 19/11/10

Dr Laszlo Nemeth, the former England basketball coach, has joined the physical education team at the University of Chichester.

Laszlo brings a wealth of experience as an international performance and excellence coach, drawing on both his professional competition record and his academic background.

Laszlo has coached Premier Division basketball teams in five different countries – winning national titles in four – and coached three different senior men’s national teams around the globe, including England between 1994 and 2004. He has also attended seven Summer Olympic Games in a variety of capacities.

Away from the basketball court, Laszlo worked as a PE teacher and Head of Department in his native Hungary and at Kuwait’s Modern American Private School. He gained a Bachelor of Science degree in senior coaching and a Masters in Physical Education teaching at the Hungarian University for Physical Education (HUPE) in Budapest. He also received his doctorate in training methodology from the same institution.

Laszlo had a simple message for his students following his appointment. He said: “Whatever is your goal: Dream it, plan it, train it and deliver it meticulously and leave the “just do it” for the Nike store end of line sale. You must make it from start to finish for a praise. Do not think that the world must look after you and cater you. The world was here first, so you must cut through.”

Melissa Mantle, Head of Physical Education at the University of Chichester, said: “We are delighted to have someone of Laszlo’s experience on the team at the University. He has been involved in all levels of competition, from Olympic Games to European and World Championships as well as national league level. From the competitive end of sport, he will be a fantastic source of knowledge and inspiration for our students.

“Laszlo will be teaching on the topic of coaching, in particular Basketball, on our sports coaching PE courses, and his appointment underlines the quality of the education we are providing for students who come to Chichester to study coaching or teaching within the Physical Education department.”

Fine Art lecturer wins prize in national art competition 16/11/10

A painting by a lecturer at the University of Chichester has won an award at a national art competition.

Fine Art lecturer Chris Aggs won the Southern England Prize at the National Open Art Competition for his work, ‘Yellow Interference’.

The competition began in 1996 and runs from Chichester each year, organised by local sculptor Neil Lawson Baker. The event is now considered one of the premier art competitions in the country, with a judging panel chaired by one of the founder members of the Young British Artist group, Gavin Turk.

The work of all finalists was exhibited in the Minerva Theatre in Chichester until 13 November.
Chris said: “I am delighted to have been included in this exhibition and winning this prize is an amazing bonus. Painting is a fairly solitary activity and the endorsment of a prestigious panel of judges is a great encouragement. I have already spent most of the money on artists materials. On one level my painting is a landscape but it is also about looking and about making a painting, it doesn't really have a fixed meaning, I hope people will bring along their own readings.”

Professor Clive Behagg, Acting Vice-Chancellor at the University of Chichester, presented the prize to Chris at a Private View in the Minerva to mark the start of the exhibition period. He said: “It is such a pleasure to present this prize to a member of our own staff and one whose work I have admired for a long time. It is a great testimony to the quality of expertise and talent that students are able to draw on at the University, and great to see this point demonstrated by a panel of high profile international judges.”

Chris’ work will soon be put on display in the Learning Resources Centre at the University’s Bishop Otter Campus in Chichester, which is open to members of the public.

West Sussex schoolgirls to be inspired by country’s leading businesswomen 08/11/10

Top businesswomen from across the UK will be visiting the University of Chichester to encourage schoolgirls to become the country's next high flyers.

Senior female managers from firms such as Marks and Spencer, O2 and Deloitte will speak to 100 schoolgirls from West Sussex schools at the University's Bognor Regis Campus, encouraging them to push themselves as far as their abilities will take them.

As well as industry leaders from the private sector, students will hear from the most senior female police officer in Sussex, the chief executive of a national charity and a leading barrister.

The event on Wednesday 17 November will begin with a networking breakfast for the students, followed by an opening address from Felicia Trewin from Deloitte, winner of the ‘Future Leaders' business award. The students, all aged between 14-16 years old, will then get the chance to quiz guests about their roles within their organisations and how they progressed up the educational ladder to their current position.

The event takes place on Women's Enterprise Day, part of Global Enterprise Week.

Lesley-Anne Holder, Widening Participation Officer at the University of Chichester, said: “The aim of the event is to raise the aspirations of young women and to encourage them to consider career options that they may never have thought about before. We hope they go away feeling inspired and work hard to fulfill their potential."

“The calibre of speakers attending the event is extremely high, and this is a great opportunity for the students to meet some of the most senior business, public sector and charity managers in the country.”

The speakers at the event are:

Harriet Evans – Sunday Times Top Ten Best Selling Author
Julie McGourty – Systems Engineer, Cisco Systems
Rachel Gray – Business Development Manager, Cisco Systems
Olivia Pinkney – Assistant Chief Constable, Sussex Police
Kirsty MacArthur – Divisional Director, Heartwood Wealth Management
Annette Browne – Trading Director, Women's Wear, Marks and Spencer
Kirsty Brimelow – Criminal and Human Rights Barrister
Dr Tessa Stone – Chief Executive, Brightside UNIAID
Louise Jackson – Senior Lecturer, University of Chichester
Sally Cowdry – Marketing Director, O2 UK
Jane Lloyd – Vice President, Scotia Capital Europe

Students will be attending from the following schools:

Bourne Community College
Sir Robert Woodard Academy
Midhurst Rother College
Manhood Community College
The Regis School
Thomas Bennett Community College
Felpham Community College
Littlehampton Academy

The AVENGERS, A 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Classic Television Series at the University of Chichester

Find out more by visiting www.chiuni.ac.uk/theavengers

Mrs Peel ... We're Needed!

Basketball coach Gary Smith leaves University role 20/10/10

Worthing Thunder Basketball Club and the University of Chichester announce that Worthing Thunder Director of Coaching Gary Smith has agreed to return as Head Coach of the club.

Smith, who won two EBL Division 1 titles during his previous spell as coach as well as being a driving force in Thunder’s entry to the BBL in 2008-9, took over ahead of the BBL Championship match away to Guildford on Saturday 16 October.

It was originally anticipated that Gary would combine his role as Director of Coaching with that of Head Coach at the University of Chichester Thunder in EBL Division 4, as the club and University look to forge stronger links along the lines of a number of similar programmes in both the BBL and EBL. However, following the difficulties in appointing a US player-coach during the close-season (a process with which Smith was closely involved), the directors at Worthing Thunder decided to ask Gary if he would be prepared to take over the reins once more, which he agreed to do.

Worthing Thunder Chairman Frank Gainsbury said: “I am very grateful to Gary, and also Sid Fletcher at the University of Chichester, for their assistance in bringing this appointment to a conclusion. Whilst it was always the intention that Gary would play an active part within the BBL programme this year within his Director of Coaching remit, it was also felt beneficial to both parties that he coach the University EBL team.

“As it has transpired, Gary will be back as Head Coach with Worthing Thunder and will continue to be involved with University of Chichester with a view to developing and identifying potential talented players to provide them with the opportunity to play at the highest level in the sport. Gary’s appointment will be for both this season and the next campaign with a view to allowing him to develop and build some stability in the playing squad.”

Sid Fletcher, Sports Development Manager at the University of Chichester Students’ Union, said: “Obviously we are disappointed to lose a coach of Gary’s calibre at this stage of the season, but with Worthing in the situation they found themselves in, we were happy to support his appointment. We look at this as the first ‘promotion’ of many from this partnership as our links increase year on year.”

Chichester academics feature at international conference on migration 20/10/10

Two international students from the University of Chichester have showcased their work on a global scale by appearing at the Metropolis Conference at The Hague.

Carolene Ayaka from Kenya and Amanda Muscat from Malta are both studying for PhDs at the University, and were invited to be part of a conference panel looking at a range of migration issues. The panel was assembled by Professor Chris Gaine, a leading expert in migration and Chair of Social Policy at the University.

The conference was held at The Hague in the Netherlands, next door to the International War Crimes Tribunal, between 3-4 October 2010, and was attended by experts in migration from around the world.

The panel examined the experience of different groups of Africans in Europe: French-speaking people from Cameroon now living in London, educated Kenyan and Nigerian women in Leeds negotiating their identities in relation to their pasts and futures, Zambian and Zimbabwean nurses recruited into the UK’s care homes, and Somalian, Sudanese and Eritrean refugees arriving by boat in Malta.

Prof Gaine said: “The conference insisted that all panels contained researchers, policy analysts, and people from non-government organisations, as well as speakers from more than one country. Because of my networks and work in this field, I was able to get Carolene and Amanda to present at the conference, which was an excellent experience for them both. It was also a useful networking opportunity for them, as the other members of the panel were Sarah Isal, Deputy Director of the Runnymede Trust, Britain’s leading think tank on issues of ethnicity and migration, and Amina Chitembo, who runs the Black and Minority Ethnic Community Services NGO in West Sussex.”

Prof Gaine also contributed to another workshop discussing different work he has been engaged in, looking at the perceptions of young people of migrant backgrounds in Lisbon, Paris and London. The conference attendance for Prof Gaine followed an appearance at the European Education Research Association conference in Helsinki in August, where he was joint convenor of the Social Justice network for his tenth year. As well as chairing several sessions, he gave a special seminar to doctoral students from Iceland who are studying migration. It is likely he will be invited to Reykjavik early next year.

Three honorary awards to be conferred at University of Chichester graduation ceremonies 19/10/10

Three experts in the fields of music, children’s services and sport will be recognised at graduation ceremonies organised by the University of Chichester this week.

Andy Brown, the founder and leader of the London Metropolitan Orchestra, will be conferred with an Honorary Master of Arts degree, while Dame Gillian Pugh, former chief executive of Coram Family, a leading children’s charity, and Professor Celia Brackenridge, the first Chair of the UK Women’s Sports Foundation, will both be conferred with Honorary Fellowship awards.

The trio will receive their awards alongside around 1500 students who have completed their degrees at the University of Chichester. They will formally graduate at ceremonies taking place at Chichester Festival Theatre on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 October 2010.

Further details of honorary awards:

Honorary Master of Arts – Andy Brown (Ceremony 1: Friday 22 October, 10am)

Andy Brown founded and leads the London Metropolitan Orchestra, a multimedia orchestra which employs London’s best musicians renowned for their virtuosity. LMO is one of the finest film recording orchestras in the world, having recorded more than 250 films and worked on many of the greatest Hollywood films.

Andy grew up and went to school in Chichester and is clearly one of the world’s leading film music conductors, having worked with all the major Hollywood studios and worldwide record companies since the orchestra was formed in 1994. The LMO is now working with an exciting younger generation of composers and Andy Brown gives generously of his time to work with and inspire students in the University’s music department.

Honorary Fellowship – Dame Gillian Pugh (Ceremony 4: Saturday 23 October, 10am)

Dame Gillian Pugh retired in 2005 as Chief Executive of Coram Family, a leading children’s charity which aims to develop and promote best practice in the care and support of very vulnerable children and their families. She has published widely, including London’s Forgotten Children: Thomas Coram and the Foundling Hospital (2008) and Contemporary Issues in the Early Years (5th edition 2009). Gillian chaired the Advisory Committee for the Cambridge Primary Review and is a co-author of the final report Children, their World, their Education (Routledge 2009). She was a member of the LGA Narrowing the Gap project team, and is chair of the National Children’s Bureau. Gillian is President of the National Childminding Association, a member of the Children’s Workforce Development Council, is on the Board of the Training and Development Agency for Schools, is visiting Professor at the Institute of Education, and an advisor to the House of Commons Select Committee for children, schools and families. She has recently been appointed to the Family Justice Review panel. She was awarded the DBE in 2005 for services to children and families.

Honorary Fellowship – Professor Celia Brackenridge (Ceremony 6: Saturday 23 October, 2pm)

Professor Brackenridge is internationally respected for her work investigating issues of abuse and harassment in sport, and for her extensive and significant contribution to child protection. She was programme consultant to the International Olympic Committee Medical Commission Consensus Statement on Sexual Harassment and Abuse in Sport (2007) and to the UNICEF working group on violence against children in sport (2007-2008). She serves on the Research Committee of the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers and chairs the Research Task Force of the NSPCC/Sport England Child Protection in Sport Unit. She is also a child protection tutor for Sports Coach UK and for the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences. Professor Brackenridge was the first Chair of the UK Women’s Sports Foundation, she chaired the Leisure Studies Association from 1993-1995, edited the journal of Leisure Studies from 1995-1997, has published extensively, and is a former international athlete and captain of the England and Great Britain women's lacrosse teams.

Alison MacLeod from the University of Chichester interviews Hanif Kureishi

Hanif Kureishi CBE (b. 1954) is a novelist, short story writer, playwright, screenwriter, film-maker and, according to The Times (2008), one of ‘The 50 greatest British writers since 1945″. As a short story writer, he explores a heady range of subjects, including race and religion, love and sexuality, and the power of culture and the imagination.

Kureishi was born in Kent to an Indian father and an English mother. As the child of a mixed-race relationship, he grew up with a keen awareness of racism and ‘otherness’. His award-winning novel The Buddha of Suburbia opens with the now famous line, ”My name is Karim Amir, and I am an Englishman born and bred, almost.’

Kureishi attended Bromley Technical High School (where David Bowie had been a pupil previously). Later he read philosophy at King’s College, London, and in 1982 was appointed Writer in Residence at the Royal Court Theatre. In 1984, he wrote My Beautiful Laundrette, which received an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay at a time when the young Kureishi was still living in council accommodation in London. He is now the author of over twenty major novels, story and essay collections, plays and screenplays, and his work has been translated into thirty-six languages. For his services to literature, he was made a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) and was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts des Lettres.

Alison MacLeod is the author of The Wave Theory of Angels (Penguin 2006) and Fifteen Modern Tales of Attraction (Penguin 2007). Her next novel is published by Hamish Hamilton (Penguin) in 2011. She is Professor of Contemporary Fiction at the University of Chichester (UK).

Read interview with Hanif Kureishi

Using the arts to care for people with dementia 08/10/10

Care for people with dementia has been given an artistic twist by a senior lecturer at the University of Chichester.

Jill Hayes is the author of The Creative Arts in Dementia Care – Person-Centred Approaches and Ideas, designed to be a guide for health professionals and researchers, care providers, arts organisers, independent artists, as well as for families of people with dementia.

Jill, a senior lecturer in dance and counselling, decided to write the book after completing a research project in 2009 on a similar topic through the University.

Jill said: “The physical care of people with dementia is of vital importance, but so too is their emotional, social, mental and spiritual wellbeing. The creative arts are gaining increasing recognition not only as a tool for delivering effective person-centred dementia care, but also for attending to soul as well as body.

“I want to encourage those who care for people with dementia to develop their own creative skills, and this book provides a creative map of care with easy-to-follow examples and detailed case studies.

“People with dementia matter. They have feelings which need attention, and this can be given through the arts. The arts can be a way of communicating with people with dementia when words fail.”

The book, published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, will be officially launched at an event on Friday 25th November 2010 at Felpham Memorial Hall, where an invited community of friends, social work, health care and arts for health practitioners will join with people with dementia to try out some of the techniques in the book. A highlight will be songs performed by Sarah Povey, whose reflections on her long career as a voice movement therapist with people with dementia have a central place in the book. For more details of the launch please contact: saj.povey@virgin.net or for more details on the book or to order, visit http://www.jkp.com/.

University sporting experts travel the globe on conference circuit 30/09/10

Sport staff of the University of Chichester have spent their summer months travelling around the world to present their research work at national and international conferences.

The variety in contributions reflects the broad expertise of University staff in Sport, Exercise and Health topics:

Dr Elizabeth Pike, acting Head of Sport Development and Management, has been an invited keynote speaker at the International Sport Science Congressin South Korea and the Asociacion Latinoamericana de Estudios Socioculturales (Latin American Society for the Sociology of Sport) in Venezuela. Earlier in the summer, Dr Pike was invited to speak at an International Symposium on Elite Child Athlete Welfare in the UK and was invited symposium speaker at the European College of Sport Science in Turkey.

In October, she will give a keynote at the Taiwan Society for the Sociology of Sport inTaipei, and in November, she is coordinating a symposium on physical activity and ageing at the North American Sociology of Sport Society in California. The presentations focus on Dr Pike's research into thebenefits offered bysports andexercise for the increasing populations of older people around the globe. This work includes a local project that Dr Pike is leading, funded by the University in partnership with West Sussex County Council, which is investigating the improved provision of active leisure services in the Chichester region.

Dr Iain Greenlees, Reader in Sport Psychology, has been invited to deliver a keynote lecture in November on the future of Applied Sport Psychology research at the 11th International Sport Sciences Congress in Turkey. This invitation was very timely because in May this year, Iain took over as editor of the Sport and Exercise Psychology Review, the official journal of the British Psychological Society's Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology. He has also been invited to join the editorial board of the new online journal of sport psychology, Frontiers in Movement Science and Sport Psychology.

Dr Julia Potter and Dr Suzie Everley, both Senior Lecturers in Physical Education, had poster presentations at the International Congress on Obesity in Stockholm, Sweden. Julia's poster was entitled ‘Health Concepts in Action' and Suzie's ‘Children's Perceptions of and Engagement in Physical Activity - Meaning and Action'. Suzie's abstract was selected to compete for the Best Poster Prize. Julia and Suzie have been involved in a unique project which looks at young children's own perception and attitudes towards physical activity.

Dr Marcus Smith, Principal Lecturer and Field Leader in Exercise Physiology, was invited speaker at the international Games for Health conference in Boston, USA, in May May 2010 to talk about the health benefits of drumming. He presented work from the Clem Burke Drumming Project which was officially launched in 2008.

Dr Neal Smith, Field leader in Biomechanics and Research Methods, and Kathleen Shorter (postgraduate research student) travelled to North Michigan University in Marquette for the International Society of Biomechanics annual conference.Two papers were presented: one focussing on Kathleen's area into shoulder injuries in cricket bowling, and another relating to the Biomechanics research cluster on Strength and Conditioning.Kathleen then travelled to Minneapolis and presented work concerning the use of acromion marker clusters for the reconstruction of shoulder joint kinematics at the 8th meeting of the International Shoulder Group.

Dr Mark Willems, Reader in Exercise Physiology, was awarded the International Conference Grant from the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences to present work on downhill walking in older adults at the European College of Sports Sciences in Turkey. As a fellow of the European College of Sport Sciences, he was also invited chair for oral and poster presentations at this conference. Mark contributed as invited speaker to a symposium on Muscle Injury at the World Congress of Biomechanics in Singapore and obtained funding from Maximuscle Ltd to present a poster on supplementation during resistance training at the annual conference of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences in Scotland.

Dr Mike Lauder, Head of the Sport and Exercise Sciences Department, said: “It's important to see the research work of staff affiliated with the recently established Chichester Centre of Applied Sport and Exercise Sciences to be recognised and shared with academic peers. The centre aims to enhance and strengthen the ongoing research activity in areas ranging from Health Promotion, Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology, Applied Exercise Physiology and Applied Sport Biomechanics and the global contributions of the Sport staff on the conference circuit this year constitute an essential element of the research culture of our University.”

New literary society to be launched on National Poetry Day 29/09/10

The Department of English and Creative Writing at the University of Chichester will be hosting the first event of Chichester Literati (Chic Lit) on National Poetry Day.

The new society offers a forum for everyone with an interest in literature, creative writing and the visual arts. Featuring writers and artists both past and present, it will highlight Chichester’s rich and diverse artistic heritage and its thriving contemporary culture.

To coincide with National Poetry Day on 7 October, Chic Lit presents its launch event, Chichester’s Best Kept Secret: An Evening with Ted Walker.

An award winning poet who died in 2004, Ted Walker was educated at Steyning Grammar School and Cambridge University. He became a major figure in the literary world of the 1960s and 1970s, his poetry regularly appearing alongside that of Ted Hughes, Sylvia Plath and Philip Larkin. With the publication of his two autobiographies and his travel guide to Spain, Walker was recognised as one of the outstanding writers of his generation. Born in Lancing, he lived for most of his professional life in the village of Eastergate before retiring to Spain in the 1990s. He is buried in the Parish Church of St George at Eastergate with his first wife, Lorna.

The evening of readings, talks and reminiscences on 7 October begins at 6.30pm at the University’s Bishop Otter Campus in Chichester. It will accompany the launch of a new selection of Walker’s poetry, Minting the Sun, edited and introduced by the University’s Head of English and Creative Writing, Dr Diana Barsham. The book features poems dealing with family life, the natural world and the land and seascapes of Walker’s native West Sussex.

Anyone who knew Ted Walker or has recollections of him and would like to contribute to this evening in any way is asked to contact Dr Diana Barsham on email at d.barsham@chi.ac.uk or on 01243 816456.

The event will be followed by a short business meeting to establish the constitution of Chic Lit. Forthcoming events include a one-day Shakespeare Conference (29 October), Michael Holroyd talking about writing family memoirs (17 November) and Prof Richard Coates on the Traditional Dialect of Sussex (26 November). Creative Writing workshops will also be available.

For all further information, please contact Lorna Sargent l.sargent@chi.ac.uk 01243 816163.

Head of music reflects on successful inaugural alumni event 28/09/10

Ben Hall, Head of Music at the University of Chichester, looks back on the first alumni event held by the department, in association with the Friends of Chartres group on 12 August 2010:

“Fine weather favoured our first Music Alumni event, and the hot air balloon – until the last minute an uncertain performer in the programme – was able to lift friends, alumni and distinguished guests, including the Mayor of Chichester, Michael Woolley, and our intrepid Executive Dean, Sarah Gilroy, into the summer sky.

“Following two inspiring networking workshops by Alex Mann from the Musicians Union and Rob Nash from the National Association of Music Educators, alumni were able to hear a keynote speech from Simon Hebditch, introduced by Clive Behagg, Acting Vice Chancellor. An alumnus of Bishop Otter College, Simon’s work in the third sector and in parliament has helped and enabled huge advances in UK philanthropic giving over the last 40 years.

“The Alumni event was themed to reflect Chichester’s long association with Chartres, and it was in a Chapel of the Ascension decked out with hundreds of tricolours that a wonderful recital of French song from Susan Legg and Jonathan Plowright delighted all who heard them. Ticklin the Pickle, performing in Zee Bar, brought the day to a typically flamboyant close.

“The music department is grateful to Mrs Elizabeth Bennett, High Sheriff of West Sussex, the Mayor of Chichester, the Acting Vice Chancellor, the Chair of Governors and the Friends of Chartres for supporting the first of what will now become an annual event.”

For pictures from the event, please visit the University’s Flickr photostream.

Literary contest success for creative writing graduate 27/09/10

A novel that began life on the University of Chichester’s MA Programme in Creative Writing has won a prestigious national competition.

The opening of Graham Minett’s novel Legacy, which uses locations from the Chichester area, beat off entries from throughout the UK to scoop the £500 first prize in the Chapter One literary contest, a London-based contest designed to attract work from unpublished novelists.

In her report, the judge, Lorella Belli, a literary agent, wrote: “Although the premise (a woman is left a country cottage by a person who died recently and whom she doesn’t know) is not original or unique, I felt the author has managed to create a good sense of suspense, curiosity and interest in what’s to come.

“The characters are well-rounded and the structure (with the interspersed newspaper articles about the teenage killer and his story) seems to work well; the pace contributes to make this an intriguing and page-turning read. The writing is very polished too, which was not always the case with other entries. This is genre fiction and is a good effort. I will be happy to read the rest of it.”

As part of his prize, Graham, a postgraduate of the University’s MA programme in Creative Writing, will sign a contract with Chapter One to finish the novel in the next two years, working with an editor from the agency. If they like the finished product, it will be re-submitted to Lorella Belli, who will then decide whether to take it to publishers.

Graham was a teacher of languages at Felpham Community College before transferring to the Angmering School, initially as Head of 6th Form and subsequently as Assistant Head Teacher. Four years ago, he switched to an administration role at the school, in charge of curriculum development and responsible for creating the timetable, reducing to four days to create more time for writing.

He studied the two-year MA in Creative Writing, graduating in 2008, and won the inaugural Segora Prize with a short story which had been workshopped as part of the course. The following year another short story was long-listed for the Bridport Prize.

“What I really want, though,” he said, “is to be a published novelist, so this competition win is a big boost to morale. If they ever get to read it, local readers will hopefully enjoy the fact that the modern day part of the novel is set in the Chichester area, based around the fictional village of Ryhill, with several references to local landmarks. It would be even nicer if they simply enjoyed the story itself.

“I know you can't afford to get too far ahead of yourself in this business, so I'm desperately trying to play it all down for now - there’s long way to go! I'm still enjoying my work at Angmering School, so I'm very far from being a full-time writer. It's just nice for the question to be raised and to find there are others who are prepared to take my writing seriously. I suppose I'm a bit closer than I was a few weeks ago but I’ve got to keep my head down and keep working.”

Graham wrote the opening of the novel as part of his dissertation project with English Department tutor Alison MacLeod, gaining a Distinction.

He said: “The idea came from a couple of news items quite some time ago, which I tucked away somewhere and planned to develop into two short stories. It was only later that I realised there was the potential to combine the two and make it into a novel.

“The opening chapter, which needed to be eye-catching, was originally submitted for an MA module. A later chapter owes a great deal to the professionalism and patience of Alison and in particular her eye for detail.

“I've since moved on and have completed 70,000 words, much of which will need to be redrafted. The book has already benefitted immensely from workshopping which started during the MA and which has continued informally since then. I’ve had such fantastic support from my wife, Elaine, and from Jill and Ellie who were fellow MA students. If Legacy ever sees the light of day, it will owe so much to them.”

Lost novel published thanks to labour of love from University staff member 27/09/10

The lost novel of a Chichester man has been published for the first time, more than 20 years after his death, thanks to a University staff member.

Robert Herniman, who works in the Academic Quality and Standards Unit, played a key role in publishing the work of his uncle Richard Herniman. City-born Richard, who was a well-known figure in the city, wrote a novel centred around a fictional London hospital in 1964 when he was practicing surgery in the UK, but it wasn’t until 2008 when Robert’s father John discovered the unpublished manuscript and set about putting it into print.

When John was sadly diagnosed with cancer early last year, Robert continued the task of getting the manuscript published, and thanks to his hard work and support from his family, the book has hit the bookshelves this year.

Robert said: “The work entailed copy typing the novel from the manuscripts, a job shared amongst my siblings, proofing and production of cover art, where I was assisted by my partner Lisa with the cover image. The publication has been a real labour of love for the whole family.

“The novel is published in memory of both my father and uncle, as well as their older brother Peter who passed away later in 2009.”

The novel has been published through AuthorHouse and is available from their website.

New book brings closure for University lecturer 22/09/10

An English and Creative Writing lecturer will reach the end of a 10-year journey of reflection on a former job with the publication of his new book.

The Privilege of Rain is a collection of poems and prose sketches drawing on Dave Swann’s experiences as Writer in Residence at HMP Nottingham, a category B prison, for a year.

The book reflects on the writer’s role in the rehabilitation of offenders, who ranged from petty crooks to lifers. It looks to bring home to the reader what the loss of liberty feels like, what the day to day reality of institutionalisation does to the prisoner and staff, and why prisoners long for ‘the privilege of rain’.

As well as being aimed at producing a collection of work to be enjoyed by others, Dave explains that the writing process was a very personal experience. He said: “I was haunted by the experience of working there. I still wake up in the middle of the night thinking about it. The people I worked with were really interesting, but prison is a scary place.

“Now that the book is in print, it feels like I have a big weight off my shoulders and I can move on after all this time of carrying it around in my head. It was my job to help, but at times I felt helpless. How do you help people in that position?”

The Privilege of Rain has been a decade in the making, and Dave has worked on it while writing other fiction and continuing his lecturing role at the University of Chichester. “When I first sat down to write about the experiences at the prison, it was written in a diary format but I didn’t want it to appear that way. Therefore, I have chipped away at it for 10 years, and there were times when I would question whether it was worth doing,” he said.

“As a result though, I have developed my understanding of ballads, as there were lots written about Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest, where the prison is located. I’m also doing my PhD about writing and prison, so while the experience of working there has haunted me for some time, it has helped to open my mind to other forms of writing, and hopefully deepened the techniques that all writers rely upon.”

The Privilege of Rain, published by Waterloo Press in Hove, will be officially launched at the University of Chichester on Monday 27 September at 5.15pm with a question and answer session with Dave about the writing process and his time at the prison. Discounted copies of the book will also be available.

For more information, visit http://www.waterloopresshove.co.uk/pages/authors/david-swann.php.

University signs up to Stonewall’s Diversity Champions Programme 21/09/10

The University of Chichester has demonstrated its commitment to sexual orientation equality in the workplace by signing up to the Stonewall’s Diversity Champions Programme.

Staff at the University will work with Stonewall associate Dave Small, who is based in Chichester, to identify best practice for the benefit of the University as a whole. While Diversity Champions is a programme designed to support lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) staff at the University, Stonewall will also meet with the relevant LGB student groups to offer their support and advice.

Chichester joins 35 other Universities around the country who have signed up to the programme, and is led by the Human Resources department and the University’s Gender Equality Group. It has the full support of the University’s Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Clive Behagg, who formally signed the Stonewall document with the University’s Director of Human Resources, Elisabeth Whitaker.

Professor Behagg said: “I welcome the opportunity to work with Stonewall in support of diversity. I want the University to be an inclusive community of learning where staff and students can be proud of their own identity and work in an atmosphere of mutual respect.”

Dave Small, Stonewall associate, said: “By joining the Diversity Champions programme, the University of Chichester has recognised that people perform better when they can be themselves. Our members are forward thinking 21st century employers who want to recruit, recognise, and support the very best staff regardless of background. Good employers understand that providing support for all their staff improves their operational effectiveness.”

Creative Writing graduate chooses University for new book launch 20/09/10

Former Creative Writing MA student Gaby Pritchard returns to the University next month to launch her acclaimed debut novel, His Last Duchess (Little, Brown, 2010), published under the pen name Gabrielle Kimm.

The novel, a passionate love story inspired by a Robert Browning poem, was described by The Irish Times as a “a stunning debut, rich in historical detail, that explores women’s freedom, forbidden love and the passions and people of 16th century Tuscany and Ferrara”.

Gaby, who lives and works in rural West Sussex, graduated with Distinction from the University of Chichester, where, three years on, she still meets regularly with a writing group of fellow graduates.

Her launch event at the University of Chichester on 4 October will take place between 5.15pm-6.30pm in Cloisters Chamber. Entry is free, and open to all staff, students and members of the public. As well as answering questions from the audience, Gaby will read from her novel, which the magazine Now described as “so captivating you’ll wish you owned a lace bodice, waiting to be untied!’

His Last Duchess centres on the romantic ordeal of sixteen-year-old Lucrezia de’ Medici, whose marriage to the fifth Duke of Ferrara is fraught with difficulties from the start.

As the Duke’s problems grow, he begins to plot an unthinkable way to escape his problems… an escape which plunges his young bride into mortal danger.

Kate Furnivall, author of The Russian Concubine, praised Gaby for writing “with a charm that entices us into a world of intrigue and dark undertones. She creates a passionate love story that gets under your skin, intimate and touching, against a backdrop of danger and treachery. Her vivid portrayal of Medici life is rich and wonderfully imagined, as she draws a skilful portrait of a fascinating time and place.”

Gaby, a native of West Sussex, is married, with two teenage daughters and a grown up stepson. As well as writing, she teaches English and Drama part-time at secondary school level. She is currently working on her second novel, ‘The Courtesan's Choice’, which is nearing completion and is due out in 2011.

Visit her website at http://www.gabriellekimm.co.uk/.

Market research expert to open new University Lecture Series 15/09/10

Sir Robert Worcester, the founder of the research company MORI (Market and Opinion Research International), is to be the first speaker in the 2010/11 University Lecture Series.

Sir Robert will visit the University on Thursday 30 September to talk about the current political scene, what happened at the general election earlier this year and what is means for the future of politics in the UK.

The movement in the polls following the first debate on 15 April electrified what had been a dull start to the 2010 General Election. It jumped the Liberal Democrats 10 points, and it was anticipated they would do well on election day. Instead, they lost four seats and had the same share as in 2005.

The opinion polls changed the entire dynamics of the 2010 election. As the founder of MORI and a past President of the World Association for Public Opinion Research (WAPOR), Sir Robert is well placed to comment on why public opinion failed to be transferred to the ballot box.

Sir Robert is the first guest in the 2010/11 University Lecture Series. Other speakers who have confirmed their attendance include primary education expert Sir Jim Rose (11 November) and former head of the Civil Service Lord Andrew Turnbull (10 February 2011). All talks begin at 6.30pm and take place in the Mitre Lecture Theatre at the University’s Bishop Otter Campus in Chichester.

Professor Clive Behagg, Acting Vice-Chancellor at the University of Chichester, said: “The calibre of speakers for this year’s University Lecture Series underlines the innovative approach we like to take to the programme. We are honoured Sir Robert is willing to be our first speaker and to give his insight to an audience at our University. He is internationally recognised for his work in the research field, and in the current political climate, his views will be of interest to a lot of people.”

All lectures are free of charge to attend, but as space is limited, registration is required. For more information, please e-mail events@chi.ac.uk or call 01243 812155.

University of Chichester moves into top 20 of modern universities list 13/09/10

The University of Chichester has moved into the top 20 of modern universities in UK according to the latest league table published by the Sunday Times.

According to The Sunday Times University Guide 2011, the University has jumped four places in the modern university list to 17th place. In the overall list, the rise up the table has been greater – up 11 places to 72nd.

The level of student satisfaction at the University continues to be at high levels. Chichester is ranked joint second when compared to other modern universities, and scores higher than six of the top ten universities in the overall university league table.

To read the league tables in full, visit www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/universityguide.

Equipment upgrade pushes University to new heights 10/09/10

Research and teaching can now be pushed to new heights at the University of Chichester but stay firmly at ground level thanks to an important equipment upgrade.

Sports scientists can now use their environmental chamber at the University to measure the effects of altitude whilst carrying out physical activity, providing vital data for athletes and high altitude mountain climbers about how their bodies will cope in such conditions. The upgraded chamber works by reducing the amount of oxygen in the air.

The first people to use the upgraded chamber were a group of medical professionals from Southampton Hospital’s Neonatal Unit who are in training for a charity challenge to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in October. The team of doctors, nurses, health care assistants and friends of the unit are aiming to raise £70,000 to provide extra facilities for the babies and their parents.

To prepare them for the challenge ahead, they undertook simple exercises such as walking and cycling to understand the effect of altitude on their bodies and learnt more about how to take care of themselves during the challenge.

Alyson O’Donnell, Consultant Neonatologist and team leader, said: “We would like to say a big thank you for the University for allowing us to use the new chamber; it was a brilliant experience and will hopefully make a real difference to helping us all reach the summit of Kilimanjaro.”

Dr Steve Myers, lecturer in exercise physiology at the University of Chichester, said: “We were delighted to be able to support the staff from Southampton Hospital by giving them an experience of what high altitude feels like before going off to tackle the real thing next month.

“In the past, we have been able to recreate extreme temperature conditions in the chamber for research purposes, ranging from minus 20 to 50 degrees Celsius. With the upgrade to the chamber, we can now simulate altitudes up to 25,000 feet, meaning we are able to reproduce the environmental conditions found just about anywhere in the world, right here in Chichester.”

Dr Myers said that British sailors and boxers training for the Olympics have previously visited the University to use the chamber as part of their preparations for major competitions, but with the added bonus of being able to offer altitude simulation, it opens up other possibilities.

“As well as athletes preparing for competitions in higher altitudes or to enhance sea-level performance, the facility will be helpful for mountain climbers preparing for trips similar to that being undertaken by the staff from Southampton Hospital. We are also able to carry out vital safety research and training, such as preparing pilots on how to react in the event of cabin pressure failure while at altitude,” said Dr Myers.

“Our students at the University will also get great benefits from this upgrade. Our sport and exercise sciences and adventure education students will have access to it, meaning we can give a practical demonstration of what we teach in the classroom, rather than them just reading about it in the textbooks.”

To find out more about the Southampton Hospital fundraising challenge, visit www.justgiving.com/pahneonatalchallenge

University of Chichester Alumni star in Women’s Rugby World Cup Final 09/09/10

Two University of Chichester alumni were part of the England team that came within five points of winning the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final at the weekend.

Emma Croker (nee Layland, Physical Education QTS, 2005) and Claire Purdy (Sports Studies and Sports Development, 2001) both played in the final and featured regularly during the tournament which was held in England between 20 August and 5 September. During the group stages, England saw off the challenge of Ireland, Kazakhstan and USA before booking their place in the final by beating Australia.

However, the strength of New Zealand was too much to overcome, and despite a spirited performance, they went down 13-10, giving New Zealand their fourth title.

Emma plays her club rugby with Richmond, but her sporting achievements are not restricted to the rugby field. She is hoping to represent Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics in weightlifting, and will be going for gold after becoming the England weightlifting champion last year.

Claire is also no stranger to sporting success either, having represented Surrey and West Sussex Under 21s at stoolball. Claire also has a notable mentor to turn to when it comes to handling success - her father was an international canoeist, representing Great Britain and England in the C2 slalom and white water.

Dr Sarah Gilroy, Executive Dean at the University of Chichester, said: “We’re extremely proud of Emma and Claire and their achievements during the tournament. They both took up the game while studying at the University, so I’m glad that from the opportunities we were able to offer them, it has led to great success for them. Emma and Claire are an inspiration to others, and goes to show that it’s never too late to take up a new sport.

“Women’s rugby continues to be one of our most successful sporting teams at the University. Our team is now established in the Premiership South, having been there for the past four seasons. Three years ago, the side also reached the championship semi-final, one game away from a Twickenham final.”

Sid Fletcher, Sports Development Manager for the University of Chichester Students’ Union, added: “I’m delighted with the success that both Emma and Claire have had since leaving the University. It could have been a different story for Emma, as she joined the University as a netball player. However, she was converted to rugby and became captain and coach of the side in her final year, which saw her lead the team to the final of the British Universities tournament.”

International scholars coming to Chichester this autumn 08/09/10

Scholars and artists from across the world will be coming to Chichester this autumn for the second season of the George Bell Institute’s International Series.

Speakers from Germany, Japan, Norway, Denmark and United States will join others from Britain to talk about art history, modern European and Asian history and music during the series, which runs between September and December.

Dr Andrew Chandler, University of Chichester lecturer and director of the George Bell Institute, said: “The autumn series will seek to build on the foundations laid by the first series this spring and create a distinctive meeting place for University, church and city in the heart of Chichester.”

The last academic year has seen significant progress in the work of the George Bell Institute at large, with the successful establishment of a joint-funded international programme in Chichester running through the year and preparations for an annual public lecture.

Dr Chandler, who teaches courses in Modern British, European and American History, and also supervises dissertation and postgraduate work, is now finding ways in which the research work of the George Bell Institute can make valuable new opportunities available to undergraduate students at the University.

“The institute’s growing relationship with the Krzyzowa Foundation in Poland produced a first visit to Poland by students from the History department in May. This is likely to set a pattern for other students too in the new academic year,” he said.

All meetings take place at George Bell House, Canon Lane, Chichester. Tea and coffee will be available at 6.00pm, with the talk beginning at 6.30pm.

Wednesday 15 September

Dr Jutta Vinzent‘Strings, Space and Sculpture: Naum Gabo, Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth.’

Tuesday 12 October

Ferdinand Schlingensiepen‘On writing a biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.’
Wednesday 3 NovemberRuth Waterman‘When Swan Lake comes to Sarajevo: a musician's journey into postwar Bosnia.’

Friday 19 and Saturday 20 November

International conference: ‘Intellectual Freedom and the Church’; including lectures by scholars in Germany, Norway, Denmark, the United States and Great Britain. Please contact Andrew Chandler for further details.

Wednesday 8 December

Dr Huamin Toshiko Mackman‘Toyohiko Kagawa: A Japanese Christian in Imperial Japan.’

For more information visit: George Bell Institute

What do our students think of the University? The National Student Survey 2011 tells us 08/09/10

The University of Chichester continues to be one of the top modern universities in the country for student satisfaction.

The endorsement comes from the students themselves through the National Student Survey, an independent survey which has been running annually since 2005 and surveys students in their final year of any course leading to an undergraduate qualification.

The results for 2011 are now available - out of the 71 modern universities in the country, Chichester is ranked 7th highest, with 83% of students saying that overall, they were satisfied with the quality of their course.

Students who undertook the history and creative writing courses have ranked Chichester as the best in the country when compared to all other universities that offer those subjects – there was a 100% satisfaction rate for the history course.

Don’t take our word for it though. Visit the UniStats website, search for the University of Chichester, and see the results for yourself.

Founder of Clem Burke Drumming Project presents findings to Irish audience 07/09/10

A lecturer from the University of Chichester has been invited to Dublin to talk about the results of a drumming project he helped to develop.

Dr Marcus Smith, principal lecturer in exercise physiology, is one of the co-founders of the Clem Burke Drumming Project, a research project involving the Blondie drummer that looks at the physical demands of a rock drummer.

He has worked with Dr Steve Draper from the University of Gloucestershire on the project, and they have both been invited to address the Biorhythm Live event at the Science Gallery in Dublin on 9 September, part of their summer season.

Dr Smith said: “The Biorhythm Live event offers the Clem Burke Drumming Project a fantastic opportunity to share our research findings on the physical demands of the rock and pop drummer with the general public. Our presentation will raise the question of whether the modern day rock and pop drummer should be considered an athlete as well as an artist.

“To provide an insight into the physical demands of drumming, talented Irish drummer Jeremy Hickey, otherwise known as R.S.A.G. (Rarely Seen Above Ground), will perform an incremental drumming test to exhaustion. During the test, we will show in real-time his heart rate response and oxygen cost of performing such activities.

“We’re always looking for new collaborations, so we’re delighted to hear from other people who would be interested in working with us in the future.”

Dr Draper added: “It is a privilege to speak at such a prestigious and exciting event as Biorhythm Live. In addition to presenting previous data and demonstrating the methods we use for physiological assessment of drummers, we will also give an exclusive insight into more recent findings and future directions for our research.”

More information on the project can be found by visiting http://www.clemburkedrummingproject.com/.

The University of Chichester has strengthened its community links in Bognor Regis in a unique partnership with Predators Football Club.

Predators FC has more than 250 male and female players registered, playing in a range of adult and youth teams. Up to now, the club has not had a permanent home and teams played their games at numerous pitches across the Bognor Regis area.

However, thanks to a partnership with the University of Chichester, Predators FC will now be able to use the sports pitches and pavilion building as their playing/training base, while providing an improved facility for University students.

Paul Harris, Predators FC chairman, was joined by Dr Sarah Gilroy, Executive Dean at the University of Chichester, on 3 September at a special training session to meet some of the young footballers who will benefit from the use of the pavilion and the pitches.

Mr Harris said: “We have always strived to create a strong community feel in the club, but that has been difficult because our teams have played in different location. The only way we felt the community spirit could be improved was by having our own home, and thanks to the University, we now have one.

“The pavilion has needed a lot of maintenance carried out, including repairs to its roof. The pitches have also required some work as it has been some years since they were regularly used. All of the volunteers at the club have mucked in to help out, as there was a lot of clearing out to do in the building. We would not have achieved it without the support of South Coast Skips who offered their services for free, supplying the skips to take away the rubbish, and now we are nearly in a position where we can truly call this our home.

“We are delighted to have reached an agreement with the University, which has the potential to last for the next 10 years. We are a big club in the local area, and we are proud to be associated with the institution.”

Dr Gilroy said: “By working closely with the officials at Predators FC, I’m pleased we have come to an arrangement where under-used University land has been put to good use, giving a large football club in the local area a new home.

“We are keen to continue strengthening our relationships with the Bognor Regis community, and through this partnership with Predators FC, there are hundreds of new people using the University and learning more about what we want to achieve in the town.”

At the official opening, the club was also presented with its FA Charter Standard Community Club award by Keveena Mosen, County Development Officer with the Sussex FA. The club reached the required standard in the summer, but there is now a facility in which the plaque has been placed for all members and visitors to see.

New basketball coach has high hopes for University team 02/09/10

The men’s basketball club at the University of Chichester has strengthened its coaching line-up ahead of the new season by appointing former Worthing Thunder Head Coach Gary Smith.
The University of Chichester Thunder narrowly missed out on promotion in their debut season in Division 4 South West of the National League. With Gary’s experience of winning two Division 1 titles with Worthing Thunder, it is hoped this will give the University squad the push it needs to move into higher divisions.

Talking about his appointment, Gary said: “I’m excited to be coaching the University of Chichester Thunder, and looking forward to strengthening our links with Worthing Thunder and our partners in the Sussex community as well as developing new links.

“The priority is to get promoted to Division 3 and see where this will take us.”

Despite missing out on promotion, the University of Chichester Thunder won 13 out of its 16 matches during last season. University student Bud Johnston was also awarded the English Basketball Division 4 Player of the Season accolade, which led to his selection for the English University Men’s Squad in the British University Games. Therefore, Gary has a strong base in which to build from.

Sid Fletcher, Sports Development Manager for the University of Chichester Students’ Union, said: “I am delighted that Gary is joining our coaching set-up to work alongside Emmanuel Davies and Dan Hills. Gary’s extensive experience of winning titles in Division 1 with Worthing Thunder will be a huge asset as we look to gain promotion this season and continue to develop our programme.

“It is an exciting time for basketball here at the University. Off the court, we are continuing to develop our partnership with BBL club Worthing Thunder and the wider community. Aside from on the court success, the programme here is focused on developing and enhancing basketball players, providing National League experience to some of the young talented players in Sussex, and extending the opportunities available in Higher Education.”