Sports students coached by former England footballers 15/07/11

Sports students from the University of Chichester have taken part in coaching

sessions run by former England football stars Nicky Butt and Jamie Carragher.

19 students who are studying for various sport-related degrees acted as participants in sessions led by coaches who are looking to obtain their UEFA A coaching licence, allowing them to coach at professional football clubs.

Ex-Manchester United and Newcastle player Butt and current Liverpool defender Carragher were among the coaches, as was Shaun Goater, best known for his time at Manchester City where he scored over 100 goals between 1998 and 2003, finishing as the club’s top scorer for four consecutive seasons.

It was the first time the University had been contacted to supply students for the sessions, and it is hoped there will be further opportunities in the future.

Perry Northeast from the Sports Activity and Research Centre at the University of Chichester said: “As well as the opportunity to play alongside the current and ex-professionals, each student has taken valuable experience away with them of what the professional side of football is all about. The FA was very accommodating, and every England coach was willing to give their time in offering advice to the students.”

International cricket call-up for University student 15/07/11

University of Chichester student Sarah Fogwill has been chosen for the England Women’s team for the 2011 Indoor Cricket World Cup.

The tournament will be held in South Africa between 9-15 October, with Australia the defending champions, and Sarah will be one of eight in the England squad who will take part in the competition.

Sarah, who is studying to be a PE teacher, only started playing indoor cricket last year after being asked to play in a league game by a friend because they were short of players. Sarah plays outdoor cricket for Hampshire, and found that her strengths could be easily transferred to the indoor game, which she now enjoys playing at club level for Portsmouth.

Indoor cricket is a shorter version of the game, eight players on each side and matches consisting of two innings of 16 overs each. All players are required to bowl as well as bat, meaning both sets of skills need to be of high quality. Rather than the obvious difference that the game is played indoors, other differences are that it is played on specifically designed courts covered in an artificial surface and enclosed by tight string netting, and bonus runs are scored by hitting the ball in certain areas of the netting.

Describing how these differences affect the play of the game, Sarah said: “As the playing area is tiny compared to an outside pitch, players need to be fearless in the field and whilst batting. Although there are many comparisons, indoor cricket requires quicker reactions, team work and more risks than outdoor cricket. The only protective gear used is gloves for batting, and although the ball is light, it is still lethal!”

Sarah is now focused on preparing herself for the tournament, combining it with her studies. She said:

“The tutors have been excellent; they are always there if I need them and are keen to help me get to the World Cup even though it is during term time. When on teaching placement, I was placed near home where I could train and still play my cricket.”

Major European sporting organisations spend the summer at University of Chichester 06/07/11

Two major sporting organisations have chosen to work with the University of Chichester this summer, taking full advantage of the facilities and expertise on offer at the West Sussex institution.

Spanish football club Real Madrid is currently holding a Soccer Language School at the Bishop Otter Campus in Chichester, providing participants with a chance to improve their football skills with coaching from Real Madrid coaches, along with language classes to enhance and broaden their linguistic skills.

Meanwhile, PE teachers and students from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences (TF) at Semmelweis University in Hungary are currently taking part in an exchange programme which sees University of Chichester students working in Budapest at the same time.

The Faculty is the largest, most comprehensive and oldest centre for education and training in sport in Hungary, while the University of Chichester has a strong, established reputation for sports research, as well as extensive experience of working alongside elite Olympic athletes.

Links between the two have been established through a senior lecturer from the University of Chichester, Dr Laszlo Nemeth, who previously worked at Semmelweis.

The two groups of students are simultaneously experiencing new sports that are not offered in their respective institutions. Hungarian students are taking part in sports including netball, Ultimate Frisbee, hockey, cricket, golf and rugby, while Chichester students are trying out handball, fencing, track and field events, water polo and wrestling among their activities.

This is a pilot exchange programme, which was open to all PE and sports coaching students. Early feedback has been positive, and it is hoped to repeat it in future years. As part of their trip, the Hungarian teachers and students taught Year 7 pupils from Felpham Community College about water polo, opening up future possibilities of linking with local schools. They have also taken part in Adventure Education taster sessions in climbing and kayaking.

Jane Lomax, programme co-ordinator for sports coaching and PE courses at the University of Chichester, said: “Both our students and the Hungarian teachers and students appear to be learning a lot about new sports in a short period of time. There is also a cultural aspect to the trip – Chichester students have visited the Hungarian Parliament, while the Hungarians have taken the opportunity to visit London as well as the historic cities of Chichester and Arundel, and taken part in sports-related language classes.

“We hope this will be the first of many exchange trips, with the possible expansion to include our teaching staff as well. The Hungarian University of Physical Education has a high international reputation in its field, and there are numerous potential research opportunities that the two institutions could work on for the benefit of both sets of students.”

University students give generously to homeless charity in end-of-term recycling drive 05/07/11

Students at the University of Chichester have for the second year running focused on making their campus a greener one as they leave their halls of residence at the end of term.

In a repeat of last year’s efforts, students have been determined to cut down on the waste produced at the end of the academic year, when typically a lot is sent to landfill.

Thanks to the continuing efforts of the University’s Green Campus Group, led by environmental officer Margaret Field, and the Students’ Union, students had made available for them a number of recycling and charity donation facilities at both its Bishop Otter and Bognor Regis Campuses.

2010 was the first time a targeted effort had been made to reduce waste at the end of term, and the enthusiasm continued this year, students were persistent in their endeavours to recycle old items and unwanted food which they would no longer need.

As a result, large amounts of tinned food were donated to the charity Stone Pillow and their St Joseph’s Night Refuge project. Stone Pillow, which is organising a Big Sponsored Sleep Out fundraising event at Chichester Cathedral on 29 October, will use the food, which would have otherwise been thrown away by the students as they move back home for the summer, towards the charity’s aim of offering shelter, information and support to empower homeless and vulnerable people to make positive changes in their lives.

Celica Douglas, University of Chichester Students’ Union Vice President, said: “Amazing progress has been made from two years ago, when the University offered little in terms of recycling and the majority of waste was simply binned. We are now making small but sure steps towards a greener campus.”

The University will now turn its attention to the start of the next academic year when advice will be given to new students concerning recycling as they move into their halls of residence. The University hopes to make even more progress in terms of recycling and a stand will be included at the Freshers’ Fair to provide more information to new students.

Great strides up the Green League table underlined University’s environmental commitment 14/06/11

The University of Chichester has moved up 41 places in the People and Planet Green League 2011, published this week.

The institution, which has campuses in Chichester and Bognor Regis, rose from 82nd to joint 41st place, recognition of the University’s commitment to environmental sustainability and the success of initiatives introduced in the past 12 months.

All universities were judged across a range of criteria, such as whether it has an environmental policy, whether it participates in the Fairtrade scheme or other sustainability programmes, and how engaged staff and students are with the environmental aspirations of the University. The results were then published in the Guardian newspaper on 7 June and on the People and Planet website.

Ian Child, Chief Operating Officer at the University of Chichester, said: “We are delighted to have made such a dramatic rise up the league table, a significant reward for our staff and students who have put in so much hard work on environmental projects.

“We take our responsibilities seriously, not only to our staff, students and visitors, but as part of the local community and the environmental impact we have on the area as well. There is a strong commitment to this issue from the senior management team – environmental sustainability is one of our key priorities, placing it at the heart of University operations.

"With the active support of the Students’ Union, the importance of becoming a greener university has been embraced across the institution, and is beginning to become part of the day-to-day business rather than seen as a stand-alone initiative. However, we want to be higher in the league table, and we know there is more to do. Therefore, we shall be using this success as the stepping stone for further improvements in the way we work, and we hope to see a further rise up the table next year.”

Measures that the University undertake include a Student Departure Day recycling programme, which reduces the amount of end-of-term rubbish that is sent to landfill, improvements to the environmental performance of our buildings, and a new sustainable travel plan has been introduced, encouraging staff and students to car-share or use public transport when travelling to campus. The University has also recently received re-accreditation as a Fairtrade University for a further two years.

Performing without Fear: Exploring techniques to cope with musical performance anxiety 01/06/11

A performance anxiety course for musicians at the University of Chichester is being run for a second year following its successful debut in 2010.

The one-day course, run by the music department, offers musicians the chance to conquer their fears of performing. The course, which attracted participants from as far as Gloucester, Bournemouth and London last year, will be running twice during the summer period at the University’s Bishop Otter Campus in Chichester.

Performance anxiety in music is a subject that is often ignored, but it affects many musicians at various stages of their career. The course has been developed as a result of course tutor Nick Reynolds’ experience of teaching and research into the subject.

The course is part of a programme of summer schools and explores introductory approaches for developing individual strategies to regain the enjoyment of performing music. Anyone who has a love of music but suffers from nerves is invited to attend.

During the course of the day, attendees can expect to explore the ‘whys’ of getting nervous before playing, survey different approaches to learning and playing music that may help beat the nerves, and take part in a practical explorations of techniques.

Louise Jackson, Senior Lecturer of Music at the University of Chichester, who organises Summer School events for the music department said: “The buzz from last year’s day course demonstrated this was an issue that many musicians wanted to tackle. Nerves can be a real problem, one that can damage people’s enjoyment of music. We are pleased to be able to continue to support musicians in dealing with this particular issue.”

The courses will be run on Tuesday 19 July and Tuesday 9 August between 10am-3pm. Places cost £30. For more information, contact the music department by calling 01243 816205 or email music@chi.ac.uk.

Chichester Literati to celebrate work of influential city poet 27/05/11

The work of a poet described as England's lost laureate will be discussed at a mid-summer event at the University of Chichester.

William Hayley has close ties to the city – he was born in 1745 in a house now part of the Pallant House Gallery, and also married the daughter of the Dean of Chichester in 1769.

Dr Diana Barsham, Head of English and Creative Writing at the University, will offer a reappraisal of the work of this important and influential local poet. Her talk will focus particularly on issues of selfhood in Hayley's poetry and the difference between his style of self-representation and that of his friend, William Blake and the other Romantic writers.

The second half of the evening will be an open discussion between a panel of writers and critics on the topic of 'the self in writing' to which members of the public will also be invited to contribute. The discussion will address autobiographical writing, the self as it appears in contemporary poetry and fiction, and the role of self-loathing in the writing experience.

The panel includes the distinguished novelist and memoirist Soumya Bhattacharya, currently a visitor to the university under the Charles Wallace India Trust scheme; award winning poets Stephanie Norgate and Hugh Dunkerley, and Dr Robert Duggan, a specialist in Contemporary Literature.

The event will be held on Wednesday 1 June from 6pm in the Cloisters Chamber at the Bishop Otter Campus. It is free entry for Chichester Literati members, non-member tickets are £5 (£3 concessions).

For more information on the event and membership to Chichester Literati, contact Fran Armitage on 01243 812171 or email f.armitage@chi.ac.uk.

Summer school project could discover musical stars of the future 27/05/11

Chart-topping musicians of the future have their chance to shine at an annual summer school project at the University of Chichester.

Students from six schools in West Sussex will spend three days on the Chi Rocks project working with musicians, business studies advisors and song writing students to produce a record that will be performed at a showcase concert at the end of the week.

Chi Rocks runs between 7-9 June, and features pupils from Thomas Bennett Community College, Littlehampton Academy, Felpham Community College, Bourne Community College, Manhood Community College and Westergate Community School.

It is organised by the University’s Widening Participation team, who work with senior lecturer Louise Jackson from the Music department to deliver the event. It is designed to give pupils an insight into University life and give them the confidence to continue with their education when they leave school.

Carole Nairn, Chi Rocks organiser and Widening Participation Manager at the University, said: “Music is a great leveller when it comes to group working. Whether you are a talented musician or never picked up an instrument before, the key theme is fun and creativity, and you never know where that can lead.

“Over the three days, pupils will learn about different aspects of the music industry, including song writing, marketing and performance. The culmination of the summer school will be the performance of their song by a professional band at the showcase concert, not something most people get the opportunity to do, and I hope the pupils make the most of the experience.”

The University of Chichester has partnered with the Campus of Performing Arts (COPA) in South Africa 19/05/11

The University of Chichester has partnered with the Campus of Performing Arts (COPA) in South Africa to offer South African students the opportunity to attain a Degree in Contemporary Music Performance, Music Production or Music Business.

This exciting international partnership parallels our Department of Music’s strong local collaboration with Platform One, on the Isle of Wight, to deliver the Foundation Degree Commercial Music and the BA (Hons) Commercial Music, as well as our more recent establishment of the MA in Contemporary Music Performance offered in partnership with the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) in Guildford.

COPA was founded in 2004 to address a need for contemporary music education in South Africa and supports the aspirations of young South Africans from all walks of life who dream of making a career out of their passion for music.

Alongside COPA’s existing complement of Further Education and training courses, this development will enable students to study for University of Chichester’s new BMus (Hons) in Music Performance, BA (Hons) in Music Production and the BA (Hons) in Music Business.

For more information, visit COPA’s website: http://www.copasa.co.za/

Announcement of student support package and proposed tuition fees for 2012/13

We recognise, and accept enthusiastically, the responsibilities we have as a modern university working to raise aspirations in surrounding communities and to regenerate a regional economy.

Our mission for widening participation is based in our local communities. We are now amongst the most successful institutions for the recruitment and retention of students from low participation areas. Our success has involved engaging positively with our local community – demystifying higher education and reducing the barriers towards attending university by active engagement with schools and colleges over many years.

Our student finance and support package reflects the fact that we are an organisation that is passionate about widening educational opportunity and the commitment that this agenda carries to social justice, equality and diversity.

With this in mind the Board of Governors of the University of Chichester has approved a fee level, to be submitted to the Office of Fair Access, of £8,500 per annum in 2012/13 for all undergraduate courses.

Our generous student support package empowers students by allowing them to decide, based on their needs and circumstances, whether to receive their support package as a fee waiver or a maintenance bursary:

•Students with a household income of less than £25,000 will be entitled to £2,500 each year of their degree course as either a bursary or a fee waiver.

•Students with a household income of between £25,001 and £42,000 will be entitled to £1,000 each year of their degree course as either a bursary or a fee waiver.

This financial package will provide support for 60% of our students and as a result our average fee will be below £7500 with students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds receiving a support package that reduces the fee equivalent to £6,000.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Clive Behagg stated: “The key to our success is the community feel of a small institution and this differentiates us from other, larger, providers. Raising aspirations and providing value for money are deeply embedded into the mission and values of the University. In these activities we offer something different and we punch above our weight. We have set our fee level at a point that will enable us to continue this important mission.”

Ever dreamed of making a living as a writer? 20/04/11

Anyone who has ever embarked on the lonely mission of writing a novel or a play will know how difficult it can be. However, writing that great work of art is only half the battle – getting it published can often take just as much time and effort.

Help is now at hand for all those writers who have gazed nervously into the huge maze of the book trade, for experts from the mysterious world of publishing and broadcasting are to converge on the University of Chichester to reveal the secrets of their art.

A panel of agents, editors and publishers will gather in Cloisters Chamber, Bishop Otter Campus, on Wednesday 27 April between 6.30pm and 8.30pm to talk about, and answer questions on, getting published.

All students, staff and members of the public are invited to attend the annual free event, which has been organised by English and Creative Writing Department lecturer Karen Stevens.

The panel will include the literary agents Clare Conville, co-founder of Conville and Walsh Literary Agency, which represents 150 authors, and Charles Viney, founder and literary agent at The Viney Agency, one of the UK’s most successful independent literary agencies.

They will be joined by Helen Garnons-Williams, the editorial director for fiction at Bloomsbury, twice voted UK Publisher of the Year. Also on the panel will be Kate Whitehead, Head of Interactive Products at Harper Collins, a publisher with nearly 200 years of experience which is now blazing a trail with cutting edge technology.

England’s oldest literary periodical, ‘The London Magazine’ – established in 1732 – will be represented by its current editor, Steve O’Brien. The University is also delighted to announce the participation of BBC Radio 4, the world’s biggest single commissioner of short stories, in the person of Di Speirs, editor of readings at BBC Radio Drama.

Organiser Karen Stevens said: “This is a rare opportunity to go behind the scenes of the publishing industry – and to hear experts pass on the secrets of their trade. We hope that anyone who is interested in seeing their name in print will come along to support the event.

“In previous years, similar events have proved very useful for many of our students, who have later gone on to get published.”

The event is part of the English Department’s successful MA Programme in Creative Writing.

Chichester retains position as leading modern university for student satisfaction 20/04/11

The University of Chichester continues to be the top publically-funded modern university in the UK for student satisfaction, according to the latest version of the Complete University Guide, published on 18 April.

The institution is 14th out of 116 higher education establishments in the whole country in the same category.

The Guide also shows that Chichester spends more money per student on academic services and student facilities than other, larger, higher education providers in the region, underlining its strong commitment to the student experience.

More details can be found by visiting: http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/.

Film award success for music lecturer 18/04/11

A senior music lecturer at the University of Chichester has won a top communications award for his role in producing a film for two charity organisations.

Crispin Ward, Head of Orchestral Studies, won a gold award at the International Visual Communications Association (ICVA) awards, described as Europe's largest and most prestigious celebration of the best in corporate and public sector communication.

He was recognised in the Best Original Music and Sound Design category, where he worked with Simon Thompson to write and produce music for a short film for Reivers 12, a charity rowing team who raise money for Children with Leukaemia and Chase Hospice Care for Children.

Crispin said: “I was approached to do the music by the producers of the film, Seamless Media, as I already do a good deal with them. I wrote the piece, but it is in fact computer generated as there was no budget to have it recorded live. However, Channel 4 is doing a documentary on the Reivers 12, and there is a budget to record the same music with a live orchestra. As a result, I hope to use the University of Chichester Symphony Orchestra, as it is one of the finest orchestras of its type in the country.”

The award holds a great deal of weight in the communications industry, and Crispin has recently worked for global advertising agency M&C Saatchi following recognition at the awards ceremony.

To view the film and listen to Crispin's music, visit: http://www.oneshotstudio.co.uk/portfolio/reivers-12/

New video game features soundtrack from Chichester lecturer 18/04/11

Players of 'Shift 2 Unleashed', the new video racing game released this month, will be treated to a soundtrack produced with the help of a University of Chichester lecturer.

Music department senior lecturer Dr Stephen Baysted has recently completed work on the music score and sound design for the game, which is produced by Electronic Arts and Slightly Mad Studios.

The game, released worldwide on 1 April, features a unique, ground breaking score concept, according to Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing for Electronic Arts. He said: “EA brought together some of the most cutting-edge composers from various film, TV, trailer and gaming backgrounds in entertainment to re-imagine the music of ten absolutely distinctive bands and sonically encapsulate the driver’s emotional journey.

“The composers tapped into chart topping songs from Rise Against, Hollywood Undead, Escape The Fate, The Bravery, Anberlin, 30 Seconds To Mars, Stone Temple Pilots, Switchfoot, Biffy Clyro and Jimmy Eat World to create the soundtrack.”

Stephen worked with Grammy award winning composer Ramin Djawadi (Iron Man, Clash of the Titans), games industry legend Charles Deenen, and Grammy award winning film music producer Steve Mclaughlin amongst others to transform popular music tracks into an epic cinematic score.

A number of other exciting projects are also on the horizon for 2011 and beyond after announcing his film, TV and games composition activities are being represented worldwide by The Max Steiner Agency in Hollywood.

World championship win puts Chichester student on track for Paralympics success in 2012 12/04/11

A University of Chichester student has become a double world champion by winning the World Judo Championships in Turkey for a second consecutive year.

Ben Quilter (29), who is studying for a masters degree in sport and exercise physiology, won gold in the 60kg weight category, a result which makes him the number one seed going into next year’s London Paralympic Games.

Ben combines his training at the British Judo Performance Institute in his home town of Dartford with studying for a masters degree at the University’s Bishop Otter Campus in Chichester.

Last year, he became Britain’s first visually impaired judo champion for 12 years, but he said he found retaining the title a different experience.

“While I am pleased to have won the event, I have not experienced the same euphoria as when I won first time around,” he said. “I did not perform as well as I know I can, but I think that is because my opponents knew I was world champion and concentrated on being defensive against me rather than trying to beat me. Having said that, if I can win a World Championship when I am not at my best, that can only be a good thing!”

The final major competition before next year’s London Paralympic Games is the European Championships, which is being held in Crawley, UK, in November. Ben claimed silver last year and will be hoping to go one better this time around.

In the coming months, he will also be spending time working with fellow athletes from GB Judo as part of his masters degree. He said: “I am doing a weight manipulation study, which will involve working with judo players to monitor their fluid balance, how this affects their ability to make their weight, and how to maintain their hydration status once they have made their weight.”

Definitive collection of the works of Robert Louis Stevenson to be published 11/04/11

A University of Chichester Professor has been given permission for a literary injustice stretching back nearly 120 years to be put right.

Robert Louis Stevenson is most famous for writing the novels Treasure Island and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde but also penned some fairy tales while living in Samoa. He hoped to have a volume of these fairy tales published together prior to his death in 1894. However, back in London his literary agent Sidney Colvin colluded with Stevenson's publisher, Cassell, to disregard the author's wishes, and the fairy tales appeared with other material, and in a form contrary to Stevenson's explicit instructions, in Island Nights' Entertainments, which has remained the standard edition ever since.

However, Bill Gray, Professor of Literary History at the University of Chichester, and Director of the Sussex Centre for Folklore, Fairy Tales and Fantasy, has convinced Edinburgh University Press to publish a new volume of Stevenson's fairy tales. This will be the closest publishers have ever got to what Stevenson actually planned, but was never able to complete because of distance, editorial interference and ultimately his death.

Professor Gray said: “Stevenson wanted to publish a volume of fairy tales, but living in Samoa, with letters taking months to get a reply from London, he was at the mercy of his literary agent, who effectively stitched Stevenson up by publishing his fairy tales together with another realistic story that the author had never intended to appear alongside his stories of magic and the supernatural.

“I'm delighted Edinburgh University Press has agreed to the publication of a new edition of Stevenson's fairy tales. ‘The Bottle Imp' and ‘The Isle of Voices' will be supplemented by another tale, ‘The Waif Woman', which Stevenson wrote for the collection but was ditched by his agent. It will be the first time they have been published together as a group, just as Stevenson intended.”

Professor Gray's edition will also publish for the first time all of Stevenson's Fables collected in one volume. Some of Stevenson's Fables were published in 1896, but Professor Gray's edition will be the first time they have all been published together and in the order that Stevenson wanted, based on the original manuscripts housed in the British Library and the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University.

Professor Gray's volume of Stevenson's Fables and Fairy Tales is scheduled to appear in 2013, as part of The New Edinburgh Edition of Stevenson's Works, planned as the definitive collection of the works of Robert Louis Stevenson to be published by Edinburgh University Press in conjunction with Edinburgh University, of which Professor Gray is an alumnus.

Head of Voice takes to the world stage for concert tour 11/04/11

Following the release of their highly acclaimed new CD Heaven-Haven – The Songs of Peter Pope for Nimbus Records, mezzo soprano Susan Legg, Head of Voice at the University of Chichester, and pianist Ann Martin-Davis have been invited on several international tours and have just returned from their first - a highly successful recital tour of Mexico, organised by the Anglo-Mexican Foundation.

The duo performed three song recitals including song cycles by Ravel, Poulenc, Pope and Ferguson. The tour began with a flight to Mexico City and an internal flight to Alamos, Sonora, which nestles on the edge of the desert. The Alamos Music Festival is extremely well established and attracts a wealth of major international artists. Performing to a full house of over 700 in the stunning Palacio Municipal Theatre, the duo were given a standing ovation and hailed as ‘exquisito’ in the National Press.

The second concert took place in the Instituto Italiano de Cultura in Mexico City, in support of AMISTAD, a vital force who work in disaster zones, rebuilding the infrastructure when emergency services have left. With the Prince of Wales as Patron, AMISTAD also strives to establish links between schools in Mexico and the UK.

Susan and Ann completed their tour with a lunchtime recital in the stunning neoclassical style Anfiteatro Simón Bolívar in the heart of Mexico City to a capacity audience. The recital was recorded for future transmission.

Chichester lecturer delighted to make national award shortlist 05/04/11

A book by University of Chichester lecturer Dave Swann was chosen from hundreds of publications to be shortlisted for the 2011 Ted Hughes Award, a national competition organised by the current Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy.

Dave’s book ‘The Privilege of Rain’ (Waterloo Press, 2010), a collection based on his experiences as Writer in Residence at HMP Nottingham Prison, was among five books chosen for the shortlist for the prize, which celebrates ground-breaking attempts to fuse poetry with other art-forms.

With its mixture of poems and stories, and its inclusion of haunting wood-cuts by the artist Clare Dunne, Dave’s book caught the eye of the judging panel.

In an awards ceremony at the Savile Club in London, the chair of judges, Welsh poet Gillian Clarke, awarded the £5,000 first prize to Kaite O’Reilly for ‘The Persians’, her re-telling of Aeschylus’s ancient play of the same name.

Afterwards Dave, who is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English and Creative Writing, spoke of his excitement at being shortlisted for the award, which was made possible when Carol Ann Duffy donated her annual stipend in honour of one of her predecessors as Poet Laureate.

“It was incredibly generous of the Poet Laureate to give up her wage to set up the prize,” said Dave. “As a result, there is now a valuable space for brave and experimental small publishers to capture the attention of a wider public.

“It’s a real honour for any writer to be mentioned for a few seconds in the same breath as the legendary Ted Hughes. He was my hero when I was growing up, one of the first poets who showed me the magic of images and language. I feel incredibly happy to have my work recognised in this way.”

Dave described the awards ceremony as “quite a nerve-racking experience”. “It’s strange to walk into a room that contains so many talented writers, many of whom you’ve admired for years. At times, I had to pinch myself!

“When the award was announced, I was disappointed for a few minutes, but I got over it pretty quickly. It’s important to remind yourself that you write for the joy of writing, not for the end result. That’s what I tell my students, and it’s what I believe at the bottom of my heart.

“When I was teaching in prison, I discovered that reading and writing have the power to calm the mind. I saw this happen to some of the prisoners I taught, and it’s what I’ve found in my own life.

“Although writing can be very hard and lonely, it’s also an activity which allows you to go really deep into your life and the lives of others. That’s part of what I wrote about in my ‘The Privilege of Rain’. I wanted to try to show how writing can help to heal scars, and build empathy. That seems really important with all the current talk of cuts to arts funding, including literacy schemes in jails.

“To my mind, the arts make a more peaceful world. Money isn’t the bottom line – peace of mind is. Life without that is horrible. ‘The Privilege of Rain’ is an attempt to look at those issues, and to try to find stories that illustrate my belief that education has the potential to transform lives.

“Of course, it isn’t easy to change a life, and sometimes you’re bound to fail. Also, I’m not in the business of romanticising outlaws. Some of the poems in the book are about the victims of crime, including the wives and girlfriends of offenders. I wanted to show that their peace of mind is important, too. It seemed important to go beneath the skin of the issues.”

Effects of diversity on educational achievement explored by Chichester academics in new publication 04/04/11

Two University of Chichester academics have teamed up to produce an essential guide for teachers and education students to aid their understanding of the factors impacting on achievement in the classroom.

Diversity, Equality and Achievement in Education (Sage Publications) has been published by Gianna Knowles, senior lecturer in educational studies, and Dr Vini Lander, principal lecturer with overall responsibility for primary education provision.

Most classrooms contain children from a variety of backgrounds, where home culture, religious beliefs and the family’s economic situation all impact on achievement. This needs to be recognised by teachers in order to establish fair, respectful, trusting and constructive relationships with children and their families, which will allow every child to reach their full potential.

The book looks at real issues that affect teachers in the classroom, and examines a variety of influences affecting child development. It will provide teaching professionals with the theoretical and practical information they need to ensure they understand the complex factors which affect the children in their care, encouraging good, thoughtful teaching.

The book is on sale via the Sage Publications website, http://www.sagepub.co.uk/.

Tables turned in music department as lecturer to be assessed by students 30/03/11

Music students are being given a new way to engage with their assessment process this weekend when they are invited to ‘mark’ a performance by one of their lecturers.

The University’s Chamber Orchestra will be presenting a virtuosic programme of Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony, Sibelius Finlandia, and Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations, which will feature senior lecturer Laura Ritchie as soloist on cello.

Meanwhile, the music students in attendance will have the chance to ‘mark’ Laura’s performance using the university criteria that are used to assess their own performances.

Laura said: “This concert gives students a chance to engage with assessment from a different perspective as I, the teacher, am in the 'hot seat' with the tables turned on me. The purpose of the exercise is give increase the students’ awareness and understanding of examination processes. By having the chance to reflect on the marking criteria and writing comments for someone else, it will hopefully give them a new appreciation of the importance of feedback for their own development.”

Tickets for the concert on Saturday 2 April, which takes place in the Chapel of the Ascension at the University’s Bishop Otter Campus in Chichester beginning at 7.30pm, are available to purchase on the door priced £5/£3 concessions. University staff and students admitted free of charge on presentation of a student/staff card.

The concert is also being held on Friday 1 April at Haslemere Hall, Haslemere (call 01428 642161 for details) and on Sunday 3 April at St Joseph’s Church in Havant (01243 432342).

Legendary British TV show to celebrate 50th anniversary in Chichester 18/03/11

Stars from the hit TV series The Avengers will be reunited for the first time in 40 years at the University of Chichester this summer to celebrate half a century since the programme’s launch.

For two days in June, the University’s Bishop Otter Campus in Chichester will be transformed, giving fans the chance to get up close and personal with big name stars from the series and experience some of the classic scenes from the series with life-size recreations. For media studies experts, the opportunities to hear from a wide range of actors, producers and directors in one place over one weekend will be a valuable aid in understanding how one of the most successful TV series of its time was developed.

Events on the main stage will be hosted by TV presenter and Avengers fan Paul O’Grady, and in front of a live audience of 300 people each day, he will be interviewing guests including Honor Blackman and Linda Thorson, who played Cathy Gale and Tara King respectively in the series. Exclusive video messages will be played at the event from Patrick Macnee, who played Steed, and Joanna Lumley, who starred as another of Steed’s sidekicks, Purdey, in the New Avengers. Other major names at the event includes Brian Clemens, who wrote series 1-6, producer Leonard White, directors Don Leaver and Gerry O’Hara, and Cyd Child, stunt double for Diana Rigg and Linda Thorson in series 5 and 6.

The Avengers was produced between 1961 and 1969, and as its peak, it was shown in more than 90 countries, giving it a worldwide following that has continued this day. Guests at the reunion event are coming from across Europe and America, as well as in the UK.

As the University of Chichester is the main organiser of the event, it is more in-depth than the average fan event. Guests will talk in detail about their experiences working on or starring in the show, and how it influenced their later careers.

Other highlights of the weekend in Chichester will include an exhibition of memorabilia, including the Lotus that Emma Peel used in the series. There will also be a number of signing sessions, and an opportunity to visit a recreation of the Hellfire Club for a night out with a difference.

The event takes place on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 June, and tickets are on sale through the University of Chichester. Accommodation is available on campus or in Chichester city centre. Further information is available by visiting www.chi.ac.uk/theavengers.

Psychology courses get seal of approval from external body 09/03/11

Courses in psychology at the University of Chichester have been given the backing of the British Psychological Society.

The University offers two undergraduate courses – BSc (Hons) Psychology and BSc (Hons) Sports and Exercise Psychology, and both have been judged to meet the standards required for accreditation by the industry’s professional body following a visit from an inspection panel.

The panel, made up of British Psychological Society members, praised the University for the opportunities it gives to its students to apply their understanding to day-to-day experiences and to develop their practical research methods skills. The high level of support provided to the students because of small class sizes was also singled out as an area of good practice.

The University already has a society-accredited Masters course in the Psychology of Sport and Exercise, but with undergraduate courses now receiving the seal of approval from the British Psychological Society, the quality of this subject area at Chichester is assured.

Dr Nik Chmiel, Head of Department for Psychology and Counselling, said: “We are proud and delighted to have achieved the standard required for accreditation by the British Psychological Society. We are a new but growing discipline at the University, and this badge of quality is a sign to prospective students that the courses we offer are of high quality.

“The two courses share core parts of psychology, allowing our students to grasp the principles of the discipline and apply it to their area of interest, whether it be sport and exercise or something else. We strive to find practical contexts for students in everything we do, helping to engage them and lead them to a greater understanding and passion for the subject.”

Series of book launches underlines University of Chichester as centre of literary importance 04/03/11

Three authors have chosen to launch their new books at the University of Chichester in March, underlining the institution’s place as a leading literary centre.

Tina Smart, Christian DeFeo and Steve Haywood have all had previous connections with the University, and Tina and Christian are both graduates of the MA in Creative Writing.

The three book launches will take place in the Cloisters Chambers at the University’s Bishop Otter Campus, and will begin at 5.15pm.

The first takes place on Monday 7 March, and will see the launch of Tina Smart’s book ‘Tomorrow Insha’allah!’. Tina set up her own small press, Green Sunset Books, after graduating. She has lived a colourful life, becoming fluent in English and eventually leaving her native Germany. She once built her own home in the Moroccan countryside, an experience fictionalised in her new novel. As well as reading from her book, Tina will pass on practical tips about setting up and running a small publishing house.

On Monday 14 March, Christian DeFeo will take centre stage at the University with the launch of ‘Mister Shah’. Like Tina, Christian is a globe-trotter, having emigrated to Britain from the USA as a teenager. ‘Mister Shah’ is a fast-paced thriller that focuses on the innocent victims of the ‘war on terror’. The novel is a rare thing – a book written by a Western author that looks out through Islamic eyes. It raises many questions about pressing contemporary issues, and is a wonderful, risk-taking example of what writers can achieve when they take on unfamiliar viewpoints. It is published by Green Sunset Books.

Steve Haywood’s launch on Monday 21 March completes the trio of events. A former associate lecturer at the University, Steve has lived a fascinating professional life as award-winning TV producer, film maker, novelist, teacher, and travel writer. He was also the editor of the BBC’s acclaimed ‘Rough Justice’, a hard-hitting series that investigated high-profile miscarriages of justice. His latest book, ‘Too Narrow to Swing a Cat; Going Nowhere in Particular on England's Waterways’, is the fourth of his canal travel books to be published by Chichester-based outfit, Summersdale. It shows another side of Steve, the narrowboatman, who cruises England’s network of inland waterways in search of characters and stories.

Members of the public are welcome to attend any of the launch events, which are free of charge. To confirm your attendance, please email whatson@chi.ac.uk.

New faces join the Board of Governors at University 02/03/11

The University of Chichester has welcomed new governors to its board to provide strategic direction for the West Sussex institution.

The five new external governors bring to the University expertise in marketing, finance, IT and estates planning to the board, while two new staff appointments were made at the same time.

Their appointments were confirmed at a Governors meeting in November 2010, and they formally began their roles at the beginning of 2011. Senior officers of the University have already provided induction sessions to assist the new Governors to develop their knowledge of the institution and the way in which higher education institutions operate.

The new Governors are:

Helen Bray - Head of Communications for the 2011 Census.

Jim Dicks - Managing Director, International Finance and Operations and Vice President of John Wiley and Sons, based in Chichester.

Richard Hornby – Director of Finance and Performance, West Sussex County Council.

Nicola Nageon de Lestang- part-time lecturer and staff governor at Fareham College, Hampshire.

Robin Smith – former Chief Executive, Havant Borough Council, and design and planning consultant.

Sam Baeza (staff governor) – lecturer in social work, worked at the University for five years.

Rob Abbott (staff governor) – tutor in childhood studies, worked at the University for ten years.

Derek Jenkins, Chair of Governors, said: “The University advertises for new Governors from time to time, and I am delighted we have been successful in attracting new members to the Board who bring such excellent skills and very relevant experience.

“Universities need to draw more than ever on the collective contributions from staff, students as well as Governors as institutions face the challenges of public sector funding changes. The University is well placed to navigate through these and already the new Governors have made a valuable contribution.”

Would you like to teach English as an international language? 25/02/11

Applications are now open for a popular training course that could open doors to a new career this summer.

The TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) course is taught at the University of Chichester’s Bognor Regis Campus in June and July and is recognised as a worldwide qualification to teach English to speakers of other languages. It is validated by Trinity College London.

Students will come together twice a week for an intensive eight-week course that will enable those who complete the course to embark on a career teaching English to speakers of other languages either in this country or abroad. Run by the University’s Applied Language Studies department, the course attracts trainees from all over the South East.

Sue Lavender, Subject Coordinator for Applied Language Studies at the University of Chichester, said: “We have run this course for a number of years, and it always proves to be a popular and enjoyable course for those who attend. By having this qualification, not only does it improve job prospects for local people, but it may help those who are already working closely with the large migrant community we have in this area.”

The course is run between 6 June and 29 July, and takes place on Mondays and Thursdays between 9.30am and 8.30pm. It costs £1,130 (£1,017 for University staff and students). For more information, contact Jane Smith by e-mailing j.f.smith@chiuni.ac.uk or calling 01243 812194.

New University consultancy service provides further support to businesses 15/02/11

A new service provided by the University of Chichester launches this week, opening the door for businesses to get further business support from the institution.

The POWER Centre, run by the Psychology and Counselling department, will offer advice and guidance on employee engagement, team effectiveness, well-being at work, conflict management and employee selection.

POWER, which stands for People in Organisations and Workplace Engagement Research, can call upon the skills of the team of lecturers at the University to tailor their support for businesses, and as well as developing solutions, the Centre can also work in partnership to deliver them, something that not all similar companies can offer in an effective way.

The Centre is also unique in that the work it will do with businesses is able to be used to inform the latest theories in Psychology and Counselling, ensuring businesses are benefiting from the most up-to-date solutions backed up by modern research.

At the launch event for the Centre, which takes place on Thursday 17 February at the University’s Bishop Otter Campus in Chichester, attendees will hear from Adrian Furnham, Professor of Psychology at University College London and who has worked with many multinational corporations.

Dr Nik Chmiel, Director of POWER and head of psychology and counselling at the University of Chichester, said: “We’re grateful to have someone of Professor Furnham’s stature coming to mark the launch of POWER. I’m sure he will prove an inspiration to those businesses who attend to consider using the POWER Centre and our Psychology and Counselling experts to get the most out of their staff. We have senior people from large local businesses and local authorities already confirming their attendance, so this will be a good networking opportunity as well.

“POWER is made up of academics who carry out properly-researched and evidence-based work. The University already offers a range of business support services through the Research and Employer Engagement Office (REEO), and the POWER Centre complements those, as well as aiming to become an established research centre in its own right.”

Widening participation experts to visit Sweden to share knowledge 11/02/11

The University of Chichester will be sharing the secrets of its success in attracting disadvantaged students into Higher Education with Swedish practitioners next week (14-18 February).

Carole Nairn and Lesley-Anne Holder from the University’s Widening Participation have been invited to Stockholm to present to the national board meeting of Include, the Swedish widening participation programme. All universities in Sweden will be represented at the meeting along with other interested parties, and will get the opportunity to talk in depth about Chichester’s activities.

As well as presenting at the meeting, Carole and Lesley-Anne will be visiting universities in Sweden to see how they break down the traditional barriers for people entering Higher Education, and exploring ideas that could be implemented at Chichester.

The trip has been made possible thanks to funding from Erasmus, an initiative supported by the British Council that promotes exchanges between European universities to increase mobility within Europe.

Carole, who is Widening Participation Manager at the University of Chichester, said: “We are honoured to have been invited to present to Swedish practitioners, sharing our experiences of how we encourage young people to reach their full potential. They are particularly interested in the work we do at primary school level, and the Learning Progression Framework we have introduced this year, which ensures we give students at all levels the right support and opportunities if they want to move up the education system.

“From our perspective, we will learn a great deal from the visits to Swedish universities, understanding how they work with disadvantaged students, how they support students financially if they wish to go to university, and how widening participation activity is funded. We hope to gain some best practice from them and see if it can be introduced at Chichester so we can reach out to more young people in the UK who may not have considered going to university in the future.”

Chichester interest in Women’s Six Nations rugby tournament 04/02/11

The influence of the University of Chichester will feature strongly on the opening weekend of the Women’s Six Nations rugby tournament.

Wales will meet England in Cross Keys, near Newport, on 6 February, and University alumni will find themselves coming head-to-head in the match.

Ashley Rowlands, who graduated in 2008 as a qualified PE teacher, is one of nine uncapped players who have been called up to the Wales squad for the tournament, and is straight into the starting line-up in the lock position.

When she takes to the field on Sunday, she is likely to face her Wasps team-mate Claire Purdy as well as Emma Croker (Richmond), who have been selected for the England squad which has retained many of the players that featured in last September’s World Cup final defeat against New Zealand.

Claire is a Sports Studies and Sports Management graduate from 2001, while Emma qualified as a PE teacher three years earlier than Ashley. She also has her sights set on sporting success in another field – after becoming England weightlifting champion, her next target is to represent Great Britain in the London 2012 Olympics.

Talking about how she got into the game, Ashley said: “When I joined the University, I was a hockey player, and only tried rugby in my second year because it was part of my course. I was then asked to play in a full game for the University because the squad was short on numbers, and I scored two tries, and my career has built from there.

“The University coach Andy Turner was a real inspiration to me, and encouraged me to go for county and regional trials, where I met other players and coaches that gave me the opportunity to play at club, and now international, level.”

Dr Sarah Gilroy, Executive Dean at the University of Chichester, said: “To have University alumni taking part in this match on opposite sides is certainly going to add to the spice of the game. With Ashley winning her first cap at the weekend, she joins a growing list of students from the University who have gone on to win international honours in their respective sports, and they are all an inspiration to others wanting to succeed in sport.”

University basketball team forms official partnership with BBL side 04/02/11

The University of Chichester Thunder basketball team has become an official nursery team to British Basketball League (BBL) side Worthing Thunder.

The official tie-up will provide opportunities for the Chichester players to train with the full BBL squad and means the best players at the University can be called on to play by Worthing Thunder if the fixture list allows for the remainder of the 2010/11 season, and beyond. With former BBL players such as Bud Johnston (Brighton Bears), Jasper Chiwuzie (London Capital) and Liam Mitchell (Thunder 09/10) on the Chichester roster, there is plenty of talent within that squad.

In addition to the players being able to play for the BBL side, it also means that Chichester are playing some of their matches at the Worthing Leisure Centre ahead of BBL matches on the same night. The first such occasion was on 29 January, when helped by 36 points for Bud Johnston and 23 for Liam Mitchell, they beat Guernsey 99-52. The next time will be Saturday 26 February at 5pm when they host table-topping Taunton Tigers in what promises to be a great clash ahead of Worthing’s local derby against the Guildford Heat (7.30pm).

Worthing Thunder Operations Director Alan Sweetman-Hicks is pleased that the two organisations continue to forge ever-closer links. He said: “We are grateful to the University for the continuing support they are giving us and in allowing this nursery set-up to happen. It can only lead to good things for both clubs – here in Worthing we will be able to look at and call-up the best talent at the University’s disposal, and the University will be able to attract players who will know that if they perform for the University, there is a chance of a route into the BBL, which in turn should make the University of Chichester Thunder better.

“It also means that all the players coming through our junior programme have somewhere to look at as a viable option for their post A Level studies where they can learn in a great institution and play for the University team in BUCS and National League fixtures, knowing that if they are good enough, they can progress onto the Worthing Thunder themselves.”

Sid Fletcher Sports Development Manager for the University of Chichester Students’ Union also expressed his delight at recent developments between the organisations. He said: “The speed of developments over the past two years has been staggering. When we all first met in Worthing Leisure Centre to discuss the plan, we could never have imagined we would be in this position so quickly, with an official partnership and nursery status with a BBL club, a strong performing National League side, and two British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) teams.”

Football and basketball combine for RESPECT behaviour campaign 01/02/11

A football-based youth engagement programme has crossed the sporting divide and visited the University of Chichester as part of their basketball activities.

Portsmouth Football Club’s RESPECT programme encourages social and personal development and healthy lifestyles among young people by participating in sports. For the past three years, basketball has formed part of the activities and has worked with Rising Ballers, an initiative run by University of Chichester Thunder basketball team coach Emmanuel Davies.

Rising Ballers aims to keep young people active and out of trouble by focusing on positive sporting activities. The number of young people taking part in basketball activities has risen year on year.

On Saturday 22 January, 30 young people came to watch the University of Chichester Thunder’s 83-79 victory over Team Gloster Jets in their National League match as part of the programme.

Emmanuel, who is also performance director for Rising Ballers, said: “Having the kids come to watch the game was a great plus to the programme, as it can show what they can do with their talents if they continued to work hard. The kids are very enthusiastic and we hope they continue using the positive vibes from the project and apply them elsewhere in their lives.”

University basketball team to play on the big stage as part of partnership deal with BBL club 27/01/11

The University of Chichester Thunder will feature in a basketball double-header this weekend alongside BBL club Worthing Thunder.

The University side will play their National League Division 4 South West match against Guernsey, which will be followed by Worthing Thunder’s British Basketball League (BBL) match against the Sheffield Sharks. The BBL is the UK’s premier basketball league, with games featuring regularly on Sky TV.

The two matches will take place at Worthing Leisure Centre, the home of Worthing Thunder, which usually attracts around 500 fans, making it one of the largest crowds that the University of Chichester Thunder will have played in front of.

The National League game will tip off at 5.00pm, while the BBL match will start at 7.30pm. Fans can see both games for just £5 for adults and £2 for children.

The opportunity for the University of Chichester Thunder to play at Worthing Leisure Centre has come as a result of a partnership agreement between the clubs, giving the University players a route to the top level of UK basketball while continuing their studies at the West Sussex institution.

The University side has become an official ‘nursery’ team for Worthing Thunder, meaning University players can now be signed to play for both teams if they are good enough to play at BBL standard. It is widely expected a number of Chichester players will feature in the Worthing Thunder squad before the end of the season.

The University of Chichester Thunder will also play at the Worthing Leisure Centre on 26 February when they take on the Taunton Tigers.

Sid Fletcher, Sports Development Manager for the University of Chichester Students’ Union, said: “I am pleased we have been able to build our relationship with Worthing Thunder to a level where they have agreed to adopt us as an official nursery team. This gives us a strong base on which we can build our development work, which is designed to give our players the opportunity to be coached and play at the highest level possible, while continuing to study at University.”

University libraries make the most of its old books 25/01/11

The University of Chichester has reinvested nearly £20,000 in new books by selling old publications through a simple but effective scheme.

In the libraries at its Bishop Otter and Bognor Regis Campuses, there are more than 300,000 books, and subject librarians constantly work to ensure the most recent copies of books are available for students across all subjects studied at the institution.

Rather than old books being thrown away to be recycled, the University sells them through an online shop on Amazon, creating an income for the institution and ensuring the book remain in circulation.

Details of the scheme were published in Relay, the journal for professionals working in national, research or academic libraries, with the intention of sharing best practice for the benefit of others.

Since the scheme began in 2004, the University has made nearly £20,000 selling books across the UK and occasionally overseas. Most customers are other academic organisations, although some appear to be students or members of the public.

Anna O'Neill, Head of Library Services at the University of Chichester, said: “Selling books on Amazon is straight forward and need not be time consuming. Knowing what to sell and for how much becomes easier with experience. However, the real benefit is keeping books out of landfill and still in circulation.”

To read the full article, visit: http://www.cilip.org.uk/get-involved/special-interest-groups/ucr/publications/Documents/Relay%2061%20-%20Final.pdf

Leading childhood studies textbook by Chichester academic moves into third edition 21/01/11

A popular textbook for childhood studies students has been published in its third edition by a University of Chichester academic.

The book, Special Needs and Early Years, is written by Kate Wall, the programme leader for the Early Childhood Studies degree course, and has become a standard course reader on similar programmes across the UK.

Along with her other books, it has contributed to Kate’s election to the national board of the National Children’s Bureau and the Early Years Advisory Board of the National Association of Special Educational Needs. She is also a regular speaker at conferences both in the UK and abroad.

Kate has been at the University of Chichester since 2007 and, until 1999, was an early years teacher across mainstream and special settings for more than 20 years. As the Head of an Early Years Special Unit, Kate developed a wealth of knowledge and experience which informs her writing as well as her teaching at the University.

Senior music lecturer earns recognition for research work 21/01/11

A senior lecturer in music at the University of Chichester has crossed creative boundaries and won a literary award.

Dr Jonathan Little, Senior Lecturer and Commercial Music co-ordinator at the West Sussex institution, won The Authors’ Foundation/Royal Literary Fund Award 2011 for his definitive two-volume, 850-page survey of Orientalism in Music.

His research begun twenty years ago and was recently published by Mellen Press. The two volumes are entitled: The Influence of European Literary and Artistic Representations of the ‘Orient’ on Western Orchestral Compositions, ca. 1840-1920: From Oriental Inspiration to ‘Exotic’ Orchestration, and Literary Sources of Nineteenth-Century Musical Orientalism.

The panel of adjudicators included Sir Michael Holroyd, former Chairman of the Society of Authors. To be able to complete this substantial project, Jonathan was grateful for the support of the University’s own Research Incentive Fund.

Complementing this recent achievement for writing, in October 2010 Jonathan won his fifth successive award for Concert Music Composition from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, and, in 2009, he became the first composer to receive a Professional Development Award from the Musicians Benevolent Fund – the UK music business’s own charity, whose trustees and advisors include many of this country’s most distinguished conductors and performers.

Aimhigher reinforces young people's decision to progress into Higher Education 20/01/11

Research undertaken by Aimhigher Sussex with undergraduates at the Universities of Brighton, Sussex and Chichester has concluded that, although not the only deciding factor, the Aimhigher programme reinforced students' decisions to progress into higher education as well as helped them decide which course and university to attend.

The research investigated what factors influenced undergraduates from low participation neighbourhoods in their journey into higher education and their sense of academic preparedness on arrival; as well as what part was played by their experience of Aimhigher and other widening participation outreach interventions. Involving 230 second year undergraduate students from the county's universities, the research consisted of online questionnaires and 20 in-depth interviews with students.

As well as revealing the influence of the Aimhigher programme, the researchers made recommendations to Aimhigher Sussex and the participating universities regarding future work with primary aged children and planned interventions with the key grouping of Year 7 to 9 young people, a time that the research showed as a period of transition that could devalue earlier educational and occupational aspirations for some young people.

To read the full report, go to http://www.aimhighersussex.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/quiet-shadow-report.pdf

Gifted Athlete Scholars selected by University of Chichester 07/01/10

A group of athletes studying at the University of Chichester have been awarded scholarships to help combine their academic studies with their sporting careers.

A cross-section of sports are represented in this year’s scholarship scheme, and includes athletes targeting places in Team GB for the London 2012 Summer Olympics and the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.

As well as receiving financial support, the athletes will receive a full strength and conditional programme from the University’s sport and exercise department, which already has a track record of providing expertise to Olympic medalists such as sailor Ben Ainslie and boxer Amir Khan.

The athletes will also receive physiotherapy support in the event of any injuries, and free membership to the University gym at its Bishop Otter Campus.

The full list of athletes and their sports are:

• Will Golder (Bobsleigh)
• Joe Viner (Golf)
• Bud Johnston (Basketball)
• Mel Curson (Netball)
• Lloyd Ellett (Boxing)
• Amy Seabright (Sailing)
• Sophie Bailey (Windsurfing)
• Cally Beaumont (Football)
• Rebecca Thompson-Agbro (Football)
• Charley Boswell (Football)
• Sarah Kempson (Football)
• Jack Sharp (Rugby)
• Ruby Rennison (Frisbee)
• Jacquelyn Jobey (Basketball/Netball)
• Nuala Page (Rhythmic Gymnastics)

Paul Wallis, Active Sports Manager at the University of Chichester, said: “By providing a comprehensive level of support to our sports scholars, it allows them to undertake their academic studies while continuing to aim for national and international success in their chosen sport.

“Some of our scholars are hoping to feature in the London 2012 Summer Games and the 2014 Winter Games in Russia, and we want to give them the best opportunity to reach their full potential both in the sporting arena and academically.”

Sid Fletcher, University of Chichester Students’ Union Sports Development Manager, added: “We have a number of successful teams competing in the British Universities leagues, and our men’s basketball team is part of the National Basketball League set-up. This scholarship scheme is an extension of the sports support we offer at the University, aimed towards individuals who require specialist support or training. This can involve travelling hundreds of miles a week to their training headquarters, and the funds given through the scholarship can help with the cost of this.”

Trio of businesspeople share top prize in University entrepreneur competition 07/01/10

Graduates and students from the University of Chichester have been rewarded for their business acumen in the first competition of its kind at the West Sussex institution.

The new business ventures of Daisy Robinson and Sophie Bennett (Honey It’s Herbal!) and Paul Taylor (Play-Ultimate) won first prizes in the first-ever New Entrepreneurs Competition run by the University, to encourage entrepreneurial spirit at the institution to blossom.

Daisy and Sophie have successfully combined their studies with their business idea while Paul set up his company on graduation, making instant use of the skills and experiences learnt in the lecture halls.

Daisy and Sophie from Honey It’s Herbal (http://www.honeyitsherbal.com/) sell 100% natural handmade skincare products, having started by making products for themselves before branching out into business. They now sell at local farmers’ markets and crafts fairs as well as being stocked in stores in Sussex and Kent.

Play Ultimate (http://www.play-ultimate.co.uk/) strives to spread the benefits of physical activity and sports psychology in a youth environment, and Paul leads a number of coaching sessions to introduce young people to the sport of Ultimate Frisbee, both within school PE sessions and in after-school clubs.

The judging panel of Iain Shepherd (Marcom Defence), David Myers (DM Consultants) and Lyn Batchelor (University of Chichester) awarded the two businesses £500 each.

The runners-up were Replica Dance Workshop, who create educational dance workshops, and Wide Eyes Theatre Collective, who are creating contemporary theatre and educational workshops from multi-disciplined performance artists. Both groups received £250.

Julia Macfarlane, Senior Business Development Manager for the University of Chichester, said: “Nine shortlisted entrants to the competition at Stage 1 were given a £500 grant and sent away to put it to good use for their business over the summer months. The winners of the competition at Stage 2 were those who were judged to have used the cash to the greatest benefit.

“The standard of entries shows that there is definitely an untapped entrepreneurial streak at the University, and that bodes well for the future of our students and the local business community.

“The University has made a strong commitment to support new businesses - later this year, we will be opening new business incubator units at our Bognor Regis campus, space where new businesses, started up by our students, graduates and staff, will be able to operate from, and receive support and guidance on how to best develop their business.”

University of Chichester appoints new Vice-Chancellor 21/12/10

The University of Chichester has confirmed that Professor Clive Behagg has been appointed Vice-Chancellor.

The appointment of Professor Behagg, who has been Acting Vice-Chancellor since February 2010, was confirmed, following a thorough and rigorous selection process against a strong field of candidates, by the Board of Governors at a meeting on Tuesday 21 December.

Professor Behagg has been at the University since 1976 when he joined as a history lecturer. He became Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 2005 before taking up the Acting Vice-Chancellor role in February of this year.

Professor Behagg will formally take up the Vice-Chancellor post on 1 January 2011, and will take charge of a University with more than 5,000 students and at least 1,000 members of staff. It also has some of the highest student satisfaction rates of any university in the country, and is embarking on two major expansion projects at its Bognor Regis campus that will play a significant role in the regeneration of West Sussex.

Professor Behagg said: “Since taking the role on an acting basis earlier in the year, I have made no secret of my intention to apply for the permanent position when it became available, and I’m delighted that I have been successful. This is a fantastic place to work and study, and I will do my upmost for the students and staff here, as well as for our neighbours in West Sussex."

“I am now eager to carry on with the job of leading the University through these challenging times, and I start on a strong footing. Applications to come here are more than three times the national average, and our student satisfaction scores clearly indicate we offer something that students want. We are financially stable, achieved a surplus of more than £2m last year, hold nearly £10m in reserves and our multi-million pound capital investment projects in Bognor Regis are underway. We are one of the best placed institutions to deal with the challenges of the future, and anyone who suggests otherwise should come here and see for themselves. The University of Chichester has a great future; it will live long and prosper.”