RESEARCH ASSESSMENT RESULTS CONFIRM INTERNATIONAL EXCELLENCE OF KEELE

Keele's position as a university whose research is of world leading and of international standard has been confirmed by the results of the UK-wide Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).  The RAE assesses the quality of research in all higher education institutions in the UK through a process of peer review.

The RAE 2008 found that 85% of the University's research is now classified as world leading and of international importance.

Keele has top rated departments in all of its three Faculties: Health, Humanities and Social Sciences and Natural Sciences, and the RAE results reveal the University's world class research activities across a wide spectrum of subject areas.

The results represent a step-up in Keele's performance from the very good results the University achieved in the last RAE in 2001. Then, 6% of submitted research achieved the top grade. Now, some 11% is judged to be 4* or 'world leading', the highest available category score.

Subject areas where research at Keele has been rated world class in terms of originality, significance and rigour are Primary Care, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Business and Management, Law, Politics, Russian, English Language and Literature, Social Policy and Administration, History, Music and General Engineering (which includes BioMedical Engineering and Environmental Engineering). Keele has performed particularly well in Music, Applied Mathematics, Social Policy and Administration and History.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Janet Finch, said: "This is an excellent result.  Preliminary analysis suggests there has been an improvement in the position of Sciences at Keele and we are particularly pleased that those submissions which included large numbers of staff, have scored well. May I take this opportunity to congratulate Keele's research community on these results."

KEELE PROFESSOR JOINS NEW GROUP TO ADVISE ON HEALTH SERVICE REFORM

Professor Charlotte Williams, Head of the School of Public Policy and Professional Practice, has been appointed to the Bevan Commission by the Welsh Assembly Government.

The Commission will provide independent, expert advice to the Minister for Health and Social Services to help ensure that changes in the NHS structures set Wales on the path to a world class healthcare system.

In this the 60th anniversary year of the NHS, Health Minister Edwina Hart announced the membership of the new group, which will also give expert advice on emerging health issues that require attention and opportunities for greater or faster service improvement in the NHS.

Professor Williams said: "I am delighted to serve on this Commission and to contribute to the crafting of a health service which will be publicly funded, publicly owned and built on strong democratic engagement.  In the current political climate the Welsh government's commitment to the founding principles of the NHS is a bold and worthy aspiration."

ELECTED CHAIR OF BUTEX

Dr Erica Arthur, Keele's Study Abroad Manager, has been elected Chair of the British Universities Transatlantic Exchange Association (BUTEX).

The Association represents over seventy higher education institutions in the United Kingdom with active transatlantic links and interests, most of which have a variety of individual exchange arrangements with North American universities and colleges.

BUTEX includes in its brief the promotion of UK higher education in North America and the regular exchange of information among its members on current international education issues. Prior to being elected Chair, Erica served as Vice-Chair for two years and has been instrumental in instituting a professional development programme for UK staff working in the sector.

TEACHING QUALIFICATIONS PRESENTATION

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Janet Finch, last week presented certificates to staff of Keele University and Harper Adams University College who completed teaching qualifications at Keele last year.

Twenty four of the 43 receiving the Associate Teacher Award, the PG Certificate in Teaching and Learning in HE, the PG Certificate in Teaching and Learning with Technology and the MA in Learning and Teaching in HE, were able to receive their certificates in person.

The Vice-Chancellor congratulated them on their progress in a profession where qualifications in teaching are now expected and where Keele has been providing them for over ten years. The courses, run by the Learning Development Unit, are accredited by the HE Academy and by SEDA. For details and the full photograph see here.

WHITE WELL RENOVATION

Work by Wrekin Construction to renovate the White Well, as part of the the Lakes and Valley project, has been completed. The White Well, near Keele Hall, which is served by a natural spring, is estimated to be some two or three hundred years old and is of  stone construction with a hip roof.

The structural roof timbers required repair and the original tiles were replaced. The well was leaking so a new outlet into the lake was installed and the railings have been painted.

RESEARCH GRANT

Dr Sorin Baiasu, Research Institute for Law, Politics and Justice, has been awarded £500 by the European Consortium for Political Research to support the development of a new Standing Group on Kantian Political Thought.

 
The Kantian Standing Group is an international network of academics working on themes in Immanuel Kant's moral and political philosophy.

The network was formed relatively recently through a series of workshops and conferences devoted to topics in the area, and the Standing Group aims to maintain and further expand this network. Co-convened by Dr Baiasu and Professor Howard Williams (Aberystwyth), the Kantian Standing Group  currently has more than 100 members from 24 countries.

COMMENTARY ON RIOTS IN GREECE

Kostas Gemenis, a PhD student in the Research Institute for Law, Politics and Justice, has published a commentary on the recent riots in Greece in openDemocracy, an independent web publication on global current affairs. The article can be seen here.

He was also an invited guest BBC Radio Scotland's Newsweek last week to give a political analysis about the riots. To listen to the interview click here.

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS AT KEELE

Christmas celebrations are now in full swing at Keele's public venues.  Keele Hall and the Comus Restaurant continued with the Christmas Fayre evenings this week, with both the Stoke-on-Trent Rotary Club and Keele's School of Health and Rehabilitation holding private parties.

The Salvation Army held a carol concert in Westminster Theatre last weekend.  A 15 piece brass band led the singing for what was a well attended event.

ASPIRE

This week saw the successful conclusion for the 5th cohort of post-graduate students on the nationally recognised Allied health professionals of Staffordshire Pioneering Rheumatology Education (A.S.P.I.R.E.) course.

The multidisciplinary course team comprised of nurses, therapists and doctors from two local NHS Foundation Trusts, as well as the Schools of Nursing and Midwifery and Health and Rehabilitation.

Over the past five years 53 rheumatology health professionals recruited from around the country have attended the two level 3 modules which run from April to January of each year. Students are all working in clinical rheumatology posts and usually come from nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry and pharmacy backgrounds. Completing students report they are both more confident, effective and critically aware in their clinical practice.