NATIONAL STUDENT SURVEY 2011

The National Student Survey (NSS) - a survey of students' academic experiences commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for England - will be launched at Keele on Monday.

It is important that as many students as possible provide feedback for the survey to generate reliable information. We need to achieve a response rate of at least 50%, both at institution and subject level. Last year we achieved an overall response rate of 65%, but not all subject areas were equally successful.

During the week eligible students will be sent an invitation email to complete the NSS. Those who have not completed the survey may be contacted by post or ultimately by telephone. They can also complete the survey online at www.thestudentsurvey.com. Students may opt out if they do not wish to be surveyed.

The results are made available to participating institutions on the NSS Results website, while prospective students, their advisors and the public can view the published NSS results at Unistats.com.

FLYING START ENGLAND AWARD

The School of Nursing and Midwifery has been selected by the NHS as the sole HEI provider of accreditation and quality assurance to the "Flying Start England" preceptorship programme. 

Flying Start is a web-based educational competency resource which is currently provided by NHS England for use by all non-medical health professional groups to assist graduates into full-time practice in the year following professional registration.

The bid was led by Pauline Walsh (Head of School), pictured above right, and Mel Humphreys (PGT Director), pictured left, and was awarded against stiff competition from eight other HEIs from across the country, who were shortlisted and interviewed.  The national selection panel were particularly impressed by the innovative and flexible approach to preceptorship training.  In congratulating the awardees, Professor Andy Garner, PVC and Dean of Health, commented that award of this contract was excellent news for the Faculty of Health and just recognition of the strength of clinical education and training provided by Keele's School of Nursing and Midwifery.

KEELE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

Keele International Festival events this week include: Steven Robinette, Marshall Scholar Speaker, on 8 February at the Guy Hilton Research Centre; African Studies at Keele seminar: Dr Emma-Louise Anderson (International Relations, Keele), 'Women, HIV and Development: Progress Towards the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) in Malawi' and a world music night in K2, Students Union, on 9 February and the Hawthorns Halls and International Student Support sponsored International Song and Dance Showcase Event on Friday 11 February. Keele has students and staff from over 100 countries and the mix of cultures and backgrounds enriches our campus enormously.

For further details about the festival and how to get involved click here.

RESILIENCE WORKSHOP AT KEELE

Dr Peter Adey, Physical and Geographical Sciences, last week organised a workshop at Keele on societal resilience, which featured a visit from Staffordshire Civil Contingencies Unit, whose Director Andy Marshall and Training and Exercise Co-ordinator, Steve Hill, discussed their roles within emergency planning and the future challenges it faces from changing risks and government restructuring.

Presentations from Dr Adey, pictured, Professor Barry Godfrey, Criminology, Dr Zoe Robinson and Dr Deirdre McKay, both Physical and Geographical Sciences, focused on the future of resilience research at Keele and the importance of community networks within different contexts of resilience. After the workshop Dr Adey went on to give an invited talk at the (Dis)orders of Credit workshop in Oslo, drawing connections between the governing of emergencies and the financial crisis.

 ATHLETIC UNION HONOURS BOARD RENOVATED

Keele University Athletic Union has acknowledged the architects of sport at Keele by renovating the Athletic Union Honours Board in the Leisure and Sports Centre.

Corrections were made and the panel completely repainted with support from the Keele Key Fund and Sheilah Da Silva (Cresswell) (1963), who was AU Vice-President 1961-1962. She was joined at an unveiling last week by Arthur "Richie" Richardson (1954), Keele's second AU President from 1951 to 1954, and Richie's wife, Joyce (Sutton). Sheilah  and Richie are pictured above with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Foskett.

The Vice-Chancellor, AU President Tom Walker, KUSU Vice-President Sonia Douz and members of the AU Committee invited the guests to cut a ribbon at the unveiling. They then toured the sports and fitness facilities and learned more about Keele's future plans for sport and fitness before watching various matches.

NATIONAL HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY

The Widening Participation Events Team  marked National Holocaust Memorial Day last week by inviting 200 young people on to campus for a 'Children's Conference' .

The highlight for the 13 and 14 year olds, from across the area, was a talk from Auschwitz survivor Susan Pollack, who spoke about her time in the Nazi concentration camp. The picture shows Susan with some of the students. Other sessions included an open debate on discrimination, from the Anne Frank Trust, a look at International Human Rights, from Amnesty International, and an investigation into the Scientists of the Holocaust, with Keele academic, Dr Jane Essex.
 
The conference came during a busy period for the WP events team, who have welcomed 100 local learners for a Music Day, 120 for an English day, with Professor Scott McCracken and the Boothen End Bard , Ian Dyer, and 250 who spent two days investigating forensics, with Vicki Cartwright and Amy Cowles.

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENT

The following academic appointment commenced in post this week:

School of Medicine

Dr Catriona Kelly, Lecturer in Bioscience, who was previously a Post Doctoral Research Fellow at Queen's University.

GREEN WEEK

Keele will be supporting Green Week 2011 to raise awareness of environmental issues for staff and students and highlight actions that can be taken to reduce our negative impact. The week ,which starts on Monday, also gives an opportunity to highlight some of the key sustainability activities at the University.
 
Activities include an eco-driving simulator in the Chancellor's Building on Tuesday. The simulator is a fun, interactive experience that teaches good practice and economical driving techniques that are proven to cut fuel consumption. There is also a pedal powered smoothie bar on Monday in the Chanchellor's Building and on Tuesday in the Sports Centre.

Professor Pat Bailey, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Environment and Sustainability), pictured above, said: "The range of events during Green Week will give everyone the chance to experience activities related to living sustainably. I'm looking forward to taking part, and I also plan to use Green Week to identify how I can act in more environmentally friendly ways."

EGG AND SPERM DONATION POLICY SEMINAR

Professor Stephen Wilkinson, Research Institute for Social Sciences, PEAK / School of Law, pictured below, was one of four invited speakers at a policy seminar organised jointly by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and the Society for Applied Philosophy.

The event, at the Royal College of Physicians in London, was linked to the HFEA's ongoing consultation and policy review concerning human egg and sperm donation.

The seminar was attended by representatives of donor and patient groups, campaigning organisations and charities, as well as HFEA members and staff, AHRC staff and health care professionals working in reproductive medicine.

KEELE ROCKS

A group of nine teachers came to Keele last week for 'Earthquakes and other natural hazards', a CPD course at the Science Learning Centre, which began with a visit to the Keele Observatory, where they were able to view Jupiter and the Orion Nebula.

The following day was spent in hands-on Earth Science Education Unit workshops and contemporary Earth Science and Seismology, with Paul Denton, from the British Geological Survey, and Keele's Dr Ian Stimpson.

The course is part of the Science Learning Centres and Research Councils UK's Contemporary Science Programme to bring cutting edge science to classrooms.

This model of weekend CPD has proven successful and the course was well received, with positive participant feedback.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Sixteen years ago this week -

A study being carried out at Keele is aiming to re-establish barn owls in the Staffordshire/Cheshire region.

The study is part of a new nationwide survey by the British Trust for Ornithology and the Hawk and Owl Trust.

Dr Carole Hackney is looking into whether barn owl numbers can be increased by captive breeding and subsequent release into the wild. 1 February, 1995.