TEACHING THE TEACHERS OVERSEAS
 Dr Kay Mohanna, Director of Postgraduate Medicine, has run two overseas 'Teaching the Teachers' courses, one in the Dubai and one in Lahore, Pakistan - both important origins for many of our NHS trainees.
The first was Module One of the Keele accredited postgraduate certificate in medical education for a cohort of multidisciplinary established medical teachers; the second was a CPD course for aspiring -teachers of family medicine.
The dedicated off-site postgraduate certificate was commissioned from Keele by the Dubai Health Authority. It was co-facilitated by Mike Deighan, Head of the West Midlands Deanery Postgraduate School of General Practice, who is also a Keele sessional tutor. The Pakistan CPD course was a result of a twinning initiative between the Midland Faculty and South Asia Faculties of the RCGP.
Over five days, in both countries, the doctors attended sessions on experiential learning, learning styles, microteaching, feedback, journal club, curriculum development, assessment, challenging trainees and educational supervision. Charlotte Hart, Director of the MMed programme, created a VLE to support the participants. A total of 54 participated in the two courses of whom the 'Dubai 33' have enrolled as full postgraduate students.
Further modules of the PGCert will be delivered off-site and it is hoped Dubai will fund students to come to Keele to continue to the diploma and masters stage in due course.
As a result of the RCGP programme in Lahore, Keele links have been made with the University of Health Sciences who hosted the CPD programme. Discussions are on-going, which might lead to a medical school consultancy project to audit their University examination process.
Kay and Mike are pictured above with Dubai students and Dr Khalil Qayed, Director of Medical Education of Dubai Health Authority, and Dr Ashraf Ahmed, Head of Academic Affairs Center, Medical Education Department at the DHA. |
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BRIDGING THE GAPS NETWORKING LUNCH
 The Bridging the Gaps (BTG) Initiative held another successful cross-disciplinary networking meeting this week.
Organised by Professor Alicia El Haj and Professor Stephen Wilkinson, the BTG meeting was organised as a "speed dating event" to introduce members of the Law/ Ethics research groups to the members the Human Biomedical/ Regenerative Medicine groupings at Keele.
The event proved to be a great opportunity for the delegates to discuss the potential cross disciplinary links between their research activities, which has already led to some novel ideas for small projects currently being proposed for BTG funding. A further workshop/sandpit is now planned to enable more detailed discussions leading to new cross disciplinary initiatives and applications for funding at Keele.
For more details on future BTG events, news and funding applications, please visit the BTG website: http://www.keele.ac.uk/bridging-the-gaps |
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PMR MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDY DAY
The Primary Care Sciences Arthritis UK Primary Care Centre, in collaboration with staff from the School of Health and Rehabilitation, hosted a successful interactive workshop focusing on non-pharmacological management options for managing Polymyalgia Rheumatica. The study day was held in the Sustainability Hub, with 22 delegates attending from research, clinical, academic and lay adviser backgrounds. Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, GP and Rheumatology consultants travelled from the West Midlands to participate.
The event was organised by Professor Christian Mallen as part of his ARUK fellowship, investigating the management of Gout and Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) in primary care. The purpose of the day was to explore future research directions and the contribution of different disciplines to non-pharmacological options for treatment for PMR. There was a particular focus to understand the patient perspective of current management practices. Professor Mallen was supported by Dr Sam Hider, Anne O'Brien and Dr Linda Chesterton.
Christian spoke about the difficulties with diagnosing PMR, associated comorbidities and management options for GPs. Sam presented diagnosis and management from a Rheumatologist perspective and Anne spoke on the issues surrounding available research investigating non pharmacological interventions such as exercise, advice and education. Professors Elaine Hay and Krysia Dziedzic assisted in the panel discussions that took place and the day concluded with a discussion on future research funding application possibilities which may focus on patient perspectives, their experience of PMR and its management.
The event was funded jointly by and the National Physiotherapy Research Network and ARUK. |
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COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITIES STUDY ABROAD CONSORTIUM MEETS AT KEELE
The seventh CUSAC (Commonwealth Universities Study Abroad Consortium) Members' Meeting brought together some of the 46 member institutions at Keele to hear presentations on Evaluating student mobility. Staff from Queen's, Canada; Keele and Kingston, UK, Cape Coast, Ghana, and Ilorin, Nigeria, presented on a range of topics.
CUSAC awards bursaries to undergraduate students spending a semester or year at another CUSAC member where a bilateral agreement is in place. Keele students have benefited from the bursaries when studying in Canada and Australia, and South African and Australian students have benefited from the scheme when studying at Keele.
CUSAC is now moving into new directions offering members the opportunity to organise short-term summer programmes for undergraduates from CUSAC members and expanding the bursaries to postgraduates. |
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COUNCIL – 26 APRIL 2012
Council congratulated Mr Ian Dudson on his appointment as the next Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire. It was noted that as a consequence of the demand of his new role he had decided to stand down as Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council. The Nominations Committee has considered the process to be undertaken to appoint a new Chair of Council and made a number of recommendations for taking it forward, which were approved.
Council approved that whilst the appointment process is being undertaken that the Deputy Pro-Chancellor, Mr Malcolm Peckham, be appointed as Chair of Council for a two year term of office. David Webster was also appointed as Honorary Treasurer with effect from 1st August 2012 for a four year period to replace Chris Myatt who will be coming to the end of his term of office.
Council received a report from the Vice-Chancellor on major issues and activities arising since the last meeting of Council, including the announcement by HEFCE of the provisional allocations for the funding of teaching and research for 2012-2013. Funding for teaching has seen a 25% reduction on last year as funding for students under the new fee regime begins to flow directly through students in the form of loans for tuition fees through the Student Loan Company. Funding for research has been maintained at 2011-2012 cash levels but on average institutions will see an 8% decrease in funding in 2012-2013 due the abolition of funding for 2* rated research.
Council received a report from the President of the Students' Union and noted the range of activities taking place, including the Student Led Teaching Awards, the ground floor re-development and the re-branding of KUSU. Council was pleased to hear about the Feedback Amnesty Campaign, which will aim to identify exactly what students want in terms of feedback on their assessments, which is driven by the national trend for low scores in the Assessment and Feedback category of the National Student Survey. The campaign will consist of a questionnaire and the results will be analysed and separated into University-wide and School-specific results, which can then be used to identify areas of good practice as well as areas for improvement.
Council received an overview of the 2011-2012 recruitment cycle for Home/EU and overseas undergraduate and postgraduate students. As a result of the HEFCE Student Number Control (SNC) the University is working to recruit to a core Home/EU undergraduate funded number of 1,363. The key UCAS undergraduate applications deadline of 15th January has now passed and Keele showed a decrease of -6.18% for all (i.e. both Home/EU & Overseas) applications at this point. This was against a national background figure of -7.26%. It should be noted when reviewing application numbers that the University has purposefully raised its entry requirements for Medicine in order to reduce the number of applications (3,290 in 2011 and 2,269 in 2012). If the medicine application numbers are taken out of the overall application number, Keele is only -0.9% down on last year at the 15th January 2012. Council noted the importance of recruiting AAB+ students who are outside the Student Number Control.
Council approved the Financial Strategy 2012-2015, which provides an integrated and strategic approach to managing the financial position of the University in order to achieve its strategic aims. It supports the Strategic Plan 2010-2015, in particular strategic aim six: "to manage and develop resources effectively to ensure the University's sustainability and development" and is reviewed annually when the financial forecasts are prepared. A paper was presented, which summarised the proposed arrangements for the development and implementation of changes to the pay review process for professorial and managerial and specialist grade 10 staff. A comprehensive consultation process has been undertaken, the results of which were included in the paper.
The response was universally supportive of the move towards an open and fair process for the equitable reward of our senior staff based on an objective assessment of the contribution required of the post and/or postholder. Council approved the proposals, which will be effective from 1st August 2012. |
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MAKING LANGUAGES WORK
 Under the auspices of the Language Learning Unit and the Staffordshire Languages Group, a Languages Taster Day for 62 Year 8 pupils from six Staffordshire and Stoke schools took place at Keele last week. The event was part of a HEFCE-funded project, Routes into Languages, to reverse the national decline in the study of Modern Foreign Languages.
Pupils attended, in small groups, German or Spanish classes, including an "Animal Bingo Game" in Spanish, which were led by Associate Teachers from the ML-PGCE course here at Keele. The rest of the day was filled with more linguistic delights; students from Coventry University, all native speakers, introduced their languages to the pupils, with sessions in Russian, Portuguese, Romanian, Chinese, Hindi and Turkish. The emphasis was on the fun and interactive aspect of language learning, through songs, games, dancing and lively presentations by enthusiastic native speakers. The pupils acquired basic language skills and an idea of the culture of the different countries and were encouraged to study a modern foreign language at school and possibly continue their studies at university. |
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ALLOTMENT PLAN FOR WALLED GARDEN
 The University has released funds to build 10 raised beds for organic food growing (a mix of 10 x 1m and 10 x 1.5m plots) in the Walled Garden. The plots will be allocated as follows: three to campus residents, two to students (UG/PG), one to non-resident staff, one to 'Grey Matters', one to the Sustainability Hub, one to Keele Parish Council residents and one to St John's Primary School, Keele.
Plots will be rented for £20.00 p.a. (£10.00 for students) for a year, with 'contracts' renewable. Expressions of interest from campus residents, non-resident staff, and students (UG and PG) are now being sought. Sharing is, of course, possible. Plots will be available from late May/early June 2012. In the event of the plots being oversubscribed, plot holders will be selected by drawing lots.
If you are interested in this scheme please contact Andrew Dobson, pictured, at a.n.h.dobson@keele.ac.uk with your name and email address and telephone number. Any queries should be directed to him too.
The allotment scheme contributes to Keele's Strategic Plan commitment to develop an environmentally aware and sustainable outward facing campus community, and makes good the University's Environmental Policy to support the development of staff and student allotments to promote engagement with local food and the food life cycle, as well as contributing to the environmental and sustainability education of Keele students, staff, local community members and school children. |
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NEW PRO-CHANCELLOR
Mr Malcolm Peckham, JP, BA (Hons), CertEd, DipEdAdmin, FRSA, has been appointed Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council for a two year term of office, from 1 August.
Malcolm has been on the University Council since 2004 and was appointed as Deputy Pro-Chancellor in 2008. He has significant experience within the field of education as a former Director of Education at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead LEA and currently provides Education Consultancy Services. He is the lead assessor for Investors in Families in England and Wales.
Malcolm is the Chair of the University's Strategic Planning Committee and member of the Council Approvals Group and Nominations Committee.
He succeeds Mr Ian Dudson, whose appointment as the next Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, and the consequent demands of his new role, has led to his decision to stand down from the position of Pro-Chancellor. |
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GRANTS FOR KANTIAN PHILOSOPHY RESEARCH
Dr Sorin Baiasu, Reader in Philosophy and Philosophy Programme Director in SPIRE, has made a successful application, with Christine Lopes, from the University of Southampton, for a grant to fund the United Kingdom Kant
Society's (UKKS)Annual Conference.
Dr Baiasu, pictured, is the Secretary of the UKKS. The grant of £600 was awarded by the Mind Association, the principle association for the support and promotion of research excellence in philosophy in the UK, and the conference will be jointly organised by the UKKS and the Centre for Idealism and Neo-Liberalism based at the University of Hull.
Dr. Baiasu has also recently secured an annual grant of £500 for the European Consortium for Political Research Kantian Standing Group.
A WORD ON EXAM TECHNIQUE FROM KEELE BASIC BITES
The Keele Basic Bites team (Russell Crawford and Andrew Morris) with Verity Aiken (Student Life and Learning Developer) have developed some helpful tips for students as they prepare for the exam period and their revision. This new "bite" is entitled "Dealing with Exams – Cramming or Crafting", and can be viewed in the motivational section of the main KBB website here.
As always, feedback and suggestions are welcome. To discuss how Keele Basic Bites can help, contact Dr. Russell Crawford at r.crawford@hfac. keele.ac.uk
DIAMOND CELEBRATION
Keele's Molecules Out and About team this week received council permission to install a massive model of Diamond in the centre of Uttoxeter in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
What is planned to be a new Guinness World Record,, containing 35,990 plastic balls to represent carbon atoms, will be unveiled by the High Sherrif of Staffordshire, Sarah Elsom, on Saturday, 2 June, in the Market Place.
Dr Graeme Jones, leader of the team, reported that the children and people of Uttoxeter were working hard on the project and within the first week had completed 10% of the model. The project is a collaboration between Keele, Redfern's Cottage – the Museum of Uttoxeter Life - and Thomas Alleynes High School.
NEXT WEEK
Inaugural Lecture -
Professor Carole Thornley, School of Management: "Why are the low-paid always with us?" at 6 pm on Tuesday, 8 May, 2012 in the Westminster Theatre; no ticket is required.
NEW ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
School of Physical and Geographical Sciences
Dr Matthew O'Brien has been appointed a Lecturer in Organic Chemistry and was previously a Senior Research Associate at the University of Cambridge.
Dr Theresa Mercer has been appointed a Lecturer in Environmental Science and was previously an Academic Tutor at the University of Queensland, Australia.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Ten years ago -
'The Rt. Hon. Clare Short MP, Secretary of State for International Development, delivered a public lecture in Keele Hall as part of the University's Celebrating Women Series 2002.
The Celebrating Women Series is a year-long programme of high profile events organised by the University and endeavours to create an environment in which more women are able to succeed.
The Secretary of State's address was aimed at encouraging ambition amongst women, focusing on her experience as a politician, cabinet minister, and on her role within international development.' 3 May 2002
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