De montfort Newsletter

OCTOBER 2009 issue 26

Young artists’
festival showcases
graduates’ work

news Student heads to
India to aid diabetes
testing
OCTOBER 2009 issue 26

Young artists’
festival showcases
graduates’ work

Cover image: Ozlem Tasman, who appeared at the
2009 Biennale, performs one of her pieces.

Welcome to issue 26 of

dmyou
T hree DMU graduates have showcased
their work at a prestigious arts festival.
Dancer and choreographer Ozlem Tasman
and musicians Gareth Sprey and James
Kelly performed at the 2009 Biennale held
Shailen Karia in front of one of the Mobile Diabetes Assessment Units.
in Macedonia in September.
Find out more about their performances
Pharmacy student from Leicester has diagnosed with the condition.
on page three.
DMU was shortlisted for four Lord A put into practice the skills he learnt as
part of his degree to assist a celebrity-
Patrons for the charity now include
Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan and Shilpa
Stafford Awards and, along with research
partner Nottingham Scientific Ltd, walked backed charity with diabetes testing in India. Shetty.
away with the prize for ‘Innovation in Shailen Karia, 20, has just finished his Silver Star recently opened an office in Goa
Development’. second year of study at De Montfort University and Shailen will travel around in one of the
The award was given for the and headed out to Goa on 20 September to charity’s Mobile Diabetes Assessment Units
development of the ‘Primo’ a pioneering spend two weeks testing people for diabetes. offering free testing to people in the
satellite navigation device which was community.
developed as part of a knowledge transfer During his trip Shailen also spent some time
partnership (KTP). at the country’s largest pharmaceutical
More information about the win is on company, Ranbaxy.
page 5. “I have always wanted to volunteer abroad
Dr Julie Fish, of the Faculty of Health so was ecstatic when Professor Taylor told me I
and Life Sciences, is carrying out the first had been chosen for the placement,” he said.
study to look at the experience of lesbian Keith Vaz said: “I am delighted that De
and bisexual women suffering from breast Montfort University has found a student so
cancer. enthusiastic about increasing diabetes
The study will investigate many aspects awareness in India. This trip will be of huge
of the illness, including the experiences and benefit to Silver Star and to Shailen.
attitudes of breast cancer sufferers. “As someone who was diagnosed with
The full story is on page 7. diabetes during a routine test, I am certainly
Summer graduations took place in July aware of the importance of making testing for
and there are two pages of photos and diabetes widely and routinely available
stories from the ceremonies. worldwide. Silver Star has done some excellent
See pages 10 and 11. The trip was organised by DMU Pharmacy work in the UK and I am excited for this
This issue, the 20 questions are tackled Professor Joan Taylor (pictured above) and the success to be replicated in India.”
by Andy Rees, from the Faculty of Business Silver Star Appeal, a charity which campaigns Professor Taylor said: “I’m really pleased that
and Law. Find out what the bravest thing to provide diabetes awareness. we have been able to find someone like
he has ever done is on page 16. The charity was founded in 2007 by Shailen who has shown so much enthusiasm
Leicester East MP Keith Vaz after he was for the work that Silver Star do.”

2 FOR MORE STORIES ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY PLEASE VISIT DMU’S NEWS HOMEPAGE AT www.dmu.ac.uk/news

T hree De Montfort University
graduates have represented the
UK at a prestigious young artists’
festival in Europe with cutting edge
dance and music performances.
Composer and turntablist James Kelly during a
performance.
Ozlem Tasman performed her solo choreography
‘Step of Faith’.
Dancer and choreographer, Ozlem Tasman,
and musicians Gareth Sprey and James
Kelly were selected by Arts Council Gareth Sprey, a graduate of the BA of Performance and Digital Arts, said:
England to perform at the 14th edition of (Hons) in Music, Technology and Innovation, “This is just one example of the way the
the Young People’s Biennale event held in showcased his Sonic Graffiti sound exceptional work of DMU graduates is
Skopje, Macedonia in September. installation, a project which he first being recognised internationally. The
The Biennale is an international developed as part of his final year festival is a tremendous opportunity for
exhibition giving young artists ranging from assessment at DMU. these artists to showcase their work
18 to 30 years old, a unique opportunity to James Kelly, a graduate of the BA and to share exciting creative
share their talent. (Hons) and the MA in Music, Technology possibilities with young people from
BA (Hons) Dance graduate Ozlem and Innovation, is a turntablist and across Europe.”
performed her solo choreography Step of composer who performed his composition, Laura Dyer, Executive Director of Arts
Faith, a rhythmical and intricate dance Transformations of the Mind, which mixes Council England, East Midlands, said:
routine which involves Contemporary environmental and instrument sounds with “The Young Artists Biennale brings great
Dancing and Street Dancing techniques the use of vocal samples from philosopher art to everyone and is particularly
along with other influences such as Belly Jiddu Krishnamurti. important to the graduates taking part
Dancing and Kurdish Folk Dancing. Rob Brannen, Head of the Department at the very beginning of their career.”

DMU pioneers innovation in student-lecturer dialogue
D e Montfort University has received a prestigious
National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS)
project grant to identify and develop models of
Politics and International Relations. The novelty of this
approach is that it will allow models of feedback to be
developed which enhance student learning in these
feedback to improve the student-learning experience. subjects as well as identifying how the practice can
Professor Alasdair Blair, Head of Historical and be transferred to cognate disciplines.
Social Studies for the Faculty of Humanities at DMU Feedback is widely perceived by students, tutors
in Leicester, was awarded £199,975 to carry out and in pedagogic literature, to be of enormous
the study entitled It’s Good To Talk: Feedback, intrinsic value, impacting upon student learning,
Dialogue and Learning, in conjunction with the motivation, self-esteem and performance.
University of Warwick and London Metropolitan Professor Blair said: “The project places DMU at
University. the forefront of work in this area and confirms our
Only 10 projects were funded in this strand of the commitment to improving the student experience.”
NTFS, which provides funding for institutions to build During the project, from August 2009 to July
on the expertise of National Teaching Fellows. 2012, Professor Blair will be working with Sarah
Professor Alasdair Blair has been awarded
The project will particularly focus on feedback at a Richardson from the University of Warwick and
£199,975 to carry out the study. subject level by examining practice in History and Steven Curtis from London Metropolitan University.

FOR MORE STORIES ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY PLEASE VISIT DMU’S NEWS HOMEPAGE AT www.dmu.ac.uk/news 3

news
Rod Copell and Jill Cunniffe
University staff and students were saddened to hear of the deaths of Rod Copell and Jill Cunniffe recently.

Roderick (Rod) Copell, Rod knew that he was facing a battle with Jill Cunniffe gained a BA in Health
cancer in the year before he retired and chose Studies from DMU in 2003 and
Faculty of Technology to continue working until the age of 65, retiring subsequently taught active birth and clinical
Obituary by Paul Dean in October 2008. skills for midwifery students at the
He will be sadly missed. University.
Rod started his working life at the British Jill qualified as a midwife 26 years ago
United Shoe Machinery Company as an at the Leicester Royal Infirmary School of
apprentice engineer.
Jill Cunniffe, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery.
Rod spent a further seven years working Health and Life Sciences She was involved in Leicester’s Birth
in the engineering industry where he Reflection Scheme which aimed to make
completed various projects with the degree Tributes have been paid to a midwife and pregnancy a more positive experience
of professionalism that he would later bring visiting De Montfort University lecturer who for mums.
to DMU. died after a short illness. As a result, a collection was made by
In 1975 he joined the staff of Leicester her family for the Leicester Hospitals
Polytechnic as a Senior Technician in Charity which will go towards improving the
Mechanical Engineering based in the psychological care of women following
Hawthorn Building. childbirth.
With Rod’s mechanical, electrical and Bernie Gregory, Senior Lecturer in
computing skills there was nothing he could Midwifery, said: “Jill will be sadly missed by
not turn his hand to. He assisted countless all her friends, colleagues and students that
students over the years and was involved she has influenced so much over the years
with an incredible number of projects. with her enthusiasm for midwifery.”
Outside of work Rod enjoyed many Jill leaves a husband, Nigel, and children
hobbies including sailing, caravanning, Nic, Sarah and Laura.
gliding, railways and hiking. Jill Cunniffe.

Academic Bright sparks win £10,000 for
staff election creative thinking
T he election of the academic
staff representative on the
Board of Governors was
A cash prize of £10,000 was
given to two De Montfort
University alumni at the annual
Multimedia Computing this
summer, and Robert Malone, who
also graduated this year with a
Andrew Hugill, Course Leader for
Graphic Design Paul Linnell and
Toby Moores.
concluded on Tuesday 30 June Creative Thinking Awards in first class degree in BA (Hons) Elina’s Visual Route Planner
2009. The number of votes cast August to highlight the wealth of Music Technology and Innovation. (ViRP) finds travel routes for
for each candidate in the election imaginative innovation among The prize was open to all final tourists between landmarks or
was as follows: graduates. year undergraduate students from attractions selected from
The awards were created and all faculties undertaking a major photographs on the internet.
Tina Barnes-Powell 47 (18.6%)
sponsored by Toby Moores, project or dissertation and who Robert’s music creates auditory
Paul D. Bremner 16 (6.3%) Visiting Fellow at the University’s achieved the top grade. illusions through the use of
Mervyn Dobbin 30 (11.9%) Institute of Creative Technologies Judges included Pro Vice- innovative sound structures,
Tony Gregory 103 (40.7%) (IOCT), who is also a consultant in Chancellor Professor Philip Martin, ambiguous allusions and
commercial creativity and runs the Director of the IOCT Professor references.
Joan Taylor 57 (22.5%)
highly successful ideas company
Tony Gregory is therefore elected Sleepydog Ltd.
as the academic staff nominee to The £10,000 prize was split
the Board of Governors. In between two graduates: one who
accordance with Schedule 6 5(2) designed a prototype for a
of the Further and Higher hand-held route-planning device
Education Act 1994, the Board of for tourists and another who
Governors, as the appointing created sound illusions which trick
authority, is required to formally the listener.
ratify the election. The winners were Elina
Andersson, who graduated with a
first class honours degree in Elina Andersson and Robert Malone, the winners of the Creative Thinking Prize.


Innovation award for Distinguished
sat nav research Lectures
esearchers behind a pioneering navigation device online
R which can tune into different satellite networks around
the world have scooped an award for innovation.
The device, known as the Primo, was developed by
researchers at De Montfort University in partnership with D e Montfort University’s series of
Distinguished Lectures are now available
to download.
Nottingham Scientific Ltd (NSL).
The team triumphed in the ‘Innovation in Development’ The audio downloads are available from
category at the Lord Stafford Awards East Midlands, held on www.dmu.ac.uk/news_events/events/
Thursday, at which DMU had four finalists across two categories. dls/audio
Satellite navigation receivers (commonly known as ‘sat navs’) The lectures are by well-known names and
are traditionally reliant upon one network. The Primo is the first respected figures, including Lawrie McMenemy,
receiver that can gather information from a number of sources, Ken Shuttleworth and Miles Templeman.
including the US Global Positioning System (GPS), the European For further information about up and
Galileo system, the Russian Glonass system and similar satellite coming speakers, other events and booking
systems currently being developed across the world. information please visit
Dr Eric Goodyer.
The device uses Software Defined Radio (SDR) to decode dmu.ac.uk/news_events/index
the incoming data from the satellite.
Dr Eric Goodyer, who managed the project, runs DMU’s
Telematics Teaching Lab which is sponsored by Orange Mobile Call to join
Communications and Lincolnshire based Linkwave Ltd.
Dr Goodyer said: “The De Montfort engineering team were unique project
really grateful for the opportunity to help NSL with this exciting
new development.”
DMU was nominated in the ‘Innovation for Sustainability’ D e Montfort University has launched
Amplified Leicester – an experimental
project designed to boost business and
category for its work on nettle-based upholstery material with
Camira Fabrics. communities by sharing bright ideas and
It also received two other nominations in the ‘Innovation in expertise.
Development’ category for DMU spin out company Fiteris, which The project,
has developed software that automatically inserts metadata into led by Professor
video footage, and for the ‘Topping Chair’, an aid for medical of New Media Sue
Cathy Topping is pictured with her Thomas, explores
invention and Peter McLeod, Innovation
professionals developed by former midwife Cathy Topping with
Manager at DMU. the help of DMU’s ProspectIP. how innovation
could be catalysed
by linking the city’s
Rescuing the world’s diverse groups.
“We think it’s the
photographic heritage first project of its
kind in the world

D e Montfort University is addressing the
dearth of experts who can preserve the
world’s imperilled photographic heritage with a
Birmingham, the British Library and private
collections throughout Britain.
The MA works towards understanding the
and we hope it’s the
beginning of a really
exciting era which
new Masters degree long-awaited by experts in scope of photographic history and provides the Professor Sue Thomas. might see whole
the field. tools to carry out independent research in this communities
The unique MA in Photographic History context, working in particular from primary working together in an entirely new way across
and Practice is already being hailed by leading source material. social media like Twitter and Facebook,” said
lights in the sector. Course Leader for the MA, Research Professor Thomas.
The pioneering course will educate future Fellow and photography scholar, Dr Kelley The project received £116,000 funding
curators, historians and archivists of Wilder, said: “This pioneering Masters is likely from the National Endowment for Science,
photography, as well as those working with to be of interest to people from a variety of Technology & the Arts (NESTA) and is
historic photographs at auction houses and disciplines including conservation students, supported by DMU’s Institute for Creative
libraries, and is already attracting students from archivists, historians of science and those Technologies, which will be based at
all over the UK and Europe but is expected to from various fields of visual studies, for Leicester’s new digital media centre at
also draw in those who work (or want to) with instance visual anthropology, photography or Phoenix Square.
photographic collections elsewhere around art history.” Roland Harwood, Director of NESTA’s
the world. Students will handle photographic material, Connect programme, said: “This experiment is
DMU is collaborating with the Wilson learn analogue photographic processes, write designed to show how social media such as
Centre for Photography Studies in London, and history from objects in collections, compare Twitter and Facebook can be used to connect
also working with the collections of the historical photographic movements, and debate the city’s disparate and diverse communities
National Media Museum, the Central Library, the canon of photographic history. and networks.”


news Retail Management
Phonebox is world’s eicester Business School, one of the industry poses. Our Retail Management
smallest gallery L largest providers of business and
management education in the UK, based at
degree has been designed by staff with
actual experience of retailing to help

A n old-fashioned, red telephone box thought
to be the world’s smallest gallery opened
in July in the North Yorkshire town of Settle.
De Montfort University, launched a new
undergraduate degree in September.
graduates of DMU maximise their employment
prospects.”
The three year BA Retail Management Former DMU student and Assistant
After restoring the decommissioned box
(Hons) course (four years with a placement) Merchandiser on Womenswear at Next Plc,
with the help of the local council, a group of
adds to the University’s existing retail buying Rebecca Locker, said: “I studied Marketing and
local residents decided to create an art gallery
courses and covers subjects including people Management at DMU for four years including a
dedicated to the art of the postcard.
management, customer research, visual commercial placement. The support of the
Gallery curator, Roger Taylor, who is De
communications, decision making techniques University was amazing, with relevant industry
Montfort University’s Professor of Photographic
and greener business. contacts and the opportunity for paid work
History and one of the world’s leading experts
Retail Management students benefit from experience.
in the subject, lives near the telephone
the Business School’s links with leading UK “In my final year I studied Retail Marketing,
box/gallery.
retailers and recent Business School graduates which was based on real companies and
He said: “We are very excited to see such a
have been employed in management roles at certainly improved my critical abilities - this
creative use of the phone box and it’s great to
Next, Tesco, House of Fraser, Arcadia and identified a clear career path for me.”
have a bit of fun as well as involve the wider
Dixons Stores Group. Leicester Business School students can
community in a contemporary art and
Course leader, Phil Garton, said: “Retailers complete an optional paid placement year with
photography project.”
are increasingly looking for graduates who can employers such as M&S, Toys-R-Us, Blacks
adapt and have the skills to meet the Leisure, Faith Shoes, Avon, Sainsbury’s and
challenges that this fast paced and dynamic Sportsworld.
University business adviser
champions enterprise
Ken Livingstone gives talk
A member of staff at De Montfort University
was shortlisted for a national award for his
contribution to enterprise activities with
on ﬁnancial crisis
students and graduates in Leicestershire.
M ore than 140 delegates from local
government, housing, education and the
health sector heard former London Mayor,
Mr Livingstone’s opening speech outlined
the key issues for the public sector in an
economic downturn. He said that the
Ken Livingstone, speak at De Montfort Government should put forward clear policies
University in July. to help the country tackle the effects of the
recession. These included the reduction of
military spending, progressing large
infrastructure projects and greater investment,
as well as strengthening Britain’s relationship
with rapidly growing emerging market
economies, such as India and China.
Stuart Hartley, (pictured above) who is Professor John Seddon, from Cardiff
Programme Manager for Business Incubation University and Managing Director of Vanguard
and Enterprise in the Incubation Team at Ltd, reinforced the need for an efficient
DMU’s Innovation Centre, was put forward for government in his speech on systems thinking.
the Champion of the Year Award at the UK’s He called for cuts in central government
first annual National Enterprise Educator budgets instead of cutting local services.
Awards and was named runner up in the He said: “Politicians should be cutting the
category. Whitehall specifications industry, not public
The awards were organised by Enterprise services; it’s a simple but elegant solution. If
Educators UK (EEUK) and the National they did this, there would be huge savings and
Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE) local services would improve dramatically.”
to reward those working as enterprise Professor Lawrence Pratchett, Head of
educators and supporting student and graduate Public Policy at DMU, chaired the event. He
entrepreneurship in higher education. said: “This has been a highly successful debate
Stuart, an entrepreneur himself, having including some interesting and innovative
successfully set up and sold a marketing Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone. suggestions on the impact of the financial crisis
business, is a qualified business adviser with on our public sector.
over five years experience of supporting and Ken Livingstone was guest speaker at the “This seminar has shared debate with
advising pre and early start up businesses. He Leicester Business School Annual Public Policy colleagues that our students hear on a range of
manages campus enterprise opportunities (ceo) Debate – ‘From Recession to Renewal: our courses in the department and the annual
at DMU, which offers business support and understanding the impact of the financial crisis public policy debate at DMU in 2010 will
advice and is dedicated to creating an on the public sector’, organised by DMU’s continue to look at challenging issues that
enterprising environment at the University. Public Policy department. affect us all.”


University gives
DMU announces awards DHL specialist HR
for excellent teaching training
D e Montfort University’s lecturers
celebrated another year of success at
Cornelius and Angela O’Sullivan of the
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences (HLS); D e Montfort University has won a contract to
deliver bespoke human resources (HR)
management training to HR staff at international
the Teaching Excellence Awards in June. William Curtis of the Faculty of Humanities
Staff were presented with their awards by (HUM); and Lucy Mathers of the Faculty of express and logistics company, DHL UK.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Philip Tasker at a Technology (TECH). The training programme includes master
ceremony held in the Trinity House Chapel. 12 members of staff were presented with classes followed by a postgraduate diploma in
Professor Tasker said: “These awards are a Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Management of Human Resources, which will
way of recognising and celebrating individuals Awards. This year over 150 students nominated lead to graduate membership of the Chartered
who have made an exceptional, positive impact lecturers they felt deserved to be accredited for Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD),
on student learning. DMU prides itself on its their dedication to student learning. and forms part of DHL’s HR Academy,
inspirational and innovative methods of The awards were presented to: Della Advanced Level Programme.
teaching, so it is wonderful to see so many Swaine (AAD); George Lambie (BAL); Jenny DMU staff will deliver four master classes
members of staff acknowledged for their King (BAL); Miles Weaver (BAL); Philip to HR managers at DHL sites, in Daventry,
contribution and achievements.” Wilson (BAL); Momodou Sallah (HLS); Bedford and Milton Keynes. Topics include:
This year, six Teacher Fellow Awards were Sandra Hall (HLS); Andrew Mousley (HUM); Assessing the Impact of the HR Function,
presented to: Claire Orwin, of the Faculty of Katherine Burrell (HUM); Nichola Philips Building Effective Employee Engagement in the
Art and Design (AAD); Rachel Grimley, of the (HUM); Sally Doughty (HUM); and Kenneth Workplace, Recognising and Rewarding People
Faculty of Business and Law (BAL); Pippa Clegg (TECH). at Work and Cultivating Talent in the
Organisation.
Stephen Peak, Head of Corporate
Development at DMU, said: “We are delighted
to be working with DHL to help enhance its
HR team’s knowledge of HR processes and
equip them with the tools to make them more
effective and efficient at their role.”

DMU marks Ben
Recipients of the Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award.
Hur anniversary
D e Montfort University marked the 50th
anniversary of Ben-Hur with the fourth
Breast cancer study focuses on Annual Association of Adaptation Studies
Conference at the British Film Institute in
lesbian and bisexual women London.
Organised by DMU – the leading institution

A researcher who is
examining the experience
of breast cancer amongst
cancer amongst this group of
women and they seem to
have been overlooked in
in the UK on the subject – the conference
sought to broaden the scope of the study of
adaptations, in particular focusing on film
lesbian and bisexual women is health information and cancer adaptations of literary texts.
urging those affected to come services. The event featured 22 panels covering
forward and take part. “I am hoping that this topics ranging from comic book adaptation, to
Dr Julie Fish from De study will help shed some British television and classic novel adaptations.
Montfort University is looking light on the experiences of James Russell, DMU Senior Lecturer in Film
for lesbian and bisexual breast cancer amongst Studies, presented a paper entitled Exhilaration
women who have, or have had lesbian and bisexual women and Enlightenment: Ben-Hur and American Belief
breast cancer to take part in Dr Julie Fish. and that it will contribute to at one of the conference’s pivotal sessions,
the study, the first of its kind helping provide a high Ben-Hur 50 Years On.
in the UK. about lesbian and bisexual standard of healthcare to Mr Russell, said: “Although most people
The study will investigate women’s experiences of people in this group.” remember Ben-Hur as a 1950s movie featuring
the experiences and attitudes breast cancer and the findings The research is funded by Charlton Heston and a spectacular chariot race,
of breast cancer sufferers, will inform policy development. the NHS Cancer Action Team, it has actually been a key popular text over the
knowledge and beliefs of Recommendations will also a national team that facilitates last 130 years of American history. It was the
breast cancer, views of factors be made to cancer the implementation of the bestselling American novel of the 19th Century
which may increase risk and organisations and other NHS Cancer Plan and works despite only being published in 1880, it was
the sources of information facilities to help improve closely with the Department adapted as a massively successful silent film in
and support available. services. of Health, Strategic Health 1925 and the 1959 version we will celebrating
The research is aiming to Dr Fish said: “Currently Authorities and various cancer this year was one of the most commercially and
promote better understanding little is known about breast networks and charities. critically successful historical epics of all time.”


news Holography developed
Director of
Sustainable to aid student speech
Development
therapists
P rofessor Paul Fleming has been
announced as De Montfort University’s unique holographic teaching resource The hologram is able to capture and
new Director of Sustainable Development. He
helped establish the Sustainable Development
A which captures mouth shapes in 3D
has been developed by experts at De
illustrate mouth and tongue shapes for each
sound variation that therapists need to
Task Force two years ago and will now lead the Montfort University and could become a recognise. This can then be played back and
University’s pioneering work on implementing vital tool for speech therapists. viewed from a number of different angles.
the Sustainable Development strategy. This will Pip Cornelius, Senior Lecturer in Phonetics It allows students to see the exact shape of
focus on the key areas of Teaching, Research, and Phonology, and Professor Martin the mouth as it produces each sound and is
Built Environment, Health and Well Being, and Richardson, Chair of Modern Holography, have particularly useful for sounds which are made
Community Engagement. been developing the tool to improve how at the back of the mouth and are hard to see.
Reporting to Professor Vivien Lowndes, Pro students are trained in phonetics. Development of this 3D tool is a huge
Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Fleming Phonetics is the study of speech sounds improvement on the 2D diagrams that are
will work with staff in faculties, research and is a crucial part of the training for students currently used in both training and clinical
institutes and support departments to position studying the Speech and Language Therapy settings.
DMU as an internationally leading university for degree at the University. Pip said: “Student therapists must be able
sustainable development. Speech and Language Therapists work with to identify and transcribe over 100 speech
The University has already made much people who have a range of communication sound variations and this tool is a great way to
progress with its energy, transport, waste and difficulties and can include children born with help students visualise the different movements
fair trade policies as well as its teaching and cleft lip and palate, mouth and throat cancer the mouth and tongue make when we are
research. A staff survey is currently underway, patients and stammer sufferers. speaking.”
sustainable development featured during
freshers’ week and work with the National
Union of Students Aiming Higher programme is
about to start.
The University is also working with key
Professorial Lecture Series continues
partners in the city (through the Leicester
Partnership) to make progress towards the
“one Leicester vision” of Leicester being one of
A new programme of professorial lectures
started in October, featuring speakers
who will talk on subjects ranging from
Sciences, will give a lecture entitled It’s More
Than Just Enunciation: Working Together to
Support People With Speech Language and
the UK’s most sustainable cities.
managing change to live music. Communication Problems.
For more details see
The first lecture, The Importance of Power Live Music is Dead! Long Live Live Music!
www.dmu.ac.uk/sustainability
in Managing Change and Changing is the subject of Professor Simon
Management, was by Professor Bob Carter Emmerson’s lecture on 3 December.
Students gain from the Faculty of Business and Law and
took place on 15 October.
Professor Emmerson is from the Faculty of
Humanities.
essential e-skills Professor Mohammad Ibrahim, of the All lectures take place at 6.00pm in the
Faculty of Technology, will talk on Queens building.
D e Montfort University is one of a handful
of universities taking part in a national
scheme to help IT students gain essential skills
Understanding the Dynamics of Creativity – A
Media Technology Perspective on 29 October.
For more information or to book a place
on one of the lectures contact the Events
through internships. On 19 November, Professor Jannet Office on eventsoffice@dmu.ac.uk or by
‘e-skills internship – the professional Wright, of the Faculty of Health and Life visiting www.dmu.ac.uk/events
placement programme’ aims to transform the
way young people think about internships and
make it easier for students, employers and
universities to get the most from them.
The scheme is organised by e-skills UK, the
Sector Skills Council for Business and
Information Technology, and was designed with
input from universities and employers.
The Placement Unit in the Faculty of
Technology will organise the internships.
Suki Clayer, Placement Manager at the Unit,
said: “Students who take part in the e-skills
internship will stand out, not only for having
undertaken a placement year, but for having Professor Bob Carter Professor Mohammad Professor Jannet Wright Professor Simon
met a nationally-recognised level that is Ibrahim Emmerson

specific to the IT industry.”


Students live the Coaching course
for managers a
CSI life success
tudents became real life CSI agents in
S
July when they took part in a forensic
A new coaching course launched by De
Montfort University has achieved national
recognition.
search of a Leicester house during a The Postgraduate Certificate in Coaching
course run by crime experts at De Montfort (PCC) taught through DMU is now a
University. recognised course by the Association for
Year 10 and 12 pupils from Countesthorpe Coaching. It is one of just a few university-
Community College and Longslade Community based, distance-learning qualifications in
College, Birstall, donned white suits and visited coaching in the UK, and provides an affordable
the house to comb the place for samples and way to train managers with minimal disruption
fingerprints to help solve a murder mystery. in the workplace.
They took their samples to DMU chemistry The first cohort of students on the part-time
labs on campus to use electron microscopes PCC course has recently graduated following
and other specialist equipment to put all the the successful completion of web-based
clues together before naming their suspect. learning, tutor-led, skills-development days and
The Crime Scene House sits in the middle self-study.
of a terraced street in Leicester city centre and On completion of the course students can
was bought by the University to help with identify coaching opportunities, support
Children taking part in the event at DMU’s Crime Scene
House. Photo courtesy of the Leicester Mercury. training of Police Officers from the individuals and teams to achieve results and
Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire forces. develop plans to fit the needs of their
DMU trains officers from the two forces on its foundation degree in policing and also organisation. Coaching is part of a range of
Leicestershire’s Police Community Support Officers. executive leadership and management
Not only is the house used during each course to set up lots of different scenarios police education provided by the University’s Leicester
may come across in their day-to-day job, it is also utilised by DMU for the training of its forensic Business School.
science students.
The day-long student event at the University, which took place in July, was sponsored by the
Royal Society of Chemistry to encourage more people to study the subject under the scheme DMU triumph in
Chemistry: The Next Generation. Members of Leicestershire police were also on-hand to offer
recruitment advice to potential scenes of crime officers.
environmental
sustainability
Drama graduates take part in report
epic adventure D e Montfort University has scored top
results in a report which benchmarks
environmental and corporate responsibilities in

T hree final year drama students from De
Montfort University took to the stage at
Leicester’s state-of-the-art Curve Theatre in
Lauren Sulley, 21, Clive Keene, 21, and Kiel
O’Shea, 22, joined more than 80 members of
the Leicestershire community to work on the
higher education.
This ‘Universities that Count – Environment
Index’ report assesses the extent to which
July, for the production of His Dark Materials production. universities from across the UK integrate
Part 1. All three played significant parts in the play. environmental responsibility into their strategic
Lauren was cast in the central role of Lyra and operational activities.
Belacqua, with Clive performing alongside her Fifty five institutions took part in the
as Lyra’s friend Roger, while Kiel took the role benchmarking exercise, with DMU achieving an
of armoured bear Iorek Byrnison. overall score of 75 per cent – well above the
Three members of staff from DMU also Higher Education sector average score of 62
appeared in the production – Jacky Bingley, per cent.
from ISAS, who played five parts including Mrs DMU scored particularly well in the
Lonsdale; John Kearns, of the Faculty of Art Environmental Performance & Impact section
and Design, who played Tony Costa, and Luke with 92 per cent, achieving very high scores for
Cooke, from Academic Registry, who among waste management and our self-selected
other roles played Iofur Raknison, king of the impact area of staff and student travel.
armoured bears. Karl Letten, Environmental & Sustainability
Rob Brannen, Director of the Centre for Officer, said: “Environmental and sustainability
The students take part in a rehearsal for His Dark Materials.
Excellence in Performance Arts, said: “We are issues are now very important topics within the
Based on the fantasy novels by Philip delighted that three of our drama students HE sector. Exercises like the Environment
Pullman and adapted for the stage by Nicholas have been recognised in this way. They have Index are an excellent way of seeing how DMU
Wright, His Dark Materials Part 1 took the done exceptionally well to meet the demands is progressing with these important issues
audience on an epic adventure through worlds of the final year of their degree and the when compared with other universities across
familiar and unknown. demands of the production.” the country.”


graduationnews
A week of celebrations –
De Montfort University students graduate
he University congratulated and marked the successes of its graduates in July at a host of ceremonies
T at Leicester’s De Montfort Hall.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Philip Tasker, said: “Our graduation ceremonies are a fantastic way of acknowledging
the achievements of our students who have put so much effort into accomplishing their goals.
“They are the highlight of the year and it is a privilege to celebrate in their successes, as well as to commend the
staff who have been a dedicated and constant support.”

Gary Lineker. Bill Maynard. Gurinder Chadha.

Over the week, nine honorary degrees were world – was awarded an honorary Doctor of
also conferred on people who represent Technology.
some of the highest levels in their respective Leicestershire actor, Bill Maynard, received
fields. an honorary Doctor of Arts following a
Gary Lineker, Leicester City and England genre-spanning acting career in theatre, TV,
footballing legend, was presented with an radio and film.
honorary Doctor of Letters. The award Bend It Like Beckham director, Gurinder
completed a hat-trick of honorary achievements Chadha celebrated her honorary Doctor of Arts
from the trio of Leicestershire universities. by visiting Leicester with her husband and two
Entrepreneur and UK and Ireland President sons, whilst Henry Doyle, the former President Bridget Riley.
of PepsiCo, Salman Amin, was also awarded of the Leicestershire Law Society, was given a
the honour. Master of Laws.
A Companionship of DMU was conferred In recognition of her work as an
on Bridget Riley for her contribution to the International Red Cross nurse during Ethiopia’s
world of art. She is most renowned for her famine of 1984, Claire Bertschinger was the
geometrical black and white paintings which recipient of an honorary Doctor of Science.
became synonymous with Op Art during the And following his donation of Kodak’s
60s and 70s. important library of photographic journals to
Meanwhile Mo Ibrahim – mobile phone DMU, former Director of the Kodak European
entrepreneur, philanthropist and one of Time Research Centre, Sam Weller, was given an
Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the honorary Doctor of Arts. Mo Ibrahim. Claire Bertschinger.


Kirstin Jackson
Foundation Degree in Hearing Aid Audiology
Thousands of students As the first student to complete the

received their degrees degree in the UK, Kirstin can now count
herself a fully fledged practitioner in

during the summer Hearing Aid Audiology after gaining a pass
in the subject.

graduation ceremonies. She already worked at Hidden Hearing Ltd,
but wanted to further her career in the field
Here we take a look at so requested to begin training at DMU.

some of their stories.
Kirstin Jackson

Marina Boor Andrew Johnson
BA International Marketing and Business BSc Industrial Design

Marina’s career in the world of PR Andrew graduated this year with a first in
is off to a flying start. the subject, having seen his ‘Folli Watch’
showcased at the annual New Designers
She netted the employer award
exhibition in London.
for Exceptional Performance in a
Placement Role as well as Best The watch, which releases caffeine into the
International Marketing and blood to help redress the causes and
Business Student and received Andrew Johnson with one of
effects of driver fatigue, was one of his final
Marina receiving her awards. first class honours. his designs. year designs.

She now works for advertising and PR agency, Unsworth Sugden Following a successful placement year with Milton Keynes company,
Advertising Ltd, following a placement year with the company. NiftyLift Ltd, Andrew began working with the company following
his graduation.

Ruth Chenai Mushambadope Jessica Waters
BA Public Policy, Government and Management BA Contour Fashion

After netting a first class degree, Jessica rounded off her degree with a 2:1
Ruth also scooped one of and saw her work showcased on DMU’s
Leicester Business School’s top end-of-year catwalk.
awards for Best Public Policy,
Her final 80s and pop culture-inspired
Government and Management
swimwear collection, ‘Acid Reign’, featured
Student.
bright neons, lycra material, bold straps, her
She balanced her full time degree, own signature print and zips.
a job and raising her two
She said: “I am really looking forward to the
Ruth Mushambadope at the daughters and is now looking to
awards ceremony. challenges that lie ahead now that I have
her future career which she hopes
Jessica Waters left DMU.”
will be in a top civil servant job.

Sam Brunyee Phillip Bott
BA Contour Fashion BA Advertising and Marketing Communications

Sam’s final year ‘Original Sin’ lingerie Phillip not only achieved a first in
collection gained her a place on the London his degree at Leicester Business
Fashion Week catwalk, as well as a 2:1 for School, but was also named
her final degree mark. winner of the Institute of Direct
Marketing (IDM) Award.
The collection featured classy fetish wear
aimed at a high end market, with inspiration Looking ahead, Phillip hopes to
taken from Gothic architecture in churches study an MSc in Strategic
and window designs. Marketing and Consulting at the
Phillip Bott is presented with his award. University of Birmingham.

“The course was intellectually stimulating and encouraged students
Sam Brunyee not just to solve problems but to do it creatively,” he said.


news Police Community
STRL celebrates
‘50th anniversary’ Support Officer roles
T he Software Technology Research
Laboratory has celebrated its 50th PhD
student successfully completing their degree.
identified
he work of a Police Community Support very different from one another but each play
To mark the occasion in July, Professor
Hussein Zedan, Head of the research group,
T Officer (PCSO) is splitting into two
different and distinct roles, according to
an important part in today’s society.
He said: “There appears to be a definite
held an event which was attended by
research at De Montfort University. trend towards the ‘Junior Enforcer’ but it is
dignitaries from Saudi Arabia, (the cultural and
Jonathan Merritt, Law academic at DMU, important to note that where the role of ‘Bridge
military attaches) Libya (the cultural counsellor)
has studied how the job of PCSOs is Builder’ is being undertaken, the PCSOs
and China (the minister councillor) as well as
developing in the UK and the likely future appear to be highly valued in the community
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor David Asch
directions of their roles and responsibilities. and the evidence suggests that people come
and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research
Evidence suggests that PCSOs are either forward with information to PCSOs who might
Professor Vivien Lowndes.
working as a kind of assistant constable, not have done so to a police constable directly.
Professor Zedan said: “I am very proud that
‘Junior Enforcers’, or as mediators between the “Having said that the enforcement work
50 PhD students have completed their degrees
police and the public, ‘Bridge Builders’. PCSOs undertake can also help address
with us.
The ‘Junior Enforcer’ role is shaping the community concerns, increase police
“It is a great achievement and is testament
PCSO into someone with a level of productivity and build public confidence in the
both to their hard work and to that of
enforcement powers who ultimately operates police.”
colleagues within the STRL.
as a support to the police. The research was funded by the Socio
“We look forward to working with the next
The role of the ‘Bridge Builder’ provides a Legal Studies Association and is based on
50 students.”
link between disconnected community interviews and focus groups with officers of
members and each other and between the various ranks, including PCSOs, Constables,
community and the police. Sergeants, Chief Constables, a Chief Inspector
Mr Merritt believes that these two roles are and a Superintendent.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor David Asch, Pro-Vice National award for virtual lab
Chancellor Professor Vivien Lowndes and Professor Hussein

A n academic from De Montfort University learning resources in the science field, in
Zedan pictured with some of the visiting dignitaries.

has scooped a national award for her work particular for the creation of The Virtual
Leicester firm’s in creating a virtual lab. Analytical Laboratory, which helps students
study science at degree level.
£15k donation to Dr Rolfe, who is also eLearning Champion

new building in the University’s School of Allied Health
Sciences, said: “I’m absolutely delighted and

A Leicester law firm has pledged £15,000
support to De Montfort University’s efforts
to nurture some of the best talent in the
amazed to win this award from the Association
for Learning Technology.
“A few years ago I couldn't animate so
country with a donation to the new Business & much as a stick man walking, and to be in a
Law Building. position where my scientific animations are
After liaising with DMU’s Development gaining national recognition is now truly
Office, Harvey Ingram LLP gave the initial sum fantastic.
towards the Hugh Aston Building, the “The Virtual Analytical Laboratory supports
University’s new £35m landmark adjacent to student transition to science at university, and
the Magazine. this award will help promote this freely-
In addition, the donation will support a available resource to a wider audience.”
£1,500 first prize in the annual DMU Business The judges commented: “The panel were
Venture Competition, three annual £500 particularly impressed with Vivien’s multimedia
bursaries for students who develop the best Virtual Analytical Laboratory, a substantial
start-ups in the Campus Enterprise Opportunities online resource that supports students in their
Dr Vivien Rolfe, who has received a national award for her work.
Project and an annual £500 scholarship for the transition to studying science at university.”
Law School’s Legal Practice Course. Dr Vivien Rolfe was selected as a joint The award was presented to Vivien at the
Nigel Gregory, Head of the Development winner of the Association of Learning ALT’s annual conference on 9 September in
Office, said: “The Development Office Technology (ALT) Learning Technologist of the Manchester.
establishes relationships that the University feels Year Award. ALT’s Learning Technologist of the Year
are supportive of our vision and our students. The awards are designed to celebrate and Award is now in its third year of operation and
When we approached Harvey Ingram it became reward excellent in practice and learning. is open to individual members of ALT, and to
clear that there was a raft of opportunities to Vivien was given the award for her work on individuals and members based in ALT member
engage them in the life of the University.” the creation and evaluation of multimedia organisations.


DMU study helps Prisoners of war
A De Montfort University academic has

put communities received a British Academy Research
Grant to study the history of the captivity of all
German prisoners of war in Britain during

in control World War I.
Panikos Panayi is Professor of European
History in the Department of Historical and
ground-breaking study developed by De Montfort University staff is being used to Social Studies. He has published 15 books and
A help the Government in its attempts to increase the power and inﬂuence of people
and communities.
more than 60 articles.
His latest book has been commissioned by
DMU’s Local Governance Research Unit skills, confidence and power to shape what Manchester University Press and is entitled:
(LGRU) worked with the Centre for Citizenship public bodies do for or with them. Prisoners of Britain: German Civilian, Military and
and Democracy at the University of The key findings of the research have Naval Internees, 1914-1920.
Southampton on the year-long study for the already contributed to the Government’s The grant will enable him to visit the
Department of Communities and Local ‘empowerment’ White Paper to create greater National Archives of Germany in the cities of
Government (DCLG). opportunities for community and individual Berlin and Coblenz as well as the archives and
The study explored and developed evidence involvement in local decision-making. libraries in London to carry out research.
from over 3,500 reports, to aid the Dr. Catherine Durose, Research Project By the end of the war there were more than
Government’s successful implementation of Manager at the LGRU, said: “Community 500 places of internment in Britain housing
policies for communities in the future. empowerment is going to be an important more than 100,000 prisoners.
The project aimed to identify when, where priority in the coming decade as policy makers Professor Panayi says: “This is an exciting
and how the Government can most effectively realise that people often don't want to be told project, which will lead to the first history of the
engage with communities to give people more what to do, but rather they want to be asked imprisonment of Germans in Britain during the
of a say in shaping the priorities of their local and sometimes involved in the decisions that war in 1914-1920.”
councils on matters such as health, education affect their everyday lives. This research
and crime prevention. provides evidence-based lessons of how to
Community empowerment is defined by effectively empower individuals and
Government as enabling citizens to have the communities.”

DMUIN THENEWS
P rofessor Simon Dyson’s research into
Sickle Cell Anaemia and its effect on
schoolchildren was featured on BBC Radio 4
keeping personal details safe after passport
information was found in a punch bag.
Contour Fashion graduates’ final
while the Green Parent covered news of collections were covered in the Lancashire
Doreen Crawford’s revised Little Red Book to Evening Post, Wigan Evening Post and a Professor Panikos Paniyi who is researching German prisoners
of war in Britain.
encourage breastfeeding. host of other local papers, whilst Rosetta
DMU’s STING Lau’s storage design went international on
research into nettle the Business Wire in China, News Now Students switch off
fibres was covered by Hong Kong and Reuters.com.
BBC Radio Leicester,
theecologist.org,
Mo Ibrahim, who was made an honorary
Doctor of Technology this year, was featured S tudents living in Bede and New Wharf halls
will be competing against each other in
The Student Switch Off this academic year.
Research into nettle Yorkshire Post and in a double page spread in The Voice. Other
ﬁbre at DMU. Prizes will be given out to encourage
24dash.com. honorands including Gary Lineker, Bill
A pioneering satellite navigation device Maynard and Claire Bertschinger were students to save energy and do their bit to
developed by DMU and Nottingham Scientific featured in Hello, Match of the Day tackle climate change. The prizes will
Ltd won at the Lord Stafford Awards and was magazine, the Weekly News and Nursing specifically be given to students who sign up to
covered by the Leicester Mercury, Times. Elsewhere, business graduates become Eco-Power Rangers – residents who
Nottingham Evening Post, 24 Dash and Marina Boor and Ruth Chenai pledge to use their energy carefully and
Midlands Business News. The University Mushambadope hit the Leicester Mercury. encourage their friends to do so as well.
received four nominations this year and there Research from the Faculty of Business & Prizes on offer include tickets to nights out
was widespread regional coverage about the Law into the split roles of Police Community in Leicester, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, NUS
nominated projects before the Support Officers was covered by Extra cards and energy-saving gadgets. The
awards took place. key trade publications, Jane’s winning hall will receive a celebratory end-of-
Dr Brian Brown commented in Police Review, Metropolitan Life year party.
the Leicester Mercury on the and Police Life. The actions encouraged by the Student
wettest July in record and the Last but not least the new Switch Off are simple, but are those that can
psychology behind pandemics MA in Photographic History & sometimes get neglected when you're living in
following the swine flu outbreak. Practice was featured in the halls. They include switching lights and
The Leicester Mercury also Times Higher Education and appliances off when not in use, not overfilling
interviewed Dr Tim Watson on Dr Tim Watson. CNBC.com. the kettle and putting on an extra layer of
clothing rather than turning up the thermostat.


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