NEWS114students receive Foundationdegree in PayrollManagementOn 15 October the graduation ceremony for the Foundation Degree in PayrollManagement, organised by the Institute <strong>of</strong> Payroll Pr<strong>of</strong>essionals (IPP), took place atThe Barbican, London.The course is a UW validated award delivered by <strong>Worcester</strong> College <strong>of</strong> Technologyand IPP, and is therefore a tri-partite collaborative programme. At the ceremony114 students were awarded their Foundation Degrees, for the largest collaborativeprogramme validated by the <strong>University</strong>. It has been described by one <strong>of</strong> UW’sExternal Examiners as: ‘one <strong>of</strong> the biggest FDs and the best applied managementprogramme in the country’.Celebrations at The BarbicanPsychology Student Channels MindPower to Win Two Gold Medalsfirst year psychologyA student at the<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Worcester</strong>scooped two gold and asilver medal at the WorldMartial Arts Games.Simon Price travelled toLas Vegas to representGreat Britain at the Gamesand walked away withthree medals. It was thefirst time he had beenselected for the GB squad.“I’m so pleased to have hadDouble gold-medalist, Simon Pricethe chance to go to theGames and to representmy country,” he said. “It was fantastic to then win two goldmedals in the individual events and a silver in the team event.”Nineteen-year-old Simon, <strong>of</strong> Wynall Lane, Stourbridge,started Jujutsu when he was five years old and is amember <strong>of</strong> Tai Jutsu Kai. He has competed at hundreds<strong>of</strong> competitions over the years but said the World MartialArts Games were the pinnacle <strong>of</strong> his fighting career.“It was really amazing,” he said. “The atmospherewas incredible. I’m really grateful to my club andmy Sensei Robert Tiene, who I could not have donethis without, and to Stourbridge College and DudleyCouncil who sponsored me to attend the Games.”“Next year it’s the European championships so I am hopingI will get a chance to go along there also,” he added.The course is delivered in 9 centres across the UK (Glasgow in the north to Londonin the south) and utilises a ‘Blended’ learning approach, using a Virtual LearningEnvironment to deliver all the supporting materials and two face to face days withtutors per module. This year was the first graduation for students who commencedthe newly validated programme in January 2008 and September 2008. Theprogramme currently has over 700 students registered going through the variousmodules and levels and it is the Payroll/Pensions industry standard qualification,contributing to staff Continuing Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Development.Students Lend aHand at LedburyPoetry FestivalTwo <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Worcester</strong>students gained valuableexperience working at this year’sLedbury Poetry Festival.Laura Miles and Jennifer Lewis wereselected to do voluntary work throughthe <strong>University</strong>’s partnership with theFestival.They carried out a number <strong>of</strong> duties,including drumming up stories for thepress <strong>of</strong>fice, arranging radio interviewsand working at the Box Office.Festival Director Chloe Garnersaid: “Laura and Jennifer were bothenthusiastic and committed. They tookon all the tasks that came their way andat times showed considerable initiativein handling certain requests from themedia.“Jennifer managed to set up a radio slamwith regional poets for BBC Herefordand <strong>Worcester</strong> at very short notice,which was very impressive.”Laura, a third-year English student, andJennifer, a third-year Journalism withMedia and Cultural Studies student,both applied for the roles to gain newexperiences.“It was fantastic,” said 34-year-oldLaura. “I really enjoyed the wholeexperience and learned a lot from it. Itreally made me think about the things Ican do with my degree.”Jennifer, age 31, added: “We both gotstuck in, helping out as much as we couldand I would like to think that we made adifference. I certainly enjoyed it and gota lot out <strong>of</strong> it.”The <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Worcester</strong> sponsoredthe Michael McClure opening event atthe Festival.There will be further opportunities for<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Worcester</strong> students to getinvolved in the Festival next year.10 / DECEMBER <strong>2010</strong> / newsandviews@worc.ac.uk
NEWS<strong>Worcester</strong> SnoezelenSelected as <strong>University</strong>’s Charity <strong>of</strong> the Year10/11<strong>Worcester</strong> Snoezelen has been chosen as the<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Worcester</strong>’s Charity <strong>of</strong> the Year.Staff voted to support the Charity, which is based in the grounds<strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong>, during the academic year <strong>2010</strong>/11.<strong>Worcester</strong> Snoezelen is an independent charity which providesleisure and therapy facilities for people who have disabilities. Morethan 450 people regularly use their facilities, including multisensoryrooms, hydrotherapy, accessible music making, s<strong>of</strong>tplay areas, creative art opportunities and a sensory garden.Vice Chancellor Pr<strong>of</strong>essor David Green said: “We are delighted tosupport such a worthy cause, and hope all staff and students will joinus in raising as much money as possible over the course <strong>of</strong> the year.”The <strong>University</strong>, together with the Students’ Union, will undertake arange <strong>of</strong> activities throughout the year to raise funds for the centre.Jane Roberts, Project Manager at <strong>Worcester</strong> Snoezelen, said: “Weare delighted that the <strong>University</strong> has nominated us as their charity<strong>of</strong> the year. We really hope this will help us to raise our pr<strong>of</strong>ileover the coming year as well as some much needed funds.”Fundraising for last year’s<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Worcester</strong> Charity<strong>of</strong> the Year, <strong>Worcester</strong>shireBreast Unit Campaign, includedcollections at <strong>University</strong> events,a cake sale, a pancake sale anda number <strong>of</strong> raffle draws. The<strong>University</strong> raised more than£4,000 for the Campaign.At the end <strong>of</strong> the year a cheque will be presented to<strong>Worcester</strong> Snoezelen for the total amount raised.<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Worcester</strong>Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Lectures in the USPr<strong>of</strong>essor Jean Webb, Director <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong>’sInternational Research Centre for Children’s Literature,Literacy and Creativity, was invited to give a lectureat the Royal D. Alworth Institute for InternationalStudies at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Minnesota Duluth.In the lecture, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Webb demonstrated the ways inwhich children’s literature from a number <strong>of</strong> countries is anintegral part <strong>of</strong> the social system. The lecture wasrecorded for the local radio station KUMD.Spending a week at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Minnesota, Pr<strong>of</strong>essorWebb said: “It was a most enjoyable and interesting visit.”A future collaboration between the two universities is now apossibility. Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Webb said: “Faculty staff were very keen todevelop research and collaboration with <strong>Worcester</strong> in the future.”The Minnesota Duluth <strong>University</strong> has a student populationcomparable with <strong>Worcester</strong>.Along with her work at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Worcester</strong>, Pr<strong>of</strong>essorWebb was an instigator and executive member <strong>of</strong> the NordicChildren’s Literature Research Network for the duration <strong>of</strong>this internationally funded project. She is also an executiveboard member <strong>of</strong> the Children’s Literature Association(ChLA), India and serves on the Executive Board for ChLA.Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Webb is on the editorial board <strong>of</strong> numerousjournals including The Journal <strong>of</strong> Children’s LiteratureStudies, ChLA India and Children’s Literature in Education.Her research interests include children’s literature frominternational perspectives and both 19th and 20thcentury English and American children’s literature.Providing a multi-sensory environment.(clockwise from top) The sensory garden, the star tunnel, white room and hydrotherapy roomWBS to launch new MA<strong>Worcester</strong> Business School is launching an innovativeprogramme using accredited work-based learningwhich will provide participants with the skills andknowledge to tackle the real organisational issuesthey face in their current and future roles.It provides a means for those who might want an alternative to studyingpart-time for a more structured programme, such as an MA or MBA.The new part-time work-based MA Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Practice programme is designedfor participants who are currently operating as managers, senior specialists,project leaders or pr<strong>of</strong>essionals from the business, public or third sectors. It isalso highly appropriate for <strong>University</strong> personnel, particularly those who holdsuch positions indicated in UW Service departments, as well as Institutes.Dr David Collier <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Worcester</strong> Business School, who is leading thisprogramme, describes the nature <strong>of</strong> this approach,“Rather than starting with theory and then helping participants to try and apply itin their workplace, we start in a different way. On the MA Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Practice wehelp participants to identify the key challenges, tasks, or objectives that they needto achieve in their current or future roles. Through the work-based projects theyfind real answers to real issues whilst acquiring the skills and knowledge which goeswith study at Masters level.”David is planning to launch the programme in early 2011, and would welcomeapplications from, or further discussions with, colleagues within the <strong>University</strong>.For more information please contactDr David Collier, <strong>Worcester</strong> Business School, <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Worcester</strong>, tel: 01905542239 or email: d.collier@worc.ac.uknewsandviews@worc.ac.uk /DECEMBER <strong>2010</strong> / 11