December 2010 - University of Worcester

NEWSWorcester SnoezelenSelected as University’s Charity of the Year10/11Worcester Snoezelen has been chosen as theUniversity of Worcester’s Charity of the Year.Staff voted to support the Charity, which is based in the groundsof the University, during the academic year 2010/11.Worcester 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, softplay areas, creative art opportunities and a sensory garden.Vice Chancellor Professor 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 of the year.”The University, together with the Students’ Union, will undertake arange of activities throughout the year to raise funds for the centre.Jane Roberts, Project Manager at Worcester Snoezelen, said: “Weare delighted that the University has nominated us as their charityof the year. We really hope this will help us to raise our profileover the coming year as well as some much needed funds.”Fundraising for last year’sUniversity of Worcester Charityof the Year, WorcestershireBreast Unit Campaign, includedcollections at University events,a cake sale, a pancake sale anda number of raffle draws. TheUniversity raised more than£4,000 for the Campaign.At the end of the year a cheque will be presented toWorcester Snoezelen for the total amount raised.University of WorcesterProfessor Lectures in the USProfessor Jean Webb, Director of the University’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 University of Minnesota Duluth.In the lecture, Professor Webb demonstrated the ways inwhich children’s literature from a number of countries is anintegral part of the social system. The lecture wasrecorded for the local radio station KUMD.Spending a week at the University of Minnesota, ProfessorWebb said: “It was a most enjoyable and interesting visit.”A future collaboration between the two universities is now apossibility. Professor Webb said: “Faculty staff were very keen todevelop research and collaboration with Worcester in the future.”The Minnesota Duluth University has a student populationcomparable with Worcester.Along with her work at the University of Worcester, ProfessorWebb was an instigator and executive member of the NordicChildren’s Literature Research Network for the duration ofthis internationally funded project. She is also an executiveboard member of the Children’s Literature Association(ChLA), India and serves on the Executive Board for ChLA.Professor Webb is on the editorial board of numerousjournals including The Journal of 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 MAWorcester 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 Professional Practice programme is designedfor participants who are currently operating as managers, senior specialists,project leaders or professionals from the business, public or third sectors. It isalso highly appropriate for University personnel, particularly those who holdsuch positions indicated in UW Service departments, as well as Institutes.Dr David Collier of the Worcester Business School, who is leading thisprogramme, describes the nature of 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 Professional 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 University.For more information please contactDr David Collier, Worcester Business School, University of Worcester, tel: 01905542239 or email: d.collier@worc.ac.uknewsandviews@worc.ac.uk /DECEMBER 2010 / 11