OCTOBER 2010 YOUR FEEDBACK’S MADE MIDDLESEX EVEN BETTER We’ve taken all your feedback onboard and made some big changes you’ll really notice. In this edition, you’ll see what students had to say and what we’ve done to improve things. You’ll also get to read about some of the great people who make things happen at our university. NATIONAL STUDENT SURVEY RESULTS: OVERALL STUDENT SATISFACTION RISESThe University has been hardTO at work with the ambition to improve your student experience, and 78it has definitely% paid off! Middlesex has improved its overall score in the NSS, with 78% of students who took part in the 2010 survey agreeing or strongly agreeing that they were satisfied with the overall quality of their course – our highest ever score. The most improved NSS aspects are Assessment and Feedback and Organisation and Management, closely followed by Academic Support and Personal Development. Our response rate of 65% also exceeds the national average of 62%. These improvements are down to a renewed emphasis on the student experience and a drive to improve assessment and feedback.

READ MORE ON THE Find out how our careers LATEST INITIATIVE FROM THE department has been working LEARNING DEVELOPMENT UNIT with your feedback to improve your job prospects INSIDE: p3 p4

FIND OUR MORE AT WWW.24-7.MDX.AC.UK/YSWD YOUR FEEDBACK,

OWith all URof our staff committed S toU giving Pevery studentP Othe bestR learningT experience possible, you can rely on an excellent support network through every step of your course. Our feedback shows you’re certainly appreciating it – here are some other ways we can help you out on your course:

The Bridging Materials Team We asked Deeba, a member of our Bridging Materials Team, about how they help Middlesex students every year.

What are the bridging materials? The bridging materials initiative aims to help give incoming students realistic information about their chosen programme and university life at Middlesex in a simple, clear manner. The process began in the Business School but proved so successful it was rolled out in other schools. Who does it help? The initiative helps new students before they arrive at the university. Students are sent an email and a letter and given access to the university’s virtual learning environment (Oasisplus) before enrolment, helping them prepare for starting university. Find out more at www.24-7.mdx.co.uk

OUR STUDENT LEARNING ADVISORS If you want a bit of peer support on a want help on. This means they know sessions to focus on needs identified specific module, a Student exactly what you should expect and by students, for example revision Learning Advisor may be just what how to get the most out of the course. sessions, or they may work alongside you are looking for. They mentor other The Student Learning Advisors work academics in seminars or labs. Find people on their programme and have with students in a range of different out more at www.24-7.mdx.co.uk/sla already completed the module you ways, they may run their own working

2 FIND OUR MORE AT WWW.24-7.MDX.AC.UK/YSWD Helping you achieve Our Achievement Advisors are specialist members of staff aligned to a specific school who cover every academic programme, whatever you’re studying. They’ll help you achieve your full potential on your course and help you overcome any difficulties.

We caught up with one of throughout their degree, from expected. As a result the student can the Achievement Advisors induction to graduation. We act as the receive help with time management, link between students and academics from the Business school action plans and regular contact to to improve their overall progression ensure they stay on track. If there are to find out exactly what it is and achievement and ensure they particular areas that a student needs that they do, and with all the succeed in their chosen course. extra support in, we can refer them to external influences facing Can you give an example of when the relevant areas, e.g. the Learning your role is important to students? students nowadays, why it is Development Unit which can provide so relevant: If a tutor is worried about an individual’s attendance or assessment help and guidance on numeracy/ What exactly does a Student patterns, they can call upon us to literacy skills, finance, welfare or Achievement Advisor do? intervene and find out reasons why counselling services. Find out more at We are here to support students a student is not doing as well as www.24-7.mdx.co.uk/progplan

THE LEARNER DEVELOPMENT UNIT The Learner Development Unit is a team of specialists that work with any student that requires help in academic writing, English language development, numeracy or dyslexia support.

Following your feedback, a new project for the team is the Learner Development Profile, a completely new initiative to help and support you at each step of your student journey… The Learner Development Profile is a free check of your academic language and numeracy skills. All students new to the university have to complete their profile and this is normally done during induction. The profile is designed to tell you quickly whether you may benefit from the free language and numeracy services available at the university. If your results indicate that this may be the case, you will then be asked to complete the second part of the profile, which takes 2 hours and gives you a clear indication of your strengths and weaknesses in academic writing, reading and listening. More info – www.24-7.mdx.ac.uk/ldu

FIND OUR MORE AT WWW.24-7.MDX.AC.UK/YSWD 3 Of course, the main reason you • We’ve created a new IT forum with come to university is to improve employer speakers like Microsoft your job opportunities so, following • Further experience opportunities your feedback, we’re working for Outreach, Education Liaison hard to make sure you get the and Student Recruitment teams work placements you need. All of our courses provide great ways to • Using Student Workshop leaders connect to the professional world, at events to deliver projects JUST with a large number accredited It’s good to see the improvements by professional bodies like The have already had an effect: Law Society and Institution of Engineering Designers. “Very efficient. Especially the careers advisory service.” We’ve also made sure our courses are closely aligned to the needs “The careers advisory service has of employers and give you the been a great help since joining the experience you need. Here are some university and I hope it can only THE of the improvements we’ve made: improve more.” • Our careers service is continually Check out career support at making more links with employers Middlesex at careers fairs www.24-7.mdx.co.uk/careers JOMeetB one of our speakers Theo Paphitis is one of the UK’s most high Not only does he star in a highly popular BBC Two profile businessmen. He’s been given an series, which is due to air its seventh series, he is Honorary Doctorate by our University and also well known for his senior management expertise spanning finance, property and consumer goods. visited Hendon campus this year to inspire and entertain staff and students, speaking So what made him the famous entrepreneur he is about his general approach to making good today? Born in , his family emigrated to Britain business decisions. We know from your in the 1960s and Theo began his working career as a feedback that high profile speakers are junior clerk with Lloyds of before moving into retail at the age of 18. He then moved into property important to you so we hope to continue and corporate finance, setting up his own company working alongside such business figures. aged just 23.

He was Chairman of Millwall FC for eight years, taking the club out of administration, into the Championship and to the FA Cup Final. He has also revived the fortunes of notable retail brands such as Ryman, La Senza Lingerie, Contessa Lingerie, Partners the Stationers and Stationery Box. In 2008, he combined the stationery businesses to launch a new chain, Ryman Stationery where he is now Chairman.

Through his appearances on Dragons’ Den, Theo has advised many young entrepreneurs and invested in several innovative businesses and brands. Theo is also the Retail Apprentices’ Champion for Skillsmart, the government-funded training organisation and is an ambassador for the new National Skills Academy for Retail.

4 FIND OUR MORE AT WWW.24-7.MDX.AC.UK/YSWD NEED ANOTHER WAY TO HELP YOU STAND OUT TO EMPLOYERS? Meet one of our Student Ambassadors What interested you in the role of Student Ambassador? and see what worthwhile skills you can I have always worked with children and young people learn to stand out for future employers and really enjoyed it. I was excited when I found out Name: Shanna Marrinan about the role as Ambassador as I thought it would be great fun to work on the projects and be able to share my experiences with younger people who probably have very similar fears and concerns as I did! I was right, and have enjoyed every minute of being an Ambassador.

Best job you have done so far and why? I really don’t think I could choose one! It’s so rewarding when the whole class is interested and asking loads of questions – they really connect with you and their enthusiasm and genuine interest in you really makes you smile! They say the nicest things sometimes when they tell you how much you have inspired them.

What are the advantages of working in a team? Do you have any positive experiences from working in a team? I’ve made some of my best friends through my ambassador work. You are working alongside people who have been selected because of their energy, people skills and desire to contribute to the local community. As a result, we are quite a fun and friendly bunch I think!

Would you recommend the role to other Middlesex Why did you choose your course? students? I first came to Middlesex to study World Development Yes definitely. I always recommend it to my friends. studies with Spanish and Portuguese. It wasn’t something I even knew existed before I saw it in the What are your future career plans? prospectus, but it really caught my eye as I have such a I am finishing my doctorate now, but I am also a foster strong interest in world affairs and a love for languages. carer, to three children, so I have quite a lot of options, but I am looking for something that fits in with my family I really enjoyed my degree and got a really good result, responsibilities as well! so I continued my studies with a Masters in Social Policy and now I’m finishing my PhD in Health Sciences. Current job/status: Completed PhD Why have you chosen this university? I initially chose Middlesex as it was my local university, Find out how you can become a student but I wanted to continue here after my degree because I ambassador and enhance your skills: had enjoyed my time here so much. facebook.com/MiddlesexAmbassadors

FIND OUR MORE AT WWW.24-7.MDX.AC.UK/YSWD 5 D YSWMEETSTOM SCHMITT We think it is really beneficial for our students to get a chance to hear the inspirational stories of their predecessors and the great things they have gone on to achieve after graduation. Meet Tom Schmitt one of our graduates who went on to become President and CEO of FedEx Global supply Chain services.

A native of Biberach, Germany, Tom graduated from You completed your degree with a first class honours Middlesex University with a first class honours degree in and went from Middlesex University to Harvard where European Business Administration in 1989. From there you received an MBA with the highest distinction (an he went to Harvard Business School, where he received amazing result!). Did you always have Harvard in your an MBA with highest distinction. sights? There are many quality business schools in the U.S, but when I was growing up in Europe (and probably to this day) Harvard is the “dream” – the brand name school every student has in his sights.

What is your fondest memory of your time at Middlesex University? Middlesex was much like a “United Nations” of students – it was a great experience to meet and work with so many people from so many different parts of the world.

Which lecturer(s) had the greatest impact on you? NEED I still remember the tremendous experts who were a part of the faculty – such as Collin Sparks, Accounting HIGH- RES and Alex Rebman, Finance are two who stand out in my memory.

IMAGE What advice do you have to our alumni who have recently graduated or who are looking to change jobs in the current market? The best advice I can give is to go for the jobs you feel passionate about – you’ll be in your chosen career for many years and it is much more meaningful if you are doing something you love. Be ambitious – ambition is good – but only if it is for the right things – causes and your team mates that you care about.

Who is the most famous person in your Blackberry? I don’t keep names in my Blackberry but some “famous” people with whom I’ve had the honour of sharing a meal and an evening or two with are Noble Laureate Professor Wangari Maathai and Dr. Condoleezza Rice.

6 FIND OUR MORE AT WWW.24-7.MDX.AC.UK/YSWD TOM SCHMITT

When we looked at your feedback about the campus in general, there were some great suggestions about how things could be improved. Over the next couple of pages, you’ll see how we’ve put your views into action and the huge investment into our teaching facilities.

We’ve invested £100 million into our campuses so far and, over the next 2 years, we’ll be investing £80 million more in an outstanding new art and design building at Hendon. This world class centre will include art and design studios, workshops equipped with the latest technology, digital media labs, photographic studios, digital and traditional darkrooms, and a Sony-designed TV studio. This will give our budding designers, film directors and photographers the finest equipment for the best possible start. www.24-7.mdx.ac.uk/new-art

C M I Y AC O MODAT NG OUR FWe’veEEDBACK made building improvements across the university campuses. From one of our new kitchens at Platt Hall to enjoying our brand new 50” TV-equipped common room and Wii games machines there’s something for everyone. We’ve also brought new bean bags and furniture into the Usher common rooms and communal lounge to make you more comfortable.

If there’s anything else you’d like, there are new suggestion boxes now in every hall. And don’t forget to check our new notice boards for all the up-dates on what’s going on across the campuses.

FIND OUR MORE AT WWW.24-7.MDX.AC.UK/YSWD 7 Here at Middlesex we’ve taken your feedback on board on the things you need to make your studying as stress free as possible, whether it’s childcare support you need or just an hour of relaxation, we have something for you.

FOOD FOR

If you’re a parent who needs childcare, our nursery will TYou hadH someO strong opinionsG about what’sH toT eat at look to accommodate your needs. It’s great to know Middlesex, so we’re lookingU to make sure all the food that the feedback showed students with children felt available is good value, varied and contemporary. supported and confident to concentrate on their work. We’re also introducing more special offers and We’ll make sure we keep it up. meal deals, so why not treat your taste buds and your bank balance today? And as your feedback We also found out that you don’t like searching for a mentioned too many queues, we’ve even opened free PC, so we’ve put a new plasma screen in Sheppard a new coffee bar in The Quad to help dramatically Library that displays all the available computers in the reduce this. building. Find out more at www.24-7.mdx.co.uk/maxtra

You wanted a greater focus on sports Trent Park, so there can be more activities across the campuses, so sporting opportunities for teams and we’ve put even more support and individuals – whatever your sport. resources into sports coaching and Fancy trying something new? Our volunteering at the University. We’re free ‘Give it a Go’ taster sessions offer also attempting to grow the number a great opportunity to do this of members we have at our Fitness www.24-7.mdx.ac.uk/sports Pod at Hendon and Mini Pod at

PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS BY GIVING YOUR FEEDBACK AT MXD.AC.UK/24-7/YSWD

FIND OUR MORE AT WWW.24-7.MDX.AC.UK/YSWD 8