The University of Reading Word Bank Item Category Description Target Audience Values C1 History The University’s history All established, excellent C2 History History timeline All established, excellent C3 History History of the University’s All excellent, ambitious estates C4 Campus Campus for students All students/ schools & colleges/ excellent, creative, caring parents C5 Campus Campus life for staff Staff/prospective staff excellent, established, caring C6 Campus Campus research and Industry/ employers/ SMEs/ excellent, focused, ambitious, creative enterprise facilities research C7 Campus Campus for the community Community (local/regional) Excellent, creative, ambitious, caring C8 Campus Campus flora and fauna All established, caring C9 Campus Reading social life on and off All creative, caring campus C10 Campus Arts on campus All excellent, creative C11 Campus Sport for all All excellent, creative, caring C12 Campus Architecture All excellent, established, caring C13 Campus University museums All excellent, established, focused C14 Campus The University and the All creative, caring, focused environment C15 Campus Halls of residence All students/parents caring C16 Teaching Teaching at Reading Prospective Caring, excellent, established, creative, staff/Alumni/Industry & focused, ambitious Employers/Local Community/Schools & Colleges/Parents/Research C17 Teaching Undergraduate teaching Prospective undergraduates, Caring, excellent, established, creative, parents, schools focused, ambitious C18 Teaching Postgraduate teaching Prospective postgraduates Caring, excellent, established, creative, focused, ambitious C19 Teaching Research students Prospective research students Caring, excellent, established, creative, focused, ambitious C20 Teaching Teaching facilities All students/parents/teachers excellent, creative, focused C21 Teaching Pastoral care All students/parents/teachers caring C22 Teaching International students’ welfare Students/parents/teachers caring C23 Teaching Visiting the University Prospective students excellent, creative C24 Teaching Adult Education Community/staff excellent, creative, ambitious C25 Teaching Widening Participation Prospective students/parents excellent, focused, caring, ambitious C26 Teaching Careers All excellent, focused, caring, ambitious C27 Teaching Schools/ colleges relationships All established, focused, caring C28 Research Overview of research at All excellent, ambitious, creative, focused Reading C29 Research Current research projects All excellent, ambitious, creative, focused C30 Research Research centres All excellent, ambitious, creative, focused C31 Enterprise Enterprise at Reading All excellent, ambitious, creative, focused C32 Enterprise The Enterprise Team All excellent, ambitious, creative, focused C33 Enterprise Major enterprise activities All excellent, ambitious, creative, focused C34 Enterprise Enterprise networks All excellent, ambitious, creative, focused C35 Enterprise Enterprise partnerships All excellent, ambitious, creative, focused C36 Alumni Our alumni All excellent, ambitious, caring, established C37 Alumni Honorary graduates All excellent, ambitious, creative, focused C38 Alumni Alumni involvement in All excellent, creative, caring University life C39 Governance How the University operates All established, focused C40 Governance The Corporate Plan All focused, ambitious, creative C41 Governance The University as an employer All excellent, caring C42 Governance The University’s coat of arms All established C43 Campus Library All excellence C44 An Overview of the University All all C45 Research What has our research done for All excellent, ambitious, creative, focused the world recently?

Item Title Audience Wordcount C1 The University’s History All 306 Values: established, excellent

History We are proud of our long and fascinating history at the University of Reading. Our tradition of academic excellence dates back to the late nineteenth century and owes much to the vision and generosity of several notable individuals.

Our origins lie in the Schools of Art and Science established in Reading in 1860 and 1870. These became part of an extension college opened in 1892 by Christ Church, Oxford. The college thrived, receiving its first treasury grant in 1901. Three years later the local Palmer family, of the famous biscuit manufacturer Huntley & Palmers, donated our London Road site. Their continued support helped to fund expansion, including the opening of Wantage Hall in 1908 and The Research Institute in Dairying in 1912. We received a Royal Charter in 1926, the only university to do so between the two world wars. At the same time, Dr William M Childs became the University’s first Vice-Chancellor.

Milestones Since then a number of milestones have shaped the University’s history and made us the centre of excellence and vibrant community that we are today. In 1947 we purchased our main Whiteknights campus, the former country estate of the Marquis of Blandford. Our merger with Bulmershe College of Higher Education in 1989 added our third campus, a 17 hectare site in Earley close to Whiteknights.

Achievements Important achievements include: • being the first British university to integrate an industrial Research and Development Group on its campus (1972) • being the first university to win the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement (1989) • twice receiving the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher Education (1998 and 2006).

Established as a leading force in British higher education, we continue to build on our success. Our ambitious multi-million pound investment programme is delivering twenty-first century facilities, strengthening our international reputation for quality teaching, research and enterprise.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C2 The University’s History Timeline All 282 Values: established, excellent

1860 School of Art established in Reading 1870 School of Science established in Reading 1892 University Extension College opened incorporating School of Art, School of Science and Oxford University Extension Classes 1896 Grant of Arms to College 1904 London Road site donated by the Palmer family (of Huntley & Palmers) 1908 Wantage Hall opened 1912 The Research Institute in Dairying (later NIRD) was established 1926 Royal Charter granted - enabling the University to award its own degrees 1947 Purchase of Whiteknights, former estate of the Marquis of Blandford 1966 National College of Food Technology merger 1967 College of Estate Management associated with University 1972 First University in Britain to integrate an industrial R & D Group on its campus, in the Philip Lyle Building 1989 Bulmershe College merger First university to win Queen's Award for Export Achievement for outstanding overseas recruitment 1992 New Microbiology Building opened by Her Majesty the Queen Installation of Lord Carrington as Chancellor of the University 1994 New building for Psychology 1995 New building for Soil Science 1997 New Meteorology Building 1998 New ICMA Centre building opened, supported by the International Capital Market Association (known as ISMA prior to 2006) New Environmental Systems Science Centre (ESSC) University wins Queen's Anniversary Prize for new Globe Theatre project 2000 New Agriculture Building opened by HRH Princess Royal 2002 New Archaeology Building 2003 Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gordon Marshall, awarded CBE in Queen’s birthday honours list 2005 Opening of the Centre for Advanced Microscopy - new research facility for Meteorology and Psychology - opened by Lord Sainsbury New Museum of Rural Life opens University wins Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Meteorology 2006 University celebrates 80th anniversary of granting of Royal Charter

Item Title Audience Wordcount C3 History of the University’s Estates All 314 Values: established, excellent, ambitious

Three campus sites Our magnificent setting is one of the University’s greatest attractions. Many hectares of mature parkland provide the backdrop to an interesting mix of traditional and modern architecture to create a unique campus atmosphere.

We have been an important presence in Reading since 1892 when our Schools of Art and Science were incorporated into an extension college of Christ Church, Oxford. As we grew in stature during the twentieth century we acquired and developed land and property in the Reading area. Today our estate includes three campuses:

• London Road in central Reading – gifted in 1904 by the Palmer family • Whiteknights Park in south Reading – purchased in 1947 and the former home of the Marquis of Blandford • Bulmershe Court in Earley, east Reading – acquired in 1989.

Main Whiteknights campus These three sites total 160 hectares of grounds, the biggest individual site being Whiteknights. This peaceful 130 hectare country estate, with its conservation meadows, rare tree collection and large lake, is an exceptional place to study, live and work. It provides a natural habitat for many varieties of birds, animals, insects and plants.

Several listed buildings are features of the park. One of the most attractive is Foxhill House built in 1869 by architect Alfred Waterhouse, designer of the Natural History Museum. This building, completely restored and sympathetically extended in recent times, is home to our School of Law. In direct contrast is the 1960s architecture of the Palmer Building, with its new state-of-the art interior complete with 24-hour computer laboratory and espresso bar.

Farmland We also own 850 hectares of farmland at nearby Sonning and Shinfield, where our internationally renowned Centre for Dairy Research (CEDAR) is located.

Investment We continue to expand and transform our estate through a multi-million pound investment programme. Our aim is to create twenty-first century facilities in our naturally beautiful landscape while preserving the University’s heritage.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C4 Campus life (for students) Prospective students/parents/ 404 schools/colleges Values: excellent, creative, caring

Campus life Campus life at the University of Reading has much to offer our 17,500 students. Contemporary study facilities, halls of residence, support services, cafés and bars are centrally located on one of the most attractive university campuses in the UK.

All this is just a short walk or ride from the centre of Reading with its lively mix of culture, nightlife, shops and eating-places. For those preferring country pursuits, the Chiltern Hills and the River Thames are close by. Excellent transport links put Oxford, London and Heathrow within easy reach.

Amenities Our main Whiteknights site is set in 130 hectares of beautiful parkland. This is the heart of university life and provides a special sense of community. With its green open spaces, lake, rare trees and wildlife it is an exceptional environment in which to study, live and relax. Everything you need is here or within walking distance. Whiteknights offers:

• cutting-edge teaching and learning facilities, including 24-hour IT resources and a library containing over a million items • extensive indoor and outdoor sports facilities, including pitches, courts, playing fields and a fully-equipped sports centre • a wide choice of catered and self-catered student accommodation.

We also have three specialist museums – great places for study and research, or simply for enjoyment. They house specialist collections relating to zoology (The Cole Museum), Greek archaeology (Ure Museum) and rural life (Museum of English Rural Life)

At the hub of Whiteknights is the very popular Reading University Students’ Union (RUSU). A hive of activity day and night, it provides easy access to services, shopping and a ready- made social life. Its state-of-the-art award-winning entertainment venue, 3Sixty, is a prime example of our ongoing investment in first-class facilities. RUSU runs clubs and societies to suit all interests and provides important welfare services to students, including representation and counselling. RUSU also runs a purpose-built nursery for children aged 3 months to 5 years.

Student support We have a full range of services in place to care for students' health and wellbeing, including counselling and personal skills training, study advice. Support is available for those from overseas or with special needs, and a new one-stop Students Services Centre will open in Autumn 2007. Our career skills training is an integral part of all our undergraduate courses. Our Careers' Centre provides additional guidance and our job shop assists students to find temporary term-time employment. All this ensures campus life runs smoothly and helps students to realise their full potential.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C5 Campus life (for staff) Prospective / current staff 347 Values: excellent, established , caring

Working at Reading Working at the University of Reading offers an exceptional opportunity to apply your skills and experience. With several Centres of Excellence and proven quality of provision, we enjoy a world-class reputation for teaching, research and enterprise. We also offer a stimulating and peaceful working environment in one of the UK's most attractive campuses. Yet the centre of Reading, with its vibrant city culture and fast transport links to Oxford, London and Heathrow, is just a short walk or ride away. If you prefer country pursuits the Chiltern Hills and the River Thames are close by.

The heart of university life is our Whiteknights campus. This beautiful 130 hectare park is the biggest of our three sites. Open spaces, a lake, abundant wildlife and rare trees feature in the landscape. Everything you need is here or nearby, including most academic departments and the main library. Traditional and contemporary buildings house top quality teaching and research facilities, particularly in the areas of information technology, life sciences and business.

Socialising Excellent social and recreational facilities are also on your doorstep. You are welcome to relax at Park House, the Senior Common Room, which has a bar, lounge and dining room and hosts a lively programme of events. You can use a range of other eating places as well as the Students' Union, which is home to shops, services and a professionally staffed nursery. Sporting amenities are outstanding too, both on and off campus. You can play most indoor and outdoor sports on campus, use our well-equipped SportsPark and enjoy watersports on the River Thames. The University's arts calendar, three specialist museums and a number of societies cater for diverse leisure and cultural interests.

Support Just as we care about the local community and the wider environment, so we promote a supportive internal culture. Alongside attractive employment benefits, we provide professional training opportunities and a full suite of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes. Access to a network of personal and work-related support services, including a mentoring scheme, ensures life runs smoothly and you get the most from your time with us.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C6 Campus research and enterprise facilities Industry/ research 321 Values: excellent, focused, ambitious, creative

Supporting enterprise The University of Reading is an increasingly active and vital part of the Thames Valley economy. Our knowledge and research resources are helping local enterprise to find new and innovative ways to capitalise on business opportunities. If you are looking to turn a good idea into a marketable product, would benefit from research expertise, need lab space, or want advice on intellectual property licensing, partnering with us can add value.

Located in the UK’s leading enterprise zone, the University provides a stimulating environment that can help you change the way you think and work. You have the opportunity to consult and collaborate with leading authorities, particularly in business and management, environment, information communications technology and life sciences. Our Business Development Team can introduce you to enterprise initiatives and a vast support network. These include the following:

• our Science and Technology Centre which offers affordable office space and research and development facilities • the Reading Enterprise Hub which assists technology and knowledge-based companies with funding, refining ideas and developing profitable business strategies • InnovationWorks@Reading - the first Innovation Lab in the South-East - a custom-built environment that encourages and helps facilitate free thought, creativity, brainstorming and the creation of new ideas. • Knowledge Transfer Partnerships which concentrate on developing business strategies. With over 50 active partnerships we host the largest, most successful KTP centre in the country • access to scientific equipment on campus – our new BioCentre and our Centre for Advanced Microscopy are regarded as among the best-equipped laboratories of their type in Europe • Enterprise Experience and Real World Projects promote closer links between local employers and the student community, through work experience and graduate placement.

You can network and exchange ideas at the many lectures, workshops and career fairs that make up a varied enterprise events programme. Our beautiful 130 hectare parkland campus also provides you with the ideal venue for your own conferences and business meetings.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C7 Campus for the community Community – local and regional 292 Values: excellent, caring, ambitious, creative

Part of the community As well as fostering a strong sense of community on campus, we enjoy close links with local residents, businesses, schools and colleges. Through university life and work we aim to make a positive difference to people’s wellbeing and to the economic prosperity of the Thames Valley region.

Open to the public Our main Whiteknights campus is a short walk or ride from the centre of Reading. Set in 130 hectares of parkland it is one of the most attractive campuses in the UK. You are welcome to enjoy this peaceful green space, with its woodland walks, rare trees, licensed fishing lake, wildlife and conservation area.

Many campus facilities and events are open to the public, including:

• The SportsPark, which runs programmes for adults and children and where you can play most popular indoor and outdoor sports. Amenities include a Bodyworx fitness studio, weights room, multi-purpose hard and grass courts and playing fields. Watersports are available nearby on the River Thames • Three museums housing specialist collections relating to zoology (The Cole Museum), Greek archaeology (Ure Museum) and rural life (Museum of English Rural Life) • Our Bob Kayley Studio Theatre at Bulmershe: a multimedia performance space that hosts plays, concerts and recitals.

You can also hire a number of University buildings for private events.

Local enterprise partnerships Our work with both young and established businesses focuses on translating academic knowledge into real competitive advantage. We offer a variety of services, such as consultancy and collaborative research and access to our specialist facilities and expertise. We also play a leading role in many regional initiatives that support entrepreneurship. Our involvement with the Thames Valley Life Sciences Network promoting innovation in Life Science is a prime example.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C8 Campus flora and fauna All 316 Values: established, caring

Flora and fauna At Reading we are fortunate to enjoy one of the most beautiful university settings in the UK. The main campus was once part of the Marquis of Blandford’s Whiteknights Park estate and some of his planting legacy remains.

Three-quarters of the 130 hectare Whiteknights parkland campus consists of meadow, woodland, lawns, playing fields and a lake. The main woodland area, known as The Wilderness, is a designated Wildlife Heritage Site and was originally an ornamental area of the Marquis’ nineteenth century garden. A stone folly remains in its midst and tree species include Turner’s oak, Lucombe oak, the Elaeagnus leafed pear, Pencil cedar and the Western yellow pine. Since acquiring the estate in 1947, the University has continued the tradition of planting both native and exotic trees. Within the central campus area are some of the country’s best specimens of Cretan Maple and fine examples of Swamp Cypress, Tupelo Tree and the Kentucky Coffee Tree. We have two champion trees, assessed as the largest specimens in both height and girth in the UK: an ornamental pear and a Shag Bark Hickory.

Whiteknights lake and The Wilderness form a designated conservation area and land here is managed to ensure the greatest protection of all wildlife species. The lake extends over 4.5 hectares and is home to many waterfowl, fish, insects and birds. Egyptian, greylag and Canada geese; mallard, mandarin, shoveler, pochard and tufted ducks; the great crested grebe, grey heron, swans and many varieties of dragonfly and damselfly enjoy the waters. The lake is bordered by meadowland, rich in species of wild flowers, butterflies and birds. Among our bird population, whose nesting and feeding is a major consideration of our estate management programme, are sandpipers, sedge warblers, cuckoos, meadow pipits, swifts, finches, redpolls, woodpeckers and siskins. Butterfly species include the green hairstreak, holly blue, small heath, clouded yellow, painted lady and the large skipper.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C9 A social life All 289 Values: creative, caring

University social life An active social life is as much a part of university life as studying. Whether you play sport, enjoy a hobby, or want to get involved in the campus community, the University of Reading has plenty to offer. You will be spoilt for choice if your idea of fun is eating out, shopping, nightclubs, or film and theatre going. Events take place virtually every night on campus and the town is a short walk or ride away. There is something for everyone and you won't have to go far to find it.

On campus Our popular and award-winning Students' Union organises a generous calendar of events including live bands, DJs and comedy nights. As well as bars, eating places, a games area and shops, it boasts a state-of-the-art nightclub, '3Sixty'. This is ranked as one of the top UK university entertainment venues. There are also over 100 clubs and societies catering for diverse interests, plus a student-run newspaper and radio station.

Off campus Reading itself offers some of the best retail and entertainment experiences in the Thames Valley. The Oracle Centre features over 80 shops, 28 bars and restaurants and a 10-screen multiplex. Its lively waterside setting is ideal for relaxing, but there are many more meeting places close by. Other local amenities include the Concert Hall, outdoor theatre and the Madejski Stadium, home to premiership football and the London Irish rugby team.

Music festivals Host to the annual rock festival, Reading also has a vibrant live music scene. This takes in everything from classical to jazz and dance music. New venues attract thousands of weekend visitors, so the town is buzzing. With so much going on, you are guaranteed a great time.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C10 Arts on campus All 289 Values: excellent, creative

The Arts scene at the University of Reading is extensive and our Arts Diary (published 3 times a year) provides information on all forthcoming lectures, exhibitions, concerts, plays, films and other arts events open to the public.

Lectures The University organises two lecture series each year. One is the free Public Lecture Series delivered in the Palmer Lecture Theatre on a range of interesting topics and open to everyone. The other is a themed series of ticketed evening lectures which take place at Reading Town Hall. A recent topic, ‘Life, earth and happiness: an evolutionary tale’, included lectures on the planet Earth, human genetics and evolution. The School of Continuing Education also offers an extensive range of Open Studies programmes open to all – including many on art, artists and architecture. Entry qualifications are not required. Take a look at our website www.reading.ac.uk/ContEd.

Film If you like the big screen, but not the big prices, you can enjoy a range of new releases and favourite films at the Reading Film Theatre. Evening viewings take place in the Palmer Building and there are ticket price concessions for members, pensioners, the unemployed and groups. For the latest programme see www.readingfilmtheatre.co.uk.

Music If you want to make music, you will have every opportunity through Music@Reading. Students, staff and community members can join the Reading University Music Society, a student-run organisation which manages musical ensembles from chamber to jazz and organises many musical events. These include the weekly, free lunch-time concerts during term-time. See www.reading.ac.uk/rums. At the splendid Great Hall on the London Road campus, the University also plays host to performances by national choirs and orchestras. These are advertised in the Arts Diary.

Drama The Reading University Dramatic Society gives theatrically-minded students the chance to perform and be involved in all aspects of theatre. The ever-popular open-air summer Shakespeare performance is just one amid a calendar of enjoyable productions. For details see www.RUDS.org

Museums You can enjoy regular events and exhibitions held at our museums. The Cole Museum of Zoology illustrates the diversity of the animal kingdom; the Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology provides an insight into ancient Greece; whilst the Museum of English Rural Life charts the history of food, farming and the countryside (both at the London Road site and online). Many events are designed for children. See www.reading.ac.uk/museums

Item Title Audience Wordcount C11 Sport for all All 289 Values: excellent, creative, caring

Sport is an ideal way to keep fit, have fun and make new friends. The University of Reading is a great place for sports enthusiasts, with some of the best-equipped facilities of any UK university and almost 50 clubs.

Our real passion for winning continues to bring us success in traditional sports such as cricket, football, hockey, rowing and rugby. However, our exciting and packed programme covers just about every imaginable competitive and recreational activity – from aikido to archery, clay pigeon shooting to caving, skydiving to snowboarding.

Whether you are a complete beginner or a serious player you can participate in your favourite sport. The indoor and outdoor amenities at our SportsPark include:

• an 89-station fitness studio • a full-size, floodlit all-weather hockey and football pitch • an aerobics, dance and martial arts studio • multi-purpose courts for badminton, basketball and volleyball • rugby and cricket pitches • squash courts and hard and grass tennis courts.

All of our pitches are maintained to county level standard. The indoor centre offers a wide choice of exercise classes and circuit training and fitness programmes. As you might expect from a University situated close to the River Thames, watersports are a strong focus. Off campus we have boathouses at Caversham Bridge and a sailing and canoeing club at Wokingham Waterside Centre.

We also support and encourage outstanding athletes to realise their full potential. Our Sports Scholarship Programme and Sports Academy offer free access to facilities and workshops and can provide financial assistance for training and competitions.

The Students’ Union Sports Federation runs a year-round programme of activities catering for all interests and abilities. University teams also compete in local leagues as well as inter- university British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) events.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C12 Campus architecture All 320 Values: excellent, established, caring

Few UK universities can rival the unique atmosphere of our Whiteknights campus, with its woodland walks, conservation meadows and large lake. Its distinctive appeal stems from both the natural beauty of the landscape and the University’s architectural diversity.

Fine examples of original Victorian and Gothic-style buildings sit comfortably alongside contemporary counterparts in our 130 hectare parkland setting. This interesting mix of traditional and modern designs – with features, scale and materials all characteristic of their era – reflects the University’s long history.

The Goldsmid family, who acquired Whiteknights in the mid-1800s, had six houses built on the estate during the 1860s and 1870s, four of which remain today. One of the most magnificent is Foxhill House, built in 1868 by architect Alfred Waterhouse, designer of London’s Natural History Museum. As with several other historically important University buildings, we have sympathetically extended and restored this Grade II listed house. Original architectural details such as the red brick façade with diaper patterning, stained glass windows with gothic imagery and the plain and fish scale tile roof have all been faithfully replicated.

In the 1960s the University pledged ‘that in planning the buildings and layout of this area the great natural beauty of the park must be preserved and even enhanced and that the buildings to rise on it shall be appropriate to their background in design, construction and material’. Despite the almost continuous building development during the latter half of the twentieth century, this vision is still very much in evidence today. As you walk around the campus you will see many buildings distinctly reminiscent of their time integrating well with the wider landscape. The Palmer Building with its sleek lines and pillar supports is a classic example of 1960s architecture. A more recent addition is the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) centre whose minimalist design and glass entrance complements its contemporary interior. An ongoing building investment programme will further change the campus landscape.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C13 University Museums All 378 Values: excellent, established, focused

Museums play an important role in cultural life helping us to understand the world around us. The University of Reading is home to three major museums, as well as a significant number of important collections. Each of the three specialist museums is a storehouse of knowledge. Displaying fascinating collections and treasures, they provide valuable research resources for students, staff and the general public. Open to the public and offering free admission, each museum holds regular events for the community, and develop enterprising educational projects aimed specifically at school children. Here we give you a taste of what is on offer, but it is no substitute for a visit in person.

The Cole Museum of Zoology The skull of a Tasmanian wolf and a fossil of an ichthyosaurus marine reptile are just two of the 4000 specimens that will enthral you at the University’s oldest museum. The museum illustrates the relationship between form and function in the animal kingdom and houses one of Britain’s most important zoological collections. Spectacular highlights include complete skeletons of a male Indian elephant, a killer whale, a five metre reticulated python and a pair of giant spider crabs. See www.ams.rdg.ac.uk/zoology/colemuseum

The Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology How did Odysseus escape the Cyclops cave? How did Greek warriors prepare for battle? Visit the University’s Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology and you will find the answers to these and many more questions about Greek and Roman civilisations. The museum houses Britain’s fourth largest collection of Greek ceramics. Fabulous displays of pottery, extraordinary metal and stone artefacts and antiquities provide a unique insight into ancient history. See www.rdg.ac.uk/Ure

The Museum of English Rural Life The Museum of English Rural Life is dedicated to the spirit of the English countryside and its people. The largest of our museums and a national centre for research and information, it explores life and work in the countryside over the last two hundred years. A collection of more than 22,000 objects, together with a vast archive of over a million photographs, films, books and records, reflects on the changing face of farming and rural society. Welcoming over 9000 visitors each year, the museum also runs special courses with particular emphasis on tools and machinery, practical farming methods and rural industries. See www.ruralhistory.org

Item Title Audience Wordcount C14 The University and the environment All 342 Values: creative, caring, focused

Environmental research We take the environment very seriously at the University of Reading. As a leader in the environmental sciences, the University has academic staff involved in ground-breaking, award-winning environmental research. There is space here only to include the highlights.

The University’s School of Human and Environmental Sciences, in collaboration with the Department of Meteorology, is undertaking a major project linking climate, water and civilization in the Middle East and North Africa, with a £1,240,000 grant from the Leverhulme Trust.

2006 heralded the launch of the pioneering Walker Institute which will address important issues such as: how pollutants, e.g. emissions from aircraft, affect climate; the potential to forecast natural climate variations, such as El Niño and monsoons, over seasons and decades; how climate change might affect high impact weather events, like storms; and how crops may be adversely affected by increasing drought and heat stress.

We have a dedicated Centre for Agri-Environmental Research which integrates our twin strengths in Agriculture and the environment by undertaking research that aims to reconcile the often-conflicting demands of agricultural production and environmental protection.

Our School of Systems Engineering has developed technology which resulted in the creation of Whitfield Solar Ltd. Established with a landmark investment from the Cascade fund, the company develops and manufactures solar concentrators, a new approach to photovoltaic (solar power) systems which offers significant cost savings over standard solar power generation.

Awards In March 2006 the University was proud to receive a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for the outstanding work of our Meteorology Department. The department is internationally renowned for its training and research in weather, climate and physical oceanography.

Sustainability at work on campus At the University of Reading we are also eager to follow the principles of environmental sustainability. We purchase 98% of our non-domestic electricity from assured green and renewable energy sources. We recycle paper, card and around 30% of other waste, well above the national target of 25%. And we have won an award for our methods of processing of green waste, 99% of which is recycled through composting.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C15 Halls of Residence All 276 Values: caring

Halls of residence play a major role in campus life at the University of Reading. Especially welcomed by our first-year students, they offer a safe and comfortable ‘home from home’, an excellent support network and the chance to make new friends. Living in halls also means all the essentials are close at hand and when the day’s study is finished there is a great social life right on the doorstep.

We offer one of the highest proportions of residential student accommodation among UK universities, with nearly 5000 rooms available. Our 11 halls of residence and Student Village are situated either on the campus or just a short walk or ride away. All halls are in easy distance of each other and the centre of Reading with its vibrant cosmopolitan city culture.

No two halls are alike – each has its own distinct character and community. They all offer a friendly atmosphere, excellent facilities and a packed programme of social activities. Students can choose from modern rooms in recent developments right through to traditional collegiate-style halls. There is an option to suit all budgets and needs, including rooms adapted for those with disabilities.

Accommodation is well designed and furnished to provide our students with a comfortable living environment that is conducive to study and relaxation. Catered halls offer a range of meals to suit all tastes including lots of vegetarian choices. Students share large, well- equipped kitchens in our self-catering options. All halls have good laundry facilities and rooms benefit from a data connection point for Broadband access to the internet and the University network. All this ensures our students get the best possible start to university life.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C16 Teaching at Reading All 323 Values: caring, excellent, established, creative, focused, ambitious

Why study at Reading? The University of Reading is consistently one of the most popular higher education choices in the UK. We receive, on average, eight applications for every undergraduate place. People choose to study with us for many reasons:

• the exceptional quality of our delivery • innovative teaching fed by the latest research • the rich diversity of provision and the flexibility to combine courses or transfer from one programme to another • our highly supportive, state-of-the art learning environment • an inclusive, international culture.

Our programmes Our unusually broad portfolio of full- and part-time degree programmes covers the arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences. We offer courses and research in the specialist areas of agriculture, construction management, horticulture, cybernetics, meteorology, real estate and typography, where there are few other national providers. We regularly update our programmes as new ideas emerge and industry needs change.

Our staff Many academic staff are leading authorities in their fields, engaged in international research. Their calibre and commitment are major factors in our continually high performance in national assessments and league tables. We are involved with four national Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. Two are exclusive to the University (applied undergraduate research skills and career management skills); two are in partnerships with other UK universities.

We encourage teaching staff to take advantage of professional development opportunities at the University. We have established a dedicated Centre for the Development of Teaching and Learning to keep our delivery at the cutting edge. It also helps staff practise new techniques and technologies. Throughout the year we recognise particular excellence, leadership and innovation with staff awards.

Our resources First-class resources support world-class teaching. Helping students to succeed are:

• the University library containing over a million volumes • advanced computing and communications facilities • electronic media and communication tools at our Student Access to Independent Learning suite • online study resources via ‘Blackboard’, our virtual learning environment.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C17 Undergraduate teaching Prospective students /Schools & 349 Colleges/Parents Values: caring, excellent, established, creative, focused, ambitious

Studying at Reading Choose the University of Reading for your degree course and you will be studying at one of the UK’s top 10 research-intensive universities. You will enjoy a challenging, world-class education that provides an excellent springboard for your future career. Significantly, many of our students win prestigious external awards for their achievements.

Our successful approach offers:

• a wide variety of student-centred teaching methods, from traditional lectures to multimedia online tutorials • a highly supportive learning environment • an inclusive, international culture.

You can choose from a broad portfolio of full- and part-time programmes that is continually updated and expanded. You have great flexibility to combine courses or change the direction of your studies. We are strong in arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences. The University specialises in areas such as agriculture, business and finance, construction management, cybernetics, horticulture, meteorology, real estate and typography, where there are few other national providers.

Our consistently high position in national league tables reflects the expertise of our academic staff – many are international authorities in their fields. The University’s commitment to their professional development and our rigorous quality assurance keep our delivery at the cutting edge. We are one of only 16 UK universities hosting more than one government funded Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. We are the lead host in two centres – one in applied undergraduate research skills, the other in career management skills.

Undergraduate support The University also provides you with a vast network of pastoral and academic support, including:

• thriving research student communities in Science and Life Sciences • financial support via bursaries and scholarships • guidance from personal tutors and course and study advisers • easy access to advanced IT facilities and our library containing over a million volumes • use of electronic media and communication tools at our Student Access to Independent Learning suite • online access to study resources via ‘Blackboard’, our virtual learning environment • the career skills module, included in every undergraduate degree, to help you prepare for life after graduation • a fully integrated student administration and management system.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C18 Postgraduate teaching Prospective students 291 Values: caring, excellent, established, creative, focused, ambitious

Postgraduate study Choose the University of Reading for your postgraduate studies and you are promised a dynamic and stimulating learning environment, at the forefront of world research.

Our postgraduates are a vital part of University life, representing almost 30 per cent of our total student population. In joining them you will benefit from:

• inspiring teaching and innovative research • access to world-class researchers • a wide variety of student-centred teaching methods, from traditional lectures to multimedia online tutorials • a highly supportive learning environment • an inclusive, international culture.

Postgraduate programmes You can choose from a wide range of full- and part-time programmes, from short professional development courses, through to postgraduate certificates and PhD programmes. We are continually broadening the scope of opportunities, often through partnerships with other educational organisations and enterprise. The University enjoys a strong track record in the arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences. We specialise in a number of areas where there are few other national providers. These include agriculture, business and finance, construction management, cybernetics, horticulture, meteorology, real estate and typography.

Our staff The majority of our academic staff teach in departments rated 5 or above in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise. This expertise combined with the University’s commitment to progressive education and our rigorous quality assurance, keeps our delivery at the cutting edge. The University is home to a number of international centres of research excellence.

Postgraduate support We support world-class teaching with high quality resources, including:

• advanced IT facilities and the University’s library containing over 1 million volumes • fully equipped state-of-the-art laboratories • use of electronic media and communication tools at our Student Access to Independent Learning suite • online access to study resources through ‘Blackboard’, our virtual learning environment.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C19 Research students Prospective research students 282 Values: caring, excellent, established, creative, focused, ambitious

Research students As a University of Reading research student you will be studying at one of the UK’s 10 most research-intensive universities. Throughout your time with us you will work with international authorities in their fields and be at the frontiers of knowledge. You will be part of an active research community that thrives on challenging ideas and pioneering solutions to complex problems.

We value knowledge creation for the potential benefits it promises society. As a result of our real-world focus we enjoy great success in bidding for research funding. Of our current £45 million annual research funding, around £25 million comes from external grants and contracts.

We are home to several centres of excellence and conduct world-class research across a broad range of disciplines. Some of our recent projects cover genetically modified crop production, gerontology, breast cancer, jury behaviour and climate change. Many programmes have an international focus, involving collaboration with our overseas educational partners and alumni.

The quality and diversity of our research is recognised nationally and internationally, with a number of our researchers receiving awards for their work. In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise our Archaeology, English, Italian, Meteorology and Psychology Schools achieved a 5** rating – indicating the highest international quality sustained over more than a decade. We were also awarded a 5 rating in 15 other subjects. Government, industry and commerce, the EU, UK charities and research councils are among those that benefit from our expertise.

In carrying out research you will have support from world-class researchers and access to excellent facilities. These include the University’s library with over a million volumes, our 24-hour computer laboratory, online virtual learning and a wide choice of professional development courses.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C20 Teaching facilities All prospective students/ parents/ 298 teachers Values: excellent, creative, focused

Our ongoing investment in high-quality teaching and learning facilities ensures our academic staff and students can achieve their full potential. We provide extensive resources from libraries and computing to language labs and wireless networking. These help to create an intellectually stimulating and richly resourced environment where people thrive.

Our central Student Services building, due to open in 2007 in the heart of the main Whiteknights site, is one of several exciting new developments. It will bring together administration, career, learning, teaching and welfare services under a single roof, ensuring our students have easy access to the support they need.

The University library is a storehouse of information with over one million volumes, 3750 periodical subscriptions, plus archives, manuscripts and multimedia materials. We provide skills training to help students, researchers and teaching staff make the most of library facilities.

Information technology is an integral and vital part of teaching and learning right across the University. Our first-class facilities include: • 24 computer rooms – some open 24 hours – located throughout our three campuses and offering access to the University network, the Internet and the World Wide Web • our Student Access to Independent Learning suite provides flexible access to electronic media and communication tools • ‘Blackboard’, the University’s virtual learning environment is used by many departments to enhance online learning and teaching.

Specialist facilities also strengthen teaching, learning and research in a number of areas, e.g.: • archaeology students can gain practical excavation experience at the important Roman site at Silchester • students of film, theatre and television can develop and practise at the newly refurbished Bob Kayley Studio Theatre at our Bulmershe Court campus • our archives, rare books and special collections • our museums: The Cole Museum of Zoology, The Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology and The Museum of English Rural Life.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C21 Pastoral care All prospective students/ parents/ 399 teachers Values: caring

Meeting the needs of our students We work hard at looking after our students and staff throughout their time with us and enjoy a reputation as a friendly, caring community. At the University you will find understanding people, places for quiet reflection and services that make a real difference.

Wellbeing Our students’ wellbeing is vitally important to us. We want our graduates to leave us equipped with all the skills, knowledge and experience they need to lead fulfilling careers and personal lives. Creating a stimulating and supportive environment helps them to thrive in every way – from their intellectual and sporting achievements, to their spiritual development and social and cultural interests.

Accommodation Undergraduates who apply to Reading as their first choice, accept an offer of a place and return accommodation forms by 1st August are guaranteed a study bedroom in Hall. Postgraduates fulfilling offer conditions by 1 August are offered accommodation if they apply for it by the same date. Knowing you have somewhere to live brings great peace of mind, especially if the start of your university career seems daunting.

Supportive networks Everyone on campus has easy access to a network of pastoral and academic support. We offer additional services for those from overseas, or with disabilities or special needs. So whatever the problem – managing money, missing family members, or a touch of pre-exam nerves – you are never far away from someone who is ready to listen and able to help, especially as campus buildings and student residences are in close proximity.

• the accommodation office helps students find a suitable place to live • Freshers’ Week ensures students find their feet before studies begin • a team of tutors helps each undergraduate with settling in, academic progress and any personal issues • course, study and careers advisers provide access to study guides, skills workshops and dyslexia assessments • welfare officers help with applications to hardship funds • Students’ Union advisers offer information and guidance in many areas – from accommodation to insurance, part-time work to tuition fees • our professionally staffed health centre provides comprehensive NHS care including immunisation, physiotherapy and dentistry • resident professional counsellors are available to help resolve any personal, emotional or psychological problems • our Chaplaincy – open to everyone regardless of belief or faith – offers a peaceful place to relax, pray, think things through or discuss any concerns with one of our team of chaplains.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C22 International students’ welfare All prospective international 352 students/ parents/ teachers Values: caring

International community The University of Reading is a very international community. The quality of our teaching and research, our world-class facilities and proximity to Heathrow Airport and London attract many overseas students and staff each year. International students from all over the world currently account for around 10 per cent of our total student population and bring a valuable dimension and vital energy to campus life.

International student support We make every effort to ensure all students living away from their home country receive a warm welcome. The network of support that helps them to settle into University life and get the most out of their experience with us includes:

• an International Students’ Welcome Week – a popular orientation programme including social events and a tour of the campus • assistance from our International Student Advisers and International and Study Abroad Office with accommodation, healthcare, language skills, visa renewals and much more • access to over 100 international student societies • a multi-faith Chaplaincy centre, serving the rich and diverse religious life on campus, as well as prayer rooms and links to local religious centres

International Foundation Programme We offer overseas students without British A level qualifications, or equivalent, an intensive one-year access course. This provides an excellent platform for an undergraduate degree course either with us or with another UK university.

English Language Support We will help overseas students to improve their use of English for academic purposes through our pre- and in-sessional English language support programmes.

Exchange opportunities Our long-standing connections with universities and research institutions around the world bring exciting exchange opportunities. Many of our departments participate in the Socrates- Erasmus scheme. This allows students to spend some of their degree programme at another European university. Non-European students can study with us for up to one academic year through the Study Abroad Programme, with credits and grades transferred to their home university.

Overseas alumni groups Our international graduates form an impressive worldwide network of professionals in all sectors of industry and business. Many maintain their links with us through their active involvement in University alumni groups in their native countries.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C23 Visiting the University All prospective students/ parents/ 309 teachers Values: excellent, creative

To appreciate the University of Reading’s unique atmosphere and world-class facilities you need to come and look round. You can take advantage of one of many organised tours or events, or pay us an informal visit. Our open campus policy means you are welcome at any time.

Open days We hold Open Days every June and September for undergraduate students, their friends and families. You can look round the campus and talk to students and staff. There is no need to book and it is a great opportunity to ask questions and pick up a wide range of information.

Departmental visit days We invite all prospective students holding offers from us to spend time in their chosen department. The day offers scope to meet lecturers and current students, talk about course programmes and take a close look at campus and departmental facilities.

Campus tours Every term-time Wednesday afternoon we provide an organised tour, giving a general insight into the University. You will look round our beautiful 130 hectare Whiteknights site, attend an introductory talk about the University, hear a student’s account of life on campus and find out what there is to do in and around Reading.

Self-guided walking tours You can explore the campus on your own using our self-guided tour leaflet and map, available from Whiteknights House or online at www.rdg.ac.uk/Student_Recruitment/opendays/selftour.htm. No appointment is necessary.

Visits by people with special needs If you have additional support requirements, or would prefer an individual and accompanied visit, please contact our Disability Office. We will do all we can to ensure that your visit is successful.

Events programme Throughout the year we also run a full and varied programme of public lectures, exhibitions, sports and cultural events, many of which are free. Open to everyone, they attract students, staff and the local community, as well as commercial and educational organisations.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C24 Adult education All 305 Values: excellent, creative, ambitious

Adult Education Our School of Continuing Education combines two of the University’s missions – providing learning opportunities for all and a commitment to the local community.

Adult education programmes In delivering over 300 part-time adult education courses we make university-level teaching and facilities accessible to the general public. The School welcomes people of all ages, abilities and academic backgrounds and offers the flexibility to fit in learning around work and family life. Perhaps you are looking to learn new skills, improve your career prospects or simply study for personal enjoyment. As well as gaining new knowledge, you also get the chance to meet new people with similar interests.

Our Open Studies programme offers a wide choice of one-day events and weekly courses, lasting between two and 20 weeks. Most are held at our London Road campus in the centre of Reading. Course topics range from creative writing to criminology, beginners’ Spanish to Beethoven, with many other fascinating subjects.

Certificate in Higher Education We also offer a number of two-year courses leading to a formal Certificate in Higher Education qualification. Courses are available both at the University and at Newbury College, and involve a mix of lectures and class discussions. You can study a particular subject in depth, such as archaeology, English literature, history, history of art and architecture, or you can combine the subjects that interest you most.

Accredited courses Many of the School’s courses are accredited, providing a recognised pathway to further academic study at a higher level. The thousands of students who are awarded credits each year gain considerable satisfaction from their achievements.

Our long-term aim is to provide as broad a range of learning opportunities as possible to everyone in the region. Developing close partnerships with specialist educational organisations and colleges, such as Newbury College, is an important part of achieving our goal.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C25 Widening participation All 326 Values: excellent, focused, caring, ambitious

We believe that everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education should have the chance to do so. Easier access to learning results in a more varied university community, which ultimately brings cultural, social and economic advantage to everyone.

We play a leading role in many local, regional and national initiatives that are designed to put higher education within reach of a wider audience. This challenge involves us in:

• making more people aware of the study opportunities open to them • encouraging the academic aspirations of individuals from all social, educational and ethnic backgrounds • overcoming negative pre-conceptions and potential barriers to participation • providing more flexible pathways to progress studies and more innovative ways to study, such as distance and online learning • ensuring transparent and fair admission to the University and consistent and reliable assessment of studies.

To attract the broadest cross-section of talented and motivated students to the University, our dedicated Widening Participation Office co-ordinates an extensive outreach programme. Activities include:

• leadership of the Berkshire Aim Higher programme: this partnership of education providers promotes access to higher education; • summer schools that give young people – particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds – the opportunity to experience student life • mentoring schemes to help potential university students understand the value of higher education • organised visits, events and talks both at the University campus and at local schools and colleges • special projects promoting science education, such as National Science Week and The Annual Schools Science Lectures.

The University offers extensive support to give everyone the best possible chance of accessing and succeeding in higher education. Bursaries and scholarships may be available and there is the Access to Learning Fund for those experiencing financial or other hardship. Our Job Shop helps students to find work to finance their studies. We also do everything we can to ensure those with disabilities or special needs can benefit fully from all aspects of University life.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C26 Careers All 272 Values: excellent, focused, caring, ambitious

A degree from the University of Reading has currency in the job market. Employers in business and industry recognise and respect our reputation for teaching and research excellence. They also value the many transferable skills and personal qualities our students gain from attending a university with such diverse cultural, social and sports interests.

We invest heavily in preparing our students for success in the increasingly challenging world of employment. Our Careers Advisory Service offers one-to-one guidance, information, resources and skills coaching. We provide the award-winning online programme, Career Management Skills as an integral and taught element of all our undergraduate degree courses. This package helps students to focus on a suitable career, find the right sort of job opportunities, complete applications and perform effectively at interviews. It also provides them with over 1500 employment-related web links.

Students also benefit from a whole range of University career support services and our close links with local business and industry. • hundreds of international and national organisations, as well as local employers such as John Lewis, Microsoft, Prudential and Thames Water, actively target the University with vacancies, work experience and placement opportunities • the University’s Real World Projects and Enterprise Experience schemes give our students the chance to gain knowledge of the world of work and develop the skills that graduate recruiters look for • twice a year, in June and October we run the region’s largest graduate recruitment fairs, attracting many of the top graduate employers.

All this is designed to open doors, launch our students’ careers and ensure they are well equipped to make the most of their potential and the job opportunities ahead.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C27 School and colleges relationships All 289 Values: established, focused, caring

During our long history the University has established many close links with schools and colleges in the Thames Valley area. These alliances help us to promote widening participation, assist with student recruitment and provide valuable work experience and job opportunities for hundreds of University-trained teachers.

Teacher training through schools partnerships Each year around 600 newly qualified teachers graduate or gain qualified teacher status with the University’s Institute of Education. More than 50 per cent go on to teach in the region. Our partnerships with over 300 primary and 70 secondary schools in the local area are an indispensable element of our postgraduate teacher training programmes. Students benefit by being able to access schools and practical classroom experience needed as part of their training.

Associate College Network The University also partners with a group of local further education colleges that collaborate to develop learning opportunities for people in Berkshire and North Hampshire. Our role with the Associate College Network involves exploring ways of offering a wider choice of courses to the general public. Together we are also creating more accessible and flexible progression paths from 14-plus education through to postgraduate study.

Schools’ Liaison and student ambassadors As part of our ongoing recruitment and widening participation programmes, we regularly visit schools and colleges in the south-east and south-west of the country. Through talks, workshops and other events we aim to raise young people’s awareness and understanding of further and higher education opportunities. We also hold campus open days and organise tours of the University so pupils, their families and teachers can experience first hand what the University has to offer. Events often involve student ambassadors who are able to provide real insight into what life is like as a university student.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C28 Research at Reading All 279 Values: excellent, ambitious, creative, focused

Our desire to create knowledge that will benefit society as a whole drives an active and diverse research agenda at the University of Reading. This real-world perspective and our international reputation for excellence attract talented people at the cutting edge of their disciplines to come and study or work with us. The University has won many awards for its research including the twice winning the Queen’s Anniversary Prize, first in 1998 for its work on early modern staging, conducted with the new Globe Theatre on Bankside and again in 2006 for exceptional contribution to Meteorology.

We are one of the UK’s 10 most research-intensive universities. The latest Research Assessment Exercise confirms our strengths, with 20 departments being awarded top ratings of 5 or above. Of these, Archaeology, English, Italian, Meteorology and Psychology each received a 5** rating in recognition of their high quality sustained over more than a decade.

We enjoy great success in bidding for research funding – over £25 million of our current £45 million annual research funding comes from external grants and contracts. As a result, we continue to invest in the development of state-of-the-art research facilities. Prime examples of this are the University’s new BioCentre and our Centre for Advanced Microscopy. These are widely regarded as among the best-equipped laboratories of their kind in Europe.

The University is home to a number of international centres of research excellence in areas such as agriculture, biological and physical sciences, European histories and cultures, and meteorology. Government, commerce, charities and research councils are among the many organisations that utilise and value our specialist expertise. The high quality of our work and the talent and leadership of our researchers are widely recognised with awards from business and industry, as well as the University.

Reading’s research strengths in a wide range of areas in centres of international excellence enables the University to develop a number of cross-discipline research themes which include:

• aquatic systems and management • biomedical and pharmaceutical • earth systems science • ecosystems science • food chain and health • health: maternal and child development • material text • nanoscience and materials • systems biology • computational science • poverty, exclusion and access

Item Title Audience Wordcount C29 Current research projects All 354 Values: excellent, ambitious, creative, focused

The scope of our research is broad, with many projects benefiting from the skills of multi- or cross-discipline teams and collaboration with international partners. Current funded projects from our ambitious programme include:

Arts & Humanities • Studying the effects of a text’s material attributes, its interpretation in different contexts and what that reveals (Typography & Graphic Design) • Researching the durable relationships of nineteenth century slaves (History) • ICT in Arts and Humanities Research - a major AHRC programme (directed from the School of Languages and European Studies) • Analysing Impartiality and Partiality in Ethics (Philosophy) • studying how the import of television fiction programmes from the USA into Britain in the 1970-2000 period affected British television drama (Film, Theatre and TV) • Completing the Elizabethan Patent Rolls (History) • Researching Oswald Mosley and the New Party (History) • Establishing the Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Weald and Downland Open Air Museum Ltd (History) • Designing Information for Life (Typography) • Undertaking various projects involving Samuel Beckett (English, Fine Art, etc) • AHRC funded project on Impartiality and Partiality in Ethics (Philosophy) • Greek Bible in the Graeco Roman World Project (Classics) • ‘Midwifery, obstetrics and the rise of gynaecology: the users of a sixteenth-century compendium’, (History) • ‘Beards, bloods and gender: constructing the 'bearded lady' in medicine and beyond’, (History) • Clergy of the Church of England Database (History) • Classical Studies Reception Network, in which Reading is a major participant (History)

Economic and Social Sciences • researching the UK commercial property leasing market (Business School) • studying trends in the European housing market (Business School) • reviewing the treatment of pregnant women and new mothers in the British workplace (Law) • understanding the benefits and disadvantages of a European-style community of property regime for married and cohabiting couples (Law) • analysing industrial development of the British regions in the early twentieth century (Business School) • studying the development of international retailing from 1850 to the present (Business School) • examining the evolution of the British Railway Network 1825-1914 (Business School) • investigating ethnic entrepreneurship as a principal route for immigrant social mobility (Business School)

Life Sciences • examining the potential for the development of sustainable UK food chains (Rural Economy and Land Use programme - RELU) (Agriculture, Biological Sciences, Food Biosciences and Psychology) • carrying our risk assessment studies on the release of genetically modified crops (Biological Sciences) • supporting sustainable cocoa production through improved understanding of seasonal variability in quality, yield and disease resistance (Biological Sciences) • preventing diseases such as heart disease, Type II diabetes, gastroenteritis and cancers by changes in lifestyle, food production and diet (Food BioSciences) • looking at how dietary fats and genes influence metabolism (Food BioSciences) • studying infant language development in the first 12 months (Psychology) • developing treatments for obsessive compulsive disorder (Psychology) • responding to the threat of bird flu (School of Biological Sciences) • studying the role of small and medium-sized towns in rural development (Centre for Agriculture Strategy) • developing less toxic treatments for skin cancers (Pharmacy)

Science • analysing rising carbon dioxide emissions and climate change (Meteorology) • linking neuro-surgical implants with computer technology to assist people with mobility problems (Cybernetics) • developing computer programmes to have ‘human’ reasoning (Cybernetics) • improving the navigational abilities of visually-impaired people (Cybernetics) • researching the musical nature of Neanderthal communication (Human & Environmental Sciences) • climate, hydrological and landscape modelling for the past, present and future (Human & Environmental Sciences and Meteorology) • designing a unique system in which sequence-information in a polymer chain can be 'read' through sequence-selective interactions with small molecules (Chemistry) • launching the Innovative Construction Research Centre dedicated to socio- technical systems research within the built environment (Construction Management and Engineering) • making a significant contribution to building the UK capacity for ageing-related research through SPARC (Strategic promotion of ageing research capacity) (Construction Management and Engineering) • developing supramolecular polymers with unusual thermomechanical properties (Chemistry with two US universities) • participating in a national programme in 'Grand Challenge' high resolution modelling of the global environment (Meteorology)

Item Title Audience Wordcount C30 Research centres All 525 Values: excellent, ambitious, creative, focused

There are more than 50 research centres at Reading, many of which are recognised as international centres of excellence. They bring together academics into inter- and cross- disciplinary groups and in some cases, include academics from other EU and international Universities. With our research underpinned by more than £45 million annual funding, many groups are driving forward innovative and ground breaking research which will reap enormous benefits for mankind. We strive to achieve leadership in each field of research and to attract the funding which will enable the exploitation of emerging research opportunities.

Below is a list of current research centres:

Arts & Humanities Early Modern Research Centre Centre for International Research into Childhood Graduate Centre for Medieval Studies Centre for Writing, Publishing and Printing History Centre for Modern Italian History Centre for Italian Women’s Studies Centre for East German Studies Centre for the Advanced Study of French History Centre for Hellenic Studies Research Centre for Late Antique and Byzantine Studies

Economic & Social Sciences Centre for Spatial & Real Estate Economics Centre for Real Estate Research Centre of Planning Studies Centre for Euro-Asian Studies Centre for International Business History John Lloyd Huck Centre for Management Research Centre for Institutional Performance Centre for International Business Strategy Centre for International Studies in Education, Management & Training (CISEMT) Centre for Languages, English & Media in Education Centre for Models in Science and Technology: Research in Education – CMISTRE National Centre for Language & Literacy International Centre for Research in Music Education School Improvement & Leadership Centre Centre for Euro-Mediterranean Studies Research Centre for Evacuee and War Child Studies Political Theory Centre Centre for Ombudsman & Governance Studies Centre for Strategic Studies Centre for the Study of Global Change and Governance Centre for International Security Studies and Non-Proliferation

Life Sciences Centre for Agri-Environmental Research Centre for Dairy Research & Nutritional Sciences (CEDAR) Centre for Agricultural Strategy Centre for Food Economics Research Centre for Horticulture and Landscape Crops Research Unit Medical and Pharmaceutical Statistics Research Unit Processing Research Centre National Centre for Biotechnology Education The BioCentre Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics Research Unit

Science Centre for Advanced Microscopy Centre for Biomimetics Walker Institute Centre for Global Atmospheric Modelling Joint Centre for Mesoscale Meteorology Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre Aquatic Environments Research Centre Environmental Systems Science Centre Data Assimilation Research Centre (DARC) Polymer Science Centre Centre for Surface Science and Catalysis Informatics Research Centre ACET Centre

Item Title Audience Wordcount C31 Enterprise at Reading All 306 Values: excellent, ambitious, creative, focused

As one of the UK’s top 10 research-intensive universities, we pursue an ambitious and innovative enterprise agenda. Our active involvement in wide-ranging initiatives means we enjoy close links with many businesses in the Thames Valley. We also play a leading role in several regional and national enterprise programmes.

The main focus of our entrepreneurial activity is start-up and small to medium-sized technology and knowledge-based companies. In particular, we work with businesses that have the potential to benefit most from the University’s strengths in management, environment, information and computer technology and life sciences. By tapping into our academic knowledge, professional expertise and world-class facilities, an increasing number of fledgling enterprises are turning their ideas into viable commercial propositions. Other businesses are enjoying more profitable growth as a result of their alliance with us.

We offer a number of services to help companies innovate, grow and compete successfully. These include: • consultancy services • investors and funding sources • innovation and enterprise labs • lectures, networking events and workshops • licensing of intellectual property • low-cost serviced office and laboratory space • employment of high-calibre graduates, for example through knowledge transfer partnerships (KTPs) – we host the largest and most successful KTP centre in the country • research and development facilities at our Science and Technology Centre • scientific equipment – our new biotechnology and microscopy laboratories, for example, are regarded as the best-equipped centres of their kind in Europe.

A central business development office acts as a gateway to our enterprise support network, coordinating and tailoring services to meet each company’s individual requirements.

Our sharp commercial perspective is bringing competitive advantage not only to local businesses but also to the University itself. Through our enterprise activities we generate valuable and ongoing income, encourage more public and private investment and attract high-quality students and staff from all over the world.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C32 The enterprise team All 286 Values: excellent, ambitious, creative, focused

At the University of Reading a dedicated team drives our ambitious enterprise agenda. Based at our main Whiteknights campus, the team provides an active interface between the local business community and the University’s enterprise network. This network brings together a pool of highly qualified academics and researchers, specialist business advisers, seasoned entrepreneurs and potential investors. All are focused on helping young technology and knowledge-based companies to progress.

Our business development professionals are skilled at connecting companies and entrepreneurs to the expertise, facilities and schemes capable of adding most value to new opportunities. We have wide-ranging experience, but are particularly strong in the areas of:

• construction management • environment • information and computer technology • life sciences.

More and more companies are directly accessing the University’s knowledge base by commissioning research and development. Over the last five years we have also enjoyed considerable success in collaborative research partnerships, delivering over 1200 projects. Other services in demand are consultancy, technology transfer and intellectual property licensing. Enterprise also taps into our expertise via government assisted Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs). Real step change often results from our graduates working within early-stage companies on strategic projects, with the benefit of University resources.

Our Business Development team works closely with the University’s Careers Advisory Service, assisting with graduate recruitment, placements and work experience. Our Real World Projects and Enterprise Experience schemes are prime examples of the innovative ways we connect dynamic, local companies with our most talented and motivated students.

The University’s entrepreneurial spirit has led to the commercialisation of our intellectual property through a number of spin-out companies. With enterprise deeply embedded in our culture, it is significant that the University also runs Europe’s largest accredited course in Entrepreneurship Education.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C33 Major enterprise activities All 401 Values: excellent, ambitious, creative, focused

With our progressive approach to enterprise, the University participates in many regional and national initiatives aimed at supporting commerce and industry. Sharing our expertise and resources in this way contributes to the knowledge economy and brings benefits to the local community, employers, our students and the University itself. Programmes where we enjoy particular success include:

• Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) – with over 50 active partnerships, we host the largest KTP centre in the country. A collaborative venture with GAP Activity Projects recently won the Voluntary Sector Project of the Year at VNU’s annual Computing Awards for Excellence.

• Spin-out companies – Together with our strategic partner ANGLE plc we encourage our academic staff to commercialise research output through the formation of spin-out companies where this is the most appropriate route. Recent successes include the creation of a company developing low-cost solar power systems. This venture benefited from investment by the Cascade Fund, a seed fund set up by the University in partnership with four other universities to invest in fledgling technologies.

ANGLE has signed a 20 year strategic partnership with the University of Reading and has the exclusive right of first refusal to invest in all University intellectual property (IP) that is commercialised. When exercised, it will invest under a set formula obtaining an equity stake of 60% in each spin-out company for an investment of up to £0.5 million. ANGLE expects to invest at least £3 million over the first five years.

• Shell Technology Enterprise Programme (STEP) – every year we place a large number of students on this national programme, designed to help small and medium-sized businesses develop specific projects. Some of our students go on to compete for STEP’s ‘Most Enterprising Student’ award.

• Real World Projects and The Enterprise Experience – these University-run schemes give our students the chance to put their talents into practice and gain valuable work experience with dynamic, local companies.

• Enterprise Week – as part of this annual national initiative we sponsor a series of lectures, workshops and events to inspire and help people wanting to start up, run or grow a new business.

• Enterprise events – our packed annual calendar includes ‘an audience with’ interviews, lectures and networking events. These provide unique opportunities to mix with and learn from high profile entrepreneurs and our most commercially experienced academics.

• Consultancy – we provide services for many companies, including Esso, Procter & Gamble and British Airways.

We are committed to broadening the scope of our enterprise activities and welcome the opportunity to talk to individuals and companies interested in working with us.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C34 Enterprise networks All 306 Values: excellent, ambitious, creative, focused

Community enterprise networks With its active enterprise agenda, the University of Reading makes a significant contribution to the Thames Valley economy. In addition to running many commercially-focused initiatives of our own, the University plays a leading role in several community networks supporting local business and industry. Here, the active involvement, objective perspective and experience of our staff make a real and positive difference. These enterprise networks include:

Reading Enterprise Hub (part of the south-east region Enterprise Hub Network) – we assist early-stage technology and knowledge-based companies to commercialise their innovations. The University’s enterprise support network, consultancy services and world-class research facilities maximise the chance of success.

Science & Technology Centre – we provide low-cost serviced office and laboratory space located alongside some of the University’s centres of excellence on our main Whiteknights campus. This well-resourced and intellectually stimulating environment helps tenant companies to turn their ideas into marketable, commercial products and services.

Thames Valley Life Sciences Network (TVLSN) – the University is a key TVLSN sponsor, offering regular support at events and business clinics. The specialist focus of our academic scientists and professional advisers provide TVLSN members with problem-solving capabilities and an excellent sounding board for their ideas and business propositions.

South East Proof of Concept (SEPOC) – In partnership with other universities in South East England, we deliver a single source of investment funding as well as training, mentoring, executives and market sector expertise to academics, students, entrepreneurs and SMEs working together to exploit the knowledge base of the region. This applies both at the very early stage of examining the commercial potential of projects and at the later seed investment stage.

The University participates in many other local and regional enterprise support organisations including: the South East England Development Agency, Thames Valley Economic Partnership, Berkshire and Wiltshire Business Link, Higher Education Business Advisory Group and Business South East.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C35 Enterprise partnerships All 298 Values: excellent, ambitious, creative, focused

Our close links with business and industry are evident right across the University. Collaborative research projects, the creation of spin-out companies and graduate placement schemes are just some of the many ways we interact with enterprise day-to-day. We also provide support for fledgling businesses at our incubation hub and serviced office and laboratory space on our Whiteknights campus.

Such wide-ranging involvement connects us with companies of all sizes, in many different markets, in the private, public and voluntary sectors. At one end of the spectrum we provide one-day workshops for budding entrepreneurs and ad-hoc consultancy for small businesses. At the other end, we conduct long-term international research and development programmes for blue-chip corporate organisations. Whatever the scale or scope of our involvement, our track record of working productively with business and industry promises a professional approach and valuable results.

In the main, however, we partner with local and regional enterprise. We currently focus much of our energy and expertise on early stage technology and knowledge-based companies, especially those involved in the areas of:

• environment • information and computer technology • life sciences.

Our extensive experience, contacts and facilities in these specialist fields mean we are highly geared to support this particular business community. Our objective input and cost-effective services can be of real benefit to small companies in the critical early years, helping them to deliver on planned growth.

An area where the University enjoys great success is knowledge transfer partnerships (KTPs). With over 50 active partnerships we host the UK’s largest KTP centre, engaging our academic staff and students with many different business profiles and challenges.

We are keen to develop the depth and breadth of our commercial relationships and welcome the opportunity to talk to prospective enterprise partners both in the Thames Valley and beyond.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C36 Our alumni All 209 Values: excellent, ambitious, caring, established

We are very proud of our alumni and are pleased that many of them go on to play a significant role in the life of the University in areas such as student mentorship, graduate recruitment, fundraising and governance. All alumni are able to stay in touch through the alumni network and many a happy reunion has been witnessed on campus. University of Reading alumni enter all walks of life and many rise to the top of their professions, as illustrated by this selection of a few recent graduates from over 150,000 during the last 80 years:

Art Cornelia Parker (artist - Turner prize nomination)

Broadcasting Pippa Greenwood (gardening broadcaster) Michael Rosen (broadcaster) Richard Sambrook (Director of BBC News)

Business & Institutions Linda Bennett, OBE (founder of LK Bennett, Veuve Cliquot Businesswoman of the Year, 2005) Professor Stephen Blackmore (Regius Keeper, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh) Peter Chambré (CEO Cambridge Antibody Technologies) Sir John Collins (Chairman, Dixons plc) Professor Sir Peter Crane, (Chicago University. Former Director of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) Nicky Kinnaird (founder, Space NK cosmetics)

Music Jamie Cullum (jazz musician) Andy Mackay (composer, Roxy Music)

Sport Jo Beadsworth (fencing - Commonwealth silver medallist, BUSA gold) James Cracknell (rower - Olympic Gold medallist) Gary Herbert (rower - Olympic Gold medallist) Georgina Singleton (judo - Commonwealth Gold medallist)

Item Title Audience Wordcount C37 Honorary graduates All 281 Values: excellent, ambitious, caring, established

Each year at our graduation ceremonies, the University of Reading awards honorary degrees for outstanding contributions to public life, innovation, industry, sport and the arts. Only two or three degrees are awarded annually and very careful consideration is given to potential recipients. Around 250 awards have been made since the 1930s, some of whom are:

Viscountess Nancy Astor, writer, 1937 Rt. Hon Neville Chamberlain, politician, 1938 Earl Attlee, Politician, 1948 Henry Moore, Sculptor, 1959 Sir John Betjeman, 1959 The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, 1960 Wystan Hugh Auden, writer, 1964 William John Godfrey Eneas, Bahamas Ambassador, 1968 Sir Adrian Boult, Conductor, 1976 Edison Chenfill-James, Prime Minister of Dominica (1973) John Piper, artist, 1976 Rt Hon Lord Jenkins of Hillhead, politician, 1979 Robert Morley, actor, 1980 Dame Peggy Ashcroft, actor, 1986 Dorothy Tutin, actor, 1986 Lord Carrington, Politician, University of Reading Chancellor, 1989 Belay Ejigu, Vice Minister of Agriculture for the Government of Ethiopia, 1989 Robert Hardy, actor, 1990 Dr Luka Wairo, Ambassador for the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya, 1992 Dr Yahya Mahfoodh Al Manthri, Omani Minister of Higher Education, 1996 Desmond Morris, zoologist, 1998 Sir Steve Redgrave CBE, sportsman, 2001 Sir William Benyon, Englefield Estates, High Sheriff of Berkshire, 2001 Billie Whitelaw, actor, 2001 Dame Rosalyn Higgins, Judge of the International Court of Justice, 2003 William Alexander, Chief Executive of Thames Water, 2003 Tim Smit, Chief Executive of the Eden Project, 2003 Sir Dominic Cadbury, Chairman of the Wellcome Trust, 2003 Adrienne Cahalan, Australian Yachtswoman of the year & first woman to have broken the record for the fastest time around the world in any type of boat. Sir John Collins, Chairman of the Dixon Group, 2004 Professor Gerhard Materlik, Chief Executive of the Diamond Synchrotron Radiation Source at the Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire, 2004 Sir Peter Michael, Chairman of Classic FM, 2004 Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive of the British Library, 2004 Linda Bennett, OBE, founder of LK Bennett, 2005 Dr David Burridge CBE, Director of the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts, 2005 Philip Wroughton, Lord Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire, 2005 Heston Blumenthal, Chef, “Kitchen Chemist”, 2006 Martin Green, Farmer and amateur field archaeologist, 2006 Professor James Knowlson, Emeritus Professor of French, creator of Beckett Archive and Beckett Intn’l Foundation, 2006 Dr Anthony Minghella, Film director and Patron of the Beckett International Foundation, 2006

Item Title Audience Wordcount C38 Alumni involvement in University life All 300 Values: excellent, creative, caring

On graduation all our students automatically become University alumni. An international alumni events calendar, together with a number of associations and societies, help former students to stay in touch with each other. The programme also updates them on our achievements and gives them the opportunity to be involved in the University’s future development.

Over 150,000 people from all over the world have studied with us since we became part of an Extension College of Christ Church, Oxford in 1892. Many of our graduates now play an active role in our alumni network. There are over 60 groups in countries as far apart as Canada and China, Nigeria and Norway. Having gained much from their time with us, former students often welcome the chance to give something back and show their support by:

• Acting as University ambassadors, by talking to prospective undergraduates about their own student experiences and possible career paths. International alumni can give students in their native countries, who are thinking of applying to us, a first hand account of life at the University and in the UK • Making one-off or regular donations to the University’s Annual Fund. We channel gifts as widely as possible, providing scholarships and bursaries to selected individuals and helping to fund projects such as:

• a clinic to help students with Asperger’s Syndrome • a sensory garden for the Students’ Union children’s nursery • multimedia equipment for our new Bob Kayley studio theatre.

• participating in fundraising activities and special events, such as reunions, open days, exhibitions and gala evenings, both in the UK and overseas • serving on University advisory boards

Alumni benefit in several ways from maintaining their special connection with the University. They can take advantage of continued access to many campus facilities, invitations to networking events and special discounts on some goods and services.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C39 How the University operates All 266 Values: established, focused

The University of Reading operates under the terms of the Royal Charter granted to us in 1926.

Three main bodies govern the University:

The Council is the University’s executive governing body, meeting at least four times during the academic year. It sets the University’s strategic direction, ensures compliance with our statutory requirements and approves constitutional changes. The Council is ultimately responsible for managing the University’s estate, finance and staff, with much of the detailed work falling to sub-committees. Here broad representation by lay members, drawn from commercial, community and professional organisations, provides a valuable perspective.

The Senate is the University’s main academic administrative body. Reporting to the Council and meeting at least four times a year, the Senate advises on areas such as student entry, assessment and awards. With around 100 members, the Senate is represented by Deans, Heads and elected representatives of Schools, as well as professional staff and students. University Boards responsible for developments in enterprise, research and teaching and learning report to the Senate.

The Senior Management Board is responsible for the day-to-day management of the University and meets fortnightly throughout most of the year. Reporting to the Senate, the Board consists of the Vice-Chancellor, The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellors, four Deans and five Heads of Directorate.

Council and Senate representatives are also members of the University’s Court. This forum brings together individuals and organisations from outside the University, whose links with us make a positive contribution to University life. The Court’s annual meeting provides an opportunity for the Vice-Chancellor to update members on new developments and plays an important role in fostering closer relationships with the wider world.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C40 The corporate plan All 327 Values: focused, ambitious, creative

The University of Reading Corporate Plan (2004 –2009) We are proud of our established, international reputation for excellence in teaching, research and enterprise. Our current five-year plan is building on this success and enhancing what is already a world-class university.

Our ambitions centre on making a meaningful contribution to people’s education, well- being and cultural lives – both in our local community and in society as a whole. At the same time, we are increasingly linking our activities with business and industry. Balancing the two means we will continue to attract not only high-calibre students and staff, but also investment and support from the public and private sectors.

To achieve our plan we are focusing primarily on our strengths. We are also channelling resources to the areas where there is greatest potential for excellence and where we have competitive advantage or a strategic interest. This involves many challenging and exciting initiatives right across the University.

Our framework for success in teaching and learning includes:

• developing courses to meet new academic and industry needs • establishing more centres of excellence • expanding our continuing education and widening participation programmes • seeking greater collaboration with our educational partners • providing higher quality student support.

In research we are concentrating on:

• attracting more postgraduate students and income from external grants and contracts • conducting research projects with real-world relevance and value via multi- or cross-discipline teams and international collaboration • providing well-resourced facilities.

Our enterprise goals include:

• developing stronger commercial and cultural alliances • fostering close links with more top graduate employers • increasing income from technology and knowledge transfer.

In all areas we are fully committed to rewarding outstanding staff performance, leadership and innovation. Our determination to be the best we can be is enabling us to compete confidently in the rapidly changing higher education market. Successful delivery of our plan means we will thrive both as one of the UK’s top universities and as an effective commercial organisation.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C41 The University as an employer All 290 Values: excellent, caring

With over 4000 academic and support staff, the University of Reading is one of Berkshire’s biggest employers. Around 50 per cent of our staff are academics, working in our four Faculties – Arts and Humanities, Economics and Social Sciences, Life Sciences and Science.

Our employees are our most important resource and have created our international reputation for excellence in teaching, research and enterprise. We invest heavily in creating a stimulating working environment that supports individual professional and personal development. We also promote a culture that cares for our employees’ wellbeing.

The University rewards exceptional performance, leadership and innovation with a number of staff awards throughout the year. Many academic staff members are world-leading authorities, working at the cutting edge of their fields. Independent external accreditation recognises their expertise, ranking 60 per cent of our academic staff as internationally excellent in research activities.

Benefits We provide plenty of opportunity for staff to refresh their skills and learn new techniques and technologies. Our Centre for Staff Training & Development offers over 200 free workshops each year, as well as accredited teaching and management programmes. All staff are able to enrol on as many programmes as they wish. Without leaving the campus, employees can also benefit from first-class sports and social facilities, many cultural events and counselling and healthcare services.

Equality and diversity Our superb parkland campus is home to a cosmopolitan community where employees of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to reach their full potential. By actively promoting best practice in equal opportunities and diversity the University enjoys a positive working environment free from discrimination.

Our approach has led to a long and successful track record in recruiting and retaining high- calibre staff for the benefit of our students, stakeholders and local community.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C42 The University’s coat of arms All 342 Values: established

The arms of the University of Reading were granted on 7 August 1896 when the newly incorporated University Extension College, Reading was still part of Oxford University. This was thirty years before it was granted a Royal charter and became a university in its own right. The simple and effective coat is one of only six armorial bearings adopted or granted by English universities before the turn of the 20th Century.

The three scallop shells on the upper part of the shield had been the arms of Reading Abbey founded in 1121 and their presence serves as a reminder that the first college was once part of the Abbey.

Since at least 1130, the scallop had been the special badge of the pilgrims to the shrine of St James the Greater at Santiago de Compostela in Spain. By the end of the 12th century it had also become the emblem of James the Apostle. Reading Abbey acquired as its principal relic, the hand of St James and a cult, complete with miracle stories, rapidly developed and eventually the scallop shells appeared on the Abbey’s coat of arms.

It is also possible that the scallop shells might allude to the arms of the local family, the Palmers. Walter Palmer, son of the co-founder of the Huntley and Palmers biscuit firm that came to Reading in the 1840s, was the first President of Reading University Extension College and the family has been and remain benefactors of the University today.

On the lower portion of the shield is the Lancaster Rose set on an engrailed cross (indented along the edge with small curves) and is derived from the arms of Christ Church Oxford, to whose initiative the Extension College owed its foundation. The arms of Christ Church were those of Cardinal Wolsey who in 1525 founded Cardinal College, later renamed as Christ Church by Henry VIII in 1546.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C43 The University’s Library All 342 Values: all

Providing access to a world of information and skills to make the most of it – the Library plays a crucial part in the life of the University.

Skills, help and training Students and staff are offered a very wide variety of support and training in how to make the most effective use of the Library’s services and materials. There are presentations and workshops, tours of subject floors and instruction in areas such as searching electronic databases and web resources. Printed and online guides are always available. Students and staff can get advice from the Library’s liaison librarians who have specialist knowledge relating to each University school. There are Information Desks at each Library site, including desks on each of the Main Library’s subject floors.

The Library website at www.reading.ac.uk/library offers comprehensive support including subject guides, guides to using the Library catalogue and other electronic databases, and links to electronic resources.

Resources The University Library comprises over 1.2 million books, subscriptions to over 3,300 current periodicals (some covering several titles), pamphlets, microforms, audiovisual materials, and special collections of archives, manuscripts and rare books. The Library also provides access to electronic sources of information such as remote datasets, CD-ROMs and some 7,900 electronic periodicals.

Physical resources are held in: • Main Library Whiteknights which supports Whiteknights campus subjects, • Bulmershe Library which supports Bulmershe Court subjects (education, health and social care) with additional collections in film and drama, art, literature and music • the Special Collections Service, Redlands Road, giving access to rare books and archives. More information can be found on the Library website: www.reading.ac.uk/library

The Library’s online catalogue (Unicorn) is quick and easy to search, and also allows users various self-service options.

Other facilities The Library hosts PCs at Bulmershe Library and the S@iL (Student Access to Independent Learning) Facilities at the Main Library. Also in S@iL are PC classrooms, presentation practice equipment, assistive technology, a group study area and a Study Advice and Maths Support Centre. A Help Counter is operated by Information Technology Services (ITS) at Main Library.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C44 An Overview of University All 316 Values: all

The University of Reading is ranked as one of the UK’s 10 most research-intensive universities and as one of the top 200 universities in the world. It is also one highest financially endowed Universities in the UK, at 9th position in the most recent table. We enjoy a world-class reputation for teaching, research and enterprise. Established as an extension college of Christ Church, Oxford in 1892, we received a Royal Charter in 1926, the only university to do so between the two world wars. Important achievements include being the first university to win the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement (1989) and twice receiving the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher Education (1998 and 2006).

The quality and diversity of our research is recognised nationally and internationally, with a number of our researchers receiving awards for their work. We are home to several centres of excellence and conduct world-class research across a broad range of disciplines. In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise 20 departments received a rating of 5 and above with our Archaeology, English, Italian, Meteorology and Psychology Schools gaining a 5** rating – indicating the highest international quality sustained over more than a decade.

Reading is consistently one of the most popular higher education choices in the UK. Our unusually broad portfolio of full- and part-time degree programmes covers the arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences. We regularly update our programmes as new ideas emerge and industry needs change and are involved with four national Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

First-class resources support world-class teaching. Our ongoing investment in high-quality teaching and learning facilities ensures our academic staff and students can achieve their full potential. We provide extensive resources from libraries and computing to language labs and wireless networking. These help to create an intellectually stimulating and richly resourced environment where people thrive.

At Reading we pursue an ambitious and innovative enterprise agenda. Over the last five years we have enjoyed considerable success in collaborative research partnerships, delivering over 1200 projects. Other services in demand are consultancy, technology transfer and intellectual property licensing. Enterprise also taps into our expertise via government assisted Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs). Our close links with business and industry are evident right across the University. Collaborative research projects, the creation of spin- out companies and graduate placement schemes are just some of the many ways we interact with enterprise day-to-day.

Established as a leading force in British higher education, we continue to build on our success. Our ambitious multi-million pound investment programme is delivering twenty-first century facilities, strengthening our international reputation for quality teaching, research and enterprise.

Item Title Audience Wordcount C45 What has our research done for the world All 453 recently? Values: excellent, ambitious, creative, focused

Neural Connections Professor Kevin Warwick of the Cybernetic Intelligence Research Laboratory at the University of Reading has carried out a series of pioneering experiments involving the neuro-surgical implantation of a microchip into the median nerves of his left arm, linking his nervous system directly to a computer in order to assess the latest technology for use with the disabled. He has been successful with the first extra-sensory (ultrasonic) input for a human and with the first purely electronic communication experiment between the nervous systems of two humans. It is envisaged that such neural connections may, in the future, help people with spinal cord injury or limb amputation.

Infrared Filters The Infrared Multilayer Laboratory at the University of Reading is a recognised supplier of high-quality infrared optics to the international space research community. Infrared interference filters supplied by the laboratory have been employed in many atmospheric research and weather forecasting satellite radiometer projects and planetary research probes including the Mars Reconnaisance Orbiter and the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn.

Solar Roof Tiles A new photovoltaic (solar power) roof tile, designed through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the University of Reading, won Best Exterior Product at the Interbuild 2004 New Product awards for the London-based company solarcentury. The unique design of the product, known as C21, is the first that has been designed to specifically meet the rigorous demands of the UK construction industry. It provides house builders with a solar roof tile that is just as easy to install as conventional tiles and that is a functioning, attractive addition to the building, providing clean, free electricity for the home.

Livestock Guru Livestock are crucial to the two-thirds of the 2.1 billion poor households living on less than $2 a day. The Livestock Development Group at the University of Reading has created a unique multimedia computer program called Livestock Guru to teach farmers in developing countries how to diagnose, prevent and treat animal diseases, helping them to make the most of the livestock so vital to their survival. The software, developed with funding from the Department for International Development, is distributed through a number of community-based organisations. Versions tailored to the visual and linguistic requirements of India, Bolivia and Kenya have already been created and adopted by thousands of poor households. In Bolivia the basic knowledge of farmers about livestock diseases has increased by up to 44% as a result. Another key benefit of the program is its ability to transmit the needs and concerns of farmers to decision-makers, by measuring the demand of users for particular material. In the fight for global poverty eradication, the Livestock Guru empowers the poor by both delivering demand-led knowledge and creating direct communication links between decision-makers and the poor.