U NIVERSITY OF L EICESTER N EWSLETTER 2002 AY –M http://www.le.ac.uk PRIL A BulThis Issue: • Degrees leof Success • New tinMedical Degree • 80th Anniversary Events ‘Scales of justice BLUEPRINT FOR FUTURE SUCCESS swung too far’ AS UNIVERSITY REACHES ‘PIVOTAL says police commissioner POINT’ IN ITS HISTORY A hard-hitting speech that attacked the criminal justice A blueprint for the future for the future, the University – which assessed as offering Excellent system for allowing the guilty to development of the University of is celebrating its 80th Anniversary – teaching in 18 subject areas. go free, and treating victims and Leicester, helping to enhance its is establishing new centres in “This is one of the factors that has witnesses shabbily, was made at position it as one of the foremost science and medicine. helped propel the University into the the University of Leicester by Sir teaching and research universities The University also aims to top 20 universities of the UK, as John Stevens, Commissioner of in the UK, is being established. strengthen its reputation for determined by the Sunday Times the Metropolitan Police. Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert excellence. Professor Burgess said: and the Financial Times. Another Sir John, who is both a graduate and honorary graduate of the Burgess told the University’s Court “The University has achieved an factor is the success of our research University of Leicester, returned to that a site development plan for the unbroken run of 14 scores of activity – the University has the campus for the third public University from 2002 to 2050 was Excellent for its teaching quality from attracted a record of over £33 occasion in a year to deliver the among a number of ways in which the Quality Assurance Agency and million last year for research and in Graduates’ Association and strategic thinking was being shaped has the rare distinction of achieving the national Research Assessment Haldane Society Public Lecture in and developed. five consecutive maximum scores. In Exercise, 84% of staff were deemed celebration of the University’s As part of its programme to build total, the University has been 80th Anniversary. (Continued on page 2) The lecture, The Search for Truth in the Criminal Justice CEREMONY TO MARK System, was delivered on 6 March £33 MILLION INVESTMENT and attracted major national media coverage. AND REFURBISHMENT Sir John’s lecture argued that PROGRAMME the balance of the scales of justice has now swung too far in favour of An official turf-turning ceremony marked the the defendant: “As a result, victims start of a multi-million pound investment in new and witnesses are too afraid to campus facilities at the University. come forward for fear of being put The University, celebrating its 80th Anniversary through the criminal justice this year, aims to enhance its international system. academic standing even further through the “Victims and witnesses are establishment of new centres of excellence in treated so shabbily. They are open science and medicine. to intimidation outside court, The biggest expansion programme since the harassment in the witness box and inadequate recompense for wasted sixties involves a £30 million investment in two time. In consequence, the guilty new buildings on campus, the creation of new are going free, crime is rising and laboratories and the purchase of new equipment. offenders are gaining more and In addition, a £3 million refurbishment more confidence that they will go programme will be undertaken. le unpunished.” (Continued on page 2) Online Bulletin updated weekly: http://www.le.ac.uk/press/ebulletin University of Leicester Bulletin B ULLETIN N EWS April/May 2002 (continued from page one) Sir John did not blame the practitioners of law but the system DEGREES OF in which they are obliged to operate: “It means the whole process is like some kind of horse SUCCESS trial where the prosecution must go round the circuit without a fault Honorary graduates Tim Pigott- and the defence only has to leave Smith and Dean Richards MBE one fence standing – the element described how thrilled they were of doubt – to secure a victory.” with their honorary degrees • A full copy of the speech is on awarded on February 7. eBulletin le A total of 1,184 students were awarded postgraduate degrees at the Tigers to host De Montfort Hall. The University also awarded, for the first time, two varsity match posthumous degrees: Battle lines are drawn and teams • Denis Stuart who died on are sharpening their technique for November 6, aged 82. He had the forthcoming clash between completed a PhD within the SUCCESS: Honorary graduates Tim Pigott-Smith and Dean Richards. Leicester’s two universities’ rugby Department of English Local History. teams, as part of the University of His widow, Barbara, received the Wyggeston Boys and often visiting “I feel humbled at following those Leicester 80th anniversary Doctorate on behalf of her late De Montfort Hall – as he paid tribute who are more distinguished who celebrations. husband. to the achievements of the students. have received Honorary Degrees Leicester Tigers is to be the prestigious venue for the Rugby • Johanna O’Leary, a course member Dean Richards added: “It is a real from the University of Leicester. I did Union game between the on the Centre for Labour Market and special honour to be awarded not know that the pleasure I have University of Leicester and De Studies’ MSc in Training and Human this honorary degree – it is not received through playing and Montfort University on Friday 3 Resource Management, who died on something I expected. This ranks managing in my years at Leicester May at 7 pm. January 6. right up there at the top with Rugby Club over the years in any The bar will open at 5.30 pm, Actor and director Tim Pigott- anything I have achieved – I have way shape or form, would put me in with generous sponsorship from Smith recalled his childhood in thoroughly enjoyed the ceremony the position to receive an honour Everards. Tickets costing £3 are on Leicester – as a student of and the occasion. such as this.” le sale from the Leicester Tigers, local Everards pubs and from the Students’ Union at both the University of Leicester and De VISIT BY OFFICIALS OF THE MINISTRY OF THE Montfort University. Fans are urged INTERIOR TURKEY to arrive promptly as spectators will be on the Crumbie Stand, Officials of the Turkish Ministry of Language programmes in the the scheme and following discussions maximum capacity 8,000, which the Interior visited the University of English Language Teaching Unit. All with Professor Will Light, Mr Martin is not all seated. Leicester to see the 26 students are trainee regional governors. Kenworthy, Director of ELTU and Dr Further details are available on the University of Leicester website they have sponsored to study during The Ministry of the Interior intends Mike King of the Scarman Centre it is http://www.le.ac.uk/sports/news.ht 2001/2. Five of their employees are to send around 100 students to the anticipated that the University of ml, in Tigers and University taking one-year Masters courses in UK each year for the next 5-10 years. Leicester and Ministry of Interior will publications and the regional the Scarman Centre and a further This is the first year that the University sign an agreement of continued co- press. le 21 are taking intensive English of Leicester has taken students under operation. le BLUEPRINT FOR FUTURE programmes which are proving to be “The University has been engaged University of Leicester would SUCCESS AS UNIVERSITY very popular, including Criminology, in a comprehensive programme of continue to play a strategic role in REACHES ‘PIVOTAL Film Studies and Management widening participation over a number regional affairs, particularly by linking POINT’ IN ITS HISTORY Studies. We have also been of years and is working in in with key businesses and successful in a national competition collaboration with other universities, organisations. (continued from page one) to launch two successful Foundation colleges, schools and community “The University of Leicester is a to be conducting research of national degrees for classroom teaching organisations to increase major employer, has an annual and international quality. assistants and in security opportunities for participation in turnover of £130 million and plays a “This year, there has been record management.” higher education. pivotal role in raising the profile of recruitment with 2,400 new Professor Burgess also highlighted “This remains our firm the city, county and region. In undergraduates and the number of the University’s commitment to commitment. We will continue to celebrating our 80th Anniversary, we students registered with the widening participation and lifelong focus on those communities that stand at a pivotal point in our University has risen to its highest learning – areas of activity that had have been identified nationally as development. I have every ever total – 18,500. won particular praise from Education facing particular barriers to higher confidence that this University, “We have launched a number of and Skills Secretary Estelle Morris education.” thanks to its staff and students, is new undergraduate degree during her visit to the University. Professor Burgess added that the going to be an even greater success.” le 2 University of Leicester Bulletin April/May 2002 B ULLETIN N EWS the early Etruscans to the Human mutation CENTRE FOR TUSCAN Renaissance through to the present millennium. It aims to deepen our rates tied to STUDIES ESTABLISHED understanding of the artistic, literary, weapons tests social and economic aspects of the New research from the region. Department of Genetics and “At the University of Leicester, international collaborators has there is considerable expertise and uncovered alarming information interest across the disciplines in this concerning the impact of nuclear important region.