Wyvern February 08
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wyvern February 2008 page 3 New partnership with Santander Universities page 5 A haven for dragonflies page 10 and 11 Focus on: Support for sporting students Move to faculty organisation A new organisational structure is to be introduced within the University to integrate management and budgetary planning more closely with academic decision-making. The new structure, based around the Screenshot of the new existing four academic faculties, will also University website offer an opportunity to organise the University by academic activity rather than by geographical location. Preview of new website Each of the University’s four faculties will be headed by a Pro-Vice-Chancellor (PVC), working with a faculty support team, the This is a preview of how the University’s new website will dean, the relevant heads of department and look when it is launched next month. their departmental administrators. A project manager, Sally Conner, has been The new website has been developed in feel to the site, but also rich and varied appointed to oversee the transition to the conjunction with a wider project to refresh content, with a more intuitive navigation new structure, which takes effect in August. the Essex branding, and takes into account structure.’ not only the website’s visual appearance, Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Riordan Features of the new site include a detailed but ease of use and maintaining high levels explained: ‘The aim is to improve interactive course finder, providing more of accessibility for all users. communication and ensure key resourcing comprehensive course details with a decisions are taken on the basis of a close The main body of the new corporate site marketing focus, dynamic news and events understanding of academic priorities. It will will go live on 10 March, with sites on other information, targeted information for a wide bring administration, decision-making and University servers going live during the range of users, visitor information specific budgetary planning closer to our front-line course of that week. to campus and type of user, consistent and activities of teaching, research and relevant multi-campus information, and a Debbie Nicholson, from the Web Support outreach.’ ‘keylinks’ feature which will provide access Unit, explained: ‘This has been a co- to departments and services from any The University is currently recruiting four ordinated effort right across the University, corporate page. faculty managers who will support the with staff from many areas making a huge PVCs in introducing and operating the effort to make this rebuild possible. It has Extensive research underlies both the look new structures. involved gathering ideas on how to develop and feel of the website, and the grouping dynamic content, building new and exciting and positioning of links on the homepage The four faculties are: Social Sciences, components, rewriting content, proof and in navigating throughout the site. headed by Professor Rob Massara; checking and gathering information. Humanities and Comparative Studies, A second phase of website development headed by Professor Andy Downton; ‘Users will see not only a fresh and modern will continue after March. Science and Engineering, headed by Professor Christine Temple; and Law and Management, headed by Professor Student surveys underway Nigel South. This month saw the launch of both the National Student Survey (NSS) and Essex Student Satisfaction Survey (SSS), giving all taught students at the University the opportunity to rate the quality of their course. The NSS, for final-year undergraduates, experience at Essex. March, when the University takes part in takes place across the country, carried out the nationwide Postgraduate Research The SSS gives all other undergraduate by research company Ipsos MORI. The Experience Survey for the first time. students, and taught postgraduates, at results allow the University and future Essex the same opportunity to rate their For more information, see: students to compare different subjects at degree. www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/offices/smo/ different universities to ensure students survey.htm. get the best quality education and Research students will be contacted in 2 News New partnership with Santander Universities The University has signed a new partnership with Abbey National plc, Banco Santander’s UK subsidiary, through which it will receive support for students, researchers and entrepreneurs. The agreement, which represents a The Vice-Chancellor presenting Luis Juste, UK Director significant donation to the University, of Santander Universities with a UECLAA print provides annual scholarships for postgraduates from Iberoamerican countries in the scheme, as well as relationships with members of the Grupo bursaries for students or staff wishing to Santander, and its potential to provide ‘Pride in People’s Homes’ undertake study or research overseas. work placements for our students.’ Residential Services has launched a It also includes awards for non-academic Luis Juste, UK Director of Santander customer excellence and cultural change achievement, support for entrepreneurship Universities, said: ‘We are happy to programme to further enhance the student activities and Excellence in Enterprise and welcome the University of Essex to experience within student accommodation. Entrepreneurship awards. Funding for Santander Universities. Our agreement Following its success in the International technology research projects will also be covers support for a significant number of Student Barometer awards, Residential available. ambitious projects. These will include Services has been working with Liam research programmes, international Vice-Chancellor, Professor Colin Riordan, O’Connell, service excellence and cultural scholarships and awards for students, said: ‘The University is delighted to have change consultant and author of Don’t entrepreneurial initiatives which we are launched this new partnership with Abbey. Feed the Ducks – Inspire your People. sure will be successfully advanced by the Not only will our students and staff benefit Together they have developed a series of University. This signing marks the from the considerable financial contribution interactive events with staff culminating in beginning of what will be a long-term and the bank is making, we will also be able to the launch of ‘Pride in People’s Homes’. fruitful partnership.’ draw on its significant expertise, existing Darren Baker, Customer Services and Marketing Manager for Residential Services, said: ‘We have developed five core values that underpin what we are about as a service supplier and created New research centre opens the ‘Pride in People’s Homes’ initiative. It is about recognising what we do and the The University has opened a new, interdisciplinary contribution we make to the lives of our research centre focused on advancing the development of students whilst working in their homes.’ intelligent computer systems. During the launch, Liam O’Connell along with the Senior Management team, The Computational Intelligence Centre insights from nature to create programmes thanked staff for their hard work and includes experts from a variety of fields that are in some way intelligent. between sessions with flying ducks, flying including biological sciences, business fish and speed dating, introduced the core Professor Hani Hagras, Director of the and entrepreneurship, mathematical values that staff have helped to develop. Centre, said: ‘It is believed that by taking sciences as well as computing and an interdisciplinary approach to research, electronic systems. It aims to capitalise on the Centre will break down barriers the wealth of expertise at the University between the different disciplines and and use an interdisciplinary approach to sciences contributing to computational pioneer ground-breaking research. intelligence. In doing so our findings will Computational intelligence is a new have the potential to address numerous perspective on what was known as real world problems that traditional artificial intelligence. It draws on advances computing methods cannot resolve.’ in a range of techniques such as neural For further information, see: networks, fuzzy logic and evolutionary Ducks taking a well earned rest http://cci.essex.ac.uk/. computing and combines these with News 3 200mph on a motorcycle Sports psychologist Dr Murray Griffin will be gaining a unique insight into the world of extreme sports when he attempts to break the land Participants will use a variety of facilities speed record on a motorcycle. including the climbing wall Dr Griffin and his support team will be travelling to the Bonneville salt flats in the US to compete in the annual Bonneville Speed Week in August. Fit 4 Life To beat the current record, Dr Griffin will need to reach average speeds of 215mph It doesn’t take a lot to stay fit and healthy - but a little over two attempts. In the 60 years of the Speed Week, just 80 motorcyclists have exercise could go a long way. reached over 200mph at this event. The University, together with the leading health and fitness experts, along Using a Modified 2003 Nitrous injected Physiological Society, is offering a unique with sporting stars of today and tomorrow. Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle, Dr Griffin opportunity for members of the public to believes he has a good chance: ‘Although Participants have the opportunity to get explore what a healthy lifestyle is, and how this is the first time I have competed at involved and test their fitness levels and it can be achieved. Bonneville, our practice times in training health status in a variety of physical have been very encouraging.’ The free one-day event is spearheaded by challenges and health checks - ranging Dr Valerie Gladwell from the Department of from how fast you can run, or how flexible Dr Griffin is no stranger to speed, having Biological Sciences: ‘We want to welcome you are, to measuring heart rate and blood competed on motorcycles for over ten people of all ages and levels of health and pressure. There will also be the option to years, he has reached 200mph no less fitness to the Colchester Campus and tell have a go at sports taster sessions, from than five times previously.