The Pursuit Annual Review 2014 of Excellence Contents Factfile Established: 1839. The University is one of the Vice-Chancellor: Canon Professor Tim Wheeler DL. longest established English higher education Institutional Achievements 3 An Inspiring Culture institutions, predating all but Oxford, Cambridge, Campuses: Three in Chester, one in Warrington, one Forewords 4 Staff 56 London and Durham. in Thornton, in addition to NHS sites on the Wirral Mission and Vision 6 External Engagement 61 and in Crewe and Macclesfield. Foundational Values 7 Publications 66 Students: 18,800 University Sites 8 New Courses 69 (70% undergraduates, 30% postgraduates). Partner organisation: University Centre Shrewsbury Conferences 71 (with Shropshire Council). Visitors 74 Staff: 1,328 (full-time equivalent). Sustainability 77 Associate colleges: Isle of Man College; Chancellor: His Grace the Duke of Westminster Reaseheath College; Warrington Collegiate; The Pursuit of Excellence Partnership and Community KG, CB, CVO, OBE, TD, CD, DL. West Cheshire College. Research Excellence Framework 10 Outreach 80 Individual Units of Assessment 12 Educational Partnerships 82 Honorary Graduates include: HRH The Prince of Wales; Dame Joan Bakewell CBE; The Most Reverend Regional 84 and Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York; Terry Waite CBE; Sir Ian Botham OBE; Loyd Grossman International 91 OBE; Sir Andrew Motion; Ken Dodd OBE; Tim Firth; Sue Johnston OBE; Phil Redmond OBE; Willie Carson Honorary Graduates 97 OBE; Matthew Kelly OBE; Estelle Morris, The Rt Hon Baroness Morris of Yardley; Ronald Pickup; The Earl of Alumni 103 Derby; Sir Tony Robinson OBE; Neville Chamberlain CBE; Viscount Michael Ashbrook JP, DL; Professor Sir John Enderby CBE, FRS; Shirley Hughes OBE; Beth Tweddle OBE; Colin Parry OBE; The Rt Hon Frank Field MP; Martin Lewis; The Rt Hon Lord Baker of Dorking; David Pickering FCA, DL, FIoD; Professor Alan Emery FRSE; The Student Experience Senior Staff 105 Gillian Burns MBE. The University of You 30 Financial Results 2013–14 107 Student Life 33 Student Support 40 Chaplaincy 44 Volunteering 45 Employability 50 Annual Review 2014 3 Institutional Achievements Subjects ranked top in the UK for overall Graded ‘Excellent’ for commitment 14 areas of the University’s research satisfaction: Politics; Others in Social Studies to staff wellbeing, earning a National activity feature world-leading research. (including International Development Studies); Top Wellbeing Award from the Workplace 14 Research Excellence Framework 2014 Mathematics and Statistics; and Law. Wellbeing Charter. National Student Survey 2014 95.2% of graduates are in work or further study. This makes the University of Chester best 29,551 hours of voluntary work were Gained Gold Investors in People in the North West for graduate employment 29,551 contributed by students and staff to Accreditation for excellent people 95.2% and the 19th English mainstream university. Gold the community over the past year. management practice. Destination of Leavers from Higher Education, hours published 2014 Chester Students’ Union top in the Awarded a Gold EcoCampus Award North West for student satisfaction Overall student satisfaction rate: 88% Certificate for sustainability and Top and 7% above the national average. 88% National Student Survey 2014 Gold environmental management. National Student Survey 2014 The University makes a substantial 5-star world-class student contribution of some £298m per A ratio of nine applications for support and careers advice. annum to the region, according to every undergraduate place. £298m EFQM Recognised for Excellence 9:1 an independent economic impact assessment report in 2012. 4 Annual Review 2014 Forewords Canon Professor T J Wheeler DL Vice-Chancellor and Principal This Annual Review focuses on the pursuit of excellence as we celebrate the institution’s distinguished 175-year history of providing higher education. The period between August 2013 and July 2014 saw substantial progress, with the establishment of the new Faculty of Science and Engineering at the Thornton Science Park, the completion of the North West Food (NoWFOOD) Research and Development Centre, the collaboration on the University Centre Shrewsbury and the welcoming of many eminent visitors, including the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and Simon Weston OBE. We continue to strive for excellence in all fields and nowhere is this more apparent than in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) of 2014 which clearly demonstrates the quality of the research generated from within the institution. The REF saw double the number of research submissions compared to the Research Assessment Exercise of 2008, a performance which was above the national average, and a significant increase in the average research rating, the research power rating and the research intensity rating. World-leading research featured in 14 of the research areas in this independent assessment and we look forward to building upon this impressive foundation as staff continue to excel in their areas of expertise. Providing an enriching and distinctive student experience remains at the heart of the University’s activities and we endeavour to give students the knowledge and skills to enable them to succeed in their chosen field after graduation. This is demonstrated by the fact that the 2014 Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey confirmed that Chester was the best performing university in the North West for employability, and the 19th nationally, with 95.2% of its graduates in work or further study. The 29,551 volunteering hours accrued by students and staff, together with the support of many community initiatives, illustrates how the aspiration to serve society remains firmly embedded in the University culture. The following pages give an indication of the wealth of activities that have taken place across this 12-month period and it is entirely due to the dedicated staff, students and supporters from across the community that we can celebrate these achievements, especially in the midst of this landmark anniversary year. Annual Review 2014 5 The Rt Rev Dr Peter Forster Chester Students’ Union Lord Bishop of Chester, Lord President of the Sabbatical Team University Council and Pro-Chancellor As Chester Students’ Union (CSU) we had even more reason to celebrate experience. We have also focused our representation into our forums, Higher education, in common with the knowledge which informs and in 2013–14 with the second successive title of top students’ union in the Students’ Union Council and the new engaging initiative ‘Sabbs on the enriches it, is constantly evolving. The 2014 Annual Review presents an North West for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey. This Sofa’, which encourages students from all campuses and all departments opportunity, both to reflect on significant successes in 2013–14 and also demonstrates that all the hard work invested by the CSU in enhancing the to talk to the sabbatical officers about their issues and accomplishments. to acknowledge progress, with an air of thankfulness and anticipation. student experience continues to pay dividends. Through our commitment This in turn allows the sabbatical officers to inspire students to follow up to environmental issues we also achieved the Gold Green Impact award, changes they want to see in the Students’ Union and University. To ensure While we respond to this shifting landscape and innovate within it, it and we are working continuously with the University and Green Chester that we cover student representation to the best of our ability, we have is reassuring that for the students and staff at the University of Chester to ensure we are doing everything we can for environmental issues. a variety of forums set up for groups such as LGBT+ students, black and certain aspects remain constant and are some of the features which ethnic minorities, international students, those with visible and invisible characterise its distinctiveness. To find out where students would like to see improvements and what disabilities, women, mature students, postgraduates and students at each could be done to enhance their overall student experience, a survey was campus and the satellite sites. A member of each forum is then elected on The Mission, Vision and Foundational Values have been refined to meet created for CSU members. With all the data collected we have been to our Students’ Union Council, as well as two sports representatives, two the needs of a dynamic institution, but the original ethos remains at proactive in our responses, including the extensive refurbishment to the society representatives and a StAR from each faculty in the University. the core of a wide range of activities, from teaching to ministry. The Students’ Union Bar on the Parkgate Road Campus (CH1), introducing principle of educating people for ‘careers of service’ is still evident, for a deli counter to the shop to provide healthier options, and creating an Our sports and societies have continued to grow, and this year we held example, in the University’s employability statistics, while the importance accreditation scheme for all sports and societies to follow. This gives them a successful two-day conference for all 110 sports and societies to of contributing to society for the benefit of others is exemplified in its more direction and support, while recognising the extra commitment to train new and continuing committee members on union policies and impressive volunteering