Research Brings Bristol's Universities Together
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thebulletin28 February 2011 - Issue 101 Research brings Bristol’s universities together In this month’s issue Project research team: from left Jessie Abrahams, Nicola Ingram, 2 Does class spell success Ann-Marie Bathmaker, at university? Harriet Bradley, Richard Waller, Phoebe 3 New tools by UWE Beedell. Not pictured: designers win Dremel Dr Tony Hoare, seal of approval Dr Jody Mellor and Judith Stewart. 4 New professor in Technology Enhanced Learning education within two different university Does class spell environments and to enhance our 8 Advice is to keep understanding of how attending moving if you have success at university? university may either contribute to joint pain How do students from different increased social mobility or reinforce backgrounds fare at different universities existing patterns of class divisions. The 12 iNets South West in the same city? How are their needs met study should highlight conditions which launched at UWE and what 'added value' do universities can help improve levels of social mobility." 16 Media students provide? UWE's Professor Ann-Marie Bathmaker dominate regional RTS These are some of the key questions being explained, "We want to find out how award nominations asked in a unique study being carried out students spend their time, how they move by Professor Ann-Marie Bathmaker (EDU), around the city and how they use the 18 UWE wins £193k to Dr Richard Waller (EDU) at UWE with resources at university. Through interviews provide Low Carbon research colleagues from the University and questionnaires we will track how courses of Bristol. The study is led by Professor each student experiences university, and Harriet Bradley (University of Bristol). look at the way they use the facilities and resources available to them, such as Given current concerns that the rise new technology. We will find out how in tuition fees and cuts to university they engage with their studies, whether funding could deter poorer students they take up additional opportunities for from attending universities that charge networking with students on their course, the highest fees, the findings will be whether they get involved in clubs and of interest to prospective students and societies, and how they 'mobilise' these universities alike. The Bulletin is published by the opportunities – do they make the most of Marketing and Communications The study will compare the experiences of their time at university to develop to their Office who reserve the right to 'traditional' and 'non-traditional' students full potential, and use this on their CV to select items for inclusion and to and look at the benefits they receive from enhance their future choices and careers. edit copy. For further information attending two very different universities: "We want to find out how two different contact Jane Kelly or Mary Price on UWE, a popular 'new' university with a universities enable their students to ext 82208, e-mail Jane.Kelly@uwe. strong regional focus and the University succeed, and what the benefits are ac.uk and [email protected]. of Bristol, an elite research institution. for different types of student in each The project, which has received funding of institution. We hope to learn lessons that The next issue will be circulated £280,000 from the Leverhulme Trust, will will enable us to give practical advice at the end of March. Please do follow 80 students through their three to students so they can make the most keep sending contributions in. The years of undergraduate study. Students of their time at university – regardless Bulletin regrets that it cannot be at both universities from working-class of their background. We hope also held responsible for any claims that and middle-class backgrounds (as defined that universities will take on board the arise out of advertisements carried. by accepted class definitions) who are different approaches and background studying the same subjects will be that students bring to university, so that asked about their experiences through the experience they have is the best that Editor: Jane Kelly questionnaires, interviews and diaries over it can be." Editor: Mary Price the three-year period. Participants were The study covers a range of subjects Contributor: Lesley Drake, identified as 'working class' or 'middle (accounting and economics, biological Kate Mooney class' by an initial questionnaire using sciences, drama, English, engineering, Production: Jayne Andrews, factors such as parental occupation, levels geography and environment, history, law, Kate Mooney of education and post code. politics, psychology and sociology). Designed by Graphic Design This is the first study of its kind to The research team consists of Professor Printing and Distribution by compare students' experiences at an Harriet Bradley (UoB), Professor Ann- Printing and Stationery elite university and a new university Marie Bathmaker (UWE), Nicola Ingram in the same city. Academics from both (UoB), Dr Jody Mellor (UoB), Dr Richard institutions will work together on the Front cover: Waller (UWE) Dr Tony Hoare (UoB), project, known as the 'Paired Peers' study. Phoebe Beedell (UWE), Jessie Abrahams From left: Professor Ann-Marie Bathmaker (EDU), Professor Harriet Professor Harriet Bradley, University (UoB) and Judith Stewart (UWE) Bradley (University of Bristol) and Dr of Bristol, said, "The overall objective For details of media coverage see News in Richard Waller (EDU) is to understand the impact of higher Brief. 2 New tools by UWE designers win Dremel seal of approval UWE and Dremel (Bosch) have linked of packaging the 300 series rotary “We are going to be looking at up to give Creative Product Design and tool. We came up with the idea of a broadening our relationship with the Product Design Technology students Christmas Dremel starter set with a Product Design programme at UWE – opportunities to showcase their talents. range of tools that carry out different this might include the introduction of So impressed were Dremel senior functions like sanding, engraving placement and internship opportunities management with the professionalism and other odd jobs – a something for as well as providing real life brief of the students that they are keen to everyone package. Packaging now is all challenge competitions like this very develop this new partnership further. about product presentation so rather successful first enterprise.” than simply stuffing the product into The live projects involved second and Kurt Gauss, Programme Leader for a nicely designed box – we designed third year students in a competitive brief Product Design, said, “Dremel is a brand a ‘toblerone’ shaped box, with the that related to real challenges faced within the Bosch brand which makes view that this would trick people by by the Dremel product design team. everything from white goods to sports its distinctive shape – a bit of fun on Third year students were set a six week car components. We are pleased that our Christmas day. research, concept and design project to collaborations have impressed Dremel design a new tool for the arts and craft “The added value here permeates other and we are excited at the potential of market, a new market sector that Dremel important considerations like transport this relationship. Our students need real plans to tap into. and storage as the tesselated shape has experience so that they can test their huge advantages. We took the project as design talents against proper industry Hywel Vaughan was on the overall far as we could, and designed the box, standards, demands and deadlines. winning team. He said, “Dremel products the point of sale stand and we upgraded are very accurate whereas hobby tools “Dremel, as a live project sponsor, has the instruction manual. We devised a tend to be fun and arty. Our challenge been great to work with – they have colour coding system that gets rid of the was to combine the precision of Dremel been open about their new market need to translate user instructions into with the fun of hobbies. We decided ambitions and given our students very different languages. We also made subtle to look at the hobby of painting challenging projects. They have done adjustments to the colour to broaden the where at one end of the market you this project alongside usual course work product appeal for the female market.” have expensive kit like airbrushes and so we have placed tough demands on at the other end low tech tools like Dremel Brand Manager Nick Longford them, but we know that this will pay paintbrushes. We wanted to bridge the was impressed with the quality of the dividends when they come to look for gap between the two so we designed work. “As a global market leader with a work on graduation.” a paint stylus and paint station that we premium brand we are always looking The students from both year groups named ‘Dremel Air’. to improve how we present our products unanimously agreed that working on and also looking to branch out into “The features include a refillable paint live projects is a brilliant way of learning. new areas. I have been quite simply pot, drip tray and ‘pen’ holder integrated Hywel sums up, “It’s really exciting astounded at the professionalism of the into a compressor unit mirroring the having live projects to work on – we all students at UWE – I’m not sure what my appearance of an old fashioned pen and pushed ourselves much harder to achieve expectations were but the students have ink pot. The ‘Dremel Air’ can also be wall the best possible design. It was also really produced work that would stand proudly mounted – the idea was to keep it simple good to work as part of a team. A lot of alongside work that is carried out in our to use so that people can plug and paint the course work is done independently product design studios.