apex

Alumni Magazine Issue 16 Autumn 2005

Forever Friends The UK’s friendliest universities the language business Why we should teach our toddlers the art of communication you must autumn ’05 apexfeatures 4 Forever friends Contents 5 Widening participation remember this...  a window of opportunity 11 uKtv graduates 13 shopping for britain 14 the language business apexregulars

2 you must remember this... 5 Profile on... 12 Campus revisited 23 in the heart of birmingham 19 10 24 Where are they now? 29 reunions 30 aston graduates’ association 31 in touch 32 gifts apexnews

8 aston honours ’05 1 school of engineering & applied science Super computer a first in UK for Aston engineers Leading research for a greener Europe

1 aston business school Improving call centres Talking business Early technology arrives in Aston’s 14 Languages Department! A far cry from 18 school of life & health sciences Methods in mind today’s language learning spaces Pioneering study into children’s eyesight where multi-media facilities and satellite links put students in Meet the team... 19 school of languages & social sciences touch with the world. Language as evidence – the world of forensic linguistics 20 Combined honours Brains run in the family Building on foundations

apexplus

Sarah Pymm caroline Hidson Susan Anson all the latest news from the alumni relations office, the alumni relations officer alumni relations assistant alumni relations assistant students’ guild and the societies and sports clubs.

special thanks go to everyone who contributed to this issue of apex. apex is published twice a year for alumni of aston university. letters, photographs How to contact the and news are very welcome but we reserve the Alumni Relations Office: right to edit any contributions. Please address all correspondence to the alumni relations officer. www.aston.ac.uk/alumni the opinions expressed in apex are those of the [email protected] contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the alumni relations office or aston university. t +44 (0)121 204 3000 apex is also available via the website in html or pdf F +44 (0)121 204 4783 formats, but please contact us if you experience any difficulties accessing the publication. alumni relations office designed by linney design. Printed by linney Print. aston university, aston triangle birmingham, b4 7et, uK Photo credits: Matt lee – page 4 ed Moss – pages 12, 16 and 19 huw Meredith – page 20 Martin levinson – cover, pages 14 and 15 2 autuMn 05 autuMn 05 3 Forever widening FRiEnDS participation

Aston University and the University and colleges to see who the country as new street widening Participation is about widening keeps in touch the most. hull station is just a short walk opportunities for a broader range of of Birmingham were named in the headed up the top 100. aston away. Facilities are quite big for students, making higher education a came in at number six. the amount of students that possibility for those who are not well top 10 of a league table of the UK’s we have. the city is fantastic represented in the sector. Research* Professor Mike Wright, vice and there is so much more shows that young people in the most le on... profi friendliest universities conducted by Chancellor of aston university, than i expected. birmingham advantaged 20% of areas are five to the reunion website Friends Reunited. said: “i am delighted with this has jumped into the 21st six times more likely to enter higher result. as a university that has Century with a bang. it’s lively education than those living in the GILL CLaRK Aston took sixth place, narrowly strong ties with its alumni we and a great place to live.” least advantaged 20%. Aston’s know that people who come to approach to widening Participation is ahead of Birmingham in seventh, aston make lasting friendships. Lost touch with a friend from integrated and students are supported gill clark (née crane 1981 BSc Modern Languages) the close-knit campus your student days? Contact throughout the ‘student life-cycle’ from first arrived at Aston in 1977, having travelled making Birmingham one of the most community and lively social susan anson in the alumni raising aspiration in schools, to student from wales, to study for a degree in French and activities ensure everyone gets relations office and ask for friendly student regions in the UK. support, graduation and employment. german. it wasn’t until 20 years later that she to know one another really our ‘in-touch service’. if e-mail returned once again, this time to start working for well as soon as they join us.” isn’t enough and you want to the outreach office in schools and Colleges liaison provides a the Students’ guild as the Student Development Friends reunited has more than get the old crowd back together comprehensive range of outreach activities in schools. in 2004/05 Administrator. She had previously worked for 12 million members and was richard Ketley, third year again, don’t forget we can over 100 aston volunteers were placed in local schools as student Birmingham University’s guild of Students, the first to compile a complete aston university Pharmacy also help you organise your tutors, supporting primary, secondary or post-16 pupils in the about which she jokingly says: “Obviously i saw league table of britain’s student, added: “aston stuck own reunion. if you need a classroom. Forty-two students were recruited to the aimhigher the light and realised the error of my ways!” friendliest universities. the out as the only university i helping hand to get your plans Mentoring scheme, which matches student mentors with mentees visited which was interested university Friendship league off the ground, pick up the from year 7 to year 13. Mentors meet one-to-one with their mentees situated on the first floor of the guild, gill is in me and how to develop my table was created by analysing phone or send us an e-mail. on a weekly basis throughout the academic year providing help and responsible for supporting all the activities of learning – it was much friendlier. the millions of e-mails sent encouragement as well as academic support. the scheme provides clubs, societies and volunteers, so if you were ever you can walk to the nightlife via the Friends reunited mentees with an insight into higher education and student life with involved in any sporting clubs or societies during and back again, shopping is website between the mentors gaining in terms of personal development and employability. your time at aston then you’re bound to know just across the road and you ex-students of all her! gill says she loves every aspect of her job, can go almost anywhere in school pupils are also given the opportunity to experience life britain’s universities especially as it brings her into contact with so many at aston through a programme of taster days, masterclasses, students from a range of backgrounds and cultures, and an annual summer school. this year’s summer school, all of whom are interested in a variety of different which took place in July, involved 54 year 11 pupils from West things. gill is keen to promote the importance of Midlands schools, nine student ambassadors and academic staff getting involved in extra-curricular activities whilst from across the university. activities included designing web at university, seeing it as a great way to make new pages, building robots, a careers event and a range of social friends and to gain valuable new skills that many sciences, business and science and engineering activities. the employers now look for in conjunction with a good summer school is in its fifth year and once again proved to be degree. she is very keen to keep in contact with a very successful and worthwhile experience for all involved. students after graduation and really enjoys learning the university also reaches out to disadvantaged communities about where they are and what they’re doing. through voluntary and community activities focusing on arts, other aspects of gill’s job include organising award drama, music and sport. in 2004/05, over 50 aston students ceremonies such as the athletic union Colours and took part in the active Community engagement (aCe) guild Colours, where students are recognised for their volunteering scheme, working with schools, community groups achievements and commitment. she also organises and other organisations and supporting one-off events. the annual graduation ball at the birmingham in July, aston was pleased to host a graduation ceremony for aston botanical gardens, which is always extremely popular. tower Community Primary school. among the pupils celebrating outside work, gill is kept very busy with three at the event were children graduating from nursery class to the teenage children and two dogs. she openly first year of primary school and year six leavers and pupils who admits to being a shopaholic and spends most received prizes for their achievement. the school was supported weekends with friends happily roaming around by nine aston student volunteers during 2004/05 who were the shops. unfortunately, with that hobby, it’ll be involved in a variety of sports activities and classroom support. many years before gill will be able to retire! Preparations are already under way for 2005/06 activities and we look forward to another successful year.

*‘young Participation in higher education’, higher education Funding Council for england 2005.

4 autuMn 05 autuMn 05 5 The Alumni Relations Office welcomes Susan Anson to the team. A window of new faces Susan studied at Aston Business School and graduated with first Susan Anson class honours in Marketing this summer. Susan will be on the end of the telephone when you call us and she’ll be picking up your e-mails with your contact details changes and your requests to opportunity trace lost friends or replace lost degree certificates. Susan will also be organising events for you all and putting her marketing skills to good use raising our profile amongst current students and alumni. n recent years there has been a The craft spate of unsympathetic window The RLN promotes language and cultural skills to businesses replacements in period properties “At the beginning of the twelfth-century and individuals in the region advising businesses on using modern materials and AD, a German monk called Theophilus STOP PRESS international communications, supporting education mass produced windows in metal, wrote a description of the techniques used providers in their teaching of Modern Foreign Languages and IUPVC and wood, often removing and to make a stained glass window, methods information for languages graduates signposting individuals towards language jobs and courses. destroying important stained glass which have barely changed in 900 years,” windows or leaded lights which add explains Babs. “We still use techniques The RLN is looking for graduates with language skills to become character and history to a property. synonymous with those described by Do you use, or have you used, languages in individual case studies on their website www.rln-westmidlands.com Times, though, have changed and Theophilus in his reports to make our your career? Would you be willing to share By detailing the experiences of those working with languages people are striving to replace and products and complete restorations.” and showing the variety of career options available, young restore leaded windows back to their your experiences of working with languages? “The first stage in the production of a leaded people and adult learners will be encouraged towards language home to return it to its former glory light is to produce a full size ‘cartoon’ of the If you’ve answered yes to these questions, learning. It doesn’t matter whether you graduated in languages and add selling value in an increasingly customer’s window,” continues Paul. “The the Regional Language Network (RLN) or have gained these skills since leaving university. Anyone who competitive housing market. lines represent where the lead came will has spent time studying languages and now uses them in the West Midlands needs your help. Babs Coombes (2003 BSc Applied go and are the thickness of the heart of workplace is invited to take part. For more information contact and Human Biology) and her partner the lead. This must be taken into account Frances Pallett on [email protected] Paul Cook have recently started when producing the window otherwise their own business, Stained Glass the final dimensions will be incorrect.” Creations, in which they design, make In response to the many letters we receive, from now on we Once the cartoon has been produced, the and restore stained glass windows will have dedicated pages to developments in the City and glass is cut using an oil-fed glass cutter on an inspired read and leaded lights throughout the a wider view of the changing face of the Aston campus. top of the drawing as a template. Grozing UK using traditional methods. Here Loyal readers are bound to sense pliers are used to separate the pieces. We are delighted to continue our working relationship with they tell us about the history and something a litle bit different the Linney Group and it’s thanks to their design team for craft of producing stained glass. The next step is to lead the window together about this issue of Apex. It doesn’t bringing this fresh new approach to Apex. The production of the using lead came. Thinner lead came is used look the same, it doesn’t feel alumni magazine is led by Janine Raine who has more than a for more intricate parts of a window, while the same – what’s happened? professional interest in Apex, being a 1994 graduate of MAS. The history thicker lead is used around the edges and Aston has gone through a dazzling “It’s great to be involved with Aston again! My role as in parts of the window which need more transformation to encapsulate more The history of stained glass is somewhat Account Manager is to liaise with the creative team here support, for example lines which span the of what you want to read. vague but, from evidence found in and the alumni relations team at Aston to develop a design length or width of a panel. “We stretch remains at Pompeii and Heraculaneum, This new design includes old that you’ll want to pick up and read. The aim was to give and straighten the lead using a lead vice it is apparent that wealthy Romans favourites such as ‘Where Apex a fresh new look with inspiration for the new design and cut it to size using a lead knife. The first used stained glass in the windows are they now?’, profiles coming from various sources including Sunday supplements glass is then slid into the lead channel,” of their villas in the first century AD. on fellow graduates all and glossy mags. We’d love to know what you think.” explains Babs. Once the glass and lead are over the world and As ever, back issues will appear on the alumni website It was not, however, until the tenth- in place horseshoe nails are used to ensure news from your www.aston.ac.uk/alumni We’d love to hear your century AD that stained glass began to it does not move while the next piece of lead former School views on the new design and ideas for future issues. emerge in churches when depictions of is cut. This time-consuming process continues or department Go on, challenge us to produce a feature on that Christ and other biblical scenes were found in until the whole window has been leaded together. and the Guild. windows in England, France and Germany. From then question that’s been bugging you for years! The next stage in the production of a leaded light is to solder the on, particularly in gothic architecture with its tall walls and panel together. Paul and Babs use a specially made traditional large window openings, stained glass was used in abundance gas soldering iron with a copper tip to solder the windows. in churches and cathedrals across Europe to illustrate scenes HarperCollins sponsor prizes for the Aston Distance Learning MSc in TESOL Before solder can be applied all the joints between the lead must from biblical stories until the mid sixteenth-century. be cleaned using a wire brush. Tallow is applied to the joints to Ramesh Krishnamurthy is a Lecturer in English Studies and teaches on the Distance It was during the Late Gothic and Renaissance periods help the solder to run smoothly and cover the joints properly. Learning MSc in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Previously, that stained glass began to be more appreciated as an It is then time to cement the window in order to make it he worked for nearly 20 years with Collins Dictionaries on the COBUILD project at the art form and panels were produced for private houses weatherproof and strong. Leaded light cement is mixed University of Birmingham. Recently, Ramesh has been discussing with HarperCollins the as well as religious buildings. possibilities for future collaboration with Aston and these prizes are the first outcome. with putty to create a thick paste. A natural brush is worth£50 of Harper Due to political and religious unrest in the mid sixteenth- then used to apply the cement to the panel and push the The Collins Cobuild TESOL Prize will be awarded twice each year for the best overall century, a significant number of stained glass windows cement into the small gaps between the lead and the performance on each occasion and also the best dissertation, so that each year there will be up for grabsCollins books and glass factories were destroyed in Reformation glass to ensure the panel is watertight when the cement four winners – each entitled to £50 worth of HarperCollins books as well as a copy of the attacks and stained glass was not widely produced has dried. The final stage of producing a stained glass Collins English Dictionary. The first two prizes were awarded in July 2005. Our benefactor again until its revival in the nineteenth-century. panel is to clean off the cement and polish the panel. at HarperCollins adds: “On a more general note, all your students might be interested in our Word Exchange site, which has discussions on language and many resources, such as usage guidance and grammar glossary, at www.collins.co.uk/wordexchange” Anyone interested in Babs and Paul’s work can contact them on 07731 754 489 or e-mail: [email protected] You can also check out their website: www.stainedglasscreations.org

 Autumn 05 Autumn 05  SIR Ian CHaRLES SIR aDRIan CaDBuRY CoLIn JoHn CLInTon ISaBELLa RaBBI LEonaRD Tann DR SaRInDaR REYnER BYaTT KRYSTYna MooRE SInGH SaHoTa

Sir ian charles Reyner Byatt Sir Adrian cadbury was colin John clinton, a Midlands isabella Krystyna Moore is Rabbi Leonard Tann has held Dr Sarindar Singh Sahota is an economist and expert born in 1929. he studied man, graduated from aston a member of the institute of the position of Chief Minister graduated from birmingham on the economics of public economics at Cambridge, university in 1980 with an linguists and the institute of at the singers hill synagogue, university with a bsc in expenditure and the regulation joined the Cadbury business honours degree in Civil translations and interpreting. birmingham for almost 19 electronic and electrical of public utilities. Currently in 1952, became Chairman engineering. since leaving she studied at st andrews years. during this time the engineering in 1971. he he is the Chairman of the of Cadbury limited in 1965 school his career has taken him university and at Warsaw rabbi has been involved with then returned to his home nours Water industry for scotland, a and retired as Chairman of to roles in local government university, gaining a Master’s many church groups and faith country of Kenya where he senior associate at Frontier Cadbury schweppes in 1989. and later in the private sector degree in history of art leaders within the city and he joined his father’s business, before working for several nairobi terrazzo Contractors economics and a member of he was director of the bank of with ove arup and Partners attaches great importance to multinational companies limited (specialists in flooring the Productivity Panel at hM england from 1970-1994 and of international, where he is now inter-faith work. the day after At this year’s Degree in eastern europe and the contracts). the business grew treasury. he is also a member ibM (uK) from 1975-1994. sir a director. in november 2004 the terrorist attacks in the Congregations, Aston united Kingdom. she founded from a small firm to one of the of the Panel of experts on the adrian became Chancellor of Colin became the youngest ever us on september 11, rabbi welcomed six new honorary CoMteC 18 years ago, largest flooring contractors in reform of the Water service in aston university in 1979 and President of the institution of offering technical translation tann visited the birmingham the country, employing over graduates as members of northern ireland. born in 1932, held office until 2004. he was Civil engineers (iCe) at the age and interpreting services Central Mosque and its leaders 400 people. in 1989, sarindar ’ Convocation, acknowledging sir ian graduated from nuffield Chairman of the uK Committee of 48. he pioneered a number to companies involved in as a pledge of solidarity in returned to birmingham to their achievement and College, oxford university, with on the Financial aspects of of initiatives in communications exporting, securing iso response to the verbal attacks join his younger brother in his a dPhil in economics. he also Corporate governance which and media and in 1999 he and daubing it had received. contribution to their 9002 and investors in People business, nanak electricals, studied at harvard university published its report and Code secured a major deal with heart accreditation for CoMteC. other faith leaders joined him, and he went on to become respective fields. as a Commonwealth Fund of best Practice in december FM radio for the promotion her other abiding focus and thus forming the Faith leaders a partner. he is also director Fellow. sir ian has lectured in 1992 and was also a member of Civil engineers and Civil interest has been the interface group, which now holds regular of sahota Properties. other economics at both durham of the oeCd business sector engineering across the West between business activity meetings. as well as his work roles include: Chair of dudley university and the london advisory group on Corporate Midlands. throughout his career and public policy, in particular with other denominations, road traders association, Chair 5 school of economics. he governance. he was awarded Colin has been responsible for the promotion of language rabbi tann enjoys representing of the single regeneration joined the Civil service in 1967, the royal society of arts many major transport and civil skills, female entrepreneurship his congregation through budget round six north West undertaking a number of roles, albert Medal in 1995, the engineering projects both in and trade development with his involvement with various birmingham, deputy Chair before joining the treasury as international Corporate the uK and across continental the new accession countries. charities around birmingham of West Midlands business under secretary (1972-1978); governance network award europe. he is a Fellow of the From september 2002 until and has studied part-time since Council, non-executive director deputy Chief economic adviser in 2001 and the international iCe, a Fellow of the institution June 2004, isabella was first 1997 to gain his Ma in biblical of birmingham and solihull woman President of the british Chamber of Commerce and

h (1978-1989) and Chairman of academy of Management’s of highways and transportation studies and soon aims to Chamber of Commerce and industry, member on both the economic Policy Committee distinguished award in 2003. (iht) and was awarded an complete his MPhil. rabbi tann vice-President of eurochambres, the birmingham and solihull of the european Communities he received the laureate Medal honorary Fellowship of the is married to irene and they the association of european business link supervisory (1982-1985). Following this, for Corporate governance in institution of Civil engineering have one son, roger, who is 28. Chambers of Commerce. in board and the aston business sir ian was director general 2005. Publications include: surveyors (iCes) in 2000. Colin september 2004 she took up a school advisory board. sarindar of Water services (1989-2000) Ethical Managers Make Their is also a director of the british new role as director of Cilt, the has contributed greatly towards before taking up his post at Own Rules, awarded hbr’s Consultants and Construction national Centre for languages. enhancing the profile and Frontier economics. sir ian 1986 ethics in business Prize, bureau (bCCb) Worldwide, the Centre was formed in 2003 performance of the regional holds honorary doctorates The Company Chairman (1990, director of the bCCb board of from the merger of the Centre business sector, particularly from brunel university and the revised edition 1995) and directors, and Chairman of their for information on language within the asian community ast ast n university of Central england Corporate Governance and european board. during his teaching and research and the and was awarded the 2004 and is an honorary Professor at Chairmanship – A Personal View, term as iCe’s President, he is languages national training above and beyond the Call birmingham university. he was published by oxford university leading the revitalisation of the organisation (lnto). she is of duty award by the heart awarded a Knighthood in 2000. Press in october 2002, which institution making it relevant for delighted to be leading an of birmingham Primary Care has been translated into the next century and a voice organisation which plays a vital trust, an honorary degree Japanese and Chinese. to governments and industry. role in developing our nation’s from birmingham university language competence and in and an obe in the Queen’s implementing the government’s 2005 new year’s honours. national languages strategy.

8 autuMn 05 autuMn 05 9 The availability of new digital and cable platforms has seen many of us ditch traditional terrestrial TV in favour of the variety now offered by The Network Lecture Series literally hundreds of different TV channels.

news the alumni relations office has enjoyed another year of successful network lectures for the 2004/2005 academic ne of the largest multi-channel and Administrative Studies) work Getting in touch with friends year. the network lecture series has been run by the alumni broadcasters in the UK is UKtv, together in UKtv’s Brand Marketing relations office since 1997 and aims to bring together Obeaming ten different UKtv Department, producing promotional E-mail Directory aston students and graduates into an exciting discussion channels into our homes every day. advertisements (promos) for three of forum. aston graduates are invited back to their alma Adam Chard (2001 BSc International its channels. Here they tell us more our online alumni e-mail directory now has over 1,000 mater to address an invited audience of professionals and Business and German) and Kerry about the fast-paced life of television. registered members from all years and subjects of study undergraduates interested in their particular area of expertise. Yates (née Bebe, 1991 BSc Managerial and is a great way for you to look up ‘lost’ friends and to Current students are able to gain a valuable insight into the keep in touch with one another. Many of you will have real world of their chosen careers. they can also make that noticed that it was missing from our website for a few all-important business contact or discuss issues related to a natural history’. the music was great, the visuals stunning and the months but it can now be found up and running once their studies at aston. held once a term, network lectures overall impact was huge. before uKtv i worked for budweiser, so again at www.aston.ac.uk/alumni/contactsdb/ have become well known amongst both students and staff for What are your roles within UKtv? another of my favourites includes the frogs and lizards and ‘Wassup!’” if you requested previously to be listed on the directory we playing a vital role in helping to put something of value back Adam: “We have a brand new origination called ‘inside the nazi would be grateful if you could log on to check and see if into the life of the university. this year’s network lecture Kerry: “both of us work in the brand Marketing department of state’ on uKtv history. the programme gives a unique insight into your contact details are still the same. any changes should series culminated in a lecture given by aston uKtv and work specifically on uKtv’s three factual channels – uKtv the ordinary people who lived with, and fought for, the nazis. the be e-mailed to [email protected] likewise, should graduate, euan sutherland (1993 bsc documentary, uKtv history and uKtv People. i am head of brand, promo involved building a factually accurate mock-up of a Jewish you wish to be added to the directory, please also send Managerial and administrative studies) meaning i am in charge of the development of all marketing strategy bakery that would have been seen in germany in 1938. We had to an e-mail to [email protected] and include the Chief operating officer for superdrug and promotional activity (on and off air) for all three channels.” get everything just so, right down to even the clock on the shelf. a following information: ltd, entitled ‘retailing on a world stage: Adam: “i am brand Marketing assistant, so i basically assist Kerry in brick was catapulted through a glass pane in the shop front to recreate name challenges and opportunities in the race this task and co-ordinate some of the processes we work through.” the events of the infamous ‘Krystallnacht’ (night of the broken glass). name at aston (if different) for global domination’. to view the complete this was done ten times and each time the glass was painstakingly year of graduation list of network lectures that have been held so far, visit www. replaced and graffiti had to be painted on in exactly the same position. subject of study How do you go about producing a aston.ac.uk/alumni/network. the way this was shot makes it look stunning but at the same time Contact e-mail address promo – does it take a long time portrays visually the more sinister side of the programme’s content.” (Please note that the e-mail directory is NOT password protected at this time.) jsp if you think you might like to return to aston to give a and who gets involved? ‘in touch’ service network lecture, why not What are the best and worst things contact us to discuss the Adam: “in the new world of digital television, where 350 our ‘in touch’ service runs alongside the online e-mail opportunity in more detail? channels are all trying to grab viewers’ attention, developing about the work you do? directory and is a useful resource should you not be able you can call us on +44 effective and hard hitting promotional trails is really important. in to find your friend(s) listed on the e-mail directory. to use Adam: “Just working for a television network is a lot of fun and there (0)121 204 4543 or e-mail order to produce a promo we start by liaising with the channel the ‘in touch’ service you can either fill in the form at www. is always an element of glamour associated with working in the media. [email protected] editors at our monthly marketing meetings where we discuss aston.ac.uk/alumni/looking/intouch.jsp with the name(s) the industry has a young and vibrant feel to it and there are always content, newsworthy issues and consumer insights – understanding of alumni you are trying to find or you can contact us directly opportunities to work with creative and enthusiastic people. one of the your viewer, their interests and motivations is vital if you want with your request either by e-mail to alumniinfo@aston. worst things about the job is the amazing amount of tv i have to watch. to make a connection. We also have to be aware of the content ac.uk or by telephone: +44 (0)121 204 4543. once we have i go home to relax in front of the telly and it’s like being at work again!” MBA Online Community of the programme we are looking to promote. We then brief our received your request we will then look to see if we are in Kerry: “Just knowing that thousands of viewers are able to watch if you graduated in 2005, you may not yet have had agency, bbC broadcast, which has a team of creatives who work contact with your friend(s) on our database. if we are, we our work within the comfort of their own living rooms makes the the opportunity to register as a member of the Mba on the individual promos. We receive scripts for the trails and will contact them on your behalf to say that you want to job very rewarding from my point of view. an entertaining and online community. following our feedback we will work with them on the final edit.” get in touch. (Please note that no contact details are given interesting promo can go a long way to increasing uKtv’s viewing Kerry: “in general we will be working on around 20 promos per month. out without consent from all parties involved.) sadly, in in summer 2004, Mba alumni all over the world took part figures and it’s great to know that we can help to achieve that. the in FMCg marketing you might work on two to three promos a year, we some cases we won’t be in touch with the friend(s) you in e-mail discussions and focus groups to explore ways of only downside is keeping on top of our product (schedules) and work on over 250 per year! a promo typically takes eleven weeks from are looking for but we will always try to suggest, where making networking between them easier once they had competitors. our programmes are ever-changing and we have to move being briefed to going on-air. having said that, the work we do is very possible, alternative routes that you could try to find them. graduated. the most important consideration was the vehicle quickly to keep ahead of the competition. it can do your head in!” fast-paced and schedules and events can change at the drop of a hat, through which this happened and, almost without exception, so we have to be on the ball when it comes to reacting to events in the an electronic communication system seemed to be most news or to any current trends. it’s certainly very challenging at times.” Finally, do you see your careers desirable. so the Mba online Community has been launched New e-group at www.aston.ac.uk/alumni/mba staying within the media?

our list of available international it is open to all Mba alumni of aston university and we have What’s the favourite promo you’ve Kerry: “since leaving aston i have gained so much experience e-groups has just grown to 16 with already had a successful start to the programme. Members produced for UKtv? having worked in a variety of different industries, including the introduction of the new have listened to sir adrian Cadbury, sir digby Jones and advertising agencies, FMCg and the drinks industry. swiss-alumni group. if you are Professor rob rhodes on topics as wide as corporate Kerry: “My favourite has to be ‘explore your World’ on uKtv advertising has always been my favourite marketing discipline though, living in switzerland and would like to be governance, Q+a business, politics and day-to-day life in the documentary. this summer we ran a natural history season and put so my entry into the television industry was a natural step. as uKtv in touch with other aston graduates in your Westminster village. together a campaign encouraging viewers to get closer to nature. is part-owned by the bbC we have a great creative environment country, then why not join? as a member of an there are currently around 300 members from all over the We based promotions for various programmes around the four basic to work in and a broad range of channels to work across. i would e-group you will be able to post messages to world representing many different graduation years who elements of earth, Wind, Fire, and Water and produced a stunning recommend anyone to consider a marketing career within the media.” everybody within that group and will also receive e-mail receive electronic newsletters, invitations to seminars and series of trails as a result. For ‘Wild down under’ we included the Adam: “Marketing was always my favoured discipline throughout my newsletters from the alumni relations office. a list of available the chance to network by posting e-mails to message boards. raging fires of the australian outback; we used stunning views of course at aston, although i only started working in brand marketing e-groups along with instructions on how to join can be found Why not take a few moments to go to www.aston.ac.uk/ earth from the himalyas to promote Michael Palin’s series, ‘himalaya’; just over two years ago. i thoroughly enjoy working in the media and at www.aston.ac.uk/alumni/emailgroups/index.jsp alumni/mba and see who’s there. swirling schools of fish underwater for ‘Massive nature’; and the hope to further my career in this industry. i have recently completed windswept plains of pre-historic britain to promote ‘the british isles – the CiM (Chartered institute of Marketing) Professional diploma.”

10 autuMn 05 autuMn 05 11 cAMPUS ounded in 1895 and a university since 1966, aston is an old university with a proven history of academic excellence, world class teaching quality and research revisited and a graduate employment record that is consistently ShoppingforBritain one of the best in the uK. Many of you will recall Fwalking across the green and compact campus right in the heart of birmingham to lecture theatres, the guild or even out into the oving abroad this year? “during my time at aston we had a visiting followed by australia and nearby europe, City for a spot of shopping or entertainment. if you visit aston Planning on packing a lecturer from Wolverhampton Polytechnic, tim tells us that surprisingly he also gets a today you’ll still be able to retrace your steps around this familiar box of your favourite though i’m afraid i forget his name. he fair amount of orders from people living in territory. the campus has always looked impressive with its tea bags in amongst told us that if we didn’t start our own the uK who are looking for favourites that well-kept gardens and lawns – even major building projects have your socks? Well, you businesses almost immediately after their local supermarkets no longer stock. never detracted from their beauty as the aston campus has been Mwouldn’t be the only one! the world graduating then we never would as we’d the only two things that tim is unable to sell shaped over the years into a modern student community. here we may appear to be getting a much smaller become too comfortable elsewhere. i at the moment are chilled and perishable capture moments in time down the years and across the campus. place, yet it’s still incredibly difficult to remember disagreeing with him at the foods, though this is something he plans to find everyday british food and household time, saying i thought the best time would look into. he explains: “any packaging has items abroad that we’ve all come to be after gaining experience working for to be able to withstand the product sitting know and love. tim heseltine (1988 bsc other successful businesses. after recently in a delivery van somewhere in the middle Do you remember business administration and Computer completing an Mba, this conversation of summer. if i had an order for every time any of this during science) thinks his new online venture, returned to my mind once again. i’d been someone has enquired about bacon or your time at Aston? shoppingfrombritain.com may provide a considering a career change for a while pork pies, i would be doing very well!” Was Lakeside under solution for those of you living abroad and and during a holiday to California last year construction? Are pining for a bag of Walkers or a shortbread i noticed a number of british shops doing Finally, what are shoppingfrombritain. you the person finger. We met up with him to find out more. good business. looking more closely com’s most popular items? What’s next for in the lift? We’re though, i thought they had a very average this innovative new online venture? “My collecting thoughts shoppingfrombritain.com is effectively an offering with an expensive and restricted best selling products have to be Walkers and memories of online supermarket which aims to supply range of items. i did some research into crisps, tea, biscuits and branston Pickle. yesterday – drop british products – food and otherwise – to this market, saw the potential and came as far as future plans are concerned us a line with your people living all over the world. in fact up with what i hope was a strong business i’m looking into diversifying the product memories. 1975 shoppingfrombritain.com delivers to over plan – for an online supermarket selling range a little, possibly into chilled foods, 200 countries worldwide, having negotiated british food and household items to people clothing and magazines. i am even being contracts with uK-based carriers to ship anywhere in the world. on 31 december approached by manufacturers asking me packages abroad. shipping to european 2004 i left permanent employment, set up to stock their lines, so things are looking countries takes as little as two to three the company and at the end of april went good.” For more information, or to order days from ordering and up to one week online with shoppingfrombritain.com” your favourite british items, please visit for the rest of the world. Current products www.ShoppingfromBritain.com that are available to buy fall into one of five categories: Food and drink, health and Shipping to European beauty, baby Care, household, and Pet, though visitors are invited to e-mail with countries takes as special requests should they not be able to find exactly what they are looking for. little as two to three

one of our first questions to tim days from ordering is to ask why he decided to start shoppingfrombritain.com and we gather With upwards of 15 million britons living 2000 1986 from his answer that he may not have abroad and a further 500 joining them every started it at all had it not been for the words day, tim certainly has a large audience to of a visiting lecturer back in the 1980s: April 1975 Dalton Tower. dalton tower’s twenty Matthew Boulton college potentially sell to. he tells me that whilst floors grew in 1975. it is home to 406 students. Opened its doors to students most of the interest in his website is from in September. the new College ex-pats and overseas workers, there is also 20 June 1986, the official opening of a new futuristic glass has shared facilities with the a lot of interest from foreign nationals. he and tubular steel main entrance and twin wall climber lifts by university and represents a uK says: “often they are buying things that the rt. hon. lord young of graffham, secretary of state for first. it also provides a gateway they discovered on a visit to the uK and employment, marked a significant milestone in the progress to all the other institutions still want to buy. i have customers whose of aston university and the redevelopment of the site on and facilities available in the children visited the uK on exchanges and which it is located. the lifts offered panoramic views of the 2005 eastside learning Quarter. the who still want to buy uK crisps and snacks. campus and birmingham. the corner of the nelson building, relocation of Matthew boulton there is also a strong interest abroad the chequerboard wall of the vision sciences building and the College to the aston campus recreates a link that extends back to for premium english tea brands, such as library can be seen left to right across the top of the picture. the two institutions’ common origin in the birmingham technical twinings.” and whilst the leading country institute founded in 1895. aston university is already working closely in terms of orders is from the usa, closely 2000 saw the building of ‘Lakeside’ – well appointed en with Matthew boulton College through the institutions’ strategic suite accommodation situated on the edge of the campus partnership which is providing opportunities for learners to progress overlooking the Chancellor’s lake. this picture clearly shows into higher education programmes and courses. the strategic the two ‘arms’ snaking down towards the Chemical engineering partnership will also have a huge impact in terms of significantly building. beyond the trees on the left is the sumpner building, increasing student numbers into the university’s foundation degrees now the site of the new Matthew boulton College. and providing a seamless progression into higher education.

12 autuMn 05 autuMn 05 13 he accomplished linguist has honed and thinks we don’t need them to survive. so, exposing refined communication skills, is able to very young children to languages other than their listen and manipulate information in a way mother tongue can be extremely beneficial.” to make it accessible to other people, can negotiate and explain intricate streams amanda has seen children overcome speech Tof thought and is able to quickly grasp what’s going I’m currently impediments and master confidence in on in an increasingly global community. the world communication. she stimulates an environment of foreign languages can be a springboard for the developing of fun and she encourages her learners to relax entrepreneur who, literally, wants to go places. “ and feel comfortable with what they’re doing.

activity packs “We’ve always got the coffee brewing for the adult amanda Collins (1989 bsc Modern languages for children classes,” she laughs. a major challenge for her French) is such an entrepreneur. she has taken is to eliminate any bad memories her learners

her passion for all things French and transformed which can be might have of language learning at school. it into the lifeblood of her own business, amanda uses her own patented materials and has positioning ‘language solutions’ in the gap which used at home “ been commissioned by a national publisher to co- she identified for language tuition aimed at very to reinforce write new teaching materials. amanda has developed young children. Marketing under the brands a flair for creativity and uses interactive media to of ‘Fun French’ and ‘Fun spanish’, amanda’s classroom engage the modern learner with contemporary company is establishing itself to respond to the images and support via a virtual classroom. “i’m government’s language initiative which will require learning. currently developing activity packs for children which all state primary schools to offer language tuition can be used at home to reinforce classroom learning.” to children at key stage two from september 2009. “We already go into schools locally and amanda works right across the spectrum of language deliver language programmes within the framework provision. as an export Communications Consultant the of the existing curriculum,” explains amanda. for the Chamber of Commerce, she will work with sMes who are forging links overseas and conduct We? over the past six years amanda has built an audit of their international communications, up a team of between eight and ten tutors who producing a plan of action for them to achieve their deliver her French and spanish courses to around objectives within a specified budget. “this kind of language 600 children. “but we have a wider portfolio of work brings home how useful it is to have a linguist programmes,” continues amanda. “We have parent on your team,” explains amanda. “the linguist is and toddler groups, family tuition, adult groups and a well-rounded valuable member of staff who is business one-to-one classes. some of my learners are in their culturally aware and able to analyse a situation, listen sixties but the majority are between two and eleven.” to what’s going on, relay information accurately even the toddler classes raise the roof with bilingual to a variety of people and react appropriately.” nursery rhymes and respond to instructions in French. hard work has got amanda where she is today. amanda openly admits to being on a mission to after graduation, she stayed at aston to support educate people about exposing children to language international students. With a teFl certificate in Learning a foreign language isn’t limited early on. “it’s not just about learning labels for her hand, she sped over to lille where she taught things we see and do,” she enthuses. “it’s all about corporate clients of a language school. Following to simply stumbling through a few stock learning how to make patterns with words – whether this she worked as director of studies and then as phrases to order your cappuccino on those words are your mother tongue or a foreign regional Manager for language schools in reims language. research has shown that in the early years and epernay, only returning home some five years holiday. Whilst there’s nothing wrong the human brain can recognise and reproduce any later to brush up on her english! With the offer of sound. as we get older our brain works out what an international sales and marketing job, amanda with applying your linguistic skills we need to survive in the situation we’re in and it began to spend less time in the classroom. her blocks out the sounds or words we don’t need. so, responsibilities widened and she began travelling to in a social setting, it’s worth sparing a if we’re functioning in a bilingual environment or eastern europe, russia and asia – using French or few moments to think about the wider hearing foreign sounds from an early age, our brain german as a lingua franca where both parties had will instinctively consider those sounds useful, learn no other common language. her entrepreneurial benefi ts linguistic competence can offer. how to make distinguishable patterns from the spirit has afforded her an interesting career and sounds, retain them rather than block them out and it’s not difficult to see how she draws on all of we’ll learn quickly. that’s why it seems more difficult her working experience to transform her passion to learn foreign languages as we get older – our into her successful business. read more about brains have shut out the foreign sounds because it amanda’s work at www.fun-languages.com

14 autuMn 05 autuMn 05 15 Improving Academics in the School of Engineering & Applied call centres Science have become the first Supercomputer ABS research looks at the staff issues behind customer service in the UK to have the new Cray XD1 supercomputer to a first in UK ove them or hate them, call centres part of internal marketing in relation to improving advance their scientific and are becoming a part of everyday life employee attitudes and service quality.” pplied Science pplied engineering research across a and the Business School has been

A for Aston engineers broad spectrum of disciplines. taking a closer look at what makes Research was carried out amongst 342 frontline staff tick. Neeru Malhotra, a member employees working in the ‘in-house’ call centres of The supercomputer will be of the School’s Marketing Group, has conducted a major high street bank. “The results highlight the School Business ston available to researchers in all L A research into the relationship between perceptions importance of rewards,” explains Neeru, “Intrinsic departments of the School of rewards, attitudes and service quality amongst rewards (like role clarity, training and skill variety) of Engineering for advanced frontline employees in banking call centres. emerged as the most significant of all as they work in Chemical Engineering, were found to impact on service quality. Enhancing Applied Chemistry, Computer “There is a need for the call centre managers to role quality calls for conscientious endeavour on Science, Electronic Engineering, find out what they can do to manage the staff the part of management; the more employees Engineering Systems and efficiently, as well as the service quality delivered are clear as to what is expected of them in their Management and Information to customers,” explains Neeru in the research. jobs, the higher would be the quality of service.” Engineering. Aston will also School of Engineering & & Engineering of School “The current research evidence demonstrates that exploit the Cray XD1 system’s neither staff nor customers seem to be happy with Other factors such as participation in decision field programmable gate the way these call centres are being managed.” making, constructive feedback, training and array (FPGA) capabilities “We will collaborate Current research increased internal communication have a for acceleration of key Banking call centres are booming. Previous research demonstrates positive effect. The introduction of greater skill applications. There are plans closely with Professor has shown that while the number of branches has “ variety, making the roles more challenging to use the supercomputer Nabney and his reduced (The British Bankers’ Association reported that neither and freeing staff from monotony, is another for optimisation of optical a reduction of 15% between 1996 and 2001), call positive although complete autonomy

communication systems, finite colleagues to ensure that centres have been on the increase since the 1990s. staff nor is often unfeasible in these roles. element analysis and analysis Aston’s research goals for Estimates show approximately 595,000 people

of very large data sets in employed in call centres in autumn 2002 (Key Note). customers seem According to the study, promotional domains such as genomics this system are met.” to be happy with opportunities, pay and benefits need to be and environmental modelling. Neeru’s research has been conducted from an managed more carefully as they have only an internal marketing perspective. She explains: the way“ these indirect relationship with service quality. “We compared this Left to right: Dr Sotos Generalis, Professor John Penny, Dr John Fletcher, Alex Brulo and Andrey Kaliazin “Marketing is all about understanding wants and supercomputer with two needs and satisfying them. Internal marketing call centres are “Besides theoretical and methodological ‘conventional’ clusters from Faster computation on problems number generation for large scientific and engineering work. aims to satisfy the needs and wants of internal contributions, the research also provides strong other manufacturers,” said with high inter-processor Monte Carlo simulations.” “We will collaborate closely customers – employees – so that they can display being managed. managerial implications and directions for future Professor Ian Nabney of the communication requirements with Professor Nabney and the right attitude and effort, which is crucial for research in applying internal marketing for improving Neural Computing Research is the most important feature Cray is very pleased that Aston his colleagues to ensure that delivering good quality service and satisfying service quality of frontline employees in call Group. On comparative for our research projects. University researchers will rely Aston’s research goals for this customers. This study addresses the problem centres.” That’s not just good news for Aston benchmarks, the Cray scaled We also expect to use the on the XD1 supercomputer system are met,” said Ulla Thiel, of understanding the significance of rewards as Business School but for the thousands of call much better to larger problems. system’s FPGAs for random to support their advanced Vice-President for Cray Europe. centre employees and millions of customers.

leading research for a greener Europe talking business Business School Head responds to call for language skills

Renewable energy is at the top of at how to optimise thermal biomass and pyrolysis. Each one represents a If language degrees answer the needs of both The four-year International Business and Modern Language Europe’s political agenda thanks to conversion to produce power, heat different thermal conversion process for industry and students they will prosper, the programmes include a placement year working overseas. the EC’s unwavering commitment and transport fuels. Biomass covers all biomass. BERG’s leadership in ThermalNet Head of Aston Business School has said. Students can choose one or two modern languages with to the Kyoto Protocol. Aston’s Bio- renewable organic matter including trees, and its participation in other key energy lectures conducted in the chosen language(s). Energy Research Group (BERG) has crops, agricultural feed and wastes and projects in the UK and Europe mean its Following a call from the CBI for high calibre employees been developing renewable energy, municipal wastes. Launched in January research is applied directly to European skilled in languages, the Business School has announced that Almost 6,000 applications from around the world have been made particularly bioenergy, for over 25 years. 2005, the network is co-ordinated by renewable energy strategies and policies. applications for its International Business and Modern Language to Aston Business School for 620 places on Aston’s 17 single, joint Professor Tony Bridgwater of BERG. BSc progamme has jumped by 111%. In general, applications and combined honours business degrees. The latest figures from BERG’s proven expertise in the field has The 2.8 million, three year contract is Through the Kyoto Protocol the EU promised for degree places at Aston Business School have risen by UCAS, the organisation responsible for managing applications to been recognised with major national, funded through Altener in the Intelligent to cut its combined greenhouse gas 36% this year – more than four times the national average. higher education courses in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern European and international research Energy for Europe Programme. emissions by eight per cent from their 1990 Ireland, show an average rise in higher education applicants of 8.2%. contracts on renewable energy projects, levels by 2010, mainly by substituting fossil “There’s a desperate need from industry for both language including management of SUPERGEN The network brings together 13 partner fuels with renewable energy sources (RES). skills and a real understanding of a different culture,” explains This year Aston Business School has received 4,153 applications Bioenergy and core membership of the organisations from across Europe. This team With bioenergy expected to make up the Professor John Saunders, Head of Aston Business School. from the UK and EU and 1,744 from non-EU countries – EC’s Bioenergy Network of Excellence. of experts will champion the most effective largest share of RES in Europe, BERG’s “But universities are closing their language schools down. a rise of 36% on last year’s total of 4,332. Applications methods for thermally converting biomass R&D has never been more important. By developing a product that is carefully targeted, we’ve from UK and EU students for its International Business and BERG’s latest project is ThermalNet – an into energy. ThermalNet is a cluster of bucked the trend. Do it properly and the demand is there.” Modern Language programmes have risen by 111%. integrated European network that looks three networks – combustion, gasification

16 Autumn 05 Autumn 05 17 Neuroscientists from Aston who were involved with the international Methods of Mind conference. Left to right: Peyman Adjamian, Gina Rippon, Carl Senior, Gaynor Evans and Jade Thai. Pioneering language as evidence – study into children’s the world of eyesight forensic linguistics

School of Life & Health Sciences Health & Life of School ptometrists in the School of Life & Health Sciences are embarking on a new

study of the prevalence of Sciences Social & Languages of School refractive error in UK school childrenO – surprisingly something that methods has not been assessed in detail for four rofessor Malcolm Coulthard is the first continuously for 37 years. Since decades! The team will travel to schools academic in the world to be given the title of arriving at Aston in October he in mind in the West Midlands area to perform Professor of Forensic Linguistics. This dynamic has been working with staff from part of a basic eye test to determine and evolving research area is concerned with the the University’s very successful whether children need to wear glasses. analysis and measurement of language in the distance Master’s programmes. context of crime, judicial procedure and legal disputes. In his career so He is also keen to develop the Neuroscientists in the School of Life & Health P Research shows that the prevalence of study of English Language and Sciences held the Methods in Mind Conference short sight in school age children is rising One aspect of the forensic linguist’s work is the examination of far, Professor Linguistics at undergraduate level. at Aston between 12 and 16 September. worldwide – particularly in East Asia – and language as evidence – s/he can be called upon to analyse spoken “ This prestigious five-day event attracted indicators suggest a similar trend is occurring in language or written texts involved in a criminal or civil dispute, for Coulthard “Aston’s English undergraduate neuroscientists from across the world and the UK and mainland Europe. The demographics example suspect suicide notes, statements under caution when a has been programme is different and exciting This prestigious was the premier education event in cognitive of the UK have seen significant changes with defendant claims their words have been altered by police officers because it incorporates a one-year neurosciences. It gave Aston postgraduate children choosing to spend more time indoors or cases of plagiarism. The forensic linguist is also concerned commissioned sandwich placement. This should

five-day event students and staff an unrivalled opportunity to reading, watching TV or playing computer games with the language of the law, the nature of courtroom interaction, to write reports appeal to a different kind of student, “ present their work to an international audience. as well as an increased diversity in ethnicity, the effect of interpreters, how to deal with vulnerable witnesses one who wants to both learn about attracted educational demand and levels of urbanisation. and even linguistic problems in statutes and jury instructions. the English language and apply it in The conference is an annual educational meeting in over 180 cases,

Therefore it is important that visual data for practical situations, which is very neuroscientists that first took place in 1998. At the time brain In his career so far, Professor Coulthard has been commissioned

the child population in the UK is collected. several of them important in today’s competitive imaging was a relatively new technology and to write reports in over 180 cases, several of them high graduate job market. About six years from across the these initial conferences gave working scientists profile, including the appeals of the Birmingham Six, the high profile, The research also benefits the children and “ ago English Language overtook

world and was and students the chance to come together to parents involved in the study. Research in 2001 Bridgewater Four, Derek Bentley and most recently that of including the English Literature as an A-Level discuss their existing work and explore future stated that one in five school age children Paul Blackburn, who had his conviction overturned in late May subject, partly because people are the premier possibilities in neuroscience research. The may have problems with their sight which after he had served 25 years whilst protesting his innocence. appeals of the more focused on careers and it is “ concept was a great success and previous have not been identified. This could have an still growing in popularity. English education event “I was asked to look at a confession statement attributed Birmingham Six. conferences have taken place in locations impact on school work such as problems with Language will link very nicely with to Paul which the police said he wrote unaided,” Professor including London, Washington and Sao Paolo. reading, language and concentration. Should the School’s well-established modern in cognitive Coulthard explained. “He claimed that this had been mainly any visual problems be detected, parents will languages programmes, so a student Aston was the ideal location for this year’s dictated to him by the police officers. My conclusion was neurosciences. be informed and advised to take their child will now be able to study English conference as the University has both that there were certain vocabulary choices and grammatical to a registered optometrist of their choice. with French, German or Spanish. MEG (Magnetoencephalography) and MRI constructions which were unlikely to be those of a 15-year-old They will also have the option of (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanners, as approved school boy with low educational achievement.” The study will involve a series of measurements linking English with Politics or Sociology within the School and well as a multi-channelled EEG system in performed by fully trained UK registered Professor Coulthard has published widely in the field of linguistics, with subjects ranging from Psychology to Business Studies across the Aston Academy of Life Sciences and optometrists. Children will be assessed to check including the seminal text An Introduction to Discourse Analysis, the University through the Combined Honours programme.” the Neuroscience Research Institute. whether or not they need to wear glasses and still in print after 28 years with some 35,000 copies sold. He the size and shape of the eye will be measured. As early publicity for the undergraduate degree, Professor Coulthard The conference was chaired by Dr Carl Senior and Dr Gina Rippon from Aston is the founding editor of Forensic Linguistics: the International organised an English Language study day in March for 6th form and attracted high profile speakers from across the world including Professor Journal of Languages and the Law and was the Founding Dr Nicola Logan, Lecturer in Optometry at students. Schools Liaison at Aston had to close registrations Steven Rose from the UK as well as Professors Matthew Lieberman and President of the International Association of Forensic Linguistics Aston explains: ”We are hoping to build up when they reached 240 and eventually had a waiting list of 100. Marcus Raichle from the USA. Other speakers included Professors Susan a database of child visual function which we (IAFL). The IAFL has just established the Malcolm Coulthard Hurley and Andrew Young and presentations from Professor Stefano Seri will then analyse to ascertain any relationships Bursary to cover all the travel and conference expenses of Professor Coulthard would also like to increase the numbers of and Drs Gareth Barnes, Arjan Hillebrand and Krish Singh from Aston. between the size and shape of a child’s the doctoral student who submits the best abstract for the doctoral students in the School of Languages & Social Sciences. eye and whether this could affect his/her biennial international conference, to be held this year at Cardiff He believes that the introduction of English Language will facilitate Alongside the main conference there were a number of masterclasses need to wear spectacles later on in life.” University, where Professor Coulthard is an Honorary Professor. this as it is a very attractive area of research for PhD students. which enabled delegates to learn how to use various brain imaging He would also like to explore the possibility of introducing a techniques. These training classes were organised by post doctoral Professor Coulthard studied at the universities of Sheffield The study is funded by the Central Local Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics which would complement Aston students, as the emphasis of these conferences is very much on and London, and worked at the University of Birmingham Optical Committee Fund, UK and by the existing Master’s degrees in TESOL and Translation Studies. the exchange of ideas between students and working scientists. the College of Optometrists, UK.

18 Autumn 05 Autumn 05 19 Brains RUN IN THE family exciting new changes Combined Honours Combined Three sets of identical twins in Aston graduated this year, proving that Students’ brains really do run in the family! Guild The new Guild Execs On 1 July 2005 the new Guild Executive took up office. Gareth Computer Science) is Vice President, Education and Welfare; Peter Booth takes up the role of President whilst on placement from Johnson (2005 BEng Communications Engineering) Vice President, his Managerial and Administrative Studies degree. He has Marketing and Entertainments and Jenni Stedman (2005 BSc annah Hill, Mandeep Nagra received an delighted to see all our students small as Aston where only already donated a large amount of time to the Guild since being European Studies and French) Vice President, Student Involvement. who studied upper second class Honours graduate, but it is particularly approximately 1,500 students at Aston – he was Publicity Officer of the charity raising society Combined Degree in Combined Honours nice when siblings graduate graduate per year. What RAG (Raise and Give) last year and has played an active role in Commenting on their new roles at the Guild, Gareth says: “There Honours Business Administration and together. It is very unusual to accentuates this coincidence various other committees including the Guild’s Marketing and is a challenging year ahead. We have looked at the way the Guild is Business see so many further is that two sets of run internally, its structures, operations and core competencies. We I’m delighted to see all our Communications Strategy Group, Guild Council and the Guild’s HAdministration and Public Policy twins going twins also achieved the same Steering Committee. need to maximise the Guild’s importance and give credibility to the and Management, and her twin students graduate, but it through at the classification of degree.” This role it plays in complementing academic activity to provide a broader sister Rebecca, who studied same time. coincidence at Aston was so is particularly nice when Along with Gareth, logistics student Nathan Shane will be Vice student experience. We hope to continue and fulfil the Guild’s Pharmacy, both received first The twins rare it was reported on radio and President, Finance and Advancement. He will manage the finances current five year strategy and look at what Aston Students’ Guild is class Honours Degrees. Hannah siblings graduate together. would have to in the local and national press. of all areas within the Guild and is responsible for commercial and what services it should provide in a way that students want and also won two additional prizes apply to the services in the building. Stephen Abbots (2005 BSc Maths and at a time they want.” for excellence – the Mobil North Sociology, while Sukhdeep same university at the same Hannah said: “Rebecca and I Sea Ltd prize and the Public Nagra received a lower second time, both meet their A-level have always been to the same Policy and Management prize. class Honours Degree in requirements and pass all their schools since we were four. Combined Honours Business course assessments at the I think it’s helped having an Andrew and David Hiller both identical twin every step of Administration and Health same time so that they could In anticipation of the 2006 football World Cup to be held in graduated with upper second the way because we’ve been and Safety Management. all graduate on the same day Germany next June, three German lecturers at Aston and class Honours Degrees in able to encourage each other.” this year. These coincidences Birmingham University decided to organise their own football Combined Honours Business Dr Roy Smith, Director of Aston do happen, but are a rarity, tournament this April called the Sauerkraut Cup in the hope Administration and Psychology. Combined Honours said: “I’m especially at a University as victorious in the of promoting German as a foreign language in the UK. Sauerkraut Cup! The event, which was hosted by the former German Aston Villa player Thomas Hitzlsperger and was sponsored by the German Academic Exchange Service and the Anglo-German building on foundations foundation, was a huge success and saw Aston University celebrating a 3-0 win over their Birmingham ‘rivals’.

Continuing the theme of work-based learning, Combined Similarly, a Foundation Degree in Business Administration has been The German Studies students and lecturers donned their football Honours is involved in the development of two Foundation developed involving Aston Business School and Combined Honours. strips to battle it out on the pitch at Solihull Borough Football Degrees in conjunction with Matthew Boulton College This is designed to appeal to a wide range of employees and Club on 27 April. Thomas Hitzlsperger was present not only to which is now located on the Aston campus. employers looking for a vocationally oriented qualification through give professional opinion on the match and to hand the cup to a Foundation Degree at Matthew Boulton College and progression the winning team, but also to meet German language pupils from Foundation Degrees are a UK Government initiative which to business-related study with Combined Honours at Aston. local schools who were invited to the match. The event attracted enable people who are currently employed to accredit a large crowd which included university and school students, their existing learning and to acquire higher education level There are several key components of the interdisciplinary Honours cheerleaders, press and many others, who all witnessed the School qualifications. They are frequently offered on a part-time basis. progression programme, including a work based research project. of Languages & Social Sciences German football players win. The project is designed to be of direct benefit to employers A Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care has been and students alike and reinforces the vocational nature of the Event co-organiser Yvonne Henze, DAAD-Lektorin for Business developed involving the School of Life and Health Sciences, Foundation Degree experience together with the adoption of German in the School of Languages & Social Sciences said: the School of Languages and Social Sciences and Combined resource-based learning approaches in some Aston modules. “Football is one of Germany’s best known ‘export goods’ and one Honours. This offers access to a Foundation Degree at Matthew of England’s favourite sports, so the decision to link a German Boulton College with onward progression to an Honours These two developments provide exciting opportunities for language event for schools with the beautiful and popular game Degree in Combined Honours at Aston to a number of different Combined Honours to continue their mission to provide earning and almost suggested itself, especially in consideration of the groups of Assistant Practitioners in Health and Social Care. learning opportunities for students to access the Aston curriculum. fact that Germany will be hosting the World Cup in 2006.”

20 Autumn 05 Autumn 05 21 Annual Giving Student Telefundraising

Baskerville Campaign ends on a House £124,000 high note

The first-ever Alumni Annual aston staff and friends who Judging by the letters sent to an excellent and worthwhile giving campaign has been visited the call centre were callers and comments made cause which deserves the very successfully completed! very positive about the to development and alumni maximum support from professionalism and enthusiasm relations staff at reunions and graduates of aston university.” a remarkable team of student demonstrated by the students. other events, aston alumni callers raised over £124,000 to aston university’s secretary- seem to have enjoyed the date from about 2,000 alumni registrar, david Packham opportunity to speak with for student-focused projects said: “it was good to see the current students about their For more information such as student bursaries and student callers again last night own experiences of aston and about this campaign, placement grants, a bus for and to congratulate them on life at the university today. it please call Shona the students’ guild, and the their achievement in raising also demonstrates both the nicholson (ext 3338) abs undergraduate lounge. such a healthy sum through positive feelings held by alumni or Brian Porter (ext Holloway Calling alumni from all over their efforts. i am really pleased for the university and the strong circus Town Hall

3026) in the Office BiRMingHAM the world, the student team for the university but also for belief in giving back to their of Advancement. has collected on average the student callers, given that university. as one donor wrote: about £1,100 per hour per this was a trial run. they have “May i finalise by reiterating e’ve received many requests from the apartments and penthouses above the radisson evening/afternoon of calling. done tremendously well.” that the annual giving Fund is our alumni to feature developments sas hotel and health Club will command an in and around Birmingham. As a amazing view of the city. Worth £70 million, the city famed for reinventing itself, development will be completed in 2005. Birmingham’s appetite for change utilising a former hospital campus, birmingham great Park suPPorting aston students – THE ADRiAn AnD SUSAn cADBURy FUnD and improvement shows no signs of diminishing. W is a £400 million development that will create an attractive whether leisure, business or lifestyle, the city ‘village’ environment of open spaces, housing, offices, health proudly boasts a passion for improvement, with an Aston students have always been a favourite of Sir Adrian all funds or gifts-in-kind for student-designated projects and leisure facilities in the longbridge area of the City. estimated £8 billion due to be invested over the next cadbury and his wife, Susan. So it should come as no will be gratefully appreciated and may be contributed 10 years. Here’s a flavour of what’s on the horizon. the plans for the east side of the city are the most surprise that this generous couple have decided to lend their by donors at any time as single gifts or as a pledge ambitious and far-reaching over the coming years with this names to a fund which will help improve the educational over several years. declaring gift aid for donations can eagerly awaited is the reopening in 2007 of birmingham’s massive development breathing new life into swathes of experience and the lives of Aston University students. also increase significantly the impact of each gift. classically-styled town hall. a total of £31 million will currently run-down industrial areas. eastside will comprise fund major repairs and improvements such as a new the adrian and susan Cadbury Fund has been created a variety of small and larger-scale student projects requiring attractive new technology, learning and media quarters roof and pavement café. admirers of the landmark from a significant initial donation by the Cadburys so that urgent funding are available to donors. if you are interested in including new homes for the birmingham Conservatoire building will be pleased to hear that its stunning, aston students’ guild might begin to redesign, reallocate finding out more, please contact brian Porter, director of the and the royal College of organists as well as a new original 1834 balcony layouts will also be reinstated. and refurbish space in the guild thereby enhancing student office of advancement ([email protected] or 0121 204 national academy of Writing, a Media village and beautifully services and helping to make the guild more commercially 3026) for information on the adrian and susan Cadbury Fund located near broad street, arena Central is a £450 million landscaped city park. after its impressive beginnings with successful. Funds towards this refurbishment have also been projects and other ways to give to support aston students. development of high quality office, residential and retail the landmark Millennium Point, the work on eastside added through the successful annual giving Campaign. space. it is anticipated that the impressive development continues apace with the commencement of the Masshouse will become a major landmark on birmingham’s skyline. development in January 2005, a seven-year project that will bring a lively mix of commercial, residential and set to revitalise the concept of modern inner city living, leisure opportunities linking eastside to the city centre. attwood green, located near Five Ways, will not only provide an enhanced environment with amenities and birmingham is a city constantly on the move so it’s planned legacy giving new commercial and housing opportunities, but will also no wonder that major improvements to its transport create the largest park within the outer ring road. the infrastructure are planned over the next few years. the the additional financial benefits benefits in your current financial We welcome the opportunity to regeneration scheme is due for completion in 2010. flagship national express coach station on great Charles Many people have found associated with many types planning and achieve your work with you and your financial street will be the hub of the uK’s coach network and a that the achievements of of planned legacy gifts, as philanthropic goal of ensuring advisors to determine which an important landmark building on Centenary welcome replacement for the existing digbeth Coach station, a lifetime can gain added encouraged by the uK excellence at aston university planned legacy option would square, baskerville house is being refurbished which is now unable to cope with the increased demand purpose and recognition government, make it possible and for its students and staff. be most appropriate for you. and extended into modern grade a contemporary for travel to and from the city. Plans are also underway in the heart oF heart the in through a contribution for you to support the work office space, including a state-of-the-art health club for the refurbishment and upgrading of new street your commitment to the future if you are interested in towards the future of of aston university and its in the basement topped off with a glazed roof. station, with the regional development agency, advantage students to a greater extent of aston university, its students discussing this further, please West Midlands, pledging substantial financial backing. other people, especially to than you thought possible. and staff may come in different contact Brian Porter, Director one of birmingham’s most famous landmarks will those younger than you birmingham is a city that’s always looking forward; a planned legacy gift is one forms of planned legacy gifts, all of Advancement at +44 enjoy a facelift as the iconic rotunda undergoes major the regeneration of recent years has been impressive and in higher education – which helps you to ensure that of which may have significant (0)121 204 3026 or e-mail refurbishment and conversion to luxury apartments. but the future looks even more exciting. With at Aston University. your personal and financial financial benefits to you. [email protected] Creating an impressive 130-metre glass tower, 10 holloway so much development in the pipeline it seems objectives are met, realise tax Circus will be a stunning new addition to birmingham’s skyline. birmingham’s renaissance is by no means over.

22 autuMn 05 autuMn 05 23 and Msc) and assessor in of energy (emotrance) haemoglobinopathies at Practitioner. i have helped 1980s Wolverhampton university people quit smoking, lose and the university of Central weight, relieve their depression england. i am a registered dna and overcome fears and phobias. sampler for paternity testing and immigration matters.”

SuZannE KIRBY née Smyth, 1983 MSc Public Sector where Mike Hayes Management are they 199 BSc Business “When i graduated from aston administration i was already a Chartered and German librarian working in birmingham and i expected to progress in “i joined the littlewoods my chosen career for the rest SuKHJInDER MaRWaH itching to find out whatnow your friends from aston are up to? looking to see organisation soon after KEITH STEWaRT of my professional life – it didn’t who’s up to what and with whom? Well look no further because ‘Where are graduation as a management 1982 BSc Biochemistry quite work out like that! i grew 1985 MBa trainee and worked for them and Pharmacology restless and went on to work for ? “1985 was a momentous year – they now?’ is the place to find out the latest news from aston’s thriving alumni for 20 years, much of that time dudley social services running “i started my career in my father sadly died, my son network. you never know, you might just spot someone you want to get in spent as the hr Manager for the research and information the nhs as a research was born, i graduated, changed their index catalogue shop department and planning touch with. if you want your face noticed in the spring edition, contact us at the scientist before going on to jobs and then we moved from business. i now work at future services with the health successfully complete an Msc, sutton Coldfield to bedfordshire! usual address with your news – and, go on, send a photograph! Celtic Football Club as head authority and the private sector. Fellowship(haem) and Phd in My career fortunately flourished of hr, a job that has been next, i restructured some field of haematology. Currently, in the retail and hospitality by far the most rewarding local government services i am registered as a Clinical sectors thanks to my aston and enjoyable i’ve had to for compulsory competitive research and development whom i had worked during my scientist in haematology at City Mba and i worked for mainly date. on the domestic front i tendering and moved on to and one year at rotterdam sandwich year. i qualified as a hospital, birmingham, where i large corporations latterly have three children from my advise chief executives and 1970s refinery. in 1992 i established Chartered accountant in 1974 manage the haemoglobinopathy as Md of various subsidiary previous marriage, daniel, laura council leaders on strategic and a consultancy that opened up and twelve months later joined department and the City and companies when i decided and Christopher, who live in policy planning. i gave up work many new horizons, allowing my father’s small accountancy guilds Phlebotomy course. in to fulfil my biggest ambition lancashire. My fourth child, in 1998 to care for my husband me the opportunity to make practice, where i stayed until addition, i continue research and do a management buy-in louise was born in March 2004 and after his death decided to short business trips to unusual 1983 doing accountancy, audit in the development of iron of a yorkshire event caterer here in glasgow where i live travel for a couple of years. My countries such as turkmenistan, and tax work. i then joined overload in patients with in 2003. We now live in york with my wife Mairi. outside travels led to me becoming a iran, thailand, algeria, egypt, trident housing association as sickle Cell disease and beta where i indulge my classic car MIKE PaLMER work i’m a big music fan and Clinical hypnotherapist. i now nigeria, saudi arabia, Kuwait director of Finance, and have thalassaemia and write ‘habit’ in my spare time – i’ve i authored the biography of work part-time from home as a and russia. i recently worked been there ever since. trident 19 BSc publications and present posters owned well over 100 of american rock band Cheap stress Management Consultant, for two years in venezuela on provides housing, care and Systems analysis at national and international them in the past 40 years.” an oil field development project, support services to over 3,000 trick, published in 1998.” a Past life regression therapist “after finally leaving aston scientific meetings. i am providing a fantastic opportunity households in the West and and an emotional transference (after a 4-year course and a also a visiting lecturer (bsc aLan WaLTon to experience south american east Midlands and is based in sabbatical year) reality hit home life and to learn spanish. the birmingham, so i still live in 191 BSc when i joined lucas electrical work included designing and my home city and am proud Electrical Engineering in birmingham as employee MaRK PRoTHERoE the rio Conference and my work took managing the construction to be a brummie through and relations officer at the height me to countries as diverse as Canada, “after graduating i worked for of a 70km, 115kv overhead through. i am also proud of my 198 BSc Maths and Physics of industrial unrest! despite argentina, Japan, taiwan and across the three years at a private steel power line about 400km south two associations with aston “i took a sabbatical position in the guild that, i have continued my career european union. i maintained my links rolling works in the black east of Caracas. at one stage and the villa. trident celebrated as vP education after graduating and in hr (or Personnel as it was with academia and helped found two Country. Following the winter during the construction the its 40th anniversary last week shortly afterwards completed a Masters research institutes at dundee and Kings called then) through lucas, geC of discontent in 1973-74, the aluminium conductor was being and we have just embarked on in artificial intelligence and business College, being a visiting lecturer at both. and hsbC. i am now living three day working week and stolen faster than it could be a year of celebrations, which at south bank Polytechnic. i then went as with all research jobs i ended up in harpenden and working in the arab oil embargo, i thought erected! i am presently working will include the launch in a few on to do several scientific jobs ranging moving into management, taking up london for hsbC insurance oil is the business to get into. in the south of england on the months’ time of a book charting from research on the uK component directorship positions for companies brokers. i’ve been happily shell offered me a job with conceptual design of electric our history and achievements. of the strategic defence initiative (star working for the european union and married for almost 26 years shell exploration and Production power supplies for a new oil on a personal note, my wife Wars) to becoming the senior european british government. Currently i am to ann (who i met at aston) in the london headquarters field development in siberia that is a library graduate from one radar scientist on a joint Canadian/ Managing director of a company with two boys aged 11 and 13. working on north sea oil incorporates the challenge of of those other birmingham european space-based radar processing called the bid team limited, which i’ve enjoyed a couple of aston project. this was the start of a 10-year developments. during this constructing a 700km pipeline educational camps (uCe). provides consultancy and outsourced reunions over the years and am period travelling the world, initially time i worked for six months north to the arctic ocean.” our daughter, laura has just bidding solutions for sMes wishing still in contact with a few old building a synthetic aperture radar commissioning the auk platform, graduated from Manchester to bid for european and government mates from the guild – (sar) processing system that could be contracts. an eclectic career so far shell’s first in the north sea. with a 2:1 in geography. our PHIL RoDEn i was deputy President of used for environmental monitoring of and a thoroughly enjoyable one and

after seven years i moved to older son, david, has recently spotlight on... the students’ union between the earth from polar orbiting satellites it all started at aston. When i left i rivals esso where i worked 192 BSc received his a-level results and 1975-6. My hobbies these days and then onto the development of large thought that i would never use my mainly in the european refining administrative Science will be going to leeds next include travel, socialising and ground-based processing stations for degree and yet i’ve spent the last 20 area. during this time i had the month to read Mathematics “i returned to the birmingham luton town FC (for my sins!!)” environmental research. environmental years doing exactly that – using it.” opportunity to work for three accountancy firm of agar bates and our younger son is projects were high on the agenda after years in new Jersey at exxon ledsam after graduation, with awaiting his gCse results.”

24 autuMn 05 autuMn 05 25 1990s 2000s Did you LaCKHBIR KauR share and grow profits in, what 2000 BSc International is, an increasingly competitive graduate in market. the competition Business and German entailed writing a dissertation the 2000s? Currently works for PepsiCo set by the aCs. Four finalists uK in theale, reading. she were identified and were we’d love to find out what you’re up to! was nominated by PepsiCo invited to give a presentation to represent the company to a panel of judges. this year’s Email: in a scholarship award. the finalists included Proctor and [email protected] scholarship is run annually gamble, gallagher, scottish Courage and PepsiCo. lackhbir by the aCs (association of or write to: Convenience stores) and open won the uK aCs scholarship alumni relations office to all FMCg companies in for 2005 and as a result is off aston university the uK. the aim of the aCs to new orleans later in the aston triangle is to encourage managers year to compete in the global birmingham JaGDEEP GoGna within FMCg to develop their scholarship awards. here she b4 7et knowledge of the impulse will be competing against 1999 BSc Public market and identify new other candidates from america, Deadline: Policy and Business strategies, which will help europe, south africa and February 2006 administration XIaoDonG JIanG retailers to increase market australia. good luck lackhbir! Jagdeep went on to receive aka Tony, RaCHEL CaIRnS a postgraduate degree 2000 MBa in business Continuity née Morris, Management from Coventry “i met my wife, amanda, at a 1994 BSc International university. he currently works media reception in april 2004. Business and French as a business Continuity she works for a multinational advertising agency and sat after graduation i joined iCl’s Management Consultant at opposite me – it really was graduate training scheme hewlett Packard and was love at first sight! We started and went on to complete recently awarded the title of dating and were engaged on a postgraduate diploma in business Continuity student spotlight on... 11.11.2004 – the date consists of human resource Management of the year at the international four ‘1’s, which means ‘lifelong at Manchester Metropolitan business Continuity awards, love’ in Chinese. We married university. in 1996 i left iCl held in london’s Park lane on on 20 March and the weather to join the human resources 12 May. the panel of was excellent, having poured department of JCb based at STuaRT HuTTon distinguished judges, including down the day before and after their global headquarters in 1999 BEng Electronic Engineering the head of the Civil the wedding! We have enjoyed staffordshire. it was here that and Computer Science Contingencies secretariat, nearly 10 tourist trips in less i met alan and we married Cabinet office declared spotlight on... “i’m now a freelance automotive design than a year, including those PauL HEBRon in 1999. the following year Jagdeep a clear winner, adding: engineer, specialising in the development of high to vacation paradises like Koh 2003 BSc Management our son was born and i took “…he made some very careful performance cars. i’ve worked at Jaguar and Mg samui of thai, sanya beach the decision to leave industry observations, demonstrating a and Psychology and i’m currently developing new models for variety of angles and opinions and huangguoshu Waterfall in a bid to achieve a better “after graduating i worked as an bentley. My job involves taking cars from a design and offered some justified of China. at the end of May, i work/life balance. i joined hr assistant for aWg Facilities concept and engineering them into production views on the future of business completed a three-year contract Keele university as human services until June 2004. i realities, using 3d Cad to perfect designs, setting continuity.” Jagdeep is an active as eMba Marketing Manager resources Manager in 2001 and then joined the institute of up prototypes, and then the best part – testing member of his local golf club with China europe international i thoroughly enjoy working in Career guidance, the largest them. this requires pushing the prototypes to their and a keen pianist. in his spare business school, the leading the higher education sector. i professional organisation for limits at special test tracks in the uK and europe time he also enjoys Michelin- business school in China and am fortunate to be able to carry career guidance practitioners in and at secret facilities from the arctic Circle to starred cuisine, working out at asia. in July, i joined shanghai out my role on a part-time basis nICK MaRaToS the uK, where i presently hold arizona. testing heavily disguised Jaguar prototypes the gym, as well as reading to advertising limited, one of the allowing me to spend valuable the position of Membership around Manhattan and driving bentleys around keep abreast of movements top 10 advertising agencies in 2000 BSc Managerial and time with my young family. Manager. during my placement high speed bowls were particularly enjoyable in the commercial property China, which is jointly invested administrative Studies and We have four children, harry, year i was lucky enough to assignments. as a ‘refreshing break’ from all of market. an existentialist by shanghai World expo (group) LouISE MaRaToS née Gough, sophie and twins laura and attend an introduction to web this i recently completed the 1,300 mile round fine-artist, Jagdeep has also Co. ltd, hakuhodo and WPP 2001 BEng Chemical Engineering emma. life is hectic but fun!” design course. having worked trip to le Mans for the 24 hour race in a little Mg, deployed these skills into group plc, one of the world’s on freelance projects over the which was great fun but incredibly hot. i always jewellery-making. Central to leading communications nick and louise met at the students’ guild in 1997 past few years a friend and remember my aston days with a great deal of his most extravagant hobby, services groups. shanghai and recently married on 9 april in their now home i decided to launch our own Did you affection and although i now live in Cheshire, i singing, Jagdeep has performed advertising limited is also the town of Crawley, West sussex. they had a fantastic business – sP Web design ltd. can often be found in the academy or snobs numerous live shows with investor of shanghai ogilvy day and were joined by many of their friends from you can find out more about graduate in birmingham ‘indie pits’ reliving my memories asian bhangra bands. and shanghai hakuhodo. i aston. louise now works for three valleys Water of’ ‘shine’ at the guild on a Friday night.” was invited to fill the newly as a Process engineer and nick as a Category the projects we’ve worked the 90s? created position of Marketing development Manager for Kimberley-Clark. on by visiting our website we’d love to find out director, which is also new to www.spwebdesign.co.uk” what you’re up to! the whole advertising industry.”

2 autuMn 05 autuMn 05 2 Esther Squire Gill acomb 2004 BSc Managerial 2005 BSc Marketing

and administrative during the summer i spent Studies two weeks in Malta with my “a few days after my graduation boyfriend and his family. it was great to relax after all the unions ceremony in July 2004 i flew out to india alone having stresses of exams, the only re: secured a placement through nerve-racking part was waiting aieseC with a small charity in for my results to arrive by Chandigarh, north india. during text while i was away! For the 1995 and 2000 Reunion Reunions around the world my six months there i was last month i’ve been working for Corgi in leicester and on 2 July the classes of 1995 and 2000 privileged to spend a lot of time were invited back to aston to celebrate CYPRuS in the deprived areas of the absolutely love it! My role as their 10 and five year anniversary despite it being a holiday weekend, aston alumni weren’t city working in slum schools Project Co-ordinator involves reunions. over 150 alumni attended deterred from enjoying a reunion at the hilton nicosia and undertaking a project for me overseeing the marketing the reunion held at the students’ guild, along with Postgraduate Marketing Coordinator for aston handicapped children to improve for Corgi’s 50th anniversary next year. although it is initially with 51 of the guests choosing to business school, tim anderson, on March 11 this year. the conditions they lived in. attend a celebratory three course during my placement i regularly a one year contract, i am keen to try and impress my meal beforehand at aston’s highly- travelled across the beautiful rated lakeside Conference Centre. aTHEnS and exciting country of india and employers in the hope that they Judging by the speeches at the back in the spring aston hosted an Mba alumni reunion i lived with students from all will keep me on at the end! end of the meal, we gathered that everyone was dinner in athens. after drinks at the athens hilton the group over the world, allowing me to having an excellent time and we have took a short walk to a local restaurant recommended by one gain a mixed cultural experience. since heard that many even made it to alumnus, where a very convivial dinner was enjoyed by all! My experiences have changed spotlight on... the famous Manzils for a curry after the me enormously, especially in event at around 4.00am! our thanks in the autumn dr gareth griffiths, Mba terms of my career direction, LauRa-KaTE MaPP go to dan devonald (2000 Meng director (external), will be visiting athens and and i am now working with 2005 BSc Marketing electronic systems engineering) and is looking forward to hosting another similar people with learning disabilities, rob brittain (2000 bsc Managerial event. We will be in touch with all our greece which i love. i still harbour a “after my exams finished in May i began working at rolls- and administrative studies) for their based Mba alumni shortly with more details. strong desire to travel and work royce in order to earn some money to fund a round-the-world help in rounding up their friends abroad, especially in the area Pictured left to right: Joseph Kassapis (1979 bsc Mathematics), tim trip. however, it wasn’t long before i was back at aston and classmates for this event. anderson (Postgraduate Marketing Coordinator in aston business school), of international development.” university – but this time as a member of staff! i took on the antonios Kassapis (1978 housing and Computer science), nicos ambizas (1954 bsc Maths and Physics) and vrahimis Petri (1965 bsc Physics). role of Marketing assistant in the business school in June where i have been involved in a number of marketing campaigns and Rebecca Louise Hunter research projects. i hope to remain here until i leave for a nine month trip around the world with my sister, where we plan to 2005 BSc Business visit countries in asia, australasia, south and north america. and administration calendar ’06 after that? Well, i suppose it will be time to get a serious job!” and French Forthcoming reunions and events for 2006

during the summer i worked as 11 MaRCH: a télé-operateur at aa european annuaL GEnERaL MEETInG oF THE ConVoCaTIon operations in lyon, France. this FonDuE MEMoRIES founder member of supply and a daughter who works year was my second season in next year marks forty years since aston received its Charter and We intend to repeat Fondue Memories again this year and Chain logistics group in dubai. in financial services at td the role, which involves taking we’ll be celebrating this as part of our agM programme. the agM all graduates from 2001-2005 will be invited back to campus, Philbert has a son, lambert, bank, Canada. his wife has a emergency breakdown calls will take place on saturday 11 March 2006 and a full programme so please keep your eyes peeled for more information on who has just graduated in Phd in Comparative literature from british aa customers who will be issued in January 2006. you will have the opportunity to our website Philbert Suresh Computer engineering from a and manages a publishing www.aston.ac.uk/reunionsandevents have broken down in europe come back to campus to meet the vice-Chancellor and officers 2004 MSc Logistics community college in Canada, business in Channai, india. and european aa customers of the university, find out about the recent successes aston has 50 YEaR annIVERSaRY REunIon Works for translogique who have broken down in the enjoyed and revisit your student haunts. For those of you who Canada (tlC), a leading uK. i am now studying Ma want to be more involved with the life of the university there will dr gordon appelbe qualified as a Pharmacist at the school of training provider and event want to be in apex? applied translation studies at be an opportunity to forward nominations for positions on the Pharmacy in 1956 and would like to hold a 50-year anniversary management company in the leeds. Core modules include standing Committee and university Council. Put the date in your reunion in 2006 for his fellow classmates. anyone is welcome to area of logistics and supply If you would like to be featured in Methods and approaches, diary now. Call round friends and make sure they have the date too! attend, but he is particularly keen to trace the following people: chain management. Philbert ‘Where are they now?’ specialised translation (for me We’re looking forward to seeing you on saturday 11 March 2006. basil simmonds, shirley ealden, sheila randle, Jill tinley, spearheads tlC programs using in the spring edition of Apex, please send some it’s from French to english) and ann timms and Pat turner. if you are one of those listed, knowledge he has acquired Computer assisted translation or you would just like to find out more about the proposed information about yourself either by e-mail to: MaY: 1980 from 22 years experience in and i have also taken up s PHaRMaCY REunIon event, please contact the alumni relations office on the industry worldwide and 12 [email protected] spanish from scratch! so far i back by popular demand! if you studied Pharmacy in the 1980s, +44 (0)121 204 4543 for gordon’s contact details. years teaching in Canada, the or by letter addressed to: am really enjoying the course make sure you book for the 1980s Pharmacy reunion. uK and uae. he piloted a new and living in leeds. next year curriculum for higher Colleges Alumni Relations Office, Aston University, i would like to do a placement  oCToBER: of technology (hCt) under the Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET. year in spain. My real aim is HouSE oF CoMMonS Please contact the REunIon DInnER Alumni Relations Office for further Ministry of higher education, Should you wish to send a photo to accompany your profile, to be trilingual. having studied uae in a business specialisation languages, i have met so many details about any of these events. please either post an original, which we will return, or e-mail all alumni based in the south east are invited to this call 0121 204 4543 or e-mail supporting national development one at high resolution (250-300 dpi). intelligent motivated people – event. More details will be out in the new year. [email protected] Details are also available at through logistics and supply We are waiting to hear from you – don’t be afraid! some who spoke anything up www.aston.ac.uk/alumni/reunions Chain Management between (Deadline for receipt of information is February 2006.) to six languages fluently! 1996 and 2002. he is also a

28 autuMn 05 autuMn 05 29 News from Aston Graduates’ Association intouch ga members have the Public relations office exhibits matched items DAVID BETTINSON JONATHAN SHORT ELISA ZEN taken part in a variety to talk to us about antiques still in use by aga You’d like to find (1974 BSc Electrical (1989 BEng Electrical and (1997 MSc Personnel A of events this year. at aston. she concentrated members. the four Engineering) Electronic Engineering) Management and Business We broke new ground in May particularly on the history and houses represent the a number of you take advantage of our in LEN HOBBS ELTON WHITING Administration) by visiting nutlands to see development of the arts and households of four touch service to track down long lost friends. (1976 BSc Behavioural (1994 BEng Manufacturing KAREN NEAVES the lambs born to the Jacobs Craft Movement in birmingham. families who lived Whilst many are happily reunited, others Science) Engineering) (1998 BSc French and Business Administration) sheep belonging to Jackie she also discussed the here from the early remain far more difficult to locate. do you know emberton, an aga member. importance of the James Watt eighteenth century any of the following? if so, let us know! We were also able to see plan chest and the byng Kenrick until fifty years ago. the wool being spun and the casket which have both been as our visit coincided with fleeces and shawls etc. that preserved by the university. the v.e. celebrations in the city, JUDITH GRICE KWOK LAU SARAH PEALING increase our she makes from it. as it was a buffet supper afterwards the houses were bedecked (2001 MSc Community Clinical (1978 BEng Electrical and (1997 BSc Optometry) understanding of the way We’d like to find bluebell time members were provided an opportunity for with flags and posters and the Pharmacy) Electronic Engineering) GARY PETERS able to wander over this pretty aga and birmingham graduates guides had donned second the city is governed and gave the alumni relations office has lost touch with SYLKE HEINRICH RAYMOND LAW (1981 BSc Human Psychology) us insight into the history of farmland until it was time to to renew old friendships. World War costumes varying the following graduates. do you know any of (1997 MSc In Business (1978 BSc Mathematics) CLAIRE QUINN adjourn to a nearby country pub from those of the land this magnificent building. them? We need your help to track them down… Studies) ANTHONY LAWRENCE (2004 BSc Human Psychology) for supper and a pint of real ale. in July aga members visited army to wrens. Members GEOFFREY HENDY (1978 BSc Geological Sciences) due to popular demand another LISE RAJAGUKGUK the national trust’s newly found the morning most DAVID ACOTT PETER COURT (1989 MSc Public Sector JAMES LAWRENCE (2001 MSc International pétanque competition was Management) this year it was aston’s turn refurbished back-to-back informative and interesting. (1983 BSc Energy Technology) (1982 BSc Geological Sciences) (1998 BSc French) Business) staged at the hints village hall to host the joint meeting with properties in hurst street. MESSAOUD ADOUI NEIL COWIE SARA HERBERT RAYMOND LAWRENSON STEPHEN RAWLINGS birmingham guild of graduates Many of us found it easy a visit to the birmingham in september and this was (1973 MSc Welding Technology (1982 MSc Pharmaceutical (1979 BSc Pharmacy) (1978 BSc Energy Technology) (1993 BEng Civil Engineering) followed by a buffet supper. and we were pleased to to relate to the basic living Council house in september and Management) Sciences) MICHAEL HYDE KIAN LAYEGHI SAMANTHA REED welcome sally hoban from conditions and many of the provided another opportunity to DANIEL AGER DONNA COWLEY (1978 BSc Biology of Man and (1978 BSc Civil Engineering) (1996 BSc French) His Environment) (2003 BSc Accounting for (1985 BSc Electrical and JOHN LEE KATIE RICE Management) Electronic Engineering) ANDREW IOANNOU (1981 BSc Energy Technology) (1995 BSc Pharmacy) (1991 BEng Production NASREEN AKHTAR BABARA DAVEY RHONDA MCELHINNEY PHYLLIS RILEY (1982 BSc Biological Sciences) (née Groom, 1973 BSc Technology and Production Management) (1996 BSc International (1983 MSc Public Sector SAIQA ASLAM Combined Honours) Business and French) Management) (2002 BSc Managerial and SALLY DORRINGTON MARK JERVIS lost artwork returns to Aston (1978 BSc Civil Engineering) TERESA MCGOWAN PAUL ROBERTS Administrative Studies) (1998 BSc Optometry) (1996 BSc Transport (1971 BSc Administrative TIMOTHY JESSON the piece was the working he was one of the first STEPHANE BAILLS PHILIPPA DUNKLEY Management) Science) (1994 MSc (2001 BSc International (1988 BEng Electromechanical model for the full-size sculptors in britain to embrace Engineering and 1999 MBA) MICHELLE MCLOUGHLIN THERESA ROCHE coming up… Telecommunications Business and French and (1996 BSc International (1981 BSc French and German) Morphic nebule sculpture, new materials in the art form Technology) German) SASHUANG JIANG nov ’05 visit to the Pen Business and German) WENDY SANDY commissioned by aga in including fibreglass, plastics, KIRPAL BAINS JOANNE ELLIS (2002 MBA) Museum, birmingham. GAVIN MEIKLE (1987 BSc Applied and Human the 1970s. this visually concrete and cement fondue. (1995 BSc Chemistry) (1997 BSc Business DAVID JOYCE (1996 BSc Applied and Human Biology) striking, modernist he was also head of sculpture Jan ’06 dinner at the Administration and French) (1967 BSc Production AYSE BAS Biology) STEPHEN SILVERWOOD College of Food. Engineering) artwork adorned the at birmingham College of art (1992 MSc Teaching English) BRUCE EVANS JOSEPH MENSAH-TANDOH (1979 BSc Civil Engineering) staircase wall in the between 1956 and 1981. CHARLES BEARD (1992 PhD Ophthalmic Optics) AYLA KARAMALLI (1996 MSc Management) (1982 MSc Chemistry and EMMA SMITH university library until (1977 BEng Electrical and ALISON EYRE CHRISTOPHER MOTTRAM (1995 BSc Pharmacy) Electronic Engineering) (1999 BSc Psychology and Technology of Polymers) relatively recently. it the maquette for the Morphic (1983 BSc Mathematics) Management) SHINGO KASAHARA KAREN SMITH is currently in storage nebule was presented to IAN BRENNAN MUHAMMAD MUBARAK (2003 MBA) (1998 MBA) SARAH FLETCHER (1997 MSc Business awaiting restoration. the university at a special Administration) (1983 MBA) KEITH VINNING ADRIAN BRIDAL (née Hall, 1974 BSc Physics the original piece ceremony held in august which and Chemistry) MANDHESE KAUR KHURSHID NAQVI (1981 BEng Electrical and (1969 BSc Chemical (1985 PhD Production Electronic Engineering) took approximately was attended by library staff Engineering) RICHARD FULCHER (1997 BSc Managerial and Engineering) ALEXANDER WESTBROOK three months to and members of aga. the (1998 BSc Computer Science) Administrative Studies) MICHAEL CASSIDY DEIRDRE NASH (2003 BSc Law with Legal complete once the final piece is now on display in a (1989 BSc Society and FREDDY GARCIA SILVA ANGELA KELLY (1974 BSc Behavioural Science) (1985 BSc Ergonometry and Practice Management) design had been chosen prominent position in the library. Government) (1981 BSc Metals and Society and Government) The original model for Calling all budding Materials Technology) NAOMI KIRKMAN DON WILLIAMS from a series of drawings. art DILPREET CHAHAL NIGEL NELMS (2004 BSc Optometry) an important piece of lawrence innis, Chairman artists! AGA will (1991 BSc Management and STUART GOODE (2000 BSc European Studies and French) (1985 BSc Managerial and WEI YOU artwork at Aston has of aga said: “on behalf of be awarding three Computer Science) (1997 BEng Manufacturing the Morphic nebule was Administrative Studies) (2004 BSc Business Computing recently been presented to aga i’d like to thank edna for prizes for the best 2D TANYA CHAPPELL Engineering) ANN LATHAM sculpted by the artist John (1978 MSc Computer Science DAVID NGONYANI and IT) the University Library by this valuable piece of artwork pieces of art entered (2002 BSc European Studies MICHAEL GRACE (1981 BSc Chemical bridgeman Frbs, arCa. he and French) (1981 MSc In Environmental Applications) ZHENHUA YU the wife of the man who in their competition Engineering) was born in suffolk and studied which is part of the life of Planning and Design) HARISH LATHIA (2004 MSc Financial NORMAN COLE GRAHAM OTTER Management and Control) originally commissioned it. at Colchester College of art aston graduates’ association.” which is open to (1978 BSc Mathematics and (1974 BSc Behavioural Science) (1975 BSc Systems Analysis) and the royal College of art alumni, members Physics) Mrs edna Constable was edna said: “My husband in london. he also produced of Aston staff and married to eric Constable, eric would have loved the sculpture for Coventry current students. Chairman of aga in the 1960s. university to have this piece of Cathedral and the City hospital For full details and the sculpture model (known sculpture, i feel that it’s really in birmingham (formerly dudley entry rules, contact as a maquette) had been home now. i’m certain that the road hospital). bridgeman Sarah Pymm in the Looking for somebody from Aston? kept in the family’s loft in its library will look after this piece died in december 2004 and in Alumni Relations case until edna discovered and i can’t think of anywhere if they aren’t listed on our e-mail directory on the website us when they move on, we cannot guarantee the person his obituary The Independent Office. Deadline for www.aston.ac.uk/alumni/contactsdb then contact the you are looking for will still be at that address. We would it recently and approached else that it should be.” newspaper described him as a stage one entry is alumni relations offi ce and we will see if we are in touch like to hope, however, that you all keep in touch with us and the university to see if we 20 December 2005. with them. if we have a current address you will be invited let us know of any changes to your address. the in touch “fiercely unconventional sculptor.” CoMPetition wanted to put it on display. to write a letter or leave your contact details. We will pass service does not give out individual names and addresses to these on to the address we hold. as we rely on alumni telling inquirers and all mail is treated in the strictest of confi dence.

30 autuMn 05 autuMn 05 31 Cufflinks Tie Scarf Mug Parker Rollerball Aston Piggybank

Aston Branded Titleist Shot Glass (Engraved with Lapel Badge Triangle Clock PTS University crest) Pyramid Paperweight Crest Keyring

To order your Aston University gifts, please complete the order form and return it to: Alumni Relations Office, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK. All prices include postage and packaging.

Item Item Description Price Quantity Total

1 Cufflinks £15.00 2 Tie £12.00 3 Scarf £20.00 4 Mug £4.00 5 Parker Rollerball £6.00 6 Aston Piggybank £5.00 7 Lapel Badge £1.00 8 Triangle Clock £15.00 (3) Aston branded Titleist PTS Solo Golf Balls £3.00 (6) Aston branded Titleist PTS Solo Golf Balls £6.00 9 (9) Aston branded Titleist PTS Solo Golf Balls £9.00 (12) Aston branded Titleist PTS Solo Golf Balls £12.00 10 Shot Glass engraved with University crest £4.00 11 Pyramid Paperweight £15.00 12 Crest Keyring £2.00 Total

Payment can be made by credit card or cheque made payable to Aston University, in sterling and drawn on a bank in the UK. All orders must be accompanied by full payment. Refunds will only be given if the goods are faulty. Please allow 28 days from receipt of order.

Dr Mr Mrs Miss Ms Name:

Address:

Postcode: Country:

Tel: Email:

Tick as appropriate: I enclose a cheque in pounds sterling drawn on a bank in the UK for £

I wish to pay by MasterCard Visa Switch/Maestro Access Delta Solo

Please charge to my account:

Card number Cardholder’s signature Name on card

Security no. Expiry date Issue number

Delivery details Name: Address: (if different) Postcode: Country:

32 Autumn 05