newsthe staff magazine for loughborough university at lboroissue 67 | summer 2010 A taste of Japan How Loughborough is embracing the country’s culture inside this issue... What’s on campus? Let the Games begin Election reaction A lowdown on facilities The Japan effect has taken hold of staff The University’s experts share and services open to since it was announced the Olympic their views on the General staff, p10 team was coming to campus, p12 Election, p16 02 news news 03 in this issue League table latest Exceptional trio earn University Medal Alumni Three long-serving members of staff are to receive the University Medal in recognition of their exceptional service. Each year, The Guardian, The Times, The Independent and The Sunday Times publish rankings of the UK’s reunion universities based on a variety of criteria including student satisfaction, research assessment, entry standards With more than 90 years of employment at Loughborough between them, cleaning supervisor Sandra Moody, Students that graduated in and graduate prospects. small works manager Dennis Ball and senior assistant registrar Robert Bowyer are to be honoured at this year’s 1980, 1970, 1960 and prior In The Guardian University Guide 2011, Loughborough has risen one place to equal ninth and features in the graduation ceremonies. to 1960 a re b ei ng i nv ited back top 10 in 10 subject tables. These tables draw predominantly on the outcome of the National Student Survey onto campus for a special so strongly reflect students’ assessment of their Loughborough experience. alumni reunion weekend Sandra joined Loughborough in 1974 as an evening cleaner and rose through In The Times league table for 2011, the University has risen one place overall to equal 16th. Loughborough is from 10-12 September. the ranks to become Holywell Park’s cleaning supervisor. Known as ‘mother’ to placed top in three of the subject tables – Building, Librarianship and Information Management, and Sports The alumni office has her cleaning team, Sandra is well-known for ‘spoiling’ Holywell’s tenants and Science – and has 17 subjects in the top 10 of their tables. planned a packed two days In the Complete University Guide 2011, which appears in The Independent, Loughborough was ranked 21st providing extra support to international students on her watch. She has also played of activities including tours, which is, disappointingly, a drop from the previous year. In many of the indicators used in compiling the a valuable role in helping to set up SportPark. Away from her direct responsibilities demonstrations, exhibitions table, the data for Loughborough has changed very little from last year and there is only a small difference Sandra is actively involved in University tradition, having worked as an usher and celebratory meals. between the overall scores of the institutions on either side. As a result even a minor change in some of the at graduation ceremonies for the last 15 years including the recent centenary indicators will cause a drop in ranking. graduations when she accompanied less mobile recipients onto the stage. Staff interested in getting involved or attending should However, Loughborough has continued to do well in the subject rankings of this guide, appearing top 10 in Summer pipe work 15 of the tables and ranking as the best in the UK for Building and Sports Science. contact Marilyn Johnson plans outlined 8 on [email protected] The Sunday Times Good University Guide is due to be published in September. or 228488. For more details Find out more about Dennis joined the University in 1978 at a time when estate projects were see www.lboro.ac.uk/alumni what the campus can designed in-house and he soon became an accomplished draftsman, offer staff 10 developing plans by hand. As the volume of projects increased in the mid- University Court Pensions update 80s Dennis concentrated on small works contracts, progressing them from Japan fever takes hold Many of the University’s staff are members of the an idea through design development to tendering and supervision. There across the University 12 revamped Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), which is remain very few buildings on campus that Dennis has not altered in one way More than 120 VIPs, alumni, business leaders and currently being reviewed. or another. Dennis was integral in the University’s adoption of a computerised dignitaries turned out for the new-look University Court Holiday research High quality pension provision in higher education is drawing system and the resultant estates record drawings which still exist today. which took place at SportPark in June. highlights 14 part of a strong reward package and, with considered Court has been revamped this year to better engage reforms, should remain one of the key benefits offered That was the name of a Loughborough’s politics with external partners and promote Loughborough’s to staff. USS has been a very successful scheme for 35 Robert will have served Loughborough for nearly 25 years when he retires national pilot campaign held experts review the ongoing work, successes and future plans in an years and it is generally agreed that steps need to be this summer, having become well regarded for his expertise in quality and from 14 to 20 June to highlight General Election 16 informal environment. taken to bring it up to date and ensure its future. If standards. Responsible for quality assurance of the University’s undergraduate the essential role of universities action is not taken now, the financial pressures will in the UK and the impact they Themed ‘Making a Difference’, the event reflected the and taught postgraduate programmes, Robert has also developed a series Activity week increase further and threaten the future sustainability have on the economy, culture, new publication now available in print and online, which of codes of practice and guidance notes which underpin Loughborough’s achievements 18 of the scheme. society and the environment, provides an overview of some of the University’s recent principles of fairness and equal treatment of all students. He is key to ensuring to name just a few. activities that are influencing business and industry, The review process is being conducted through the collaborative projects in the UK and overseas retain the highest standards and people’s health, culture and the local community. USS Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), which his contribution has been critical to the University’s reputation for outstanding Initiated by Universities UK, Editor 2006 2007 2008 2009 comprises representatives from both the Employers learning and teaching. the representative body for Amanda Overend Vice Chancellor Professor Shirley Pearce welcomed Pension Forum (EPF) and the University and College the country’s higher education Public Relations Office the new members and was joined by Chancellor Sir Union (UCU). institutions, the event was T: 01509 228686Times Higher Education John Jennings, Students’ Union President Rob Hulme, On 7 July the JNC voted on the proposals for changes The University medal is awarded for exceptional service in any field for and on behalf of the University. backed by a host of well- E: [email protected] 2007 2008 2009 Professors Mike Caine and Alastair Gale, and Dr Martin to the scheme put forward by both the EPF and the Nominations for the 2011 awards close on 5 February 2011. For more information contact Chris Garrod on known people, including actor Design/Print Passmore for a series of presentations highlighting the Stephen Fry and Dragons’ Den Design and Print Services University’s research, achievements and ambitions. UCU. The EPF’s proposals were accepted and will [email protected] or 222483. Times Higher Education investor Deborah Meaden. www.lboro.ac.uk/designandprint now be put to the USS Trustee Board. The event was organised by members of the Marketing 2006 2007 2008 2009 T he changes outlined by the E PF are seen as the minimu m The week-long celebration was Printed on Essential Silk, and Communications team with support from the Vice produced using sustainably necessary to address the massive pressures facing the Labour launches sports split over six themed days. sourced materials and elemental Chancellor’s Office and Facilities Management. Loughborough’s enterprise Times Higher Education sustainability of USS, primarily because people are chlorine free pulp living longer and investment returns have fallen. manifesto on campus activity was well represented Photography2006 2007 2008 2009 Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown met with sports on the ‘business’ day, with spin- It is important to understand the proposed changes Design and Print Services, staff and athletes in April to launch his party’s sports out company Inspired Bicycles, Nigel Farrow, James Ruskin, are not an attempt to cut the cost of pensions. In formed by Sports Technology Times Higher Education manifesto in the final week of campaigning for the University archives October 2009, higher education employers were general elections. graduate Dave Cleaver, the required to increase their USS contributions by 2%, campaign feature in the Daily 2006 2007 2008 2009 bringing the amount they put into the scheme to 16%, Mr Brown toured the Gymnastics Research Centre Express. The company designs and a further increase for employers is proposed for and talked to some of the University’s top gymnasts bikes for trial riding, an offshoot 2011. At present USS members pay 6.35% of their before announcing the manifesto and taking questions Times Higher Education of mountain biking. salary into the USS scheme. from students and staff at the High Performance Athletics Centre. The ‘arts, culture and sport’ The USS pension scheme will be valued again next celebration, held on the Friday, year and a shor tfall is widely anticipated.