Students First Annual Review 2018 Contents Achievements . 3 Awards . 6 Forewords . 8 Mission, Vision and Foundational Values . 14 Our campuses and sites . 16 Factfile #100Students100Stories . 18 An holistic student experience Building the student relationship . 22 Founded: Student life . 23 1839. The University is one of the longest established English Student support . 28 higher education institutions still in its original form, predating Chaplaincy . 35 all but Oxford, Cambridge, London and Durham. Educational opportunities . 36 Volunteering and mentoring . 41 Students: Student projects . 46 20,700 (70% undergraduates, 30% postgraduates). Enhancing employability . 50 Staff: 1,737. Learning environment Chancellor: Staff . 56 Dr Gyles Brandreth. Research and innovation . 61 Publications . 66 Vice-Chancellor: Staff involvement . 70 Canon Professor Tim Wheeler DL. Conferences . 74 Campuses: Guests . 78 Four in Chester, one in Warrington, one in Thornton, Facilities . 80 one in Shrewsbury (with Shropshire Council), Sustainability . 81 in addition to NHS sites on the Wirral and in Crewe and Macclesfield. Community Outreach and widening participation . 86 UK strategic alliance partner: Educational partnerships . 90 University Centre Reaseheath. Engagement with enterprise . 97 Associate colleges: Beyond our boundaries . 100 Coleg Cambria; University College Isle of Man; Global connections . 106 Wirral Metropolitan College. Honorary graduates . 112 The alumni community . 118 Senior staff and members of the University Council . 120 Financial results . 122 Achievements £140 million 10th invested in the Chester, Thornton, Warrington and Shrewsbury out of 66 institutions campuses over the last 10 years for overall satisfaction Postgraduate Research Experience Survey 2018 22,362 Hours of voluntary work contributed by students Approaching and staff in the last year £500 million University’s contribution £45,000 to the region, based on progress since the Raised for charity by 2015 economic impact Chester Students’ Union assessment report Sports and Societies 4 Annual Review 2018 Achievements 97.2% Percentage of UK domiciled taught postgraduate leavers in employment/ further study six months after completing their course and 100% achieved by nine departments Higher Education Leavers Statistics: UK, 2016–17 69 companies Are supported by Commercial Operations at Thornton Science Park, Riverside Innovation Centre and NoWFOOD, employing over 600 company staff and providing student placements Annual Review 2018 5 95.6% Percentage of UK domiciled full- time first degree undergraduate leavers in employment/further study six months after completing their course and 100% achieved by three departments Higher Education Leavers Statistics: UK, 2016–17 18th For facilities spend out of 132 institutions Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 6 Annual Review 2018 Awards Employer Engagement Award Equality Challenge Unit for University of Chester – Royal Caribbean commitment to advancement of International Internship Programme gender equality: representation, Business School of the Year progression and success University of Chester Business School University of Chester (overall) and (with Liverpool Hope Business School) Department of Psychology Research Project of the Year University of Chester – Social and Economic Conditions Contributing to Homelessness in Cheshire Highly Commended Environmental Industry Award University of Chester – Greening the Libraries Highly Commended Carbon Reduction Category University of Chester Food and Drink category Hospitality and Residential Services Staff category HR Excellence in Research award from Shaunagh Smith (Administrative the European Commission Assistant, Estates and Facilities) Annual Review 2018 7 Positive judgement in all areas relating Rated Outstanding by Ofsted to academic standards and the quality for Primary and Secondary Initial of learning opportunities for students Teacher Education – the only provider (Institutional audit, 2010) in the North of England to achieve such recognition in the last three frameworks of inspection Teaching Excellence Framework 2017 21st out of 154 universities in the People & Planet University League with a First-Class Honours award for Participant in National Union of environmental and ethical performance Students sustainability programme 8 Annual Review 2018 ‘Students first’ is not only the theme of this (British Universities & Colleges Sports) Northern Annual Review for 2017–18, but an absolute Conference Cup Finals, together with many watchword for everything we are – and other significant team and individual successes. have always been – as a University. All of the The sports clubs and societies have also raised institution’s diverse activities and its future a tremendous £45,000 for local and national strategies consistently have students at their charities, and together with the 22,362 hours of heart, which is especially critical during such volunteering hours contributed by students and turbulent and uncertain times, both for the staff, this shows how the importance of giving sector and globally. We strive to give our students back to society is embedded into University life, the best possible experience in higher education, not just as part of our Mission Statement. and as time passes they – as our alumni community – are increasingly making ongoing The 20-year anniversary of Work Based and contributions to our development and progress. Integrative Studies (WBIS) programmes demonstrates how the University has always There have been many significant milestones led the way in blending part-time education for our students this year. We were delighted and practice in a highly flexible manner for the to welcome HRH The Duchess of Cornwall to benefit of both students and employers. With Chester Cathedral to receive an honorary degree 69 companies based across Thornton Science for her work in promoting literacy and literature Park, Riverside Innovation Centre and NoWFOOD, and were particularly pleased that she had the part-time work across all campuses through opportunity to chat with current students on the UniJob scheme, and established links with Canon Professor vocational public service programmes about life external employers, the University gives students at the University. Similarly, the official opening of considerable opportunities for work experience, Storyhouse, Chester’s innovative theatre, cinema internships and employment. Biomedical Science TJ Wheeler DL and library, by HM The Queen and HRH The student, Gareth Garner, embodied the vision Duchess of Sussex, gave two student volunteers, for Thornton Science Park, gaining a permanent Vice-Chancellor and Principal Lucy Murphy and Jade Hughes, the chance to position as a Microbiologist with an antimicrobial share with royalty their experience of a social technology firm, after his collaborative enterprise helping the over 50s with IT skills. dissertation work and a summer internship there. The University’s close and multi-disciplinary Nursing student, Lauren Cooper, worked at the relationship with Storyhouse continues to Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust and develop, with student, staff and community was rewarded by the national Student Employee involvement in cultural activities of all kinds. of the Year ‘Above and Beyond’ Award from the National Association of Student Employment Chester Students’ Union (CSU) is an integral Services, for students in part-time employment. part of the holistic student experience and We support our students to be both employable three of the sports teams won their BUCS and to effect societal impact and improvement. Annual Review 2018 9 More than £140 million has been invested Educate North Awards: Employer Engagement into the Chester, Thornton, Warrington and for the Royal Caribbean International Internship Shrewsbury campuses over the last 10 years Programme; Research Project of the Year for and Health and Social Care students can now ‘Social and Economic Conditions Contributing to benefit from the latest teaching facilities at Homelessness in Cheshire’; joint Business School “It is a constant source of Marriss House in Birkenhead. This new Wirral of the Year; and a Highly Commended in the nursing site means that students can utilise Environmental Industry Award. This is a small satisfaction and inspiration for the fully equipped skills laboratory to practise sample of the manifold ways in which students their skills, as well as the state-of-the-art virtual and staff excel in so many fields. reality equipment to prepare them for a range me to see our students, then of hospital placements and community-based It is a constant source of satisfaction and settings, which will provide a greater focus for inspiration for me to see our students, then graduates, making their mark forward-thinking care. The graduation of the first graduates, making their mark upon the world, cohort of undergraduates at University Centre having benefited from the transformative nature Shrewsbury (UCS) has marked the extension of the education that we provide, formally and upon the world.” of our tailored student experience into an area informally. As a result, I would like to thank every identified by the Government as having a lower student and staff member for their outstanding participation rate of young people in higher efforts in making the University such a creative, education. UCS, in partnership with Shropshire stimulating, nurturing and ultimately fulfilling Council, has increased