Top 50 in the UK for Research Power Autumn 2015 • northumbria.ac.uk • #iwantNU Issue 7 Forecast: A Bright Future NORTHUMBRIAUNIVERSITY NEWS PAGE “This is where I want to be” 9 Exclusive interview with our new Chancellor, Baroness Grey-Thompson (DBE) This positive result is the consequence of an ‘‘ ‘‘overall strategy that is grounded in quality Vice-Chancellor of Northumbria University, Professor Andrew Wathey Northumbria on the rise Northumbria University climbs to 28th in the UK for teaching quality in new league tables. orthumbria has taken Survey and Research Excellence the wider student experience.” consequence of an overall strategy study at Northumbria, the University another step forward in Framework, alongside significant Behind the headline improvement, that is grounded in quality – achieving is now the top post-1992 institution for its ambition to become improvements in entry standards and Northumbria was also ranked 28th significant progress in both teaching entry standards, moving up from 48th a new kind of excellent graduate employability. in the UK for teaching quality and and research, with Northumbria to 46th (and 34th in England). Nuniversity, rising two places in The In the 2016 Guide, The Sunday Times 42nd for overall student experience. recognised as the sector’s biggest riser The Sunday Times result follows Times and Sunday Times University said: “Northumbria University has set The Sunday Times also praised in research power.” recent successes for the University in League Table 2016. The University also out its stall with a public declaration Northumbria’s success in the 2014 There was also success at subject student satisfaction, research quality, saw significant gains in overall student that it wants to win a place among the Research Excellence Framework, level in The Sunday Times, with 10 of and graduate employability. Last month, experience and teaching quality where top 30 in the UK — a goal it has come describing the University’s result as Northumbria’s courses in the Top 30 the University improved its ratings in it was ranked joint best in the remarkably close to fulfilling this year at ‘one of the biggest increases in research in the UK, including Architecture, Art almost every area of the 2015 National North East. least with regards to student satisfaction. funding at any university’. and Design, Education, Library and Student Survey. The University achieved The Times and Sunday Times league “A rise of more than 40 places Vice-Chancellor of Northumbria Information Management, and Nursing. a score of 88% overall satisfaction – an table is one of the most authoritative according to analysis of the latest University, Professor Andrew Wathey, Northumbria also recorded increase of three points on the previous guides to higher education in the National Student Survey lifts said: “We are delighted to be ranked improvements in its score and ranking year and two percent higher than the UK. Northumbria moved from 66 to Northumbria to 31st in the UK on 31st for student satisfaction in the on Graduate Prospects and Good UK Higher Education average of 86%... 64th place overall, building on recent this measure, scoring highly for both Sunday Times league table. Honours. And with increasing numbers successes in the National Student satisfaction with teaching quality and “This positive result is the of highly qualified students choosing to TURN TO PAGE 2 Our students Hanging with 18 INSIDEINSIDE are more the Hastings satisfied 3 16 NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY NEWS Blipp full page to CONTENTS view film NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY NEWS 12 14 26 33 News 1 – 3, 8, 14 – 15 Health 4 – 5, 20 – 21 Business and Law 6 – 7, 22 – 23 Interview: Northumbria’s Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson 9 Science and Technology 10 – 13 Feature: Hanging with student halls top of the Hastings 16 – 17 Feature: Welcome to Northumbria 18 – 19 the charts yet again Culture 24 – 31 Students have voted Northumbria’s student accommodation second in the UK The Conversation 32 in a poll published by national newspaper The Telegraph. What’s On 34 he shortlist, which was bedrooms across a range of top quality and a supermarket. Sport 33, 35 – 36 compiled using results from halls, both catered and self-catered. All Alastair Reekie, Head of Student the 2015 National Student residences have wi-fi internet access Accommodation, said: “We are 374262J/S/9/15 Housing Awards, described and are within walking distance of the absolutely delighted to discover that TNorthumbria as a university where vibrant city of Newcastle. we have been rated second in the UK FROM COVER students were ‘bound to feel right at Last year, Northumbria opened its for our student accommodation. The home, with something for all budgets newest student accommodation at fact that these results are based on Another recent success was this year, with 94% of graduates in work and personalities.’ Trinity Square in Gateshead. The state- actual feedback from our students is Northumbria’s significant improvement or further study within six months The high quality of Northumbria’s of-the-art building offers almost 1,000 a testament to the outstanding work in research quality. Northumbria was of graduation according to the latest accommodation was also recognised in beds with stunning views across the done by the Campus Services teams and rated Top 50 in the UK for research Destination of Leavers from Higher the National Student Housing Survey, NewcastleGateshead skyline. It boasts colleagues across the University.” power following the Research Education survey. This is in addition to with the University shortlisted for both rooftop leisure facilities and is situated Excellence Framework 2014, the Northumbria’s excellent reputation for the best value for money and the best above a brand new retail and leisure DISCOVER MORE international measure of research enterprise and innovation, which has student community. complex which includes a multi-screen northumbria.ac.uk/accommodation quality among UK universities, which seen the University become number The University offers over 5,000 study cinema, numerous bars and restaurants takes place every six years. Climbing one in the UK for graduate start-ups 30 places, Northumbria had the largest based on turnover. rise in research rated as ‘world-leading’ These recent successes, across a and ‘internationally excellent’ in the range of activities, clearly demonstrate sector. Northumbria repositioning itself as 374262_9/15 The University has also seen an one of the most ambitious and fast- increase in graduate employment rates improving universities in the UK. Download Blippar from your App store now to your DOWNLOAD THIS IS AN INTERACTIVE NEWSPAPER iPad, iPhone, Android phone or Windows phone. Blippar app for: PAGE Blipp full FILL SCREEN page to JUMPS view film 1 2 WITH PAGE 3 TO LIFE When you see this icon you can bring our news stories to life and view videos, course listings and photo galleries. Discover more by simply downloading the free Blippar App which will take you into our world.* DOWNLOAD *Before you enjoy Blippar we wanted to let you know that BLIPPAR downloading and using the app may incur additional data charges from your mobile network provider. Autumn 2015 • northumbria.ac.uk • #iwantNU NEWS 3 Northumbria students are more satisfied – it’s official! Northumbria University students are more satisfied than the average UK university student, according to the results of the 2015 National Student Survey. he University has improved its resources when needed. latest Destination of Leavers of Higher ratings in almost every area, Many courses achieved the top score Education survey. achieving a score of 88% overall of 100% satisfaction, including Business Professor Andrew Wathey, Vice- satisfaction – this is 2% above Leadership and Corporate Management; Chancellor and Chief Executive of 100% satisfaction Tthe sector average. Computer Forensics; Film and Television Northumbria, said: “Our successes in The National Student Survey asks final- Studies and Nursing Studies (Child). In the National Student Survey, following • Business Leadership and Corporate year students to rate their experiences total, over half of Northumbria’s courses the strong performance in the Research Management of studying at their chosen university, achieved above 90% satisfaction, with Excellence Framework signals that our the quality of their course and the Architecture, Fashion, Interior and strategy to transform Northumbria into a facilities they use. The answers can help Graphic Design scoring particularly new kind of excellent university is paying • Business with Logistics and Supply prospective students to make informed highly. real and visible dividends – especially in Chain Management choices on the best places to study. The University’s success in the the core academic activities of teaching Northumbria has improved in 21 of National Student Survey follows its and research. • Computer Forensics the 22 questions and is now above or significant improvement in research “We place great emphasis on listening at the sector average in five of the six quality and graduate employability rates. to our students’ feedback and are pleased • Film and Television Studies categories within the survey. In particular, Northumbria achieved the largest increase to see a significant increase in our Northumbria is doing better than the in research power of any university in the students’ satisfaction, as well as improved sector in the categories of teaching, country in last year’s Research Excellence