6033 UNIverse_64:Layout 1 21/1/09 10:49 Page 1 universe ISSUE No 64 SPRING 2009 magazine Providing Opportunities - Pursuing Excellence 6033 UNIverse_64:Layout 1 21/1/09 10:49 Page 2 2 environment for research, new ideas generation, knowledge transfer and business support and development. The Phoenix opening features welcome elsewhere in UNIverse but I would like to say how pleasing it was to hear Sir George Cox comment in his address at the opening that ‘the from Professor Graham Henderson fusion of skills, leading edge technology and Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive engagement with the business world was highly impressive … and the University thoroughly deserves its growing reputation in this area’. I was again privileged recently to shake In December the results of the 2008 the hands of thousands of students at our Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) were annual academic awards ceremonies. published. These are also featured in UNIverse I simply cannot overstate the importance and I am very pleased indeed with the of those ceremonies to our University as University’s progress since the last RAE in 2001. we celebrate the achievement of so many Regular readers will be aware of the individuals, each with a different personal University’s excellent track record of student journey to their eventual success. satisfaction as reflected in the UK National But as we celebrated the success of all of those Student Survey. It was therefore pleasing to individuals it was also a good opportunity to learn that feedback from our international reflect on what has been another period of students resulted in the University being ranked great institutional achievement and I am pleased first out of 93 UK universities for ‘living, to have the opportunity to share some of this. employability prospects, financial support and The University has continued to grow and, careers advice’ in the survey of international with us approaching 25,000 students, has now student opinion entitled the International become, we believe, the second largest Student Barometer. This further endorsement university in the North East in terms of overall of our success in providing an excellent all- student numbers. This growth has not been round experience for our students is clearly without a purpose of course. We have very satisfying and provides the University with continued to pursue our mission of extending the motivation to continue to work to enhance higher education provision as widely as possible, this experience still further. in order to enhance the life chances and Finally, in these brief reflections, the University opportunities of individuals and communities was also delighted to be recognised as the within the region. The University also aims to Business Incubation Champion of the Year continue to attract talented individuals into our (2008). This award recognises the efforts and region from around the world and support the achievements of the team in the University economic, social and cultural development and whose role it is to provide a supportive regeneration of the Tees Valley and the wider environment for start-up businesses during the north east region. early stages of their development and hopefully In that connection I was delighted to provides another endorsement of the participate in the opening of our Phoenix contribution that we are actively making to Building, which includes the Institute of Digital economic development within the region. Innovation, and provides a hothouse universe EDITORIAL TEAM PHOTOGRAPHER THE MAGAZINE OF THE Stephen Laing Judy Hume UNIVERSITY OF TEESSIDE Nic Mitchell Tel: 01642 218121, ext 3104 Michelle Ruane Email: [email protected] universe is produced by the University of John Dean Teesside’s Press and Public Relations Office, part News items should be sent to universe, of the Corporate Communications Unit at the Tel: 01642 342015 c/o Press and Public Relations Office, University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, Email: [email protected] University of Teesside by 14 March 2009. Tees Valley TS1 3BA. If you have received universe through the post, this means your contact details are currently maintained on a University database and are used for University purposes only. These purposes may include, but are not limited to, mailing of additional information that we think may be of interest to you. If you wish to be removed from our database, please call the Press and Public Relations Office. Pictured on the front cover, Hazel Wright, Sports Development Officer in the University’s Student Services Department, ascending the climbing wall in the Olympia Building. 6033 UNIverse_64:Layout 1 21/1/09 10:49 Page 3 universe 3 International students satisfied with Teesside International students have rated the University of Teesside top out of 93 universities across the UK and Europe in the International Student Barometer (ISB) for employability prospects, financial support, careers advice and accommodation support. The University was also ranked top for the above. He is currently working towards an Around 400 students attended a recent support it offers to students in the ISB, MA Creative Digital Media. International Student Reception held on the largest study of student satisfaction campus, with a welcome from Vice-Chancellor He said, ‘I wanted to gain an in-depth in the world. Professor Graham Henderson and knowledge of computer animation and games, Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon. The The survey also shows : so I decided to enrol at a higher level. It’s an number of international students enrolling at area I’ve always wanted to study.’ • 94% of international students at Teesside the University in autumn 2008 has significantly are satisfied with the overall support Sandeep is now working on his dissertation increased, including over 150 from India and • 86% are satisfied with the overall on animation, along with a short animated over 50 from China. film for his final project. learning Dr Keith Brown added, ‘A big attraction for • 84% are satisfied with overall living He said, ‘The University has a lot of facilities our international students is the University’s experience for computing students and I’ve gained an links with industry and the employability of • 81% would encourage others to apply enormous amount of knowledge from this graduates from our courses. We wish our to Teesside. course’. new students well in their courses.’ Dr Keith Brown, Director of International Sandeep is also impressed with the campus For more information contact the Centre for Development at the University, said, ‘It is a and student services, adding, ‘I think it’s the International Development on 01642 384276 strong recommendation from the students best accommodation a student can get. My email [email protected] or visit and a vote of confidence from them’. social life has been absolutely brilliant. It’s www.tees.ac.uk/international/ perfect for a student as all the shops and Among the 1,500 students who have come clubs are close by and, most importantly, the from overseas to study at Teesside is Sandeep cost of living is quite reasonable here.’ Roy, from Secunderabad in India, pictured 6033 UNIverse_64:Layout 1 21/1/09 10:49 Page 4 4 Research quality up at Teesside Sociology and Business also demonstrated world leading research and there was a big improvement in the performance of both the Allied Health Professions and General Engineering units of assessment. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Graham Henderson, said, ‘We are delighted that so many of our researchers have had the quality of their work judged to be internationally excellent and in several cases world leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour. ‘This is a very good result reflecting the progress we have made since the last Research Assessment Exercise and a clear endorsement of the high quality of research that is taking place at the University of Teesside. ‘While special congratulations must go to Computing and History, all the areas entered have made considerable progress since the 2001 RAE and I would like to thank everyone involved for their contribution.’ Professor Cliff Hardcastle, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise), pictured, added, ‘The RAE has become much more selective since last time. So it is a major achievement for our staff, that their work has been recognised as being of international standing. This is a very good basis to build on in the future.’ Professor Hardcastle added that the University is ‘striving to increase its research activity’, and will be launching five new research institutes in 2009 to focus and build our research activities in key areas of strength, such as digital media, technology, social science, arts and culture and health and social care. The details are: • 85% of Computing in the top three grades for research quality, including 10% considered to be world leading and 45% internationally excellent • 80% of History in the top three grades for research quality, including Nearly 70% of all work entered by the University for the 2008 10% considered to be world leading and 40% internationally excellent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) was classified as being of • 80% of General Engineering in Grades 2* and 3* (25% internationally international quality or higher, with excellent scores across excellent and 55% recognised internationally) the board. • 65% of Sociology in the top three grades for research quality (5% The RAE, the first for seven years, was a peer-review exercise which considered to be world leading, 20% internationally excellent and assessed the quality of work submitted by institutions in different 40% internationally recognised) discipline-based units of assessment. • 60% of Business in the top three grades for research quality (5% world leading, 20% internationally excellent and 35% internationally Highlights for Teesside included 55% of the University’s Computer recognised) Science submission being put in the two highest bands of international excellence, including 10% classed as world leading.