What The Papers Say March 2008
(Individual campus news follows below)
In advance of the Guardian debate titled ‘British education will fall behind the rest of the world if ‘elite’ remains a dirty word’, in which they are both taking part, Tessa Blackstone and David Willets MP, Shadow Secretary of State fro Innovation, Universities and Skills debated elitism in the Guardian. Both Tessa Blackstone and David Willets also discussed the topic on BBC Radio 4’s PM programme.
Penny Egan, executive director of the US-UK Fulbright Commission summarised the debate afterwards on Guardian Education online including Tessa Blackstone’s argument that our Higher Education institutions have to compete on a global stage.
http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/comment/story/0,,2269080,00.html
Tessa Blackstone explained ‘why Chancellors are a very good thing’ in the Guardian. The article mentioned the new Chancellor of Greenwich Lord Hart.
Times Higher Education reported that Greenwich had the most success in recruiting students in India. Tessa Blackstone explained that Greenwich got into India early, have a strong recruitment team that visits and provides courses of interest to Indian students. The article also contained a league table of Indian student recruitment with Greenwich at the top.
The Observer corrected their inaccurate report that a Greenwich academic was critical of proposals for a wind farm in Lewis. The study was in fact carried out by an academic at the University of East London.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2008/mar/02/16
According to the Sunday Herald, Professor Philip Schlesinger, Director of the Centre for Cultural Policy Research at Glasgow University and a member of regulatory body OFCOM’s Scottish advisory group taught media at Greenwich.
The Education Guardian online, Kent on Sunday, Medway Standard and the Medway Messenger reported that John Denham MP, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, visited the Medway campus. During his visit, Mr Denham revealed his plans for a huge expansion of higher education in the UK, by creating 20 or more new campuses over the next six years at a cost of £150 million. While at the campus he commented: “The Universities at Medway shows us just how many people, of all ages, have been able to retrain and develop their talents - proving that if the opportunity for education exists, there is no limit to what can be achieved."
http://education.guardian.co.uk/newuniversities/story/0,,2262107,00.html
An article in the Independent about plans for the new campuses sited the Universities at Medway project.
Greenwich was ranked 34th out of 121 in the Halifax-Times Higher Education quality-of-life rankings according to Times Higher Education. The rankings were based on owner occupation rate, traffic flow, C02 emission, burglary, GCSEs in the local area, sunshine, average academic salary, staff on permanent contracts, and average house price.
According to Luton News and the Bedford Today Baroness Howells who is visiting Luton to give two special fundraising lectures was the first female member of the Court of Governors of the University of Greenwich.
http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut-news/Baroness-Howells-comes-to-Luton.3888906.jp
The Medway Extra reported on the university’s receipt of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize at Buckingham Palace.
The Peninsula and Greenwich Mercury publicised the Open Days at all the Greenwich campuses.
The London Paper reported that Ami Solomon, Education Liaison Manager, gave advice to those attending the UCAS Higher Education Convention at Earls Court.
The Docklands reported on Professor John Humphreys contribution to the award winning Tabeisa project.
According to the Gravesham New Shopper Greenwich was among those who attended a careers evening at Northfleet School for Girls.
Greenwich
Business
According to Uranium Intelligence Weekly and the Energy Intel website Professor Steve Thomas said that no-one has a clue how much decommissioning of nuclear plants will cost.
When Greenwich set up their new MA in International Tourism Management they consulted the Association of British Travel Agents, the World Travel and Tourism Council, Visit Britain and others according to the Independent.
Emanuele Lobina, Senior Research Fellow in Public Services International Services Research Unit (PSIRU) was interviewed about the impact of multinational companies' conduct on the competitiveness of the water supply and sanitation sector in Italy in the Italian national daily newspaper Il Manifesto.
The Events Management course was mentioned in Meetings & Incentive Travel.
Computing & Mathematical Sciences
Times Higher Education, News Shopper online, Medway Messenger, Greenwich Mercury and the Peninsula reported that Chris Bailey and his team together with the Cutty Sark Trust has won the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships award for Best Partnership London for their work to conserve the Cutty Sark.
According to the Faversham Times Derek Wyatt MP enthused about research being carried out in the school during a visit to the campus.
Power Electronics Technology website reported that Professor Chris Bailey was among the speakers at the International Conference on Integrated Power Electronics Systems (CIPS 2008) in Nuremberg, Germany.
http://powerelectronics.com/power_semiconductors/news/cips-2008-explored-reliability-0326/
David Maseo, fire engineer with Cundall Fire Engineering described studying with the ‘world-renowned’ Fire Safety Engineering Group at Greenwich in Fire Risk Management magazine.
According to Perth Now website Professor Ed Galea, Director of Fire Safety Engineering at found those who survived were within seven seat rows of a serviceable exit after research into 105 plane crashes and 2,000 survivor reports.
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,23460386-5013357,00.html
Humanities & Social Sciences
Meridian, Bexley Times, Greenwich Mercury, Lewisham Mercury, Bexley Mercury Greenwich Time (Council newspaper) and the News Shopper publicised the Woolwich Drama Festival with photos from Oh What a Lovely War performed by Final Year Drama students.
Kent Life reported on the first stage of England’s Past for Everyone local history project in Kent which was led by Greenwich and plans for the second stage.
Medway News and Kent News website reported that the Cross-Channel history project was presenting their results at the Medway campus.
According to Thamesmead & Erith Chronicle Creative & Media Writing students are presenting their work at Greenwich Playhouse.
General campus news
Investment Now reported that Thames Innovation Centre and the university are hosting e4Business, an annual event for business start-ups and SME’s at the campus. Speakers include representatives from Google, IBM, Microsoft and Price Waterhouse.
According to the Trinidad and Tobago based Newsday website Devonport House hosted a meeting by the British Olympic Association about the National Olympic Academy.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,74192.html
Greenwich Decorative & Fine Arts society organise monthly lectures at the campus according to Meridian magazine.
The Easier Travel website reported on the forthcoming 300th anniversary of the start of the Thornhill’s painting of the Painted Hall and that the ‘fine buildings became the home to the University of Greenwich and Trinity College of Music.’
http://www.easier.com/view/Travel/Attractions_and_Events/article-168313.html
Peter Kent said that the Old Royal Naval College is now home to the University of Greenwich in his regular column in the Guide magazine.
According to Conference News the university is one of the partners in the Maritime Greenwich Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions (MICE) Group.
Avery Hill
Architecture & Construction
Charles Booking and his architectural collection was the subject of large features in Homebuilding & Renovating and the Times.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/court_and_social/article3563682.ece
Professor Alan Powers has been granted an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) according to the Bexley Times.
According to Architects’ Journal admirers of Alan Powers have set up an Alan Powers Appreciation Society on Facebook.
http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/comments/astragal/2008/03/may_the_powers_be_with_you.html
Luton News reported that Alan Powers said that Art Deco homes often age well in an article about the Blue Rails building in Luton.
Education & Training
According to MeridianTom Wates, who graduated from Greenwich ten years ago as a PE and maths teacher, has set up a company called Don’t Lean Back Ltd which produces a new anti-tilt chair.
Health & Social Care
According to BBC Online Professor of Psychology, Ros Corney, gave her backing to a compulsory levy on gambling companies to help fund support services for those battling addiction. The story also appeared in the Tamworth Herald.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7271954.stm
Medical website Pulse reported that Professor Pam Maras, President of the British Psychological Society and Head of Psychology at Greenwich welcomed the promised major expansion in the number of psychological therapists available to people with depression and anxiety disorders.
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=23&storycode=4117651
Edward Willatt, a PhD student research working on the relations between Immanuel Kant and Gilles Deleuze, James Penney's The World of Perversion in Metapsychology Online. http://metapsychology.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=book&id=4133&cn=395
The Southend Echo, Dartford Messenger, Kentish Saturday Observer, Kent on Sunday and Kent Online reported that trainee nurse Megan Harvey had her lifesaving skills put to the test when a man collapsed outside Darent Valley hospital.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/aroundkent/news.asp?village=15970&article_id=429150
Medway
School of Engineering
According to Chemical Engineer the Wolfson Centre provided their expertise in bulks solids handling to a project led by the University of Nottingham about how microwave technology can help offshore drilling.
Plumbing & Heating Engineering reported on the launch of the Public Health Engineering Technology degree.
Dr Alec Coutroubis has described targets for reducing greenhouse gases at sea as unobtainable according to the Engineer Online, Scenta Online, Dover Express and Folkestone Herald.
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/Articles/305037/Unobtainable+targets.htm
http://www.scenta.co.uk/scenta/news/cit/1717793/unobtainable-targets.htm
School of Science
The success of the Analytical Services Laboratory in receiving ISO standard was reported on by the Medway Messenger, Kent Online, Investment Now and KM Extra.
According to the Medway News in an article about the Greenwich Spires publication produced by Universities UK, Professor Colin Hills is trying to make the leap from theory into reality with his Carbon8 system, a method for turning construction waste and carbon dioxide into small pellets that can be re-used as building aggregate.
The Medway News reported that Carbon8, a Greenwich spin-out company, won a bursary from Shell to help its business.
Steve Leharne has been given an Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) grant to help solve the problem of underground water pollution according to the Environment Times website.
Two scientists form the spin-out company Carbon8 were named top climate change entrepreneurs according to Kent on Sunday, Medway Messenger, KM Extra and Smart Planet website.
http://www.smartplanet.com/news/business/10000867/carbon8-wins-shell-springboard-awards.htm
The id21 development website reported on research about conflicts over food and water between humans and wildlife in Tanzania co-authored by Mike McGibbon.
http://www.id21.org/nr/n2ak1g1.html
The Medway Messenger publicised the new Science laboratories.
Natural Resources Institute
The Guardian, Kent Online and Medway Messenger reported on the award of a large grant for Armyworm research to a consortium including the Natural Resources Institute by the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/aroundkent/news.asp?village=16022&article_id=427834
Medway Messenger and Medway News reported that Greenwich was holding a Fairtrade event organised by Claire Coote and some of her students.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/aroundkent/news.asp?village=16380&article_id=424209
Baroness Blackstone visited the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) in Ghana with Dr Guy Poulter according to the FARA website.
http://farastaff.blogspot.com/2008/02/visit-of-of-baroness-tessa-blackstone.html
According to Packaging News the Packaging Federation and Packaging Industry Awarding Body recommend Greenwich’s diploma and certificate in Packaging Technology.
Peter Burt appeared on Invicta FM (Commercial radio in Kent) talking about the possible effects of climate change in Kent in 50 years time.
Medway School of Pharmacy
The launch of the Medway School of Pharmacy Students Association was reported on by the Medway Messenger.
According to the Medway Messenger, Kent Online and KM Extra student Alison Coll undertook a three month placement at the Federal University of Brazil.
General campus news
The Medway Messenger, Kent Online and KM Extra reported on the latest Open day at the campus.
Free rent for a year at the Enterprise Hub at Greenwich was one of the prizes listed for the Kent Innovation Challenge by Kent Business, Dartford Messenger and its Start Up supplement.
Medway Messenger reported that the campus was hosting a public meeting about the World Heritage bid for Chatham Historic Dockyard.
The Medway Messenger gave advance publicity to the Open Day at the campus in the middle of the month.
The Medway Messenger, Your Medway, Kent Online, Dartford Messenger and KM Extra publicised the new series of the Pembroke Lectures.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/aroundkent/news.asp?village=16449&article_id=422979
Medway Messenger, Medway Standard and Kent Online reported that Greenwich were building new student halls of residences in Medway.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/aroundkent/news.asp?village=16284&article_id=423060
Kent Director reported on plans for the next Medway Boat Race.
EU Commissioner Danuta Hubner visited Chatham Maritime including the Universities at Medway according to the Medway Messenger.
The Mayor of Medway, Cllr Val Goulden will be attending one of the Pembroke Lectures according to Kent Online.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/aroundkent/news.asp?village=16380&article_id=424217
Baudet, French based suppliers of bathroom pods to universities and hospital is supplying them for 144 rooms at Greenwich according to the Birmingham Post.
Caroline Flint, Housing & Planning Minister, visited the Universities at Medway according to the Medway Messenger.
According to the Medway Messenger student accommodation at the campus has been approved for possible use during Olympic training camps.
An Education supplement in Kent on Sunday highlighted the growth in student numbers and courses at the campus.
An article in the Financial Times giving the reaction of Kent’s Professor Clare Mackie to the Budget mentioned Greenwich and the shared Medway campus.
The Medway News gave advance publicity to an Open Day at the campus.
The campus hosted an event by Natural England about how to make Thames Gateway greener according to PR USA website, Kent Online, Dartford Times, and the Medway Messenger.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/aroundkent/news.asp?village=16449&article_id=427815
http://www.pr-usa.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=86397&Itemid=9
The next Pembroke lecture will be accompanied by musicians from the University of Greenwich Big band according to the Medway Messenger and Medway News.
Medway Messenger published a correction of an inaccurate report that Kent Fire & Rescue attended a small fire caused by a drinks machine at the Greenwich campus. In fact this was in the Medway building at the University of Kent at Medway.
Medway Messenger published a correction to an incorrect photo caption for the John Denham MP visit which was described as being to the Universities at Kent campus rather than the Universities at Medway campus.
Medway News and Kent News website reported that the Cross-Channel history project was presenting their results at the Medway campus.
Medway News reported that the Universities at Medway Students’ Association (UMSA) has won a national award for maintaining the highest operational and safety standards at their bars.
The Drill Hall Library and Pilkington Building were joint winners of the Building Renovation category at the Kent Design Awards according to Kent Business.
Kings Hill
South East Business publicised the increased number of rooms available at the Kings Hill conference and training centre.
An article in Kent on Sunday about the Kings Hill development mentioned the conference centre,
Further information
More details on many of these stories and others can be seen on the PR website at:
University of Greenwich press releases are now available via Really Simple Syndication (RSS).
http://www.gre.ac.uk/pr/rss.htm
Access to some online newspapers may require a brief registration process.
Some websites only have stories online for a limited period before they are removed or replaced.
The text of some of the articles contained may be accessed by university staff and students via the university portal using the Information & Library Services Lexis Nexis electronic database.