Latest News http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/index/rss Media releases, news and upcoming events at the University of Bedfordshire. Campuses located in Bedford and Luton, only a 30-minute journey from London. 2004-12-15T14:38:48Z Moving tale reaches international audience http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/sep/100901-hairiya The work of three international media graduates who shot a low-budget production in Mongolia is being shown at a prestigious short film festival in November. The fictional film, made by the Media Production students in their final year, has been selected to be shown in a special programme of student offerings at the 16th Encounters International Film Festival in Bristol from 16-21 November. The trio are Qin Fi from Mongolia, who was director and scriptwriter, and the Chinese pair of cameraman Xiaochang Yao and editor Yu Huang. Called Ge ri de Hai ri-ya , the film will be shown alongside others from the top film schools in the UK including the National Film and Television School, the National Film School of Ireland, and the London Film School. In 2009, more than 150 student and non-student international films were screened in competition over five days to more than 500 delegates and 6,500 audience members. The films and animations were a selection of the best new talent from 58 countries. University of Bedfordshire mcrawley 2010-09-01T08:48:53Z Tom invested in his future with work placement http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/sep/100901-bank One graduate from the University of Bedfordshire has landed on his feet at leading investment bank Morgan Stanley. Tom Wiggins-Wilson, originally from Yorkshire, studied BA (Hons) Business Management at the Bedford campus. His stay at Bedfordshire included a one-year work placement in the London offices of Morgan Stanley. The 23 year old said: “I kept in touch with quite a few of the people at Morgan Stanley from my work placement. When this job opportunity came up at the Glasgow office, I applied for it and managed to get it.” Tom started his permanent position in May as a credit risk operations analyst and has successfully completed his probation period. He said: “Making and keeping contacts is vital and my work placement was pivotal in getting this job at Morgan Stanley. It’s a similar role to what I did during my work placement.” The job has seen him move North of the Border and Tom admitted: “I was a little bit homesick at first but I’m getting used to living up here now.” University of Bedfordshire mcrawley 2010-09-01T08:36:38Z Uni sponsors Bedford Midweek Cricket League http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/sep/100901-midweek The University of Bedfordshire sponsored the top division of the Bedford Midweek Cricket League this season. Bedford Pakistanis were the winners of the University of Bedfordshire Division One league title and Elstow finished as the runners-up. Steve Pitt, who is Head of Sport within the Learning Resources/Student Services department, represented the University on awards night recently at Kempston Hammers Cricket Club. Mark Thompson, chairman of the Bedford Midweek Cricket League, said: “It’s nice to attract the sponsorship of a large local organisation which is growing and thriving. Hopefully we will work together even more closely next season.” For more information on the league, visit www.bedfordml.play-cricket.com The photos show the University of Bedfordshire’s Steve Pitt with the captain from league winners Bedford Pakistanis (top) and league runners-up Elstow. University of Bedfordshire mcrawley 2010-09-01T08:18:03Z Event explores food-related tourism http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/aug/100831-foodtourism Fresh fish from Cornwall, traditional haggis from Scotland and tender lamb from Wales – you really cannot beat fresh local produce. If you are a business with links to the food and tourist sectors, or an individual who loves to taste the local delights when you are on holiday, then why not come along to a University of Bedfordshire event which will explore the expanding Food-Related Tourism trend. The Knowledge Network event, which is part of the 2010 ‘Changing Lives’ programme, will be held on 23 September and will focus on how high quality, local food has become a key driver for many tourists when they are selecting a place to visit. Research carried out by the University of Bedfordshire revealed that more than 70 per cent of potential visitors to Scotland want to taste traditional dishes, regional specialities and fresh local produce. Food tourism is being increasingly embraced as a vehicle of development because it offers a means of enhancing the tourist spend without compromising the environmental, social or cultural fabric of the region. University of Bedfordshire akingham 2010-08-31T14:32:23Z Athletics event is a BIG success http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/aug/100825-big Hundreds of athletes converged on Bedford for a BIG athletics competition sponsored by the University of Bedfordshire. The University was the official bib sponsor for the 16th annual Bedford International Games, otherwise known as BIG 2010, at the Bedford International Athletics Stadium. The highlight of the day was Olympic discus champion Gerd Kanter from Estonia making an attempt on the world record. Nigel Levine from Bedford, a Great Britain 400m runner who won World and European relay medals indoors last winter, won his race after recently visiting the University to promote its sponsorship of the whole event. Long jumper Jenny Pacey from Borehamwood, better known as Enigma in the Sky TV series Gladiators , was trying to obtain the qualifying distance to make the England team for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, in early October. Greg Rutherford from Milton Keynes, the number one male long jumper in the country, won his second event of the 100m. University of Bedfordshire mcrawley 2010-08-26T10:29:56Z University helps thousands of hopeful students http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/aug/100824-clearing Thousands of hopeful students have been calling the University of Bedfordshire clearing hotline in a bid to secure a last minute place. On the first day of its clearing campaign last Thursday (19 August) the University received a staggering 19,000 calls to its special hotline. Places are filling up fast so applicants need to pick up the phone now and decide quickly if they want to find a place for the new term. At the time of going to press there were still some full-time places available, particularly in subjects like science and engineering. The competition to get into university has never been tougher following the Government cap on places. Applications to the University of Bedfordshire this year rose 35 per cent – three times the national figure. University of Bedfordshire Head of Admissions Susie King said: “As soon as our clearing hotline opened we were swamped with calls. “Students wanted to know what courses were available. Many of the applicants who called us have now confirmed their offer of a place to start this term.” University of Bedfordshire dreed01 2010-08-24T15:07:48Z Hat-trick of books donated at England 2018 World Cup bid fundraiser http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/aug/100824-campbell Alastair Campbell has donated three of his books to the University of Bedfordshire. Tony Blair’s former political aide, who was Director of Communications and Strategy in a previous Labour Government, was the guest speaker at a celebration dinner at the StadiumMK, home of the MK Dons. Milton Keynes is a host candidate city within the England 2018 World Cup bid and the evening raised funds for the bid and MK’s international sporting city status. Some University of Bedfordshire representatives at the fundraising and publicity event included David Barrett (pictured with Alastair Campbell), Tim Stone, Steve Kendall and Carsten Maple. Football fan Campbell’s donation, which includes one of his books with a best wishes testimonial, is being kept at the Luton campus library. University of Bedfordshire mcrawley 2010-08-24T11:20:51Z Russian film student exchange was 'a brilliant experience' http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/aug/100817-exchange A month-long film project has seen English and Russian students working far from home. The quartet of students from the University of Bedfordshire spent a fortnight in Russia as part of an ongoing partnership which saw their counterparts from the St Petersburg State University of Cinema and Television then visit the UK for two weeks. Students had previously written scripts and exchanged ideas over the internet and filming took place in both Russia and England. They shot two movies in each country, one of which was a short film and the other a longer one, on the theme of language and miscommunication. The four - the Media Production trio of Conor Hughes, Olivia Paolucci and Kirsty Slade and TV Production student David Watts - were joined by Senior Lecturer and Course Leader MA Documentary Dave Green as well as technical support/tutor Igor Drozdov. The four Bedfordshire students were selected from a competition in which they produced a one-minute film entitled Why I want to go to St Petersburg . University of Bedfordshire mcrawley 2010-08-17T15:24:57Z Hockliffe Collection receives some much-loved additions http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/aug/100817-hockliffe A Senior Lecturer in English at the University of Bedfordshire went to Spain this summer to extend the famed Hockliffe Collection of children’s books. Dr Clare Walsh travelled to Lanzarote in July to meet Gill David, the granddaughter of a local bookseller and former mayor of Bedford, Frederick Hockliffe. His son, Maurice Frederick Rich Hockliffe, had donated his father’s collection of rare early children’s books to what was then Bedford Training College back in 1927. The Hockliffe Collection comprises almost 1,000 works of fiction and non-fiction for children from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. These include a wide range of literary genres, from fables and fairytales, through periodicals and instruction books, to poetry and fiction, as well as books on games and pastimes, natural science, history, maths, geography and travel among others. The books are held in specially designed cabinets in the foyer of the library at the Bedford campus but thanks to advances in digital technology, anyone can now access the collection by visiting www.cts.dmu.ac.uk/hockliffe University of Bedfordshire mcrawley 2010-08-17T14:36:45Z Celebrate three decades of the Bedfordshire Youth Opera http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/aug/100817-figaro Three decades of the Bedfordshire Youth Opera is being marked at the University later this month. One of the world’s best loved operas, The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart, is being presented by Bedfordshire Youth Opera (BYO) from 30 August - 4 September (excluding 1 September) in the University of Bedfordshire Theatre at the Bedford campus on Polhill Avenue. Based on Beaumarchais’ play, The Marriage of Figaro is a delightful mix of farce and melodrama tinged with tragedy and romance, heavily influenced by the Commedia dell’Arte tradition, all set to some of Mozart’s most beautiful music. To celebrate its 30th anniversary, BYO is revisiting this wonderful piece in a new production which promises to be both touching and very funny. Mischievous plots, cunning disguises, mistaken identities and a broken flower pot combine to produce a night to remember. All productions of The Marriage of Figaro will start at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 each and are available from the Central Box Office at the Bedford Corn Exchange, by calling 01234 269519 or by visiting www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk University of Bedfordshire mcrawley 2010-08-17T10:58:19Z Cricket teams were kitted out for the British summer http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/aug/100817-jumpers The cricket teams from the Luton campus of the University of Bedfordshire looked and played the part this season. Fresh from sponsorship from the University’s marketing department of sweaters for both the first and second elevens, the top team went on a winning run before a weakened side was beaten in the knockout stages of the cup competition. They recovered from a poor start to win four out of five matches to finish runners-up in their league. A depleted team was eventually beaten in the knockout cup quarter-finals by Nottingham Trent University. Former skipper Mohammad Faisal Khan was appointed as the Luton campus’ new coach this season and Omer Nahian was first team captain. Faisal, who attained his Masters degree from Bedfordshire, previously captained the University cricket team in 2007 to the league title. They also won the league in 2008 and 2009. The photo shows, left to right: vice-captain Ronald Munyaradzi, fast bowlers Anas Mohammad and Waqas Nasir, coach Faisal Khan, first team captain Omer Nahian and fast bowler Ahmad Jahanzeb. University of Bedfordshire mcrawley 2010-08-17T10:29:50Z Contract brings Bedfordshire and Bangladesh closer together http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/aug/20100810_IIUC_agreement The University of Bedfordshire has signed a new partnership agreement with the International Islamic University in Bangladesh. Vice Chancellor, Professor Les Ebdon CBE met with Professor M. Mahbub Ullah, Vice Chancellor, International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC) in Bangladesh, at the contract signing at the Luton campus. IIUC is one of the top private universities in Bangladesh with over 12,000 students over two campuses, primarily in Chittagong and also in Dhaka. Bangladesh is seen as a primary market for the University of Bedfordshire’s international student recruitment. This agreement, negotiated over a six month period, is a prime example of the University’s International office playing a key developmental, strategic and co-ordinating role in the University's international work.  Students registered on IIUC's undergraduate degree programmes in either business or computer sciences, who have successfully completed their initial two years’ studies in Bangladesh, can now apply to study at the University of Bedfordshire on either a one or two-year programme. University of Bedfordshire kcunningham ECoughlin 2010-08-10T11:49:07Z Students' Union raises magnificent seven grand for good causes http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/aug/100809-charity Eager volunteers from the University of Bedfordshire Students’ Union (UBSU) have helped raise more than £7000 for local, national and international charities. The UBSU’s good work this year benefited the likes of the Anthony Nolan Trust, Keech Hospice Care, Grassroots, Bechar, LAMP and the Malawi Book Project. Fundraising activities included a RaG (Raise and Give) jailbreak, sports varsity, RaG raids at Legends , Liquid , Saints and Sinners and Elements nightclubs, sweets and cake stalls and Movember, where students had to grow moustaches or beards throughout November. Ciaran O’Brien, the Student Activities Manager, said: “The generosity, hard work and enthusiasm of our students and staff this year has been overwhelming. Not only have we been able to support the hard work of local charities, but we have been able to do the same for national charities, and respond to the natural disaster that happened in Haiti. University of Bedfordshire mcrawley 2010-08-09T09:27:30Z New courses on Islamic finance http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/aug/100809-islamic Two new courses offered for the first time from September by the University of Bedfordshire recognise the increasing demand for Islamic financial products and services. The MSc in Islamic Banking and Finance and the LLM in Islamic Commercial Law guide students through the principles of Islamic finance and the theory of Islamic commercial practice which is based on Shari’a Law. According to these principles, Islamic financial products prohibit the charging of interest and investment in alcohol, pork, pornography or gambling. The MSc, a one-year full-time course, will additionally provide an expert understanding of Islamic banking and Islamic financial instruments and operations. UK students seeking to take the one-year full-time LLM Islamic Commercial Law require an LLB or Joint Law degree with a minimum classification of Second Class Honours, although degree holders in other disciplines with sufficient legal content will be considered as will those with foreign qualifications. University of Bedfordshire mcrawley 2010-08-09T08:58:45Z Cash for three-year collaborative project in West Africa http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/aug/100806-westafrica The University of Bedfordshire’s Professor of Media and Criminal Justice is helping to build new relations in West Africa. Professor Jon Silverman has just been awarded a £25,100 grant for a three-year project to develop collaborative links between the University and two academic institutions in troubled West African nations – one in Sierra Leone and the other in Liberia. The grant award is from the British Academy under its International Partnership Programme and the project will start in October. The goal is to research the impact of the media, principally radio, which is the main source of news in the region, on transitional justice in Sierra Leone and Liberia. The research will focus on perceptions of justice following various war crimes trials including that of Charles Taylor, the former Liberian president, who is currently on trial in The Hague accused of masterminding the civil war which engulfed Sierra Leone. Professor Silverman is also looking to create a positive relationship between potential journalists and lawyers in the region. University of Bedfordshire mcrawley 2010-08-06T10:54:39Z National report praises Uni's bursary scheme http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/aug/100805-bursaries Students at the University of Bedfordshire have benefited from one of the most generous bursary schemes in the country. A report released today (Thursday, 5 August) by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) shows Bedfordshire is one of the most generous at supporting students in financial need. The University spent more than £3.7m on bursaries and scholarships for students from lower and under-represented groups during 2008-09 and an additional £900,000 on outreach projects. This represents more than 40 per cent of the additional income earned by the University from variable tuition fees, and places it fifth in the country. Bedfordshire is also fifth in the country for the percentage (79.5 per cent) of its full fee-paying undergraduate students holding a bursary or scholarship (4,726 students). This number is made up of 2,805 students (47.2 per cent) in receipt of full state support and another 1,921 (32.3 per cent) in other OFFA countable income groups. University of Bedfordshire mcrawley 2010-08-05T13:16:36Z Gamers get ready. . . http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/aug/100803-starcraft The gaming world can finally breathe easily again - Starcraft II, after seven years in development, has just been released in the UK. Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty has been described as the ultimate competitive real-time strategy game and its release has been hotly anticipated since the original Starcraft 12 years ago. The arrival of the game will continue to boost a sector that has already overtaken the film industry and is still growing. In a world where jobs are increasingly hard to find, there has never been a better time for prospective students to consider a career in computing. The University of Bedfordshire is in just the right place to introduce fresh new talent into the trade – its Computer Science and Technology department is producing highly employable graduates faster than you can even fire up your console. With top-of-the-range facilities, fantastic teaching, practical support structures and an emphasis on employability, the department is turning out the next generation of computing specialists. University of Bedfordshire akingham 2010-08-05T11:55:43Z Bali's a ball for environmental scientist http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/aug/100804-bali A leading environmental scientist at the University of Bedfordshire was a keynote speaker at a prestigious international conference in Bali. Professor James Crabbe gave a keynote lecture at the Association of Tropical Biology and Conservation conference on the Indonesian island. This week-long event attracted 900 people and was opened and closed by Indonesian Government ministers. The conference, which is normally centred on issues such as rainforests and land animals, had a greater emphasis on marine life this year. Professor Crabbe is Dean of the Faculty of Creative Arts, Technologies and Science (CATS) at the University. He said: “It was very exciting and it’s obvious there are similarities between the biodiversity issues for both terrestrial and marine life.” The world expert on coral reefs managed to fit in a dive to assess the coral in the area while he was in Bali. Professor Crabbe said: “Most of my work is carried out in the Caribbean now and it’s been a couple of years since I dived in this area. There were vibrant reefs despite so many challenges facing them like pollution and climate change.” University of Bedfordshire mcrawley 2010-08-04T13:59:11Z Four medals for Uni-backed GB disabled shooters http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/aug/100804-shooters The University of Bedfordshire played its part in helping Britain’s top disability shooters return from the world championships in Croatia with four medals. There were also some top personal performances in Zagreb from the 14-strong squad of British shooters who won two silver and two bronze medals. The Brits spent more than a week in the sports science laboratory at the Bedford campus before flying off to the championships. Preliminary testing took place in the first two weeks of June before heat acclimation took place over a number of consecutive days at the start of July. Colonel Pasan Kularatne, the Head Coach and Performance Manager, said: “We would like to express our gratitude to staff of the Sport and Exercise Sciences Department at the University of Bedfordshire for the work they did to acclimatise our athletes in preparation for the world championships.” Paralympic champion Matt Skelhon won the individual bronze in the R3 10m air rifle prone SH1 mixed. Skelhon, Nathan Milgate and Deanna Coates then combined to win Britain the team silver in the same event. University of Bedfordshire mcrawley 2010-08-04T13:33:27Z Track and field performers looking to hit the BIG time http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/aug/100803-big There is a BIG athletics event in Bedford this August – and the University of Bedfordshire is right behind it. BIG 2010, otherwise known as the Bedford International Games, is taking place this year on Sunday, 15 August. The University is the official bib sponsor for the 16th annual event at the Bedford International Athletics Stadium. Famous competitors since its inception in 1995 include Sally Gunnell, Tessa Sanderson, Mark Lewis-Francis, Christine Ohuruogu and Phillips Idowu. One of this year’s entrants is Nigel Levine from Bedford, a Great Britain 400m runner who won World and European relay medals indoors last winter, who visited the University on Friday morning (30 July) to promote the sponsorship. Nigel is shown with Steve Pitt, who is Head of Sport within the Learning Resources/Student Services department, and Carol Jackson, the Meeting Director for BIG 2010. Carol said: “We thank the University of Bedfordshire for its very generous sponsorship once more. University of Bedfordshire mcrawley 2010-08-03T08:38:08Z Graduate findings presented at national conference in Botswana http://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2010/jul/100722-nokuthula Nursing lecturer Nokuthula Majingo had always dreamed of presenting her findings at a research conference. Now, less than a year since graduating from the University of Bedfordshire, Nokuthula has been able to do just that, after presenting key findings at the second National HIV/AIDS STIs & Other Related Infectious Diseases Research Conference (NHASORCH II) in Botswana. Nokuthula Majingo, who took an MSc in Public Health, presented her results at the conference in Gaborone. The conference theme was ‘Research Partnerships and Capacity Development’ and Nokuthula presented her findings on the contributing factors to high risk sexual behaviour among patients in the Kgatleng District of Botswana. Originally studying at the University of Botswana and the National Health Institute of Botswana, Nokuthula took the difficult decision to study away from home because she knew that the University of Bedfordshire placed an emphasis on excellence in research skills. University of Bedfordshire ECoughlin akingham 2010-08-02T10:45:08Z