UniLifeThe free magazine forThe University of Manchester

8th August 2005 Volume 2 Issue 15

6,500 Students CelebrateGraduation Success

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NewsDigestProfessors Nancy Rothwell, AnthonyBlinkhorn, Martin Marshall and ChrisWood have all been honoured in theQueen’s Birthday Honours List.

A summary of the key news in this issue of UniLife:

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The University’s new string quartet inresidence The Danels have given theirfirst performances, before officiallyarriving at the University in October.

5

The Dalton Nuclear Institute, the largestnuclear institute in the UK, has beenlaunched by the Faculty of Engineeringand Physical Sciences.

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An update on the progress of the internalcommunications review.11

One year on from its launch, find outabout the latest developments at TheUniversity of Manchester IncubatorCompany.

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The University has just hosted the largestnumber of summer schools for schoolchildren in the UK. UniLife catches up withthree of the participants to find out howthey found life as Manchester students.

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3 A New Degree of Success

4 News

8 Pay and Grading Update

10 Research

11 Internal Communications Update

14 Profile

16 People

18 Community

22 What’s On

25 Noticeboard

26 Classified Ads

28 Just the Job

Front cover:Celebrating graduationPhoto by Paul Cliff

Contents

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Almost 6,500 students took partin 35 graduation ceremonies atthe new University ofManchester during July.

A New Degree Of Success

Reetika, who lives with her sister andfamily in Gatley said: “We both knew wewanted to come to The University ofManchester after growing up here. Welove the city and have had a great time atthe University – it’s been hard work butdefinitely worth it.”

All of the ceremonies were webcast sothat family and friends who were unableto attend could still see their loved onereceiving their certificate. Theseceremonies are archived on the Universitywebsite and can be viewed by visiting

As well as undergraduates andpostgraduates receiving their accolades, aspecial honorary degree was awarded toNobel Laureate Professor Sir Paul Nurse. Itwas a double celebration for Sir Paul as hewas able to watch daughter Emily receiveher PhD in Physics at the same ceremony.

Sir Paul was awarded the Nobel Prize inthe Physiology of Medicine in 2001 for hiswork to discover key regulators of the cellcycle. Until recently he was the ChiefExecutive of Cancer Research UK but leftin 2003 to take up the role of President atRockefeller University in New York.

Sir Paul said:“It is a great honour to receivethis degree and it was a particularpleasure to see my daughter receive herstoo. Manchester is a great university; to behonoured in this way is a true privilege.”

Others who received their degrees werePhD student James Ndahiro who graduatedfrom Manchester Business School. James,who lost his sight in an accident 12 yearsago, has been appointed as the foundingChairman of the Rwandan Stock Exchange.

And at another ceremony, guests could havebeen forgiven for thinking they were seeingdouble – as identical twins Reetika andNeetika Aggarwal graduated with degreesin dentistry and medicine respectively.

They were watched by more than 16,500guests - including proud parents, familymembers and friends - who packed into theWhitworth Hall to join in the celebrations.

Organising the ceremonies, which ran overa two week period, was no mean feat forthe team in the Student Services Centre.Division Manager Mike Mercer oversees thewhole project and said:“Overall theceremonies were a great success – thechallenge of bringing the two operationstogether into one was huge.

“Behind the scenes a ten-strong team ofstaff produced the certificates,programmes and tickets and answeredmore than 150 enquiries each day and 25staff from House Services were involvedin the ceremonies on a daily basis.Everyone performed very well and I’d liketo thank all team members for helping tomake this historic event a successful andmemorable one.”

Students were given the choice to weareither the new purple and gold robes ofthe new University, or the old robes of thelegacy institutions. The majority ofstudents chose the new robes and alsoelected to receive certificates bearing thenew University crest.

www.manchester.ac.uk/graduation/archivedwebcasts/

Professor Sir Paul Nurse with daughter Emily

Twins Reetikaand NeetikaAggarwal

PhD studentJames Ndahiro

www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/

News

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The event was attended by more than200 people including representativesfrom the business community, severalconsuls and ambassadors and adelegation of representatives from anumber of Chinese universities. Guestswere able to meet with representativesfrom each School and discuss the workand plans of the Faculty.

The gala evening showcased some of thehighlights of the internally-focussed workof the Faculty, including the new Centre forChinese Studies, International House andthe World Poverty Institute, and was achance to meet staff from all eight Schools.

Professor Alistair Ulph, Vice Presidentand Dean of the Faculty, commented:“I’m delighted that we hosted thisimportant event in the development ofthe new University of Manchester. Ourcity’s very existence as the originalmodern industrial city owes much to itsinternational outlook. The same is trueof The University of Manchester.

“As we engage in earnest with the challengeof becoming one of the world’s topuniversities by 2015, our internationalcelebration is a recognition of the importantrole of the partnerships we are forging,global and local, in achieving our goals.”

Humanities Gala

Congratulations to the followingUniversity staff who werehonoured in the Queen’s BirthdayHonours list published in June:

Professor Nancy Rothwell, MRC ResearchProfessor in the Faculty of Life Sciencesand Vice-President for Research, was madeDame Commander of the Order of theBritish Empire in recognition of herservices to science.

Professor Anthony Blinkhorn, Professor ofOral Health in the School of Dentistry, wasawarded an OBE for his services to thediscipline.

Professor Martin Marshall, Professor ofGeneral Practice at the National PrimaryCare Research and Development Centreand Head of the Division of Primary Carewas awarded a CBE for his services tohealth care.

Professor Chris Wood of Planning andLandscape in the School of Environmentand Development was awarded an OBEfor services to environmental planningand the community in Manchester.

The Faculty of Humanities held an official launch in June with a galaevening of world cuisine, dance and music in the Whitworth Hall.

Birthday Honours

The Truth AboutDinosaurs

resurrecting predatory dinosaurs andcontribute to the public engagement inscience. If we can’t understand how one ofthe most dominant organisms on theplanet evolved, thrived, but still becameextinct, what chance do we have?” he asked.

Dr Manning had another brush with TVfame earlier in the summer when hewrote and helped produce a HistoryChannel programme called ‘Quest forDragons’ which looked at the fact andfiction surrounding the worldwidephenomena of dragons. Said Dr Manning:

University palaeontologist Dr PhilManning is about to become a star of thesmall screen when he takes part in amajor BBC programme about dinosaurslater this summer.

Dr Manning, who is Curator ofPalaeontology at the ManchesterMuseum will feature in the show whichis called ‘The Truth About KillerDinosaurs,’ which will be screened on 31August and 7 September.

“It’s splendid that The University ofManchester can assist the BBC in

“Just as our ideas in science evolve, so toohas our interpretation of pre-historicremains. Our ancestors called themdragons, whilst we call them dinosaurs.

“It is believed that fables were created byearly civilizations to explain the reality ofgiant bones. Many cultures still celebratethe dragon annually, not as an omen ofdeath, war, pestilence or famine, but as aprovider of good fortune. The dragonbecame a symbol of power for the Chineseemperor and continues as a powerful iconin the 21st century,” he added.

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ForemanLectureWorld famous film and television director Michael Apted (right) will givethe ITV 50th Anniversary Forman Lecture at the University next month.

Michael is now director of the series whichwill return later this year for ‘49UP’ andwill look at the group’s lives as they reachthe significant milestone of 50. Hislecture, entitled ‘Power to the People’ willlook at the experience of asking the samegroup of people the same questions over a42 year period and the impact of thisexperience on his wider work.

The event is being jointly hosted by theUniversity’s Granada Centre for VisualAnthropology, the School of Social

Michael has produced a range ofsuccessful feature films such as ‘Gorillas inthe Mist’ and ‘The World Is Not Enough,’but he began his career in television,working on the documentary series ‘7UP’.

This was first broadcast in 1963 andfocused on a group of seven year oldsfrom all walks of British life. The projectasked them their views on a range ofsubjects and then returned to them everyseven years to see how these views – andtheir lives – had changed.

Sciences and the Centre for Screen Studiesin the School of Music and Drama.

The Forman Lecture will take place at theManchester Conference Centre in theWeston Building on Tuesday 6 Septemberstarting at 6pm for 6.30pm. To obtaintickets contact Denise Ambery in theRegional Affairs office at Granada Televisionby e-mail at Denise.Ambery@itv.com

day. Their repertoire is broadly based butwith special strengths in Beethoven,French music, Soviet/Russian composersand the continental avant-garde. To allthese they bring Gallic refinement, highintelligence, energy, wit and - by theirown admission - a touch of craziness.

Each of their University series will consistof five Friday evening concerts, fiveThursday lunchtime concerts, five publicseminars and one weekend event - in2005/06 an ‘Open House’ at which theDanels will coach, and perform with,students and amateurs; later in 2006 theywill programme a complete Shostakovichcycle in the composer’s centenary year.

The University’s new string quartet inresidence gave a sneak preview of theirtalents during the summer, when theydescended on the Cosmo RodewaldConcert Hall in the University’s MartinHarris Centre for Music and Drama for theirfirst performances and public seminar.

The Danels (pictured above)- Marc Danel(Violin), Gilles Millet (Violin), Tony Nys(Viola), and Guy Danel (Cello) - will arriveofficially at the University in October tobegin their residency.

Formed in 1991 and based in Brussels, theDanels are one of the most dynamic andforward-looking string quartets of our

Their first Manchester season will featurehalf a dozen British premieres. Highlightsinclude two quartets by Iannis Xenakis,Helmut Lachenmann’s sound-experimentGran Torso, mid-period Beethoven, andhigh-points and curiosities from theFrench romantics. During their first fiveseasons the Danels will perform allseventeen quartets by the Shostakovichdisciple, Mieczyslaw Weinberg, which theywill also be recording for the Germancompany, CPO.

This appointment is in succession to TheLindsays, who disbanded in July 2005after 40 years of concert-giving, 27 ofthem on the staff at The University of Manchester.

Professor David Fanning, subject leader inMusic, said: “Any of the groups weauditioned for this post would have madesuperb artists in residence, but TheDanels’ edge and originality, their spirit ofadventure, and their infectious humour,made them the inevitable choice. Theywere the only ensemble we could claimto be as thrilling and as individual as TheLindsays, and their adventurousrepertoire dovetails perfectly with ourresearch priorities. They are a quartet forthe 21st century.”

Meet the Danels

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News

Web Development Project

New Aim,New Name!

The University is looking for a name forits new intranet site – and we needyour help!

We’re looking for ideas for a name - andthe person who puts forward thewinning suggestion will receive £50worth of high street shopping vouchers.

Intranet Officer Kate Lawson has beenworking flat-out to re-develop theUniversity’s intranet site since she wasappointed in May this year. The aim is todevelop a web-based source ofinformation for staff and students whichwill help them in their day to day jobsand activities around the University.

Said Kate: “We’re now at a really excitingstage as we’ve agreed the structure ofthe site and the kind of informationwhich will go on it. We want this to bean efficient and helpful way for staff andstudents to access a wide range ofinformation. The intranet will encompassall sorts of information – from Universitypolicies and procedures to informationabout leisure activities.”

Kate is looking for a short and snappy namewhich is easy to remember and which sumsup the aims of the intranet site.

The development and launch of the newsite over the next couple of months formsa major part of the University’s newinternal communications strategy whichaims to ensure staff are better informedabout University life – you can find outmore about this strategy in our InternalCommunications feature on page 11.

If you have any ideas or suggestions pleaseforward them to Kate Lawson atkate.lawson@manchester.ac.uk The closingdate for entries is Wednesday 31 August.

Work is now well underway on the WebDevelopment Project initiated in June toaddress the problems being experiencedin relation to the University’s webpresence, particularly the ContentManagement System (CMS) being usedto populate pages.

The overarching goals of the project areto develop the University’s website intoone which is exemplary, worthy of one ofthe world’s top universities, living,evolving and future-proof. Content andoperations should be driven by users’needs and business processes.

The project is being overseen by a projectboard chaired by Professor Alan North, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of LifeSciences. Rachel Brearley has beenseconded to work full time as ProjectManager, with around 20 staff beingassigned to the Project ImplementationTeam from different parts of the University.

The Board has agreed that the projectshould proceed along two parallel strands.The immediate focus is on the core sitewww.manchester.ac.uk, with six work-strands being established for optimisation:the leader pages (including a coreintranet), undergraduate applications,postgraduate taught applications,postgraduate research applications, ourresearch presence and information forexternal business users. An ambitioustimescale of three months has beenagreed and good progress is being made.

At the same time, longer-termconsideration is being given to matters ofpolicy, technical issues such as whetherCMSs represent the best approach to webpage development and the interfacesbetween core and devolved sites. Furtherdetails can be found at the web addressbelow. Anyone with questions about theproject should contact Rachel Brearley onrachel.brealey@manchester.ac.uk or 63769.

www.manchester.ac.uk/webdevelopment

UniLife 7

News

spend time considering the academicmerit of applications that meet all otheradmissions criteria.

The working party has also proposed anumber of far-reaching changes in theUniversity’s recruitment activities and thehandling of enquiries to address theproblem. The proposed measures include: amove to provide more integrated andcomprehensive recruitment informationon the web; better guidance and supportfor Schools in the recruitment andselection of international students; and animproved system for the more efficientmanagement of enquiries betweenSchools and the central administration.

Major changes in the way thatthe University handles therecruitment and admission ofpostgraduate students are to bemade during the next academicyear in a bid to increase thenumber and quality ofpostgraduate students to meetthe goals laid out in theManchester 2015 strategic plan.

The proposed changes are the result of amajor review of existing postgraduaterecruitment and admissions arrangementsconducted by a working party chaired byKay Day, Head of Administration in theFaculty of Medical and Human Sciences.The working party found that existingarrangements in converting enquiriesabout postgraduate study opportunitiesinto student registrations are “inefficientand ineffective”.

The working party has proposed a majoroverhaul of the application system toencourage all applicants to apply on-lineand provide a filtering system so thatacademic colleagues are only required to

The main recommendations of theworking party’s report have been acceptedby University’s senior management and aspecial task group led by AlbertMcMenemy, Deputy Registrar, is nowworking on an implementation strategyand timetable. The work of this group willhave a direct impact on the design andimplementation of the new studentsystem that will be introduced in 20005/6and will underpin many of the businessprocesses for the new arrangements.

Full details of the new arrangements andthe implementation strategy will becovered in a future issue of UniLife.

Changes to Recruitment OfficeCompetition for both postgraduate andundergraduate students is fierce, and theUniversity also needs to be able to facethe challenges of forthcoming changes innational admissions processes head on.

At the moment the University is mainlyfocused on undergraduate recruitment,while activity dealing with postgraduatesis handled separately. Continuing with thisstructure would make it difficult to shareideas and ways of doing things, thereforethe Division has been divided into twonew sections – the Student RecruitmentOffice and the Admissions Office.

A number of changes have takenplace recently in the structure ofthe Student Recruitment andAdmissions Division to ensurethat the University’s in this areacontinues effectively.

Both of these sections will look after bothundergraduate and postgraduate issues,with the aim being to strengthen supportfor postgraduate recruitment andadmissions using the considerableexperience gained in the undergraduatearena. Claire Mansbridge has agreed tohead the Admissions Office and PaulGovey will run the Recruitment Office.

These changes will not affect theWidening Participation office which willcontinue as usual.

PostgraduateRecruitment Changes

Pay and Grading Update

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new pay and grading framework willbegin. It is anticipated that this will startin September.

Nina Brannan who is Head of HR PolicyDevelopment and Reward and ismanaging the project said: “We areentering the most complex phase of thework to introduce the ‘FrameworkAgreement’ and harmonise the terms andconditions from the two formeruniversities to the new one.

“There are a number of points at whichwork can be delayed by a failure to agreebetween the management and the tradeunion and there are also a number ofinterdependent events that need to besynchronised to enable the whole toprogress, but you can be sure that we areall working to hard to minimise any delays.

“We realise that originally we intended toinform staff of the new grade during thesummer, but the most important thing isthat we get this process right and end upwith a robust pay and grading structureand an effective set of terms andconditions that will contribute to theUniversity achieving its aims set out in theManchester 2015 document,” she added.

University negotiators are also indiscussions with the trade unions aboutthe various terms and conditions issuesthat need to be addressed. The challengehere is that staff from the two formeruniversities have different sets of termsand conditions and these need to beharmonised. This process is linked toachieving agreement of the pay andgrading structure and can only be

In that feature, it was suggested thatstaff might find out more about theirnew grading during July or August, sonow seemed like a good time forUniLife to establish exactly where weare in the process.

The good news is that the first phase ofthe whole process has been completedand all jobs across the University havenow been matched to a series of roleprofiles. The University and the tradeunions have also established which roleswill be analysed using HERA (HigherEducation Role Analysis) – the roleanalysis method being used by themajority of Higher Education Institutionsin the UK. Work is well underway androle analysts are busy assessing theseselected jobs.

The outcomes of the role analysis willallow the detail of the grade frameworkand pay structure to be worked on andfinalised over the next few weeks, takingaccount of important issues for theUniversity such as short-term (andlonger-term) affordability as well as theresults of the job evaluation exercise. Theproposed detailed grade framework andpay structure will be put to the threemain campus trade unions who will beasked to ballot their members.

Then work will begin with the tradeunions to reach agreement as to howroles which have not been analysed willfit into this structure and how staff willbe positioned in their new grade in termsof salary. Once all these agreements arein place the process of implementing the

finalised at the same time as the pay andgrading structure is accepted.

Despite this, non-pay related terms andconditions can be agreed independentlyand the University is moving quicklytowards being able to do this and shouldbe able to report some results in August.

Once all the agreements are in placethere will still be a lot of work for theHR staff to do, including ensuring allstaff are allocated to the correct gradeand salary point, with the correctpackage of terms and conditions.Complicated back pay arrangementswill also have to be managed.

In addition to all the work described, HRand Payroll are in the process ofimplementing a new IT system and arecurrently running all systems in parallelto ensure that the new system is workingeffectively before switching to use thisexclusively. This means that the system islikely to be very new at the point that theUniversity changes the parameters thatdetermine people’s pay. A considerableamount of work is being undertaken todecide how to introduce the complexchanges within the system and it’s likelythat extensive testing will have to becarried out before the amended systemcan be used.

HR will continue to keep all staff informedof progress, and it is anticipated that thenew HR web site will be on stream in thenext two weeks to enable us to produceregular up dates, these will also bedistributed to staff without email access.

In the 9 May issue of UniLife we ran a feature outlining the job evaluation exercise which will affect everymember of University staff. In it we explained how the University is working with the trade unions to developa new single structure for pay and grading which is in line with the national ‘Framework Agreement’ which allhigher education institutions in England have signed up to.

UniLife 9

News

UK’s Largest NuclearInstitute Launched

Dr Geoff Richards, Director of ResearchGrants at the Human Frontiers ScienceProgramme (HFSP), spent two daysvisiting the University recently.

The HFSP funds innovative, novel andinterdisciplinary research that bringsbiologists together with scientists fromfields such as physics, mathematics,chemistry, computer science and

engineering. These collaborations focuson understanding the complexmechanisms of living organisms, fromspecific molecular and cellular processesto whole body systems.

Dr Richards’ visit, jointly organised byresearch managers in the Faculties ofEngineering and Physical Sciences andLife Sciences, aimed to both raise the

profile of HFSP funding opportunitiesamongst research staff and showcase thestrong focus on interdisciplinary researchacross the University.

Dr Richards also toured the researchfacilities in the Michael Smith Buildingand viewed progress on the ManchesterInterdisciplinary Biocentre, which is dueto open early in 2006.

The UK’s largest nuclear institutehas been launched by the Faculty of Engineering andPhysical Sciences.

The Dalton Nuclear Institute waslaunched at the Royal Academy ofEngineering, London, on 18 July, and willhouse more than 100 academics, researchstaff and students. Professor RichardClegg, previously Director of Science atBritish Nuclear Fuels (BNFL), has beenappointed as its director.

“By 2015 people wanting to do nuclearresearch will have a choice of two or threeleading universities in the world, and

Manchester will be one of them,” saidProfessor Clegg.

“Manchester has everything on its side,including history, geography andexpertise. Rutherford carried out hisresearch here, the North West has theUK’s largest nuclear community and wehave the expertise in the University thatwill make it happen.”

The Institute will consist of seven majorresearch groups encompassing electricitygeneration, fuel cycles, waste treatmentand disposal, decommissioning, policy andregulation. It will also research developingareas such as nuclear medicine andfusion, as well as underpinning thetraining and education of the UK’s futuregraduates for the nuclear sector.

President and Vice-Chancellor of theUniversity, Professor Alan Gilbert said:“Thelaunch of the Dalton Nuclear Institute is amajor development in The University ofManchester’s long and proud history.Nuclear power will undoubtedly play asignificant role in addressing the needs offuture energy production, and it is vital thatthe University is at the forefront of the UK’snuclear research and education agenda.”

An internal launch event was also held atManchester Dental Education Centre theday after the London launch, at whichstudents gave presentations on the topic‘Nuclear 2020 - A Vision’.

Human Frontiers Science Programme Visit

Professor Richard Clegg (left) and Professor John Perkins

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Research

Research may helpus breathe easier

Calling allbabies!

Channel 4 digsManchester!

For new-born babies the world is acomplicated collection of sights, soundsand smells, and making sense of it isn'teasy. Although scientists have maderemarkable progress in understandingwhat they can and cannot perceive andhow this process develops, there is still alot to learn about how babies understandthe world.

Researchers from the School ofPsychological Sciences are currentlycarrying out studies in this area, and arelooking for babies aged between threeand eight months of age to take part.They will be shown simple shapes on avideo screen and given small objects tomanipulate, with parents/caregiversremaining with them at all times, and theparent/caregiver will then asked tocomplete some short questionnaires.

Tests will take place throughout Augustand September, with one or two visits tothe University being required per baby(travel costs can be covered). Parents orcaregivers who are able to help shouldcontact Pip Brown on 275 7348 or emailbabylab@manchester.ac.uk

Time Team ran the Big Roman Dig in Julylooking at the extent and impact of theRomanisation of Britain. The FieldArchaeology Centre organised a Romantheme day in Castlefield to coincide withthis, and celebrate the re-opening of theNorthgate and the Roman Gardens.

Events included guided tours of theRoman fort, a display of Roman pottery,mosaic making and an exhibition ofrecent excavations.

The Field Archaeology Centre has been continuing its successful ‘DigManchester’ project, which gives local communities the opportunity tosample archaeology in their own area, by teaming up with Channel 4’s‘Time Team’.

Dig Manchester is a major newarchaeological venture for the city and isbeing rolled out at Northenden Mill andMoston Old Hall. The project allowspeople of all ages and abilities to dosome real archaeology alongsidearchaeologists from the University andManchester Museum. Everyone iswelcome to take part in the dig atMoston or to visit the site on the openweekend 27 and 28 August.

Dr Robert Niven and his team based at Wythenshawe Hospital hit theheadlines recently when they reached a key milestone in their study ofantifungal treatment for severe asthma.

Severe asthma in adults affects 10-20% ofthe UK’s five million asthmatics, and upto 70% of these are allergic to commonfungi found in the air.

Previous studies have shown the benefitof the antifungal drug itraconazole forthe asthma subgroup ‘allergicbronchopulmonary aspergillosis’ or ABPA,and the team is now studying the morecommon association of fungal allergy inthose with severe asthma who do nothave ABPA.

Dr Niven said: “We currently have fewoptions in patients with severe asthmaother than more steroids and those canhave severe side effects.

“Antifungal treatment for thosesensitized to fungi may be a usefulalternative to improve breathing andoverall health. Certainly our limitedtreatment experience with itraconazole,suggests fewer admissions to hospitalfor asthma and a reduced numbers ofsteroid courses.”

UniLife 11

Internal Communications Update

Feature

The key findings of the internalcommunications audit were:

• Communication infrastructure is weak– the ways in which information is sentto staff need urgent attention. E-mail,the intranet and face to face briefingswere all highlighted as needingimprovement.

• Management attitudes, roles andresponsibilities – the communicationskills of managers are largelyinconsistent with some managersunsure of their communication rolesand responsibilities.

• Targeting information – muchUniversity-wide information is sent toeveryone at the same time – oneperson taking part in the researchreferred to this as a ‘one size fits all’approach. More emphasis is needed onunderstanding who the end user of theinformation is.

• Message content and style – messagesare often long and rambling and useimpersonal language.

• Leadership visibility and accessibility –staff felt that senior leaders wereremote and would prefer more face toface encounters.

• Dialogue and information sharing –there are few opportunities for staff toask questions and provide feedback

A number of recommendations have beenput together to address these points andthese form the basis of an internalcommunication strategy which will be putinto place over the coming months.

Earlier this year, staff from rightacross the University were askedto take part in an importantpiece of research looking at howcommunication works across the campus.

More than 100 staff responded to this call,and during March and April a number offocus groups and interviews were held toassess how information and messagesreach University staff, and how colleaguescommunicate with each other. Thefindings of the Staff Survey carried out inNovember 2004 were also analysed.

The results of this research are now inand the main findings reveal that on thewhole the University’s internalcommunications are largely inconsistentand ineffective in their aims.

A report has been put together whichstrongly recommends that much workneeds to be done, not just to rectify theproblems which exist, but to rethink thewhole way the University communicateswith staff. The recommendations covercommunications at a University-wide,Faculty, School and Directorate level andthe full report and action plan can befound at http://www.manchester.ac.uk/currentstaffandstudents/pdfs/thefile,37611,en.pdf and http://www.manchester.ac.uk/currentstaffandstudents/pdfs/thefile,37612,en.pdf

So what is internal communications allabout and why is it important to theUniversity? Well, it’s vital that everymember of staff is kept informed aboutdevelopments, changes, successes andgood (and bad) news. It’s important thatwe all understand these points and whythey are relevant to us so that we canthen have the opportunity to express ourviews. In short, internal communicationsis vital if the University is to achieve theambitious goals set out in the ‘Towards2015’ document.

www.manchester.ac.uk/currentstaffandstudents/pdfs/thefile,37611,en.pdf

www.manchester.ac.uk/currentstaffandstudents/pdfs/thefile,37612,en.pdf

The strategy suggests that a number offoundations need to be laid in the firstinstance and these include:

• Clarify roles and responsibilities – toensure that Deans, Heads of Schoolsand Directors are aware of theirresponsibilities.

• A leadership communication supportprogramme – initially aimed at the seniorleadership and then Heads of Schools.

• Introducing the right channels –serious investment needs to be madein the way information reaches staff.The Intranet and e-mail systems needto be radically rethought to ensure thatinformation reaches people promptlyand can be accessed and used easily.

• President’s communicationprogramme – to include a monthlyonline diary and direct line e-mail,along with School based staffmeetings. This kind of programmeshould then be implemented by othersenior leaders.

• News bulletins – the Core Brief shouldbe made more user friendly and besupplemented by regular e-mail newsbulletins.

• UniLife – should be repositioned as amonthly publication with moreinformation relevant to staff.

• A network of internal communicationfacilitators should be set up – allinternal communications work shouldnot be controlled by the Centre – muchresponsibility lies with the Faculties,Schools and Directorates. A group offacilitators will be set up to ensure thatinternal communications work isrelevant to local audiences.

Many of these actions are alreadybeing developed and staff should beginto notice some changes by the time theacademic year resumes in September.Obviously, not all of the internalcommunications issues can be solvedin a matter of months, but work isalready underway to build solidfoundations for the future.

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Feature

UMIP Success Stories

www.renovo.com

www.umip.com

The University’s intellectualproperty company UMIP hassuccessfully raised funds for twoUniversity spin-out companies.

A £1m investment will allow GentronixLtd, which provides drug-developmentproducts and monitoring services topharmaceutical and environmentalcompanies, to accelerate the salesdevelopment of its key productGreenScreen™. A further £400,000 willallow NanoCo Ltd, which producesquantum dots (the ball bearings of the21st century) for diverse applications, todevelop its international sales andpartnering strategy.

UMIP has also managed the sale ofshares in stock market-listedbiopharmaceutical spin-out NeuTecPharma, formed in 1997. The companyidentifies and develops antibodies fortreating patients with life-threateninginfections, including MRSA, and itsproducts are progressing successfullythrough clinical trial phases in the UKand US.

Positive publicity for its activities hasgreatly enhanced the value of the

company’s shares, and the University hasbeen able to capitalise on this by sellingshares in two consecutive years to thevalue of several million pounds. TheUniversity remains a shareholder in thecompany, demonstrating a continuingcommitment and maintaining asignificant financial interest.

UMIP’s Chief Executive Clive Rowlandsaid: “Successfully raising investmentfunds and selling shares for spin-outs are

both key indicators of the commercialmerit of the University’s intellectualproperty. The latter also facilitatesreinvestment in its mainstream researchactivities, including the UMIP Proof-of-Principle Fund open to all Universityresearchers.”

In the past financial year UMIP has raisedalmost £20m for spin-outs, and theUniversity has gained around £5m fromthe sale of shares.

Renovo RecognitionUniversity start-up companyRenovo was named as one of thetop 50 European companies‘most likely to shape our worldover the next five years’ at aHarvard Business SchoolSymposium in June.

The biotechnology firm aims to becomethe world's leading drug-discoverycompany for scar-free wound-healingtherapies, and has raised £30m in venturecapital finance to date.

After spending 18 months developingbusiness plans and negotiating withventure capitalists and strategic partners,it launched the largest first financinground ever seen in the UK for a lifesciences start-up. Dr Simon Barnes,Director of the Entrepreneurship Centre atICL’s Tanaka Business School, was movedto write a case study exploring the

company’s approach, which recently wona 2005 Business Week/ECCH EuropeanCase Award and the International Journalfor Entrepreneurship Education’s MerciaPrize for best case study.

Founder Professor Mark Ferguson said:“I am thrilled by the wide recognition ofRenovo’s ambitions and start-upapproach. I’m currently working very hardto put together another major financinground, for what I hope will be a creative,supportive and spectacular deal whichwill even more firmly establish thecompany’s position.”

A UMIP Breakfast NetworkingEvent for professional servicesand investment management

companies in July.

UniLife 13

Feature

UMIC:One Year On Although The University of

Manchester’s Incubator Company(UMIC) has just celebrated its firstbirthday its team of six have beenlooking after the University’sportfolio of business incubators forthe past six years. Based at theflagship Manchester IncubatorBuilding, they provide facilities-management and businessmentoring services across a numberof sites and all market sectors.

The Manchester Biosciences Incubator onGrafton Street has been at full occupancysince May 2001, and has seen many of itsstart-up companies grow dramaticallyand graduate to local business parks.“One of our biggest success stories isRenovo, which now employs more than90 people,” says General Manager DrMartino Picardo, “and being the home ofthe UK Biobank project has raised thesite’s profile nationally and globally.”

On the back of this success, a new CoreTechnology Facility is being builtadjoining the Incubator with fundingfrom the European RegionalDevelopment Fund (ERDF) and NorthWest Development Agency (NWDA). It ison schedule to open in January 2006,and the team is current busy attractinggrowing biotechnology companies.University Life Sciences and Medical andHuman Sciences researchers will also be

housed in the building, which aims tobecome a world-leading centre ofexcellence in biotechnology business incubation.

At the Sackville Street end of campus,the recently-opened North CampusIncubator is housed across three newly-converted railway arches. Workingclosely with Manchester ScienceEnterprise Centre (MSEC), University ofManchester Intellectual Property (UMIP)and the School of Informatics, it focuseson the IT, communications and hi-techbusiness sectors and is already home to12 young companies.

And September will see the opening ofanother exciting new venture at OneCentral Park in the East Manchesterregeneration area. A close collaborationbetween the local council, MANCAT, theUniversities of Manchester and Salford,

MMU and Manchester Science Park, it willencompass everything from academicresearch to enterprise, incubation andpotential grow-on space.

On the business mentoring front, UMIChas attracted substantial funding from theDepartment for Trade and Industry in thefields of biotechnology and genomics, andfrom the ERDF across all market sectors.“Our services and reputation are growingfast,” says Martino,“not just around theUniversity, but across the region.

“We have a great team here at UMIC, arewell supported by senior managementin the University and its othercommercial exploitation agencies. Thenext few years will be extremelychallenging and exciting for us, as weseek to create and develop a world-leading name in business incubation forThe University of Manchester.”

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“I really did want to be a hairdresser,” shesays. “I would have loved it – and probablymade more money.” What thwarted thatambition, but fired another one, was thefact that whilst she was at St Aelred’sHigh School, Newton-le-Willows, theyestablished a sixth form – and teacherswith degrees arrived. They talked aboutgoing to university and Helen saw newhorizons. She changed her ambition fromhairdressing to teaching.

Her own educational experience, as wellas her roots in a Lancashire miningcommunity (she was born 47 years ago inGolborne), has naturally influenced herenthusiasms. She’s a great supporter ofcomprehensive schools like St Aelred’s.She is also a believer in part-timeeducation, especially for teachers. That isthe way she got her own MSc and PhD.And she just “adores” being involved ineducational change and development,leadership and management. The wholebusiness of teaching excites her. Even herhusband, Barry, who she met when theywere both teaching at Alsager School inCheshire, is an educational consultant.

She was a schoolteacher for 11 years from1980, after graduating from LiverpoolUniversity, where she read History andPolitics. Fortuitously, the school was

You would be hard put to predictthat a girl who failed her 11-plusand went to a secondary modernschool, where she had theambition to become ahairdresser, would end up as aProfessor of Educational Policy,Leadership and Management.But that is what happened toHelen Gunter. And she is now aleading light in the field ofmodernising the way schools arerun and of remodelling theschool workforce.

practically across the road from Creweand Alsager College – and she took theopportunity to do an MSc in EducationManagement part-time there. And thatgave her the taste for research and forworking in higher education.

In 1991, she made the move from school -“I also wanted to escape from the ‘womenthing’ in school management – I didn’thave the confidence that I could breakthrough the glass ceiling.” So, in 1991, shegot a job at Leeds Metropolitan Universityas Senior Lecturer in EducationManagement. There, she lectured on aMaster’s degree for working teachers,something she is still very keen on. “Itproved to be very popular, but very tough,”she says.

In 1993, she moved to Keele, where she didher PhD, part-time, of course. She workedon the history and development ofeducation management, and how thisarea of study developed in universities.She embraced the pioneering work ofGeorge Barron and Bill Taylor with hisneatly-titled “Heading for Change”approach. She interviewed those involvedin the trail-blazing British EducationalLeadership, Management andAdministration Society (BELMAS), formed35 years before. “Essentially, I was mapping

Profile

Helen’s Horizons

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CV

NameProfessor Helen Gunter

PositionProfessor of Educational Policy, Leadershipand Management

EducationBA (Hons) Modern History and Politics -Liverpool University PGCE History Liverpool University MSc Educational Management CNAA PhD ‘An Intellectual History of the Field ofEducation Management from 1960’ - Keele University

Career History1991 - Senior Lecturer at LeedsMetropolitan University1993 – Associate Director of theProfessional Development Unit inEducation at Keele University1999 – Reader in Educational Leadershipand Management, University ofBirmingham2004 - Professor of Educational Policy,Leadership and Management, TheUniversity of Manchester

is that instead of teaching you get thedelivery of learning,” she says.

Her work in the mid-90s at HM Prison,Stocken, evaluating the Successmakerscheme, reinforced the value of teachers.“It was a computer-based programme andthe inmates liked it because they saidthey could fail in private,” she says. “Butthey also said that they missed the socialside, the opportunity to talk, and betaught by, teachers.”

After she got her PhD, in 1999, she movedto the University of Birmingham, whereshe co-directed (with Professor HywelThomas) a major evaluation of thetransforming the school workforce“Pathfinder” initiative for the DfES.Essentially, they were looking at ways ofeffectively shifting the teacher’s workload,which has seen the growth of teachers’assistants. In September this year, Phase 3of the the government reform known asRemodelling, based on the PathfinderProject, will come into play, particularly inprimary schools, giving teachersguaranteed time for planning andpreparing lessons, relieving them of suchduties as invigilation and cover for absentteachers.

Clearly, there is a lot at stake here and anumber of debatable issues, such as therole of professional managers in schoolsin, say, finance and human resources,working alongside head teachers whotraditionally have emerged from theteaching profession.

These are all issues at the heart of Helen’swork. She came to her Chair here in 2004and couldn’t be happier. She is currentlyworking with colleagues in setting up apathway in the professional doctorate inthe School that will focus on educationand public sector leadership. She lovestravelling – and she has particularacademic links with New Zealand andSouth Africa. But coming to Manchesterhas reconnected her with her roots.“When I was growing up, it was always abig treat to come to Manchester and dosome shopping,” she says. She admitseven now to having a weakness forshopping, especially for shoes.

One can’t help feeling that with such awarm and caring person as Helen Gunterin charge, our schools are in good hands.She knows what she’s talking about – andshe really cares.

the field,” she says. Also, a sign of things tocome, she was also Associate Director ofthe Professional Development Unit inEducation there.

This dual approach marks her ground. Shehas an enthusiasm for both thedevelopment of education management -and its practical application in howschools are organised. And it would behard to find anyone who knows – or cares- more about the teacher’s lot and howschools are run. And the kids. “What aboutthe kids?” is a question always in hermind. “When people are seeking the viewsof heads and teachers and managers andparents, they frequently neglect to findout what the kids think,” she says.

Not surprisingly perhaps, Helen has wonan ESRC research grant of £100,000 tolook further not just at leadership andmanagement, but also at schoolimprovement, effectiveness and policy. Thestudy focuses on the inter-relationshipbetween the state, public policy andknowledge in the field of educationalleadership. She will be researching whoknows about leadership, how they know,why they know, and whether thatknowing counts. Bourdieu’s theory ofpractice is core to this work and she willbe using his thinking tools to analyseinterviews with professors, practitioners,and policymakers in the field.

She is passionately concerned with allthose key issues which exercise so manyparents, such as how teachers can best beemployed and the role of support staff,like classroom teaching assistants. Sheidentifies the growing separationbetween the leaders and the led, themanagers and the managed. And she isalso very much alive to the pros and consof government policy to combat thehaemorraghing of teachers from theprofession.

“There are 300,000 trained teachers notpractising – and I’m one of them,” shepoints out. “During the 1990s, thegovernment recognised this disaffectionand set about professionalising teachers,putting things in place to free them fromduties which other, untrained, supportstaff could do whilst they got on withteaching and proper preparation.”

However, the alternative view of thispolicy is that the teaching profession isbeing deregulated, resulting in lower-paid,untrained people to take over. “The danger

The Right ChemistryPeople

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A new series of visiting lectures has just been launched by the Schoolof Chemistry, thanks to the generous support of one of its alumni.

Running for a Good Cause

– perhaps his greatest achievement beingthe discovery of Indomethacin, the firstnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Inthe early part of his career he worked forpharmaceutical giants Merck beforepursuing his academic work at theUniversity of Virginia in the USA.

The Symposium brought together threeacademics – Professor Nick Turner fromthis University, Dr Veronique Gouverneurfrom the University of Oxford andProfessor Matthew Shair from theUniversity of Harvard.

The inaugural ‘TY Shen Symposium’ washeld in June and marks the start of aseries of similar events which aim tobring high calibre speakers from acrossthe globe to Manchester.

The events are being sponsored byProfessor Tsung-Ying Shen, whograduated from the University with a PhDin Organic Chemistry in 1950. ProfessorShen travelled from his home is Boston,USA to attend the inaugural event.

Professor Shen has enjoyed a long anddistinguished career in organic chemistry

Jim Thomas, Professor of Chemistry atthis University said: “Initiatives such asthe TY Shen Symposium help to attracthigh calibre speakers to Manchester anddevelops the School’s outreach activities.We are very grateful to Professor Shen forhis support.”

Professor Shen’s generous support for theUniversity comes via the North AmericanFoundation for The University ofManchester, a registered US charitywhich is governed by a board of trusteeswho are alumni.

in our research but they rarely hear whathappens to that information.

“I’ve decided to take this on board andget involved as a local volunteer at theWhiz Out youth club in Whalley Rangewhere I work with children aged 13-19who have been excluded from school.The club puts on after-school activitiessuch as bike clubs, cookery classes, thaiboxing and football. It’s a voluntaryorganisation and they keep having theirgrants reduced so money is tight.

“I also attend monthly meetings held byMothers Against Violence which is an

A lecturer from the School of Law ispulling on his trainers and running theBerlin Marathon to help support twocharities which are helping him with hisUniversity research.

Dr Rob Ralphs is hoping to raise as muchmoney as he can for Mothers AgainstViolence and the Whiz Out youth club.He is currently involved in a two-yearstudy looking at gangs in Moss Side andsaid: “The University can get criticised bythe communities we work with for notgiving anything back to them. Theyoften feel that we’re happy to use them

organisation set up by the mothers, sistersand partners of young men who have beenkilled in gang related activities inManchester. Again, this is a voluntaryorganisation that goes into schools and doestalks schools warning of the dangers ofgetting involved in gun and gang activities. Ithink these two groups are particularlyworthwhile and underfunded so I’ve decidedto raise funds for them both.”

Rob is running the marathon on 25September and if you’d like to make adonation then you can contact Rob on 2756846 or at robert.ralphs@manchester.ac.uk

Above:Prof TY Shen working in the MorleyLab in 1950

Right: (L – R) Prof Nick Turner,Dr VeroniqueGouverneur,Prof Matthew Shair,Prof TYShen and Prof Jim Thomas at theSymposium.

yPeople

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Bigfoot in CheshirePhilippa Lee, who recently joined the University as an AdministrativeAssistant in Chandos Hall, is taking part in the three-day BigfootCheshire charity walk from 12 – 14 August.

provides grants,education and training onMS,as well as producing numerouspublications and running a free-phonespecialist helpline.

For more information or to sponsor Philippaplease e-mail her onphilippa.lee@manchester.ac.uk.

Over the course of the event she will walk 50miles,and day two will be a ‘marathon day’when participants must cover 26 miles in asingle day.

The walk is in aid of the Multiple SclerosisSociety,and Philippa must raise a minimum of£400 to take part. The Society funds MSresearch,runs respite care centres and

Two PhD students from the School ofMaterials recently won prizes at theprestigious UK Society for Biomaterialsannual meeting.

Deepak Kalkaska won the PosterPresentation competition, while WildaHelen won the e-poster competition. Bothbelong to the Biomaterials and TissueEngineering group in the Materials ScienceCentre.

The event, which was held in Nottinghamin June, offers postgraduates a greatopportunity to present their work. The2006 UKSB meeting is being held here atthe University’s Weston Conference Centrenext June.

Professor Martin Marshall from theNational Primary Care Research andDevelopment Centre and co-researchershave been awarded the 2005 Baxter Awardfor an outstanding publication contributingto excellence in healthcare management inEurope, for ‘Cultures for Performance inHealthcare’.

Ian Horrocks, Professor of ComputerScience, has become one of only sixacademics in the UK to be awarded aSenior Research Fellowship by theEngineering and Physical Sciences ResearchCouncil (EPSRC) for his work on theSemantic Web, a more intelligent version ofthe web.

Professor Nick Jenkins, Leader of theElectrical Energy and Power Systems Group,has been elected a Fellow for hisdistinguished contribution to theadvancement and implementation ofrenewable energy systems and theirimpact on the public electricity supplysystem.

Phil Withers, Professor of Materials Scienceand founder of the Unit for Stress &Damage Characterisation and NATEC, hasbeen elected a Fellow in recognition of thetechniques he has developed tocharacterise residual stresses in nuclearand aerospace materials and components.

Dr Graeme Kirkpatrick of the School ofSocial Sciences was awarded the PhilipAbrams Memorial Prize by the BritishSociological Association for the best sole-authored book of 2004, for ‘CriticalTechnology: A Social Theory of PersonalComputing’.

Dr Michael Moran of Government,International Politics and Philosophy hasbeen made a Fellow of the British Academyand a member of the Scientific MonitoringCommittee for the Framework 6 'NewModes of Governance Programme' 2005-8.

Dr Yoram Gorlizki of Government,International Politics and Philosophy hasbeen awarded The Alexander Nove Prize bythe British Association of Slavic and EastEuropean Studies for the best book inRussian, Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies, for‘Cold Peace: Stalin and the Soviet RulingCircle, 1945-1953’.

Professor Mike Savage of the School ofSocial Sciences has been appointed to theHEFCE sub-panel for Sociology for the RAEexercise 2007/8.

Professor Fiona Devine, Head of Sociology,has been re-appointed for two years to theESRC Council, where she will continue toChair the International AdvisoryCommittee and be one of two UKrepresentatives to the Governing Council ofthe European Science Foundation.

Honours Round-up www.mssociety.org.uk/ms_events/bigfoot

PosterPrizes

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Community

More than 80 schoolgirls from the regiontook part in ‘Design and Build aHovercraft in a Day’ in the SackvilleStreet Building in June. The Great Hallwas transformed into a workshop, test-track and runway, and the girls wereasked to come up with innovative ideasfor building the craft.

The project was developed and fundedby NATEC (Northern AerospaceTechnology Exploitation Centre), based atthe University, in partnership withBradford University's School ofEngineering Design and Technology.

Dr Stuart Lyon of the Corrosion andProtection Centre is running a project toraise awareness of and interest in thesubject in secondary schools. Fundedthrough the EPSRC’s Partnerships forPublic Awareness scheme, it will createengaging teaching and learningmaterials for teachers including casestudies of significant corrosion failuresand a scientific experiment to be fed intoa national data bank.

Dr Lyon said: “Corrosion costs westernindustrial economies 1 - 3% of GNP eachyear, and if no maintenance were carriedout the country’s physical infrastructureand assets would rust away in 50 to 100years. I’m aiming to raise awareness ofand interest in corrosion and itsprevention in the next generation ofaspiring engineers.”

Dr Lyon tested his ideas at the week-longSETPOINT Technology Challenge event inJune, which invited sixth form studentsto complete exercises like ‘The ReallyUseful Stress Test’ to find out why strongmaterials like steel fail when they reactwith the environment and what can bedone about it.

Engineering experts from NATEC andstudents from the University offeredadvice and help on the day, which endedwith a series of races.

David Stanley, Training and SkillsManager at NATEC, said: "Our aim is toenliven science and engineering andencourage young people to haveconfidence in their ability to take on acareer in aerospace engineering. Gettingchildren involved in events like thisdevelops young people's interest intechnology and improves science skills."

Schoolgirls BuildFlying Machine

Chemistry for KidsLorelly Wilson of the School of Chemistryhas been awarded The Royal Society ofChemistry’s Education Award for apioneering collaboration with schoolsand industry.

Thousands of Year 6 pupils haveparticipated in workshops promoting apositive, interesting and exciting imagefor chemistry as part of the initiative,sponsored by chemical distributors

Norkem, Multisol and Univar. Thescheme also includes projects and talksfor secondary students, their parents andthe public.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, presented theaward, saying: "We rely more and moreon science for the commercial future ofour country. Stimulating young people'sinterest in science and technology iscrucial."

Tony Blair presenting the awards (Lorelly is fourth from left).

Future-proof

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Community

The events ranged from ‘Survivor’ and‘Tomb-Team’ projects for local primaryschool children to week-long residentialevents for Year 11 and sixth form students.

Julian Skyrme, Head of WideningParticipation at the University said: “In myview, there’s no better way to convinceyoung people about the merits of highereducation than giving them theopportunity to experience it first-handthemselves. We’ve been running summerschools for six years but this has been byfar the most successful year, and thesupport we’ve received by working with

the national AimHigher programme hasbeen invaluable.”

UniLife caught up with three youngpeople who had recently completed aweek-long residential summer school atthe Dalton-Ellis hall of residence, andasked them how they found life asManchester students.

If any you have ideas for projects,curriculum sessions or other aspects ofsummer schools for 2006, please contactSaskia Metcalf, Summer School Co-ordinator, on 275 7449 orsaskia.metcalf@manchester.ac.uk

JonathonAdlington,aged 16 fromManchester

“No one in myfamily has beento university, sothis week hasopened my eyesto what goes on.

We’ve experienced proper lectures in loads of different subjectsand the social side has been great; you’re always on the go andthere’s not a minute to be bored!

“One of the best parts has been spending time with the StudentAmbassadors responsible for our group. We got to ask themabout what university life in Manchester is really like, and itmakes a difference to hear it from real students rather than justyour teachers.”

Summer SchoolDiariesThe University has just hosted seven different summer schools aimedat widening participation among non-traditional groups - the largestnumber by a higher education institution in the UK.

Sarah Davies,aged 16 fromStockport.

“I was a bitnervous aboutcoming to thesummer schoolat first, but Iknew a few otherpeople who were

coming and in the end we were all mixed into groups withstudents from other schools anyway. So making friends andmeeting new people wasn’t a problem.

“My research project was called ‘Judgment Day’. I’ve alwaysthought I might like to work as solicitor when I leave school andthe project taught me loads about the profession. We even got achance to debate a real case with a judge in a court which wasquite scary, but also really interesting.

“I’ve now realised I want to study law at uni, and have a betteridea of what choices I need to make to get there.”

Holly Townsend,aged 16 fromCarlisle.

“Staying at thehalls of residencehas given me areal flavour ofwhat student lifeis like. I alsospent lots of timeon the uni

campus so got a real feel for what the environment andatmosphere is like.

“My project was called ‘Futurama’. I learnt lots about how to workon a project in a large team of people, and we made a short filmwhich was shown on the big screen at a Manchester cinema.

“If anyone wasn’t sure about whether to come on a SummerSchool I would say they definitely should do it. It’s been a greatweek – I’ve learnt so much and met loads of new friends who I’llkeep in touch with.”

One Small Step for Angela

A young woman fromWythenshawe has been nominatedin a regional competition to findthe North West’s most inspirationaladult learners.

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Community

Angela Beddows was nominated by TheManchester Museum as an inspirationallearner for The One Small Step AdultLearners Week Awards 2005.

She has visited The ManchesterMuseum several times since she firstcame with her adult basic skills classtwo years ago. Angela’s class is from AtForum Futures, based in WythenshaweCivic Centre and is part of ManchesterAdult Education Service.

“Angela was nominated because herenergy and persistence was a definiteinspiration to other adult learners aswell as museum staff,” explained Dave

Dunne of The Manchester Museum whonominated Angela for the award.

“She has shown how enthusiasm canovercome difficulty in understandingand has helped Museum staff toappreciate the skills and qualitiesneeded to engage with adult learners ofall abilities.”

Angela said:“Working with the Museumgave me confidence and helped my selfesteem because I learnt a lot about ancientEgypt and could tell my classmates allabout it. I developed many skills especiallyin basic reading, writing, communicationand ways of doing research.”

More than 50 young people fromacross Manchester performed atthe Royal Exchange Theatre lastmonth as part of a programmerun by the Manchester Museumcalled ‘Aim Higher: Open Minds’.

The project gave the youngsters thechance to devise and perform four plays- collectively called ‘Museum’.

The students worked with playwrightand poet Lemn Sissay to produce thepieces, and also created the props andpublicity material.

The Aim Higher project seeks toencourage young people to think abouthigher education by encouraging themto visit museums and galleries.

Tristram Besterman, Director of TheManchester Museum explained:“Museums have the power to changepeople’s lives, creating inspirational and

often unforeseen pathways tounlocking individual potential. OpenMinds provided a dazzling display ofthis principle.”

Angela Beddowswith tutor JuliaMaine, studentteacher NigelLeach, herclassmates,relations andMuseum staff.

Treading the Boards

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Community

Fun at the FairMore than 10,000 people flockedto the annual Summer GraduateFair at the Armitage Centre in June.Run by the Careers Service, thetwo-day event brought togethermore than 160 graduate recruitersand is consistently voted by themas being the most effectiverecruitment fair in the UK.

The event offered graduates theopportunity to meet with some of theUK's leading recruiters, including the CivilService, Aldi, Cap Gemini, The CooperativeSociety and many more.

In related news, the University has beenchosen as one of just 19 institutions inEurope that British Petroleum (BP) wishesto forge stronger links with in terms ofgraduate recruitment.

BP was recently voted graduate recruiterof the year in a scheme organised by GTI,Europe's leading specialist graduatecareers publisher, and supported by The

Daily Telegraph. Since working moreclosely with the University, applicationsto BPs internship programme haveincreased significantly, with 16 studentsbeing accepted this year.

Representatives from the University'sFaculty of Engineering and PhysicalSciences, Manchester Business Schooland the Careers Service attended BP'sprestigious European university

programme launch event at London’sScience Museum in May.

Jane Ratchford, director of the CareersService said: "We are delighted to havebeen selected by BP to participate intheir new European universityrecruitment programme. It is just oneexample of the University's excellentreputation and effective relationshipswith key graduate employers."

The University’s Mexican Society hostedthe annual Colloquium of MexicanStudents in the UK in July. The eventshowcased postgraduate research byMexican students from Manchester andother universities, and aimed to fosterresearch networks amongst Mexicanstudents and other postgraduatesresearching topics relevant to Mexico.

Professor John Perkins, Vice President andDean of the Faculty of Engineering andPhysical Sciences, opened the conferenceand welcomed plenary speaker IgnacioDuran, Minister of Cultural Affairs in theMexican Embassy in London. Mr Duranspent some time as a student in Britainbefore establishing a distinguished careeras a film director.

After speaking about Mexican artist FridaKahlo, whose work is the subject of amajor exhibition at the Tate Modern thissummer, he extended an invitation toManchester students to attend a privatetour of the exhibition. For more details ofthis trip please contact Colloquiumorganiser Jorge Arizmendi Sanchez viamexsoc@umu.man.ac.uk by 15 August.

More AboutMexico

Professor JohnPerkins (left) andIgnacio Duran

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St Peter’s House ChaplaincySUNDAY WORSHIP 10am Group Work11.15am Morning Worship6.30pm Evening Worship (Term-time only)FOYER 10am-4pm. An area where students and staff can relax and meet friends.A tea/coffee machine is available.Precinct Centre 0161 275 2894 sph.reception@manchester.ac.uk

Avila House RC Chaplaincy (next to the Holy Name Church)Mass TimesMon - Fri 1.05 pm (term-time only)Oxford Road 0161 275 6999/273 1456Chaplains also available Monday - FridayFloor B, Room B25, Renold Building 0161 200 2522Mosque: Sackville Street BuildingPrayer Room: Renold Building B26

Chaplaincies

The Whitworth Art Gallery

Gig Guide Manchester Academy 1, 2 & 3

Students’ Union Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL Tickets from:Piccadilly Box Office, easy Internet Cafe, (c/c) 0871 2200260Online @ www.manchesteracademy.net Royal Court (Liverpool) 0151 709 4321 (c/c)Students' Union 0161 275 2930

The University of Manchester's Stately Home.Small conference and meeting roomsavailable year-round. Licensed for weddings and baby-naming ceremonies.

Tabley HouseKnutsford, Cheshire, WA16 0HBTel: 01565 750151 www.tableyhouse.co.uk email inquiries@tableyhouse.co.uk

Tabley House

Whitworth Art Gallery, Oxford Road, 0161 275 7450 www.whitworth@manchester.ac.ukOpening hours Mon to Sat 10am - 5pm, Sun 2pm - 5 pm FREE AdmissionGallery Café 0161 275 7497 The café sells a selection of drinks and light meals.Gallery Shop 0161 275 7498 The bookshop stocks a range of art and design books, cards and gifts.Collection Exhibitions Archive now online. The Whitworth’s online ‘Collections Catalogue’ nowallows you to browse and search selected exhibitions held at the Gallery over the past 10 years.Follow the link from homepage at: www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk

DISPLAYS/COLLECTIONSThe Wages of Sin and Virtue’s Reward Moral Prints in the Age of Dürer, to 6 November

Woodcuts, engravings, etchings and illustrated books from the collections of the Universityof Manchester in the Whitworth Art Gallery and the John Rylands Library.

This exhibition highlights the moral messages communicated to people of the late MiddleAges and early Reformation through the medium of prints published in Northern Europe.

The Object of Encounter Aura and Authenticity to February 2006The first in a series of three annual exhibitions devised to explore the effects ofinterpretation and display methods on visitors’ responses to art works. The series of threeexhibitions have been organised in collaboration with students and staff of the Centre forMuseology in the School of Arts, Histories and Cultures at the University of Manchester.

On Friendship to 23 SeptemberThis exhibition examines the notion of a queer aesthetic in post war British art and includesworks by Lucien Freud, Francis Bacon and David Hockney.

TOURS AND EVENTSEvery Saturday at 2pm there is either an Exhibition Tour or an Eye-Opener Tour.

What’s On

Mon 8 AugSkinny Puppy

Tues 9 AugThe Rakes

Weds 10 AugBeth Nielsen ChapmanVman Events 6

Thurs 11 AugThe Ferret Under the Gun Tour

Fri 12 AugNo Use for a Name

Sat 13 AugMyoho

Mon 15 AugVman Events 7

Tues 16 AugThe Polyphonic SpreeNick Harper & Band

Tues 23 AugBad Religion

Thurs 25 AugWeezer

Tabley House

John Rylands Library

UniLife 23

The John Rylands Special Collections Library,Deansgate, will be closed for a period ofapproximately 2 years, until 2006, foressential refurbishment and the constructionof a new visitor and interpretative centre.Access to all the Special Collections isavailable through the main University Libraryon campus. A Special Collections ReadingRoom is open on Floor Purple Four, Monday toFriday 10am - 5.15pm and Saturdays 10am-1pm.Readers may find it helpful to contact us inadvance on 0161 275 3764. Furtherinformation can be found on our website

John Rylands Library

www.rylibweb.manchester.ac.uk/spcoll

Fri 19 – Sat 20 AugContact Young Actors Company presentTRANSFORMATIONSDirected by the People Show

Contact Theatre, Oxford Road, ManchesterTickets/Info: 0161 274 0600For information on other events pleasevisit our website www.contact-theatre.orgA limited number of tickets are availablefrom just £4 on the day from the TicketOffice between 11am - 4pm daily.

Contact Theatre

The facilities at Jodrell Bank are goingthrough a period of redevelopment. TheVisitors Centre currently has a café, anexhibition space and a 3D theatre open, andvisitors can still explore the various trailsand the natural habitats of the Arboretum's35 acres with its 2,000 species of trees andshrubs and National Collections. In January2004 Jodrell Bank completed a 180 degreeobservational pathway close to the base ofthe world famous Lovell radio telescope.

EVENTSWednesday 10th AugustA Children's Guided Walk of the Arboretumto look at Native Trees. The walk will start at2pm. Booking is essential please call 01477571339 to book a place. Children must beaccompanied by an adult at no extra charge.

Monday 8th August to Friday 12th August'Meet an Astronomer' find out the answersto all those puzzling astronomical questions.This event takes place under the pagoda onthe Observational Pathway at 2pm each day.

Jodrell Bank Science Centre & ArboretumMacclesfield, Cheshire 01477 571339 www.jb.manchester.ac.uk

Jodrell Bank

Burlington Rooms, Schunck Building,Burlington Street (next to JRUL)

0161 275 2392 www.burlington.man.ac.uk

The Society of Mature Students andPostgraduates in the Universities ofGreater Manchester

BurlingtonSociety

International Society,327 Oxford Road (next to Krobar) 0161 275 4959www.internationalsociety.org.ukOpen: Monday-Friday 9.30am - 5pm

InternationalSocietyThe International Society is an independent,not-for-profit organisation unique to the city ofManchester. We aim to provide internationalstudents with a warm and friendly welcomewhen they arrive in the city and to make theirtime in the UK a wonderful experience. Pleasevisit our website for more information.

Jodrell Bank

Contact Theatre

24 UniLife

Manchester Museum

All drop-in events cost £1 per child, unless otherwise stated. For group bookings please call 0161 275 2648. Children must be accompanied by an adult.Manchester Museum Oxford Rd, Manchester 0161 275 2630, www.museum.man.ac.uk

Open: Mon-Sat 10 - 5pm; Sun 11- 4 pm. FREE Admission. ww.museum.manchester.ac.uk

New Exhibition until 29 AugustScience Beyond Words Visions of Science ExhibitionThis extraordinary set of winning imagescovers a wide range of scientific disciplines,from medicine and the science of metals, tonanotechnology and natural history.

Mondays 1, 8, 15 & 22 August, 1.30-3.30pmBrilliant Bugs!Study the Museum's collections and designyour own fantastic insects with artist Tony Hall.

Tuesdays 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 August, 2.00-3.30pmFREEMeet the CuratorFind out more about the work done by ourcurators and view objects from the Museum'scollections.

Wednesdays 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 August, 1.30-3.30pm Body BlitzDiscover more about how your body worksand create your own piece of artwork.

Wednesdays 3 & 17 August, 2.00pm FREETour the StoreTake a look behind the scenes at theMuseum's rocks and minerals, withMineralogist David Green. Booking isessential as numbers are limited.

Thursdays 4, 11 August, 1.30-3.30pmMagnificent Mammals A family art and craft activity inspired by ourMammals gallery.

Fridays 5 & 12 August, 11.00am-4.00pmBlooming BotanyCreate your own fantasy garden in this artand craft session.

Saturday 6 August, 1.30-3.30pmFantasy FossilsCreate your own fossil designs inspired by theMuseum's Prehistoric Life Gallery.

Saturday 13 August, 1.00-4.00pm FREEFreaky Fruits and Matching PlantsDiscover the strange and unusual fruits fromthe Museum's botanical collection. Can youtell and match plants to everyday food anddrink?

Thursdays 18, 25 August, 1.30-3.30pm FREEMeet the MammalsLearn more about animals with Zoologist,Henry McGhie, in this hands-on 'youngcurator' workshop.

Fridays 19, 26 August,1.30-3.30pmSunny SunflowersFind out all about sunflowers and create yourown piece of artwork to take away.

Saturday 20 August, 1.00-4.00pmPacific ExplorersEver wondered what goes on behind the scenesat the Museum? How do we keep track of all ourobjects and specimens? Come and see the workof the documentation team as they catalogueour Pacific collections. Contribute your ownthoughts on a range of objects and become partof the team for a day. FREE

Saturday 27 & Monday 29 August, All dayMuseum ExplorerExplore the world in the Museum with a rangeof activity backpacks and trails. FREE

Thursday 25 August, 6.30-8.00pmThings are QueerA talk exploring the different interpretations ofobjects from boats, to bows, to bones, drawingexplicitly on 'Queer Theory'. Part of theManchester Pride celebrations. FREE

Saturday 27 August 2.30pm/Sunday 28 August1.30pm FREEThe Grand TourJoin Graeme Pye, our 'Victorian gentleman'guide, on this special tour of the Museum.

What’s On

UniLife 25

Wood Street Mission LotteryThe winner of the Wood Street Mission Lottery for May was CarolWest, from the School of Materials in the Faculty of Engineering andPhysical Sciences. The winning number was 132.June’s winner was Ms J Wilding of the School of Mechanical,Aerospace and Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and PhysicalSciences. The winning number was 200.The winner for July was Alison Holt of the Directorate of Finance.Thewinning number was 130.

Manchester University Press Manchester University Press is looking for authors to contribute to anew series it is launching focusing on Medieval Literature. The firsttitle 'Language and imagination in the Gawain poems' by SeniorLecturer in English and Language Dr John Anderson, was launchedrecently at an event in Humanities Lime Grove.The series, edited by Dr Anderson and Dr Gail Ashton from Englishand American Studies, embraces medieval writings of many kinds. It isimportant that the works are written in an accessible, 'jargon-free'style to appeal to a wide range of readers. For more info pleasecontact j.j.anderson@manchester.ac.uk.

What does it take to build a successful University spin-out company? That was the subject of a Venture Capital Master-classes organised bythe Manchester Technology Fund (MTF, the University's in-houseventure fund) and UMIP earlier this summer. The next event aimed atacademics in the Faculty of Life Sciences takes place on 4 October - tofind out more contact Richard Young on ry@mantechfund.com

Second Annual Lecture of the Society for LatinAmerican StudiesThursday 7 OctoberThe Centre for Latin American Cultural Studies Second Annual Lecture of the Society for Latin American Studies"20 Years of Neoliberalism: Where does Latin America go from here?" Duncan Green (Head of Research at Oxfam), 5pm, Crawford House Lecture Theatre 2.

Interdisciplinary One Day Conference'Universities in the Neo-Liberal World: Possible Futures' Wednesday 9 November 2005, 10am - 17.30pm President Prof Alan Gilbert, distinguished scholars, and policy makers,will explore and debate possible futures and alternatives for HigherEducation by situating universities within the contemporary world.For further details please visit our website:www.socialsciences.man.ac.uk/socialanthropology/events/possiblefutures/unlw.htm

Note: National Fluoride Information Centre The 23 May issue of UniLife included an article entitled 'First forFluoride', announcing the establishment of an independent fluorideinformation centre at the University.The article referred to the healthbenefits many attribute to the addition of fluoride to the water supply, butdid not acknowledge that others are concerned about the practice ofmedicating the population without their active consent.

Manchester 2015Following the completion of the first planning and accountability cyclea number of changes have been made to the University's strategicplan and the 2005/06 edition of the Manchester 2015 Agenda is nowavailable on the web at www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/ To complement this a companion document which provides furtherdetail of the Planning and Accountability Cycle, and in particular theOperationalPerformance Reviews of the Faculties and the CentralAdministration which are to be carried out each October has alsobeen produced, and this can be found atwww.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/

NoticeBoard

26 UniLife

House for SaleVictoria Park. Spac 4 bedrm Edwardiansemi-det hse.Well maintained, with prettygdn in quiet leafy rd. Only 1 mile from UniCampus. £240,000. 0161-225 5759.

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Fallowfield. Dble bedrm avail immedwithin beautiful modern top flr 2 bedrmapart very nr to the uni campus. Built justunder 2 yrs ago, the flar is bright & airy,with laminate flooring throughout & is f/finc oven/hob. f/freezer, microwave,w/machine/dryer & tv/video. Would suitacademic, visiting prof or lecturer.£400pm. 07970 178 885.

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Holiday AccommodationPuerto del Carmen, Lanzarote. Lrge stylishapart. Sleeps up to 5. Both dble bedrms en-suite. Balcony overlooks beach & sea. From£245pw. Special prices for families.www.casapalmeras.co.uk

Tuscany holiday cottage to let. Superbsetting near mountains. Lrge gdn, airconditioning. Florence, Siena, Arezzo easilyaccessible. Ideal for walking, sight-seeing,museums, restaurants, wine tasting,swimming & much more. 0208 699 8883.Details and photos onwebsite:http://freespace.virgin.net/gp.ck/Email:gp.ck@virgin.net

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N Yorks Moors. “Waterfront” C17thfisherman’s cottage. Staithes fishingvillage. Outstanding loc, relaxing breaksavail for Uni staff. Visit www.northside-cottage.co.uk

Car for Sale1995 (N) Peugeot 306 1.9 turbo disel. 3 drhatchback. Fantastic cond, full sportsinterior & extras. 90k miles. MOT & Tax tillSept. Well maintained, very reliable. £1,500ono. 07834 883 255.

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UniLife 27

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BookbindingTheses, Reports, Journals

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For further information please ring the Library Bookbinding Department (27) 53733, Monday - Friday 0900-1600

“”

28 UniLife

Andrew YatesHead of the Directorate of Sport, Tradingand Residential Services (STARS)

Andrew Yates, Head of the Directorate of Sport, Trading and ResidentialServices (STARS), was born in Kendal and studied Economics andAmerican studies at Keele University. Having joined the Ford MotorCompany in 1972, he felt a strong urge to contribute something to thecommunity via his work and joined the University of Essex in 1976 asConference Manager.

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After successfully building up thebusiness he moved to UMIST in 1978 asits Conference Organiser, where hisresponsibilities soon grew to includecatering and halls of residence. Andrew’sremit now covers the Directorate of Sport,around 9000 student rooms, studentpastoral care, catering services, threeconference centres (DaysHotel/Manchester Conference centre,Chancellors and Staff House SackvilleStreet) and sales and marketing activities.He also overseas internalcommunications within the Directorate,and contributes a personal letter to theSTARS newsletter each month.

“Like many people, it’s hard to describe atypical day but it always starts with mereading the papers on the 7.20 fromMarple,” he says. “I arrive in the officeabout half an hour later and starttackling e-mails.”

After a spot of dictation, Andrew’smeetings usually start at 9.00; he meetsall the senior managers within STARS ona one to one basis at least monthly andhis Senior Management Team (SMT)weekly. “The weekly meeting is reallyimportant, particularly for breaking downbarriers between one area and another,”he says.

After that, the day may bring anynumber of varied challenges. “In the lastfew days I’ve postponed a £1.4m project,secured funding for audio visualimprovements in the new SCANbuilding, directed architects to redesignthe facade of a new accommodationbuilding, renegotiated a lease saving£60 000 a year, held four one to onemeetings and determined an approachto 2005/6’s strategic objectives andKPIs,” he says. Not surprising then thathis journey home often involves more“gazing out of the window with a glazedlook” than reading!

Andrew’s results are certainly testimonyto his hard work. At UMIST he moved theUniversity from being a non-player tothird in the country for conferencebusiness, along the way creating the

Manchester Conference Centre andmaking UMIST the first University to offeraccommodation fully wired for Ethernet.

“My role is really to provide theconditions which enable my SMT teamto succeed, and develop and directstrategies with them to realise theUniversity’s 2015 ambitions,” he explains.“It’s vital to empower and engage staffto achieve this, and there’s still plenty ofwork to be done.

“I like to think I help and support ratherthan interfere, but I tend to havestrong views so my team mightdisagree. But they’re always free toargue back, and do!”

Andrew finds developing strategy forSTARS very exciting, as the cultureencourages a free-flow between peoplebuzzing with ideas.

“It’s the delivery that’s the hard bit!” hesays. “Sometimes it’s necessary to getback to grass roots to really understandthe issues and I have been known toclean student kitchens - it certainlytaught me what a great job our cleanersdo in a demanding environment!”

After a busy week Andrew treatsweekends as sacrosanct, leaving for hiscaravan on Anglesey on a Friday night sothat he can be fishing in his boat bySaturday morning. “I also like walking andsailing,” he says, “but my preference isalways to have a fishing rod in my hand.”