annual review 2014

www.derby.ac.uk

Annual Review2014

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Designed and produced by the University of Derby’sMarketing and Communications Department

3 INTRODUCTION Professor John Coyne, University of Derby Vice-Chancellor

4-11 INSPIRE

12-17 INNOVATE

18-25 IMPACT

26 AND FINALLY... Chris Hughes, Chair of the Governing Council

27 UNIVERSITY OF DERBY Year in Numbers

If we can be a university that genuinely inspires students, if we can be innovative, and if we can ensure that everything we do has real impact, then we shall be forging a strong future.

Professor John Coyne, Vice-Chancellor

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The University of Derby Annual Review 2014

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IntroductionIt’s hugely pleasing to be able to reflect on a year that is so emblematic of the University; one of progress, achievement, diversity and excitement.

We broke into the Guardian Top 50 and had further external recognition of our qualities – a positive direction of travel that prepares us for an even more successful 2015 and beyond.

We have been clearly focused around our three pillars of Inspiration, Innovation and Impact. We have a firm belief that if we can be a university that genuinely inspires students and be a community of inspiring people; if we can be innovative, forward thinking and developmental; and if we can ensure that everything we do has real impact, especially in the communities that we serve; then we shall be forging a strong future. The year has certainly been rich in contributions to those aims.

One significant event in our year demonstrated them so perfectly; the poppies art installation at the Tower of London, created by one of our graduates, Paul Cummins. I was stunned by what an inspirational piece of work it was and

how it touched the nation. I remember Paul’s final year show as an undergraduate – it was also extraordinary in its scale and ambition as hundreds of ceramic flowers swayed gently around the lake at our Markeaton Street site.

Nurturing and supporting talent is our core aim and it’s deeply satisfying to colleagues to see such a full and public manifestation of what we do. Whilst Paul’s work was centre stage in 2014, I know that it’s part of a bigger picture as I’m deeply impressed by the many and diverse contributions that my colleagues, our students and graduates make.

I’m proud to be part of the University of Derby family. We are in a fantastic place right now, with limitless ambition and a great future ahead of us. It’s hard to really demonstrate the successes we’ve made in just one publication, but this Review should give you a taste of our achievements and I do hope you enjoy it.

Professor John Coyne, Vice-Chancellor

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Congratulations to our GraduatesWe’d like to offer our sincere congratulations to all our graduates who celebrated completing their degree at our Award Ceremonies in 2014. Each year we hold Award Ceremonies in January for our Derby-based students and November for those based in Buxton. These occasions are the highlight of our year and we are proud to celebrate the success of our graduates along with their loved ones.

Our aim is to equip students with the skills and experience they need to thrive in the workplace, and as a result many of our graduates go on to enjoy great career success. We’re delighted that the most recent graduate employment survey showed that Derby’s graduates remain among the UK’s ‘most employable’, with 96.7% in work or further study within six months of completing their degree.

Prospective employers and representatives from the creative industries were among the guests at this

year’s degree shows, which ran from May 24–June 13. Featuring work from final year Arts, Design and

Technology students, The Big Show 2014 was a great opportunity to celebrate our students’ achievements and

showcase Derby’s emerging talent.

Derby Theatre, the QUAD, and the University’s Markeaton Street and Britannia Mill sites hosted public exhibitions,

films and performances, including our annual fashion show. More than 100 original designs were debuted

on the catwalk at the Graduate Fashion Show, which this year featured Jos Swinnerton, who was recently

named ‘Young Designer of the Year’ at the prestigious St Andrews Charity Fashion Show, and Lyndsay

Hazlewood, who was also shortlisted for the prize.

Also featuring in The Big Show 2014 was the live premiere of ‘Rosetta’, a musical composition by

John Crossley, Programme Leader for the MA Music Production degree, supported by the European Space

Agency (ESA) and the Arts Council. Inspired by the ESA’s Rosetta satellite, which began its journey deep into

space a decade ago, the composition was performed by students and staff from the Popular Music and Music

Technology courses in ground-breaking 16 channel surround sound and featured signal noises recorded

from the satellite itself.

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Rob’s stellar work leads to Oscar triumphAlumnus Rob Gardner is reaching for the stars as part of an award-winning film production company, where his work helped Sandra Bullock appear

weightless in the Oscar-winning film Gravity. The sci-fi movie, which also featured George Clooney, scooped up seven awards at the 86th Academy Awards, including the award for the Best Visual Effects.

Since graduating from Derby with a BA (Hons) degree in Graphic Design, Rob has worked on films including War Horse and 47 Ronin. His latest project saw him bring childhood television favourite Paddington to the big screen.

Derby graduate shines at Dubai EVENT AwardsA Derby graduate, who has worked with the likes of Justin Bieber, Lionel Ritchie and Bruno Mars, won a major award earlier this year at the Middle

East’s premier events industry show in Dubai.

Tom Ralston, who studied BSc (Hons) Sound, Light and Live Event Technology, was named ‘Young Achiever of the Year’ at the 2014 EVENT Awards.

He said: “It was an absolute honour to win this award, particularly as the EVENT Awards is the top show for the industry in the Middle East. There were more than 750 industry peers in attendance, so it was absolutely fantastic to get recognised for my work.”

Iconic British fashion designer, Sir Paul Smith, opened a University of Derby conference to raise awareness of dyslexia, which was organised by Sarah Chapman, a third year BA (Hons) Education Studies student.

The event, entitled ‘Dyslexia: A successful journey through university and into the workplace’, was held at the University of Derby’s Kedleston Road site in January and was attended by hundreds of students, educators and business representatives.

Sir Paul, who has dyslexia and is patron of the Dyslexia Association- which co-organised the event- said: “Dyslexic people have many plus points: we are very inventive and we don’t follow the crowd. For anyone looking for a creative member of staff, here we are!”

Dyslexic student teams up with Sir Paul Smith to open conference

Tower Poppies artist awarded MBECelebrated artist and Derby graduate, Paul Cummins, was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year honours list in recognition of his latest work in which 888,246 handmade ceramic poppies were planted in the moat of the Tower of London.

The installation, entitled ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’, was a poignant tribute to the human cost of the First World War, as each individual poppy represented a fallen British and Commonwealth soldier.

The artwork captured the imagination of the world, with millions of visitors – including armed services veterans and

members of the Royal Family – coming to the Tower to pay their respects.

Each poppy was carefully handmade by Paul and his team – several of whom are also Derby students and alumni – at a studio in Derby’s Pride Park.

An estimated £11.2m has been raised for charity from the sale of the poppies, and thousands of poppies will tour the UK to enable more people to witness the artwork.

In November the University of Derby announced that Paul, who is now completing a PhD at the University, would receive an Honorary Master of Arts degree in 2015.

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Derby celebrates fashion awards

hat trickFashion designers at the

University of Derby have won accolades at a prestigious

annual fashion competition for the third year running.

Students Jos Swinnerton and Lyndsay Hazlewood were

both shortlisted in the ‘Young Designer of the Year’ category

at the St Andrews Charity Fashion Show in February,

with Jos eventually scooping the top prize for his bohemian

collection, which drew inspiration from Tom Baker’s

1970s portrayal of Doctor Who.

In November, Derby Fashion student, Nicole Wells, was

shortlisted for the 2015 competition. Nicole said: “It’s

such an honour to be shortlisted for such a well-known award

and really unexpected. I’m excited to have such a great

opportunity within my final year at the University, as it’s a

fantastic platform to showcase myself as a designer and

practitioner before entering the fashion industry.”

Fiona Hawthorne, Senior Lecturer for BA (Hons) Fashion Studies, said “This is the third

year in a row that one of our students has been shortlisted

for the St Andrews Young Designer finals. It’s a testament

to the effort that the students put into their entries and the

industry standard work we expect from them.”

Derby Theatre accepted into Arts Council England’s National PortfolioThe University was thrilled to find out that Derby Theatre had been accepted into Arts Council England’s (ACE’s) National Portfolio back in June. As a result the theatre will receive £500,000 per annum to support key strands of its programme of work from 2015– 2018, helping to achieve ACE’s goal of ‘Great Art for Everyone’.

Sarah Brigham, Artistic Director at Derby Theatre, said: “Our unique relationship with the University, and now Arts Council England, allows us to forge ahead with our plans in developing artistic excellence for our audiences, while becoming an artistic hub for emerging artists, students and our community.”

Arts Council England currently fund Derby Theatre’s Learning Theatre Pilot Programme, which has transformed the theatre into a unique centre for learning for students, artists, theatre practitioners and the wider community.

Charity donations and box office success bring Christmas cheerDerby Theatre celebrated a record-breaking festive season in 2014, with over 25,000 people coming to watch sold-out productions of A Christmas Carol and Hansel & Gretel. The productions were also popular with local schools, with over 30 schools from the East Midlands making large group bookings.

Thousands of pounds were also raised for the charity Plus One, a city-wide scheme offering free theatre, film, dance and workshop tickets to children in care and their foster families. Bucket collections were held outside the auditorium after each performance and over £12,500 was generously donated by theatre-goers.

Gary Johnson, General Manager at Derby Theatre, said: “We are thrilled at the success of our Christmas shows and breaking box office records. Our 2015 Christmas production of Cinderella is already on sale and we’re looking forward to another happy Christmas!”

www.derbytheatre.co.uk

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The University of Derby’s first professional sports team, Team Derby, are in the running to be crowned champions of the first National Badminton League (NBL) season, which is being broadcast live on Sky Sports.

The launch of the NBL was announced by Badminton England in April and the opening season began in October, with Team Derby one of six teams battling it out for the title. Coached by former world number four, Donna Kellogg MBE, and Julia Mann, Team Derby’s squad boasts an impressive array of talent.

England men’s number one, Rajiv Ouseph, and Olympic Silver medallist, Gail Emms MBE, both feature in the squad, as does 2014 European Bronze medallist Karin Schnaase, and Andy Ellis – who forms one half of England’s number one men’s doubles pair.

Ollie Shearer, Head of Sports Development at the University of Derby, said: “This is the University’s first ever professional sports team and we are delighted with the players we have secured. We have high hopes for the season.”

Donna, who leads the University’s Performance Sports Programme and is Head Coach of the University club, added: “Julia and I are delighted to be working with a group of very talented players. It’s great for Derby that these players will be representing the University.

“Hopefully this will encourage more youngsters to play the sport across the county and the squad will become role models to aspire to.”

For further information and tickets visit www.nblbadminton.co.uk

TEAM DERBY CHALLENGE FOR INAUGURAL NATIONAL

BADMINTON LEAGUE TITLE

University marks Disability History Month with talk from war heroFalklands war veteran and disability campaigner, Simon Weston OBE, delivered the keynote address at the University’s Disability History Month in November, which this year had as its theme ‘War and Impairment – The Social Consequences of Disablement’.

Former Welsh Guardsman, Simon Weston, suffered 46% burns in 1982 when the military transport ship Sir Galahad was destroyed during the Falklands conflict. He underwent 70 surgical procedures to repair the damage to his face and body, and has since become an acclaimed speaker, campaigner and media presenter.

Mr Weston spoke about his life and work at a public lecture at the University’s Kedleston Road site for Disability History Month, which also featured talks, poetry recitals and exhibitions in a packed programme.

Exploring the origins of the DodoDr Graham Rowe, Programme Leader for Biology, explored the evolutionary origins of the Dodo in a public lecture entitled ‘As Dead as a Dodo?’ in October.

Speaking as part of the University’s Biology Week 2014, Dr Rowe examined the representation of the Dodo from the 17th century – 20th century by looking at a range of scientific studies, literature and films, including Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel, Alice in Wonderland.

He said: “The Dodo is a fascinating creature and one that deserves to be remembered. It’s a shame that they were driven to extinction.

“There are multiple 17th-century descriptions of the Dodo; however we cannot rely entirely on their validity alone, as more often than not these recorded sightings took place months before they were actually committed to paper. Rare skeletal remains and literature help give us some insight into this phenomenal bird.”

Commissioner speaks about children’s rightsStudents and staff from education courses at the University were given an expert insight into children’s rights when the Children’s Commissioner for England, Dr Maggie Atkinson, delivered a lecture in March.

Dr Atkinson, who has been Children’s Commissioner for England since March 2010, explained some of the challenges the students would face when they started a career in education or child welfare.

These included dealing with the rights of children from estranged families, parents who are under 18 and still classed as children themselves, young carers, bereaved children and the children of parents in prison.

Entrepreneurs share top tips with Derby studentsDerby Business School celebrated the successful launch of the Derby University Network of Entrepreneurs (DUNE) at Derby County’s iPro Stadium in November. Derby students interested in starting a business were given the opportunity to access support or mentoring from successful entrepreneurs, of which over 70 attended.

Bob Betts, Managing Director of Smith of Derby, praised DUNE: “Meeting the students who have already grabbed the chance to start their own small enterprise was fantastic. I don’t believe any other university is as employer, career and success-focused for their students as Derby is. The DUNE support network offers an incredibly important and unique link that can bridge the gap from idea to successful execution.”

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Disability conference looks back to the Devonshire Dome in the First World WarIn November, a conference examining the changing attitudes to disability paid tribute to the role Buxton’s Devonshire Dome played during the First World War. The Dome, which is now part of the University’s Buxton Campus, was used as a hospital to care for injured British and Commonwealth soldiers during the 1914–18 conflict.

The conference, organised as part of National Disability History Month, was opened by Combat Stress – the veterans’ mental health charity – and included a presentation on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The condition was only just beginning to be understood during the conflict and is now recognised as a major issue among veterans.

The Dome’s patients kept an autograph album during the war, detailing their names, regiments, injuries, and a few extra snippets – including a rude joke about Kaiser Wilhelm.

The event was organised by the University’s Disabilities Coordinator, Olivia Ramsbottom, who said: “The centenary of the outbreak of WWI and the Dome’s role in helping the wounded was an ideal starting point for the day.”

Former Cabinet Minister delivers lecture on British ConstitutionIn October, former Justice Secretary Lord Falconer spoke to students and staff from the College of Law about the future of the British Constitution in the wake of the Scottish

‘No’ vote on independence.

Lord Falconer was a minister in Tony Blair’s government, Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor from 2003-2007. He led change in many areas within government, particularly in European relations.

Second year Law student Linda Brown said “I really enjoyed the lecture. It shed light on an extremely important issue. Lord Falconer gave a detailed analysis of what could happen if Scotland were to separate from the rest of the UK.”

Thunderdome brings adventure to BuxtonSome of the world’s top ice climbers travelled to Buxton in October to compete in a dry tooling climbing course devised by Team GB ice climber, Andy Turner, who teaches at the University’s Oaklands Manor Outdoor Pursuits Centre.

Renamed the ‘Thunderdome’ for the day, the iconic Devonshire Dome at the University’s Buxton campus hosted a course of giant wooden cubes suspended 20 metres in the air. These cubes were designed to mimic the ice for climbers who use a technique known as dry tooling.

Members of the public were also treated to a demonstration of the range of adventure sports on offer at the University, including mountain biking, alpine skills, high lining and slack lining – a bit like tightrope walking but with a slack rope. Visitors also enjoyed refreshments from culinary arts students, sports massages, spa treatments and martial arts demonstrations.

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Multi-million Pound Engineering Innovation Centre Launched

Senior leaders from Derby’s engineering and advanced manufacturing sectors were among the guests at the opening of the University’s new multi-million pound Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Engineering (IISE) in July.

With support from top companies such as Bombardier, Rolls-Royce and Toyota, the Institute was specifically set up to support small and medium-sized businesses in the engineering and advanced manufacturing sectors.

IISE is also a marriage between Derby’s past and future; a place where innovation and ambition are matched with the latest machinery from the likes of DMG Mori Seiki, Renishaw, World Viz and Creat3d. The Institute is also equipped with a state-of-the-art virtual reality suite, which allows teams to prototype new components without the need to go through expensive laboratory tests. Engineers can then take advantage of the latest 3D printing hardware to manufacture bespoke components.

The Institute can help small and medium-sized businesses secure government funding through the Time2Innovate programme and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, while the University’s Postgraduate Support Scheme enables masters students to gain hands-on experience of commercial projects, which reduces the pressure on companies to provide expensive graduate training schemes.

Professor Richard Hall, the University’s Director of Research, Innovation and Impact, said: “Derby was the fastest growing city in the country last year by GVA (gross value added) and we want to further support and add value to local companies, providing them with access to the latest research findings and advanced technologies.

“Institutes such as this are a relatively new idea, particularly for Derby city and the region, and I think this is going to be instrumental in creating a sea change in local activity to reinforce that this is the best place in the world for making high-value products.”

The University has invested £10m in the Institute and a further £3m has been added by industry, as well as a further £30m worth in successful bids, including one from the Regional Growth Fund. If you would like to find out more about IISE and how it can provide support to business, visit www.derby.ac.uk/iise.

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This year we launched the Invest to Grow programme, designed to support innovation, growth and job creation in the East Midlands, and supported by £16m from the government’s Regional Growth Fund.

The Invest to Grow programme offers funding of between £15,000 and £1m to part-finance projects which can help create sustainable job growth in sectors such as Transport Equipment Manufacturing, Life Sciences, Construction, Food and Drink Manufacturing, Logistics and Low Carbon.

In addition to funding, businesses can also receive support to find the time, talent and technology to kick-start innovation through access to high-tech machinery and other resources at the University.

In November hundreds of people gathered at the University’s Enterprise Centre for the ‘Open for Business’ exhibition, promoting the programme and celebrating the success of local businesses which have received University support.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Academic Enterprise, Professor Margaret Bruce, said: “Derby offers a range of business services ranging from incubator facilities and Enterprise boot camps through to our multi-million pound Regional Growth Fund.

“We are serious about business and keen to engage with the local industry to support innovation, wealth and job creation in the region.” www.derby.ac.uk/investtogrow

University researchers team up with industryIn the past year, businesses from the East Midlands and beyond have increased profits and created new jobs by working with the University through the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme. Derby celebrated the success of its existing partnerships in November as part of National KTP Week to promote the scheme to businesses.

KTPs are helping businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within

the University. Companies can apply for government funding to obtain the academic research and support they need through the KTP scheme. Once the partnership has been established, the company gains the services of a dedicated recent graduate to drive a business critical project through to completion, with the support of an academic supervisor, plus access to the latest technology, equipment and skills.

A recent KTP national survey showed a typical project could help a company to realise an increase in annual profit of around £138,000, training for 19 members of staff and the creation of four new jobs.

www.derby.ac.uk/research/iise/together/ktps/

Invest to Grow offers £16m support for East Midlands industry

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HEFCE backs £12mSTEM centre

Construction of a new £12m teaching centre at the University’s Markeaton Street site was given the green light in December after the project received a £5m grant from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

The new 4,200 square-metre building will provide teaching spaces for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects when it opens in 2017. The project will be managed by the University’s own professional staff and represents a 30% increase on the size of the existing Markeaton Street site.

With a focus on real-world learning, the new building will combine teaching facilities with specialist infrastructure designed for the engineering courses. One such example will be the accessible roof space, which will provide opportunities for work on sustainable energy sources.

Professor John Coyne said: “This is a further vote of confidence in the University and reflects our growing popularity – especially in STEM subjects.

“At a time when overall student entry in the sector has been static, the University of Derby has seen an 8% increase in the number of students studying engineering. The building will give Derby the much needed space it requires to develop further.”

Award for social media innovationAn innovative social media campaign to raise awareness of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) research won an award at the inaugural ‘East Midlands Innovation in Healthcare Awards’ in October.

Staff at the University of Derby teamed up with Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and ADHD Solutions to produce the campaign, called ‘Disseminating Research Information through Facebook and Twitter’ (DRIFT), which used social media to provide information to the public about ADHD. The team received £2,000 to help develop their campaign further.

Gemma Ryan, Senior Lecturer in Nursing & Healthcare Practice, said: “The aim of our campaign was to make relevant research accessible to the public, but also share the ongoing findings and activities in our other project; ADHD One Stop Shop.”

Martin Hindle, Chairman of the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network – which ran the event – added: “The NHS faces major challenges to meet increasing demands for services and financial pressures, and innovation is central to overcoming these challenges.

“The innovations are of critical importance to the future of our NHS and have the potential to be spread throughout our region and beyond.”

Bionic hand design could help amputees in developing countriesAmputees in developing countries could experience an improved quality of life after a Derby student designed a bionic hand costing just £200.

Matt Thompson designed the prosthetic limb, dubbed ‘Myo’, as part of his BSc (Hons) Product Design Engineering course and demonstrated his work at the New Designers 2014 exhibition in July, held in London.

He said: “Disease and war unfortunately means there’s a lot of demand for prosthetic limbs in poorer countries and upper limb prostheses are beyond the financial reach of most people living in those countries.

“What really brings the cost down is that I replaced the many individual motors for different actions, with just two, which will work off a rotating disc in the wrist.

“I’m hoping the Myo can be refined and mass marketed, to bring its costs down even further.”

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High-tech scanner suite supports Team GB and Derby CountyA £60,000 treatment facility at the University is helping elite athletes and amateur enthusiasts boost their performance. The new Health, Lifestyle and Rehab centre, which features a state-of-the-art Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (iDXA) scanner, was opened in March by British Olympic 1500m steeplechase runner Eilish McColgan.

The scanner uses X-rays to measure key performance indicators, such as bone density and fat to muscle ratio, to help athlete’s pinpoint specific areas which need strengthening. The scanner suite is already helping elite sports clubs, including Team GB and Derby County, improve their training and recovery programmes.

Online courses gain industry accreditationFour hospitality management courses run by University of Derby Online Learning (UDOL) have been accredited by the Institute of Hospitality, making it the only online higher education provider to currently offer institute-accredited programmes.

The programmes to gain accreditation are:

• University Advanced Diploma in International Hospitality Business Management

• BA (Hons) in International Hospitality Business Management (Top-Up)

• Postgraduate Certificate in International Hospitality Management

• MA in International Hospitality Management

Designed with busy professionals in mind, these courses offer students the chance to develop career-enhancing skills and knowledge from anywhere in the world, in a flexible manner which enables them to manage their learning experience around their lifestyle.

Peter Ducker FIH, Chief Executive of the Institute of Hospitality, said: “As in so many areas of our lives the online educational environment creates opportunities without boundaries, and in an industry as global as hospitality this is a very important and welcome development.”

First UDOL academic gains FellowshipA UDOL academic has been granted Fellow status by the Higher Education Academy (HEA), as part of a scheme run by the University to help all its academics achieve Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) status.

Janet Nichols, Academic Development Lead for UDOL, was the first online academic to achieve FHEA status in October. Alan Whitfield, Academic Lead for Environmental Health, and Angela Smith, Academic Lead for Education, followed suit shortly after both gaining Senior Fellowship status.

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Dr Etienne Wenger, a California-based educational expert, delivered the keynote address at the UDOL conference in September

International expert praises University’s online learningA world leader in educational thought described the work of UDOL as “inspiring” and at the forefront of the revolution in higher education thinking, in the keynote address he delivered at the annual UDOL conference in September.

California-based Dr Etienne Wenger, who has advised the likes of Microsoft, Proctor & Gamble and the US Government, spoke about the changes that have occurred in education in recent years and how universities can help students to develop into productive and well-rounded citizens.

He said: “One of the ways students can do that is through social learning, working and learning from others to overcome the ‘challenges’ of their education. I found it inspiring to meet lecturers and tutors at Derby willing to take these first steps, in breaking out of the mould of traditional university teaching.”

Online Learning celebrates expansion successThe University’s Online Learning team enjoyed a successful 2014, with significant increases in student numbers, up 23% from 2012/13, and monthly web traffic resulting in a rapid expansion of their academic and support staff to meet the growing demand.

As a result, UDOL has seen a 15% rise in income in the last year, which represents an increase of 186% since it launched in 2011.

Julie Stone, Director of UDOL, said: “Since UDOL launched our focus has been on establishing a strong and credible programme portfolio along with a team of academic experts to deliver it, while keeping our students very much at the heart of everything we do.

“We’re extremely proud that this student-centred approach has impacted positively on our National Student Survey score (up from 85% to 95%) and retention rates (up from

60% to 67%), figures that are higher than our competitors and recognised as impressive in the online learning sector.

“By taking our time to get things right we’ve been able to cement our reputation and position ourselves as one of the UK’s leaders in online learning. Our success this year is testament to the team’s vision and commitment to delivering excellence and we’re looking forward to it continuing.”

In addition to student growth, the team has established partnerships worldwide, which are now active in 17 countries. UDOL also began leading the development of the University’s first Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) earlier in the academic year, in partnership with the Innovation Hub, to further expand the Derby learning experience on a global level. The team plans to launch five MOOCs covering subjects such as Digital Literacy, Health, Psychology, Engineering and Community Skills.

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Derby ranked in Top 50 UK universities by Guardian

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TOP 50The Guardian

University Guide 2015TOP 50The Guardian

University Guide 2015

In June the University of Derby was named in the Top 50 of the Guardian University Guide for 2015. Our rise of 29 places from 79th to 50th in the independent national rankings was the second highest jump in the country and demonstrates our commitment to providing the best possible service for our students.

A number of degree courses also performed well in the Guardian rankings, such as Tourism (1st), Fashion & Textiles (3rd), Art (5th) and Design (6th), while the latest data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) placed Derby in the Top 10 universities in the UK for student employability.

Derby’s latest ranking puts us ahead of the majority of our regional ‘benchmark group’ of universities, including

Nottingham Trent (57th), Lincoln (65th), Sheffield Hallam (73rd), De Montford (85th) and Staffordshire (90th). We’re also making progress in the Complete University Guide, where we rose 16 places to 87th, making Derby the fourth best improved among UK universities, and in The Times Good University Guide, where we rose to 81st.

On hearing the results, Professor John Coyne said: “It is very satisfying to have confirmation of the further progress of the University in another national league table.

“We have been rising in all of them of late, but the performance in the Guardian listing is particularly pleasing, as this table reflects more fully on the core learning values of the University.”

‘World leading’ research recognised in Research Excellence Framework

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Developing technology to tackle obesityAn international study into obesity has been awarded five million euros (£3.9m) to research the effectiveness of mobile phone apps and other technology solutions in helping people lose weight.

The NoHoW (Navigating to a Healthy Weight) project, which is being funded by the European Union’s ‘Horizon 2020’ initiative, will follow 1,000 volunteers from England, Portugal and Denmark in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) as they aim to lose weight using online tools and wearable devices to monitor activity, food intake and emotional state. These devices will be linked through smartphone apps and internet tools, which will be used to provide tailored advice on a weekly basis.

The project is being led by the University’s Professor James Stubbs, the inaugural holder of the Miles-Bramwell Chair in Behaviour Change and Weight Management,

which was set up in partnership with Slimming World and named after their founder, Margaret Miles-Bramwell.

Ideas which can shave millions off cancer drug costs or improve food labelling have contributed to Derby’s excellent results in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF).

Three-quarters of our research was deemed to be at least ‘internationally significant’ – with some studies classified as being ‘world leading’ – according to the UK-wide report, which provides an assessment of the quality of

UK universities’ research in the last five years. Since the previous research assessment in 2008, we’ve increased the number of researchers involved from 47 to 199 and broadened the range of subjects involved from four to ten.

Professor Richard Hall, Director of Research, Innovation and Impact, said: “We’ll use this as a firm foundation to build on for our future research activities, supporting our local industries and communities for maximum impact.”

(L-R) Dr Chris Bussell, Margaret Miles-Bramwell, James Stubbs and Professor John Coyne

Improving cancer treatmentResearch from the University is helping to improve treatment for breast and gynaecological cancer patients.

Dr Alan-Shaun Wilkinson set out to prove that a drug used for breast cancer treatments had a longer than expected shelf life. The Trastuzumab drug was originally recommended to be used within 24 hours of preparation, which led to significant wastage and expense for hospitals.

By incorporating a biological cellular test into the study, researchers discovered that Trastuzumab remained

effective for up to 119 days without compromising patient health. Researchers were therefore able to recommend increasing the shelf-life guidance, which enabled Clatterbridge Hospital – which backed the project – to make £1.3m in efficiency savings and treat one third more patients using the same amount of the drug.

In a separate study, Dr Heidi Sowter carried out the UK’s first randomised controlled clinical trial (RCT) on the impact of yoga sessions on gynaecological patients. Her results showed that regular sessions had a significant impact on patients’ quality of life.

Investing in our future

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Multi-million pound sports centre nears completionWork began on the University’s new £10.8m sports centre at the Kedleston Road site shortly after Derby City Council approved the plans in February.

The three-storey sports centre will include a main hall, fitness gym, studios, squash and badminton courts, climbing wall, sprint track, changing rooms, treatment rooms and café. By building the sports centre into an eight-metre grass bank, fitting a curved green roof and using excavated material from the bank to build the surrounding ramps, it is hoped that the environmental and visual impact will be minimised.

In addition, the building will be built to a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) standard, which is widely used as a measure of the sustainability of a building. Low carbon heating and lighting are also being sourced to reduce emissions.

Hari Punchihewa, University of Derby Deputy Chief Executive and Finance Director, said: “We are serious about sport and it is going from strength to strength at the University, through our Team Derby brand. It’s important for us to have a modern, multi-purpose centre for both leisure pursuits and to aid those studying sports-related academic courses.”

This year we’ve spent over £18m on improving our University, much of which was spent on upgrading our physical environment, which HEFCE rank as being one of the best in the higher education sector.

Here are just a few of the campus improvements we’ve made this year:

• Refurbishment of our showcase lecture theatres in the Atrium, Kedleston Road

• Opening of the Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Engineering based in the refurbished Lonsdale House

• Progress on a new £10.8m sports centre on Kedleston Road, due to be completed in summer 2015

• Underway with a £6.2m arts centre and extension to the engineering building at Leek

• Began full refurbishment of newly-acquired Markeaton Lodge to support the College of Engineering

• Initial designs for new engineering facilities in Derby and Chesterfield

• A new £410,000 Forensic Training Facility adjacent to the Kedleston Road site

University plans to restore Chesterfield landmarkA Grade II listed building, which first opened its doors as a girls’ school in the Edwardian era, was purchased in February as part of the University’s ambition to support its growing presence in the town.

Once fully refurbished, the St Helena Centre will support new jobs and provide business incubation, nursing and engineering facilities for the town. The 2.2 acre site could be ready as early as mid-2016.

Councillor Brian Ridgway, Cabinet Member for Council Services at Derbyshire County Council, said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to give the University the opportunity to extend their work into Chesterfield. This is the best possible use for the St Helena Centre.

“The University will bring new jobs to the area and create opportunity for people from Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire and Bolsover to increase their qualifications and skills.”

Buxton and Leek benefit from £8.5m college developmentStudents at the Leek campus of Buxton & Leek College will benefit from a new £8.5m development, which will provide new accommodation for the department of Engineering and Construction, and a new building to house the Leek School of Art, which will offer both Further and Higher education courses.

A new pedestrian entrance to the main site will also be added, alongside a new café and student social area. Building contractor, Pochin, who are delivering the project, have also agreed to give students a chance to learn about working in the construction industry through site visits and careers talks.

College Principal, Len Tildsley, said: “With the construction industry showing signs of a sustained recovery, there is going to be a lot of demand for site workers of all types and our building project has given students at our Leek campus a real insight into the building trades.

“Our new state-of-the-art facilities will provide a great resource to local businesses and give our students a fantastic learning experience that will benefit them and their future employers.”

£1.4m refurbishment for Buxton sports centreA £1.4m project to revamp the Harpur Hill sports centre at the University’s Buxton campus is helping to put the town on the sporting map.

The renovations have seen the 1970s sports hall transformed into a modern facility with spectator areas, a 20-station fitness suite and a new climbing wall, cited as one reason why the British Mountaineering Council voted the University as one of the top 10 UK universities for climbers.

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Councillor Brian Ridgway, left, hands over the keys to the St Helena Centre to the University of Derby’s Deputy Chief Executive and Finance Director Hari Punchihewa

University staff run Derby 10k for charityStaff from the University of Derby, including Professor John Coyne, raised more than £1,800 for their chosen charities after competing in the annual Derby 10k run in April. Six teams, made up of staff from different departments across the University, took part in the popular race which this year attracted over 5,000 participants.

Bigger and Better: Family Fun Day 2014More than 3,000 people came along to our annual Family Fun Day in May to take part in exciting activities around our Kedleston Road campus. We first launched the free event back in 2012 and it continues to grow in popularity each year.

This year’s programme featured live music, an outdoor climbing wall and craft activities for all ages, plus there were science experiments, an inflatable assault course and much, much more… a great day out for all the family!

The Fun Day will be back again in 2015 – visit www.derby.ac.uk/funday

Derby Book Festival The University is delighted to be supporting the first Derby Book Festival, taking place from 1 – 7 June 2015 and featuring internationally acclaimed and best-selling authors.

Staff from the University’s Marketing and Communications department became involved in the project during the summer and to date have provided management, marketing and PR support. There will also be opportunities for our students to be involved in the Festival, providing support in areas including event management, marketing, photography and social media.

Professor John Coyne said: “This event is fantastically important for Derby; it celebrates books, it celebrates knowledge, and it celebrates communication.”

Michael Morpugo, the author of War Horse and Private Peaceful, will give a performance of ‘Only Remembered: songs, stories and poetry from WWI’. The festival programme will also include activities aimed at all ages from children’s book trails, storytelling and ‘Make It’ sessions to author talks, discussions and workshops for budding writers.

www.derbybookfestival.co.uk

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Our community

We’re proud to be part of such a fantastic region, and we’re always on the look-out for ways in which we can support our local communities. One of the ways that we are contributing to our local community is through our new Community Fund, which launched in October.

Throughout 2014/15 we will be awarding grants from a pot of £10,000 to projects that seek to benefit the community

in some way. We’ve already supported an after-school sports programme, blind and partially sighted club, and local youth group – and we hope to be able to support other great causes in the coming months.

The new Community Fund follows the success of a pilot scheme run in Ilkeston and Swadlincote in 2013/2014, which supported local projects such as a childcare centre, picnic and play day, and family table tennis scheme.

Rosie Marshalsay, Head of External Relations, said: “We take our responsibility as an integral part of the local community very seriously and hope that the fund will give a boost to those who wish to inspire others and make a real difference in their communities.”

More information and application forms can be found at www.derby.ac.uk/communityfund.

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Community Fund provides support for local groups

‘Centre of Excellence’ acclaim for Architectural Technology at Derby

The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) has awarded a ‘Centre of Excellence’ status to the University of Derby for its Architectural Technology teaching. Derby is now one of only four UK universities to hold the award, valid until 2018.

The CIAT panel report said: “The University has demonstrated a high standard with regard to academic and research staff and resources, commitment to the promotion of CIAT, and the promotion of research and scholarly activity.”

University Director listed in UK Top 100 IT LeadersCongratulations to Neil Williams, our Director of IT Services, who has been listed as one of the top 100 IT Leaders in the UK – with Derby being the only university to feature on the list.

The IT Services team was nominated in five categories of the annual UK IT Industry Awards – including ‘IT Department of the Year’ – earlier in 2014, where Neil was ‘Highly Commended’ as Chief Information Officer of the Year.

Tackling modern slaveryKaren Bradley MP, Minister for Modern Slavery and Organised Crime, visited Derby in December to discuss a new initiative to tackle modern slavery.

Academics at Derby worked alongside the Home Office to devise a training scheme to help people identify potential victims of human trafficking, forced labour or exploitation.

Ms Bradley said: “The fact that slavery still exists in the 21st century is shameful. I am grateful for the vital work being carried out by the University of Derby and the Home Office to help consign slavery to the history books where it belongs.”

New University magazine launchesIn November The University of Derby Magazine launched. Packed full of features, interviews and opinion pieces it proved a popular read with our local stakeholders and helped highlight the impact the University has on the city, region and people within it.

Read it online www.derby.ac.uk/magazine

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In the ten years that our annual Buxton-Derby Bike Ride has taken place, over 500 staff have taken part, raising over £20,000 for charity. This year the race returned as popular as

ever, with 82 members of staff making the 45-mile journey from Buxton to Derby to raise money for the charity Alzheimer’s Research.

Tenth annual Buxton-Derby Bike Ride

Vice-Chancellor to retireProfessor John Coyne, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, announced that he would retire in July 2015, after spending 11 years at the helm of the University.

During his time as Vice-Chancellor, John has worked hard to raise the profile of both our University and city. This hard work is reflected in our entry to the Guardian’s Top 50 universities league table and our latest student intake, which was our largest and most qualified to date.

“I continue to enjoy every second of my time at Derby”, said John. “I was always confident we could make progress from the moment I set foot in the place but the achievements of the past ten years have been beyond my wildest expectations.”

Chris Hughes, Chair of the University’s Governing Council, adds: “John has given both inspirational and dedicated leadership during his time with us and I wish to thank him for all that he has done, not just for the University and our

students, but also for the wider community we serve in Derby, Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

“The University has doubled in size under his tenure and its reputation has grown quite phenomenally. Under his stewardship we are financially secure with wonderful facilities in Derby, Buxton and Leek with exciting plans ahead for Chesterfield. He has always ensured that the quality of the student experience is central to the development of our strategy and plans and that will be his lasting legacy.”

The University of Nottingham awarded Professor Coyne the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) as part of their 2014 Awards Ceremonies. Professor Coyne spent 20 years at the University of Nottingham, first as a student and then as an academic.

We would like to thank Professor Coyne for all his hard work over the years and we wish him all the very best for the future.

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And finally...It’s a real pleasure, tinged with some sadness, that I write this closing piece for our Annual Review. It has been yet another year of enormous progress and achievement, as exemplified in the range of stories in the previous pages; stories that so clearly illustrate the values of this University.

We are proud of our local roots, our staff, student and graduate achievements, our accessibility to all and our celebration of diversity in an environment conducive to scholarship and research. These values and our success have been due in no small way to the drive, vision and leadership of our Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Coyne. And there’s the sadness. John will be leaving us this July after 11 years at the helm and more than 40 years in Higher Education. The University owes him an enormous debt of gratitude and we wish him the very best for the future, but we must move on, and the replacement process has given us a field of exceptional candidates, one of whom will lead us into the next stages of this University’s development.

For the first time this autumn all universities will be free to take as many students as they wish; the so-called marketization of Higher Education. It means we will be entering an era of real competition for students. I know that we will succeed because of the very values that drive us. We are increasingly a University of choice for students who want a caring, aspirational environment where they can equip themselves for the world they choose. We will continue to significantly invest in our estate and facilities, further developing our reputation for student focused, experiential learning in world class facilities.

I for one am certain of a great future for this University and I look forward to partnering with our new Vice-Chancellor to build on the massive achievements of the old!

Chris Hughes

Chair of the Governing Council

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TOP

UK University50

A new £10.8mSports Centre

£150minvested in facilities in the last ten years

28,964 3,000Total student population

1,700international students

Employer to over

people

We support 2,100 additional jobs in the

region and beyond

wealth created through direct and indirect employment £127.2mcontributed to the

economy each year £262m

88.13% of our waste was recycled last year

11.4% of our waste turned into energy

Energy consumption 20.38% lower than last year

(HESA, 2014)

(HESA, 2014)(Guardian League Table, 2015)

University success

Economic impact1

Environment

The Economic Impact statistics have been calculated by JMAS using internal figures and data from Universities UK.


www.derby.ac.uk

University of DerbyKedleston Road DerbyDE22 1GB

T: +44 (0)1332 590500

www.derby.ac.uk

We are proud of our local roots, our staff, student and graduate achievements, our accessibility to all and our celebration of diversity in an environment conducive to scholarship and research.Chris Hughes, Chair of the Governing Council

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annual review 2014

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