[Heading One] Message from John Vinney
This November marks 25 years since Bournemouth University achieved university status.
BU has gone from strength to strength over that time and we are now rated as one of the top
150 young universities in the world, according to the Times Higher Education (THE) Young
University rankings 2017. This summer, we also received a new Teaching Excellence
Framework (TEF) Silver award for teaching excellence, which alongside the achievements in
the last Research Excellence Framework (REF) reflect our commitment to ensuring staff and
students achieve and fulfil their potential.
Building on the vision of Fusion, our powerful combination of education, research and
professional practice, we are now looking ahead to shape the future direction of the
university towards 2025. Thanks to everyone who took part in the workshops, helping to
grow and develop this vision. You can read more about our new BU2025 strategy on page 4.
This issue’s front cover features an artist’s impression of the new Poole Gateway building.
You can read more about our exciting plans for both Talbot and Lansdowne on pages 6&7.
You can find out about how BU was invited to exhibit at the Royal Society Summer Science
Exhibition (page 8) and take a look at AskBU, who have been providing a dedicated student
support service for 10 years (page 17). Plus Professor Iain MacRury and Sophie James take
a look at how BU’s advertising has evolved over the last 25 years (pages 14&15).
This is an exciting time as we shape BU’s future journey to 2025. Please do continue to
share your stories and successes at [email protected]
[Heading Two] News from around BU
[Sub-heading] BU undergraduate students recognised for world-class research in LA
Congratulations to Teemu Lindborg, Phil Gifford and Quentin Corker-Marin, final year BU
undergraduate (UG) students from the National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA),
part of the Faculty of Media and Communication, who co-authored (with Dr Oleg Fryazinov,
Dr Valery Adzhiev and Prof Alexander Pasko) papers presented at the ACM SIGGRAPH /
Eurographics Symposium on Computer Animation Symposium and the SIGGRAPH 2017 -
the world’s largest and most influential annual conference in computer graphics in Los
Angeles.
The students also managed to get into the semi-final of the prestigious global “ACM
student research competition” sponsored by Microsoft. Only seven out of hundreds of entries
from leading universities from all over the world achieved this, with Quentin selected by the
International Jury to give a presentation in the final and gaining second
place (the medal and the prize money) in the UG category. Full details can be found on the
Research blog.
[Sub-heading] BU2025 – developing a new vision
Over the summer, Professor John Vinney and his UET colleagues hosted workshops across
BU to gather feedback on their ideas for a new vision for BU2025.
It is encouraging that staff continue to support our plans to build on the vision of Fusion that
we put in place in 2012, bringing together excellent education, world-class research and vital
links into practice and industry. We have made great progress across BU in meeting the
strategic objectives that we set ourselves for 2018. There is still work to do, including to
increase our research income and build on our work in Global Engagement to ensure that
students have an international experience. We must also build on our strengths in practice,
education and research - as highlighted in our 2017 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
award – to ensure that all staff and students experience and participate in Fusion at BU.
The BU2025 strategy will focus on generating impact from Fusion, through the interaction of
staff, students and society. The key to this will be the community that we create at BU,
allowing us to fulfil our purpose to inspire learning, advance knowledge and ultimately to
enrich society, both directly and through the impact of our staff and students on the local
community. Important aspects of the new strategic plan include how we measure our impact
– and how we communicate it through our Fusion themes.
To support this, one thing we will be focussing on is the learning environment at BU –
including the physical environment, infrastructure and resources. We believe that “place” is
important – technology will continue to evolve, and as the Fusion building has demonstrated
already, students value the opportunity to work together on campus. Work has already
started on our inspirational new buildings. Our learning environment is not only physical – it
includes the intellectual and cultural environment that we create through collaboration,
sharing knowledge and working together. Our participation and contribution to a positive and
active learning community are important elements of this.
If you haven’t had a chance to look at the plans, please do, and let us have your views. See
the BU2025 pages on the staff intranet for more information.
[Sub-heading] BU launches new virtual learning environment
The start of this academic year saw the introduction of Brightspace to almost half of BU’s
students.
This new platform, being used by both new and returning students, offers a modern,
intuitive interface that can be personalised, and any students not included in this year’s
Brightspace launch will have moved over by September 2018. A team of 50 staff have been
working over an eight month period to ready BU for the Brightspace launch, using student
feedback at each stage of the planning and implementation process - there will also be
further opportunities for users to share feedback.
For guidance on which VLE to use this year and FAQs on navigating your way around them,
visit www.bournemouth.ac.uk/my-vle.
[Sub-heading] Your new SUBU Officers SUBU’s newly elected team of five have settled into post after organising their plans for the
year ahead. Daniel, Charlie and Brooke were successfully re-elected to stand for a second
year and are now joined by Alex and Ebony to represent student views here at BU.
From left to right, the team are:
•Daniel Asaya - SUBU President
•Alex Hancox - Vice President Education
•Ebony Harding - Vice President Community
•Charlie Souter-Phillips - Vice President Welfare
•Brooke Elias - Vice President Activities
Visit the team at any time on the 1st floor of the Student Centre.
[Sub-heading] Sector-leading and Innovative Practice in Equality and DIversity at BU
Bournemouth University has been identified by the Higher Education Funding Council for
England (HEFCE) for sector-leading and innovative practice in advancing equality and
diversity.
A report launched in April 2017 included two case studies from BU. One talked about its
work to address the stigma and discrimination that surrounds eating disorders through the
use of video.
The other shared the work undertaken throughout Dorset to raise awareness of autism,
dyslexia and dyscalculia. Commenting on this recognition, Dr James Palfreman-Kay said:
“It is really encouraging to see the Equality and Diversity work at BU being recognised as
innovative and sector leading. The success of the work has been as a result of partners
within and outside BU working together to make compulsory and post-16 education inclusive
for all.”
To find out more about Equality and Diversity at BU please see the equality and diversity
playlist on our YouTube channel or our Storify page at www.storify.com/equalityatBU.
Alternatively, you can contact Dr James Palfreman-Kay, Equality and Diversity Adviser.
[Sub-heading] SUBU President Daniel Discusses
When I first came to BU it was a daunting experience… I was a nervous international
student who didn’t know anyone. Fast forward three years and I’m starting my
second term as SUBU President, continuing our work to ensure all our students feel
represented and see BU as a ‘home for all’.
We made great progress last year in terms of diversity and inclusion and we’ve seen a much
wider range of students taking part in our democratic activities. All fulltime Officers are
embedding the needs of Lansdowne-based students in their campaigns and projects, and
I’m now working out of the Lansdowne office two days a week. I’m also really proud of the
recent launch of SUBU Debates, which has created a platform for students to explore and
discuss important issues.
Looking ahead to this year, the other union officers and I will be working on some important
projects, including offering more support for students with mental health problems and
providing more opportunities to get involved with our 100+ clubs and societies.
Most importantly we will continue to represent all students at BU and assist in making it a
‘home for all’. Please pop in to say hi to me and the team on the first floor of the Student
Centre and remember our Advice team can be contacted there too.
[Heading Three] Gateway to the Future Estates development update
It’s been an exciting year as improvement works began at both campuses.
We hear from Head of Estates Development, Steve Cox, about progress so far. Work is now
underway on the construction of the Bournemouth Gateway Building on the St Paul’s site at
Lansdowne. The development will be open and accessible to all BU staff, students and the
community and will deliver a unified base for the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences.
Comprising 10,000 square metres of academic space, it will act as the visual gateway to
Bournemouth, occupying a prominent site overlooking Wessex Way. Facilities include a
library, social collaborative learning space, plus staff offices, seminar rooms, lecture
theatres, research laboratory plus mock operating theatre, hospital wards, GP consulting
room and community flat.
Construction of the Poole Gateway Building is scheduled to commence in January 2018.
Located at the eastern end of the Talbot Campus, it will create a visual gateway to the
campus and the Borough of Poole. Providing high-quality technical facilities supporting
undergraduate and postgraduate courses as well as research, it will include facilities for TV,
audio studios, sound editing labs, media production spaces, green screen with motion
capture suite, PC and Mac laboratories and cross-faculty collaboration spaces.
Predominantly used by the Faculty of Science & Technology and the Faculty of Media &
Communication, facilities will also be used by the Faculty of Management and the wider
student body.
Significant improvements have been made to the transport infrastructure at Talbot Campus
during 2017. A new link road, joining Boundary Road roundabout to Gillett Road, and a new
bus hub by Poole House are due to the completed in the autumn of 2017 and are planned to
open by January 2018. The exact opening dates will be confirmed in due course. An
extension to car park H also opened in July.
As part of our commitment to improve open spaces and enhance biodiversity on campus,
landscaping works have been completed between the Sir Michael Cobham Library and
Dorset House and to the Christchurch House courtyard. The latter includes a ‘living lab’, a
partnership between Estates and The Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) led by
Damian Evans, who has designed and planted an area that will be used to inform our
students about the use of plants in medicine and food.
The Lees Lecture Theatre has been refurbished as part of our ongoing lecture theatre
refurbishment programme; and the new Design & Engineering Innovation Centre, managed
by FST, formally opened in September following extensive investment and conversion works
within Poole House.
Chief Operating Officer, Jim Andrews, commented; ‘Since 2012 we have started to transform
both the Talbot and Lansdowne sites by delivering new and refurbished spaces that provide
innovative, high quality spaces for staff and students to work and learn. This will be
enhanced further with the delivery of the two gateway buildings. We have also enhanced our
position as a sustainable organisation by investing several million pounds in low carbon and
sustainable technology, increased green spaces and enhanced bio diversity.
I am extremely proud of the hard work and commitment for all those involved in delivering
phase 1 of our vision for the estate. Phase 2 will see similarly exciting developments as we
move towards our new vision and strategic plan.’
For more information please visit our website www.bournemouth.ac.uk/campusdevelopment
which includes an animation outlining the development plans.
[Heading four] Dinosaurs to forensicsDinosaur footprints, uncovering secrets about history, and enabling police to solve crimes,
it’s all in a day’s work for BU academics. Professor Matthew Bennett, Dr Marcin Budka and
Dr Sally Reynolds have developed a tool used to analyse footprints of dinosaurs, ancient
ancestors and even criminals. The technology went on display as a part of the Royal Society
Summer Science Exhibition in London in July.
The prestigious exhibition hosted 22 exhibits from universities and charities across the UK,
displaying the latest and best scientific breakthroughs from the last year with over 22,000
people visiting the weeklong event.
BU’s research, labelled ‘Dinosaurs to Forensics’ showcases the DigTrace tool, its application
for learning about history, and how it is being used by police forces to help catch criminals.
The tool enables footprint analysis and has previously been used to learn about dinosaurs
and human ancestors but now has a real-world application, allowing police forces to capture
3D images of footwear impressions left at crime scenes, revealing different tread and wear
characteristics, unique to the wearer of the shoe.
Professor Matthew Bennett says: “For the last decade, we’ve spent a lot of time travelling
the world studying fossil footprints; dinosaurs, humans, and ancient people, developing new
research techniques. Recently, we’ve translated all of that knowledge into something we can
use to help the police and forensic services.
“What our software, DigTrace does, is produce 3D models from photographs, the same
photographs you’d take with a normal digital camera. We can look at dinosaur footprints,
making them larger, and exploring them from about 20 photographs.
Dinosaurs to Forensics gained significant media interest, with features on BBC Breakfast
and Tomorrow’s World, with Professor Brian Cox, the host of the Royal Society exhibition,
visiting the BU stand in person.
For more information about DigTrace, visit www.digtrace.co.uk or for information on the
Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, visit www.royalsociety.org
[Heading five] BU Dorset Shrievalty Award
The BU Dorset Shrievalty Award is sponsored by the High Sheriff of Dorset running annually
between September and March.
The award provides an opportunity to work on key community projects which give the
successful applicants the chance to develop and evidence collaborative working skills,
network with other students and community contacts and enhance employability with a
portfolio showcasing their experiences.
The three successful applicants for 2016/17 Charlotte Loy, Katrin Mahfuz and Yana
Miladinova, worked with the then High Sheriff, Sir Philip Williams, on his chosen topic of
homelessness. Charlotte says, “It’s funny to explain that I decided to sign up to an unknown
community project where I had no previous experience, contacts or specific knowledge on
the subject.” Yana adds “I did not realise how serious the issue with homeless people is in
England. In Bulgaria, the issue is not advertised as here”.
Working with the homeless, local agencies and charity workers, it became clear that the
issue was “infinitely more complex and difficult a subject” than they could have imagined.
Katrin observed “I never realised the conflicts that arise between the different agents like
charities, churches, the council and the police, who are trying to deal with the issue.”
However, all identified the enthusiasm with which all agencies worked.
Before making their final presentation, the three, along with other BU students, took part in
the national YMCA initiative, ‘Sleep Easy’ where more than 80 people slept out, raising
£9,000 for YMCA Bournemouth – an experience which left them feeling very vulnerable as
well as cold.
The final presentation identified a number of issues and made recommendations to change
perceptions of homeless people, develop a more joined-up service with the client’s needs in
mind, better communication, better diagnosis and clinical support, and to share positive
rather than negative aspects of the issue.
All three have developed personally though this project. Katrin has volunteered in China
before returning to BU to be a Peer-assisted Learning Intern, Yana is currently on placement
as PR & Marketing intern in Brighton and Charlotte is starting a Masters in Forensic
Archaeology and Anthropology at Cranfield University.
To see the presentation please visit www.bournemouth.ac.uk/dsa-presentation
.
[Heading six] #BUProud 2017
Now in its fifth year, #BUProud 2017 features a new series of online case studies and
artwork on key buildings around campus. A launch event was held July in Bournemouth
Town Centre, hosted at Monty’s restaurant - owned and run by BU graduate, Christian
Schneider. During the event fellow graduate, Natalie Page, held a book signing of her debut
children’s book ‘Zak and Jen’s Astronomical Adventures’.
Current students featured this year include Saskia Sills, a four-time youth world champion
windsurfer, Noorin Gulam, a European champion weightlifter, and Chloe Thomas, whose
story you can get a taste of on the next page.
This year’s #BUProud alumni include Richard Walker, Head of Media Planning at the BBC;
Kevin Hough, Head of Talent Acquisition at PepsiCo UK and Ireland, and Claire Timbrell,
Founder of the McGuffin Project, an escape room in Bournemouth. BU graduate and now
Children’s and Young People’s Nursing lecturer, Katie Ryan, is also featured.
Ann Fernandez, Director of Marketing & Communications at BU, said, “We are incredibly
proud of our graduates and the careers they go on to have – and to hear from so many
graduates who attribute their success to their time at BU has been brilliant.
“At BU we pride ourselves on creating global talent – giving graduates the skills and
knowledge that employers are looking for. I hope this campaign inspires others to look at BU
and the great prospects our degrees can offer.”
From chalkboards and #BUProud mugs to the back of buses and a video booth, #BUProud
has seen our students, graduates and staff stories shared in many wonderful ways.
#BUproud is used regularly by the BU community in their social media posts – from sporting
achievements and successful research bids, to gaining a place to study here and securing
that dream job.
Check out pages 20-21 of InsideBU for our #BUProud gallery - we look forward to seeing
your #BUProud posts and celebrating your successes too.
To read all our #BUProud 2017 case studies visit www.bournemouth.ac.uk/bu-proud.
[Sub-heading] Some BU stats we’re #BUProud about:
BU has a consistently high graduate employability rate, 92.3%* of Bournemouth University
students are in work or further study six months after graduating from University.
*Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) in the DLHE Survey 2016
BU is currently in the TOP 3 in Great Britain for the most Undergraduate students
on work placement.
Every BU student is offered the opportunity to undertake a work placement as part of their
degree
Source: DLHE 2015/16 (published by HESA, 2017).
Our community is made up of students originating from 126 different countries and our staff
is made up of 85 different nationalities .
[Sub-heading] The Graduate: Emily SandfordBA (Hons) RadioRadio Presenter on Capital South Coast
“You’d be surprised how many companies in media recognise BU as the best in the field. BU
churns out very talented people.
Being part of Bournemouth’s Student Radio Station Nerve allowed me to perfect my
radio skills and apply for the Student Radio Awards a national awards ceremony that
recognises new radio talent in the UK every year. I won three awards: Gold for ‘Best
Entertainment Show’, Bronze for ‘Best Female Presenter’ and the Bronze ‘Kevin Greening
Award’ for Outstanding Creativity. It’s really enhanced my career and it was actually the first
time a BU student had ever received one of these awards.
My degree has been a welcome addition to my CV and has definitely been a foot in the door.
My course didn’t just involve production; it involved broadcast history too, which has helped
me know my industry in more depth.
By the time I had graduated I definitely knew what I wanted to do in life - and that was to
work in entertainment and broadcasting.
I’ve gained so many amazing friends, really fun experiences and a plethora of knowledge
that has set me up for life.”
[Sub-heading] The Student: Chloe ThomasBSc (Hons) NutritionChampion Table Tennis Player
“I attended Bournemouth and Poole College and completed an Access course in Science
over nine months which qualified me to get into university.
I chose Nutrition at Bournemouth because I wanted to do a course which would support and
be beneficial to my sport. I attended an open day at BU; everyone was so friendly and
welcoming - I just knew it was for me.
Juggling my sport and academic studies has been very difficult and tiring at times, but
SportBU and the university have been extremely supportive and helpful at all times.
Be aware, if you want to balance sport and education it requires total commitment and self-
discipline to complete your degree and to continue playing at a high level.
Due to my commitments with sport I travel all over the world almost every month of the year.
This means I miss a considerable number of lectures and seminars. But my lecturers, tutors
and fellow students have been extremely supportive in keeping me up to date and on track.
The sporting fraternity as a whole has been like one big family and it has been easy to make
many new friends, with good camaraderie within the sport and the educational group.”
[Heading seven] Driving ambition
BA (Hons) History student Ed Fossey has been racing cars since the age of eight, and is
making a name for himself as a rally driver on the national stage. He’s also an ambassador
for the Jersey branch of the Teenage Cancer Trust. We caught up with him to find out more.
To those that know the Fossey family, Ed’s interest in motor racing will come as no surprise.
His 76-year-old grandfather – who still races – encouraged the whole family into the sport,
with Ed’s father and uncle also racing cars competitively.
It was no shock then, when Ed began racing in cadet karts at the age of eight. His mother
had accepted an interest in motorsport was inevitable even during pregnancy: “She would
stand near the car’s exhaust to get me used to the noise!” grins Ed.
After moving up through the karting ranks, Ed moved on to sandracing and junior autotest.
From the age of 14, he claimed several rally navigator class wins before passing his driving
test four weeks after his 17th birthday (avoiding red faces all round had he failed).
This allowed Ed to enter the 2015 Jersey Rally, where he received several top twenty stage
times. In 2016, his success story continued as the recipient of the 2016 Next Big Step award
– securing free entry into a number of rallies and competing at national level.
Ed has recently competed in the British Trials and Rally Drivers Association series, winning
the championship at the end of the eight-race competition and third in his class in the 2017
Jersey rally. While he throws his 1400S Toyota Yaris round corners at full pelt, Ed is a lot
more cautious on public roads – losing his licence would be a career-threatening problem.
Away from the track, Ed hits the books as a BA (Hons) History student, and has just
completed his first year. After leaving his native Jersey to pursue his love of history, he
finds the beach reminds him of home, and he loves the university and the local area.
To Ed’s delight, the university and his department have been very accommodating when it
comes to balancing his racing career with his studies, and he has been allowed time to take
part in rallying. Fortunately, the rallies have fitted well with his exam timetables, and Ed is
hoping for a repeat next year.
If he takes exams as well as he takes highspeed corners, Ed should have no trouble
improving his rapidly-growing reputation both as a BU student and a potential rally star of the
future.
[Heading eight] BU set for historic Invincible project
Secrets of maritime warfare are set to be uncovered by BU marine archaeologists, with the
excavation of the historic warship, Invincible 1744, lost to the waters of the Solent in 1758.
BU is working with lead partner, Maritime Archaeology Sea Trust (MAST) and the National
Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) on the excavation, conservation and eventual exhibition
of artefacts from the shipwreck, revealing important clues to what life and maritime warfare
was like in the late 1700s.
The ship, built by the French in 1744 and captured by the British in 1747, was used by the
Royal Navy until it sank in 1758 after hitting a sandbank in the Solent and has been sitting
on the seabed ever since.
The wreck was rediscovered in 1979 by fisherman, Arthur Mack. A smallscale excavation led
by Commander John Bingeman then took place during the 1980s. The site has become
increasingly exposed due to shifting sands in the Solent, requiring an emergency rescue
excavation before all records of the ship are lost.
BU, MAST and the NMRN have been awarded £2 million from the LIBOR fund for the
excavation of the wreck site, which has now begun.
Dave Parham, Associate Professor in Maritime Archaeology at BU, said, “What Invincible
has is a revolutionary hull and significant contents of an 18th century warship from
armaments to personal possessions. We are excited to start excavating and studying these
rare artefacts and putting them on display for the public to engage in a period of maritime
history that we currently don’t know too much about.”
Once conserved, artefacts will go on display at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, alongside other important maritime displays, the Mary Rose
and HMS Victory.
More information about the excavation of the historic wreck can be found on the MAST
website: www.thisismast.org/projects/hms-invincible.html
or at www.bournemouth.ac.uk/hms-invincible
[Heading nine] Twenty-five years of BU ads
Story, reminiscence and strategy by Professor Iain MacRury and Sophie JamesBU’s history goes back to the early 1900’s, starting out as Bournemouth Municipal College
and later becoming the Dorset Institute of Higher Education. Monday 27 November 2017
marks the 25th anniversary of the royal charter awarding formal university status to one of
the 150 best young universities in the world.
A research project in the Faculty of Media & Communication is assembling a comprehensive
analytical database of university advertisements from all over the world. We’ve taken a slice
of the archive to look at Bournemouth’s history and to tell the story of 25 years of university
status.
Our advertisements are a lively prompt for our own reflections. In 1964, Marshall McLuhan
provocatively wrote, “Historians and archaeologists will one day discover that the ads of our
time are the richest and most faithful reflections that any society ever made of its entire
range of activities.” Taking this as a prompt, looking at advertising as a kind of ‘archaeology’
of the present can help us reflect on Bournemouth University in 2017.
This year marks a notable anniversary - 25 years since the first university students arrived at
what had been the Dorset Institute of Higher Education, and fleetingly Bournemouth
Polytechnic. This was a shock for some of our applicants. Having applied and been
accepted by a Polytechnic, they were now arriving on a university course.
Vast, double spread clearing pages in the broadsheets listed the new universities to guide
students through the change.
Evolving advertising styles
What did we look like to the outside world? For HEIs in that era, the idea that image
mattered was a contentious one. The visual record is important, but so is organisational
history. This slice of advertising history paints an interesting picture. Underneath is a story of
continuing organisational adaptation to new environments, notably linked to fees, and
recruitment targets.
Speaking to university marketing practitioners to get their views, we interviewed Ann
Fernandez, BU’s Director of Marketing & Communications, for some reminiscences from key
moments. Her BU memory does not stretch back to 1992, but she has shared insights of the
development of a more coherent BU brand approach.
Advertising: past, present and future
Our potted history begins with three ads from predecessor institution, Dorset Institute. They
are typical of their era.
1978
Ads focus on course-as-product. The visual style owes more to templates for classified
recruitment advertising. No logo, no image. Not advertising as we know it.
1986
We have enjoyed the informal calls to action in pre-Internet days, with invitations to
telephone individuals, fax, and use answer phones. Applicants were asked to cut out
coupons to post A Level results to us. University advertising in the 1980s was information-
heavy, reflecting budgets and practices from an era where ‘advertising’ was not routinely
marshalled in public-sector communication.
1990
There was very little advertising for undergraduate courses until pressures and incentives to
recruit started to grow for HEIs. Most advertising in the 1990s highlights the more expensive
MBA markets and evening and informal provision from big advertisers, like Birkbeck College
and the Open University.
1993
Ads were very informative. There was an appeal to hard-vocational ethos and a list of about
30 Postgraduate courses. Design was rudimentary, but a step up from the classified typeset
layouts of the 70s and 80s. A pithy headline positioned Bournemouth “Beyond the Degree
Qualification. The Career Qualification”
1996
Appearance of the Bournemouth University logo indicates development of a more branded
approach. The punning slogan moves away from straight-laced recruitment idioms, hinting at
a wish to attract. Characteristic of our ads in the 1990s is the assertive placement of
business and professional partnerships in the foreground.
2000
By the turn of the millennium, growing consciousness of marketing design and software saw
more ambitious layouts. There is a slogan and logo, but still information-led. Websites were
beginning to develop but not routinely carrying live streams of course information and
promotion – but not much change in ad styles. Ann explains:
“...some of that is also reflective of the fact that usually it was programme leaders driving
our advertising strategy, coming to the marketing manager who would place ads in isolation -
often because that was what we’d always done well, ‘let’s keep doing it’.”
2006
Imagery starts to appear. Even with extra white space, it is striking how text heavy and
informationally rich it is. Fees and a more market-oriented policy environment pushed
recruitment up the institutional agenda. Designs begin to reflect the influence of display
advertising alongside the standard classified recruitment style. Ann sets this in context,
”...there was a growing recognition that we needed a more strategic approach to marketing
communications and advertising should be one element of an overall marketing campaign.
With that join up between the prospectus and our advertising in design and messaging, you
start to get an integrated approach to marketing communications. but it was very fragmented
up until then.”
2015
Text to image ratio is clearly now shifting in favour of image-based appeals. This ad
celebrates the successes of some MCCA students, while highlighting renewed attentiveness
to BU as a global location, demonstrating our shifting relationship to place.
2017
The end of advertising as a call process in marketing for universities. The student Vlogger
tells the story on open channels to other prospective students. Contemporary HE promotion
speaks to an interactive generation whose media use diverts them away from print, posters
and TV, towards a lively media space for the sharing of experiences. Approachable
informality, backed up by analytics and data. The brand matures and online becomes
integrated as the core place for brand communications Ann points out:
“there’s nothing more powerful than hearing from the students themselves... our
communications now give a voice to the brand and what the student experience is at BU.
This is a more sophisticated approach to keep pace with the changing habits of our
prospective students who respond to people like them, not marketing speak - and that is why
we use real student and alumni stories across all communications...including our
advertising.”
The Future: creating powerful branded content
Development of a BU channel, sharing lively rich content, from staff, students and
professional practitioners, points to a rich future for the next 25 years of BU advertising. Our
Universities Advertising project continues to explore HEI histories through advertising
examining university responses to shifts in policy, student culture and new media-marketing
technologies.
[Heading ten] Fusion Inaugural Public LecturesFusion Inaugural Public Lectures
The 2017/18 Fusion Inaugural Public Lectures series is a set of seven free public lectures
held at seven different venues across Bournemouth and Poole, showcasing the university’s
wide range of research and its impact both regionally and worldwide.
Fusion is BU’s approach to combining high quality teaching, world-class research and
extensive links with business and professional practise. In the most recent independent
assessment of university research in the UK 96% of BU research was rated as
internationally recognised or higher (Research Excellence Framework 2014).
The series launched in September with Professor Robert Britton, from BU’s Faculty of
Science and Technology, who presented his research on invasive species, at the National
Trust Visitor Centre on Brownsea Island.
Professor John Fletcher, Bournemouth University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and
Innovation commenting on the new Fusion Inaugural Lecture series said, “Fusing research,
education and professional practice is at the heart of what we do at BU and through our
Fusion Inaugural Lecture series we invite the public to come and hear BU Professors from
across all of our faculties present their research and see how it is enriching the world. We
are inviting the public across Bournemouth, Poole and the region to these lectures in a range
of different locations from Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, to the Shelley Theatre in
Boscombe, as well as to our new Fusion Building on Talbot Campus and the Executive
Business Centre on Lansdowne Campus.”
The full series of Fusion Inaugural Lectures 2017/18 is:
Tuesday 19 September 2017 –
Professor Robert Britton– Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour
Wednesday 18 October 2017–
Professor Jens Hölscher – Barclays House, Poole
Monday 20 November 2017 –
Professor Tim Rees – AFC Bournemouth, Vitality Stadium
Tuesday 5 December 2017 –
Professor Candida Yates – Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel
Wednesday 31 January 2018 –
Professor Debbie Holley – Fusion Building, Talbot Campus
Wednesday 21 March 2018 –
Professor Hugh Chignell – Shelley Theatre, Boscombe
Monday 30 April 2018 –
Professor Jane Murphy – Executive Business Centre, Lansdowne Campus.
For more information, please visit https://research.bournemouth.ac.uk/ bus-inaugural-
lecture-series
[Heading eleven] Happy Birthday – AskBU is ten
Happy Birthday! AskBU is ten
AskBU, the central enquiry service for current students, celebrated 10 years supporting BU
students in September. BU was ahead of the curve in terms of recognising the importance
of professionally-managed dedicated enquiry teams compared to other HEIs when AskBU
first opened for business on 10 September 2007.
The original AskBU Current Students Service incorporated the team of two Student Financial
Support specialists and were joined in March 2008 by the International Student Support
Team. The Base, Poole House has been the main focus of face to face service since
opening, alongside a presence in Bournemouth House.
During the first year of service, a total of 19,000 face-to-face, email and telephone student
queries were recorded. Around 25% of those early interactions related to student financial
support, which continues to be a core element of the support offered by the team.
Subsequently, enquiry numbers have increased, and at the end of August 2016 was around
57,000 - triple the number recorded in that first year. The team has responded to more than
400,000 enquiries to date.
Since 2007, AskBU has become the central contact point for first-line enquiries relating to all
aspects of BU life and sometimes beyond! The team also deal with specific peak-period
events - online registration, graduation, and accommodation applications, and can help with
practical aspects - providing student status letters, replacement ID cards, council tax
exemption certificates and re-setting student computer passwords.
More recently, AskBU has been instrumental in developing a new enquiry management
system - SID - which allows the team to manage current student enquiries centrally,
including a database of FAQs accessible to all staff and students providing answers to
common queries.
The success of the service is enhanced by the strong working relationships developed with
other teams in BU over the years, particularly Faculty administration, Academic Services, the
Library (sharing the library helpdesk at Bournemouth House at the Lansdowne Campus),
Residential Services, Student Wellbeing, SUBU Advice and colleagues from other areas
across BU where enquiries have required referrals or further expert information.
For more information, visit www.bournemouth.ac.uk/student/askBU or contact the team via
email at [email protected]
[Heading twelve] We meet… The Centre for Digital Entertainment (CDE) is a Doctoral Training Centre, a joint venture
between the University of Bath and Bournemouth University funded by the Engineering and
Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The four-year fully-funded EngD programme
enables researchers to work with and in, some of the most exciting high-tech companies in
the world, usually for three years, and offers an outstanding and unique opportunity to
students and companies alike.
[Sub-heading] Zoe Leonard Research Events Co-ordinator, Centre for Digital
Entertainment, Faculty of Media & Communication
The new role within the CDE attracted me because of the variety of work. Not having a
technical background, it was challenging understanding the diverse research taking place. I
focused on creating good relationships with staff and students.
Although my work is specific to the CDE, I enjoy feeling part of a wider community, with links
to other faculties, Doctoral College, NCCA, our industrial partners and the University of Bath.
I am proud of the research and researchers that we are supporting and that I help to make
their research journey stress-free.
In 2016, I worked on the CDE annual event, ResJam (Research Jam) in association with
BUDI. CDE research engineers were given 48 hours to create a game/app or interface to
help those living with dementia, or assist in changing public perceptions of dementia. I was
extremely proud of the results, the students and local news coverage.
[Sub-heading] Simone Barbieri EngD student, currently on placement at Bait Studios, an
animation and video games company, in Cardiff
I always wanted to work in the video games industry. At university in Italy, I developed a love
for research, writing my Master’s thesis in a research lab.
I was looking for an experience away from home and heard about the CDE’s fully-funded
EngD program. Combining my PhD research along with gaining experience in a company is
a great way to build up a solid background with
university support.
My research repurposes 2D characters and animation for a 3D virtual reality (VR)
environment. In traditional platforms, 2D represents an economic and immediate alternative
to 3D animation, but requires as much skill. My research aims to introduce the 2D animation
concept to VR, bringing the same advantages it has in traditional VR platforms.
After the EngD, I will have a PhD level degree and three years practical experience. I think
this will be a huge help to find work in this industry.
[Heading thirteen] By day, by night
With 25 years experience and a variety of leadership roles under her belt, Dr Fiona
Cownie is now a Senior Principal Academic in the Faculty of Media & Communication.
She’s also a working mum, vegan, loves art and sport, and recently stood as a Green
Party candidate in Christchurch’s local elections.
[Sub-heading] By day My research examines how gratitude, commitment and word-of-
mouth communication impacts students’ relationships within Higher Education – for
example, I’ve just submitted a grant application to the British Academy to investigate the
evidence and implications of gratitude within alumni.
I enjoy working with students, doing my best to stimulate their engagement within learning,
and I value connecting my research with practice by teaching final year and master’s
students, supporting their conceptual development and scholarly research. I’ve received
‘You’re Brilliant Awards’ from my students over the years, which has been lovely – and it’s
really motivating!
Over the past seven years, I’ve also been involved in BU’s global agenda and am currently
working with universities in Vietnam and Thailand, having established a successful
exchange programme with Chulalongkorn University where our students spend a semester
studying in Bangkok.
[Sub-heading] By night Outside of work I’m an outdoor person! I love skiing, swimming,
running and walking the south west coast with my family. I’ve been a runner since I was at
university, completing marathons when I was young and fast. Nowadays I’m a dedicated
parkrun participant, pushing my personal best to 23.56 (not too bad for a fifty-something!)
and am part of Vegan Runners, one of the biggest running clubs across the country.
My passion and concerns for the environment and animal welfare have led me to not only be
a vegan for the past 32 years, but to also run for the Green Party in the 2017 local elections
for Christchurch.
I’m so proud I’ve had the opportunity to provide students with a positive experience they tell
me they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.
[Heading fourteen] #BUProud Gallery : A round up of what makes us #BUProud this autumn
Image caption: BU colleague Mel Heyward (right), of Finance and Performance, raised
around £900 for the Macmillan Cancer charity, completing a 23-mile walk across the
Jurassic coast after she learned to walk again following a stroke.
Image caption: Professor Lee Miles was interviewed by a range of national, regional and
international broadcast outlets on Hurricane Irma – including BBC Radio 4’s flagship Today
Programme.
Image caption: BU graduate Annabel Bowman is on a mission to spread the word on the
life-changing power of sport, as Communications Manager for Invictus Games Sydney 2018.
Image caption: The National Centre for Post Qualifying Social Work (NCPQSW) team at
Bournemouth University has been awarded an institutional hero award at the Chartered
Institute’s annual conference in Harrogate. The award was collected by Dr Lee-Ann Fenge,
Dr Sally Lee and Professor Keith Brown.
Image caption: Frank Bruno - Boxing legend Frank Bruno came to speak at BU as part of
a series of events highlighting mental health. Pictured with Ian Jones, Head of Regional
Community Partnerships.
Image caption: BU’s Dr Miles Russell has received widespread coverage on his study of
King Arthur, claiming he was a composite of real-life warlords, created as a ‘Celtic
Superhero’ for the Britons in the 12th century AD.
Image caption: Star Wars drones, a screening of Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and a
presentation on character animation by Disney were among the highlights of the BFX
Festival 2017. BU graduates Jamie Wood (Playground Games) and Jodie Azhar (Creative
Assembly) were among those inspiring the next generation of visual effects, gaming and
animation students.
[Heading fourteen] Dates for your diaryNovember December January February March April
[Sub-heading] GRADUATION 2016 Bournemouth International Centre The biggest event in BU’s calendar sees students and
staff celebrate their hard work on the following dates:
Tuesday 7 November, 10am and 2.30pm; Faculty of Media & Communication
Wednesday 8 November, 10am and 2.30pm; Faculty of Management
Thursday 9 November, 10am and 2.30pm; Faculty of Science & Technology
Friday 10 November, 10am; Faculty of Health & Social Sciences
www. www.bournemouth.ac.uk/esrc-fss
bournemouth.ac.uk/ students/graduationceremonies
[Sub-heading] ESRC FESTIVAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCESaturday 4 – Saturday 11 November, Bournemouth & London
An event to generate ideas and teams to explore and propose new Fusion programmes.
A week-long celebration of the social sciences and social science research and external
organisations.
[Sub-heading] FESTIVAL OF ENTERPRISE Wednesday 15 - Friday 17 November, Talbot and Lansdowne campuses
The festival offers an opportunity to explore business, entrepreneurship, and ultimately turn
great ideas into new innovations. Completely free and open to everyone.
www.bournemouth.ac.uk/foe
[Sub-heading] UG OPEN DAY Saturday 18 November, Talbot and Lansdowne campuses
Open day for prospective students
www.bournemouth.ac.uk /open-days
[Sub-heading] VICE-CHANCELLOR STAFF AWARDS Thursday 23 November 2017, Talbot Campus
An awards ceremony that recognises the achievements of our staff.
[Sub-heading] PG OPEN DAYS Wednesday 29 November 2017
Wednesday 14 March 2018
Wednesday 18 July 2018
Events for those interested in studying for a Master’s degree at BU
www.bournemouth.ac.uk/pg-visit
[Sub-heading] PG RESEARCH CONFERENCE Wednesday 7 March, Talbot Campus
www.bournemouth.ac.uk/pg-conference
[Sub-heading] DORSET UCAS FAIR Wednesday 15 April 2018, Kimmeridge House
For students across Dorset to explore university options for September 2019.
[Sub-heading] FESTIVAL OF LEARNING Saturday 16 June - Wednesday 20 June 2018
Celebrating its sixth anniversary, the Festival of Learning opens with a vibrant family
weekend and continues with a diverse selection of events throughout the week
www.bournemouth.ac.uk/fol
[Sub-heading] CHRISTMAS VACATIONOpen access centres and receptions at Poole House and Studland House will be open
throughout the Christmas break. Other areas will be closed after Friday 22 December, reopening from Tuesday 2 January 2018.
The UNIBUS service will not run between Monday 25 December and Monday 1 January.
Services restart 2 January. Full term time services resume on Monday 8 January.
htttp://unibuses.co.uk/
[Sub-heading] MUSIC EVENTS
[Sub-heading] UNIVERSITY MUSIC CHRISTMAS CONCERT Sun 3 December 7pm Royal Bath Hotel
Join the University Orchestra, Big Band and Musical Theatre Choir for a musical celebration
featuring all your festive favourites.
www.bournemouth.ac.uk/royal-bath
[Sub-heading] A FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLSThursday 14 December 6pm St Peter’s Church
Join the University Chamber Choir and Chamber Orchestra for a traditional celebration of
Christmas.
Joint carol concert with AUB, run by Chaplaincy, Uni Music and OVC.
www.bournemouth.ac.uk/carol-concert
For more information about events at BU, please visit news.bournemouth.ac.uk/events or
contact the Events Team on 01202 961018 [email protected].