The news magazine for York St John University SUMMER 2012

In the spotlightAnnette Webb, IT Trainer for Students

Adult learner of the yearGillian Firth’s determination is recognised

Research newsUpdate on the Research Excellence Framework

Major acquisition of sports park and theatre

see page 2

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NEWS

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The University has acquired the sports fields and recreational facilities at Haxby Road and the Joseph Rowntree Theatre from Nestlé.

The sports facilities will be known as York St John University Sports Centre Nestlé Rowntree Park, with the Joseph Rowntree Theatre name unchanged. The purchase of the land to the north of Nestlé includes playing fields, a bowling green, tennis courts and allotments. The University intends to work with current users to enable them to continue to benefit from these amenities.

The Grade II listed Joseph Rowntree Theatre, opened in 1935, has an established reputation as a community venue. A continuing lease is in place with the Joseph Rowntree Theatre Limited, which hires the performance venue out to local groups and organisations, including societies from the Students’ Union.

The announcement of the acquisition on 24 April also provided the opportunity to launch the Nestlé Scholarship, an annual award for a student who will receive funding to assist in their studies. Vice Chancellor Professor David Fleming said, “We now have great permanent outdoor facilities which will enable us to train and hold fixtures within one location for a wide range of sports clubs and for use by the Faculty of Health & Life Sciences.” Paul Grimwood, CEO and Chairman, Nestlé UK & Ireland, added, “On the 150th anniversary of Rowntree’s, we are delighted to entrust the legacy of the sports park and the theatre to York St John University.

The sports park is one of the best sporting facilities in the city and the University is in a strong position to not only maintain this high standard but to enhance it further for existing users, the local community and students.”

The sport and recreational facilities will provide a total of 57 acres on either side of Haxby Road with:

• 14 acres of prime quality sports fields on the south side which houses a pavilion, a football pitch, a rugby pitch, a bowling green and a car park

• three tennis courts and a bungalow (requiring updating)

• 70 allotments over seven acres, as well as 13 acres of wild grassed and scrubland areas.

The Vice Chancellor commented, “We held a special celebratory event at the end of May and a number of familiarisation trips for staff and students to get to see these great new facilities. We will also be launching a new University plan for sport. This acquisition will bring significant benefits to the whole student community. We will be able to further enhance our strong record for involvement in volunteering, partnership, club and society activity and the facilities provide a great platform to help us to build on our strategic ambitions. We will be developing a long-term master plan for the site which will involve wide consultation with staff, students, sports clubs, schools, regional and national sport governing bodies, as well as the city council.”

Front cover: John Maw kicks the first rugby ball on the new sports fields with the rugby teams, Vice Chancellor and York City Knights player and coach Chris Thorman watching on.

Major acquisition of sports park and theatre

(left-right) David Bruce, Business Services Director, Nestlé UK & Ireland; David Chesser, Pro Vice Chancellor (Resources); Vice Chancellor Professor David Fleming; Colin Parkin,

Director of Facilities; Paul Grimwood, CEO and Chairman, Nestlé UK & Ireland; with a group of students from sports clubs at York St John.

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NEWS

talk CONTENTS02 News07 Widening participation07 Research news08 Focus on… Registry10 Student Services update11 In the spotlight12 The view from the Students’ Union13 Opinion: Maria Parks discusses KTPs14 Announcements16 Notice board

Adult learner of the year

A York St John student has been named Adult Learner of the Year (for Yorkshire and the Humber) for the fourth consecutive year.

Gillian Firth, a second-year Creative Writing and Media student and former Spark Scholar, for Overcoming Barriers to Learning, is this year’s recipient. She has overcome terrible injuries from a road-traffic accident in 1994, which put her in a coma for six weeks and left her in a wheelchair for a year requiring rehabilitation for brain injuries. Her first novel, Gillian Mk2, details how her life changed after recovering from the accident she endured while teaching in Bahrain and separating from her husband. The sequel, Typically Gillian, appeared in 2008 and updates her story. Gillian decided to study for a degree at York St John in 2010.

Nominating Gillian, Brett Arnall, Alumni & Development Manager, said, “I have worked with many exceptional students on their learning journey at York St John but none of them have overcome such adversity and shown the level of determination and bravery that Gillian has.”

Student Internship ProgrammeThe Careers and Employability Team successfully launched the Student Internship Programme to a number of local employers on 4 April.

The event was an opportunity to showcase the first internships with Aviva and to inform employers about how the programme could help them to grow their businesses. Tom Nall from Aviva, who managed the first two interns, spoke about the positive impact the project had on Aviva’s Lifeplan tool and the way they would now market it to the under 25s. Matthew Higgins, one of the interns, spoke about how the internship has helped him to develop skills which will aid him in finding his first graduate job.

At present, internships with York Museum Trust, Easby, Gale and Phillipson, and Higher York are being advertised, with a possible film-based project with Get Cycling in the pipeline.

Careers and Employability will be running information sessions for students about how an internship can enhance their employability, as well as workshops on CVs and covering letters. Please let your

Student Internship Programme (left-right) Matthew Higgins, Tom Nall from Aviva and Peter White.

students know about the programme: they can find more information on YSJ Connect at www.yorksj.ac.uk/ysjconnect

Contact with local employers is vital in ensuring the success of the Student Internship Programme. If staff members have employer contacts who could offer a project-based internship, please get in touch with Suzanne Dickinson, E: s.dickinson@yorksj.ac.uk or T: 6519.

Gillian Firth

NEWS

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A pioneering project which offers high-quality arts educational opportunities for mental health service users and work experience for University students has been celebrated in a showcase of events at York St John and York Theatre Royal.

Converge is a social enterprise which works with adults aged 18 years and over. It seeks to raise aspirations and provide educational opportunities to people with mental health problems on a sustained basis.

Over the past four years, working with the local mental health service provider, Converge has offered courses in theatre, dance, creative writing and music within the University community. Staff and students involved in the project hosted an evening of dance, creative writing and music performances by Converge students on 9 May. Stakeholders from Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust joined other guests to hear from course participants and students about the impact Converge has had on their aspirations for the future.

Out of Character, a professional theatre company made up of participants on the

Theatre course, performed Pirandello’s Henry IV to a sell-out audience at York Theatre Royal from 15-18 May. The play was in repertoire with the award-winning blue/orange at the Theatre Royal, another play specifically about mental health. Further performances by participants on all Converge courses took place during York St John’s annual graduate arts’ showcase Create (14 May-2 June).

Dr Nick Rowe, Senior Lecturer in Theatre and Health, explained, “Through Converge, mental health service users are given opportunities which raise their aspirations and open doors into education and employment; and studentsgain valuable work experience in an increasingly competitive market place. Over 70 people with mental health problems completed our courses last year alone, with 25 students working on the project.”

To find out more about the work of Converge, go to www.convergeyork.co.uk, contact Nick Rowe or Gemma Alldred on T: 6902 or follow on Twitter @ConvergeYork

The US Embassy visits York St JohnSecond and third-year American Literature students met Stacy Barrios, a US Foreign Service Officer at the US Embassy in London on 7 March. Stacy has been a US Foreign Service Officer since 2000 and is currently a press officer at the embassy, where she focuses on media engagement on political, defence, security and legal issues. This event allowed York St John students to learn more about the role of the US Embassy, and to have an opportunity to think about America’s role in the world today in greater detail.

Stacy began by discussing her career and then opened the floor for questions. Students were able to ask her thoughts on America’s foreign policy, the current situation in Uganda, the relevance of the American Dream today, in addition to personal reflections on her career. Stacy later commented that she was very impressed by the quality of the questions she received. The course tutor, Dr Anne-Marie Evans, organised a creative writing competition for her students this semester, asking them to respond to any text or topic that had been discussed, and Stacy kindly agreed to award the prizes at York St John. Tom Shillaw took first prize for his poem, Free in the Wind; Rab Ferguson was awarded the second prize for his poem, Of Master and Father; and Mary-Clare Newsham’s short story, Fires of Change, won the third prize.

Opening doors into education and employment

(left-right) Dr Anne-Marie Evans, Tom Shillaw, Rab Ferguson, Mary-Clare Newsham,

Stacy Barrios and Martin Downie.

Out of Character theatre company.

SPARK celebration

A celebration was held on Foundation Day in Temple Hall to mark SPARK’s (Securing Potential and Releasing Knowledge) success in raising over £250,000 since the initiative’s launch in 2005.

Guests included scholars past and present, staff, alumni, donors, governors and other supporters. New SPARK Scholars were presented with certificates by the Vice Chancellor.

During his speech, Alumni & Development Manager Brett Arnall gave special thanks to the student and staff champions who have done so much to support the SPARK initiative. He said, “As ever, a number of staff and students have taken it upon themselves to raise funds for SPARK, which epitomises the community spirit at York St John in supporting our students.”

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NEWS

Members of a refugee group from Iraq have successfully completed a course on Managing Behaviour in children and young people as part of a community outreach project delivered by York St John.

A special ceremony was held at the University where participants were awarded completion certificates by Vice Chancellor Professor David Fleming. The two-day course saw 13 men and women, from the Hull Gateway Protection Programme, develop understanding behind different approaches to positive behaviour management. The course also offered guidelines on how to respond to challenging behaviour and reward good behaviour in children and young people.

The group, who previously sought refuge in troubled Syria, arrived in the UK in November 2011. Originally from Iraq, the group escaped the conflict in Syria as a result of an application by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, who deemed them to be at risk of imprisonment, torture and death. The Gateway Protection Programme has been set up by the UK Government and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, and aims to identify some of the world’s most vulnerable refugees in order to resettle them in the UK.

Course participant Noreek Yousif said, “The course was very clear and well delivered, introducing us to new methods of managing children, new rules to be aware of and understanding a child’s point of view. I am looking forward to investigating further courses to develop my knowledge further.”

Success for community outreach project

Members of the refugee group with Vice Chancellor Professor David Fleming (fifth from left), Lynda Lo, Refugee Education Manager at Hull Gateway Protection Programme (third from right), and

Katie Simpson, Deputy Head of External Relationships, Faculty of Education & Theology (far right).A group of SPARK Scholars.

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South Asian dance displayA vibrant South Asian dance performance was held at York St John on 28 April, celebrating the University’s black and minority ethnic (BME) widening participation project work.

Trained by postgraduate students and husband and wife team, Winojith Sanjeewa and Indu Meddegama, 20 performers took part, mainly from the city’s growing South Asian community. All the dancers have been training in Bharatanatyam for the past three years, an expressive classical dance form practised in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

More than 200 people attended the event, including special guests from the Lord Mayor’s party. Describing the performance, Paramjeet Kaur-Singh, BME Project Leader, said, “This event is a shining example of York St John’s multi-ethnic celebrations, stimulating and promoting the creativity that ethnic minority communities within York have to offer. It is fantastic to be able to bring to the fore hidden talent and cultures, whilst also giving a platform for young talent to perform.”

The Chamber Choir at ChesterThe University Chamber Choir has visited a number of minsters and cathedrals this year, including singing evensong at both York and Beverley Minsters.

The highlight was joining several other choirs from church foundation universities and colleges in Chester Cathedral on 11 February to sing Fauré’s Requiem.

Marking the Sri Lankan New Year

The York St John University Sri Lanka Alumni Association welcomed over 100 guests to celebrate their New Year in the Students’ Union on 14 April.

The event also celebrated a year since the association was formed. It was a real family day which included a number of fun events including musical chairs, tug-of-war and an egg throwing competition! Alumni Officer Pauline Milner said, “It was such a pleasure to meet such a warm and welcoming group of people and to learn more about Sri Lanka.”

The guests gather for the party and (right) one half of the tug-of-war!

The full choir singing the Fauré and (above) the Chamber Choir performing their solo item, a Saint-Saëns’ song.

Athulya Babu performing Ganapathi Sthuthi, a dance that invokes the blessings of Ganesh,

the elephant-headed god. Athulya, a pupil at All Saints RC School in York, is one of the

students learning Bharatanatyam (Indian classical dance) from the Malayalee

community in York.

Research newsResearch Excellence Framework

Widening ParticipationAs a member of the recently initiated Wakefield Widening Participation Group, York St John is represented by widening participation activities which engage with the Wakefield Learning Consortia alongside other Higher Education partners and Wakefield schools. The University’s contribution involves working with young people from Year 5 to Year 10.

The pupils from 15 primary schools have benefited from inspirational and motivational presentations by York St John Student Ambassadors. The young people meet with the students as role models and find out all about university life. Each child then experiences a visit to York to take part in campus orientation and opportunities to question the Student Ambassadors further. This activity has reached out to 533 young people since September last year. It has been led by Tracey Scrafton, formerly part of Aimhigher Wakefield, in partnership with the Schools & Colleges Liaison team.

The Parents/Carers and Young People project is an extension of the Wakefield primary schools engagement. It is a 10-week programme of contact culminating in a campus visit and a celebration with an exhibition of all the creative work produced. This project involves Kinsley and Hendal primary schools this year. Additionally, four Wakefield secondary schools – Airedale, Carleton, Hemsworth and Wakefield City – have been involved with their Years 9 and 10. Student Ambassadors again are the inspirational role models, meeting with full year groups (650 Year 9s), and 152 Year 10s visited York St John recently.

Martell Linsdell, Widening Participation Coordinator, said, “Through evaluation prior to the widening participation engagement, 50 per cent of the pupils who had initially decided that Higher Education was not for them stated that they had changed their mind after visiting York St John.”

Plans are well underway for the University’s submission to the Research Excellence Framework (REF), the system for assessing the quality of research and distributing funds for research in UK higher education institutions.

It replaces the Research Assessment Exercise and the exercise will be completed in 2014. Professor Julian Stern, who is chairing the REF strategy group, said, “Our response to the REF will help achieve the University’s Strategic Plan for 2012-15, which includes the intention to develop a strong, vibrant and sustainable research culture that informs our teaching,inspires our students and staff, enables research excellence and enhances our academic reputation.”

The University intends making an REF submission in November 2013 and two of three ‘mock’ REF exercises have already been completed. These are spreading out the work leading up to the submission, and are enabling the integration of the specifics of REF planning into the general research environment of the University. The first one was held in December 2010, and quickly reviewed the outputs – the books, articles and other materials resulting from research – from each cluster of academic subjects identified as UoAs (or Units of Assessment). The results of that process informed planning within UoAs and faculties and across the University, and determined the proportional distribution of QR (quality-related research) funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England across faculties.

The second mock REF exercise was held between November 2011 and February 2012. All of the submitted UoAs were reviewed by a group of staff from across the University as well as by York St John’s external adviser on the REF, Professor

Peter Gilroy (former director of research at Manchester Metropolitan University). The third and final mock REF exercise will be held in the autumn/winter of 2012. Julian explained, “This will in effect be a full draft of our REF submission of November 2013, and will involve externals throughout the process – both an ‘overview’ external and subject-specialist externals.”

Most UoAs across the University have identified subject-specialist external reviewers, and are working with them already. In addition, the academic profile system has been developed as an online database, capturing the research and related work of all academic staff. This will automatically include the data provided for the recent mock, and it will allow staff to add and update information as required.

Background information on the REF is available at www.ref.ac.uk. Professor Stern produces regular updates about York St John’s submission process and the recent newsletter is available from www.yorksj.ac.uk/documents/committee-directory/academic-board.aspx#RC

Professor Julian Stern

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08“Registry staff already spend a significant amount of time supporting and advising staff, which is great.”

FOCUS ON…

RegistryFrom enrolment to graduation, Registry is there at every step of a student’s University journey, delivering a diverse range of services essential to York St John’s smooth running. The team isn’t dedicated solely to ‘keeping the show on the road’, however. Registry is also steering a significant change agenda which reflects and supports the wider ambitions of the University.

Registry team: (back row, left-right) Anthony Hayward, Laura Hampshire, Simon Hornsby, Alison Kennell, Gelayol Holme, Hazel Eldred, Wendy Kirk, Alex Baker; (middle row, left-right) John Rule, Aaron Kearney, Terry Madeley, Jill Graham, Michelle Jenkinson, Carla Wardell;

(front row, left-right) Fiona Stewart, Shelley Calvert, Bridget Galvin, Jo Ripley, Karen Senior.

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“We need to meet a rapidly changing set of circumstances and challenges.Whether in terms of our work with international partners, trying to secure powers to award our own research degrees or meeting changing space needs, now is an incredibly exciting period for the institution,” said Alison Kennell, who joined the University as Registrar and Secretary to the Governing Body in September 2011. “The last six months have been very busy, but also extremely rewarding and I’d like to thank everyone who has made me feel so welcome. A particular highlight was participating in November’s graduation ceremonies – they really brought home to me what a unique place this University is.”

Alison’s arrival coincided with the publication of the Quality Assurance Agency’s (QAA) first institutional audit report on York St John. In response to the report’s recommendations, a significant programme of development is being taken forward. Alison is overseeing the University’s response and is happy with what’s been achieved so far: “We recently got positive feedback on our first formal progress report to the QAA, which is great news. It’s been a real team effort across the University. I hope we can build on this to get everyone engaged in talking about quality and putting their ideas into the pot.”

She added, “Registry staff already spend a significant amount of time supporting and advising staff, which is great. We’re hoping to build further on this by improving the information we provide and the ways we deliver it – for example through face-to-face sessions, periodic newsletters and a new virtual Quality Gateway. We can always do things better – there’s a great culture of lifelong learning within the Registry team.”

Who we areRegistrar and Secretary, Alison Kennell

Quality and Academic Standards, led by Anthony Hayward, Deputy Registrar

Student Administration, led by Terry Madeley, Deputy Registrar

Research Office, led by John Rule, Deputy Registrar

Timetable Office, led by Markus Jones, Timetable Projects Manager

www.yorksj.ac.uk/registry

QAA Audit Actions – want to know more?The latest information on progress is available on the Staff Information Point under ‘QAA Institutional Audit follow up’.

Fast facts22 The number of staff

employed within Registry

(19 ftes).

23 The number of degrees

held by Registry staff.

25,000 The number of

activities scheduled by the

Timetable Office in one year.

Alison Kennell, Registrar and Secretary, is herself an example of enthusiasm for lifelong learning in the Registry team. She received her

MBA in Higher Education Management from the Institute of Education, University of

London, in April 2012.

10 “An excellent opportunity to develop the skills and qualities that employers need.”

York St John University is taking a strategic approach to surveying students in order to better understand and enhance the quality of our students’ experience.

Up until now, the National Student Survey (NSS) and module evaluations have been our main sources of student feedback about their academic programmes. The former provides the University with a useful opportunity to benchmark student satisfaction against other institutions and the latter provides information about their experience of specific modules. This year, the NSS was completed by over 75 per cent of our third-year students, a record response rate and well above the national average.

The Student Engagement Survey will complement these surveys by providing information about our students’ engagement with their academic programmes and the extra-curricular activities in which they are involved. This is particularly valuable given recent research by the Higher Education Funding Council for England that points to the importance of student engagement in maximising retention and success in Higher Education.

The Student Engagement Survey will target our first and second-year undergraduates and postgraduate taught students, including those from overseas. It will replace a number of smaller surveys that have been run in the past and so will minimise survey fatigue whilst providing more valid, reliable and useful data.

The survey instrument to be used is based on one that has been used extensively in the United States for over 20 years – National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) – and is increasingly being adopted in other countries.

The results of this survey will be available in July 2012 for consideration by the new Enhancement and Student ExperienceCommittee (ESEC) and will be used by Deans and Directors to inform quality enhancement efforts aimed at achieving an exceptional student experience. Resulting improvements will be fed back to students with a view to more actively engaging them in our learning community.

For more information, contact Anthony Payne; Head of Student Experience, E: a.payne@yorksj.ac.uk

Student Services updateYSJ Student Engagement Survey

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Describe your role at the UniversityI provide support for students using Microsoft Office – it can be essay layouts, Powerpoint presentations, Excel spreadsheets and the University’s online systems. I work with complete beginners through to the more advanced users, either in one-to-one sessions or I organise regular workshops. I also liaise with academic staff and develop bespoke training. I delivered a series of WorkStart IT Skills sessions last year for Career Development and these were incredibly popular. Through an academic year, I can work with around 400 students on an individual basis, and many more in classroom situations.

Is there such a thing as a ‘typical day’ for you?I offer regular time slots for students to book in if they want to discuss a particular problem. I’m based in the Fountains Learning Centre and I also deal with one-off queries at Question Point, (the help desk). I tend to organise group sessions in the afternoons – e-Portfolio is becoming increasingly popular as an assessment tool and academic staff are asking me to deliver explanatory sessions to their students. I’m always happy to liaise with academic colleagues to see how I can help their students get the best from Microsoft Office. Please contact me at E: a.webb@yorksj.ac.uk, T: 6391. I’m also developing the IT training website (http://library.yorksj.ac.uk/ict-student- training), where a range of resources is available.

In the spotlightAnnette Webb, IT Trainer for Students

What attracted you to this post?I joined the staff of the Library at York St John in 2004 from York Health Authority,where I was an IT trainer; I also taught adult education classes. I had previously worked at York University, so I was used to a university environment, and working with students was something I wanted to do.

What are your aims when working with students?I enjoy supporting students, building up their practical skills and developing their confidence. I work with an interesting mixture of people – mature students who are coming back to education are very experienced in life but have little experience of computers, and those who are more confident and just need help with a particular issue.

What future developments are lined up for the service?It isn’t long since the Library merged with ICT Services – to form Information & Library Services – and we are developing our working relationships. There are plans for an Information Skills module, that will be available to all students, and I am keen to contribute to its development. I will also be working on the SMILE (Study Methods and Information Literacy Exemplars) project, which will form part of the students’ curriculum at York St John to teach study and information transferable skills.

What do you enjoy most about your job?I enjoy seeing students develop their skills. And I also have to keep mine up to date! It is a constant challenge to keep up with the technology. I’m a Microsoft certified trainer, and have recently passed the Master exam, of which I’m very proud. I’m now based in the large, open-plan workspace in Fountains and it is a great work environment. We all take a student-centred approach to our different roles.

How do you spend your time away from York St John?I adore Bollywood dancing! I’m a member of a team from my village, Wheldrake, and we are taught by Zoobin Surty and will be performing in Leeds later this year. I also enjoy the gym and yoga – and, of course, spending time with my two sons and husband, and the dog!

Annette Webb

12 “The elections were an endorsement for the Union’s new democratic structure.”

The view from the Students’ UnionThe Students’ Union was awarded a silver accreditation in this year’s national Students’ Union Evaluation Initiative (SUEI).

This is the icing on the cake for Union President Leigh Hankinson as he prepares to stand down after two years in post. “York St John is the first small students’ union in the country to gain this prestigious accolade,” he said, “and it’s a great achievement. We were awarded a bronze two years ago – and we were really happy to win that! I’m over the moon about the silver. It’s a great testament to everyone in the Union – including our former manager Andy Winter and Louise Aiken, our Admin Supervisor.”

One of the areas of the Union’s work that was assessed by SUEI was its communication strategy. An example of the team’s success in keeping students informed was the increase in the turnout for the Union elections in February. A record 1,789 voters (30 per cent of the student body and an increase of 500 on 2011) returned the three Sabbatical Officers as well as the new Faculty Chairs. Adam McSkimming (a final-year Theatre student) will be the new President; Daniel Ridsdale returns in the new post of Vice President Education; and Kev Jones (a second-year Counselling student) is the first Vice President Welfare and Diversity.

Leigh said, “The elections were an endorsement for the Union’s new democratic structure. There was a great atmosphere round the campus during the campaigning. We’ve got a fantastic team for next year and they’ll be undergoing training over the summer, ready for the new academic year.”

The last big event of the Union’s social calendar is the Summer Ball, which took over the campus on 25 May. This year’s programme had a festival theme, and included live music, stalls, entertainment - and an English Tea Party with cupcakes! “It was a great chance to dress up and celebrate the end of the academic year,” said Leigh. Looking back over his time as President, he added, “I want to thank everyone who has made the past two years such a valuable experience for me. We have had some difficult issues to deal with, and I’ve led a delegation of York St John students on the national demonstration in

London against tuition fees. But I’ve also been involved in campaigns such as attracting more international students to the Union and involving more students in our elections. I’ve met some amazing people up and down the country, I attended the inauguration dinner of the Vice Chancellor and I’ve had a meeting with Vince Cable. And I’ll never forget taking part in the graduation ceremonies in the Minster. I do believe that York St John is the best university in the country with a great supportive, family feeling, and I always recommend it to prospective students 110 per cent!”

Leigh Hankinson, Union President 2010-11 and 2011-12.

13“There are real benefits tograduates becoming KTPassociates.”

OpinionKnowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) have been in existence in the UK since 1975 and are a popular way for businesses to gain access to the knowledge and expertise found in universities. York St John signed up to its first KTP with the City of York Council in 2010. In her role as academic supervisor in this KTP, Maria Parks, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, reflects on her experience.

The phrase ‘knowledge transfer’ (KT) is commonly found in university documentation and yet colleagues have differing opinions on what KT and, specifically, KTPs actually are. At a very basic level, any sharing of knowledge within or between people, departments or separate organisations is KT or – as Argote & Ingram (2000)1 put it – “the process through which one unit is affected by the experience of another”. More specifically, KT is being used to refer to the exchange of expertise between a university and an external organisation such as a hospital, local authority or business. There are many exciting examples of how York St John has worked in this way with local businesses and the statutory and voluntary sector, across arts, health, psychology, sports, education and, more obviously, in the Business School.

So, what is so different about KTPs, I hear you ask – what are they, are they worth the effort? KTPs are a formal, legally binding partnership between a university and a business partner. Administered and part funded by the government’s Technology

Strategy Board, KTPs are a vehicle to support businesses in improving their “competitiveness, productivity and performance by accessing the knowledge and expertise available within UK Universities and Colleges2”. They provide universities with an opportunity to apply their knowledge and research to real-world projects. In most cases, the partnerships receive 50 per cent funding from the government, with the other 50 per cent coming from the company or business partner. The administration and funding is held by the university and is used to employ a graduate intern or ‘associate’, as they are referred to in KTP speak. An academic supervises the associate.

There are real benefits to graduates becoming KTP associates: a real job for the duration of the project, not an unpaid internship; a dedicated CPD budget to ensure they develop appropriate skills; the chance to apply the work of their project

into a higher degree; and, importantly, an impressive CV for future employment opportunities.

York St John’s first KTP has been with the City of York Council’s Adult Social Care Re-ablement Service. We employed an Occupational Therapy (OT) graduate as the associate. There have been huge benefitsfor us as an OT programme, and the Council has learnt from our experience of re-ablement techniques and work force development. We have also learnt how to manage and administer a KTP project. Has it been worth it? Yes! Would I get involved in another KTP? – definitely. Do I have any advice to share about future KTP applications? Please come and talk to Ruth Weatherill (T: 6260) and me (T: 6795) about our KTP experience.

FOOTNOTES1 Argote L & Ingram P (2000), Knowledge transfer: A Basis for Competitive Advantage in Firms’, Organisational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes 82(1): 150-1692 www.ktponline.org.uk

(left-right) Ann Ferguson, City of York Council Company Supervisor; Maria Parks, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences; Wendy O’Connor, KTP Associate; and Stephen Wey,

Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Chaplain’s FundA new community project is raising funds for undergraduate international learning. The Chaplain’s Fund has been developed by Lukas Njenga, University Chaplain, and Corinna Klaentschi, Faculty Placement Development Officer in Health & Life Sciences. They are organising a programme of concerts in the local community at which many of the existing 43 music ensembles will perform – as well as dance performances by the newly formed African Dance Troupe. The funds raised will help to support York St John students who can apply for grants for international learning opportunities.

The first concert was held in St Mary’s Church, Riccall, where 50 students performed to an audience from the local community and raised £220, which was divided between the church and the Chaplain’s Fund. A Counselling student spoke about her experience of going to Bangladesh, enthusing about the benefits to her learning and to the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed where she worked alongside the counselling team and patients.

Lukas said, “The project aims to take the exceptionality of our students out into the local community and share their wealth of skills; in turn, it will help support them to go into the international community to increase their employability and contribute to their exceptional under-graduate experience. Please keep your eyes peeled for news updates on future concerts, dance performances and other opportunities yet to be developed!”

Performance Development Review updateYork St John University has introduced new Performance Development Review (PDR) documentation in response to staff feedback.

The new forms are easier to use and are designed to further develop the PDR discussion. In order to support the new process and help all staff to understand what’s expected from them – from both a reviewee and a reviewer perspective –Staff Development has launched an online PDR Training DVD. Either borrow a copy from Staff Development or download it from www.yorksj.ac.uk/staff-development/staff-development/pdr/pdr-training-video.aspx

Thank you to all staff who were involved in the filming – your time and patience is much appreciated.

Staff Survey 2012Have your say! The survey closes on 29 June 2012

Positioning York St John University as a good employer that values, develops and engages its staff is a primary aim of the University’s Corporate Strategy, supported by a number of key HR management objectives to recruit and retain exceptional staff by providing a positive, supportive and inclusive environment. The only way we can know, and measure, how we are doing is by asking members of staff to tell us!

At the beginning of May you received either an e-mail or a letter through the internal mail asking you to participate in the Staff Survey 2012. The survey asks for your opinions on a range of topics such as job satisfaction, management, performance reviews, pay and conditions, staff involvement, diversity and communications. We will use the results to help identify what works well at York St John, as well as opportunities for improvements.

Our last survey was conducted in 2010 with a 60 per cent return rate, and we are keen to improve upon this in 2012. We will report the Staff Survey outcomes at a series of briefing sessions during the autumn, so you will be able to see and discuss the overall findings and make suggestions for future actions.

The survey is conducted by Capita, an external independent consultancy: further information, including reassurances about anonymity, can be found in the FAQs document on the HR intranet at www.yorksj.ac.uk/human-resources/hr/staff-survey-2012.aspx

For every survey returned, the University will donate £1 to the SPARK scholarship fund. Employees will also be entered into a prize draw to win £100 worth of vouchers.

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Lukas Njenga and Corinna Klaentschi.

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T-shirts for sandalsBrett Arnall, Alumni & Development Manager, reports on how York St John staff can get involved in a project to help a village in Japan: “The seaside village of Takashirahama was completely destroyed by the tsunami that hit Japan in March 2011. All houses except one storehouse were washed away. After much consideration, the community looked at how they could move forward. They decided to embark on a project making sandals out of T-shirts and they get money if their own work is sold. One of our Japanese alumni, Tomoko Aonuma, is supporting this project as a volunteer and has been promoting it globally, including Iceland, where she appeared on national television.”

Throughout June, the Alumni DevelopmentOffice will collect any unwanted (and clean!) T-shirts in support of this project.

Please drop them off in the red postbox located in Holgate – and let the Alumni Development Office know if you are interested in purchasing the sandals (if we can arrange a delivery from Japan), E: alumni@yorksj.ac.uk

Staff benefits & discountsAll staff at York St John University now have access to an impressive package of discounts, savings and information detailed in the new Benefits Handbook.

The benefits include childcare discounts and vouchers, sport and recreation, pension scheme and numerous savings from a range of businesses. On the front cover is a pull-out guide to the best eating deals in the city, with your reward card on the back. Keep this with you as you’ll need it to claim your discounts.

Please note, Yearsley Pool require you to produce your Staff ID Card to take advantage of the discount advertised.

HR team challengeAs part of the University’s commitment to employee volunteering in the local community through York Cares, the HR team recently took up a team challenge at Castle Howard to build a new 400-metre path through Ray Wood. Emma Wilkins, HR Director, commented, “The challenge provided a real opportunity for us to pull together as a team whilst having fun and making a real contribution to the maintenance of one of the region’s historic sites. There was a great sense of achievement at the end of the day and we are all incredibly proud of the work we did.”

The HR team worked alongside experts and other volunteers, acquired new skills and gained an appreciation for what goes into maintaining historic estates. If you would like to know more about York Cares and how to get involved, please visit the Staff Development website or contact York Cares at E: info@yorkcares.co.uk (www.yorkcares.co.uk)

(back row, left-right) Amanda Finn, Emma Vincent, Paul Maddison,

Charlotte Thomas, Jo Thompson, Wendy Richardson, Jane Holmes and Zoe Cooke:

(front row, left-right) Emma Wilkins, Mandy Hardcastle and Lynda Cooper.

Contact YorktalkAny comments, news or stories for the Autumn 2012 issue?Please contact Louise McKenzie in the Marketing department on T: 6466 or E: l.mckenzie@yorksj.ac.uk with your suggestions by Friday 24 August.

This magazine is also available online and in other formats. Please contact the Marketing department on T: 6960 or E: marketing@yorksj.ac.uk

NOTICE BOARD

EventsFor a comprehensive list of all events please go to www.yorksj.ac.uk/events

Focus on…Create12Don’t miss out on seeing the artistic talents of our graduating arts students during the annual Create festival. Work on show includes music, theatre and dance performances, fine art and product design exhibitions, and film and TV screenings. Go online to find out more at www.yorksj.ac.uk/create

Staff developmentFull details of all staff development courses and events can be found on the Staff Infohub. If you wish to book a place, please contact Staff Development on T: 6571 or E: staffdevelopment@yorksj.ac.uk

Welcome to the following new members of staffLynne Aslett, Admissions Asst, Admissions & Marketing

Sarah Barker, Cleaner, Facilities

Julie Cowans, Executive Asst, Vice Chancellor’s Office

Emily Day, Outreach & Admissions Asst, Admissions & Marketing

Helen Dowson, Registry Advisor, Registry

Rebecca Dunmore, Homestay Co-ordinator, YSJ International

Michelle Gill, Marketing Asst, Admissions & Marketing

Brian Greenwood, International Officer, YSJ International

Andrew Hurst, Trainee Network Support Asst, ICT and Library Services

Michelle Jenkinson, Registry Officer, Registry

Claire Leary, Senior Admin Asst (UG), Education & Theology

Louise McKenzie, PR & Communications Officer, Admissions & Marketing

Katherine Parsons,Outreach and Admissions Asst, Admissions & Marketing

John Prudhoe, EFL Tutor – Aviation English, YSJ International

Mari Richards, PA to Dean, YSJ Business School

Jean Sharp, Cleaner, Facilities

Clare Shortall, International Officer, YSJ International

Ian Wilson, Senior Lecturer, Education & Theology

Amanda Wood, School & Colleges Liaison Administrator, Admissions & Marketing

Robin Woollam, Employability Advisor, Student Services

Katy Wrathall, Academic Services Team Leader, Information Learning Services

We would like to thank the following staff for their valuable service to York St John and to wish them all the best for their future endeavoursFaye Alexander, Creative Business Admin Asst, Arts

Emanuela Buizza, Lecturer, YSJ Business School

Diane Cadman, Senior Lecturer, Health & Life Sciences

Sharon Cowan, Senior Admin Asst, Arts

Jennifer Hutchinson, Cleaner, Facilities

Theresa McDonald, Head of EFL, YSJ International

Karen McIntosh, Marketing Asst, Admissions & Marketing

Philipa Myring, Cleaner, Facilities

Clare Pavitt, Equalities Officer, Human Resources

David Pick, Systems Specialist, Information Learning Services

Sarah Richardson, Accommodation Asst, Facilities

Karen Smith, Inter Library Loans & Acquisitions Asst, ICT and Library Services

Jenny Vale, Receptionist, YSJ Business School

Lisa Wellington, Creative Business Development Officer, Arts

Fred Worsley, Senior Counsellor, Student Services