AblogUS

About US online launched

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:16:51 +0000

The University has launched a new online staff magazine, About US online, which is available at:

http://aboutus.sunderland.ac.uk

The new magazine features news, events, competitions and staff discounts, exclusive to the University of Sunderland.

Please note that AblogUS will no longer be updated.

LAST CALL: The Staff Survey - closes Friday, May 1

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:00:01 +0000

Thank you to everyone who has already participated in the staff survey - 55 per cent of staff have filled in their survey forms, but we still think we can improve on this figure. So, we are extending the survey period to Friday May 1. Participating in the staff survey is an opportunity for you to have your say on the issues that affect you in the workplace. Capita our survey provider will communicate directly with you by sending details of where you can complete your questionnaire via email, which will provide you with a unique user name and password. Your email address will not be used for amy other purpose , and they will not keep your email address after you have you have completed the questionnaire. The survey is anonymous, only the researchers will see your answers, no one in the University will see your completed questionnaire. All of the reports will be in aggregated format, no one will be identified - no matter how unique their role is! Further information about the survey can be accessed at: http://services.sunderland.ac.uk/hr/staffsurvey2009/ It includes: - A message from the VC - Fast Facts - Frequently Asked Questions Each Faculty and Service has a Survey Contact who will be communicating with staff in their area about the survey. If you have any queries about the survey please contact your Survey Contact identified below: - Academic Services - Beatrice Ollerenshaw - Facilities - Catherine Winn - Human Resources - Linda Bird - Marketing & Communications - Anne Boyle - Planning & Finance - Phil Williamson - Student & Learning Support - Paula Devlin - Student Recruitment & Business Partnerships - Sue Reece - Applied Sciences - Heads of Department & Tony Alabaster - Arts Design & Media - Brian Thompson - Education & Society - Ian Neal - Business & Law - Viv Kinnaird & Pam Slaughter The Survey co-ordinator is Linda Bird, Human Resources. If you have any further queries please contact Linda on ext.2427 or email linda.bird@sunderland.ac.uk

WIN! WIN! WIN! - tickets to Twenty20 Cricket in Durham

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:00:00 +0000

We have three pairs of tickets to give away to this summer’s Twenty20 season at Durham County Cricket Club’s Riverside Stadium in May and June. The winner can choose to see Durham Dynamos play either Derbyshire Phantoms (May 26), Leicestershire Foxes (May 29), Nottinghamshire Outlaws (May 31), Yorkshire Carnegie (June 24) or Lancashire Lightning (June 26). To win, simply answer this question: In which year was Durham County Cricket Club granted first class status? Email your answer to aboutus@sunderland.ac.uk by noon on Friday, April 24. The three winning entries will be chosen at random from all correct entries. Twenty20 cricket tickets cost £12 in advance (£15 on the day) and can be booked online at www.durhamccc.co.uk or ring the Box Office on 0844 499 4466

NEW: Group discount offer for selected Twenty20 games

Durham CCC are offering group booking discounts for some specific Twenty20 matches. This offer is open to anyone who books a group of more than ten people for one of the selected matches below: Community Group Deal Ticket Prices Match Day Price: Adults - £15 Group Discount Price (10+ people) - £8 Match Day Price: Juniors (under 16s) - £6 Group Discount Price (10+ people) - £3 Games Available - Nottinghamshire Outlaws - Sunday May 31 - 2.30pm start - Lancashire Lightning - Friday June 26 - 6pm start For information or to book a group deal please contact Andrew Titmus on 0191 387 2875.

Pre Retirement Seminar - May 11

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:54:09 +0000

Room 2, the Gateway, City Campus Monday, May 11 - 9am–5pm Are you planning on retiring within the next two years? If the answer is yes there is important information you need to know before you do! A Pre retirement seminar has been organised for all staff planning on retiring within the next two years. The seminar will provide useful information about: - Planning for retirement - Financial planning - Information about your superannuation scheme and state benefits - Good health in retirement If you would like to attend please contact Sue Poxton at sue.poxton@sunderland.ac.uk by Wednesday, April 28. If you have any queries about the seminar contact Natalie Bell, natalie.bell-1@sunderland.ac.uk

University superheroes ready to fly of the shelves

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:00:00 +0000

The University’s Communications Officer, Tony Kerr, has had his first novel published - and it hits the shelves this week. While big budget superhero movie Watchmen is dominating the film charts, Tony is bringing a whole new generation of superheroes to life, with his first novel. Super Maxwell and the Last Heroes is a children’s book. Tony originally wrote the book for his son to fill the gap while waiting between the Harry Potter books being published – and this week sees his novel hitting the bookshelves at Waterstones in Sunderland. The book tells the story of Maxwell Jones who discovers that he and all of the children who live on the isolated island of Virporta have supernatural powers. He also discovers that their home is the doorway to 101 worlds and sets off on an adventure with this best friend Billy Barker. It is an adventure that will lead them across the far reaches of the universe. Tony was interviewed on BBC Radio Newcastle on the Jonathan Miles show - including a reading from Chapter 12 of the book. You can listen to it here (the interview in 1hr 35mins into the show). Tony says: “The book is an exciting adventure that takes place across many different worlds. Maxwell has to face monsters, dinosaurs, vampires, time travel, and even his own self from the future – but he still has to fit in his paper round at the end of the day! “I wrote the book for my son, Nathan, and he really loved it when he was twelve, and is still a big fan now he’s fifteen. I loved writing it, and hope it will be a success as I would like to write some more stories about Maxwell and his adventures.” Tony has had his plays performed at Live Stage and the People’s Theatre, and broadcast on local radio. Super Maxwell and the Last Heroes is his first published book, and he is working on a second, Super Maxwell and the Burning Boys. He says: “It’s a real dream come true for me to be able to walk into my local book shop and see my book on the shelves, and I can’t wait to write some more.” Super Maxwell and the Last Heroes by Tony Kerr costs £7.99 and is available at Waterstones in Sunderland, or online at Amazon.co.uk or WH Smith or can be ordered at all good book shops.

Sunderland to champion the North East’s economic rebirth

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 23:00:00 +0000

The University of Sunderland has won the North East’s biggest share of funding for a national scheme to help employers and individuals weather the current economic downturn. Sunderland’s £1.4 million project is the Economic Challenge Investment Fund’s biggest investment in the North East – and the sixth biggest investment in any university in England. The University of Sunderland project will focus on supporting businesses and providing tailored support for new graduates. The scheme is supported by The Higher Education Funding Council as part of their Economic Challenge Investment Fund. This £1.4 million project will run until September 2010 and includes matched funding from One-North East. Businesses that are adopting training and development plans to manage a shrinking business will benefit directly from the scheme. Working with Gateshead College the university has identified a range of training interventions specifically focussed on sustaining the region’s automotive sector, and will work in developing the skills of 300 key staff in the automotive industry and associated supply chain. The scheme will also support individuals, enabling new graduates to access advice, training and work experience to improve their prospects for employment. Enhanced careers and employability support for 900 undergraduates and recently qualified students is also part of the package. A third strand will see the introduction of the University of Sunderland Internship Programme. This programme will support 30 students with expertise in science & technology, engineering, marketing, HR, finance, software application, design, journalism and law acting as interns who can match their skills to the immediate needs of regional businesses. Professor Peter Fidler, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Sunderland, says: “The University of Sunderland has always worked closely with regional partners to ensure the growth of sustainable business in our region. This new initiative will support the region’s manufacturing and automotive sector and the talented individuals who study at our university with flexible provision which responds directly to the needs of employers.”

Artificial Intelligence to tackle rogue traders

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 21:00:00 +0000

As the Credit Crunch continues to affect the worldwide markets the need for efficient methods to combat financial fraud has become more important than ever. Now researchers at the University of Sunderland are working on a smart computer that they believe will be able to detect insider trading fraud within the stock exchange almost instantly. CASSANDRA (Computerised Analysis of Stocks and Shares for Novelty Detection of Radical Activities) aims to create a prototype software tool to tackle financial fraud. The project has been awarded £90,000 by Northstar Funding to investigate the feasibility of combining Artificial Intelligence technologies with headline analysis techniques to track suspicious share dealing. The Financial Times recently quoted as many as 25% of UK share dealing may be tainted by insider trading. A study commissioned by the New York Times suggested as many as 41% of North American deals may be similarly affected. Dr Dale Addison is project manager for the CASSANDRA project. Dr Addison believes the development of effective anti fraud methods has never been more important. He says: “The figures from the FT and the New York Times research are extraordinary, especially when you consider that the UK and USA stock markets are amongst the most highly regulated in the world – so God knows what is happening in other countries. “But the big problem with current anti-fraud systems is ‘false positives’. The stock market is highly volatile with stocks and shares going up and down all of the time, and sometimes there is a perfectly rational explanation for these fluctuations. As many as 75% false positive flagging has been observed by some systems. “In contrast the CASSANDRA system looks at the news stories which may affect a particular company. So if two companies are in the process of a merger and someone gets wind that the merger isn’t going ahead, a key player will go out and buy or sell stock shares and make a killing on the markets. Using our system that information may be detectable by analysis of news.” The big difference with Sunderland’s CASSANDRA system is that it will analyse the movement of particular stocks and shares for a specific company. At the same time it will also access headline news from providers such as Reuters, Bloomberg and Associated Press and the company’s own websites to see what news is available to their employees. This will enable them to track potential insider trading. Sunderland’s team are working in conjunction with a Canadian company called Measured Markets who are providing the academics with data on the US and UK stock markets. Dr Addison says: “With CASSANDRA We think we have a technique which has identified a gap in the market. This system will have the ability to allow users to look at news information and rank it according to how significant an impact it has had on share dealing. The initial research in the prototype software tool is funded until December 2009, and Dr Addison and his team have more ambitious plans to track down rogue traders using Artificial Intelligence in the future. “We have plans to develop a larger system which will allow CASSANDRA to tackle not just insider trading but larger issues related to ‘market abuse’ such as false, exaggerated or highly misleading news stories released by individuals or groups. Such stories can massively influence the markets, and yield huge profits for unscrupulous traders. “If successful, CASSANDRA will make it more difficult for unscrupulous traders to make a killing on the stock market at the expense of others.” NorthStar Equity Investors, based in Newcastle, is a venture capital firm that specialises in early stage high-growth opportunities. The £12m Proof of Concept Fund is targeted at the pre-seed stage of investment, supporting entrepreneurs with up to £90,000.

Art student rises above the competition

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:00:00 +0000

A Sunderland student is head and shoulders above the competition after getting through to the final stages of a UK art competition with her illustration of a man on stilts making his way through a traffic jam. Third year Illustration student Susanna Rajaniemi has reached the National finals for the Lloyds TSB 'The Art of Nurture' competition with her work, 'Innovation/Originality'. Susanna, 24, said: "We were asked to produce an illustration which would be used in the Lloyds TSB campaign. I entered my piece which involves a man on stilts in a traffic jam. “I was surprised to be through to the regional finals so now that I am in the national finals it is fantastic.” Now in its third year, the competition encourages budding artists to produce images that represent commercial finance's approach to lending. The winning artwork will be used as part of an international advertising campaign for Llloyds TSB which will target potential clients in the UK, Spain, France, Germany, Ireland and the US. The final will take place on April 16 in London. If she wins Susanna will receive £5,000 for herself and £5,000 for the university as well as gaining a three-week paid placement with a top London creative agency. For more information about the competition and to also view the entries for this year, please visit: www.ltsbcf.co.uk/art-of-nurture.

Wear were you in 92?

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:00:00 +0000

If you graduated from the University of Sunderland between 1992 and 2008 your old college is looking for you – to take part in Sunderland’s biggest ever party! Wear Back 2009 is the first annual reunion for all of Sunderland’s graduates. The former Sunderland Polytechnic was named a university in 1992 – the same year that Sunderland gained city status. The university wants to give all of Sunderland’s graduates the opportunity to meet up with old friends and have some fun at Sunderland’s newest nightspot – Campus student nightclub at St Peter’s Campus. The university’s alumni officer Sarah Fairless says: “The university holds a lot of reunions throughout the year, but this is the first time we have opened up the university to anyone who has graduated. “We thought it would be a great opportunity for graduates to together with old friends, and maybe meet some new ones too. We have a great new nightclub, and we want to put on one of the biggest parties the city has ever seen, right on the banks of the Wear.” Wear Back 2009 takes place at Campus, St Peter’s Way, Sunderland, on Saturday, May 9, from 8pm. Tickets cost £3 (including your first drink for free) and are available at: www.wearunited.org or call ext. 3664.

EXCLUSIVE STAFF COMPETITION: Meal for 2 at the White Room, Seaham Hall courtesy of WearUnited

WearUnited is the Alumni Association's new online community. To join WearUnited as a staff member, simply log on at: www.wearunited.org and put "SA" in the "Class Of" field. As well as being able to take advantage of benefits and discounts, email for life, events calendar and registration, my profile, polls/surveys, alumni search, class note and trace-a-friend, you will also be entered into an exclusive staff competition. Simply by joining WearUnited as a staff member you will be entered into a draw to win a meal for 2 at The White Room, Seaham Hall's Michelin Star restaurant on May 31. The winner will chosen at random from staff registered before Friday, May 8. See below for a full list of benefits...

Summer Quiz Night and Barbeque

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Thursday May 21 – from 7pm Tickets £5 Come along to our summer quiz night and barbie and enjoy the sights of Sunderland’s sunny riverside! As well as our tasty barbeque (vegetarian option available!) you’ll have the chance to win prizes aplenty and enjoy a night to remember at Sunderland’s hottest new venue, Campus. Teams must consist of a minimum of two people, and a maximum of six. To book your place contact events@sunderland.ac.uk by Friday, May 1.

How do we create radical and lasting change in post-14 teaching?

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:00:00 +0000

SUNCETT Spring Conference 2009 Seaham Hall Hotel Wednesday May 13, 9.30am-4.30pm

You can dowload the Suncett Spring Conference flier here

The University of Sunderland Centre for Excellence in Teacher Training's (SUNCETT) 2009 Spring Conference will examine "How do we create radical and lasting change in post-14 teaching?". This one day conference will enable you to meet and engage with some of the UK's leading thinkers in post-14 education, voice your opinions on vital contemporary issues and contribute to a lively debate on how radical change might be created and sustained. Bring your ideas and hopes for the future of post-14 education to life by participating in this exciting event. The conference will be of interest to Teachers, Trainers and Managers working in Adult & Community Education, Work Based Learning, Colleges and Schools. The Conference will explore practical ways in which change might come about through: Joint Practice Development - developing places and spaces where teachers can collaborate and learn from each other over time. Professional Learning Communities - enabling the identification, sharing and development of good practice, for example in mentoring, CPD, curriculum design etc. Quality - understanding the contrast between 'educational quality' and 'performance quality' in teaching and learning and the practical implications of each. Conference costs £125 (incl VAT), special rate: £500 (incl VAT) team of 5 delegates can attend for the price of 4. Please book before Thursday April 30. Bookings made after April 30 will be charged at £150 (incl VAT) per delegate. To download a booking form go to: www.sunderland.ac.uk/faculties/es/centres/suncett/events/ Contact ext. 3217 or suncett@sunderland.ac.uk

Staff vs Student Golf Competition

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:00:00 +0000

The first Staff vs Student Golf Competition takes place on Wednesday, May 6 2009 at Wearside Golf Club. £17.50 per person to enter, this includes: - - Morning coffee and bacon roll on arrival, - Full 18 hole round, - Course insurance, - Afternoon soup & sandwich, - Overall winner & Nearest the Pin competition. Tee Off starts from 10.30am but there are a restricted number of places available. To enter email: sam.brown@sunderland.ac.uk or call 3696. The closing date for entries Wednesday April 29, 2009

Police set up Uni HQ

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:00:00 +0000

The University Campus Police Officers now have their own new University office which is located at the Technology Park, City Campus.

Our partnership agreement with Northumbria Police, which has been in place since 1996, has recently been reviewed to ensure that we are operating as effectively as possible. Providing the Campus Police with a University base is just one of a number of new initiatives that are being introduced, these include the Police being issued with a University mobile phone, an internal telephone number (ext. 3999) and a generic email address (campus.police@sunderland.ac.uk). As well as continuing to use the Campus Police vehicle, which is donated by Nissan, the Campus Police intend to begin using pedal cycles to move around Campus. University Security Manager, Graeme Robinson, says: “The new initiatives have been introduced in order to maximise the Campus Police Officer’s profile and visibility around Campus and make them more accessible to students and staff. The Officer’s move into University premises can only strengthen our already close working relationship.”

Green charity bags some bushes

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:00:00 +0000

Nursery school children have been busy making Sunderland a greener space – thanks to their mums and dads going green when they bought their coffee and sandwiches.

Children from the University’s St Mary’s childcare have planted shrubs and a new herb garden at Roker Park, with the assistance of environmental charity CEED.

The money for the planting scheme was raised from the sale of environmentally-friendly jute bags at the university’s cafeterias.

Staff and students at the University have raised over £400 from the sale of the bags, which were bought with a donation from the University’s environmental sustainability development fund. Sharon Olver, senior catering manager at the university, says: “Staff and students at the university have really been enthusiastic about the scheme, and have made good use of the reusable jute bags. “As well as encouraging people to reuse the bags, by plowing the profits from car parking at the university into planting shrubs and herbs at Roker Park we have made a real impact on our carbon footprint in Sunderland.”

The money went to CEED (Community Environmental Education Developments) a Sunderland-based company which aims to raise awareness, and engage local residents in their environment. Children from St Mary’s Childcare helped plant a number of trees and bushes at Roker Park, to improve the environment at this popular seafront park. The University of Sunderland is key partner in the Low Carton City campaign spearheaded by Sunderland Partnership. The campaign aims to reduce the amount of harmful emissions that large organisations generate. The organisations involved have all committed to cutting their carbon by 10 per cent. Earlier this year the University of Sunderland's catering service were awarded the Heartbeat Award in honour of their work promoting healthy living. The university achieved Fairtrade status in 2006, and Fairtrade hot drinks are sold as standard in all university catering outlets and through concession partners Greggs and O'Briens. Menus feature a range of local and organic produce and are developed in consideration of the diverse university community.

Uni scheme walks the walk

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:00:00 +0000

University Sport Sunderland have been awarded accreditation by Walking the way to Health. The Lunch Time Short Walks scheme became accredited on April 2 2009, having successfully demonstrated that we meet the required criteria. This includes offering led walks for beginners, meeting the “Walking the way to Health” safety and insurance standards for all walks and collecting basic monitoring information. As an accredited scheme, the Lunch Time Short Walks will benefit from being seen as part of a nationally evaluated scheme as well as being formally recognised by health professionals, prospective partners and funders. Sam Brown, Scheme co-ordinator for Lunch Time Short Walks, says: “I am thrilled we have achieved accreditation, the Lunch Time Short Walks are an excellent opportunity to get some physical activity, get familiar with the short walks available around the University and get some fresh air away from your desk. Hopefully we will see some more new faces and expand on this scheme throughout the summer”. The Lunch Time Short Walks welcomes new walkers throughout the year. If you’d like to join or train as a Walking the way to Health Volunteer Walk Leader please contact the Scheme Co-ordinator, Sam Brown, on ext. 3696 or sam.brown@sunderland.ac.uk.