Build Your Own Personalised Bedfordshire Prospectus

At Bedfordshire we put our students first from the very beginning of their higher education journey.

We want to ensure their learning, their experience of student life and their employability allows them to get a great education, achieve their ambitions and gain excellent career opportunities.

To ensure prospective students get the information they need to select the right courses, we have just launched a brand new way for them to personalise their university prospectus.

Creating this personalised prospectus online means that potential students don’t get overwhelmed by lots of information that’s not important to them and can focus upon finding out what they want to know about their courses, student finances and life at university.

Many students don’t know exactly what they want to study at university and want to have a good look at the courses available and the range of facilities and social life each offers. But many do know what they’d like to do and just need the course information they want and some detailed facts about how to get a place to stay, about grants and other day-to-day aspects of being at university.

Being able to select what information you get helps them to make the right choices and get a better understanding of how the University of Bedfordshire can work for them.

It’s also very environmentally friendly because we can print a lot less full prospectuses and if students choose to have their personalised prospectus delivered online there’s not need to cut down any trees to print it at all.
Why not have a go for yourself by visiting:www.beds.ac.uk/personal-prospectus

Spring has finally sprung at the University of Bedfordshire and it is looking to be an exciting season.

Past and present students are hitting the headlines with their achievements. Graduate Trudy Dean Cosh is celebrating after having her first book published.

The mother-of-four (pictured below) juggled studying a BA (Hons) degree in English Language and Literature as a mature student, with the demands of a busy household and she feels studying at the University enabled her to fulfil a lifelong ambition. Read Trudy’s story here

First year Sport and PE student and local Bedford lad Jack Goodwin will be heading to Lodz in Poland to compete in the championships. He is one of the youngest athletes to have been selected to compete.

The selection process was based on the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Country Championships in February, where Jack took eighth position and his previous race form in European Championships and International tournaments.

The race will take place on Saturday, 14 April – good luck Jack! The full story can be found here

There were also celebrations for those students who graduated at the end of March and all their hard work was recognised and rewarded.

It was a proud day for Luton North MP Kelvin Hopkins as he watched his daughter graduate with a Master of Science in Human Resources Management the University on Wednesday, 28 March.

Rachel collected her award while her father Kelvin, mother Pat and husband Bryan looked on proudly, as pictured below.Read Rachel’s story here (photo courtesy of Ede & Ravenscroft)

The University of Bedfordshire Students’ Union (UBSU) was recognised for its positive contribution to disability rights, after receiving two national awards at the NUS Disability Conference last week.

UBSU scooped both Campaign of the Year and Higher Education Students’ Union of the Year award at the conference in Manchester, which brought together Unions from around the country. Read the full story here

What's on at UoB...

We’re busy gearing up for some exciting events in the Press Office. Some in the next few days include...

On Saturday, 10 March is Luton’s first ever Science Fair, hosted by the University as part of National Science and Engineering Week. Find out more at www.lutonsciencefair.co.uk and come along to see our experts in action…

And on Monday, 12 March there is an Uprising Leadership event in Bedford, as part of the Young Foundation's series of events. The evening will celebrate the achievements of many of Bedford’s future leaders, with confirmed speakers including: Dave Hodgson, Mayor of Bedford Borough, Simon Tucker, Chief Executive of The Young Foundation, David Russell, Chief Executive of The Bedford Charity (The Harpur Trust) and Eve Burt, Chair of Trustees for charity Home Start.

To find out more about UpRising please email: bedford@uprising.org.uk. University staff and students are participating, so look out for them.

There is also a Scientists in Sport event on 14 March, in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline. Local schoolchildren will get the chance to do spot tests, similar to those which will be used for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. Press can get in touch with me (anna.copperwheat@beds.ac.uk) to come along. See more here.

TV performance open days, Dean makes international visit and University gets involved in Sports Relief




Josh Bassett in action for Bedford Blues
Photo courtesy of Nigel Rudgard

 

England rugby call up local student Josh 

Josh Bassett, a Bedfordshire sport and exercise student had the opportunity last week to play against Italy in the RBS Six Nations Under 20’s, before it was unfortunately called off at last minute due to the poor weather.

The former Ampthill Rugby Club player joined the U20 squad in Rovigo, Italy for the second game of the tournament.
See the full story on the University's news page

Dean visits schools in Goa

Professor James Crabbe, Dean of the Faculty of Creative Arts, Technologies and Science (CATS) visited schools in Goa, India, earlier this month.

James visited a private school and two government schools, and said: “It was very inspiring to visit the schools. The teachers and students are all enthusiastic and they really want to learn.”

Read the full article here

Screen test at the recent PGcert Media Performance open day

Postgraduate media performance course launch at Bedfordshire

The University's  Media Performance department opened its doors to budding future TV presenters at a number of open days in their state of the art TV Studio at the Luton campus (pictured, above).

Prospective students took the opportunity to take part in a filmed screen test, followed by advice and top tips from the University’s Media Performance lecturers, who were also on hand to offer enrolment advice.

Read the full story here 


Start limbering up with Bedfordshire for Sport Relief 2012

The University, in conjunction with Bedford Borough Council’s Sports Development Unit, is organising the Bedford Sport Relief Mile, taking place on Sunday, 25 March.

Julia Lines, the University’s Sports Development Manager, has been busy seeking both runners and volunteers from the local community to get involved in this very worthy cause and to get active!



Sport Relief Weekend kicks off on Friday, 23 March where everyone has the chance to get active, has fun and raise some money before settling down to watch a night of top Sport Relief TV on the BBC.

See the full University news story here

New Year Celebrations Keep On Coming At Uni

This year is set to be another exciting year for the University, following a successful 2011 which saw new buildings open and our students scoop top awards.


There was celebrating for animation graduate Chris Butcher, who won the open stop motion category of the Red Bull Canimation Awards shortly before Christmas.

Chris graduated from the Luton campus in 2009 and is no stranger to awards, having won a Barbican – IdeasTap award last year for his stop motion animation.

Read the full story of Chris’ success here

Student PE teacher Martin Wragg also had reason to celebrate after he won the Steven Henly Award for Outstanding Commitment.

Martin spent five years in the RAF before coming to the University to study for his BA (Hons) in Physical Education leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) course.

Read the full story about Martin’s award here



Dr Konstantinos Sergakis

Students were not the only ones to receive awards recently - senior law lecturer Dr Konstantinos Sergakis received the Prix Solennel André Isoré from La Chancellerie des Universités de Paris for his Ph.D on ‘The transparency of listed companies in EU Law.’

The Prix Solennel André Isoré is the highest award given for doctorates in the field of legal studies in France.

Read the full story here

Students prepared for the future at an Employability Day, hosted by the University’s Division of Tourism and Leisure and the Careers and Employment Service.

Around 40 students took part, where they saw presentations from local business leaders (including Bedford Corn Exchange and Bedfordshire and Luton Chamber of Commerce) about life after university. Several workshops also offered expert help including writing a CV to finding the perfect work placement.

Click her to read the full article



Artists Impression of the £20m Postgraduate and CPD Centre



Work on the brand new Postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development Centre at the Luton campus is gathering speed.

Building work has begun on the £20m development and the project is on track for completion in 2013.

A contract for the iconic facility has been awarded to construction company Kier Marriott, which also built the University’s new £34m Campus Centre and £40m Fitzroy Court student accommodation.

Click here to read the full article

University launches new marketing 'drive'

Student puts Bedfordshire in the fast lane

Postgraduate student Omar Alketbi is showing his passion for the University of Bedfordshire by having his car branded with the University’s logo.

Omar Alketbi

Omar, who hails from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and is studying for a Masters in Applied Computing, said “The car looks amazing with the logo. I have had a great time here and I wanted to return the favour."

If you see Omar in his new Nissan 350z then tweet the university at #SeenTheCar
Read Omar’s story here

Stars of music and cinema join graduates

Duran Duran keyboard player Nick Rhodes joined hundreds of graduates at St Mary's Church in Luton last month.  Nick was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts for his contribution to the music industry as a songwriter, producer and performer.

Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes pictured with Vice Chanceller
Professor Les Ebdon CBE DL

Other stars being honoured included Peter Asher who received an Honorary Doctor of Arts and Katy Haber who was recognised for her outstanding career in the film industry.

Click here to read the full article and other stars that attended

Grants worth thousands awarded to students

Megan Lugg was one of 25 students recently presented
with a Steele Charitable Trust bursary worth £1000

The University continues to actively encourage and support students to apply for numerous bursaries and scholarships. 

Twenty five students, all in their final year, were recently awarded a bursary of £1,000 each to help them with their studies, on behalf of The Steel Charitable Trust.  See the University website for the story

The University has just launched a brand new programme of bursaries and scholarships worth some £3 million for 2012-13. 

Both existing students and those aiming to start courses in 2012 are encouraged to apply for this funding.  More details are on the University's website

University gets set for London 2012

Organisers from the 2012 Olympic Games came to the University’s Luton and Bedford campuses to recruit students and staff for the 2012 event.



The University's Recruitment Services team welcomes
LOCOG executives and A1 Security Services at the
Luton campus

Representatives from The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and Luton based security firm A1 Security Services interviewed more than 300 students at the University’s campuses over two-days, who had applied for security and support roles at next year’s Games

The successful applicants are now receiving their training. See the full story on the University’s website

Vice Chancellor announces retirement

The University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Les Ebdon CBE DL has announced he is retiring at the end of this academic year.

Professor Ebdon (pictured, right) has been Vice Chancellor since 2003. Over the past nine years he has led the University through a period of unprecedented success; increasing student numbers from less than 10,000 in 2003 to more than 23,000 today and increasing the University’s annual financial turnover from £30m to some £130m. For the full story including Professor Ebdon’s personal statement see the University’s news webpage

As one senior colleague prepares to leave, a new Dean prepares to join.

Dr Sonal Minocha (pictured, left) has been appointed Dean of the University’s Business School. Dr Minocha is currently Associate Dean in the Faculty of Business and Law at the University of Sunderland.

She joins The Business School in January, when the current Dean, Professor Paul Burns, steps down. Professor Burns will remain as Professor of The Business School. See the University’s website for the full story

　

L to R: Professor Ebdon, Dame Kelly Holmes,
Sean Yeo (Kier Group) & John Perkins (Students' Union)

An enduring legacy of Professor Ebdon’s leadership at the University has been continual investment in new buildings and facilities across the five campuses.

The new Campus Centre and recently completed Fitzroy Court student accommodation at the Luton campus were formally opened by special guest Dame Kelly Holmes DBE MBE earlier this month. See the University’s news page for the story

The on-going University Building Programme, amounting to some £180m continues at the University’s Luton campus as construction recently commenced on a new Postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development Centre (artist's impression, left). When it opens in early 2013 the five-storey building will be one of the most advanced postgraduate teaching facilities in the country. See the University’s website for the project’s latest developments

University of Bedfordshire academics continue to be at the forefront of research initiatives. Following publication last month of Professor Jenny Pearce’s study What’s Going On, which is investigating local safeguarding children boards across the UK, the University’s child exploitation expert Sue Jago recently became part of a group of professionals invited to speak at an important conference held by CROP - the Coalition for the Removal of Pimping. See the story on the University’s website

Finally for now, the University has been celebrating graduations over recent weeks. Ceremonies were held at Milton Keynes and at the British School of Osteopathy (BSO) in London. The University validates degrees offered at partner Institutions University Centre Milton Keynes and the BSO.

Happy graduates meet one lasr time following one of the ceremonies
at St Mary's Church, Luton on 18 November 2011.

Whilst in Luton, hundreds of students were presented with awards at graduation ceremonies at the historic St Mary’s Church. In addition to our student graduands, a number of honorary awards were made to personalities from the worlds of education, business, cinema and music. Most notably, Duran Duran star Nick Rhodes was recognised for his contribution to the music industry, as a songwriter, performer and producer. See the University’s website for the full story .