University of Essex in the press...

June 2008

Monday 30

The nation fears for the future of the mismanaged, wasteful NHS
Professor Anthony King from the University of Essex, analyses our exclusive.
Although the NHS on its 60th birthday remains a valued and respected national institution, a special YouGov survey for The Daily Telegraph shows that millions of Britons are apprehensive about its future and believe it is already riddled with waste and mismanagement.
The Daily Telegraph

Ironman Austria competitors required for study
Competitors at next month’s Ironman Austria are required as volunteers for a scientific study being conducted by researchers from the University of Essex, who are looking at pacing strategies. The study will require competitors to complete short questionnaires before and after the event and to self record the perception of effort at various points during the event, although care will be taken so that this does not interfere with any competitor’s race. The research is being conducted by registered sports psychologist, Dr Dominic Micklewright, and Level 3 triathlon coach, Dave Parry, both of whom will be available for advice in the run up to the event in the UK, and before the event in Austria. Competitors will be able to get copies of the findings of the research. Read the article here.
tri247.com

More Doubt over Goya's Colossus
The Colossus has always figured as a masterwork among Francisco Goya's chronicle of human suffering during Spain's war of independence (1808-1812). But now Madrid's Prado museum, which long gave it pride of place, has come closer than ever to acknowledging that Goya didn't paint it. At a June 26 press conference, curators announced the museum would continue its inquiry into the work's authenticity after its investigative team identified the initials A. J. in the painting's lower left corner with the Valencian painter Asensio Juliá, a friend and collaborator of Goya. Though reserving final judgment, the museum had already signaled its doubts earlier this year by excluding The Colossus from its current Goya in Times of War exhibition. Read comments by Dr Sarah Symmons from the Department for Art History
Time Magazine
 

Celebration of campus centre
Experts from around the globe will be at Essex University this week to mark the 25th anniversary of the campus's Human Rights Centre. Nearly 200 alumni from the centre are returning for a conference which will also celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
East Anglian Daily Times

CARET leads project awarded grant to research Web 3.0 for teaching and learning
A highly competitive ESRC/EPSRC Technology-Enhanced Learning award for £1.5 million has been awarded to a collaborative research team led from the Centre for Applied Research in Educational Technologies (CARET) at the University of Cambridge to explore new ways of using the World Wide Web to enhance teaching and learning.
Research and technological development will be directed by Dr Patrick Carmichael of the Centre for Applied Research into Educational Technologies along with colleagues at four other UK universities - City University London, Essex, East Anglia and Stirling and several international collaborators. The team will examine the potential benefits to teachers, learners and researchers of using emerging 'Semantic Web' or 'Web 3.0' technologies. Read the full article here.
Cambridge News online

Sunday 29

Japanese trip for Rotary member
A member of Harlow Rotary Club is heading to Japan in a bid to learn about the country's culture as part of an exchange programme. Alan Leverett, 59, will lead the five-strong Rotary Group Study Exchange Team to Japan in October on a five-day exchange related to each person's own vocation.  The young professionals will have the opportunity of a lifetime to experience ways of life in another country. One of the young professionals from the group is Nicola Wood, widening participation officer at the University of Essex, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Colchester. The team is currently busy preparing for their visit to Japan, learning about all aspects of life in Japan even learning some basic Japanese. Previous team members have praised the Group Study Exchange and hailed it as "the experience of a lifetime". Read the full article here.
East Herts Herald
Harlow Herald

Saturday 28

UK's Brown suffers humiliating anniversary defeat
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has suffered a humiliating defeat in a mid-term election for a vacant parliamentary seat, the latest setback coming exactly a year after he took power. A poll in the Daily Telegraph newspaper on Friday made further grim reading, saying Brown was regarded as a liability to his ruling Labour Party by two-thirds of British voters. Professor Anthony King from the Department of Government said "Never before in history can any prime minister's standing have fallen so far, so fast". Read the full article here.
Turkish Daily News

Friday 27

Scheme 'needs funding'
Traffic llights will definitely be installed to boost safety on Colchester's Clingoe Hill - provided developers come up with the cash. Essex County Council's Cabinet has given its blessing for a pedestrian crossing to be created on the stretch of dual carriageway, with the speed limit permanently cut to 50 mph.  It comes after two Essex University students died within the space of a year in accidents on the road. However, the scheme will only go ahead when a developer is found to fund Essex University's planned research park.
Essex County Standard

£4m over 3 years for cycling town
Colchester has become a cycling capital of the UK after winning more than £4 million in funding. The achievement means that Government will spend £2.1 million over the next three years which will be matched by Essex County Council. Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick met a host of Colchester cyclists and representatives from organisations including Colchester Council, Essex County Council, Colchester 2020 and Essex University.
Essex County Standard

We're biking to work
Essex University Professors found out how to get on their bikes as part of a scheme to promote the National Cycle to Work scheme. Colchester-based bike company Cycle Revolution set up a selection of folding, electric and standard bikes at the Colchester campus. The event was aimed at promoting the cycle to work scheme which the university has signed up for. The scheme means employees can buy bikes from retailers signed up to Cycle to Work for a discount of up to 50 per cent. Under the scheme, the cyclist chooses a bike, then the employer buys it and hires it back to the cyclist, who pays a small amount each month over a year.
Essex County Standard

Businesses are Essex's 'best ambassadors'
Essex businesses have been described as the 'best ambassadors' for the county. At a seminar, held at the University of Essex, aimed at kickstarting a debate on how to improve Essex's image, Stephen Castle, Essex County Council's business regeneration and 2012 Games boss, told delegates that they have a part to play in attracting investment and tourists.
Essex County Standard Business

Pair join Haven's board
The Haven Gateway Partnership has appointed two new private sector board members. They are Colin Riordan, Vice-Chancellor at Essex University and John Dugmore, Chief Executive of the Suffolk Chambers of Commerce. Mr Riordan joined Essex University from a role as Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Newcastle University in October 2007, where he was provost of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Essex County Standard Business

Gordon Brown is a drowning man
Never before in history can any prime minister's standing with the people have fallen so far, so fast.
A year ago, YouGov's surveys for The Telegraph suggested that most voters believed that, even if Gordon Brown could not walk on water, at least he was a vigorous swimmer. Now they are convinced he is a drowning man. Read Professor Anthony Kings' analysis here.
The Daily Telegraph

Will uni help provide pool?
A new town centre swimming pool in Southend could be built in conjunction with South East Essex College or the University of Essex, a senior councillor has said.
The council plans to close Warrior Square swimming pool when a new facility opens in Garon Park, leaving Southend without a town centre pool.
Councillor Derek Jarvis, who is responsible for sport, said: "In the next few months there are a lot of things which could happen in the town centre.
"Provision of a town centre pool in conjunction with the university or college could be a possibility."However, there is no going back on the guarantee we have given that Warrior Square will remain open until the new pool at Garon Park has been completed." Read the whole article here.
Southend Echo
Billericay Weekly News

Lord of the Young
Read about Gavin Wilkinson, Guest Director and Movement Lecturer at East 15 Acting School who is moving to live and work in Bournemouth after appearances in West End shows such as Lord of the Rings and Mama Mia!
Daily Echo

Courier re-starting food page
For many years the Courier published a weekly food page profiling local cooks and favorite recipes from area residents. That feature — always popular among readers — is coming back. In the kitchen this time will be Benton’s Gail Nickerson, whose culinary talents are well-respected among residents of two states. Nickerson is bereavement coordinator for Saline Memorial Hospital Hospice. She lives with her daughter, Andra, and two dogs, Arwin, an English springer spaniel, and Cookie, a tiny schnauzer. Her son, Michael, is pursuing a master’s degree in directing and theater arts at Essex University near London, England. Read the whole article here.
The Courier, Benton, Arkansas

Thursday 26

Sun Microsystems's Virtual Classroom Unites Global Learning Communities
Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:JAVA) today announced the first demonstration of Project Wonderland, its open source virtual world platform for the education community. At the virtual event last week, members of the academic and IT communities explored secure and flexible virtual learning environments created by Boston College, the University of Essex, the University of Oregon and Saint Paul College, pioneer users of the platform for educational purposes. Read the full article here.
Digital 50.com
Also covered in TechWhack, Yahoo! Canada, Forbes.com, Macro World Investor, Calibre Macro World

Referendum issue a political one, say UK judges
Read comments made by Professor Steve Peers from the Department of Law on the case of British eurosceptic millionaire Stuart Wheeler who clearly failed to establish that the British government promised a referendum on the EU’s Lisbon Treaty.
Evening Echo
Also featured in Irish News Online

Where has all the passion gone?
In the heyday of campus radicalism, protests took place at the drop of a hat and Marxism ruled. Today's young are quieter and as likely to vote Tory as for the Left. There's still commitment but now it's to getting a good job. Read about the report that Professor Paul Whiteley from the Department of Government has written to accompany a poll of UK university students' political affiliations.

Read comments on the poll here.
THE

Wednesday 25

New Empire Theatre reveals how university let it down
The University of Essex pulled the plug on a planned £2.4million funding programme to buy the New Empire Theatre in Southend leaving it in limbo for almost a year, it has been revealed. Instead, the bulk of the money was used to purchase the former Cliff Town United Reformed Church in Nelson Street, Southend. University spokeswoman Heather Leathley defended the decision to pull out of the deal. She said: "We did a full and thorough investigation including surveys which took some time. The conclusion was the venue was not viable for the students and staff of the acting school."  Read the full article here.
Echo
Billericay Weekly News

Town is home to treasured arts
Read about Essex Art History graduate, Emma Roodhouse, who is  the new and first art curator of the Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service looking after one of the largest and most important art collections for a town of its size in the UK, including the most important collection of Gainsboroughs and Constables outside the capital.  With thousands of oil paintings, watercolours, prints and objects much is hidden away unable to be displayed but today there are plans in place to bring some of the collection into public display.
Evening Star

Tuesday 24

Getting chilled out down on the farm
Alderley Edge farmer Andy Morrison is convinced farm life could be the antidote to hectic modern lifestyles.
He backed a study that proclaimed a visit to the farm can relieve stress and fatigue and showed no surprise that Essex University scientists concluded contact with animals or even a ride on a tractor can shake off feelings of confusion, depression or anger. The study showed that 97 per cent of people were less tired after visiting a farm, more than nine out of 10 were less tense and over half felt revitalised. Andy, 45, who has run Horseshoe Farm in Alderley Edge and Brook Farm in Nether Alderley for 25 years, said that feeling a closer connection to nature is bound to relieve stress in today’s fast-paced lifestyles: "There’s no denying that spending time in the countryside and the fresh air stimulates people in some way. Read the whole article here.
Salford Advertiser

Relax, learn history
History buffs can earn a masters degree in their favourite subject without entering an exam room. From this autumn, Essex University will be offering a new course of weekly evening classes, topped up with homework, reading and assessed essays taken over three years' study.
Evening Gazette

Monday 23

Making it easier to get on your bike in town
"At the moment we have to almost avoid the town centre because there are so many one way streets and it's so difficult to get around". So says Steffen Boehm, a leading member of Colchester Cycling Campaign and Essex University's Bicycle User Group (BUG).  "You're better off avoiding the town centre and that's just no good if you want to encourage people to cycle" he continued. This is one of the conundrums facing Colchester, last week named as a cycle town and given £4.2 million to spend in a bid to dramatically increase the three million cycle rides which took place in the borough last year. Read the whole article here.
Evening Gazette

Friday 20

Windmill first for town’s Pier Hill
A replica windmill will be a new attraction at the top of Southend's Pier Hill for two weeks from Monday when the town stages its first summer garden market.
The market takes place on the piazza at the top of Pier Hill where refurbishment work has just been completed. The windmill will house a bar serving refreshments.
The remainder of the area will be an array of brightly-decorated huts selling German delicacies, including waffles, crepes, Bratwurst sausages, sweets, honey and beer. A selection of music will be included from Oompah bands and singing ensembles to quirky sketches from students at the University of Essex's East 15 Acting School.
Billericay Weekly News

Safety light plan for Clingoe Hill
Traffic lights will definitely be installed to boost safety on Colchester's Clingoe Hill provided developers come up with the cash. Essex County Council's cabinet has given its blessing for a pedestrian crossing to be created on the stretch of dual carriageway with the speed limit permanently cut to 50 mph. It comes after two Essex University students died within the space of a year in accidents on the road.  Read the whole article here.
Evening Gazette
Essex County Standard
Braintree and Witham Times
Harwich and Manningtree Standard
Clacton, Frinton and Walton Gazette
Maldon and Burnham Standard

New crossing for death crash road
A busy road which claimed the lives of two young students within a year is to be given a new pedestrian crossing to prevent future tragedies. Essex County Council is starting work on a new signal controlled crossing to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The new crossing will also serve the university's research park when it goes ahead and the council has pledged it will be "in place soon".  An Essex University spokeswoman said "The university and students' union have, for many years, jointly campaigned for greater road stafety measures for this very busy stretch of dual carriageway which is crossed frequently by our students". Read the article here.
East Anglian Daily Times

Saying thank-you
Civic dignitaries were invited to Essex University for an annual meet-and-greet party. Professor Colin Riordan, Vice-Chancellor of the University, and his wife Karin Alderson hosted the event as a way of thanking everyone who had supported the University in the past year. About 200 people attended the event in a marquee at Wivenhoe House Hotel.
Essex County Standard

Bike spend begins now
Cyclists in Colchester will start benefiting from £4 million funding "almost from day one", Essex's highways chief has pledged. Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick visited the town's North Station yesterday to confirm Colchester had beaten off competition from 64 towns nationwide to become one of ten Cycling Towns. Mr Fitzpatrick MP met a host of Colchester cyclists including representatives from Colchester 2020 and Essex University.
Evening Gazette
Braintree and Witham Times
Maldon and Burnham Standard
Clacton, Frinton and Walton Gazette
Harwich and Manningtree Standard

A good week to get in the saddle
Some of the borough's top community leaders dusted off their cycle clips in support of Bike Week. Some of the Colchester 2020 partners, including Dr Tony Rich from the University of Essex cycled to the partnership's monthly meeting at Merville Barracks last week.
Essex County Standard

Pupils getting into the Olympic spirit
Sporty youngsters carried the torch for their schools at a mini-Olympics in Colchester. more than 250 pupils from all over the borough took part in the day of fun and games at Essex University. Organised by Colchester Council, the day was designed to encourage children to get active and to teach them more about the Olympics.
Essex County Standard

Thursday 19

The Times Good University Guide
The University of Essex has been placed 42nd (out of 113 universities) in the league table of the best-performing universities in the UK. Essex has also come in the top ten (8th) in the Politics league table and 15th in the Leisure and Tourism league table. For the full league table visit this link.
The Times

Longtime electrical engineering Professor Lester Eastman honoured at symposium
A symposium at Cornell to honour Professor Lester Eastman featured a bevy of speakers, including President Emeritus Dale Corson,  John Copeland, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology; Brian Ridley, a former research professor at the University of Essex, U.K.; and Jerry Woodall, Ph.D. '82, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Purdue University.  Read the whole article here.
Cornelle Chronicle online

Wednesday 18

Experts warn about indoor pollution
The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) in collaboration with the experts from the University of Essex, UK, conducted investigation of air pollutants and particulate matter which could affect human and animals' health. The UVAS, that established link with the UK university with the support of the British Council and Higher Education Commission, invited British researchers to investigate air pollutants.
To read the article in full click here.
The News International

Rap funsters are chaving it large
A rap parody that pokes fun at Essex's chav culture is proving a hit on video net working site YouTube.  Straight Outta Clacton ridicules violence, sex, drugs, shoplifting and teenage pregnancy in the town and takes in sites including Clacton Pier McDonalds and the Magic City amusements.  Video and media production students  Andrew Hippisley, James Varty and Richard Varty who had called themselves the McDonald's Main Men created it for an Essex University project and star in the video whilst family and friends play the parts of the extras. It is based on the iconic 1980's track Straight Outta Compton by US group NWA.  Andrew, 18, a former Stanway School pupil said "We really wanted to better the Jaywick Rap because he (the author Richard Nettleingham) was a former classmate and our tutor is a big fan.  Visit myspace.com/mcdonaldsmainmen to link to the video.
Gazette

All aboard for the greener way to further education
Bus opererator First, and the University of Essex, have launched four new buses to run between Colchester North Station and Wivenhoe Station.  The buses, carrying the University logo, will run up to three times an hour on the usual number 62 route along Greenstead Road. Jo Leyland, transport policy co-ordinator for the university said "As part of its [University of Essex] commitment to sustainable transport and lessening local traffic congestion, we hope that many more students, staff and visitors will use bus servcies".
Colchester Gazette

Art piece taken from outside house
Taggart Davis, a politics student from Essex University is appealing for thieves to return a sentimental piece of art which was recently taken from outside his house.  The drawing shows a scene from Poland where he met his girlfriend.  Mr Davis's parents had the drawing framed in the United States, where they live, and brought it over as a gift.  They left the painting, wrapped in bubble wrap, outside Davis's house whilst they unpacked their suitcases.  When they went outside to collect the painting, it had gone.
Mr Davis is offering a reward for the painting's return.   Anyone who knows where the drawing is can call him on 07951 214546.
Colchester Gazette

Tuesday 17

Luxury flats at Palace Hotel
Sixteen luxury flats are planned for the top of Southend's Palace Hotel.
The new plans raise another question mark over the University of Essex's negotiations to use the landmark seafront building for conferences and student accommodation.
To read the article in full click here.
Echo - Online
Billericay Weekly News

Clacton rap funsters on the web
A rap parody that pokes fun at Clacton's chav culture is proving a hit on video networking site YouTube. The 4min 15sec recording, Straight Outta Clacton, has been watched by 15,000 online viewers and has topped YouTube's music video subscriptions. Video and media production students James Varty and Andrew Hippisley,, with help from James's brother, Richard, created it for a University of Essex project. Read the full article here.
Clacton, Frinton and Walton Gazette
Maldon and Burnham Standard
Braintree and Witham Times
Harwich and Manningtree Standard

Supercollege! Basildon and Thurrock merge with Southend
Further education colleges in Southend, Basildon and Grays are likely to merge into a super college with nearly 20,000 students. Read the full article here.
Echo

It's hall good news
Planning permission has been granted for student residential accommodation in Ipswich which could be used by students studying at University Campus Suffolk.
East Anglian Daily Times

Monday 16

Essex: Creating a new county image
Essex businesses were told they have a part to play in improving Essex's image. At a conference on the Image of Essex, hosted by the University, Stephen Castle told delegates that while there are challenges to face to improve Essex's image, they can be overcome if everyone works together. Read the full article here.
Evening Gazette
Harwich and Manningtree Standard
Maldon and Burnham Standard

Sporting chance for youngsters
Sporty youngsters carried the torch for their schools at a mini-Olympic tournament in Colchester. More than 250 pupils from all over the borough took part in the day of fun and games at Essex University. Organised by Colchester Borough Council, the day was designed both to encourage children to get active and to teach them more about the Olympics in the build up to London 2012.
Evening Gazette

Sunday 15

Grads fight it out
Decisions, decisions! That was the dilemma of the day for more than 80 graduates at the UK University Challenge Event held recently at Hotel Maya, Kuala Lumpur.
Organised by the British Council as part of the activities for the UK Alumni Network (Ukan), the challenge between UK alumni associations saw 14 teams of six members each, battling it out in general knowledge and trivia. The Ukan All-Stars team – which featured Ramzi Abdullah (Essex University and University of Reading), took home the championship title. Read the full article here.
The Star online

Saturday 14

Queen's Birthday Honours List
Professor Marina Warner from the Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies has been awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for services to Literature.  For the full listings please follow this link.
The Telegraph

Friday 13

Time to speak up for our county?
Essex needs to speak with one voice if it wants to improve its image, a conference was told. More than 80 leaders from community, business, tourism and education groups met at Essex University to discuss how the county's while stiletto and boy racer reputation can be ditched by emphasising more positive features such as its coast, Constable country and heritage. Read the whole article here.
Evening Gazette

You Failed. Now Prevail!
How to turn any setback into a triumph
A 2006 study from Britain's University of Essex found that while good looks and education are important to women, they aren't as influential in their choices as "market opportunities." Just showing up and being in the running can outweigh being rich or tall. Read the whole article here.
Men's Health

Thursday 12

Which is the best university for sport?
The independent's new league table shows why sporty students should head for the Midlands. Essex is ranked as 42nd out of 140 universities - read the whole article and view the table here.
The Independent

Wednesday 11

Go and get on yer bike!
The Colchester and Tendring Cycle Touring Club (CTC) have organised a variety of events, including the "Five Miles To Fabulous" event aimed at encouraging women to cycle, rather than drive, pointing out that people can burn at least five calories a minute by cycling.  Despite constant rain, women took part in the cycling event from Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, via University Quays Cafe and on to Wivenhoe for the Art on the Railings Market. More families took advantage of the Sunday sunshine to take part in a ride at High Woods Country Park and a picnic.  Experienced and wannabe cyclists can enjoy events in Colchester next week.  Free community events have been organised to mark Bike Week 2008, which runs from June 14 to 22.  For full details of events visit www.bikeweek.org.uk or call 01206 506476 or 0776 8803842.
Gazette

Tuesday 10

BBC news too London-centric, says report
The BBC Trust has appointed Anthony King, Professor of Government at Essex University, to write a report which accuses the corporation's national news and current affairs programmes of ignoring events in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.  To read the article in full click here.
Telegraph
The Times - read their article here
The Herald - read their article here
The Scotsman - read their article here
Hindustan Times
The Western Mail
The Herald
AllMediaScotland
Express
ICWales.co.uk - read their article here
Daily Post - read their article here

Don't be misled over the University numbers game
Thirty years ago there were fewer than 100,000 students studying at UK universities. Today, give or take a few thousand, there are more than 2.2 million. But the number of university students and the course they take are not the only figures collated by the Higher Education Statistics Agency. One of the more controversial pieces of information is the annual student "drop-out" rate. Professor Andy Downton said Essex University is "very pleased" with its 12.1 per cent "drop-out" figure, especially as that is a 4.4 per cent fall on 2004-2005. 
Evening Gazette

New research on mobile phone safety commences
Even as more Nigerians are caught in the rat-race of acquisition of sophisticated mobile phone handsets, British scientists are conducting yet another study to investigate whether the use of mobile phones is linked to long-term health effects such as brain cancer and neurodegene-rative diseases. The study, which is being carried out by the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR) Programme, will involve monitoring the health of 200,000 mobile phone users in the United Kingdom over a number of years and will be carried out by a team from Imperial College working in collaboration with researchers in other European countries.
Other studies that have take place are a double-blind provocation study at King’s College London to investigate whether the TETRA radios used by the emergency services cause unpleasant symptoms such as headaches, dizziness and tingling. Also included is a double-blind provocation study at the University of Essex to investigate whether similar symptoms can be caused by exposure to emissions from TETRA base stations. Read the whole article here.
Vanguard, Nigeria

Monday 9

How debt destroyed my family
Read Samantha Downes' story, an Essex Politics Graduate of how her parent's economic downturn led to financial struggle - which ended in tragedy.
The Guardian

Friday 6

University of Essex' robotic fish enter IET awards
Biologically inspired robotic fish, which swim around a tank and avoid objects, are the subject of an entry into the IT category of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) 2008 Innovation Awards.
The robotic fish, built by scientists at Essex University, are the most advanced in the world. Each has four computers, five motors and over 10 sensors on-board.
The technology will have a wide range of future uses, including sea bed exploration, detection of leaks in oil pipelines, sea life exploration and even spying.
ComputerWeekly.com

Thursday 5

UCS struggles to find nursing students
University Campus Suffolk is struggling to attract enough future nurses to fill its degree course. Read the full article here.
Ipswich Evening Star

Million-volume milestone reached
The Albert Sloman Library at the University of Essex marked a milestone when its 1-millionth book - Andy Warhol Catalogue Raisonne: Paintings, Sculpture and Drawings - was added to its shelves.  Colin Riordon, the vice-chancellor, fixed the bar code to the three-volume work, which details Warhol's paintings and sculptures completed between 1961 and 1969.  Read the article here.
THE

More first-years are staying on
Writtle College is listed amongst the top 10 institutions that have a high proportion of first-year drop-out rate. Read the full article here
THE

Wednesday 4
Eric Lim New MD of Progress Software
Essex graduate, Eric Lim, has been appointed Managing Director of Progress Software. Read full article here.
CXO Today.com

Tuesday 3

On with the show?
Professor Prem Sikka, Department of Accounting, Finance and Management, comments on how the auditing business, concentrated in the hands of just a few companies, is far too cosy to operate with consumers' best interests in mind. Read the full article here.
Guardian - comment is free

Gallery delayed and over budget
The Colchester Visual Arts facility will be delayed and over budget according to the borough council. The facility will house part of the University's Collection of Latin American Art. Read the full article here.
BBC

Green Euro MEP highlights crucial links between environment and mental health at London conference
Caroline Lucas MEP highlighted research from the University into how an individual's wellbeing is linked to their contact with the environment at a MIND conference. Read the full article here.
Green Party website

An open mind has its rewards
A grandmother of five has just completed her third degree.  Following her fist degree, Pat Coldwell enrolled on to a two-year, part-time Masters course , gaining a qualification in Writing by Women from Essex before going on to study with the Open University.
Essex County Standard
Harwich and Manningtree Standard
Halstead Gazette
Frinton Clacton and Walton Gazette

Police warn 'don't give to beggars'
Police have issued a warning over con-artist beggars who are targeting drivers and pedestrians in Colchester. The police were notified of the problem by Mandy Anslow from the University who e-mailed colleagues and found many had had similar experiences.
Colchester Gazette

Sunday 1

Online games started long ago
researchers at the University in the 1970s and 1980s developed the most popular gaming phenomenon,  Multi User Dungeon (Mud). Read the full article here.
Marketing Article Bank