News
Success for MSc students in E-Commerce competition
Computer Science lecturer Dr Maria Fasli led a team of four MSc
students in their bid to win an international e-commerce competition in
Tampa, Florida during recently. The competition involved 27 other
competitors from 10 countries and the team from Essex took a very
creditable 7th place overall.
The International Trading Agent Competition (TAC) features artificial
trading agents competing against each other in a market-based scenario.
The task of students Ioannis Korres, Georgios Rallidis and Alexandros
Zakas was to create trading agents that would be able to participate in
the competition. They prepared three software agents whose objective was
to create travel packages from TAC town to Tampa during a notional 5-day
period for eight clients. Each travel package consisted of outbound and
inbound flights, hotel nights, and entertainment tickets, all being
auctioned simultaneously in electronic auctions. As in real life, the
supply of these commodities was limited and the agents could acquire the
goods by bidding in different types of auctions. As there are many
interdependencies, the agents needed to have a well-defined strategy for
acquiring the required goods, and for competing against the other agents.
Each game lasted 12 minutes with the trading phase and the final results
being tracked over the Internet. This kind of intelligent technology is a
rapidly developing area of e-commerce, will be deployed more widely in the
future as the internet continues to develop, and is being taught by Dr
Fasli as part of the Department's highly successful MSc in E-commerce
Technology.
Celebrating 21 years of International links
Students from across the globe have reason to thank 84-year-old Clacton
Rotarian Johnny Johnson, who pioneered receptions for International
students 21 years ago.
American Rotary Scholar Anne Cooper
with Johny and Nancy Johnson
His links with the University began when he was asked to host an
American Rotary Scholar, a young man he remembers well as a 15-stone, 6ft
7inch top-class basketball player.
Mr Johnson said: 'I became aware of the tremendous number of
international students at Essex, and persuaded the club that we ought to
do something for them.' An initial advert in the University newspaper
brought just one reply, from an African student.
But the seeds were sown, and the Rotary Receptions for International
Students soon became regular and popular events in the University
calendar.
Christmas Day took on an international flavour for Mr Johnson and his
wife Nancy who, for many years, provided a home from home with traditional
Turkey lunch for students far away from their own families.
Last month the University hosted a lunch at Wivenhoe House to thank the
Johnsons for their 21-year contribution to the International student
social calendar.
Mr Johnson's international outlook was formed during Wartime service
with the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was a member of the surgical team
sent to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp shortly after its liberation,
where he met people of many nationalities.
A former headmaster of Alton Park Junior School in Clacton, he joined
the town's Rotary Club in 1972. Espousing the organisation's international
focus, he has visited clubs in the United States, Canada, France and
Germany on his travels.
Mr Johnson was joined at the lunch by American Rotary Scholar Annie
Cooper, one of 14 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars at the University this
year.
Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships
Worldwide, there are more than 1,300 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars in
2001/2002. Sponsored by their home town or district Rotary Club, they
receive up to 25,000 US dollars to cover round-trip transport, tuition and
fees, room, board and educational supplies.
The Rotary Scholars at Essex are mainly from Japan, but there are also
students this year from Argentina, Canada and Hong Kong.
Designed to promote international understanding and goodwill, the
scholarships give students the opportunity to study in one of more than
150 countries where Rotary clubs are located. While in Essex, the Rotary
Ambassadorial Scholars speak to Rotary clubs and districts, schools, civic
organisations and other forums, and a supported by a local Rotary
counsellor.
The Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships programme has sponsored
more than 30,000 Rotary Scholars abroad since it began in 1947. Rotary
Scholars have been coming to the University of Essex to study for more
than 30 years.
Clacton reception
Clacton-on-Sea Rotary Club's next evening reception for International
students takes place on Tuesday 26 February. Students wishing to attend
should contact Geraldine Shanks on extension 2368 in the Student Support
Office to collect a ticket. Transport will be provided and there is no
charge for the evening.
Stars celebrate new sports facilities
Former international footballer and commentator Trevor Brooking was
joined by Paralympic sprint gold medallist Lloyd Upsdell for the official
opening of the University's new sports facilities.
They joined guests from the University and local sporting community for
a tour of the Sports Centre extension and new Sports Science laboratories.
After testing out new equipment in the fitness room, Mr Brooking
described the facilities as a 'great attraction'. He said: 'The great
thing about the fitness gym is that it can be used by everyone. You can be
a physical wreck and use it to start getting fit, and it's important too
for the sports clubs who are becoming more aware of the need for
flexibility and agility.'
The Sports Centre also has a new air-conditioned activity hall and new
reception area. Director of Sport, David Williams, said: 'The capacity of
both the fitness room and activity hall has increased. Two lift shafts
have been included in the building, allowing for greater access for people
with disabilities.'
New Sports Science facilities include biomechanics and sports
psychology teaching laboratories and a research laboratory.
Also in the printed January edition of Wyvern:
- Top ten ranking for Essex research
- Language graduate speaks
- Around Essex
