News

New leader for UCS

A Chief Executive has been appointed to lead the development of the new University Campus Suffolk.

Professor Bob Anderson, of Sheffield Hallam University, will take up his post in January and head the project as it develops a new campus and accepts its first students in September 2007.

Professor Anderson is currently Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Business Development at Sheffield Hallam University, where he has been responsible for increasing revenue from market-focused research and development by more than 50 per cent in the last three years.

Professor Anderson is also the driving force behind the University's involvement in regional economic regeneration programmes.

Professor David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor of the University of East Anglia and Chair of the UC Suffolk board, said: 'He is a highly successful business manager with a strong academic track record and will bring vision, energy and commitment to the project as we move into the implementation phase.'

The UC Suffolk project is a unique collaboration between the Universities of Essex and East Anglia, supported by the colleges of Suffolk.

An investment of £106million in the first phase includes a county-wide learning network and a landmark development on the Ipswich waterfront that will provide dedicated university facilities in Suffolk for the first time.

Professor Anderson said: 'UC Suffolk is an outstanding opportunity to create something new and different that will bring huge benefits to Suffolk and the east of England.'

Professor Anderson, 59, is a graduate of the University of Southampton and achieved his MSc and PhD at the University of Manchester.

He established a major scientific and management career at the Xerox Research Centre Europe in Cambridge. As Director, he developed it to become a world class research laboratory.

Christmas arrives on campus

Christmas has truly arrived on campus with the launch of the University Christmas cards and an invitation to join in with some festive carol singing in Square 3 on Wednesday 14 December.

If Wyvern's bright festive front cover caught your eye, then you will be pleased to hear that it features one of two designs for the University Christmas cards. The second card features texts from the Library's Harsnett Collection. The cards are available, at 55p each, from Kim Watson in External Relations, telephone: 01206 872991 or e-mail kwatson@essex.ac.uk.

Following on from the success of the Carols Around the Tree event last year, staff, students, and their families, are once again invited to join the Day Nursery and take part in this free seasonal event. The festivities will start around 6.15pm on 14 December with a variety of stalls, including catering who will be selling soup, mince pies and hot chocolate. There will also be a visit from Father Christmas himself!

Following Carols Around the Tree, join the Christians on campus in a celebration of the birth of Christ, starting with a performance by the Salvation Army in Square 3 at 7.30pm, followed by drinks and a video showing on what Christmas means to members of the campus community, and a short talk, all in the LTB foyer. All welcome to attend.

For more information contact the Events Team, telephone 01206 872807, e-mail events@essex.ac.uk.

Success for Insearch students

Insearch Essex recently held its first awards ceremony for its first cohort of students.

All 18 overseas students who completed the intensive programme in August were successful in achieving Higher Certificates, and progressing to the second year of Essex degree schemes in Computer Science and Business Management.

The average year aggregate mark of the 18 students was over 60 per cent, with one student, Jiang Nan Cheng, achieving a remarkable year aggregate of over 70 per cent.

A group of Insearch students celebrate after the awards ceremony

The innovative Higher Certificate pathway programmes for overseas students, combining academic study with English language tuition, are the first of their kind to be fully validated by a UK university.

They provide an opportunity for students to undertake a period of intensive study to enable them to progress into the second year of a University degree programme.

The awards ceremony, at the Lakeside Theatre, was attended by Essex Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ivor Crewe, the Managing Director of Insearch, Murray Laurence, and visitors from Insearch UTS, which is a controlled entity of the University of Technology Sydney.

Professor Crewe congratulated the students and staff of Insearch Essex on their success: 'Insearch Essex's success has been demonstrated by the excellent results of the first cohort of Higher Certificate students.

'The performance of many students has been outstanding, with high results in individual modules and a marked improvement in their command of the English language. These results are a reflection of the students' commitment and hard work throughout the previous three terms.'

Insearch Essex was launched in October 2004. The second intake, in October 2005, has risen to 64 students, drawn from China, Colombia, Ghana, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russia, Syria, Taiwan and Thailand.

Also in the printed December edition of Wyvern:

• iLab networks for success

• Entrepreneurs aid economic growth

• Administrative services under review

• University experts advise on Caribbean court reform

• Students flock to Alumni Fair

• Skills development for PhD students

• Pallas students celebrate legal success

• Top ranking for Economics

• Photography brightens up Southend building site

• Football team gets University sponsorship

• College celebrates cultural diversity

• Aid for earthquake victims

• Student volunteers rewarded

• Work starts on £6.9 million research centre

• Interactive learning for sports scientists

• Model UN held on campus

• Funds raised for children

• A multi-cultural learning curve

• Toddlers waddle for charity