News

Number one for social science

Essex is the UK’s top university for research in the social sciences, and has confirmed its top-ten position in the UK’s research elite.

The University was ranked ninth in the UK for research quality in tables published in The Times, The Guardian and The Independent newspapers following the long-awaited publication of the national Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) results.

The results reveal that 22 per cent of the University’s research is rated as ‘world-leading’ (4-star) in terms of originality, significance and rigour.

With top ranking in Politics, joint top ranking in Sociology, third place for Economics and fourth for Linguistics, the 2008 RAE has emphatically substantiated Essex’s position as the UK's leading social science university. Politics and Economics scored outstanding proportions of 4-star research with 45 per cent and 40 per cent respectively.

Ahead of Cambridge in six subject areas, Essex was the second highest ranked university in the 1994 Group of 18 smaller research-intensive universities, one place behind York. These two were the only non-Russell Group institutions in the UK top ten.

Six of Essex’s fourteen subject areas submitted for assessment were placed in the top five in the country, with History’s second place crowning a strong performance in the arts and humanities, with History of Art ninth and Philosophy joint 10th.

There was also a boost for the Essex Business School, based at the University’s Colchester and Southend campuses, with Essex ranked second nationally for Accounting and Finance.

More than 90 per cent of the University’s research was graded as being recognised internationally for its quality.

The last national RAE was carried out in 2001, and almost every department at the University has improved its position. More than 150 higher education institutions in the UK submitted over 52,000 members of staff to the 2008 RAE, and the quality of their research was assessed by more than 1,000 experts. The RAE results will be used to allocate more than £1.5 billion each year to university research, and Essex will be informed of its 2009-2010 QR allocation in March.

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Nicola's trip is full of eastern promise

Four young Essex professionals have just returned from a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Japan. Among them was Nicola Wood from the University’s Widening Participation team, who was sponsored by Colchester Rotary Club to spend a month on a Group Study Exchange to Yokohama and Kawasaki.

Nicola, who had to apply and be interviewed for the opportunity to join the special vocational and cultural exchange programme, spent four and a half weeks in the country. A ‘hectic’ programme of activities included giving presentations at more than 20 rotary clubs, meeting the Vice President of Yokohama National University and speaking with students at a number of high schools about their university aspirations.

Nicola undertaking some calligraphy while in Japan

Nicola and her fellow travellers stayed with host families including a temple master and participated in a range of cultural activities from tea ceremonies to being dressed in a traditional kimono. Nicola said: ‘It was a really amazing experience, especially spending time with Japanese families. From a professional perspective it was wonderful to be able to showcase the University to such an interested audience and fascinating to see some of the similarities and differences in the attitudes and aspirations of young people in Japan.’

Over the next six months, Nicola will give a series of presentations to rotary clubs around Essex about her exchange experience.

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Candles light up human rights celebration

A memorable candle lit ceremony at the Colchester Campus marked the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Adopted on 10 December 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides the foundation of international human rights law, is the first universal statement on the basic principles of inalienable human rights, and a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.

A series of events celebrating this historic occasion were organised by staff and students from the Human Rights Centre and human rights societies from across the University. This included discussions on contemporary issues of human rights, a series of films, an art exhibition and a fair showcasing work by University human rights societies.

A week marking the Universal Declaration would not be complete without encouraging action so people were invited to sign a petition calling for Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA to join the rest of the world in supporting the year-old Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, while there was fundraising for Casa Amigo, a non-governmental organisation fighting human rights violations in Ciudad de Juarez, Mexico.

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Also in the printed January edition of Wyvern:

• Award for Wyvern
• History celebrates landmark £1 million census project
• Stand up to hatred