Search results
-
81.
Retired RAF Service Woman Realises Her Dream at BGU
A Lincoln woman who spent over two decades in the Royal Air Force before retiring and returning to education will graduate with a degree from Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) in Lincoln this week. After moving to the UK from the Caribbean, Amanda Betts (47) joined the RAF and served as an Aerospace Systems Operator for 22 years before deciding to go to university. With an interest in primary school teaching she attended Lincoln College to study an Access to Higher Education course in teacher training in 2013. At the same time, she began volunteering as a Teaching Assistant at Chad Varah Primary School in Lincoln, before starting a three-year BA (Hons) degree in Education Studies and History at BGU in 2014. Amanda said: “It was always my intention to do some aspect of teaching, but it was only after getting into university that I thought that being a primary school teacher would be my next role,” While at university Amanda joined the Networking Club through the BGU Employability Award which helps students prepare for the workplace after graduation. After initially wanting to become a primary school teacher, she decided that she would be better suited in a slightly different role. “It’s not always easy knowing if a career or particular job will suit you but the Networking Club allowed me to speak to a range of teaching staff and experts all in one place. I soon realised that full-time teaching was not the path for me. “Instead I wanted to work in an environment with children using a wider range of activities and services which would help the child in life, not just academically.” Once back on track Amanda applied for a voluntary post to work with vulnerable children and adults at the St Giles Sure Start Children’s Centre during her third year. She said: “I met a variety of social workers and outreach workers who were dedicated to making sure each child received the best start possible. “I knew that by volunteering I could make a difference to children’s lives too, and this is when I discovered where my skills and interests would be best suited.” The road to graduation has not been an easy ride for Amanda, who not only found out she was dyslexic during her time at university but also got married part way through her degree! “I never did many academic examinations in the RAF apart from oral exams so getting used to reading and writing essays in a short space of time was hard for me. I just thought that I was having difficulties with the workload, especially being a mature student, but I never considered myself dyslexic. As well as all this I was adjusting to married life!” After graduation, Amanda will start volunteering at the St Giles Sure Start Children’s Centre and plans on using skills from her degree to facilitate activities for the children who visit the centre. Amanda Betts will graduate at Lincoln Cathedral with a BA (Hons) degree in Education Studies and History at 10.15am on Wednesday 19th July 2017. -
82.
Free conference at BGU to 'Improve Relationships in Schools'
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) in Lincoln has partnered with Think2Speak to again support their annual conference #T2SLive17. The event is aimed at staff working with young people to discuss the importance of 'Improving Relationships and Communications with a Whole School Approach'. The conference features expert speakers, including BGU's Dr Sacha Mason and Dr Richard Woolley, who will share the latest research, resources and practical guidance to teach relationships education and communicate more effectively; in the staffroom, classroom and between school and home. Delegates are also able to choose from a selection of workshops including RSE for SEN, Mental Toughness and Resilience, Recognising & understanding the signs & impact of shame on relationships and Leveraging Digital Media to Improve Communications in Your School. The conference takes place on Tuesday 28 November 2017 in BGU’s Hardy Building and is free of charge for staff employed in educational settings and school governors. Full details of the agenda, online booking and all the available workshops are on the website. -
83.
Listening to the patients’ voice: A collaborative conference between BGU and ULHT
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) co-hosted a Patient Experience Conference with United Lincolnshire Hospital NHS Trust (ULHT) at Lincoln City Football Club on Wednesday. The conference brought together care providers across the county to reflect on “how we listen to our patients, carers and families” and to consider how these messages can enhance care provision. The patient voice (and indeed the staff voice) and the content of the narrative is critical to service enhancement and ensures that needs and expectations are met. But what we really hear and what we do with this message is of equal importance and helps ensure that what patients are really saying is translated into practice change. The conference was chaired by Dr Graham Basten, Head of School of Social Sciences at BGU, and Michelle Rhodes, Director of Nursing. National and local speakers all talked about the importance of effective engagement, challenging practice, listening rather than measuring. The small things actually mean the most and are often missed therefore we need to be effective in the way we listen and what we do with this information. Find out more about Health & Social Care at BGU. -
84.
Women’s Victorian college life at BGU on show at Being Human Festival
This year Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) in Lincoln takes part in the national festival for the Humanities, Being Human 2017, to reveal the lost and found voice of the first students who trained to become teachers in the Victorian era. BGU’s event, titled ‘Becoming teachers: women’s college life from 1862 to 1918’, will explore the lives of women who trained as teachers from the 1860s onwards. Staff and students worked together in unfolding their stories through the remarkable original material diligently preserved in the BGU archive located on campus in the Cornerstone Building. This is the first time this rich material will be displayed and presented to the community. The event takes place on Saturday 18 November 2017 and invites attendees to engage with the lives of women, who trained as teachers at BGU from the 1860s to the vote, through imaginative activities. The programme includes an interactive display, talks, workshops, and presentations. You will be involved in rediscovering the lost voices of pioneering women and in unfolding BGU’s Victorian origins. At the centre of the event there is an exhibition entitled, BGU’s Victorian Origins: a women’s teacher training college for the Diocese of Lincoln, which displays original material from the archives including photographs, needlework, bulletins, records, and books. The event will being at 11:00 am. Additionally, on Thursday 23 November, Lincoln’s young writers in the making will help give the women who trained as teachers from the 1860s onwards a voice. Young writers from local schools who take part in Slam Jam and First Story will work with staff, students, and creative writers to recreate voices from the archives imaginatively through creative writing workshops. (If your school would like to take part in this event, please contact Dr Claudia Capancioni, claudia.capancioni@lincolnbishop.ac.uk, by the 3 November.) -
85.
National Poetry Day celebrated at BGU
Staff and students celebrated National Poetry Day 2017 at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) in Lincoln yesterday with a special event. Dr Claudia Capancioni and Dr Cassie Ulph from BGU's English Literature team at BGU hosted an afternoon of readings on the National Poetry Day's theme of 'Freedom'. Dr Andrew Jackson, historian and Head of School of Humanities at BGU, opened the event, introducing a poem by Lincolnshire's First World War Home Front poet, Bernard Samuel Gilbert. The poem was performed in dialect by local poet and folklorist, Maureen Sutton, and was warmly received by the audience. The event featured Paul Sutherland, Sufi Muslim poet, who read from his eleventh and newly published collection, 'New and Selected Poems'. Members of local poetry group The Pimento Poets also took part in the event. Another Lincolnshire poetry hero, Lord Alfred Tennyson, made an appearance thanks to the BGU Tennyson Poetry Award. The student winner of the Tennyson Poetry Award 2017 was announced as Phil Nicholls with his poem 'Do they even know'. Students at the event also read highly commended poems - ‘The Bird’s Song’ by Cameron Robson and ‘The Wild Poet’s Song’ by Laura Taylor Caçoete. Paul Sutherland, Nic Lance, and Maureen Sutton joined students and staff in reciting poems and sharing thoughts on the theme of 'Freedom'. There were emotional moments and funny ones, unpublished poems and very famous ones; most importantly, a sharing atmosphere where everyone in the audience felt free to talk, read, and make poetry happen in its most powerful way. Inspired by National Poetry Day 2017? Find out more about English at BGU. -
86.
#12DaysofBGU Day 6: Matriculation
Students were formally welcomed to Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) in Lincoln at a Matriculation Ceremony in October at Lincoln Cathedral. The welcoming ceremony was established two years ago and has now become an annual event. The ceremony gives both undergraduate and postgraduate students the chance to meet University staff and each other. All newly enrolled students were invited. The University’s Vice Chancellor, the Reverend Canon Professor Peter Neil, explained: “Matriculation is the term used to describe students’ formal entry into the university. We hope this ceremony serves as a friendly welcome to all those who are starting their studies and that students feel they are becoming a part of the wider university family.” The ceremony was held in Lincoln Cathedral on Monday 9 October at 3.30pm. For most students this will also be the place of their graduation, thanks to the University’s links with the Diocese of Lincoln. An academic procession took place, including members of BGU’s academic staff, University Council and officers of the University making a grand entrance. Distinguished county and civic guests were also invited to attend. The Precentor of Lincoln welcomed students to the cathedral before the Registrar endorsed the pre-signed Matricula roll. Students were then invited by the Vice Chancellor to ‘share the hand of friendship’ and shake hands with each other to admit them all formally as members of the University. See the full album of photos from Matriculation 2017 here. -
87.
Day20520-20FA20Cup-1#12DaysofBGU Day 5: Memorable Year for Lincoln City and BGU
Bishop Grosseteste University’s (BGU) sponsorship of Lincoln City Football Club has proven beneficial to both the University and the club this year. The FA Cup trophy paid a very special visit to BGU in March ahead of Lincoln City's historic quarter-final against Arsenal. BGU staff and students queued up to get a glimpse of the famous trophy and pose for a photo. It was a surreal and memorable day for all involved! The famous trophy visited BGU as part of our ongoing sponsorship of Lincoln City Football Club. The partnership has gone from strength to strength throughout a memorable 2017. Managed by Danny and his assistant, brother Nicky Cowley, the Imps beat Ipswich, Brighton and Burnley on their way to becoming the first non-league team in 103 years to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals. There they faced Premier League giants Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium where, after a spirited first half display from City, they eventually succumbed to a 5-0 defeat. Lincoln City capped off their historic 2016/17 season by winning the National League and gaining promotion to League 2, ending a run of six years out of the Football League. Throughout the Imps’ fantastic season there was a familiar splash of purple among the famous red and white stripes as the BGU logo sits proudly on the home shirt. The BGU logo was never more visible than during the FA Cup third round replay against Ipswich. Purple advertising boards behind the two managers were noticeable during the BBC1 television coverage and Nathan Arnold even had the decency to score the winning goal while our message was displaying on the digital advertising boards around the pitch! The partnership between BGU and Lincoln City, however, is about much more than advertising, and it is something that means a lot to Danny Cowley. He said, “we are really thankful for the partnership, the University was so close that we wanted to create a true partnership. “The partnership was already formed (when we arrived at the club) so we built on that, there’s some great people coming out of the University, some young hardworking people who we can build relationships with that can help this club moving forward.” One brilliant example of the partnership in action came in December 2016, when BGU sports students had the unique opportunity to be coached by the City manager with a session led and delivered by Danny Cowley. Chelsey Grayson, a first year student, thought that “the session gave us really good insight into the daily life of a coach and also all the planning and commitment that goes into it. It was good to see a coach in action and it will help a lot with my studies and assignments.” Outside the classroom our cheerleading squad, the BGU Lions have also had fantastic opportunities thanks to the partnership with Lincoln City. They have performed in front of crowds of around 10,000 fans at Sincil Bank, not to mention live on BBC1 in the third round of the FA Cup. Louiscia Mcleod, President of the BGU Cheerleading Society, explained that performing at Sincil Bank has been “an incredible experience. The fans are so lively and supportive. The atmosphere really just makes the whole night!” Have you been inspired by Lincoln City? Find out more about studying Sport at BGU. -
88.
BGU Vice Chancellor's Thailand visit continues
The Vice Chancellor of Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) in Lincoln met with members of the Teachers’ Council of Thailand and the Association of Rajabhat Universities today. As part of his week-long visit to Thailand, BGU’s Vice Chancellor, the Revd. Canon Professor Peter Neil, met the Deputy Secretary-General and representatives from the Teachers' Council of Thailand and the newly elected President and representatives of the Association of Rajabhat Universities. During the meeting, Professor Neil emphasised the importance of international dialogue in developing initial and continuing teacher development. Similar to BGU, Thailand's 38 Rajabhat universities have their origins in teacher education. Representatives from the British Embassy's Trade and Industry delegation accompanied the Vice Chancellor during the meeting. Through the UK government's Prosperity Fund there will also be a workshop on teacher education reforms in the New Year at which BGU staff will play a key role. Earlier in the week Professor Neil signed a memorandum of understanding with Phranakhon Rajabhat University in Bangkok. Speaking about the signing Professor Neil said, “We are extremely pleased to be able to formally strengthen our relationship with Phranakhon Rajabhat University. “Bishop Grosseteste University is committed to developing its staff and students as global citizens. This partnership will benefit our staff and students and we look forward to building on the partnership in the future." -
89.
BGU signs memorandum of understanding with Thai university
The Vice Chancellor of Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) in Lincoln, the Revd. Canon Professor Peter Neil, signed an agreement with a university in Bangkok today. Professor Neil signed and exchanged a memorandum of understanding with Dr Preang Kitratporn of Phranakhon Rajabhat University in Bangkok. Both leaders talked about the growing relationship between the two institutions and the opportunities ahead for cooperation. The initial focus will be on teacher education and teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). Professor Neil said, “We are extremely pleased to be able to formally strengthen our relationship with Phranakhon Rajabhat University. “Bishop Grosseteste University is committed to developing its staff and students as global citizens. This partnership will benefit our staff and students and we look forward to building on the partnership in the future.” Phranakhon Rajabhat University was founded in the 19th century as a teaching training institute and now offers programmes across a range of academic and professional programmes. Professor Neil will also be meeting representatives from the Thai Teaching Council, the President of the Rajabhat Universities Council, representatives of the British Embassy in Bangkok and a number of Rajabhat University Presidents as part of a one week visit to Thailand. Find out more about TESOL at BGU. -
90.
BGU welcomes Dr Rob Boast as its new Executive Dean
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) in Lincoln has appointed Dr Rob Boast as Executive Dean Learning, Teaching and Student Engagement. Dr Boast joins the senior management team at BGU from Staffordshire University, where he was most recently Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching. Rob takes up his new role from Monday 13th November and will immediately be focussing on supporting academic staff to deliver inspirational teaching, an excellent student learning experience and meaningful student engagement. A highly experienced academic who has been leading teaching and learning development at Staffordshire University for a number of years, Dr Boast is recognised as an innovator in higher education practice. He has a particular specialism in problem-based learning and practical scholarship, personalised learner support and innovative course development across a range of disciplines. A Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, he has also championed the introduction of technology-enhanced learning and creation of new employer engagement and student employability opportunities. Professor Jayne Mitchell, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at BGU, said: “We are delighted to welcome Rob to BGU. He brings a wealth of experience and an outstanding academic background as a researcher, educator and innovator. “Perhaps most importantly, he also shares our ambition to sustain and further develop excellent teaching and student outcomes for all.” Dr Boast said: “I am delighted to be joining Bishop Grosseteste University with its strong personalised and community approach to learning. “I am excited about working with colleagues and students to enhance learning and teaching and the student experience.”
Explore Lincoln Bishop
Browse our wide range of degree courses and find the perfect one for you.
Open days are the best way to find out what Lincoln Bishop has to offer.
Download your copy of our prospectus to find out more about life at Lincoln Bishop.