Pupils Relish Opportunity to Teach Students a Lesson
Stirling is Leading the Way in Disabled IT Access
Two Sides of Trade Union Recognition Revealed
Thomson Throws up all the Aces to Win Scottish and British Students' Athletic Title
Estuarine Ecosystem: Ecology, Threats and Management
Government Should Lead by Example in Funding Education
Student Ramsay Wins Scottish Open Amateur Strokeplay
Scotland in Crisis: Population Decline
The Principal's Music
Date released:
Monday 3 May 2004
The University of Stirling has organised a series of informal musical
recitals in the MacRobert Foyer under the banner of The Principal’s
Music.
The next event will be held on Wednesday 12 May 1.10 – 1.50pm
when Professor Leslie Smith’s Jazz Band will play mainstream
jazz.
The programme will include Take the ‘A’ Train, Here’s
that rainy day, All of me, Yesterdays, Autumn Leaves, Gee baby ain’t
I good to you and Jersey Bounce.
The recital is open to the public and is free of charge.
Further information is available from the Communications and Development
Office, Tel: 01786 467055 or E-mail: c&d@stir.ac.uk
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
(01786) 467058
Pupils Relish Opportunity to Teach Students a Lesson
Date
released: Monday 3 May 2004
Pupils from Shawlands Academy in Glasgow taught student teachers
at the
University of Stirling a lesson or two at a special student-pupil
seminar last
month.
The workshop was organised by the University’s Institute of
Education to find
out what pupils want from their teachers and how teachers could
help them
learn. Pupils were asked what qualities they most valued in their
teachers,
what kinds of educational activities they most enjoyed and how they
think
teachers might best support pupils.
Advice from the pupils included:
- Being aware of and more responsive to pupils’ points of view.
- Using more interactive teaching techniques such as group work.
- Being more consistent and cautious with regard to discipline.
- Admitting when they are in the wrong.
- Discussing subject choices with pupils.
- Treating pupils with respect.
- Listening more.
Professor Julie Allan of the Institute of Education said: “Listening
to children
and young people is something which we try to encourage student
teachers to
do. The seminar took this one step further and was a valuable learning
experience for all concerned. The pupils really appreciated the
opportunity to
air their views and our students have vowed to keep their comments
in mind
when they reach the classroom.”
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
(01786) 467058
For further information:
| contact us
> > > |
|
|---|---|
Julie Allan University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
|
Tel: + 44 (0) 1786 467622 |
Stirling is Leading the Way in Disabled IT Access
Date released:
Monday 3 May 2004
The University of Stirling has won a prestigious best practice award
for its supportive approach to students with special needs.
The accolade, bestowed by University and Colleges Information Systems
Association, recognises the University’s commitment to widening
access for students with disabilities through the provision of specialist
IT facilities.
Special Needs IT advisor, Paul Amery said: “The University
has developed an integrated teaching and learning environment which
promotes independent studying practices for in-house or distance
learning students regardless of any disability.”
All computer labs at the University contain a wide range of enabling
technologies from screen readers and screen magnification for visually
impaired students, to scan and read back software with enhanced
interactive spelling and proofing tools for students with specific
learning difficulties.
A dedicated lab with four sound-proofed cubicles has also recently
been built for students who wish to use voice recognition software.
All lecture theatres are fitted with shot-gun microphones which
feed amplified sound systems, listening posts and infra red broadcasting.
Infra red receivers are issued to students who suffer from visual
and/or hearing impairments and students with low or impaired dexterity.
The infra red technology connects directly to minidisk recorders
or other recording devices.
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
(01786) 467058
For further information:
| contact us
> > > |
|
|---|---|
Paul Amery University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
|
Tel: + 44 (0) 1786 466611 |
Two Sides of Trade Union Recognition Revealed
Date released:
Tuesday 4 May 2004
Two independent research papers published today by Dr Gregor Gall,
a reader in Industrial Relations at the University of Stirling,
reveal the two sides of trade union recognition in Britain.
Dr Gall shows that while trade unions have secured 2633 new union
recognition agreements with employers between 1995-2003, covering
1.1m workers (far exceeding the expectations of the Trade Union
Congress), unions have begun to meet increasingly widespread employer
opposition to gaining recognition.
As the numbers of new agreements has fallen, the number of cases
of anti-unionism has increased. Dr Gall’s research identifies
1105 cases of union suppression and union substitution between 1995-2003.
Dr Gall said:
“Unions have worked successfully to extend the ambit of union
recognition. Having used up their ‘easy cases’, they
now face tackling the ‘hard nuts’ to try to continue
this growth.
“However, the proposed protection against employer intimidation
of workers in union recognition campaigns in the Employment Relations
Bill 2003 is unlikely to deter the vehemently anti-union employer.”
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
(01786) 467058
For further information:
| contact us
> > > |
|
|---|---|
Dr Gregor Gall University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
|
Tel: + 44 (0) 131 556 5064 |
Thomson Throws up all the Aces to Win Scottish and British Students' Athletic Titles
Date released:
Monday 10 May 2004
Stirling University student, Scott Thomson (22), completed a unique
achievement last weekend by capturing both the Scottish and British
Universities' shot-putt and hammer-throw titles for the 2nd year
in succession. Sports Studies and Psychology student, Thomson, achieved
a personal best throw of 55.32m in the hammer event, the 3rd furthest
distance ever thrown by a Scot in competition and just one metre
short of the Scottish national record. The GB U/23 internationalist
and member of the Central Scotland Institute of Sport, went on to
win all 4 throwing events at the Scottish Universities' Championships
and pocketed the Ian Cosgrove Athlete of the Competition trophy
for his efforts. His wins come on the back of impressive athletic
performances by Stirling students at the British Universities' Championships
held last month. Andrew Lemoncello and Allan Scott added to Thomson's
medal haul by winning gold in the 1500m and the 110m hurdles respectively,
whilst Toni Mackintosh gained silver in the women's 3000m race.
Raleigh Gowrie, the University's Sports Performance Manager, was
particularly pleased with their performances. He stated:
'It is a great achievement for Stirling students to gain success
against some of the very best young athletes in Britain. They are
committed to their sport and deserve the plaudits. They also act
as great ambassadors for Stirling University.'
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
(01786) 467058
| contact us
> > > |
|
|---|---|
Raleigh N Gowrie Sports Performance Manager University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
|
Tel: + 44 (0) 1786-466908 (6) Mob: 07740500140 |
Estuarine Ecosystem: Ecology, Threats and Management
Date released:
Monday 10 May 2004
For the inhabitants of many of the world’s major towns and
cities, estuaries provided their first and nearest glimpse of a
natural habitat. The estuarine ecosystem, however, continues to
be under threat from man.
Donald S McLusky, University of Stirling, and Michael Elliott, University
of Hull, present evidence of human abuse and misuse of these habitats,
particularly the effects of pollution, in their new book The Estuarine
Ecosystem.
Dr McLusky said: “Although the world’s seas are vast
and may appear capable of receiving unlimited quantities of human
effluent, such waste is often first discharged into the confined
waters of estuaries. In practice, marine pollution is often essentially
estuarine pollution.”
The book considers how we can monitor, control or prevent the pollution
and destruction of this fragile ecosystem through estuarine management.
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
(01786) 467058
For further information:
| contact us
> > > |
|
|---|---|
Dr Donald S McLusky University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
|
Tel: + 44 (0) 1786 467770 / + 44 (0) 1877 384309 |
Developments in Criminology
Date released:
Tuesday 11 May 2004
The University of Stirling’s Department of Applied Social
Science will launch a new MSc/Diploma in Criminology this autumn
in response to the popularity of its undergraduate criminology degree.
Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Dr Reece Walters said: “The
student demand for criminology continues to grow. In 2002 we introduced
the first-ever undergraduate criminology degree in Scotland. Places
are hotly contested, far exceeding our original enrolment expectations,
and we are confident the MSc will prove equally popular.”
These new initiatives in teaching are an extension of the University’s
well established research profile in criminological studies, notably
in the areas of drugs, criminal justice policy and practice, youth
crime and alternatives to custody.
Lecturer in Criminology, Dr Laura Piacentini said: “The department’s
expanding team of scholars are working on a range of research projects
that could be described as ‘cutting edge’. Examples
include the first-ever drug and youth courts in Scotland; a critique
of imprisonment in Russia; crime and genetically modified food;
weapons of mass destruction and civilian risk in Scotland; and human
rights abuses and asylum seekers.”
Criminologists at the University are working closely with academic
scholars around the world as well as with national bodies such as
the Scottish Executive, the Scottish Prison Service and Scottish
Police Forces. Collaborations also exist with non-governmental groups
including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Greenpeace
and the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
Later this year Dr Walters will travel to Zambia to examine the
international trade policies of the US Government and their effects
on sub-Saharan countries.
Dr Walters said: “The focus of this research is GM food and
the reported concerns to human health, the risks of genetic pollution,
the demise of alternative farming techniques and economic exploitation
by large private corporations.”
Dr Piacentini, a fluent Russian speaker, recently spent four weeks
in Russia studying penal policy. This was a follow-up to her earlier
research when she lived in Russian prisons for three months. She
is the first western academic to conduct empirical and theoretical
research on the Russian prison system.
Dr Piacentini said: “This innovative and unique research will
build new knowledge on how western models of imprisonment are influencing
penal policy in states of transition.“
The new MSc/Diploma will integrate existing research within the
department to form an innovative, contemporary and critical postgraduate
programme. It is designed to give students a thorough grounding
in methodological, theoretical and practical aspects of criminology.
Prospective students requiring further information should log onto:
http://www.dass.stir.ac.uk/SSP/study/Postgraduate.htm#apply
http://www.dass.stir.ac.uk/DASS20
PG20 Courses/Criminology.pdf
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
(01786) 467058
For further information:
| contact us
> > > |
|
|---|---|
Dr Reece Walters Director of MSc/Diploma in Criminology University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
|
Tel: + 44 (0) 1786 467977 |
Lord High Commissioner Visit
Date released:
Monday 17 May 2004
 |
| Seen here (from left to right) are: The Rev'd Ian Patterson, Chaplain to the Lord High Commissioner; Lady Steel of Aikwood; Ms Elish Angiolini QC, Solicitor-General for Scotland; Lord Steel of Aikwood DUniv; Tom Murray WS, Purse Bearer to the Lord High Commissioner; Mr Giles Dove, Director of Communications & Development at the University of Stirling; Ms Kirsty MacGregor, Lady-in-Waiting; and Lieutenant Sam Billington, ADC. |
The Lord High Commissioner
of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland paid a special
visit to the University of Stirling on Tuesday 18 May.
Lord Steel of Aikwood is an Honorary Graduate of the University
(1991) and was Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament from
1999-2003.
Lord Steel was accompanied by Lady Steel, Tom Murray WS - Purse
Bearer to the Lord High Commissioner, Reverend Ian Patterson - Chaplain
to the Lord High Commissioner and Elish Angiolini QC - Solicitor-General
for Scotland.
Colonel James Stirling of Garden - Lord Lieutenant of Stirling
and Falkirk and Honorary Graduate of the University (2004) - welcomed
the Lord High Commissioner’s party to the campus.
During his stay Lord Steel met academic staff in the Department
of Nursing and Midwifery and toured the Iris Murdoch Building, which
is an example of dementia-friendly design.
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
(01786) 467058
For further information:
| contact us
> > > |
|
|---|---|
Tania Ellis University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
|
Tel: + 44 (0) 1786 466678 |
A Computer in Line Saves Time
Date released:
Tuesday 18 May 2004
Clever computers could soon be saving aquaculturists valuable research
time by vaccinating fish for them.
The University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture is working
with technology transfer company INCITE, based in the Department
of Psychology, to develop a machine which can safely deliver an
injection to fish. At present the task is done manually.
INCITE director, Kevin Swingler said: “Vaccinating the fish
is a miserable job which takes hours. Our aim is to teach the computer
to see the fish through a camera and deliver the vaccine accurately.
We also hope to teach the computer to grade the fish at the same
time, another time consuming job.”
INCITE is also working on a number other projects to get computers
to perform the kinds of tasks that are usually thought of as requiring
human abilities or expertise.
Mr Swingler said: “Unlike computers, we humans are not good
at storing vast amounts of information or making millions of calculations
in our heads. So far, these are the kind of things we have used
computers to help us with. However, humans are very good at many
things that computers cannot do. We are very good at using our senses:
vision and hearing in particular. We are attempting to give computers
these abilities.”
INCITE is currently developing computers that can see, computers
that can understand what they hear and computers that can learn.
Mr Swingler said: “These skills all have one thing in common:
the ability to make sense of huge quantities of data in a short
period of time. This has practical applications such as the analysis
of marketing data, machine monitoring and auditory data in hearing
aids.”
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
(01786) 467058
For further information:
| contact us
> > > |
|
|---|---|
Kevin Swingler University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
|
Tel: + 44 (0) 1786 467676 |
Government Should Lead by Example in Funding Education
Date released:
Tuesday 18 May 2004
The University of Stirling has been singled out for its successful
track record in fundraising from philanthropic sources in a Government
Report.
“Increasing voluntary giving to higher education” is
published this month by a Department for Education and Skills Task
Force chaired by Professor Eric Thomas, Vice-Chancellor of the University
of Bristol.
The Report notes that “Stirling University, established in
the 1960s, set up its Development Office four years ago. With less
than two full-time equivalent staff devoted to fundraising, and
a cost of around £70,000 per year, it has focused on targeting
charitable foundations for funds. This has been a very effective
strategy with over £10 million raised in the three years to
2003.”
Commenting on the announcement, the University of Stirling’s
Director of Communications & Development Giles Dove said: “We
are changing the culture of philanthropy in the UK as citizens recognise
that universities make the world a better place. Individuals, companies
and charitable trusts have all been willing to share Stirling’s
objectives for strategic development and have been most generous
in their support.” Giles Dove added “There is a clear
message for Government – lead by example. If the Government
demonstrates its commitment to higher education, others will follow
and show a willingness to support our ongoing success.”
Stirling’s Director of Finance John Gordon said: “Stirling
is a well-managed institution and we have raised significant sums
to support key strategic projects that improve the quality of teaching,
learning, research and the campus environment. In this day and age
we need to diversify our income streams, and philanthropic fundraising
is one ingredient in our recipe for success.”
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
(01786) 467058
For further information:
| contact us
> > > |
|
|---|---|
Giles
Dove University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
|
Tel: + 44 (0) 1786 466678 |
Student Ramsay Wins Scottish Open Amateur Strokeplay
Date released: Monday 24 May 2004
University of Stirling golf scholarship student, Richard Ramsay,
achieved a lifetime ambition in winning the Scottish Open Amateur
Strokeplay Championship at Lundin Links at the weekend with a championship
record score.
Rounds of 67, 68, 68 and 66 gave Ramsay a 15-under par total of
269 and a slender one shot victory over former Finnish Strokeplay
champion Roope Kakko.
Ramsay's low scoring shaved two shots off the previous record low
of 271 set by former Walker Cup player, Barclay Howard, in 1997.
A Sports Studies and Marketing student, Ramsay (20) partnered Walker
Cup veteran, Gary Wolstenholme, during the final day's play. It
was something the student was not phased by. On the contrary, it
helped Ramsay focus more on his own game. Ramsay admitted:
“Gary Wolstenholme is a great player and I was trying to match
him shot for shot. When you are playing with someone like him, it
does give something extra to your game. Winning a national title
has always been one of my ambitions and to win this one is amazing.
There are some great names on the trophy and it will probably take
a while for this to sink in.”
Ramsay's victory earned him a national title double, after he had
picked up the Scottish Universities' Championship at Lossiemouth
last month.
Fellow Stirling student, Dawn Dewar, also had cause for celebration
over the weekend as she pocketed the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association
Clark Rosebowl Trophy with a 3 & 2 victory over Donna Pocock
at Old Prestwick.
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
(01786) 467058
For further information:
| contact us
> > > |
|
|---|---|
Raleigh
Gowrie University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
|
Tel: + 44 (0) 1786 466908 Mob: 07740500140 |
Scotland in Crisis: Population Decline
Date released:
Wednesday 26 May 2004
Scotland faces the fastest falling population in Europe. By 2009
it is expected that the country’s population will be less
than five million.
The problem has grave implications for the Scottish economy and
public services, leading to a significant reduction in standard
of living of Scottish people.
The issue of Scotland’s declining and ageing population will
be tackled at a conference organised by the Economic Development
Association Scotland (EDAS) on Thursday 27 May.
One of the event’s key speakers will be Professor Robert Wright
of the University of Stirling’s Department of Economics. Professor
Wright will argue that Scotland should be given control over immigration.
Professor Wright said: “The Scottish Executive’s Fresh
Talent Initiative is a step in the right direction, but the number
of individuals this policy is likely to attract falls short of what
is required to decelerate population ageing. Scottish people find
themselves in a somewhat odd situation, their government warns them
that population decline is their ‘number one’ problem
and, yet at the same time their elected representatives are virtually
powerless to do anything about it. The responsibility for immigration
must be devolved.”
Other speakers will include Alex Neil MSP of the SNP and Professor
Bob Rowthorn of the University of Cambridge.
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
(01786) 467058
For further information:
| contact us
> > > |
|
|---|---|
Professor Robert Wright University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
|
Tel: + 44 (0) 1786 467481 |
Creativity in the Cornton
Date released:
Monday 3 May 2004
Creative learners at Cornton Community Centre will launch their
own booklet of poems and short stories on Wednesday 5 May at 7.30pm.
The publication is the culmination of two introductory creative
writing courses run by the University of Stirling in partnership
with the Ace Project at Cornton Community Centre. The courses are
part of the University’s developing community based adult
learning programme, which aims to make university education an achievable
and viable option for more learners. The programme takes university
subjects out into the community and delivers pre-university level
courses to adults in communities where participation in further
and higher education is particularly low.
Shona Keenan, a Community Development Worker within the University’s
Division of Academic Innovation and Continuing Education (DAICE),
said: “An important part of the programme involves raising
awareness and challenging learner’s perceptions of the University.
It highlights to learners what is on offer including degree options,
short continuing courses, supported study and flexible learning.”
The programme includes a range of taster courses offering opportunities
for potential learners to find out more about a subject before committing
themselves to a longer course. Learners gain an insight into different
subjects enabling them to make informed decisions on future study
options.
Working in partnership with further education providers, local authorities
and adult learning projects the University aims to extend this programme
and offer a wider range of subjects in the future.
Wednesday’s event will feature readings by Jess Smith, the
acclaimed storyteller and author of Jessie’s Journey: Autobiography
of a Traveller Girl and Tales from the Tent: Jessie’s Journey
Continues which are riding high in the Scottish best-seller lists.
Lesley Pollock
Media Relations Manager
(01786) 467058
| contact us
> > > |
|
|---|---|
Shona Keenan University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA UK |
|
Tel: + 44 (0) 1786 467954 |