Sporting triumph for Sussex
Sussex’s sports clubs are celebrating after the University reached its highest-ever position – 41st – in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) national rankings for 2011-12.
This means that Sussex has now leapfrogged local sporting rivals, the University of Brighton, in the table – representing an unexpected ‘double’ after Sussex also won the Varsity sports contest against Brighton in April.
Achieving one of the most notable successes was the Ultimate Frisbee club, whose open/ men’s team (Mohawks) and women’s team (Squaws) were crowned UK champions for the second year running. A Sussex team also won the top prize in the badminton cup.
In BUCS league competition, Sussex’s men’s basketball and fencing teams, as well as the first teams from the men’s hockey, table tennis and tennis clubs, all won their respective groups.
Applications to Sussex hold up well
Sussex has seen a fall of 6.3 per cent in undergraduate applications this year compared with 2011, according to data from UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).
This is better than the national average decline of 8.9 per cent, and represents a particularly strong performance when compared to other institutions in the South East.
The slight drop for 2012 follows substantial increases in applications in recent years. Sussex will fill all of its 2,800 available places for UK and EU students, and currently receives more than six applications for every place on offer. Sussex is also seeing strong growth in undergraduate applications from prospective international students.
Images from 2011-12
Sussex named among UK’s greenest universities
Sussex has been awarded a First-Class Award and ranked joint 45th out of 145 in the People and Planet Green League 2012 – the UK’s only comprehensive and independent green ranking of universities. Sussex is among 46 institutions to achieve a ‘First’ in 2012 and got the secondhighest score in the 1994 Group.
In December 2011, Sussex also became one of just 11 UK universities to receive the ‘gold’ accreditation for the EcoCampus Environmental Management System (EMS). Work is already well under way to achieve ‘platinum’ accreditation – the highest possible.
Sussex in the rankings
The University of Sussex has retained its top- 20 position in The Times newspaper’s Good University Guide for 2013. Alongside Southampton, it is jointly ranked as the best university in the South East.
There are 10 (up from nine) Sussex subjects listed in the UK top 10: American Studies (8th); Anatomy and Physiology (Neuroscience) (6th); Anthropology (9th); Communication and Media Studies (10th); History of Art (4th); Philosophy (10th); Physics (5th); Psychology (6th); Social Work (4th); and Sociology (8th).
The publication of the Good University Guide follows on from a disappointing ranking (27th) for Sussex in the latest Guardian University Guide and a drop of two places (to 21st) in the Independent newspaper’s Complete University Guide (21st), both published in May.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Farthing, said that Sussex is still moving in the right direction: ‘Exact positions in these league tables do fluctuate year on year. What is perhaps most encouraging is the trend over the past few years, which shows a steady rise for Sussex into our deserved position among the top universities in the UK.’
Sussex has made significant improvements and investments in the 12 months since much of the information for rankings was collected.
Making the Future campaign success
In September 2011, Sussex’s first-ever major fundraising campaign was launched, with a target of raising £50 million by 2016. A year later, Sussex is almost three-quarters of the way to this goal, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. It has enabled us to open a number of new research centres, provide scholarships for UK and overseas students, and invest in our campus facilities. Making the Future.
Sussex students designing for tomorrow
Life-saving and life-enhancing designs by final year students went on display in the Product Design Degree Show, which was held at the American Express Community Stadium in May.
Exhibit designs included:
- Bee educated: an interactional education aid that teaches children about the importance of bees to our environment. Designer Paul Nestoruk (see middle picture above) has already landed a job in the design team at car manufacturer Jaguar.
- After-market hybrid electric vehicle kit: a set of components to turn any standard internal combustion engine into an electric hybrid for short day-to-day journeys, using a simple dashboard-mounted switch.
- Allergen biosensor and adrenaline autoinjector: the biosensor detects tiny amounts of allergens in food, while the adrenaline auto-injector offers an improved design to ensure swift treatment, shown above, left. The near-fatal allergic reaction to nuts of Damian Holland’s girlfriend led to his lifesaving design.
- Artificial limb modification: a device to help above-the-knee amputees climb inclines and stairs and reduce muscle fatigue by replacing some of the functionality of the severed muscles with a flexible, composite joint. It is primarily intended for use in Afghanistan, where there is a high incidence of traumatic amputations.
- Musical instrument for the young deafblind community: a sensory product for the classroom, incorporating coloured lights, vibrations and sound, offering deaf-blind users independence, a creative outlet and an aid to developing their communication and cognitive skills.
Product Design course leader Diane Simpson- Little said: ‘The products and services that this year’s graduates display encompass outstanding competence in research, critical analysis, design engineering, brand development and human centred design, along with explorations into culture, psychology, ergonomics, art, science and commerce. Our degree show provides an unrivalled opportunity to see not only the talent of our students but also the work of tomorrow’s leading designers.’
Product Design Degree Show
Restructuring the academic year
Following an extensive consultation process, Sussex will be changing the structure of its academic year. Starting from September 2012, there will be two 12-week teaching periods – one in the autumn, one in the spring – and a mid-year examination and assessment period in between. The new structure gives us longer in which to provide more feedback within the terms and following the mid-year assessment period.
This change has happened in conjunction with an intensive Portfolio Review, which has looked at the undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum provision within all Schools. All the undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and modules have now been revised to simplify the credit structure into one of multiples of 15 credits, and to map modules onto the new academic year structure. This new credit structure and academic framework provides greater flexibility in module delivery and more opportunities for students to take electives.
David Axon and Wolfgang Lange
Staff and students reacted with sadness and shock to the sudden death of Professor David Axon – apparently due to a heart attack – during a trip to America in April 2012. David had been Head of the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at Sussex since its creation in September 2009, and had previously held a postdoctoral position in the University’s Astronomy Centre from 1976-79. The Vice- Chancellor, Professor Michael Farthing, described the news of his death as ‘truly devastating’. He said: ‘David was a giant in every sense of the word. He brought to Sussex his outstanding leadership skills, bringing together two departments to create one of the strongest schools of its kind in the country.’
In a second blow to the University, Professor Wolfgang Lange died suddenly at the beginning of April, while travelling home from a conference in Israel. Wolfgang had been Professor of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics at Sussex since 2004.
David Axon and Wolfgang LangeAlumnus creates work experience scheme
Thanks to the generosity of a Sussex graduate, students in the School of Law, Politics and Sociology are being offered work experience in an innovative new scheme. The Mason Hayes Charitable Trust Work Experience Scheme gives students the opportunity to spend two to three days following a structured programme of activities and project work within a political or legal work environment. Students may be placed with the legal division of a major corporate organisation, an MP at Westminster, a barrister in chambers or a firm of solicitors. They will gain an insight into legal careers, as well as the opportunity to interact with professionals in a particular field, to network and to make contacts that will help them in their career development.
To offer the new scheme, the Careers and Employability Centre is working with the Mason Hayes Charitable Trust. This was established by alumnus Marcus Hayes, who completed a BA in Law at Sussex in 1987, qualified as a solicitor in 1991 and is now managing director of Mason Hayes Solicitors, a commercial law firm with offices in Manchester and London.
Marcus was the first in his family to go to university and would now like to help students in the School. He is also supporting two Mason Hayes Scholarships in Law for students from non-traditional Higher Education backgrounds. Marcus will be the guest of honour at an awards ceremony at which the students’ achievements will be formally recognised.
Santander partnership means new career opportunities for students
Eight Sussex students will be awarded paid internships this year, thanks to a new agreement between the University and Santander UK. The joint initiative will provide the students with valuable work experience, placing them with small- and medium-enterprise businesses for a period of three months, with a salary of £1,000 per month.
The placements are part of Santander’s recent commitment to increase its support of Higher Education in the UK by £1.5 million to £7 million in 2012. The increased investment will also provide funding for two new mobility grants of £2,500 each to allow Sussex students to study abroad, in addition to the existing 10 awards granted last year. And an expansion of the Santander Formula scholarships scheme will offer two additional awards of £5,000 each for international undergraduate or postgraduate students to study at Sussex.
Sussex pledges to attract, support and retain female scientists
The University has joined a national scheme dedicated to improving the job prospects of women working in science, engineering and technology (SET) subjects within Higher Education. By signing up to the Athena SWAN Charter, Sussex has committed to improving employment practices in recruiting and promoting women to senior positions in SET departments.
Professor Michael Farthing, Vice-Chancellor, said that he was ‘delighted’ that Sussex has joined the Charter. He said: ‘We recognise that women remain under-represented in many of our science and engineering departments, especially at senior levels. We are seeking, through joining Athena SWAN, to take action to attract, support and retain talented female staff throughout our SET departments.’
Wates Family Scholarships established
In 1961, the Wates Group helped to build the University of Sussex. Now, thanks to a generous grant from Wates Family Charities (in particular Norman Wates Committee, Ronald Wates Committee and the Patrons of the Wates Family Enterprise Trust), Sussex students from low-income families could benefit from extra financial support.
The grant will establish the Wates Family Scholarships, which will support 10 eligible students from London and the South East for the duration of their undergraduate degree. The Scholarships will be aimed at students studying engineering, law, psychology and social work.
Sarah Cullen, Head of Widening Participation at Sussex, is delighted that the University’s own commitment to support students is being enhanced by philanthropy in this way. ‘At Sussex, we are endeavouring to make sure talented, hard-working students from lowincome backgrounds get all the support they need to fulfil their potential,’ she said. ‘Funding such as this from the Wates Family Charities is a vital part of that support and will make an enormous difference to our students.’
Sussex Library shortlisted in the Times Higher Awards
The Library was shortlisted in the Outstanding Library Team category for the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards (Thelmas) 2012, the first time Sussex has been shortlisted in these awards. The nomination focused particularly on the Library’s work to support researchers, especially doctoral students and early-career researchers, with its new bespoke training, seminar programmes and other events; new library scholarships; and the new dedicated space in the Library, the Research Hive.
The Sussex Research Hive, supported by Sage Publications, opened in November 2010, providing doctoral students and academic researchers with their own space in the Library. Around one-third of the University’s doctoral students across all subjects had used the Hive in its first nine months of opening, with 96 per cent giving it positive feedback. Dedicated seminars and events drew in over 200 researchers at all levels from across the University in 2011.
Students hard at work in the newly refurbished Library, shortlisted for an award
Celebration for students on Sussex scholarships
Sussex students who receive a scholarship from the University met in November for a special reception. They were joined in Bramber House by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Farthing, and the Pro-Vice Chancellor (International), Professor Chris Marlin, as well as friends of the University who have given donations to fund scholarships.
The event had an international flavour, with more than 80 students representing 40 different countries. The group heard from UK student Christopher Radoux, the recipient of a Junior Research Associate bursary, and Alison Pelissier (from the USA), who was awarded a USA Friends Scholarship. Both scholars talked about the positive difference the awards have made to them, in having the opportunity to improve the lives of others and being able to devote more time to their studies and research.
Scholarship students from over 40 different countries enjoying a special reception to celebrate their achievements