Leadership is a word often bandied about with many people claiming, assuming or being allocated ‘leadership’ roles, but what does this actually mean when trying to bring about societal improvements? Last week as part of an NHS South of England project BU and Plymouth University
hosted a 2 day workshop for strategic leaders in the NHS, Local Authorities and the voluntary sector responsible for strategic leadership in the world of dementia in Devon, Dorset and Somerset. The aim of this project is to promote improvements in the provision of dementia care at a time of fiscal challenge. Working across organisational and disciplinary boundaries, learning from others and acting rather than just talking about the policy directives and vision that contextualises dementia is key. We had several high profile speakers at the workshop, including the Chief Executive of the Alzheimer Society, Jeremy Hughes; the Clinical Lead for dementia for NHS England, Prof Alistair Burns; the immediate Past President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), Sarah Pickup; Angela Rippon a high profile ambassador for the Alzheimer Society as well as BU’s own director of the NCPQSW. Prof Keith Brown who does a lot of leadership training across the country. We also had a person living with dementia reminding us of why it is of utmost importance to ensure that people with dementia can live well with their dementia and really what the workshop was all about. Key messages I took from the 2 days that are perhaps transferable to anyone with a leadership role are first that it sometimes just important to get on and do what you need to do because it is the ‘right thing to do’ and this may be at odds with procedures, other colleagues perceptions and priorities but still worth doing! Good leaders sometimes need to buck the trend and with convention, and there were lots of dementia specific examples about how people have been innovative in challenging times. Another key leadership message related to working together and learning from others rather than reinventing the wheel. None of these are new messages but do highlight the ongoing challenges those with key strategic roles face as they work to address key societal concerns.
Recent articles..
The Research Blog is on the Staff Intranet!
Ever find yourself bumbling around trying to find a link to the Research Blog? Perhaps you delete your daily digests and when you want to re-access the blog you can’t seem to find it anywhere? Have no fear, the Research Blog now has its very own icon on the Staff Intranet, so you’ll never be lost again.
Thank FIF for that! Professional services staff can apply too!
Not only does the Fusion Investment Fund provide opportunities for academic staff at BU, there are also options for professional services staff:
Staff can apply to Erasmus which is most appropriate for enabling academic and professional staff based at higher education institutions (HEIs) to spend a period of training or teaching between 5 working days and 6 weeks in a European HEI or enterprise. Under training mobility, the purpose is to allow the staff members to acquire knowledge or skills relevant for their current job and their professional development and to help create cooperation between organisations. There are also opportunities to invite staff from enterprises to Bournemouth University to give presentations and provide teaching. Professional staff can undertake training at a European educational institution.
Another option is to apply to the standard element of the Staff Mobility and Networking (SMN) strand. Non-academic staff must be able to demonstrate through their application how their travel will benefit the academic process within BU and particular focus should be placed on the creation of sustainable collaborative networks of academics or professionals linked to specific outputs or partnership developments.
For more information please read the relevant policy documents and information available on the FIF intranet pages.
The Fusion Investment Fund is managed by Samantha Leahy-Harland and is administered by Natalie Baines. Please direct all initial enquiries to Natalie Baines.
How do I…, Why does it…, I can’t seem to…, What just happened?
Here are the latest BRIAN FAQs (BRIAN is BU’s publications managment system and much more), which also include information on the external profile pages (the information input on BRIAN feeds through to your profile page, giving you complete control over the content).
The FAQs may provide the answer to something that’s been bugging you for a while. If not, the FAQs include the link to the latest guidance documents and videos so that you can find out more about how to use BRIAN.
If you still can’t find the answer to your query then please email us at BRIAN@bournemouth.ac.uk and we will be happy to help.
Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch – the Silicon Beach of the future?
Bournemouth University hosted a creative and digital economy summit at the EBC on Friday 7 June where leading businesses, entrepreneurs and MPs came together to back a bid to style Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch as a hub for the creative and digital industry. A manifesto, coordinated by BU with input from a range of local stakeholders, was launched at the event and a host of different businesses and organisations pledged to commit money or their expertise with the aim of growing the local creative and digital sector in the hope the area. The summit featured in the Daily Echo on June 12 which reported that “the area already has above average business start-up and survival rates and is one of the UK’s liveliest digital clusters and this exciting development is a great step forwards”. Read more here. BU will continue to play a central role in taking forward the work set out in the manifesto so watch this space for further developments. If you are interested in finding out more, contact Samantha Leahy-Harland on sleahyharland@bournemouth.ac.uk
Research Ethics e-module to be launched on 1 July!
The research ethics e-module training course will be launched on 1 July.
The research ethics e-module is vital to ensure all academic staff and PGRs at BU are provided with training in research ethics. This will ensure all members of staff who conduct their own research and supervise students are proficient in basic research ethics principles. Additionally, this will fulfil the requirement to train all PGRs on research ethics, as strongly recommended by Vitae. As the e-module is accessible online, researchers will be able to re-access the courses at any time if further clarification/understanding is required.
In accordance with the recommendations from the BU Research Ethics Review, the University procured two research ethics courses (Ethics 1: Good Research Practice and Ethics 2: Working with Human Subjects). Both courses will be available on myBU.
The first course (Ethics 1: Good Research Practice) covers standard practice and recent changes in universities’ ethics policies related to research that investigates people and their data. This course will be mandatory for all academic staff and PGRs. Successful completion of the course requires a score of 8/10 on the end of course assessment.
- All academic staff (including all BU employees who supervise students on dissertations, thesis, etc.) will be required to complete the course no later than three months after the release date (1 July 2013) and refresher training will be required every two years thereafter.
- All new starters will be notified of the requirement to complete the course. They will also be given three months to complete the course.
- PRGs will be required to complete the course within three months of the start of their first year. This will begin at the start of the 2013/14 academic year. For ease of access, both courses will be available on the Graduate School’s myBU page.
The second course (Ethics 2: Working with Human Subjects) covers the ethics of involving human participants – directly or indirectly – in research projects. This course is recommended for all academic staff and PGRs and is mandatory if the research project involves working with human participants. Successful completion of the course requires a score of 8/10 on the end of course assessment.
Please visit the Research Ethics page of the blog for more information on the e-module, to include detail on engagement initiatives and non-compliance measures.
Learn more about BRIAN this week
We are running two BRIAN training sessions on Friday 21st June 2013. These are hands-on sessions open to all academics and PGR students who want to learn more about BRIAN.
11:00 – 12:00 Studland House S103
14:00 – 15:00 Christchurch House CG21
If you would like to attend, please email David Biggins at BRIAN@bournemouth.ac.uk to reserve your place.
What the FIF’s it all about? – Another drop-in session today!
Couldn’t get to the drop-in session on Talbot yesterday? Don’t panic! We’re holding another one today at Lansdowne.
Do you have questions about a potential bid for Fusion funding? Don’t know which strand to apply to? Not sure if your idea is eligible? Need more information about Erasmus? Come along to our drop-in session TODAY to get your questions answeredand to find out more about the Fusion Investment Fund (FIF):
TODAY 1-2pm, EB702, EBC, Lansdowne Campus
The Fusion Investment Fund is managed by Samantha Leahy-Harland and is administered by Natalie Baines and we’ll be there along with Moritz Ehlen, BU’s International Mobility Officer, who can provide specific guidance with regards to Erasmus.
There are some fantastic opportunities available under the 3 strands of the FIF and we’re looking forward to receiving lots of really good quality applications in time for the deadline of 1 July. We look forward to seeing you later!
More information about the different strands of the Fund on the Staff Intranet pages.
Please direct all initial enquiries to Natalie Baines.
Want some money?
I thought that might get your attention! The latest call of the FIF (or the ‘Fusion Investment Fund’ for those of you who haven’t yet added this acronym to your vocabulary) is open for 2 more weeks so if you haven’t applied yet or haven’t seen my previous blog posts, let me give you the highlights:
So basically you could be given a pile of cash to enable you to do what you love! Pursue that dream of undertaking world-leading research or travel across the pond to work collaboratively with experts in your field. Become a hero and take your rightful place on that pedestal that your peers and students will put you on.*
Sound good? Find out more.
*BU cannot guarantee this.
The Fusion Investment Fund is managed by Samantha Leahy-Harland and is administered by Natalie Baines. Please direct all initial enquiries to Natalie Baines.
What the FIF’s it all about? Find out Today!
Do you have questions about a potential bid for Fusion funding? Don’t know which strand to apply to? Not sure if your idea is eligible? Come along to our drop-in session TODAY to get your questions answered and to find out more about the Fusion Investment Fund (FIF) on:
TODAY 12-1pm in P411, Poole House, Talbot Campus
The Fusion Investment Fund is managed by Samantha Leahy-Harland and is administered by Natalie Baines and we’ll be there along with members of the strand committees and Moritz Ehlen, BU’s International Mobility Officer, who can provide guidance with regards to Erasmus.
There are some fantastic opportunities available under the 3 strands of the FIF and we’re looking forward to receiving lots of really good quality applications in time for the deadline of 1 July. We look forward to seeing you later!
More information about the different strands of the Fund on the Staff Intranet pages.
Please direct all initial enquiries to Natalie Baines.
PechaKucha – presenting research in a fast and furious manner!
The Normal Labour and Birth Conference allowed me to experience a novel way of showcasing research and exchanging ideas – the PechaKucha. Pronounced “peh-chak-cha”, the PechaKucha session is made up of a series of short presentations. Presenters must use 20 slides, each of which must be displayed for exactly 20 seconds – no more, no less. The concept, conceived by two young architects (Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham) in Japan in 2003, is to enable individuals to exchange their ideas in a fast moving, concise and exciting format. Not one to ignore the call to try something new, I decided to undertake this challenge as a double act with my colleague Professor Helen Cheyne from the University of Stirling. We presented our team’s work on the media’s portrayal of labour and birth, which was also being displayed as a poster.
- Research team includes Ann Luce, Marilyn Cash, Vanora Hundley, Helen Cheyne, Edwin van Teijlingen and Catherine Angell
The PechaKucha was quite an undertaking, as the slides move automatically and you cannot stop them moving on! However, it really focused the mind and helped us identify the key messages from our work. The session was very lively and the energy generated a lot of discussion that continued into the coffee break afterwards. As for the PechaKucha method, I’d say that it is definitely a useful tool for our community research meetings, and perhaps also for our doctoral students to use as they prepare for their vivas.
The conference was also an opportunity to catch up with colleagues from the International Early Labour Research Group. The group have been involved in producing a series of research papers featured in a special issue of Midwifery. We also discussed future research and opportunities for research collaboration.
European media history network
I am delighted to report that the Centre for Media History together with the University of Lund and the Hans Bredow Institute at the University of Hamburg, has won a research grant from the Swedish ‘STINT’ fund. The Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT) was set up in 1994 by an act of the Swedish Parliament to promote the internationalisation of Swedish higher education.
My colleague, Kristin Skoog and I helped write a successful bid together with our partners in Lund and Hamburg. Out of 95 applications to the fund only 10 were awarded grants.
The aim of the award is to establish a network of media historians to study aspects of European media history and in particular the idea of historical ‘entanglement’. Another aim is to focus on sometimes neglected European influences in the media and indeed to reflect the European turn in media and cultural studies away from an over-emphasis on North America.
The Bournemouth part of the network currently comprises of Kristin Skoog, Maike Helmers and me as well as three of our PhD students, Tony Stoller, Kathryn McDonald and Gloria Khamkar. The network will meet in Bournemouth, Lund and Hamburg and the events will be in the spring and autumn each year. The award runs from 2014 to 2018.
By the end of our networking activity we hope to have learned a great deal more about each other’s research and ideas and together we will be in a strong position to bid for a larger European grant.
If you would like to know more about the STINT project please get in touch with me.
Hugh Chignell hchignell@bournemouth.ac.uk
Pragmatic but theoretically informed solutions to the challenges facing collaborative practice and education
In-2- theory Group members delivered a workshop at the CABIV Conference in Vancouver this week on how to operationalise psychosocial theory in collaborative practice and interprofessional education settings to assist practitioners in their critical reflection and problem solving skills in this area. The workshop offered a taster of a knowledge exchange model to be developed through a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) grant held by the Universities of New Brunswick, Bournemouth University, University of British Colombia and others. In this model the domains of practitioner knowledge collected through participant narratives overlap with academic theoretical knowledge, in the coproduction of new narratives retold through a theoretical lens. Our aim is the development of pragmatic but theoretically informed solutions to the challenges facing collaborative practice and education. For further discussion, Contact Sarah Hean Shean@bournemouth.ac.uk or Shelley Docuet, sdoucet@unb.ca
BU paper in top ten in the international journal Midwifery
First page of the paper
The paper ‘Risk, theory, social and medical models’ published in 2010 co-authored with Dr. Helen Bryers made it into the top ten most downloaded articles in the past 90 days from the journal Midwifery. See http://www.journals.elsevier.com/midwifery/most-downloaded-articles/
It is also in the top 12 most quoted papers published in Midwifery. This interesting as all 11 papers that have been cited more often are older, i.e. have been in print longer and therefore had more time to be cited.
The Abstract of the paper reads:
Background: there is an on-going debate about perceptions of risk and risk management in maternity care. Objectives: to provide a critical analysis of the risk concept, its development in modern society in general and UK maternity services in particular. Through the associated theory, we explore the origins of the current preoccupation with risk Using Pickstone’s historical phases of modern health care, the paper explores the way maternity services changed from a social to a medical model over the twentieth century and suggests that the risk agenda was part of this process. Key conclusions: current UK maternity services policy which promotes normality contends that effective risk management screens women suitable for birth in community maternity units (CMUs) or home birth: however, although current policy advocates a return to this more social model, policy implementation is slow in practice. Implications for practice: the slow implementation of current maternity policy in is linked to perceptions of risk. We content that intellectual and social capital remains within the medical model. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.
The full reference this paper is MacKenzie Bryers, H. & van Teijlingen, E. (2010) Risk, theory, social and medical models: A critical analysis of the concept of risk in maternity care. Midwifery 26(5): 488-496.
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
Centre for Midwifery, Maternal & Perinatal Health
Graduate School – Exciting Developments!
Hello Everybody!
There have been some exciting developments in the Graduate School and I am writing to you with an update on our activities.
Master by Research
The Graduate School has led the development of a new research degree – Masters by Research (MRes). This is a 1 year research degree programme (governed by Research Degree Regulations, Policies and Procedures and the Code of Practice for Research Degrees) and involves candidates undertaking a research project at a Master’s level of study which will be assessed via submission of a thesis and a viva voce, in line with all BU research awards.
It is anticipated candidates on an MRes will undertake the 1st Review at 3 months full-time study (6 months part-time) to ensure satisfactory progress is being made and would submit their final thesis after approximately 10 months (full-time) with a view to completing within 12 months (full-time).
If the student makes good progress in the first 12 months and a potential PhD programme is identified, instead of submitting a thesis for the award of MRes, the student can apply for transfer to a doctoral degree programme. In these cases, standard procedures and processes for transfer to a doctoral programme will be followed as set out in the Code of Practice for Research Degrees.
The programme was approved by the validation panel on 16 May 2013 and the marketing of the programme has commenced. Recruitment for the programme will start immediately with a view to the first cohort of candidates starting in September 2013.
Professional Doctorate (Research Practice)
The Graduate School are also leading the development of a new Professional Doctorate in Research Practice. The proposed DProf (Research Practice) is a generic award for any subject discipline.
The programme requires candidates to undertake research skills training, to design and initiate research at the forefront of discipline knowledge and contribute to both theory and practice, relevant to subject specific original research and research practice in higher education and other institutions. This programme is also designed with strong emphasis on up-skilling staff in international partner institutions. It will be assessed via the submission of a thesis and a viva voce, in line with all BU research awards. In addition to completing a research skills training programme and carrying out an original research project, candidates will critically analyse and reflect research practice in relation to their own profession, which may result directly in organisational or policy change.
Following the Design Phase meeting, we are revising the Briefing and Resources documentation for validation later this year.
Postgraduate Researcher Development Framework
As you may already be aware, the Graduate School implemented a BU Postgraduate Professional and Personal Development (PPPD) Framework from September 2012, with key components such as Research Skills Training, Professional and Personal Development Planning and International Mobility for PGR students.
The Framework offers a range of training sessions, events (workshops, seminars, conferences, cultural events), activities (including social activities and overseas activities) at Graduate School level, School level, programme (supervisor or tutor) level and through external activities.
Certificates will be issued once sufficient engagement is demonstrated. This certificate will be a supplement to the BU degree award certificate. BU Postgraduate Professional and Personal Development Certificate holders will be highly employable early career professionals with high levels of professional and transferable skills, personal and social responsibility and global perspectives. Students are expected to carry out Training Needs Analyses with their supervisors before engaging with development activities.
To further enhance the programme, new for 2013/14, online e-learning resources will also be made available. The online Research Skills Programme will cover a wide variety of subjects ranging from IP, publishing, ethics, and project management to career planning. The programme will be made available from Sept 2013.
I will be in contact again to bring you more updates. In the meanwhile please get in touch with the Graduate School if you have any questions on these topics
Best wishes
Tiantian
Prof Tiantian Zhang
Head of Graduate School
BRIAN Training – 21st June
We are running two BRIAN training sessions on Friday 21st June 2013. These are hands-on sessions open to all academics and PGR students who want to learn more about BRIAN.
11:00 – 12:00 Studland House S103
14:00 – 15:00 Christchurch House CG21
If you would like to attend, please email David Biggins at BRIAN@bournemouth.ac.uk to reserve your place.
Challenging accepted ‘givens’
Last week, I (Jonathan Parker, Professor of Social Work & Social Policy, Deputy Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange and Director of the Centre for Social Work, Sociology and Social Policy in HSC) presented a keynote lecture at University Campus Suffolk’s annual conference on social work education and practice last week.
In the lecture, I questioned the increased reliance on practice learning in professional education, reminding delegates – academics and social work practitioners from East Anglia, Essex, Norfolk, Nottingham and Suffolk – that there has been almost uncritical acceptance of this pedagogic methodology demonstrating compliance rather than research-based reflection. I drew on many years of research critically questioning the concept of practice learning to paint alternative pictures of it to the ones promoted by those advocating reform.
I sought to ‘trouble’ the recent reforms of social work education and challenged professional bodies and Government to work together and let recent reforms ‘bed-in’ before attempting further revision. I questioned the anecdotal evidence used to initiate reform as representing political ideology and a means of deflecting attention from other social policy failures rather than indicating a pressing need for change. Using models from organisational sociology and the pursuit of legitimacy through standardisation, consistency and compliance, I called for a continuing questioning and discomforting of ‘givens’, and commitment to searching for best evidence whilst questioning the meanings professionals make of ‘evidence’ and the power relations it constructs. The appeal for intellectually robust resistance to poorly evidenced and politically-motivated calls for reform was well received.
Poland and the Eurozone Conference – September Event
Poland and the Eurozone Conference
http://i.newsletters.bournemouth.ac.uk/cmpimg/2009/11446/1402061_darkpurpleline.png
Date: Thursday 19 & Friday 20 September 2013
Venue: Bournemouth University, Executive Business Centre<http://newsletters.bournemouth.ac.uk/t/8TY-1EC9F-524KYS-K1L9F-1/c.aspx>, BH8 8EB Register for this free event here<http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/7034742103>.
Poland is one of Europe’s economic out-performers. The country’s history and geography encourage it to be in favour of deeper European integration. But setbacks affecting the EURO impacted Poland’s European stance with caution. Proposals for pressing ahead with deeper political integration for EMU countries – a step towards a ‘two-speed Europe’ that would leave the Poles outside, have been received reservedly in Warsaw.
The keynote address will be given by Leszek Balcerowicz<http://newsletters.bournemouth.ac.uk/t/8TY-1J6W1-524KYS-M26LA-1/c.aspx> on “Euro: problems and solutions”. Leszek, former deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and President of the National Bank of Poland, is a Professor of Economics at the Warsaw School of Economics.
This conference aims to contribute to discussions on the future shape of economic and monetary union (EMU) and the next steps ahead. Contributions on all aspects are welcome in the form of 300 word abstracts.
We aim to publish a selection of conference papers with the Palgrave/Macmillan’s book series ‘Studies in Economic Transition’.<http://newsletters.bournemouth.ac.uk/t/8TY-1EC9F-524KYS-K1P3H-1/c.aspx>
Please send all submissions by email<mailto:polandconference@bournemouth.ac.uk?subject=Poland%20and%20the%20Eurozone> before 15 July 2013.