University of Lincoln – Student News

Blackboard is being upgraded and will be read-only from the 7^th July up until the upgrade is complete.

While the read-only version of Blackboard is available, any uploads or changes to content you make will not be retained (including student assignment submissions). However, staff and students will still have full read access to Blackboard during the upgrade.

The upgrade will start on the 7^th July and will be completed within the working week 9^th July – 13^th July and all students and staff will be notified via email when the Blackboard upgrade is complete.

What to expect from the upgrade?

The upgrade to Blackboard will introduce some new features for staff and students, including:

• An enhanced responsive design for mobile and tablet devices, featuring fully responsive menus within module sites and main Blackboard tabs, responsive blogs and discussion boards.
• Improvements to assessments and submissions made by Blackboard, including the introduction of receipts for Blackboard submissions as part of an enhanced submission process.
• The ability to upload multiple files via drag and drop in a broader range of locations across Blackboard
• A new help and support area, offering dedicated support for students covering Blackboard and other university tools.

If you have any concerns or queries regarding the Blackboard Upgrade please contact ICT@lincoln.ac.uk

As part of the Student Research Scheme, student Yasmin Samuel is carrying out research into how choice of academic course can affect a student’s engagement in extracurricular activities.

The research aims to improve the ways in which students can fully engage in their academic studies while also engaging in extracurricular activities, particularly those of the Students’ Union.

All University of Lincoln students are invited to complete a short survey about their involvement in extracurricular activities during their time at university.

The survey will only take around three to five minutes to complete. If you’d like to take part, please click here.

If you have any questions about the research or survey, please email Yasmin at mailto:17637981@students.lincoln.ac.uk.

The University of Lincoln has risen to its highest ever position in The Guardian University Guide 2019, published today (29th May 2018).

The institution has risen 25 places to 22nd in the national league table, driven by its success in student satisfaction and an impressive student continuation rate.

This latest success follows a rise to 43rd position in the Complete University Guide, published in April, which saw the University ranked in the top 10 for subjects in Hospitality, Leisure, Recreation and Tourism. The University has also been rated TEF Gold – the highest standard possible – in a national independent assessment of teaching quality in higher education.

Professor Mary Stuart, Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, said: “I am enormously proud of our University community and am grateful to all staff and students for the contribution they have made to our success.

“Students are at the heart of everything we do at Lincoln, and it is always gratifying that the hard work we put in to creating the best possible student experience is reflected in prestigious league tables which help prospective students make their choice about their future.”

The Guardian University Guide 2019 was published today for undergraduates choosing courses for 2019 entry. The guide, produced by Intelligent Metrix, ranks universities according to: spending per student; student/staff ratio; graduate career prospects; entry requirements; a value-added score; continuation rates; and student satisfaction, based on results from the annual National Student Survey (NSS).

View The Guardian University Guide 2019 at: https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2018/may/29/university-league-tables-2019.

From building new sustainable structures for community use to exploring advanced methods of waste disposal to tackle the world’s plastic problem – two students will pursue studies focussed on a more sustainable future after securing prestigious travel scholarships.

The scholarships of £2,500 each have been awarded to third year University of Lincoln Architecture student Tiffany Worrall and second year Product Design student Bethany Meehan.

The John Roberts Scholarship, named after the internationally recognised Lincoln architect, is awarded every two years and was established to encourage young people pursuing a career in the arts, architecture and design to engage with and experience other cultures.

The scholarships, which are overseen by the Lincolnshire Branch of the English Speaking Union (ESU), are open to all those born in Lincolnshire or studying in Lincolnshire schools, universities and other educational establishments.

Tiffany Worrall, aged 22 from Comberton in Cambridgeshire, will travel to Bali where she will learn more about the ‘pop-up Architecture’ which is being used to provide shelter for refugees and victims of natural disasters. She will also be involved in the restoration of historic buildings, securing their use for future generations.

“I am fascinated with Hindu temple architecture as well as the humanitarian side of architecture,” said Tiffany, who will begin her travels this June.

“I chose to travel to Bali because I am half Indonesian and can speak the language. During my trip I will be working and volunteering for a company called Green Lion doing construction and renovation work for the local people to support building new sustainable structures for community use. We will also renovate existing community buildings, Hindu temples, and improve local infrastructure.

“These projects are undertaken to support the developmental goals of schools, orphanages, community centres and recreational facilities. I will be able to give something back to the English Speaking Union by sharing what we have achieved over there, which can in turn help to promote and encourage other students to strive for what they believe in and to be proactive.

“I would like to thank the English Speaking Union for this invaluable opportunity that will allow me to further my education.”

Tiffany submitted her own illustrations of Bali architecture to support her submission for the scholarship and these drawings, along with those she creates while in Bali, will form an exhibition when she returns to Lincoln.

Bethany Meehan, aged 20 from Much Wenlock in Shropshire, will travel to the Netherlands and Denmark where she will spend a month learning more about the country’s advanced waste disposal methods.

Bethany will also attend a sustainability festival and conduct a study into the design of materials that could be used as plastic alternatives, the results of which will be used to inform her final year dissertation project.

Bethany said: “I feel very privileged to have been given this award and I am so grateful for the support of the English Speaking Union. I am very excited at the prospect of furthering my studies through this trip.”

Sir Michael Graydon, Chairman of the Lincolnshire Branch of the English Speaking Union, said: “Both Tiffany and Beth had thought deeply about their application, were highly motivated, and interviewed very well. Giles Walter and I were in no doubt that they both deserved an award and John Roberts who was consulted was in total agreement.”

The worlds of business, fashion, art and design will collide in a celebration of all things creative as the Festival of Creativity returns to the city of Lincoln today (21st May 2018).

The festival will feature a range of shows, exhibitions and one-off events for everyone from babies and toddlers to business leaders, shining a light on creativity and encouraging visitors to ask the question, ‘What does creativity mean to me?’

The festival will run from Monday 21st May until Friday 1st June and is underpinned by the next generation of creative talent emerging from the University of Lincoln’s College of Arts, who are showcasing their work in their respective end-of-year degree shows.

The wide range of events taking place in various locations throughout the city offer something for everyone to enjoy.

Festival highlights include:

• Creativity… Reimagined! – A workshop for business leaders providing insight into how creativity can help bring greater success and renewed energy to their business.
• Creative Impulses – An evening of performance poetry led by the Outspoken Poets, the leading group of poets guiding the poetry scene in Lincoln.
• Lincolnshire Young Designer of the Year 2018 – A competition celebrating the creativity and innovation of students from Lincolnshire secondary schools.
• JELLY: Street Fashion – A fashion collection printed and stitched on the streets of Lincoln and Guangzhou in China.
• Lil’ Pacs – A fun and creative play session for parents and toddlers at Lincoln Performing Arts Centre.

Professor Matthew Cragoe, Pro Vice Chancellor and Head of the College of Arts at the University of Lincoln, said: “This year’s festival builds on the success of its inaugural year in 2017, offering an even wider range of events and activities for visitors of all ages and interests.

“The festival celebrates the talent and success of our students and, just as importantly, it feeds into a wider debate about the importance of the arts in contemporary society. It has been designed to inspire and delight, but above all to be provocative and challenging, and I hope we will see people joining us from all over the county to engage, explore and imagine.”

The festival includes impressive displays from more than 20 programmes across the College of Arts, including Product Design, Animation, Conservation of Cultural Heritage, Music, and Fine Art.

Find out more about the Festival of Creativity 2018, including a full timetable of all the events and displays, at www.lincolnfestivalofcreativity.co.uk.

Work to refurbish the MHT building, creating new teaching spaces and a new learning lounge for students on the third floor, is underway. Once completed, the learning lounge is designed to maximise the student experience, and will offer a dedicated space to work and relax, as well as improve the layout of the floor.

While the Postgraduate Common Room on the 3^rd floor is unavailable, we have complied a list of other spaces you can make use of over the summer period, most of which do not need to be booked:

Minerva Building:

• 2^nd Floor Social learning space, includes private booths with AV screens
• 3^rd Floor Social learning space, includes tables and chairs with computers, and screens between tables to create a more private area

Isaac Newton Building Atrium:

• Private booths / soft seating for bringing your own device to work

Sarah Swift Building:

• Atrium spaces with computers
• Private booths with AV screens
• Bookable meeting pods on two floors for bringing your own device

Joseph Banks Laboratories:

• Social learning space on the ground, 1^st and 2^nd floors for bringing your own device

Charlotte Scott Building (College of Science students only):

• Limited quiet study only space on the 1^st floor. Access will be required via your swipe card, so if you wish to use this space, please contact Estates Support Desk and Suzannah Rollit from the College of Science.

Work on the Postgraduate Common Room in MHT will be completed by September this year in time for the start of the 2018/19 academic year.