Award-winning academic’s Ningbo role

An award-winning academic is to spearhead developments in teaching and learning at The University of Nottingham Ningbo China.

Professor Julie Sanders, Head of the School of English in the UK, will take up the post of Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning) in 2013. She takes over from Professor Andrew Marton who moved to the University of Victoria in Canada as Associate Academic Vice-President International.

Professor David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor, said: “Professor Sanders is ideally placed to take on this key role. Alongside her Director of Teaching, Dr Jo Robinson, she already leads several ground-breaking initiatives within the School of English aimed at enhancing teaching and learning through the development and implementation of innovative approaches. That, together with her experience as a head of school and her standing as a scholar of international repute, make this an outstanding appointment.”

Students join in day of action in Lenton

Students joined residents and businesses during a day of action in Lenton Boulevard last month.

Teams cleared rubbish and tidied gardens as well as calling door-to-door to spread crime prevention messages.

Melanie Futer, Off Campus Student Affairs Manager at the University, said: “Students are very much a part of the community residing and using the facilities of Lenton Boulevard. It is their community and as such they should and do take a pride in the area. Students being part of this initiative will help ensure that the area becomes more vibrant.”

CTU recognised as a centre of excellence

A centre which brings together specialist experts to support ‘bench to bedside’ research projects has been recognised as a centre of excellence.

The Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit has maintained its registration by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC), recognition of its excellence in coordinating randomised trials, which test the effectiveness of drugs and other healthcare interventions, and opening the door to potential research funding.

The Nottingham CTU offers a ‘one stop shop’ to support academics and clinicians from universities, hospitals and NHS Trusts to plan and run large-scale randomised clinical trials.

It receives CTU Support Funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to support applications to NIHR research programmes and funded projects and has a current estimated annual turnover of £2m for all its research projects.

NUBs climbs in MBA rankings 

Nottingham University Business School (NUBS) is celebrating after jumping up this year’s Economist MBA rankings.

NUBS improved its position from 94 in 2011 to 86 this year. The top 100 includes institutes from around the world and places the University’s business school as 13th in the country.

The Economist MBA rankings are ‘student-centric’ — focusing on the way business schools meet the demands that students have of an MBA programme.

Dr John Colley, Director of MBA Programmes at the Business School, said: “We believe that creativity and entrepreneurial thinking can be taught. Our students benefit from both our worldwide reputation for research in this area and our close links with entrepreneurs who contribute extensively to our teaching.”

The ranking considers a range of factors including the opening of career opportunities, personal development, increasing salary and the potential to network.