October 2020 at the University of Winchester

9 Nov 2020

October marked Black History Month in Europe, which we celebrated with online events, blogs and an appreciation of Black Leadership through a public exhibition. A new partnership has allowed us to offer a degree apprenticeship to future-proof skills in the insurance industry, while we also launched a toolkit to boost support for Service children in schools.

Thriving Lives toolkit launches in schools to boost support for Service children

School child holds sign reading 'top tips', listing tips for service children

A self-reflection tool for schools to consider their support for children in Armed Forces families was launched  by the Service Children’s Progression Alliance (SCiP Alliance), which is hosted by the University of Winchester.

Underpinned by rigorous research and thoroughly tested in schools, the Thriving Lives Toolkit provides schools with a framework of seven principles through which to reflect on their practice and a three-tier set of Continuing Professional Development resources.

You can learn more about the launch here.

Inspiring BAME leaders feature in exhibition

Headshot of grime artist, Stormzy

We launched an online exhibition to celebrate Black History Month featuring sixteen high-profile BAME (Black and Minority Ethnic) leaders. The exhibition included pen portraits of inspiring individuals including grime artist Stormzy, England footballer Marcus Rashford and Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover.

Each person is hailed as inspirational for their values, achievements and contribution to society. Those featured come from around the world and from a diverse range of professions and backgrounds, as well different eras of history.

All the leaders were nominated by University students and staff members, whose reasons for proposing their choice is highlighted in the exhibition. A physical display of the exhibition featured in the St Alphege building through October.

The exhibition can be viewed online here.

University celebrates Black History Month with virtual events

For Black History Month, the University hosted a range of events for students and staff to increase understanding of Black culture and history. These included workshops, presentations, reading groups, online training sessions, and meetings of the BAME University Network, Equality and Diversity Forum and Race Equality Action Group. Some of the inspirational speakers this month including Professor 'Funmi Olonisakin and Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin also feature in our online exhibit. A week-long event explored what 'decolonising the curriculum' means for the University.

October has been celebrated as Black History Month in the UK since 1987. The national celebration aims to recognise and celebrate Black British achievement and foster general knowledge and understanding of Black history.

You can learn more about events we hosted here.

University partners with Zurich for data science degree apprenticeship launch

Robotic hand, palm up with fingers spread

The University of Winchester has designed and launched a data science degree apprenticeship with leading insurer Zurich UK who are focused on upskilling and reskilling employees in fields such as AI, automation and data science as part of a drive to future-proof its workforce.

With increasing demand for technical skill in an advancing society, jobs involving data science - which blends maths and computing – are among one of the world's fastest growing careers, ranked third in LinkedIn's 2020 Emerging Jobs report. The University has been working with Zurich UK to develop a programme aimed at advancing individual skill in this field. Insurers are using it to glean insights from internal and external data to better manage risk.

The three-year course has opened to students for the first time, with seven of Zurich's employees in the first cohort.

You can read more about the partnership here.

University Nursing team shortlisted for award

The University Nursing team were selected as a finalist for the Student Nursing Times Awards 2020, Nurse Education Provider of the Year category. This exemplifies the exceptional course delivery during our pilot year of the  BN (Hons) Nursing (Adult) degree, launched in 2019. Though they did not secure the award this time, we celebrate this achievement as one of only nine institutions across the UK to be shortlisted for the award.

Marking Allied Health Professions Day

An internal forum was held for Allied Health Professions day, with speaker Beverley Harden, Allied Health Professions Lead at Health Education England and Visiting Professor at the University of Winchester.

University Physiotherapy Lecturer Mandy Pike appeared as a panel member for one of a series of Allied Health Profession (AHP) Podcasts. On 14 October, AHP day, she featured on AHP Role Model Podcast 3: AHPs with disabilities.

Blog Highlight: My best friend was a racist, but she didn't know it and neither did I

Tasnim headshot

In one of four blogs published during  Black History Month, Tasnim Husain Curtis, Senior Lecturer in the University's Institute of Education, shares a highly personal account of experiencing prejudice at a young age and the far-reaching and long-lasting effects it can have on a young mind.

You can learn more about her experiences in the blog: My best friend was a racist, but she didn't know it and neither did I.  

Other featured blogs as part of our series focused on Black History Month include Liberation, Cultural heritage is a tool for social justice and Encouraging racially literate graduates of the future.

The Conversation Highlight: Doctor Who: travelling in time and space even under lockdown

David Tennant, actor who formerly played Dr Who, standing by miniature broken tardis

Professor Alec Charles, Dean of the Faculty of Arts was published on The Conversation this month with his blog, explaining the phenomenon of lockdown social media 'watchalongs' and why the BBC's Dr Who has proven particularly suited to these online events.

“The show has united its followers in mass viewing events supported by live online commentaries from the show’s stars and writers, including such high-profile figures as Neil GaimanMark Gatiss and Richard Curtis.”

You can read more on this phenomenon in the full article; Doctor Who: travelling in time and space even under lockdown.

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