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Winners of the fourth round of the Vice Chancellor's Awards were delighted to receive their certificates from Professor Mike Thorne at INNOVATE, the annual learning and teaching conference at Chelmsford on 28th June 2011.

2011 VC Awards Logo.

The Awards acknowledge outstanding contributions to our community. Now in their fourth year, the Awards continue to attract a range of nominations - this year we received 23 nominations representing 44 colleagues. This year, the Panel awarded one team award and six individual awards, but also awarded four individual and one team award in the new 'Highly Commended' category.

Vice Chancellor's Award Winners

The GoGreen Team in the Ashcroft International Business School created an ‘action learning' experience for students in AIBS by involving them with Anglia Ruskin University's environmental practices. Beatriz Acevedo commented on behalf of the team: ‘We are delighted to receive the VC Award for our team effort in promoting student involvement in eco-auditing practices. Our project began as an experiment about action learning on sustainability, which has grown during the last two years. This award evidences the spirit of the Faculty and Anglia Ruskin University in promoting innovative experiences and we feel valued in our efforts. Now we need to ‘Go Green' even further!'

Christine Durrant, Manager of Marketing, Communications and External Relations in the Ashcroft International Business School, worked for the last two years on the research, development, design and installation of innovative wall graphics in the Michael A Ashcroft Building, with the aim of communicating differing messages to our various stakeholders. She said, on hearing of her award: ‘On hearing that I had been selected to receive a Vice Chancellor's Award I was delighted beyond words. For my work to be appreciated and recognised in this way is tremendous; I feel very honoured. I also greatly appreciate having been given the opportunity to work on such an exciting project through which I was not only able to contribute to corporate objectives and values but also achieve a long held vision of communicating with our students and stakeholders through wall art.'

Dr Kevin Flanagan, a senior lecturer in the Department of Music and Performing Arts, commented on receiving his award: ‘I would like to thank Anglia Ruskin for its continuing support for the extra-curricular projects I undertake. This latest award is just one of many instances where the encouragement of my HOD and Faculty have helped to realise my work. This ranges from the assistance and encouragement during my post-graduate degrees, which tipped my decision to retire (well, partially anyway) from my peripatetic road samurai musician's life, to the support I have had throughout my various compositional projects that input into my teaching. I believe the ability to continue as a creative artist while in post enriches the school's learning and cultural environments and thus adds immensely to the student experience.' His work on the RipRap project stands as an excellent example of the integration of academic research, professional practice, community engagement and the dissemination of high-quality work for the wider benefit of our community.

Daniel Jagger, Technical Officer in the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences, developed the Ruskin Digital Gallery project, alongside the (analogue) Ruskin Gallery. The revamped digital/analogue Ruskin Gallery is a nationally significant space bringing together digital and analogue exhibition possibilities in a new and exciting way. Dan took over a £360k project, which in terms of size, scope and complexity, was simply outstanding. He commented on receiving his award: ‘I am honoured to be receiving one of this year's VC awards for my role in the development of the Ruskin Digital Gallery. I also feel honoured to have worked alongside some outstanding colleagues, whose support was invaluable throughout, and am flattered that my contribution should be recognised in this way. The project itself, and the associated gallery refurbishment, were at times demanding but nevertheless enjoyable, and I hope that exhibitors and visitors will enjoy the new facilities.'

Jackie Naish, Helpdesk Supervisor for Estates and Facilities, manages a Facilities Helpdesk of three staff, who answer 26,600 calls a year, log 27,000 car parking bookings and enter and distribute 35,500 jobs for maintenance staff. She commented on receiving her award: ‘My initial reaction was one of shock. Once I had time to take it in I felt very proud and pleased. Although this is a personal award I do consider myself very much a team player and see this as reward for not only my achievements but all the good work my colleagues in Estates and Facilities do.'

Lorraine Silk's outstanding commitment ensures that Welcome activities, publicity materials and web-based Fresher Information gives an excellent first impression of Anglia Ruskin University. Lorraine, Student Communications Coordinator in Student Services, commented on receiving her award: ‘I was very shocked and pleasantly surprised to be told I had been nominated for a Vice Chancellor's Award. I was really touched that my line managers had taken the time to put together an application on my behalf and that alone made me feel valued and appreciated, especially as I enjoy the job I do. To then be told I had actually been successful - well that's just the icing on the cake!'

Professor Tony Wigram (Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences).  Tony's exemplary leadership skills helped lay the foundations of the music therapy research milieu here, which has enhanced Anglia Ruskin's national and international reputation. He instigated a collaboration between Anglia Ruskin and eight universities across Europe, USA and Australia, which led to the establishment of the International Consortium for Music Therapy Research, now the global leader of music therapy research. In November 2010, the American Association of Music Therapy awarded him for ‘outstanding service to the profession of music therapy' and in March 2011, the British Association for Music Therapy recognised his ‘outstanding contribution to the academic discipline of music therapy'.

Highly Commended:

The Timetabling and Space Management Team (Estates and Facilities Services).  The Team produced the first timetable for all students for a whole academic year, using new software that they had to learn how to use as they went along, working countless hours overtime and putting home lives on hold. The Team worked within an extremely tight timescale, showing absolute commitment to the goal - a remarkable effort under often difficult circumstances.

Dr Valerie Purton (Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences).  Valerie is one of Anglia Ruskin's best ‘ambassadors of English', using her expert knowledge to generate enthusiasm and build networks for literary studies in the wider regional, national and international community, beyond the remit of her role as a Reader in English. Her activities cluster around the public understanding of Victorian literature and culture, specifically Tennyson and Dickens.

Rebecca Taylor (Human Resources).  Rebecca was responsible for coming up with the idea for the ‘Take a Break, Take Advantage' wellbeing events for staff, as a way of engaging with staff as part of the employee engagement and wellbeing agenda. She worked tirelessly to organise these events through actively engaging with contributors on a regular basis and coordinating the arrangements, despite this not being part of her role as HR Administration Manager.

Maurice Wakeham (University Library).  Maurice took on running our Book Group, Ruskin Readers, on top of all his other duties as Faculty Liaison Librarian for the Faculty of Health and Social Care. He has been running the group for over two years, bringing together Library and other staff in a worthwhile, enjoyable activity, and liaising with Essex Libraries in getting a huge variety of books for the group to read.

Dr Rob Walker (Faculty of Science and Technology).  Despite the difficult economic situation, the Faculty of Science and Technology has a continuous flow of candidates for engineering courses in Chelmsford, with more than 90% satisfaction in the NSS 2010, to a large extent thanks to Rob Walker. Rob has been a driving force behind involving colleagues in consultancy and research; used contacts in the industry to create external sources of income; and championed the recruiting of international students. 

 

 

 

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