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Buckingham in the news
August 2004 update
| National newspapers | Radio and other appearances | Local news |
'GCSE pass rates will fall ...' - Professor Alan Smithers was widely quoted this month on the GCSE examination pass rates. Articles appeared during this month in The Times, The Guardian, Daily Mail, Daily Express and London Evening Standard as well as a huge number of local newspapers.
'More graduates doing unskilled work' - thousands of graduates are leaving university and taking unskilled jobs according to an article appearing in the Evening Standard on 10th August in which Professor Smithers and the University are mentioned.
'Do employers care which university you have been to?' - in this article appearing in The Independent on 12th August leading professors including Professor Smithers gave their views.
'Teachers seek to entice graduates bored at work' - Professor Smithers was quoted in an article concerning graduate recruitment in The Times on 13th August.
'Failed by state school' - in this article appearing in the Daily Mail on 14th August the subject of independence in education was discussed and Professor Smithers stated: "The research shows that independent schools can be used to promote social mobility."
'Retakes revolution makes a mockery of A-levels' - in an article in the Mail on Sunday on 15th August Professor Smithers gave his views on the A-level process.
'Union's anger at claims over poorer pupils' - in an article appearing in the South Wales Evening Post on 16th August, Professor Smithers promoted independent schools.
' "Thinking" needs more thought' - Professor Smithers was quoted in an article appearing in The Times on 17th August about changes in admissions to universities.
'Courses Guide' - the University is mentioned in the courses guide appearing in Metro London on 19th and 25th August.
'Boys play catch-up, but the girls still shine brighter' - the academic achievements of boys and girls are compared in this article. Professor Alan Smithers gave his views in The Times , 19th August.
'With results out today showing almost no one fails....' - in a full page article appearing in the Daily Mail on 19th August, Professor Smithers said that examinations should be made tougher in order that university places can be awarded more fairly. A further double page article appearing in the Daily Mail on 20th August discussed the same issue.
'Fashionable courses may attract higher tuition fees' - in The Independent on 20th August Professor Smithers talked about raising tuition fees in fashionable subjects in order to try and steer students into other subjects.
'Plagiarism edict slated' - the THES published an article on 20th August which alleges that universities are being accused of condoning student plagiarism. The article looks at the policy of Sunderland University and Professor Smithers' view on how the policy operates.
'A new deal' - An article concerning the University and the proposed joining of forces with BPP was published in The Economist on 21st August. Find out more .
'Universities warn of disaster as students shun sciences' - as the number of students in science courses declines, Professor Smithers talked about the shortage of students in Physics and Chemistry in The Independent on Sunday , 22nd August.
'Probe launch as university chiefs fear students are abandoning science' - in the Financial Times on 24th August the University was mentioned when Professor Smithers talked as an adviser to the Commons Education Committee.
'Tense wait for GCSE students' - as students awaited results Professor Smithers predicted the overall standards in the Leicester Mercury on 25th August.
'Applied learning' - the University was mentioned in Professor Smithers' article concerning GCSE examinations in The Guardian on 26th August.
'Expert attacks "fuzzy" subjects' - in an article appearing in the THES on 20th August, Professor Smithers discusses the increasing uptake of courses in psychology, art and design (fuzzy subjects) over science subjects. This article produced a less than favourable response in the letters section of the THES on 27th August.
'Buckingham University welcomes top education research team' - the arrival of Professor Smithers and his team was announced in an article in July's edition of Investment Now .
The Vice-Chancellor, Dr Terence Kealey , appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live on 30th July talking about acne (following his column in The Times ).
The Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2 also interviewed Dr Kealey in mid-August on the drop in students taking up sciences and how this can be addressed.
Professor Chris Woodhead spoke on Radio 5 Live on 24th August, talking about assessment in schools.
Professor Alan Smithers:
- took part in a discussion on the relative merits of progression through school by age or readiness on the 'You and Yours' programme, BBC Radio 4, on 18th August.
- appeared on GMTV on 19th August and on BBC Breakfast News on 22nd August.
- took part in discussions concerning A-level results on GMTV, BBC News 24 and BBC Three Counties Breakfast Programme, all on 19th August.
Gregory Ioannidis appeared on BBC News 24 on 11th and 20th August. He also spoke on Greek TV (Mega Channel, a major national and satellite station) on 15th August, and the University appeared on every major TV station, radio and newspaper in Greece as a result.
'Hub is set to boost economy' - the new Enterprise Hub at the University was publicised in Business MK , August edition.
'Step closer to cinema' - the cinema scheme has received financial backing according to an article appearing in the Buckingham & Winslow Advertiser on 6th August.
'Down on the riverbank' - details of the winners of the University's annual Duck Race and of the 25 year service award recipients were published in the Buckingham & Winslow Advertiser on 6th August.
'Centre is not the place for a cinema' - a resident's letter published in the Buckingham & Winslow Advertiser on 13th August expressed disapproval of the proposed cinema scheme in the Radcliffe Centre.
'£250,000 grant will support entrepreneurs' - information concerning the proposed Enterprise Hub at the University was revealed in the Buckingham & Winslow Advertiser on 20th August.
'Help for entrepreneurs' - developments for the new Enterprise Hub at the University were published in In Focus Buckinghamshire in August.
'Buckingham University welcomes top education research team' - the arrival of Professor Smithers and his team was announced in an article which appeared in In Focus Buckinghamshire this month.
University of Buckingham news in the Buckingham & Winslow Advertiser, Brackley & Towcester Advertiser and Bicester Review:
-
6th August
- Gregory Ioannidis appears on Channel 4 news
-
20th August
- Dr Subroto Roy's public lecture
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