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Updated: 24-Jun-2008

Buckingham in the news

November 2005 update

International news National news Radio, television and other appearances Local news

International news

A number of photographs of the University were featured in Universitas – an Italian quarterly publication which focusses on higher education both in Italy and abroad. Issue 97, 2005.

Singer, Scruton debate ethics of eating animals. A debate took place between Peter Singer and Professor Roger Scruton on the ethics of eating animals. Professor Scruton argued that there is a distinction between animals and humans, "primarily that the latter is endowed with moral judgement". Daily Princetonian , 10th November.
Read about the debate on the Daily Princetonian website (external link)

The wages of science. This article looks at expenditure on science all over the world and compares it to the linkage in state-propped science and economic progress. Dr Terence Kealey is quoted from an interview he did for Scientific American in March 2003: "Of all the leading industrial countries, Japan – the country investing least in science – was growing fastest." Global Politician ,14th November.

UK election observation mission to visit Kazakhstan. Professor Dennis O'Keeffe is mentioned in an article on the presidential election due to take place on 4th December in Kazakhstan. webindia123.com , 29th November. A similar article also appeared on eurasianet.org on 14th November.
Read the article on the webindia123 website (external link)

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National news

Buckingham alumnus, Tracey Lloyd-Nesling (LLB '87), features in a piece on her new post as Senior Practitioner at the largest barristers' chambers on the Wales and Chester circuit – 30 Park Place. Business in Wales , November 2005.

Saving Bacon. A letter from Peter Brophy, Edinburgh University, comments on Dr Terence Kealey's essay in the 6th October edition of Prospect . He feels Dr Kealey's observations are incomplete. Prospect , November 2005

Boys, the floor is yours. Research by the Centre of Education and Employment Research into the differing exam results between boys and girls is mentioned in this article about a new approach to teaching boys in America. The Times , 4th November.

That way doth madness lie. An article written by Dr Terence Kealey, and dubbed "a lost draft of King Lear". A light-hearted piece about a serious subject, namely the Oxford VC 's proposals to introduce external trustees into Oxford's governance. THES , 4th November

History 'sexed up' for less academic pupils. This article looks at a new History exam which includes 'sexed-up' material on multimedia, marketing and the study of heritage sites. Professor Alan Smithers comments: "The danger in dressing it up is you lose the point of having history in the curriculum in the first place." Daily Telegraph, 5th November. A similar article also appeared in the United Press International on the same day.

Party's over, money experts warn Brown. In an article on Gordon Brown's achievements as Chancellor, Professor Smithers doesn't agree with the claim that his investments provided 20,000 more teachers, saying "trainees, unqualified assistants and instructors have been added to the list". Daily Mail , 7th November.

Opposing sides must pull together. "Gifted children are by definition different. We need an education system whose culture is imbued with a sense of selection, with different schools as well as different parts of schools being designed around the needs of different children" was a quote taken from Dr Terence Kealey's speech at a debate hosted by The Guardian and Learnthings and quoted in an article on how schools are to make provision for children who are deemed to be gifted or talented. The Guardian , 8th November.

Professor's address will be an education. News of Professor Chris Woodhead's speech at the Cambridge Union on 9th November, about his years as Chief Inspector of Schools and his views on education. Cambridge Evening News , 9th November.

Young people are the business. This article looks at the rise in students taking business-related courses (from GCSE through to degree) and how the ambition to become an entrepreneur is becoming increasingly apparent amongst the younger generations. Professor Phil Dover comments: "People here used to be risk-averse, but that is all changing." The Spectator , 12th November.

Too much time – and too little to do. Commenting on views that Humanities degrees are not demanding enough and that the degree could actually be reduced in duration, Professor Alan Smithers agrees that students don't have enough support due to the size of tutorials and the small numbers of lecturers, which results in students being "left to their own devices". The Independent , 17th November.

Debrett's really wants heads… News that Debrett's has ejected a number of personalities from its People of Today publication, and that five more head teachers have been added. These teachers appear next to "educational theorists, such as former Chief Inspector of Schools, Chris Woodhead, and Alan Smithers, of Buckingham University." TES , 18th November.

School choice chaos. A story looking at the failure of thousands of children to get into their favoured secondary school. Professor Smithers comments on the freedom of choice given to parents on which school their child attends, saying: "opening up the market further will increase the number of knowing parents trying to get their children into the top schools – widening the gap between the best and worst schools." TES , 18th November.

How cancer could be 'under control' by 2025. News that Professor Karol Sikora predicted, whilst speaking at a cancer prevention conference on 17th November, that cancer would be a 'controllable' disease rather than a killer within 20 years. Daily Mail , 18th November. DeHavilland also included Professor Sikora's comments in an article on their website on 18th November.

Physics is dying out in schools, study warns. Research carried out by Professor Alan Smithers and Dr Pamela Robinson , Centre for Education and Employment Research, showed that the number of physics teachers is at a critical level and likely to worsen over the next few years as current teachers retire. They were quoted: "Physics in schools and colleges is at risk through redefinition and lack of teachers with expertise in the subject." The Guardian , 21st November. The research was featured in numerous newspapers, publications, websites and radio programmes throughout the second half of November, and achieved saturation coverage.
Read the news article: Physics crisis linked to lack of qualified teachers

Exam inquiry as parents and teachers cheat at homework. Professor Smithers agrees with the suggestion that the course work content of A-levels and GCSE s should be reviewed following discoveries of widespread cheating. The Times , 22nd November.

Have the Desmond and Vorderman had their day? This article looks at universities' plans to get rid of traditional degree classification in favour of a distinction, pass and fail system. Professor Smithers disagrees with this proposed system, saying: "A class of degree is a reasonable summary of a student's achievement … it's an established currency." The Independent , 24th November.

Fat is a fiscal issue. A letter written by Professor Jon Arch ; it refers to an article about obesity in a previous edition of this publication. Professor Arch strongly disagrees with the author's view that it is unethical for scientists to develop methods to allow people to "eat freely and stay lean". He feels that it is unethical to expect people, who may be obese due to genetic disorders, to suffer from illnesses such as diabetes as a punishment for their weight problems. New Scientist , 26th November.

Why do men find big lips and little noses so sexy? I'll paint you a picture. Dr Terence Kealey looks back at the evolution of man to trace the origin of what visually attracts a male to a female and vice versa. Dr Kealey looks at Darwin's theory that humans lost their hair to enable them to paint their bodies. The more creative the artwork, the more intelligent the artist is believed to be, which in turn translates to a perception of wealth and power. The Times , 28th November.

Science experiments are being squeezed out of schools. Research, carried out by Professor Alan Smithers and Dr Pamela Robinson, into the lack of physics teachers was mentioned in this article that looks at the decreasing inclusion of practical lessons in science and the fall in students taking the subjects. Liverpool Daily Post , 29th November.

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Radio, television and other appearances

Lauren Hardy

Professor Anthony O'Hear

  • talked about Pierre Boulez on the BBC2 Culture Show which was aired on 10th November .

Professor Karol Sikora

  • spoke on Radio 4 on 16th November about cancer.
  • was interviewed on 17th November on Sky News and on 18th November on ITV 's lunchtime news regarding changes to the NHS .

Professor Alan Smithers

  • was interviewed for Channel 4 Dispatches , which was aired on 9th November, on the funding of education.

Dr Mary Welstead

  • opened the former Sarajevo Parliament building which has been renovated by Sarajevo School of Science and Technology, the University's collaborative partner in Bosnia.
    Read the news article: Grand opening of new SSST building

Professor Chris Woodhead

  • gave a talk to the Muslim Organisation in London on 15th November.
  • spoke at the Third Annual Public Sector Conference held on 18th November regarding public and private sector organisations.
  • spoke on education issues on 21st November: BBC 3 Counties Radio, BBC Radios 4 and 5, Channel 4 News, BBC Oxford, BBC Manchester, and the BBC News 13:00 and 18:00.
  • talked on the Jeremy Vine Show, BBC Radio 2, on 22nd November.

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Local news

Festival fun. News of the Buckingham Festival of Music and Drama to be held at the University on 12th November. Buckingham & Winslow Advertiser, Bicester Review , 4th November.

Showcase will be 'biggest and best'. The University of Buckingham is thanked by Ruth Holiday, Chief Steward of the Buckingham Music and Drama festival which took place in the Chandos Road Buildings. Mrs Holiday said: "The University has been excellent and really welcomed us in." Buckingham & Winslow Advertiser , 11th November.

Robots await young film lovers. News of the pilot showing of Robots to be held on 19th November. Bicester Review , 11th November.

Sea-life look to ball. News of the annual Law Ball, which was held in the Town Hall. The event took the theme of sea-life. Buckingham & Winslow Advertiser, Bicester Review , 18th November.

St Bartholomew's celebrates its GCSE success. Professor Martin Ricketts attended this year's annual GCSE presentation evening at St Bartholomew's School in Newbury. Professor Ricketts presented certificates, prizes and trophies for individual achievement. Newbury Weekly News , 24th November.

Festival marks cinema opening. News that Buckingham's new cinema – The Film Place – is due to open on 26th November with a film festival. Buckingham & Winslow Advertiser, Bicester Review , 25th November.

University of Buckingham news in the Buckingham & Winslow Advertiser, Brackley & Towcester Advertiser and Bicester Review :

  • 4th November
  • 11th November
    • The University invites townspeople to Wicked Wednesday – a pampering day to raise funds for UBSOS .
  • 25th November
    • News that the Aylesbury Vale Enterprise Hub launched on 15th November

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