Summer 2012 | Issue 17 | University of Wolverhampton | www.wlv.ac.uk

WLVdialogue

golden girl Honorary graduate Tessa Sanderson

Sprint FiniSh How body shape affects the world’s fastest men and women

SportS ChampionProfile of Director of Sport, Mike Chamberlain

Welcome to the latest edition of WLV Dialogue magazine.

By the time you’re reading this you will have experienced the greatest show on earth.That’s certainly what the organisers of London 2012 will be hoping for Britain’s Olympics and Paralympics.

All in all it should be enough to make you feel tired and break into a

sweat.

If you have any feedback for us, please get in touch at:

wlvdialogue@wlv.ac.uk

We’ll be back in the autumn.

Enjoy the issue.

James allen

WLV Dialogue Editor

It has been a veritable summer sporting extravaganza and this edition of

WLV Dialogue has joined the party with this sports-themed edition that

surely deserves a place on the podium.

We caught up with the Australian Olympic Judo team as they set up

camp before the games at the University of Wolverhampton, while one

of our graduates had the honour of carrying the Olympic torch through

the streets of the city as part of the torch relay.

Local golden girl, Tessa Sanderson, tells us what it takes to win

an Olympic title, while we find out more about the University of

Wolverhampton professor whose research provides insight into what

really makes a world class sprinter.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to stage a top sporting event?

Student volunteer Joanna Zielinska recounts her experiences of Euro

2012 in Poland.

While England Women’s rugby international prop, Roz Crowley, talks

about what it takes to become a maths teacher, after successfully

graduating from the University’s School for Education Futures.

Welcome

PAGE

2 4 6

coNTeNTS 1

neWSlet’s get ippon – University hosts Aussie Judo team 2

Beacon of hope – Olympic torchbearer and graduate 4 Ceri Davies

Bringing science to life – Thrills and fun at first Scifest 6

euro star – Volunteer Joanna Zielinska at Euro 2012 8

reSearChSprint finish – How body shape affects the world’s fastest 10 men and women

proFileSports champion – Director of Sport, Mike Chamberlain 12

FeatUreCelebrating young talent – Red carpet moment at the 14 Wolverhampton Oscars

must try harder – England Women’s rugby prop 16 faces new challenge

international new horizons – Meet the UK recruitment team 18

BUSineSSKeen for success – New scheme to improve profitability 20

peoplegolden girl – Honorary graduate Tessa Sanderson 22 graduate success story – BA (Hons) European Studies 24 graduate Neil White

What’s on guide – University events 25

PAGE8 1814

“I didn’t get much sleep in the run up to them

arriving and then I was involved in picking

various team members up from Heathrow and

Birmingham.

“It was fantastic for the University, for people

from our judo club and other local clubs to see

up close competitors who were to be involved

in the Olympics so they could learn from them.

“I hope it can further help raise the profile

of judo in the Black Country with a view to

encouraging more people to take part and we

can see some more of our own competitors at

future games.

“There is a massive profile for judo in the

Midlands. Judo is excellent for self-esteem,

confidence, discipline and physical exercise.

“It helps a lot of young people become a lot

more aware of their physical situation. We have

people at our club aged from five up to 70 so

it’s a sport for all ages.”

Stewart Brain is the Head Coach for the

Australian Judo Team and represented the

Aussies as a competitor in the Seoul Olympics

in 1988.

He said: “We had the choice between about

five different venues around the UK but Walsall

was just perfect for what we needed.

“We had everything we needed and I couldn’t

have asked for more in terms of the facilities

2 NeWS

let’s Get Ippon

and the welcome we received.

“As coach you want to be able to come

somewhere and not have to worry about any of

the logistics and we didn’t.

“I did my research. I saw that the Midlands

had a reputation for judo and they had people

involved from Team GB judo from Seoul in

1988 when I competed. I knew Dave and Mike

Chamberlain here at the University were judo

people and that makes a difference.

“I’ve been really impressed by what we’ve

experienced and would have no hesitation

coming back here ahead of the Commonwealth

Games in Glasgow in two years.”

For Stewart the biggest thing he had to battle

was keeping everyone happy.

“It’s a long build up. People ask what I was

looking forward to the most – my answer was:

when it’s all over. By the end of it I will have

been away from home for two months – it’s

hard work.

“My main job as a coach ahead of a

With more than 13 million participants in

more than 111 countries, judo is now the

most popular martial art in the world.

The West Midlands is a hot-bed for the sport.

Scores of clubs across the region compete

every weekend looking to emulate the success

of the likes of Elvis Gordon, Densign White,

Dennis Stewart and Kerrith Brown – all trained

in Wolverhampton.

The University of Wolverhampton’s Walsall

Sports Centre is one of the few Judo Centres

of Excellence in the UK, as recognised by the

British Judo Association and aims to nurture

and develop talent.

So when it came to choosing a base for

its Pre-Olympic Games training camp the

Australian Judo Team had no hesitation.

Six competitors, known as a judoka, and four

coaches based themselves at the University in

the two weeks leading up to London 2012.

They trained with members of the University

of Wolverhampton Judo Club along with other

clubs and were set up at the campus’ student

village.

Dave Elmore, judo development officer at the

University of Wolverhampton, said: “There

was a lot of planning involved so it was great

when they finally arrived and started using the

facilities.

NeWS 3

competition is to maintain them on a personal

level. Physically they are there but it’s

maintaining them emotionally and managing

those emotions, keeping them happy.”

The judoka of six was led by 34-year-old Daniel

Kelly who was about to compete in his fourth

consecutive Olympics and 22-year-old

Mark Anthony following on from his appearance

in Beijing.

The remaining four were all to make their

Olympic debuts including 22-year-old bar

worker Jake Andrewartha, who was to

compete in the plus 100kg category.

He said: “I arrived at the camp early as I was

in Europe and the facilities are fantastic. You’d

be hard pushed to find anything as good in

Australia.

“It’s my first Olympics and it’s been a tough

few months building up to this – going to

Japan and Barcelona, some of us have been

competing in Paris and Hungary.

“Typically we have been training twice a day

having sessions in the morning and at night

and then eat and sleep in between. You’re just

too tired to be bored.

“You always talk about these things as a kid

growing up and when you actually reach the

Olympics you think ‘wow what do I do now?’

It’s a great achievement just to be here.

“I’m really happy to be in the UK competing

and I see it as a thank you to everyone who

has helped me over the years.

“It’s my first time in the country and I’m looking

forward to get the chance to see some of the

sites like Buckingham Palace and Big Ben.

“My Mum and Dad are also coming over. It’s

the first time they’ve been away in 10 years

and their first time abroad and they plan to visit

Ireland and Scotland as well.”

Judo FactfileJudoka - the correct name for a judo

fighter.

Hajime - the referee’s instruction at

the start of a bout.

Soremade - the referee’s instruction

at the end of a bout.

Tatami - the 14m x 14m mat judo is

fought on, with a smaller contest area

of 10m x 10m marked inside it.

At the start of each contest, the

athletes stand 4m apart, facing each

other on the tatami. The referee gets

the contest underway by shouting

“Hajime!” and stops it by shouting

“Matte!”

Ippon - the best score. Can be

achieved for a throw, a hold, a

strangle or an armlock, and results in

immediate victory. Other scores are

waza-ari and yuko. These depend

on the type of throw or how long

a judoka can immobilise his/her

opponent.

the olympic Flame represents peace,

unity and friendship. an iconic symbol of

the games, the flame is lit by the sun’s

rays at the temple of hera in olympia in

a traditional ceremony among the ruins

of the home of the ancient games.

It then makes its way via a relay to the

host city, travelling by various means of

transport, such as air, rail, road, boat and,

most importantly, in the hands of inspirational

individuals.

Being asked to carry the torch is a great

honour. This summer, 8,000 people around

the country carried the flame during the

70-day relay. Nominated by people in the

community for a range of good deeds,

the torchbearers came from diverse

backgrounds, many overcoming adversity to

have their moment in the spotlight.

One such torchbearer was University of

Wolverhampton graduate, Ceri Davies. Ceri,

who has cerebral palsy and spina bifida and

uses a wheelchair, was nominated to carry

the torch for her commitment to volunteering

and youth work by the Diana Award.

The 22-year-old was among the torchbearers

in Wolverhampton, and was supported along

the route by her family and friends.

“It was amazing,” she says. “I had such

a good time – it was a very positive and

emotional experience.”

Ceri, who graduated with a 2:1 BA (Hons)

degree in Early Childhood Studies and

Sociology from the University in 2011, has

been involved in volunteering and youth work

since she was 13. She was nominated for the

honour of carrying the Olympic torch by Katie

Marple, Network Co-ordinator at the Diana

Award.

Ceri was invited to 10 Downing Street in 2009

to receive one of ten Golden Diana Awards, for her work as a dedicated and active

member of Dudley Youth Council.

Over the years, Ceri has played a big role

in the Diana Award organisation, joining the

Youth Advisory Board and becoming head of

the Regional Hub for the West Midlands and

she is also on the Alumni Advisory Board.

It is this commitment to youth work that was

recognised when Ceri was nominated and

selected to be part of the historic Olympic

torch relay.

“When it was my turn with the torch, I

thought about everything I have done in

youth participation and the young people I

have worked with across the country. I very

much felt that it was for everyone who has

supported me. I felt like it was recognition of

everything I have done since I was 13 until

now,” she adds.

There was also a great sense of camaraderie

between the torchbearers on the day, as Ceri

explains: “I first met the other torchbearers at

the Civic Centre in Wolverhampton. I was the

first person on my coach to take part in the

relay, and I felt they were really proud of me.

“All the torchbearers on my coach were really

nice and have made a huge difference to their

community and we were all proud of each

other. They were exceptional individuals.

“I agreed with the person who was carrying

the torch after me that we would do a dance

and hug as we did the change-over. It was

sensational.”

After all the excitement in Wolverhampton,

Ceri went to Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham

4 NeWS

Beacon of hopefor the evening celebration, where the boy

band The Wanted performed for the crowds.

“That was surreal and as someone who is

really interested in the arts, I really enjoyed

seeing all the live dancing,” she says.

Since receiving the Diana Award, Ceri has

gone on to set-up her own consultancy

company, CD Participation Services, which

offers research, motivational speaking and

youth work. She was a speaker at the United

Nations Rights of a Child conference. She

has set up a fundraising organisation which

aims to raise funds for disadvantaged and

disabled children across the UK and she also

works with numerous other charities.

Ceri is also now a Youth Network Leader

for Arts Award in the West Midlands and an

associate with the Black Country Children’s

Services Improvement Partnership (BCCSIP),

of which the University is a partner, ensuring

Ceri’s journey with Wolverhampton continues.

Ceri’s time in the Olympic spotlight was an

extremely proud moment for her supporters,

especially her parents and sister Rhianna. The

University was also delighted to see the light

shone on one of its inspirational graduates.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Geoff Layer, says:

“Everyone at the University is extremely proud

of Ceri’s achievements and we’re delighted

that she was given the honour of carrying the

Olympic torch.”

Being involved with the Diana Award has

transformed Ceri’s life, and she is quick to

thank them for their support.

“I’d like to say thank you to the Diana Award

for nominating me and to everyone who has

supported me, particularly the people who

came to support me during the torch relay

and walk the stretch alongside me.

“I’m hoping carrying the torch will bring some

exciting opportunities.”

It was a very positive and emotional experience.

NeWS 5

most people will have vivid memories of

their science lessons at school. For some

it will have been their first chance to get

hands-on experience of a real experiment,

using bunsen burners, goggles and test

tubes, and invariably producing a pungent

smell. Whether you went on to pursue a

career using the skills you acquired or left

your lab coat at the classroom door, it is

a subject that has the power to amaze,

surprise and enthrall.

This year, the University of Wolverhampton

held its inaugural SciFest event, welcoming

Midlands school pupils, and then the public, on

campus to experience the magic of science.

Local school pupils were able to get up

close and personal with a variety of subject

areas at the University during the week, with

workshops aimed at Primary, GCSE and A-level

students. They were offered a taster of what

life is like on campus at the University, with a

dedicated team of lecturers, current students

and technicians presenting workshops

to bring to life subjects including forensic

science, midwifery, car design, life support and

pharmacy.

The SciFest Public Day coincided with

the Olympic torch and Blue Peter being

in Wolverhampton on Saturday, 30 June,

and there was plenty to keep the crowds

entertained. TV star, Dr Bunhead, who is well-

known for his educational stunts, brought his

entertaining Pyromania Show to the University,

wowing the audience with a series of explosive

demonstrations.

Dr Bunhead, aka Tom Pringle, says: “Events

like SciFest wake kids up to the excitement

of science (if they’re not convinced already).

It provides a fresh buzz of excitement and

curiosity in kids and parents alike. It’s not just

about the ‘WOW! Factor’ of science, but also

the joy of the AHA! Moment - that feeling when

the penny drops and something finally makes

sense.”

Dr Bunhead was also keen to encourage

children to go to university and pursue a career

in science. “It’s one of the best decisions I ever

made. Just going to university and experiencing

so much diversity under one roof will take you

in new directions. I have seen so many science

graduate friends entering fantastic careers

and enjoying amazing opportunities and

experiences through their science qualifications,

from studying elephant dung in African jungles

and Formula 1 tyres in Jamaica to developing

perfumes, fashion fabrics, the latest foods and

extreme sports equipment.”

Other shows included some medieval medical

magic with Julia Hyland, a medical effects

make-up artist from the History of Medicine

Unit at the University of Birmingham, who

brought to life some gruesome, historic

diseases and treatments.

Thinktank’s Mobile Planetarium gave budding

astronomers an opportunity to take a tour

through our solar system, and Tropical Inc

brought an array of creatures to entertain and

inform the crowd.

The best of what the University offers aspiring

scientists, mathematicians, computing

wizards, sports stars and engineers was on

display, with University staff on-hand to help

enthusiastic students assemble robots (and

take them to battle); build rockets with the help

of RAF Cosford; and explore the Experiments

Marquee.

Visitors found they were pressed for time,

trying to fit in as much as possible, and

teachers were thrilled with the activities – so

perhaps the last word should go to them: “I

shall definitely be back next year – but with a

lot more children!”

SciFest 2013 will take place from 18-22

June 2013.

Bringing science to life

6 NeWS

NeWS 7

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PLANTS for 2

8 NeWS

there was an air of inevitability when

iker Cassillas lifted the european

Championships trophy for Spain in July

after a resounding 4-0 win over italy.

Once again the Spanish retained their crown

as kings of Europe to add to their World Cup

triumph in Germany in 2010.

If the Spanish retaining the trophy was

inevitable, one of the major surprises for many

was the success of the tournament as a whole

for joint hosts Poland and Ukraine.

The build-up to the event, among the top

five sporting events on the world stage, was

dogged by negativity.

First there were fears whether stadiums and

infrastructure would be fully in place, and

then that Black and Asian fans should stay

away through fears of racism within grounds

following a BBC documentary. Some politicians

boycotted games played in Kiev and Donetsk

as a human rights protest.

When the dust settled and the first whistle blew

in Warsaw on 8 June for Poland vs Greece, a

truly memorable tournament was played out.

From the early demise of the Dutch, to the

surprising exit of Russia, to the counter

attacking Germans and surprising Italians, the

Euros saw 76 goals and, as usual, an England

exit on penalties.

For many of us, as we sat back at home or in

the pub to watch the tournament unfold, we

didn’t give a second thought to what it takes to

stage such a competition.

Behind the scenes it’s a very different story

as 23-year-old University of Wolverhampton

graduate, Joanna Zielinska found out.

Joanna, who is from Poland, returned to her

native country during the summer to work as a

volunteer during the event.

Having just graduated with a 2:1 in Event and

Venue Management and Tourism Management

based at the University’s Walsall Campus, she

sought to put what she learnt on her course

into practice.

Joanna was based within logistics at the stadium

in Gdansk, which hosted group games involving

Spain, Italy, Ireland, and Croatia as well as the

quarter final between Germany and Greece.

Joanna said: “I decided to do my dissertation

on the Euros and I started it last summer.

As part of my research I saw that they were

advertising for volunteers. Around 24,000

people applied for positions and I was lucky

enough to get one of them.

“My main role was meant to be administration

but I got involved in a lot of project work

because I was there in the two weeks before

the tournament started.

“I was based with the venue manager so I

ended up being involved with translation, event

management tasks and sorting out access

passes for visitors.

Euro star

NeWS 9

“The majority of the work was in the two-week

build-up to the first match in Gdansk, which

was Spain against Italy.

“It was a sell-out crowd and so busy getting

everything ready like the signage, VIP and

hospitality areas and sorting out all the

accreditation for people in time.

“I was working eight hours a day doing four or

five shifts a week but really enjoyed it.”

The iconic 43,000 stadium in the seaside city of

Gdansk is home to local side Lechia Gdansk.

It looks somewhat like a big shimmering gold

bubble and its exterior is meant to resemble

amber which has long been extracted from the

nearby Baltic coast.

It was one of many new stadiums built in

Poland and Ukraine in order to host matches

and meet UEFA standards.

And according to Joanna, who is about to

become Vice-President for Activities at the

University of Wolverhampton Students’ Union,

it’s only by working there she realises what a

big deal it is to stage such an event.

She said: “It was the biggest event we have

ever had in Poland. We have staged things like

handball, volleyball and basketball tournaments

but football is the most popular sport although

we don’t have the best team.

“People were really excited to be involved and

about the new facilities being built. Everyone

loved it. The atmosphere was amazing.

“Everyone was so enthusiastic and very

welcoming. There were some worries in

advance about how people in Poland would

react and whether enough people would be

able to speak English but in the end it was fine.

“It was great to see behind the scenes at

such a big event. Most people don’t see what

goes on just to get a tournament like that

ready. All they see is the match but the safety

and security side is massive, alongside the

translation.

“It’s such a huge thing to get 40,000 people

into and out of a stadium smoothly. Not to

mention the VIPs, politicians and all the various

delegates.

“From my point of view it was an amazing

learning experience. The biggest difference is

learning on the ground – my degree gave me

a really good insight but it’s always going to

be different when you are actually out there

doing it.

“Also there is the difference between managing

events in England and managing events in

Poland. There were people from all over the

world involved and different organisations,

each had its own way of doing things which

needed smoothing over.”

Of course another plus point of working at

such a major event is getting up close and

personal with footballing aristocracy.

“The office where I was based was next to the

tunnel so I would see all the players training

before the match.

“The interview area was also there too so I

could see all the players coming backwards

and forwards. We weren’t allowed to ask for

photos or autographs though.

“There were open sessions for the public and

when we were working on match days we

were able to go and watch the second half.

“It’s funny because I wasn’t really into football

before I worked at Euro 2012 but once I was

involved I had to watch every single game.

“I loved watching the Germans when they

played at Gdansk but my favourite game has

to have been Spain against Ireland.

“The stadium was just a sea of green. The

Ireland fans did not expect to win but they

backed their team and created such a great

atmosphere. Their fans were so amazing even

though they lost 4-0.

“Spain played at Gdansk three times. When

they first played everyone was so excited, but

then you got used to it so by the second and

third time they played there they were just

normal.

“I was able to go anywhere in the stadium:

changing rooms, tunnel, VIP areas – it was

great. Opinion has been very positive from

everyone who came. They did surveys in

airports when people were leaving and more

than 90 per cent of people said they’d come

back or tell their friends about Poland.

“If you can make your visitors happy and

they go away with a smile on their face, then

you can enjoy it as you know it’s gone well. It

makes it all very rewarding and worthwhile.”

this summer, all eyes were on one man.

When Usain Bolt performed his rituals

before taking his marks for the 100m at

london 2012, the world was watching to

see if he could keep his cool and leave the

other competitors in his wake, as he has

done so many times before. despite all the

speculation about his fitness, Bolt won the

race and clocked the second fastest time

in history.

In the months leading up to the Olympic

Games, much was written about the

aptly named Bolt – his entourage, the

sponsorship deals and the way he prepares

for competitions after famously admitting he

likes to eat chicken nuggets. But one thing that

many people would like to know, most of all his

rivals, is what makes him so successful? Is it

genetics, training, attitude or a combination of

these things, plus a little luck?

Professor Alan Nevill is a specialist in

biostatistics applied to health, sport and

exercise sciences. One of his recent research

projects has involved looking into the changing

body shape of sprinters, and how shapes have

evolved over time.

His findings are very interesting, particularly

when you look at the success of sprinters such

as Usain Bolt.

“World-class 100m sprinters offer the purest

expression of human speed, with considerable

kudos associated with the accolade of being

the fastest man or woman on the planet.

“Over the last ten years, sprinters have become

leaner, more linear and less bulky. Usain Bolt

is a good example of this, as is the European

100m Champion, French sprinter Christophe

Lemaitre, who clinched gold in Helsinki earlier

this summer,” he says.

“Up until 2001, sprinters were still these bulkier,

more powerful runners. But British Olympic

gold medallist Linford Christie was beginning

to shape the mould, with a more elegant body

shape.”

Is it the same for female runners? Professor

Nevill explains that women have always tended

to be taller, leaner individuals.

“Two good examples are German athletes

Heike Drechsler and Katrin Krabbe. They

were both very elegant, very tall and very lean.

They were outstanding runners and Drechsler

excelled at long jump as well.”

The research, titled The changing shape

of success in world-class sprinters, was

published in the Journal of Sports Sciences.

Carried out with Wolverhampton colleagues

Adam Watts and Dr Iain Coleman, it sought

to identify whether relative shape and size

characteristics of world-class sprinters have

changed over time, and what characterises the

most successful world-class sprinters.

The data used was the body size (height and

weight) and sprint time for 100m for both men

and women in the top ten 100m world list of

best performers. The researchers looked at

ten decades (1910-2009) for men and eight

decades (1940-2010) for women.

From the athlete’s height and weight, the

researchers were able to calculate their body

mass index (BMI) and reciprocal ponderal index

(RPI).

Professor Nevill, who is from the School of

Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure, explains:

“While BMI is an important factor associated

with success in both male and female world-

class sprinters that may suggest the influence

of muscle mass on sprint performance, the RPI

has emerged as a more significant factor in

success, with taller, linear sprinters - like Usain

Bolt, for example - achieving greater success

as measured by sprint speed.”

But why might this be? Is it that over time, this

has evolved as a more effective body shape or

is it something else?

“I think it is something to do with stride length,”

he says. “The sprinters with the leaner, more

linear body shapes are gaining advantage

towards the second part of the race. They can

keep up with the more powerful, bulky runners

who get the explosive starts and then have

a longer stride after about 40-50 metres. I

believe the longer stride is showing benefit in

the latter part of the race.”

Breaking the 100m world record is always a

momentous occasion, gaining the athlete a

place in history. Professor Nevill provides some

interesting insights into whether the records

that exist today will be broken.

“I’m not convinced sprinters have reached

their peak. They continue to evolve and there is

some evidence they could go even faster.

“But in events such as the 1500m or 5000m, I

don’t know if they can go much faster than at

the present really. However, it is worth noting

that you could get a freak situation where all

the conditions are right.

“Another factor could be if they started

measuring to a third decimal place in the sprint

events, so instead of 9.67 it could be 9.676. If

that was to happen, then you could get new

world records.”

Moving forward, what could the research

findings mean for competitors? Professor Nevill

has some thoughts.

“The results suggest that coaches, selectors

and sports scientists should consider body

shape when selecting potential athletes for

sprint events, encouraging more linear athletes

with a high RPI.”

With an audience of millions around the world,

the 100 metres final is always a momentous

occasion during the Olympic Games. It is

interesting to know that alongside years of

physical and mental training, a nutrition-packed

diet, determination and a pinch of luck, body

shape is a significant factor in who clinches

that coveted gold medal.

10 ReSeaRch

Sprint finish

ReSeaRch 11

Sprint finish

Sports Champion

12 PRoFIle

Mike Chamberlain joined Wolverhampton in 1999 as Head of Sport and Recreation Services, becoming Director of Sport in 2005.

When he was eight, Mike joined Wolverhampton Judo

Club and a successful career in the sport followed. He

has won numerous judo accolades, including winning

the British schoolboy championships four times, being

three times under-22s British Champion, six times British

Masters Champion and a four times medallist at the

World Masters Judo Championships.

Sports Champion

PRoFIle 13

What does your role at the

University involve?

I am the strategic lead for sport at the

University. My most important role is driving

the sports agenda and bringing together

all the component parts that are involved

in sport, including the Students’ Union and

the School of Sport, Performing Arts and

Leisure. We’re aiming to better our ranking

in performance sport and create more

recreational opportunities for students and

staff, in order to improve their health and

wellbeing.

There is also quite a big advocacy role,

so I chair the local Black Country Sports

Board and also the West Midlands British

Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS)

Board. This brings together all the regional

Directors of Sport and student officers

that are involved in leading sport at their

institutions. It is important for the University

to be out in the wider community.

What are the University’s key

sporting strengths?

We have concentrated on participation in

recent years which has been a success. I

manage the Sports Scholarship programme

at the University and we look after our best

athletes very well in terms of funding, support

for training and mentoring. This will help

to bring more success for our students in

regional and national competition in years to

come.

More recently we have some very good

athletes who have performed well this year,

including Jarryd Dunn who won gold in the

400m at the BUCS Visa Outdoor Athletics

Championships at the Olympic Stadium in

May.

We have had success in basketball and

football, particularly women’s football and are

keen to get more sports teams representing

the University.

the University has a strong focus on

health and wellbeing for its staff and

students – what do you think are the

main benefits of getting involved in

sport?

We have developed a lot of initiatives around

staff wellbeing, looking at physical, mental and

spiritual wellbeing as part of the University’s

People Strategy. We are also concentrating

on student wellbeing, as I see this as a crucial

part of the student experience. Our aim is to

provide more activities for physical wellbeing

and making it more cost effective for students

to participate.

Aside from being more active and the

obvious health benefits, there is a big social

side for students who get involved in clubs.

It helps with personal development and

there are so many transferable skills such as

teamwork, leadership, responsibility and

self-discipline.

What do you enjoy most or find most

rewarding about your role?

I enjoy the freedom it affords me to be able to

decide my own destiny. I have a fair degree

of independence as well as a lot of support

from within the Estates & Facilities department.

I also work in partnership with many people

within the University, and feel well supported

by the members of the Offices of the Vice-

Chancellor who recognise the value of sport in

the student experience. This is the clear focus

and priority of my work, more so now than

ever.

Also I am fortunate to work in a field that I am

passionate about. I still participate and enjoy

watching sport, so it is good to be around

things that I care about.

What was it like to host the

aussie judo team before the

olympics?

The training camp was a huge success.

Walsall provided a perfect training environment

in terms of having everything on site. The

squad and coaches were happy to fit in with

everything that we provided; we put on training

sessions, catering and a mix of social activities

for them. They visited schools and were happy

to have their pictures taken.

Based on that success they want to come

back before the 2014 Commonwealth Games

in Glasgow.

What do you think stood out about

the University’s sporting facilities for

them?

Walsall is a National Judo Centre of Excellence

so we have excellent facilities for their sport,

but there are also the other sporting facilities

on site, such as the athletics track and the

fitness suite.

But the success of the training camp was

more about people. We have two dedicated

judo coaches who looked after them and got

them training partners, as you need people

to fight against. We are the British Judo High

Performance Centre in the West Midlands

and all the top players come to us each week

anyway, so we were able to draw on those

teams to support their training.

how did you first get involved in

judo?

I was one of the smallest boys in my class at

school and I think my dad thought I was being

bullied so he took me along to the nearest

judo club in Wolverhampton. I was never

bullied after that!

It gave me a lot of self-confidence straight

away. I was competing at a national level from

about age nine or 10 and qualified for the first

national championships when I was 12. It

gave me a life outside school, and I went on

to represent Great Britain at the World Student

Games in 1985 in Japan when I was 18.

You still compete – what do you

enjoy about it?

I still enjoy the buzz of competition and also

the training, despite the fact that judo is a

really tough and often painful sport. I keep a

judo suit in my Walsall office so it’s tempting to

go and join in the training every so often. I’m

46 now so should know better, but it’s great

for fitness and I enjoy even more the social

side of the sport, having friends all across the

UK and beyond. Maybe I’ll see sense and

hang up my suit once and for all when I hit the

big ‘5-0’!

2

6

4

5

7

8

1 3

14 FeaTuRe

every year actors, directors and crew

members gather in los angeles for the

hottest date in the film-making calendar.

Winning an oscar is the pinnacle of

any career, recognising excellence in

performance, design and creativity and

is often the culmination of years of hard

work and commitment.

This aspiration for success is an ideal that

young people in Wolverhampton have been

encouraged – and supported – to pursue.

The Wolverhampton Oscars (WOSCARS),

organised by Wolverhampton City Council

and sponsored by the University, celebrated

the achievements of learners and teachers in

digital film and media. Schools were invited

to contribute digital media to a range of

categories including film making, animation,

audio recording, pop art, computer training and

multi-media presentation.

Pupils aged from four to 19 and teachers

from across Wolverhampton were given the

red carpet treatment at the Oscars-style,

celebrating young talent

FeaTuRe 15

black-tie and cocktail dress event held at the

University of Wolverhampton Science Park.

For the first time the glittering ceremony was

also broadcast live on the internet – providing

an extra element of excitement for the talented

youngsters.

Awards were spread out throughout all Key

Stage levels from Early Years and Key Stage 1

all the way through to Key Stage 5. The judging

panel viewed a total of 320 entries across the

14 award categories – a record for the annual

event.

The University sponsored the award category

of Best Computer Game with winners receiving

a Computer Gaming Master Class courtesy

of the School of Art & Design. Presenting the

award for Best Computer Game to the winning

schools on behalf of the University were Sir

Geoff Hampton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor,

External Affairs; Jane Nelson, Pro Vice-

Chancellor, Student Recruitment; and Patricia

Cooper, Associate Dean, School of Art &

Design.

Sir Geoff Hampton said: “We were delighted

to support the WOSCARS and were incredibly

impressed by the quality of the work submitted

by the pupils. The University has an important

role in raising the aspirations of young people

in our region and this event enabled students

to showcase their talent and creativity through

a range of imaginative films and other media.”

The winners of this category were: Key Stage

1 – Northwood Park Primary School; Key

Stage 2 – Merridale Primary School; Key Stage

3 – St Edmunds Catholic School; Key Stage

5 – Highfields School.

Councillor Phil Page, Wolverhampton City

Council’s Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills

and Learning, added: “It is always thrilling to

see the fantastic, creative skills of children and

young people recognised.

“Every year, we see immense talent at the

WOSCARS. Judges have, again, had a very

difficult task selecting the winners.

“ICT is a very important part of the curriculum

and pupils and staff in Wolverhampton have

access to a range of fantastic software which

enables our children to be wonderfully creative,

producing animations, artwork, stories, films

and podcasts.”

To find out more about the WOSCARS visit:

www.woscars.co.uk

16 FeaTuRe

She’s accustomed to rucking in a scrum

but roz Crowley will soon be swapping

the mud of the rugby field to tackle the

challenge of the classroom.

The England Women’s rugby prop has

just graduated from the University of

Wolverhampton having completed a year-long

Postgraduate Certificate in Education at the

Walsall Campus.

Roz, 24, of Lichfield actually rejected the

thought of becoming a teacher initially but

after doing a maths degree and having various

admin related jobs she decided to think again.

She said: “Both of my sisters teach and I didn’t

want to follow what they had done. I wanted to

do my own thing.

“I had a few jobs but soon realised they weren’t

for me. I’d been involved in coaching for a while

and I really loved that so I thought why not

merge my two passions – maths and coaching.

“It’s the best decision I’ve made, as every day

is different.

“I teach in an enthusiastic way and put maths

across in a fashion pupils can understand.

It’s very easy in a subject area like maths for

kids to feel demotivated because they don’t

understand how to do something or what you

are telling them.”

Roz has just finished and passed her PGCE in

Secondary Education and has already secured

a job, starting in September, at Kingsbury

School, near Tamworth.

“I’m raring to go. I really just want to get into

the classroom now and get stuck in. I can’t

wait to be able to say that I am a real teacher.

“My time at the University and at Walsall has

been great. The support you get is brilliant. It’s

a difficult year but everybody really looks after

one another. Naturally you spend a lot of your

time out on placements.

“They were intense but very enjoyable.”

Going into a secondary school classroom for

many would be a daunting prospect.

But having played in the World Cup in 2010

Roz feels she can draw upon her on-field

experiences.

“Rugby helps gives you a sense of

commitment, motivation and cohesive working

– all skills that I can take into the classroom.

“I am also used to coming up against

challenging opponents and playing as a prop

you get used to difficult situations.

“I’m used to a bit of banter. My team mates

often take the mickey about me being a maths

teacher. There are a few teachers within

my rugby team but I always tend to get the

questions about angles and probability.”

It seems that some things run in the Crowley

household. As well as having teachers in the

family, elder sister Katie is also a team mate of

Roz’s at Lichfield RUFC.

And it is Katie she has to thank for her

burgeoning rugby career.

“I was always very sporty as a youngster and

loved netball and football and Katie went to

a rugby session at school and enjoyed it so I

thought I’d give it a go as well. I loved it.

“It kind of snowballed from there. I got into

various training camps at local level, then

county and regional and made my national

debut playing for England under-19s at the age

of 16 against Wales.

“Women’s rugby is currently one of fastest

growing sports in the country. A sixth of all

rugby players are girls or women.

“It’s growing in schools through initiatives like

tag rugby, which involves minimal contact and

most local rugby clubs have girls and women’s

teams.”

Roz has gone on to appear for the England

A team and gained 15 full international caps,

sharing in the European Championship win of

2007, England’s European Cup triumph the

following year and in the Six Nations triumph

in 2009.

The highlight of her rugby career so far was

being part of the World Cup squad in 2010

when England reached the final by beating

Australia, only to be beaten by their cousins

from the southern hemisphere, New Zealand,

10-3.

Most recently in May she was part of the

European Championship winning side that

triumphed over Spain, Italy and France to

regain the title – right in the last throws of her

course.

So what does the future hold?

“It’ll be hard work to balance rugby and

teaching but I’m used to it and shown I can do

it so I’m looking forward to the challenge.

“Having been in and out of the England squad

my aim is to establish myself as a regular in

time for World Cup in 2014 in France and the

aim is to go over there and win the tournament.

“On the other side of things I want to establish

myself as a teacher. I will be doing some rugby

coaching as well at my new school.

“There are many similarities between rugby and

teaching. You get people from all walks of life and

if you’re passionate and work at it you can excel.”

must Try harder

FeaTuRe 17

my time at the university and at Walsall has been great. The support you get is brilliant. It’s a difficult year but everybody really looks after one another. Naturally you spend a lot of your time out on placements.

18 INTeRNaTIoNal

Walking across campus at the University

of Wolverhampton, you could bump into a

student from almost every continent in the

world. Students from india, China, africa,

the middle east, europe and malaysia

attend lectures and social events with

peers whose journey to classes has

involved a short bus ride from the Black

Country, Birmingham or Shropshire. the

rich diversity of the student population

at Wolverhampton is one of its strengths,

with people from different cultures and

backgrounds mixing and forming lasting

friendships.

The International Centre (IC) plays an important

role in not only recruiting students from around

the world but also ensuring their arrival and

time in Wolverhampton is happy and fulfilling.

One person who has witnessed the evolution

and growth of the IC is Yves Milhavy, Head of

International Recruitment and Special Projects,

who retires in September after 39 years at

the University. The UK Recruitment Team has

a number of new faces to drive forward the

ambitious plans for international students in

the future.

Looking backYves joined the University as a lecturer in

French in the Department of Languages

and European Studies in 1973 before

becoming head of the newly created Office

for International Education in 1988. He says

the international focus of the institution has

changed ‘radically’ since those early days

when the main aim was to tap into European

Union funded schemes like Erasmus and

Socrates.

“We had huge numbers of European students

coming into the University of Wolverhampton

as well as very significant numbers of our

own students going on Erasmus placements

to France, Germany, Spain etc. Then in the

1990s universities started to look overseas to

recruit students, and in 1999 we became the

International Relations Office, and very soon

after that the International Office, to reflect

the increasing importance of international

recruitment,” he says.

Eventually the International Centre in its

current form came into being in 2009 under

the leadership of Director Jo Gittens, as

the University diversified into Trans-national

Education (TNE), whereby the teaching occurs

in the country where the students live and is

delivered at a partner institution – and Yves

believes this is where the future lies.

He adds: “There has been quite an evolution,

from a fairly academic start. It is now a

multi-faceted, fully integrated centre, and I

think international students like that. We have

created a home from home for overseas

students and they identify us as their first port

of call.”

Yves believes, among other things, that it is

the care the University offers to international

students that makes it an attractive choice.

“We really care for our students. From the

minute we meet them to when they graduate,

there is a level of pastoral care that is second

to none. We talk to students, but also to their

parents/sponsors as they often are the ones

who have the final say as to where they are

going to study. We carry out our mission with

great care.

“I think we are also seen as competitive and

New horizons

“Our team has to find its position in that global

education market,” he says. “I see this in the new

economies; in Africa in places such as Cameroon,

Ghana, Botswana, and also Mauritius and

Indonesia. We still have our core markets of India,

China, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia too.”

The key to achieving this will be creating a truly

global student community, Andrew continues.

“Student recruitment is not just about going

and getting students. One of the best ways is

via former students. So we will be expanding

international alumni projects and building a social

community online, as well as engaging with our

partners abroad more.”

I think the university epitomises the global village.

Both Andrew and Yves are positive about the

benefits international students bring not only to

the University, but the region as a whole. Andrew

highlights the fact that overseas students have

a huge impact on the local economy through

everything from paying rent to landlords to

spending money in shops and even using public

transport.

And with a strong team alongside him, Andrew

hopes to develop more exciting opportunities to

enrich the University of Wolverhampton’s global

community.

INTeRNaTIoNal 19

offer great value for money.”

As Head of International Recruitment, Yves

has travelled all over the world to recruit

students for the University. He has been to

China over 20 times and says he finds it a

fascinating place, and he is also fond of West

Africa, particularly Cameroon. Other trips

have taken him to Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya,

Botswana, Morocco, Mauritius, Malaysia,

Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan,

the USA, Argentina, Chile and, of course,

Europe.

Yves says: “My best memory will be to have

been given the opportunity to travel the world

in order to recruit students for the University

and at the same time meeting a huge number

of people from different cultures and speaking

different languages.

“That has been the most rewarding thing and

that will always be with me. I went to China

over 20 years ago and it was a completely

different country from what it is now. It is

not about going on holidays, as sometimes

colleagues joke about our frequent travelling

– we always have gruelling schedules but at

the same time we meet different people from

different backgrounds and it is very enriching.”

And what does Yves believe international

students bring to the University of

Wolverhampton?

“There is a lot of mixing going on and

international students become friends of

British students, and that can only be good.

I think the University epitomises the global

village. This is basically a microcosm of the

world. You see African students mixing with

Saudi students, Chinese with European and

Indian with British students. That can only be

good for the future of our world.”

Looking aheadThe UK Recruitment Team will build on the

achievements and developments within the

International Centre over the last few years.

There are some new faces, including Andrew

Malley, who has joined Wolverhampton

as Head of International Recruitment and

Business Development. He has broad

experience in the international education

sector, most recently with an awarding body

of UK higher education (HE) and further

education qualifications, leading a team on

business development and partnerships with

UK and international HE institutions, colleges,

governments and private enterprises across

the Americas, India and Europe. He is joined

by Carl Adaway, David Wedge, Premal

Kamdar and Vina Patel.

Andrew explains his vision is that TNE and

international student recruitment will not be

seen as separate entities; it will all become

“international”.

Pictured centre is Yves Milhavy,

outgoing Head of International

Recruitment and Special Projects,

with the new team of David Wedge,

Andrew Malley, Carl Adaway and

Vina Patel.

You don’t need to tell people out there that

the UK is gripped by a recession and times

are tough.

The economic downturn is gradually becoming

a landslide hitting people and businesses hard

in the pocket.

Just the right time to launch a new scheme

by universities in the West Midlands aimed at

improving the profitability of small to medium

enterprises (SMEs).

The University of Wolverhampton is leading the

Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise Network

(KEEN) which is being part-funded by the

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

until July 2015.

KEEN helps SMEs to realise their potential

through working with a recent graduate, known

as an Affiliate, who is recruited to work full-time

on a commercial growth project, developed in

association with the University.

The programme can run between six

months and two years, giving the Affiliate the

opportunity to make an impact and embed the

positive outcomes of their project within the

company.

They are mentored throughout the process by

a University expert and are able to access the

University’s resources and expertise.

As KEEN regional manager, Marc Fleetham,

explains it’s a win-win situation. He said:

“KEEN is very much aimed at SMEs that want

to advance and innovate but haven’t looked at

how they can do that.

“The idea is that a graduate will go into a

company and manage a project. That could be

to streamline a process, reduce waste, create

efficiency savings or redefine a product portfolio

through marketing.

Marc Bailey, commercial director at the

manufacturing company, said: “KEEN allows

us to move much quicker and get involved in

projects we need to in our industry. Being able

to lean on academia is also a big plus for us.

“There are certain specialist areas we don’t

normally get involved with that we can draw

upon. That really is a big deal for us.

“The other important factor is the part-funding

from ERDF which has helped us get a graduate

on board.”

“The benefit to the company is that it’s low risk,

and can help increase profitability and create

growth.

“For the University it gives our academics

the opportunity to apply their knowledge and

research in a practical environment and in turn

help develop the curriculum to provide skills

which are employer-led for our students.

“And for the graduate plainly it gives them an

opportunity to showcase their knowledge and

skills. The hope is that at the end of the process

the company will take the graduate on full-time

so this acts almost like one long job interview

and gives vital work-based experience, while

being supported by a university expert.”

The scheme was launched at an event staged

at RAF Cosford in July to give business leaders

an insight into what it could offer.

Since then there have been more than 20

applications and the first few have just recently

been approved to go ahead.

Marc continued: “There is the demand out there

for such a product in the current marketplace.

“Universities are backing it and it is a great

option for businesses which are looking to test

out plans they may have for future expansion.

“There are plenty of companies out there that

want to expand and innovate but they simply

don’t have the time, resources or expertise to

do it as they’re too busy dealing with the day-

to-day.

“What KEEN provides is fresh, young talent,

supported by the University, to come in and

make things happen. It really is commercially

invaluable.”

Among the first companies to sign up to the

West Midlands scheme is MoFlash Signalling,

working with Coventry University.

KEEN for success

20 BuSINeSS

The universities taking part in the scheme have

a strong track record in Knowledge Transfer and

have worked in partnership over the past two

years on the highly successful West Midlands

Knowledge Transfer Partnership programme,

part-funded by the ERDF, Advantage West

Midlands and the Technology Strategy Board.

Turnaround from application to approval is

typically three weeks on KEEN, meaning that

Affiliate recruitment periods are minimised and

projects can start quickly, helping businesses to

move forward and remain competitive.

Average company cost is £18,673 per annum.

Many different disciplines can be accessed

such as business process, design and

technology and marketing, which are areas

that SMEs often find challenging.

For more information visit:

www.wlv.ac.uk/keen

BuSINeSS 21

What KeeN provides is fresh, young talent, supported by the university, to come in and make things happen.

“Winning that Olympic gold it is an athlete’s

dream. It was a feeling like no other.” Tessa

Sanderson recalls the moment she realised she

was an Olympic champion in Los Angeles in

1984 as if it was yesterday.

It was the pinnacle of a glittering career in

athletics – the momentous night in LA must

have seemed an age away from her childhood

growing up in Wednesfield.

Having been born in Jamaica, a six-year-old

Tessa moved to the town during the sixties,

attending Wood End Primary and then Ward’s

Bridge High School.

It was there that PE teacher, Barbara Richards

recognised her sporting talents – with Tessa

excelling in netball, rounders and hockey, but

also athletics.

Barbara persuaded Tessa’s parents that

it wouldn’t interfere with her schoolwork

and took her along to training sessions at

Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletic Club.

And the rest as they say is history.

Although starting out as a multi-eventer she

soon settled on javelin and by the age of 16

she had won her first national English School

title in 1972. A year later she won the title again

and by 1974 she was competing in her first

major international tournament for England at

the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch.

Four years on she won her first major title –

Commonwealth Gold in Edmonton – it was the

first of three golds, the others following in 1986

in Edinburgh and 1990 in Auckland.

But it is Tessa’s Olympic career that stands out

among her sporting accolades. In 1984 she

was only fourth best in the world on paper and

just returning from a two year injury lay-off.

She was also locked in a long-running battle

for supremacy with Great Britain team mate,

Fatima Whitbread.

Tessa said: “I wasn’t expected to win in ‘84.

I’d been out injured and was just coming back.

I’d finished fourth at the World Championships

behind Fatima and the Finnish girl Tiina Lillak.

“But I knew I’d been throwing well and with

my first throw in the final I won it with 69.56m.

The Finnish girl came up short in her last

attempt and it was those 56cm that made the

difference.

“I went into my last throw knowing I had

won gold. It was unbelievable. Some people

wouldn’t have bothered throwing the last

round knowing that but I wanted it. I wanted to

celebrate the win.

“It was a great feeling – and you think – what

can I possibly achieve after this? I’d beaten

the Finnish girl and even more so I’d beaten

Fatima.

“We had a fierce rivalry at the time and there

was no love lost but in a way that spurred me

on. It’s all water under a bridge now but back

then it was intense. To be fair she was the first

one who came to congratulate me.”

Next came the moment every athlete dreams

of – standing on the podium while the national

anthem is played with an Olympic gold medal

draped around your neck.

“All you can think is your time has come, it is

like the whole world stands still. The emotions

just kick in and there were tears – I didn’t

even realise I was crying, then I felt the tears

streaming down my cheeks.

“It is something that I will never forget.”

That was one of six Olympic Games that Tessa

competed in. She had already appeared in two

– 1976 in Montreal where she finished a highly

credible fifth and 1980 in Moscow, by the time

she grabbed gold on America’s West Coast.

In Seoul in 1988 she disappointingly failed to

qualify for the final, and in 1992 in Barcelona

she just missed out on a medal, finishing

fourth.

After initially retiring following that competition

Tessa made a final sojourn, coming out of

retirement and qualifying to compete in a sixth

Games in Atlanta in 1996. A year later she

finally hung up her javelin for good.

“Los Angeles was obviously the highlight of

my career but there were others such as the

Commonwealth Games in ‘86 and Barcelona

‘92 where I wasn’t expected to do well and

finished fourth.

“Other things also stand out though like going

to Buckingham Palace to be recognised for my

achievements.”

Tessa has received the OBE, CBE and MBE

and far from enjoying a leisurely retirement she

has thrown herself head first into helping others

raise their aspirations.

But she baulks at the suggestion that her

sporting career has opened doors for her.

“I’ve had to open doors myself. I’ve had nothing

put in front of me on a plate. I’ve had to earn

everything and work hard for it – even now.

“Looking back I don’t really think I got the

respect and the accolades the achievement

deserved. I was the first Black British woman

to win an Olympic gold.

“I wasn’t the favourite but I was confident. I was a

lone soldier but it was not a blue ribbon event.

“Even now I think the response to the win was

mediocre. No massive glory. I’ve had to earn

everything. I just put my best foot forward and

went for it.

22 PeoPle

She was the first Black British woman to win olympic gold and she has competed in a record six games. tessa Sanderson has since gone on to share her drive and determination to help other young athletes succeed. the University of Wolverhampton honorary graduate told WlV dialogue the secret of her success.

Golden girl

PeoPle 23

“Athletics has dramatically changed since I

was competing but I think it’s changed for

the better. I was working 9-5 and training and

competing alongside that. The money has

changed, standards have changed and there’s

the technology involved.

“It’s been professionalised. There’s no hint of

amateurism anymore.

“People often ask me would I win gold in

today’s era – I’ve had my time, my moment.

That’s good enough for me.

“But the athletes of today are not just athletes

they’re models and catwalk queens and

marketing tools. They have to be to survive.”

Tessa’s focus is now firmly on helping provide

the next generation of gold medal winners.

In 2009 she set up the Tessa Sanderson

Foundation and Academy in the London

borough of Newham, the heartland of this

summer’s sporting extravaganza.

The aim was to give kids in the urban areas the

opportunity to get into sport and have access

to facilities and coaching.

“It is a huge event but for me the big thing

will be the legacy it leaves behind. That’s

the most important thing. It’s not only about

things like the sports facilities but the affect it

has on nurturing young talent and getting kids

involved.”

Neil White always knew he wanted to be a

journalist.

His first foray saw him writing match reports as

a boy on parks football in Coventry and trying

to sell them for a few pence.

Nowadays he’s editor of a regional daily

newspaper read by 100,000 people every day.

And Neil built the foundations of his future

career at Wolverhampton Polytechnic through

his BA (Hons) European Studies course.

He said: “At the time there was no such

thing as a degree in journalism. I loved doing

German at A-level and wanted to have the

option to study abroad so European Studies

looked the best option for me.

“But as well as the elements of language there

were also elements of politics and economics,

something which has stood me in good stead

today.

“It was a four year course, with one year in

Essen, Germany. I made lifelong friends and

there’s rarely a week that goes by that I don’t

have some form of contact with someone from

the course.

“I remember some of our lectures taking place

in the back of the old John Ireland stand at

Wolves’ ground.”

While at school Neil did a stint on hospital

radio in Coventry where he interviewed the

editor of the local paper. He continued with his

broadcasting stint by reporting on non-league

football matches for Mercian Radio.

The editor of the local paper he’d interviewed

was now heading up the Birmingham Post and

Mail so when he graduated in 1984 Neil wrote

a letter asking him for advice and was offered a

job interview.

He spent nine years as a reporter at the paper

before becoming news editor at UK News,

a press agency set up to rival the Press

Association.

From there he took the post as news editor

at the Nottingham Evening Post. In his eight

years there Neil also held the roles of head of

content and assistant editor.

It was during this period he used his journalistic

skills to good affect – to set up a reunion for

his old classmates from his Wolverhampton

days.

“I’m quite evangelical about my time at

Wolverhampton. It was coming up to 20 years

since I’d graduated and I thought it would

be great to have a reunion. I started tracking

people down. Firstly just close friends but then

I started tracking everyone I could down.

“Nearly 60 people turned up and we staged it

at the Students’ Union. It was brilliant to see

everyone again.”

In 2006 Neil made the 16 mile trip from

Nottingham to Derby to become deputy editor

before being made editor in June this year.

In his career Neil has covered an array of

stories but some stand out more than others.

Name: neil White Course: Ba (hons) european Studies

Year of Graduation: 1984

24 SucceSS SToRy

Neil WhiteGraduate success story He said: “As a journalist we do get behind the

scenes and have privileged access. Just the

other month I met the Prime Minister.

“But there are three particular stories that

stand out for me in the years I have been in

the industry.

“The first is being on the balcony for the civic

reception in Coventry when they won the

FA Cup in 1987. As a lifelong fan that was

amazing. I was stood next to the manager

John Sillett.

“The next is the Kegworth air crash on the M1.

Just standing there on the motorway, seeing

a plane strewn across the carriageway is

unforgettable.

“The third is the death of Princess Diana.

The impact it had on the country and the

outpouring of grief we may never see the like

of again. We came in and did 17 pages off the

cuff. It affected people more than any other

story I’ve ever dealt with.”

The news industry is changing alongside

advancements in technology and the way

people consume media is changing with it.

Something Neil acknowledges.

“People are more interested in creating the

news themselves through social media and

blogs. Everyone thinks they are reporters

these days. There is a huge appetite for

breaking news.

“The media used to be the only people who

were able to do that but not anymore although

I always think there will be a place for proper

journalism. We still have a role to play and all

the blogs and social media feeds out there

just cannot work to that kind of level.

“When people suggest newspapers are dying

I say tell that to the many people we have

helped through our stories; the family of a

local woman found dead in India who we’ve

helped get an inquiry opened into her death;

the factory workers at local train makers

Bombardier who we campaigned for to save

their jobs; or the fundraising campaign we ran

to help send water purification kits to Haiti.

“That’s the reason I come to work. Knowing

there are 100,000 every day that read our

paper. We have a powerful role to play and

what we do can help change people’s lives

for the better and hold those in power to

account.”

WhaT’S oN GuIDe 25

August

What’s onGuideUniversity of Wolverhampton open day – find out about a range of courses, meet the lecturers and current students and tour the excellent facilities.

Date: Saturday 18 August 2012

Time: 10am-3pm

Location: Wolverhampton City and Walsall Campuses

Website: www.wlv.ac.uk/opendays

Call: 0800 953 3222*

2012 University of Wolverhampton graduations – Students from all Academic Schools receive their awards.

Date: thursday 6 September – Friday 14 September 2012

Location: the grand theatre, Wolverhampton

School of technology open event – find out about part-time undergraduate courses or postgraduate courses. Meet the lecturers to discuss your options.

Date: Thursday 6 September 2012

Time: 4pm-7pm

Location: MI Building, University of Wolverhampton

Website: www.wlv.ac.uk/stech

Call: 01902 321402

Email: stech@wlv.ac.uk

University of Wolverhampton Business School open evening – find out about a range of part-time study options.

Date: Tuesday 11 September 2012

Time: 5pm-7pm

Location: MX Building, Camp Street, Wolverhampton

Website: www.wlv.ac.uk/uwbs/openevening

Call: 01902 321081

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September

Saturday 30 June 2012university of Wolverhampton city campus, 10am-4pm.

ma degree Show – The MA Degree Show is the culmination of the work undertaken by Masters and PhD students at the School of Art & Design. Featuring work by MA Design and Applied Arts, MA Digital and Visual Communication and MA Fine Art students.

Dates: 29 September – 28 October 2012

Venue: The Public, New Street, West Bromwich, B70 7PG

Website: www.wlv.ac.uk/sad

Call: 01902 322 058

Email: art-design@wlv.ac.uk

School of law, Social Sciences and Communications postgraduate open evening – look around the facilities, meet prospective lecturers and talk to the experts about available funding, careers and more.

Date: Thursday 20 September 2012

Time: 5.30pm-7.30pm

Venue: MC Building, University of Wolverhampton

Website: www.wlv.ac.uk/lssc

Call: 01902 323515

Email: lssc-enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

University of Wolverhampton open day – find out about a range of courses, meet the lecturers and current students and tour the excellent facilities.

Date: Saturday 6 October 2012

Time: 10am-3pm

Location: Wolverhampton City and Walsall Campuses

Website: www.wlv.ac.uk/opendays

Call: 0800 953 3222*

October

University of Wolverhampton Wulfruna Street Wolverhampton West Midlands WV1 1LY

tel: 0800 953 3222* fax: 01902 322 517 web: www.wlv.ac.uk/dialogue

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