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Issue 03 Summer 2012<br />

<strong>WLV</strong><strong>Life</strong><br />

Alumni magazine for <strong>Wolverhampton</strong> graduates and former students<br />

Creating a Big Bang<br />

in Hollywood<br />

Graduate feature: Alice Amter<br />

Alumni reunion in pictures<br />

All the snaps from the night<br />

An Olympic <strong>University</strong><br />

How your university got involved


<strong>Life</strong>. At <strong>Wolverhampton</strong>.<br />

After <strong>Wolverhampton</strong>. For <strong>Life</strong>.<br />

Welcome to the Summer 2012 edition<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>WLV</strong> <strong>Life</strong> – the alumni magazine for<br />

graduates and former students <strong>of</strong> the<br />

<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Wolverhampton</strong>.<br />

Here in the alumni team we love<br />

discovering things about our graduates<br />

and since the last edition we’ve made<br />

some incredible ones.<br />

If the face on the front cover looks familiar,<br />

you probably recognise her from hit TV<br />

show The Big Bang Theory. That’s where<br />

graduate, Alice Amter, is currently making<br />

a name for herself as ‘Mrs Koothrappali’<br />

and we just had to talk to her about life on<br />

the Hollywood scene (page 12).<br />

Plus, who can mention summer 2012<br />

without thinking about the Olympic<br />

Games? We can’t; and life handed us<br />

our own little win when we discovered<br />

graduate, Lauren Smith, not only works<br />

for London 2012, but is a Commonwealth<br />

Bronze Medallist (page 16). You can also<br />

find out how your <strong>University</strong> got involved<br />

in the Olympics on page 19, including<br />

welcoming the Australian Judo team.<br />

Finally, did you miss our first ever Alumni<br />

Reunion back in February? Well don’t<br />

worry, because in this bumper edition<br />

we’ve got all the pictures (page 3).<br />

With all the latest alumni and <strong>University</strong><br />

news, including the launch <strong>of</strong> our new<br />

branch campus in Mauritius (page 14), and<br />

a look at what a day is like in the life <strong>of</strong> two<br />

<strong>of</strong> our Graduate Interns (page 10), you’ll be<br />

sure to find something <strong>of</strong> interest.<br />

If you fancy sending us a letter or sharing<br />

your ‘life’ story then we’d love to read –<br />

and maybe even publish – what you’ve<br />

been up to since we said goodbye.<br />

I hope you find <strong>WLV</strong> <strong>Life</strong> an entertaining<br />

and informative read – please do let us<br />

know your thoughts via email:<br />

alumni@wlv.ac.uk<br />

Best wishes<br />

Amy Roberton<br />

Amy Roberton<br />

Editor<br />

03<br />

12<br />

14<br />

16<br />

Contents<br />

02<br />

03<br />

08<br />

10<br />

12<br />

14<br />

16<br />

19<br />

22<br />

24<br />

Alumni news and events<br />

What’s been happening at your <strong>University</strong>...<br />

Alumni Reunion 2012 in pictures<br />

See what we got up to<br />

<strong>University</strong> news<br />

Top headlines from the past six months<br />

A day in the life <strong>of</strong> a Graduate Intern<br />

James and Sarah, Schools and Colleges Liaison<br />

Graduate feature: Alice Amter<br />

Creating a Big Bang in Hollywood<br />

Proudly in Mauritius<br />

We launch a new branch campus and alumni association<br />

Graduate feature: Lauren Smith<br />

Making a splash<br />

An Olympic <strong>University</strong><br />

How your university got involved<br />

My <strong>Life</strong><br />

Jerry Nulun, LLB (Hons) Law, 1997<br />

Puzzle Page<br />

Quick crossword and Sudoku<br />

01<br />

Written by: Amy Roberton & Leigh Joslin


Alumni news and events<br />

New 20% Postgraduate<br />

Loyalty Discount<br />

The Leading Lights<br />

lecture series<br />

Thinking about furthering your studies with a<br />

taught postgraduate course? There’s never<br />

been a better time to invest in you, with our<br />

new postgraduate loyalty discount.<br />

If you completed an undergraduate degree<br />

at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Wolverhampton</strong>, you can<br />

enjoy a 20% discount* on the first year <strong>of</strong> a<br />

taught postgraduate programme.<br />

The discount is available on Master’s<br />

degrees, postgraduate diplomas and<br />

postgraduate certificates (PGCE, MPhil<br />

or Doctoral awards are not eligible). The<br />

discount applies to new entrants only on<br />

courses starting from September 2012<br />

onwards.<br />

Discover our full range <strong>of</strong> postgraduate<br />

taught courses and see what you can save<br />

at: www.wlv.ac.uk/postgrad<br />

*Terms and conditions apply.<br />

Spring Graduation 2012<br />

More than 750 graduates donned their cap<br />

and gown last April to receive their degrees<br />

at the Grand Theatre in <strong>Wolverhampton</strong>.<br />

Distinguished figures from the worlds <strong>of</strong><br />

human rights, law, education and business<br />

took centre stage this spring with an exciting<br />

new series <strong>of</strong> thought-provoking public<br />

lectures.<br />

The Leading Lights Lectures 2012 featured<br />

a number <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong>’s honorary<br />

graduates, who are prominent industry<br />

figures that the <strong>University</strong> has awarded with<br />

an honorary degree in recognition <strong>of</strong> their<br />

achievements within their field.<br />

They included Mary Curnock Cook OBE,<br />

Chief Executive <strong>of</strong> UCAS; entrepreneur<br />

Tom Ilube, who founded the world’s largest<br />

online bank, Egg; Jean Irvine OBE, who is<br />

an equality and human rights commissioner;<br />

Constance Briscoe, one <strong>of</strong> the first black<br />

women to be appointed a judge in the UK;<br />

and Mark Palmer, the marketing mastermind<br />

behind Green and Black’s organic chocolate.<br />

Attended by key local and regional partners,<br />

the general public, students, graduates and<br />

staff, The Leading Lights Lectures have now<br />

become a key part <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong>’s events<br />

calendar. Watch the lectures at:<br />

www.wlv.ac.uk/leadinglights<br />

Above: Tom Ilube, founder <strong>of</strong> Egg<br />

Alumni<br />

Reunion 2012<br />

in pictures...<br />

Postgraduate students from subjects across<br />

the <strong>University</strong> were joined by undergraduate<br />

students from the School <strong>of</strong> Health and<br />

Wellbeing, including our Nursing, Midwifery<br />

and Social Work cohorts, in a celebration <strong>of</strong><br />

their hard work and dedication.<br />

Alumni and<br />

Development team<br />

welcomes Graduate<br />

Intern<br />

If you missed our first ever <strong>University</strong>-wide Alumni Reunion earlier<br />

this year, then this bumper edition <strong>of</strong> <strong>WLV</strong> <strong>Life</strong> packed with all the<br />

pictures from the night is just what you need!<br />

During the ceremonies we also conferred<br />

honorary degrees and pr<strong>of</strong>essorships in<br />

recognition <strong>of</strong> the achievements <strong>of</strong> our<br />

academic staff and those <strong>of</strong> key industry<br />

figures.<br />

Presided over by the Vice-Chancellor, Deans<br />

<strong>of</strong> School and teaching staff, the three<br />

ceremonies were preceded by a procession<br />

beginning at the <strong>University</strong> buildings in<br />

Wulfruna Street.<br />

We are delighted to welcome graduate,<br />

Leigh Joslin, as the newest member <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Alumni and Development team. Leigh joins<br />

us as part <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong>’s Graduate Intern<br />

programme which <strong>of</strong>fers graduates sixmonth<br />

paid placements within the <strong>University</strong>.<br />

Leigh will assist the team with a wide<br />

range <strong>of</strong> alumni relations activities including<br />

contributing articles to <strong>WLV</strong> <strong>Life</strong> magazine<br />

and <strong>WLV</strong>@lumni e-zine, seeking out new<br />

graduate success stories, organising events,<br />

and helping us to expand our range <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>fcampus<br />

graduate benefits.<br />

Leigh graduated in 2011 with a BA (Hons)<br />

Video and Film Production and is now<br />

undertaking an MA Scriptwriting via distance<br />

learning at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Glamorgan.<br />

We were thrilled to see so many <strong>of</strong> you come back to campus for our glittering night <strong>of</strong> celebration.<br />

Despite the February cold and the impending forecast <strong>of</strong> snow, nearly 200 alumni and honorary<br />

graduates joined us at the Molineux Stadium for an evening <strong>of</strong> food, drink and live entertainment<br />

that kept us dancing ‘til the early hours.<br />

Celebrating the first anniversary <strong>of</strong> our <strong>WLV</strong> Alumni Association, we welcomed back former<br />

students from as long ago as 1975, all the way through to 2011, and representing over 50<br />

different degree courses from the <strong>University</strong>’s past and present.<br />

Get your snapshot <strong>of</strong> the night with our<br />

reunion photo album over the page…<br />

03


What our alumni<br />

said about the night…<br />

Vice-Chancellor, Ge<strong>of</strong>f Layer, with President <strong>of</strong> the Students’<br />

Union, Ken Harris, and Graduate to Great 2011 participants:<br />

Marcus Wareham, S<strong>of</strong>ina Islam and Gemma Wright<br />

Meeting friends, old and new<br />

Taking a trip down memory lane<br />

‘‘ Fantastic night out!<br />

‘‘<br />

‘‘ Eventful and very<br />

entertaining, thoroughly<br />

enjoyed the evening.<br />

‘‘ Attending this party<br />

has been great.<br />

‘‘<br />

‘‘<br />

‘‘ Fab evening, great to meet<br />

‘‘<br />

fellow graduates. Keep up<br />

the good work.<br />

A lot to talk about since graduating<br />

Our entertainment for the night, Blues Brothers Tribute Group,<br />

The Full Shabang<br />

Alumni getting into the groove on the dance floor<br />

‘‘ Had a great time.<br />

‘‘<br />

Former <strong>University</strong> Chaplain, Prebendary Ge<strong>of</strong>frey Wynn,<br />

and wife Gaynor, with Ge<strong>of</strong>f Layer<br />

Smiles all round from our alumni<br />

Tucking in to the buffet<br />

‘‘ Fabulous evening;<br />

well done.<br />

We need this<br />

every year.<br />

‘‘<br />

05


‘‘ Great evening, lots <strong>of</strong><br />

‘‘<br />

fun, really enjoyable!<br />

‘‘ Great entertainment,<br />

‘‘<br />

good atmosphere –<br />

roll on next year.<br />

‘‘ Very well organised<br />

and highly enjoyable.<br />

Let’s hope it’s the first<br />

<strong>of</strong> many.<br />

‘‘<br />

Honorary Graduate, Dave Heeley, aka ‘Blind Dave’,<br />

and wife Debbie (right), join us at the reunion<br />

BBC’s See Hear presenter and Honorary Graduate, Terry Riley<br />

(right), signing with a Deaf Studies graduate and Senior Lecturer<br />

in Deaf Studies and Interpreting (BSL/English), John Hay MBE<br />

Magician, Kris Krendo, wows our guests during the night<br />

‘‘ Really enjoyed the<br />

evening. Food was<br />

lovely and I met<br />

two lovely people<br />

I hadn’t met until<br />

tonight. Thank you.<br />

‘‘<br />

Ken Harris welcomes returning<br />

alumni to our first ever reunion<br />

The evening’s lucky iPad winner<br />

The boys are back in town<br />

Honorary Graduate, Baroness Verma <strong>of</strong> Leicester,<br />

and husband Ashok, with Ge<strong>of</strong>f Layer<br />

The next alumni<br />

reunion will be in<br />

Spring 2013<br />

Look out for more information in<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>@lumni e-zine and on the alumni<br />

website: www.wlv.ac.uk/alumni<br />

07<br />

Honorary Graduate, Lord Bilston <strong>of</strong> Bilston, and wife<br />

All glammed up for a night <strong>of</strong> celebration<br />

Chief Executive <strong>of</strong> UCAS<br />

Mary Curnock Cook OBE (centre)


<strong>University</strong> News<br />

Here are some <strong>of</strong> our top headlines over the past six months...<br />

April<br />

Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun<br />

30 1<br />

May<br />

Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun<br />

1 2 3 4 5 6<br />

June<br />

Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun<br />

1 2 3<br />

2 3 4 5 6 7 8<br />

7 8 9 10 11 12 13<br />

4 5 6 7 8 9 10<br />

9 10 11 12 13 14 15<br />

14 15 16 17 18 19 20<br />

11 12 13 14 15 16 17<br />

16 17 18 19 20 21 22<br />

21 22 23 24 25 26 27<br />

18 19 20 21 22 23 24<br />

23 24 25 26 27 28 29<br />

28 29 30 31<br />

25 26 27 28 29 30<br />

January<br />

Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun<br />

30 31 1<br />

2 3 4 5 6 7 8<br />

9 10 11 12 13 14 15<br />

16 17 18 19 20 21 22<br />

23 24 25 26 27 28 29<br />

Esther Rantzen, David Miliband<br />

and Steve Cram present guest<br />

lectures<br />

TV personality Esther Rantzen, David<br />

Miliband MP, and Olympic medallist Steve<br />

Cram MBE, all visited the <strong>University</strong> to<br />

give guest lectures. Esther Rantzen talked<br />

to guests about the 25th anniversary <strong>of</strong><br />

ChildLine, the national helpline for children<br />

which she established in 1986, and Steve<br />

Cram MBE presented an inspirational<br />

talk about making the most <strong>of</strong> mentors<br />

and coaches. David Miliband MP visited<br />

<strong>Wolverhampton</strong> to take part in a Q&A with<br />

staff and students as part <strong>of</strong> a universities<br />

tour.<br />

New links forged with<br />

Warwickshire Police<br />

The <strong>University</strong> joined forces with<br />

Warwickshire Police to <strong>of</strong>fer practical<br />

experience for students on our BSc (Hons)<br />

Policing course. Alongside their academic<br />

studies, students will undertake work<br />

placements as Special Constables with<br />

the Force, giving them real experience <strong>of</strong><br />

police work and helping them to build a solid<br />

foundation for a career in the police.<br />

February<br />

Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun<br />

1 2 3 4 5<br />

6 7 8 9 10 11 12<br />

13 14 15 16 17 18 19<br />

20 21 22 23 24 25 26<br />

27 28 29<br />

New emergency services<br />

degrees launched<br />

We launched two innovative degrees at<br />

a special event which saw the <strong>University</strong><br />

campus transformed into an ‘emergency<br />

village.’ The new MSc Emergency<br />

Planning, Resilience and Response and the<br />

Postgraduate Certificate in the Management<br />

<strong>of</strong> Passenger Transport Emergency<br />

Incidents, will provide emergency service<br />

and transport industry pr<strong>of</strong>essionals with<br />

additional skills when dealing with major<br />

incidents. The launch event featured more<br />

than 25 emergency vehicles, including an<br />

<strong>of</strong>f-duty Air Ambulance, a fire engine and a<br />

rescue boat.<br />

A masterclass in evil from<br />

Steven Berk<strong>of</strong>f<br />

World famous actor, Steven Berk<strong>of</strong>f, gave<br />

theatre goers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity<br />

to see a true master <strong>of</strong> his craft at close<br />

quarters when he presented Shakespeare’s<br />

Villains at the Arena at the <strong>University</strong>’s Arena<br />

Theatre. In two special performances, Steven<br />

explored Shakespeare’s most villainous<br />

characters – Iago, the Macbeths, Shylock,<br />

and Richard III. Steven is known to many for<br />

the villains he has played in mainstream films<br />

– James Bond Octopussy, Beverly Hills Cop,<br />

Rambo and The Krays.<br />

March<br />

Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun<br />

1 2 3 4<br />

5 6 7 8 9 10 11<br />

12 13 14 15 16 17 18<br />

19 20 21 22 23 24 25<br />

26 27 28 29 30 31<br />

Sports stars celebrated<br />

We celebrated the achievements <strong>of</strong> students<br />

who have excelled at sport during their<br />

time at the <strong>University</strong> at our annual Sports<br />

Awards at Walsall Football Club. More than<br />

150 people attended the event, which<br />

recognised individuals and teams who<br />

have been successful this academic year.<br />

We were joined by guest speaker, triple<br />

Olympian Christina Boxer, who competed in<br />

the 1980, 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games<br />

and claimed gold in the 1500m at the 1982<br />

Commonwealth Games.<br />

Student designs new Dickens<br />

cover<br />

Photography student, Alexandros<br />

Panagiotopoulos, was selected to design<br />

the front cover for a new edition <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Charles Dickens classic Oliver Twist that<br />

was published in April. Alexandros won<br />

a competition launched by The Guardian<br />

and Vintage Classics which was run as<br />

part <strong>of</strong> the Charles Dickens 200th birthday<br />

celebrations, and 2012 also marks 175<br />

years since Oliver Twist was first published.<br />

The challenge was to create a cover which<br />

represented a modern twist on the spirit <strong>of</strong><br />

the original story.<br />

Students’ Union wins National<br />

Environmental Award<br />

Our Students’ Union was named Most<br />

Improved Union at the National Union <strong>of</strong><br />

Students (NUS) Green Impact Awards.<br />

The award recognises the environmental<br />

work <strong>of</strong> students’ unions and is part <strong>of</strong><br />

the NUS Green Impact initiative which<br />

provides environmental accreditation for<br />

unions, helping them to showcase good<br />

environmental practice. We were also<br />

awarded the Silver Green Impact Standard<br />

at the ceremony, which took place in<br />

Manchester.<br />

Third annual International<br />

Festival hailed a success<br />

Students from around the world came<br />

together at our International<br />

Festival 2012 in a celebration<br />

<strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong>’s multicultural,<br />

multi-talented student<br />

community. The event, which<br />

had a sporting theme,<br />

included an international<br />

Zumba challenge where<br />

<strong>Wolverhampton</strong><br />

students teamed up<br />

with their counterparts<br />

in Japan, Malaysia and<br />

Northern Cyprus to do a<br />

synchronised class that was<br />

linked via satellite.<br />

New £250,000 graduate<br />

placement scheme launched<br />

A new £250,000 project will enable<br />

<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Wolverhampton</strong> graduates to<br />

secure valuable experience working in Spain<br />

and the Netherlands. Graduates will spend<br />

12 weeks working in companies ranging<br />

from engineering and construction to event<br />

management and IT firms. Funding for the<br />

scheme has been provided by the Leonardo<br />

<strong>Life</strong>long Learning Mobility programme.<br />

Students light up Olympic<br />

stadium<br />

<strong>Wolverhampton</strong> students competed at the<br />

brand new Olympic Stadium in the British<br />

Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS)<br />

Visa Outdoor Athletics Championships.<br />

Student, Jarryd Dunn, won gold in the<br />

400m, clocking up a personal best time <strong>of</strong><br />

46.66 seconds, which was also<br />

inside the European ‘A’<br />

qualifying standard (46.70). Also<br />

celebrating was fellow student, David<br />

Lima, who took the silver medal in the<br />

final <strong>of</strong> the Men’s 200m.<br />

<strong>University</strong> launched first<br />

SciFest<br />

We hosted our first ever SciFest in a<br />

celebration <strong>of</strong> science and technology. The<br />

week-long festival in June was created<br />

to enable school pupils from the West<br />

Midlands to discover all areas <strong>of</strong> science<br />

and technology, and included a series <strong>of</strong><br />

interactive activities aimed at Primary, GCSE<br />

and A-level years. The event concluded with<br />

a Public Day on the Saturday to coincide<br />

with the Olympic torch and Blue Peter being<br />

in <strong>Wolverhampton</strong>.<br />

Firefighter training for students<br />

Students were given a taste <strong>of</strong> life as a<br />

firefighter as part <strong>of</strong> an innovative partnership<br />

with West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS).<br />

The BSc (Hons) Fire and Rescue students<br />

spent four weeks at the WMFS Academy in<br />

Smethwick completing the same training as<br />

newly recruited firefighters. The 28 first and<br />

second year students have been learning<br />

to use ladders, pumps and hoses as part<br />

<strong>of</strong> their degree course, which combines<br />

academic theory with practical experience.<br />

09


A day in the life...<br />

Graduate Interns<br />

Schools and Colleges Liaison<br />

James Belsey<br />

BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching,<br />

2011<br />

Sarah Connor<br />

BA (Hons) Business and Dance<br />

Practice and Performance, 2011<br />

9am – Visit to a local school<br />

“One <strong>of</strong> the key roles <strong>of</strong> a Student<br />

Advisor is to engage with schools<br />

and colleges in the West Midlands<br />

and talk to pupils, teachers and<br />

parents about higher education (HE).<br />

This could be a presentation on<br />

the benefits <strong>of</strong> going to university, a<br />

workshop giving advice on how to<br />

complete UCAS applications,<br />

or even a series <strong>of</strong> one-to-one chats<br />

on specific courses and subjects<br />

areas.<br />

“I always try and make my visits<br />

interactive and fun and I have<br />

developed my own resources to help<br />

me. For example, to explain student<br />

loans we created our own version <strong>of</strong><br />

Million Pound Drop called Student<br />

Loan Drop.”<br />

10am – Head back to the<br />

<strong>of</strong>fice to prepare for a<br />

<strong>University</strong> Open Day<br />

“Graduate interns <strong>of</strong>ten help out<br />

at <strong>University</strong> Open Days; giving<br />

campus and accommodation tours<br />

and talking to visitors. We also act<br />

as mystery shoppers which involves<br />

talking to academic staff about<br />

courses, going on various tours, and<br />

observing our real visitors to gauge<br />

what experience they are getting.<br />

“To prepare myself, I spend a bit <strong>of</strong><br />

time researching different subject<br />

areas and thinking about questions I<br />

could ask. Being a mystery shopper<br />

is a lot <strong>of</strong> fun and it’s a great chance<br />

for us to identify ways to improve<br />

Open Days.”<br />

11.30am – Rehearse finance<br />

presentation for a parents<br />

evening<br />

“Tonight I am attending a parents<br />

evening with nearly 200 people,<br />

talking about the financial side <strong>of</strong><br />

university such as tuition fees and<br />

student loans. Parents play a huge<br />

part in helping their child decide<br />

what university to go to and financial<br />

considerations are a key factor.<br />

It’s the largest audience I have<br />

presented to so I’m taking some time<br />

out to rehearse. It’s quite daunting<br />

but it will be a great opportunity.”<br />

12.30pm – Lunch<br />

1.30pm – Respond to an<br />

invite to attend an HE Fair<br />

“Schools <strong>of</strong>ten host their own HE<br />

Fairs and invite local colleges and<br />

universities to attend. These always<br />

take place in the morning and so I get<br />

the date in my diary and make a list <strong>of</strong><br />

the additional materials I will need to<br />

take with me such as prospectuses,<br />

flyers, stands and tablecloths.”<br />

2pm – Volunteer in<br />

The Gateway<br />

“All interns volunteer three hours<br />

every two weeks in The Gateway,<br />

the <strong>University</strong>’s advice centre for<br />

current and prospective students. It’s<br />

a very varied role – one minute you’re<br />

advising a current student about their<br />

loan and the next you’re talking to an<br />

enquirer who wants to know what<br />

support we can <strong>of</strong>fer mature students.”<br />

5pm – Set <strong>of</strong>f for my parents<br />

evening – wish me luck!<br />

9am – Host a school<br />

Taster Day<br />

“To give school children a taste <strong>of</strong><br />

university life we organise mornings<br />

where they can come onto campus<br />

and take part in a range <strong>of</strong> activities.<br />

These can be focused on a specific<br />

course or subject area, or they can<br />

be a general introduction to studying<br />

at <strong>Wolverhampton</strong>.<br />

“Every Taster Day can be different<br />

depending on what the school<br />

wants, but a typical one will involve<br />

a tour <strong>of</strong> the campus including the<br />

facilities, which will then be followed<br />

by a workshop. This could be a<br />

jargon buster, a short fun exercise<br />

or, if their taster day is based around<br />

a specific course or subject area, it<br />

could be a mock lecture.”<br />

1pm – Lunch<br />

2pm – Prepare for a UCAS<br />

fair<br />

“Every year the <strong>University</strong> attends<br />

UCAS fairs at other universities<br />

around the country so that<br />

prospective students can find<br />

out more about studying at<br />

<strong>Wolverhampton</strong>.<br />

“I’m due to attend one tomorrow<br />

which means I need to make sure<br />

I have everything I need to take<br />

with me. Thankfully we have a great<br />

team <strong>of</strong> <strong>University</strong> staff supporting<br />

us who have already arranged for<br />

prospectuses and stands to<br />

be delivered to the venue ready<br />

for me.”<br />

2.30pm – Administration<br />

and data entry<br />

“While all the interns have their<br />

own administrative duties, I am<br />

responsible for updating the system<br />

with information about our activities<br />

– for example, the number <strong>of</strong> people<br />

we speak to or the number <strong>of</strong><br />

prospectuses we give out. I make<br />

sure this data is logged so we can<br />

use it to assess how effective our<br />

activity has been.”<br />

3pm – Schools liaison<br />

“Every intern is allocated 10 local<br />

schools or colleges in the West<br />

Midlands and we are responsible<br />

for keeping them up-to-date with<br />

new activities or services we can<br />

<strong>of</strong>fer so that we can build and<br />

maintain strong relationships.<br />

Occasionally we contact new<br />

schools and if they are interested<br />

in a visit I will arrange a primary<br />

meeting to identify and discuss<br />

their particular needs.”<br />

3.30pm – Volunteer in the<br />

Course Enquiries Unit<br />

“Sometimes we provide cover<br />

for the Course Enquiries team,<br />

answering calls from prospective<br />

applicants and sending out<br />

prospectuses. It’s a change <strong>of</strong><br />

scenery and I get to work with other<br />

staff at the <strong>University</strong>, which is great.<br />

It’s also good timing as I can collect<br />

my tablecloth for the UCAS fair<br />

before I set <strong>of</strong>f!”<br />

5pm – Set <strong>of</strong>f for my<br />

UCAS fair!<br />

11


Creating a Big<br />

Bang in Hollywood<br />

LA based actor and graduate, Alice Amter,<br />

talks to the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Wolverhampton</strong><br />

about starring in hit TV show, The Big<br />

Bang Theory and what life is like on the<br />

Hollywood scene.<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: Alice, we have to say,<br />

interviewing a Hollywood<br />

actress is certainly a first for us!<br />

Congratulations on your success<br />

so far, you must be very proud…<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: That must come in handy being an actor…<br />

AA: Being able to adapt is definitely suited to film work<br />

because you’re a different character every time. But<br />

with TV you’ll be one character on a show that could<br />

run for up to 10 years and so you’re not so much <strong>of</strong><br />

a chameleon then! Saying that, people I encounter<br />

rarely make the connection between me and ‘Mrs<br />

Koothrappali’ and when I tell them, they’re shocked<br />

to see how different we are.<br />

to six weeks.<br />

Currently The Big Bang<br />

Theory is in syndication on four<br />

networks in America so I am on TV every<br />

week. You can work really hard on a film and it<br />

may never reach a single screen because getting a<br />

distribution deal can be really tough. Ideally I would<br />

like to do both, but being able to work in just one<br />

medium these days is a blessing in itself because it is<br />

such a tough marketplace.<br />

AA: Yes I am; thank you. It’s been<br />

a tough journey at times, but to go<br />

from a council flat in the suburbs <strong>of</strong><br />

Birmingham to the hills <strong>of</strong> LA is a<br />

blessing.<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: Your big career break came<br />

in 1998 when you appeared in<br />

the hit US TV show ER. How<br />

did you feel getting such a huge<br />

opportunity so early on in your<br />

career?<br />

AA: I was cast in George Clooney’s<br />

final two episodes <strong>of</strong> ER and luckily<br />

I got to work with him. I was a big<br />

fan <strong>of</strong> the show and although I was<br />

new on the scene I was certain I could<br />

do the role. Casting in TV is about fit, and<br />

I fit that role. It was a great starting point<br />

and proved to me that I could make this<br />

work.<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: Since then you’ve gone on to<br />

star in films like The Good Girl and<br />

A Man Apart, and you’re now in<br />

another award-winning US show,<br />

The Big Bang Theory, as Raj’s<br />

mother ‘Mrs Koothrappali.’<br />

What’s that like?<br />

AA: I love being part <strong>of</strong> the show. I<br />

play a recurring character so I’m not<br />

there as much as the regular<br />

cast members, but when I do<br />

Above: Alice Amter as ‘Mrs Koothrappali’ with on-screen husband<br />

work it’s very exciting. The cast and crew are<br />

small compared to other shows, so there’s a<br />

real family bond, and they’re all so talented.<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: What do you love most about being<br />

on the show?<br />

AA: It has to be a) working with such an<br />

insanely talented group <strong>of</strong> people both in<br />

front and behind the camera; and b) the<br />

response from the live studio audience when<br />

we shoot; they are so full <strong>of</strong> praise and<br />

enthusiasm and you feel really loved.<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: What’s the most challenging aspect?<br />

AA: To be as good as everyone else. The<br />

show runs like a well-oiled machine and<br />

everyone is a pr<strong>of</strong>essional with a good,<br />

positive attitude.<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: You’re known as The Chameleon<br />

because <strong>of</strong> your ability to portray a<br />

variety <strong>of</strong> roles. How did you get the<br />

name?<br />

AA: I gave the name to myself, but people<br />

have always said I’m like a chameleon<br />

because I’m constantly adapting myself to<br />

suit my environment.<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: You graduated in Modern Languages and<br />

International Relations and initially went into<br />

teaching English abroad. What made you decide<br />

to pursue acting full-time?<br />

AA: I always had a childhood dream <strong>of</strong> being on<br />

stage, but back then, because I was academically<br />

sound and from a disadvantaged background I did<br />

what everyone thought I should do – get a stable job<br />

that would bring in regular income. But I realised that<br />

even when I had that I wasn’t really happy and I still<br />

wanted to pursue my dream. I had no idea it would<br />

be the most difficult thing I’ve ever done.<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: In what way difficult?<br />

AA: Teaching was a stable job but with acting it<br />

takes a while to start making a living. You might<br />

get a role here or there but you have to juggle parttime<br />

jobs such as waitressing or bartending - I did a<br />

little bit <strong>of</strong> teaching English. You can’t control when<br />

auditions come up and it can be very stressful. It<br />

isn’t something you should do unless you are really<br />

passionate about it.<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: Do you prefer working in film or television?<br />

AA: I love big budget films like A Man Apart and for<br />

a while I was getting much more film work than TV.<br />

The problem with film though is that the majority are<br />

low budget, which means they take a long time to get<br />

out <strong>of</strong> post-production and even then may never be<br />

cleared for theatrical release. TV on the other hand is<br />

much more immediate. You shoot the show and you<br />

know it is going to end up on air – usually within four<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: You’ve worked alongside some very famous<br />

people – George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston and<br />

Vin Diesel to name a few. Have you ever been<br />

star-struck?<br />

AA: Generally speaking no. Living in LA you get used<br />

to seeing famous people and I’ve never been one to<br />

be intimidated. To me, Jim, Johnny and Kaley are just<br />

fellow co-workers. Saying that, I do remember filming<br />

The Cleaner with Benjamin Bratt and wishing I wasn’t<br />

dressed like an old lady!<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: What are your aspirations for the future?<br />

AA: I want to build an Empire; I want to create brand<br />

Alice – a brand <strong>of</strong> my own that symbolises a lifestyle,<br />

incorporating things like perfume, music, clothing,<br />

books – the lot! I like challenges and this just seems<br />

like a huge challenge. The way I see it, others have<br />

done it so why not me?!<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: What advice would you give one <strong>of</strong> today’s<br />

graduates?<br />

AA: Think really hard about what you want<br />

to do. What I thought I wanted didn’t<br />

end up being what I’m actually<br />

doing. Your career may not be<br />

in the degree you study but<br />

you can always find ways<br />

<strong>of</strong> making it work for you.<br />

Don’t limit yourself; think<br />

really big.<br />

13


We launch a new branch<br />

campus and alumni association<br />

It may only be 45km wide and it<br />

may sit in the middle <strong>of</strong> the Indian<br />

Ocean, but the island <strong>of</strong> Mauritius is<br />

already home to over 150 <strong>University</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>Wolverhampton</strong> graduates – and<br />

it won’t be long before it starts to<br />

welcome many more.<br />

At a high pr<strong>of</strong>ile event held earlier this<br />

year, the <strong>University</strong> proudly launched<br />

a new branch campus in Mauritius<br />

that will place <strong>Wolverhampton</strong> firmly<br />

in the heart <strong>of</strong> the country’s education<br />

provision.<br />

Providing courses in law and education,<br />

the campus will <strong>of</strong>fer undergraduate<br />

and postgraduate degrees to the<br />

growing number <strong>of</strong> students seeking<br />

careers in the legal sector and teaching.<br />

The new campus, which is currently<br />

under construction and will open later<br />

this year, will be located in the bustling<br />

Ebène Cybercity, one <strong>of</strong> Mauritius’<br />

rapidly expanding business parks.<br />

Proudly in Mauritius<br />

‘‘ The launch <strong>of</strong> our<br />

campus in Mauritius<br />

is a new chapter in<br />

our relationship<br />

with the country<br />

and our key focus<br />

is to nurture and<br />

enhance educational<br />

development.<br />

‘‘<br />

Sealing the relationship<br />

As part <strong>of</strong> the launch event, which took<br />

place on Monday 26 March 2012,<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Ge<strong>of</strong>f Layer, Vice-Chancellor,<br />

was joined by Dr Arvin Boolell, Minister<br />

<strong>of</strong> Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration<br />

and International Trade; and Dr Rajesh<br />

Jeetah, Minister <strong>of</strong> Tertiary Education,<br />

Science, Research and Technology,<br />

who together signed a partnership<br />

agreement sealing the relationship<br />

between <strong>Wolverhampton</strong> and<br />

Mauritius.<br />

Ge<strong>of</strong>f said: “Our aim at the <strong>University</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>Wolverhampton</strong> is to provide<br />

an excellent teaching and learning<br />

experience for our students, whether<br />

they study with us in the UK or<br />

overseas.<br />

“The launch <strong>of</strong> our campus in Mauritius<br />

is a new chapter in our relationship<br />

with the country and our key focus is<br />

to nurture and enhance educational<br />

development.”<br />

The launch at the Hennessy Park Hotel<br />

also featured a welcome address via<br />

video from the <strong>University</strong>’s Chancellor,<br />

The Rt Hon Lord Paul <strong>of</strong> Marylebone<br />

PC.<br />

Lord Paul said: “The <strong>Wolverhampton</strong><br />

initiative in Mauritius responds to<br />

one <strong>of</strong> the most significant trends in<br />

the area <strong>of</strong> higher education – the<br />

internationalisation <strong>of</strong> learning and<br />

the value <strong>of</strong> transferring and sharing<br />

knowledge.”<br />

The Mauritius branch campus will<br />

welcome its first cohort <strong>of</strong> nearly<br />

100 students in September with an<br />

inaugural graduation planned for 2013.<br />

Mauritius Alumni Association<br />

As part <strong>of</strong> our celebrations, we were<br />

also delighted to recognise our current<br />

graduates in Mauritius by launching a<br />

new Mauritius Alumni Association.<br />

The Honourable Mr Yatindra Nath<br />

Varma, who is the Attorney General<br />

<strong>of</strong> Mauritius and a <strong>Wolverhampton</strong><br />

alumnus, was appointed Honorary<br />

President <strong>of</strong> the Association. Mr Varma<br />

graduated from <strong>Wolverhampton</strong> with<br />

an LLB (Hons) Law in 1998.<br />

Graduate, Reaz Ghanty<br />

(LLM International Corporate and<br />

Financial Law, 2005), was also<br />

appointed Chairman and will be<br />

responsible for establishing an<br />

executive committee and running<br />

the day-to-day operations <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Association.<br />

He said: “The <strong>University</strong> enjoys a long<br />

and distinguished relationship with<br />

Mauritius, with many <strong>of</strong> our graduates<br />

going on to become key figures<br />

within the country, either as part <strong>of</strong> its<br />

Government, or as leaders in its legal<br />

and financial sectors.<br />

“The Alumni Association will <strong>of</strong>fer our<br />

graduates a network through which<br />

they can engage with the <strong>University</strong><br />

and each other; opening doors to<br />

enhance their pr<strong>of</strong>essional careers and<br />

achieve their individual aspirations.”<br />

For more information about the<br />

Mauritius Alumni Association,<br />

including how to join, visit:<br />

www.wlv.ac.uk/mauritiusalumni<br />

Join the Mauritius Facebook page at:<br />

www.wlv.ac.uk/mauritiusfacebook<br />

15


Making<br />

a splash<br />

It’s all going swimmingly for Sports<br />

Studies graduate, Lauren Smith,<br />

as we talk to her about being the<br />

former Captain <strong>of</strong> the Great Britain<br />

Synchronised Swimming team, how<br />

it feels to win a Commonwealth<br />

Bronze Medal, and what life is like<br />

today working for the London 2012<br />

Olympics.<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: Well Lauren, you’ve achieved<br />

so much it’s hard to know where<br />

to begin! How does it feel to be<br />

part <strong>of</strong> the greatest sporting event<br />

this country has seen in over 60<br />

years?<br />

LS: It’s amazing and I’m so excited!<br />

I’ve always wanted to do events<br />

management in sports and so<br />

working on the Synchronised<br />

Swimming event for London 2012<br />

is like a dream come true. I was the<br />

first person to swim in the London<br />

2012 Aquatics<br />

Centre last<br />

year, which<br />

was a huge<br />

privilege,<br />

and when<br />

I got my<br />

Olympic uniform it gave me goose<br />

bumps.<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: You’re the Administration<br />

Group Leader for Synchronised<br />

Swimming. What does your role<br />

involve?<br />

LS: I’m part <strong>of</strong> the team responsible<br />

for organising the Olympic Games<br />

Synchronised Swimming event. I<br />

manage the logistical aspects, which<br />

can range from organising transport<br />

and accommodation for the athletes<br />

to training volunteers for the different<br />

venues. It’s a very diverse role and it<br />

is hard work – I <strong>of</strong>ten work 16 hours<br />

a day – but I love every minute <strong>of</strong> it.<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: You first started<br />

synchronised swimming aged 11.<br />

What made you take up the sport?<br />

LS: I did gymnastics for eight years,<br />

but at 10 years old I still couldn’t<br />

swim properly. At a swimming<br />

lesson with my sister, the instructor<br />

suggested I try synchronised<br />

swimming because <strong>of</strong> my<br />

flexibility from my gymnastics.<br />

After one class I<br />

absolutely loved it and three weeks<br />

later I took part in a competition and<br />

won. I knew it was the sport for me.<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: Why did you decide to<br />

study BSc Sports Studies at the<br />

<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Wolverhampton</strong>?<br />

LS: I loved studying sport at school,<br />

both the practical and the theoretical<br />

side, and so a degree in the subject<br />

was an obvious choice. I chose<br />

<strong>Wolverhampton</strong> because, unlike<br />

other universities, the course <strong>of</strong>fered<br />

the right combination <strong>of</strong> modules<br />

that suited my interests.<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: You were competing while<br />

you were a student. How did you<br />

combine your training with your<br />

studies?<br />

LS: To be the best it was crucial<br />

that I kept up my training and so<br />

whenever I had a spare minute I<br />

was either in the pool or in the gym.<br />

My lecturers were very supportive,<br />

especially when I was competing<br />

abroad and needed the time for<br />

assignments. They were genuinely<br />

interested in what I was doing, which<br />

was a real confidence boost.<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: You joined the GB<br />

Synchronised Swimming team<br />

full-time in 2007 and throughout<br />

your career you’ve been British<br />

Champion and competed at<br />

the World Championships and<br />

Commonwealth Games. What was<br />

your favourite competitive event?<br />

LS: It has to be the Commonwealth<br />

Games in 2010 in Delhi as that was<br />

where I won the bronze medal for my<br />

solo routine. My dream was always<br />

to go to the Commonwealths but I<br />

didn’t necessarily think I would come<br />

away with a medal. As the Games<br />

drew nearer I decided I wanted the<br />

bronze. There was a lot <strong>of</strong> pressure<br />

for me to get it – and I did!<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: How did it feel on the<br />

podium receiving your medal?<br />

LS: Very emotional. As I stood there<br />

I could see everyone who had come<br />

to support me and when I was<br />

interviewed I broke down in tears. I<br />

realised that all my hard work had<br />

paid <strong>of</strong>f and I just wanted to thank<br />

my parents because without them<br />

I couldn’t have done it. It was the<br />

pinnacle <strong>of</strong> my career.<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: Was it always your dream<br />

to Captain the GB Synchronised<br />

Swimming team?<br />

LS: It was never my goal but I knew<br />

in my last year that I had the skill<br />

and experience to lead the team and<br />

so when I was <strong>of</strong>fered the position<br />

I gratefully accepted it. I retired in<br />

2011 and when I look back I have a<br />

lot <strong>of</strong> fond memories; including the<br />

time I greeted Tony and Cherie Blair<br />

as they arrived into the village at the<br />

Melbourne Commonwealth Games in<br />

2006, being interviewed live on BBC<br />

news, and meeting Alex Ferguson.<br />

Earlier this year I was also invited to<br />

a ‘Women in Sport’ reception at the<br />

Houses <strong>of</strong> Parliament in recognition<br />

<strong>of</strong> my athletic career and my work at<br />

London 2012. It was a real honour.<br />

<strong>WLV</strong>: What are your aspirations<br />

for the future?<br />

LS: I definitely want to continue in<br />

sports and events management<br />

and my job at London 2012 has<br />

set me up for a successful career<br />

in that area. I also write articles for<br />

Swimming Times magazine, which<br />

is another avenue I’d like to explore<br />

more. As for my synchronised<br />

swimming, my sister and I are part <strong>of</strong><br />

a company called Aquabatix which<br />

puts on synchronised swimming<br />

performances for different events<br />

and in 2000 saw us star in a scene<br />

in the film Love’s Labour’s Lost.<br />

It’s been a great year for me since<br />

retiring, but I’m sure I won’t be<br />

packing my costume<br />

away just yet.<br />

17


& Sport<br />

Physical Activity Society<br />

An Olympic <strong>University</strong><br />

Did sport play a big<br />

part in your <strong>University</strong> life?<br />

Whether you played for one <strong>of</strong> the <strong>University</strong>’s teams or clubs or whether<br />

you just like sport to keep fit, the Sport and Physical Activity Society is a<br />

great way <strong>of</strong> getting back in touch with old friends and meeting new ones.<br />

Membership is free and open to everyone – whatever your age or ability.<br />

Join today, visit: www.wlv.ac.uk/sportssociety<br />

Since the moment it was announced that the Olympic Games would be<br />

coming to London in 2012, the whole country became united as hosts. From<br />

large cities to small rural villages, and from multi-billion pound global<br />

companies to your local high street store, everyone wanted to get involved –<br />

and that included us…<br />

Our facilities<br />

We welcomed the Australian judo team<br />

to our Walsall Campus after they chose<br />

our Sports Centre as their <strong>of</strong>ficial training<br />

base.<br />

Six members <strong>of</strong> the team, plus their<br />

coaching staff, set up camp at the Centre<br />

for their all-important pre-games training<br />

in preparation for the competition.<br />

The Sports Centre was selected as one<br />

<strong>of</strong> the country’s <strong>of</strong>ficial Olympic training<br />

bases in 2008 in recognition <strong>of</strong> its elite<br />

sporting facilities. It was included in the<br />

Guide for National Olympic Committees<br />

(NOCs) for the sports <strong>of</strong> Judo, Basketball,<br />

and Taekwondo.<br />

Director <strong>of</strong> Sport, Mike Chamberlain,<br />

a former British Judo Champion and<br />

international competitor, said:<br />

‘‘<br />

The <strong>University</strong>’s Walsall<br />

Campus <strong>of</strong>fers the perfect<br />

environment for the<br />

Australian team, with<br />

the best judo training<br />

facilities in the country<br />

complimented by modern<br />

campus facilities to give<br />

them a truly excellent<br />

experience.<br />

‘‘<br />

The Sports Centre is a British Judo<br />

Association High Performance Centre,<br />

one <strong>of</strong> only a few in the UK, and plays<br />

host to many international sporting<br />

competitions. The Great Britain judo<br />

team also used the Centre in 2008 in<br />

the run-up to the Beijing Olympics.<br />

19


Our academic expertise<br />

Our research excellence<br />

Our student body<br />

Our role in the community<br />

<strong>University</strong> dance lecturer, Dennie Wilson,<br />

received international recognition when<br />

she was appointed to produce the Olympic<br />

victories ceremonies.<br />

Research into the emotional experience <strong>of</strong><br />

runners by Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Sport Psychology, Andy<br />

Lane, was awarded the prestigious ‘Inspire’ mark<br />

from the London 2012 Olympic Games.<br />

The Students’ Union received Gold<br />

accreditation for its work supporting the<br />

London 2012 Olympic Games as part <strong>of</strong> the<br />

nationwide project, ‘Be a Champion.’<br />

We helped to bring the Olympics to the Black<br />

Country when we hosted two major events for<br />

the region.<br />

The Birmingham-based choreographer was appointed Victories<br />

Ceremonies Producer for Athletics (Games Time), responsible for<br />

leading, training and directing the Victories Ceremonies Team for<br />

athletics at both the Olympics and Paralympics.<br />

Dennie works part-time as a senior lecturer in Dance at the<br />

<strong>University</strong>’s School <strong>of</strong> Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure and is a<br />

teacher <strong>of</strong> Contemporary Dance at the renowned Elmhurst School<br />

for Dance in Association with Birmingham Royal Ballet.<br />

She said: “This truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity and<br />

I’m hugely proud. It’s not <strong>of</strong>ten that people in the arts get the<br />

opportunity to represent their country in the same way that<br />

sports people do, so I am absolutely thrilled to be part <strong>of</strong> such a<br />

magnificent event.”<br />

Dennie is also the Artistic Director <strong>of</strong> dna3d, a dance, design and<br />

digital performance company that brings together dance and<br />

performance artists, sound and vision to create unique ensemble<br />

performance-based work.<br />

The ‘Inspire’ mark recognises exceptional projects and events that<br />

have been inspired by the Games coming to the UK.<br />

A psychologist by background, Andy’s research interests include<br />

emotion, emotion regulation and psychological skills in sport<br />

performance. The award-winning research was conducted as part<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Emotional Regulation <strong>of</strong> Others and Self (EROS) project; a<br />

national collaborative project <strong>of</strong> university researchers who examine<br />

different types <strong>of</strong> psychology, covering areas such as work, social<br />

and sports.<br />

Andy leads the sports and exercise psychology aspect <strong>of</strong> the<br />

EROS project, which focuses on emotions in sport and exercise.<br />

His work has examined specifically how athletes regulate their<br />

own emotions, in particular before, during and after competition,<br />

and the effectiveness <strong>of</strong> interventions to help athletes regulate their<br />

emotions.<br />

‘Be a Champion’ is aimed at the UK’s student population<br />

and encourages them to make the most <strong>of</strong> the huge range <strong>of</strong><br />

opportunities that the Games present – whether running sports<br />

activities, being creative with art, showcasing the country’s culture<br />

and traditions, or raising awareness <strong>of</strong> the importance <strong>of</strong> creating a<br />

sustainable environment.<br />

The Students’ Union was initially awarded Bronze accreditation<br />

before moving up to Silver and then finally Gold, the highest<br />

accolade available. Representing <strong>Wolverhampton</strong> Students’<br />

Union, current student in Sport and Exercise Science, Victor<br />

Dimakopoulos, undertook an art-based project featuring<br />

photographs <strong>of</strong> local residents, each holding a board stating what<br />

the Olympic Games has inspired them to do. The photographs<br />

were put together to create a montage <strong>of</strong> images that represent<br />

the different ways the Games has inspired the local area.<br />

Victor said: “As a Sports Science student and an avid athletics<br />

and sports enthusiast, I was excited to get involved in the<br />

Olympics. I wanted to give the <strong>Wolverhampton</strong> public the<br />

opportunity to share their thoughts about the Games and how it<br />

has inspired them. Hopefully my passion and philosophy will help<br />

encourage new athletes to push their sport and ambitions to the<br />

limits.”<br />

In collaboration with the Black Country BeActive Partnership, we<br />

hosted the Black Country School Games Winter Festival and two<br />

Sports Makers conventions, bringing the magic <strong>of</strong> the Olympics<br />

into communities across the region.<br />

Over 1,100 young people from primary and secondary schools in<br />

the Black Country took part in the School Games Winter Festival,<br />

which was held at our Walsall Campus Sports Centre and included<br />

over 20 different sporting events. The School Games initiative is<br />

designed to encourage young people <strong>of</strong> all ages and abilities to<br />

participate in competitive sport.<br />

Similarly, our Active Volunteers programme played a leading role in<br />

bringing the national Olympic legacy programme – Sport Makers<br />

– to the <strong>University</strong>. Hosting two conventions, students were given<br />

the opportunity to find out how they could become a Sport Maker<br />

and get involved in sporting activities across the region, either<br />

through leading and organising events, or by simply taking part.<br />

The students also got to meet Olympic 400-metre runner, Daniel<br />

Caines, and Commonwealth and European Swimming Gold<br />

Medalist, Adam Whitehead.<br />

21


My <strong>Life</strong> Jerry Nulun<br />

LLB (Hons) Law, 1997<br />

Jerry Nulun’s life began in the isolated highlands <strong>of</strong> Malaysia with early<br />

hardships that not many people could imagine experiencing. Never<br />

in his wildest dreams did he think that one day he would graduate as<br />

a lawyer. But with his late father’s “never say never” attitude, at age<br />

37, Jerry was given the opportunity to study Law at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>Wolverhampton</strong> via distance learning which changed his life. Since<br />

graduating in 1997 he has worked for some <strong>of</strong> the world’s largest oil and<br />

gas companies, managing some <strong>of</strong> the biggest contracts worldwide.<br />

Above: Jerry as a child<br />

Above: Jerry’s father, Mr Nulun Tuan<br />

Never say never<br />

“My father single-handedly raised me in Bario, the<br />

capital <strong>of</strong> the Kelabit Highlands, an isolated region<br />

within Sarawak, Malaysia. The Kelabits are mostly<br />

farmers and are known to place a lot <strong>of</strong> importance<br />

on education. I believe this is why, against all odds,<br />

and having witnessed many injustices around me<br />

as a young boy, I was prompted to study law.<br />

“When I completed my tertiary education in 1976 I<br />

initially became a temporary teacher before being<br />

employed by Sarawak Shell as a store man. I was<br />

eventually promoted to contract executive, but all<br />

the time l still harboured the desire to become a<br />

lawyer. My salary with Shell was not enough to pay<br />

for my distance learning programme and my father,<br />

who was a farmer, earned less than the equivalent<br />

<strong>of</strong> £1 per month.<br />

was one <strong>of</strong> the happiest moments <strong>of</strong> my life!<br />

My father gave me his entire life savings to start<br />

me <strong>of</strong>f and then subsequent fees were paid by<br />

Shell.<br />

“As a distance learning student my experience <strong>of</strong><br />

university life was different to a typical student’s. Studying<br />

while working has unique experience and benefits that<br />

include being exposed to diverse cultures, team dynamics<br />

and problem solving in the workplace. I consider these some<br />

<strong>of</strong> the key ingredients for fostering innovation and richness<br />

<strong>of</strong> ideas in life.<br />

Dreams to reality<br />

“Through helping me to develop the necessary knowledge<br />

and skills I needed to pursue a career in law, <strong>Wolverhampton</strong><br />

nurtured my dreams to reality. After graduating I was<br />

promoted to senior contract executive at Sarawak Shell<br />

Malaysia where I stayed for another few years; raising my<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>ile and mastering the required skills. Since then I have<br />

moved to several different oil and gas companies such as<br />

Exxon Mobil and OMV, each experience enhancing my<br />

career development through gaining new skills and achieving<br />

promotions. The hardships and difficulties faced in my early<br />

life have conditioned me and put me on a strong and stable<br />

footing to face challenges in life and in my career.<br />

“In September 2010, I became the senior contracts manager<br />

with TOTAL E&P, one <strong>of</strong> the world’s leading oil and gas<br />

companies. In my role, I oversee many challenging contracts;<br />

most are international agreements which are incredibly<br />

complicated as you need to consider the different taxation<br />

laws, statutes, ordinances, judicial decisions, executive<br />

orders and other applicable laws in different countries. I also<br />

lead on strategy development for the contract department’s<br />

activities and ensure compliance to company policy and<br />

procedures, as well as government regulatory bodies. My job<br />

<strong>of</strong>fers many challenges, but I always draw great satisfaction<br />

in solving problems and leading a project to its fruition.<br />

Building a global pr<strong>of</strong>ile<br />

“International exposure enhances employability in my line <strong>of</strong><br />

work and the skills acquired through working with people<br />

from different cultural backgrounds and overcoming language<br />

barriers makes me more attractive to employers. I have been<br />

developing my own global pr<strong>of</strong>ile over the years and look<br />

forward to the new opportunities coming my way.<br />

Where are<br />

you now?<br />

We love to hear about where life has<br />

taken our graduates – the next steps they<br />

have taken and the joys and successes<br />

they are experiencing.<br />

Why not tell us where you are now and<br />

be featured on our alumni website or<br />

maybe even in future editions <strong>of</strong> <strong>WLV</strong><br />

@lumni e-zine and <strong>WLV</strong> <strong>Life</strong> magazine.<br />

You could write about your:<br />

• career success or further study since<br />

graduating<br />

• travel experiences and adventures<br />

• hobbies and interests<br />

• personal life such as marriage and<br />

children<br />

• any other fantastic experiences you<br />

have had!<br />

To find out how to send us your story,<br />

and to read where some <strong>of</strong> our<br />

graduates from the past 50 years are now,<br />

visit: www.wlv.ac.uk/alumnistories<br />

Above top: The house where Jerry grew up. Above bottom: Jerry at his home in Miri Sarawak, Malaysia<br />

“My big break came in 1993, when Sarawak<br />

Shell <strong>of</strong>fered to sponsor my law studies, subject<br />

to acceptance by a recognised university. When<br />

my application to study law was approved and<br />

accepted by the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Wolverhampton</strong>, it<br />

“In the meantime, I dedicate my time to my family and, like my<br />

father, I have persevered to ensure that all <strong>of</strong> my four children<br />

have been able to go to university. Studying law and becoming<br />

a lawyer has been a life-changing experience. I will be forever<br />

grateful to the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Wolverhampton</strong> and to Shell.”<br />

23


Puzzle Page<br />

We know that you all have busy lives, but why not take a five minute break from it with these quick<br />

puzzles. Answers and solutions will be published in the next edition <strong>of</strong> <strong>WLV</strong> <strong>Life</strong>.<br />

Quick crossword<br />

1<br />

6 7<br />

9 10<br />

11<br />

12<br />

15 16<br />

18<br />

2<br />

17<br />

3 4 5<br />

8<br />

14<br />

13<br />

19 20<br />

Across<br />

6 Made a derisive sound (6)<br />

8 Prophecy (6)<br />

9 Pavement edge (4)<br />

10 Very great (8)<br />

11 Tedium (7)<br />

13 Fold (5)<br />

15 Lustrous gem (5)<br />

16 Into pieces (7)<br />

18 Words <strong>of</strong> gratitude (5,3)<br />

19 Irish Gaelic (4)<br />

21 Young foreign family (2,4)<br />

22 Male goose (6)<br />

Down<br />

1 Ten cent coin (4)<br />

2 Version (7)<br />

3 Wretched (5)<br />

4 Early slide projector (5,7)<br />

5 Final (8)<br />

7 Underground (12)<br />

12 Refurbish (8)<br />

14 Relieve (pain) (7)<br />

17 Aromatic resin (5)<br />

20 Waxy fat (4)<br />

If you have an engineering or physics<br />

background I invested then teach with a PGCE<br />

Secondary: in my future Physics with Maths.<br />

As you hold “Studying highly sought-after for the MBA qualifications was more than and a expertise you will be eligible for a<br />

comprehensive<br />

qualification<br />

package<br />

for<br />

<strong>of</strong><br />

me;<br />

benefits, was an<br />

including:<br />

achievement<br />

and a constant driver in my life.”<br />

• up to £20,000 bursary, dependant on your qualifications to help you through this one-year course.<br />

• excellent employment prospects - there is a national shortage <strong>of</strong> physics and maths teachers.<br />

Marie Buckley<br />

• between £21,000 Master <strong>of</strong> and Business £27,000 Administration starting salary (MBA) with clear progression routes for improvement.<br />

For further details please call: 0800 953 3222<br />

or visit: www.wlv.ac.uk/physicswithmaths<br />

21 22<br />

Sudoku<br />

7 8<br />

2<br />

4<br />

6 3<br />

5<br />

9 8<br />

2 4<br />

5 3 9<br />

2 8<br />

6<br />

6 9 7 1<br />

4 3<br />

6<br />

Winter 2011/12<br />

answers and solutions<br />

Crossword answers<br />

Across: 1 Tore; 4 Guyed; 8 T<strong>of</strong>f; 9<br />

Function; 10 Contrariwise; 12 Cola;<br />

13 Lava; 17 Eat humble pie; 19 Fixation;<br />

21 Wink; 22 Solve; 23 Hark<br />

Down: 2 Offenbach; 3 Effort; 4 Gantry;<br />

5 Yet; 6 Drops; 7 Poncho; 11 Will power;<br />

14 Vienna; 15 Empire; 16 Blanch;<br />

18 Aries; 20 Ail<br />

Sodoku solution<br />

7 3 4 2 9 8 1 6<br />

9 1 6 7 5 3 8<br />

5 2 8 4 1 6 9 7 3<br />

2 9 3 8 6 7<br />

6<br />

4<br />

3<br />

5<br />

8<br />

7<br />

1<br />

9<br />

7 5<br />

9 1 8 5<br />

4<br />

5<br />

4 5 1<br />

4 2 7 3 8<br />

3 1 2 9 6<br />

1 6 2 3 7 4 5 8 9<br />

8 4 5 6 2 9 3 1 7<br />

6<br />

2<br />

2 4<br />

Can we tempt<br />

you with science?<br />

The School <strong>of</strong> Applied sciences has developed some new unique courses investigating core areas<br />

<strong>of</strong> forensic science and an accredited Prescribing Certificate. Developed in close collaboration with<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essional services in healthcare and government departments, these courses are designed to<br />

enhance your employment opportunities and to explore new challenges in research.<br />

• Postgraduate Certificate in Prescribing Studies<br />

- study from September 2012<br />

• MSc Medical Bioinformatics<br />

- study from September 2013<br />

• MSc Forensic Genetics and Human Identification<br />

- study from September 2012<br />

For more information about all <strong>of</strong> our exciting postgraduate courses<br />

visit: www.wlv.ac.uk/sas<br />

tel: 01902 322 667<br />

email: sas-enquiries@wlv.ac.uk<br />

25


<strong>Life</strong> by email<br />

Help us to cut down on the amount <strong>of</strong> paper we use by<br />

receiving <strong>WLV</strong> <strong>Life</strong> by email.<br />

There are three ways you can read <strong>Life</strong> online:<br />

• Flip page magazine – just like the paper version<br />

• <strong>Download</strong>able PDF – all the pictures and the jazz<br />

but just one page at a time<br />

• Collection <strong>of</strong> webpages – just the text and a picture<br />

Let us know your email address<br />

If you have an email address and would like to receive future<br />

editions <strong>of</strong> <strong>Life</strong> by email let us know at: www.wlv.ac.uk/life<br />

<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Wolverhampton</strong><br />

Wulfruna Street, <strong>Wolverhampton</strong><br />

West Midlands, WV1 1LY<br />

United Kingdom<br />

Tel: +44 (0)1902 323 056<br />

Email: alumni@wlv.ac.uk<br />

Fax: +44 (0)1902 322 099<br />

Website: www.wlv.ac.uk/alumni<br />

MAC1076

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