Spring 2012 issue (pdf) - York St John University

NEWS
Showcasing youth
studies’ research
The Unit for Child and Youth Studies,
based in the Faculty of Health & Life
Sciences, held a free one-day event on
25 January for over 50 professionals
working with children and young people
from across the region.
The day aimed to showcase the research
undertaken by members of the unit and
their partners and included presentations
on cyberbullying, e-safety, motivation in
sport, inclusion in PE, and time and stress
management. Presentations were also
delivered by external partners including
John Stead, Head of Safeguarding and
Education at the NSPCC, and Val
McFarlane and Vicki Cheetham, directors
of the Bullying Intervention Group.
Nathalie Noret, Director of the Unit, said,
“The day was a great success and provided
us with the opportunity to raise awareness
of the work that we do. In addition, it gave
all present the opportunity to meet other
professionals working with children and
young people and develop new and
exciting partnerships.”
The Unit for Child and Youth Studies will
be holding more events later in the year.
To find out more, visit www.yorksj.ac.uk/
childandyouth
Professor Pam Dawson, Dean of the Faculty
of Health & Life Sciences (centre), and Nathalie
Noret, Senior Lecturer in Psychology and
Director of the Unit for Child & Youth Studies
(right), with delegates at the launch.
Striped Pyjamas
provides inspiration
Film & Television Production
students were given a master
class on 27 January by an
illustrious team of production
professionals, all of whom had
worked together on the
award-winning film, The Boy
in the Striped Pyjamas.
The event was organised by the Faculty of
Arts and it provided a unique opportunity
for aspiring film-crew professionals to
receive professional advice, support and
encouragement.
Sessions included an adaptation class
led by York St John Honorary Fellow Mark
Herman, the film’s screenwriter and
director. Celebrated editor Mike Ellis
delivered a workshop with advice and
tuition on the film-editing process.
Students with a particular interest in
production design attended a session
with the Oscar-winning production
Aviva success
designer, Martin Childs. Libbie Barr, the
film’s script supervisor, offered students the
opportunity to learn about script
supervision, continuity and production.
In addition, production sound mixer John
Casali shared his expertise.
Martin Downie, Dean of Faculty of Arts,
said, “As the leaders in their fields, our
esteemed guest speakers are a source of
inspiration and motivation; they represent
the pinnacle of achievement and success
in this industry.”
Mark Herman (centre left) and Martin Downie
(centre right) with students Benjamin Allen (left)
and Sebastian Synowiec (right).
The Career and Employability Team are pleased to have secured
their first paid Student Internship with Aviva UKL in York.
Matthew Higgins, a third-year Media student, and Peter White, a second-year
Psychology student, were successful in gaining the internship which they will undertake
on a part-time basis over an eight-week period. The internship will focus on the Aviva Life
Planner tool and its promotion to the under 25s.
The Student Internship Programme allows students to undertake a paid internship
on a project-based role. If you work with an employer who you think would benefit from
having a student work on a project, please contact Suzanne Dickinson, T: 6519 or
E: s.dickinson@yorksj.ac.uk
Launch of new training club
YSJ Strength is the latest arm of York St John Inclusive Activity Club
(YSJIAC) and caters for the specific strength and conditioning needs
of amateur and elite physically disabled athletes.
The club serves as a practical training and work experience route for students interested
and studying in the area of strength and conditioning. It will also enable students to
engage in related sports performance research projects.
The coaches have also worked with York-based, two-time GB Paralympic bronze medallist,
table tennis player Cathy Mitton and her husband Keith Mitton, a former GB wheelchair
fencing athlete. Cathy said, “I have found that the gym environment can be intimidating
and the knowledge of the staff lacking with other conditioning programmes. YSJ Strength
couldn’t be further from that experience and I would recommend the club to other
disabled athletes.”
(left-right) Coaches Dean Armstrong, YSJ Active Development Officer; James Oliver, a first-year
BA Physical Education & Sports Coaching student; Simon Kumar, York St John graduate and
Chairman of YSJIAC; and John Gray, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Physical Activity.
Promoting language skills
The first Careers Using Languages Conference, run by the Business School’s Languages
team and funded by Routes into Languages, promoted the message that language skills
can be useful in a wide range of jobs and professions.
The keynote speech was delivered by Graham Webb, Head of Business and
Academic Development at Leeds Metropolitan University, and there were sessions on
‘Multilingualism in the workplace’ (led by Dr Ramana Sundara, Nestlé Product
Technology Centre), ‘Volunteering abroad’ (Harry Kent, Projects Abroad), ‘Could you be
an interpreter?’ (Tamara Bloom, National Network for Interpreting), and ‘It’s not
all talk: language as a key to culture’ (Dr Steve Watson, Business School).
“Everyone involved in the project is very pleased with the success of the day and the
positive comments from the students – virtually everyone thought it was both useful
and interesting,” said Alison Hayes, Senior Lecturer in Languages, who led the project.
She would like to thank everyone involved for making the day go so well.
Neil Hanson is
the Writer in
Residence
Neil Hanson has been appointed
as the University’s Royal Literary
Fund Fellow and Writer in
Residence.
He has authored an acclaimed series of
popular histories, including The Confident
Hope of a Miracle: the True Story of the
Spanish Armada (2006) and Escape from
Germany: the Greatest POW Break-out of
the First World War (2011). He is also an
experienced radio and television
broadcaster, book reviewer, travel writer
and critic. He said, “I can help students
build on their inspiration, put ideas on to
paper effectively, improve their writing
styles and develop confidence. I’m also
happy to advise on getting published,
performing work and pursuing a career as
a writer.”
Neil is based in Holgate Student Centre
each Thursday and appointments can be
made via T: 6477 or E: rlfappointments@
yorksj.ac.uk
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