Latest news with #NorthumbriaUniversity
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Getting in is just the start: Northumbria University's ambitious push for social mobility
From support for an outreach centre that helps children as young as seven with their schoolwork to academics researching the benefits of a universal basic income, a commitment to driving social mobility and tackling inequality is deeply ingrained in Northumbria University's DNA. Participation in higher education remains lower in the north-east of England than in other parts of the country, and while Northumbria has an impressive record on access – 40% of its students come from areas with low rates of higher education participation, the highest of any research-intensive university – it's constantly striving to ensure students from all backgrounds can excel. For vice-chancellor Prof Andy Long, what makes Northumbria stand out is its recognition that social mobility for universities is not just about students getting in – the business of 'widening participation' – but getting on: making sure they have all they need to do well both in their studies and when they graduate. Long has set an ambitious new target: making sure that by 2030, students from low-participation backgrounds are just as likely as any of their peers to be in highly skilled work or further study 15 months after they graduate. 'It's no good just chipping away at the gap in outcomes,' he says. 'We want to eliminate it.' That means making sure courses are taught flexibly in a way that fits around other demands students may be juggling, such as caring responsibilities or doing part-time work to support themselves. Students facing extra challenges, such as care leavers or caregivers, are given additional support through schemes such as NU Belong or the Higher Education Without Barriers fund. Most important for Long is a drive to include meaningful experiential learning – learning by doing – in every programme, so students who may have no links with the world of work associated with their studies have the opportunity to realise they could flourish in it. Final-year law students, for instance, work alongside a qualified solicitor from the student law office doing pro bono work in the community, while business school students act as 'consultants' for local companies. 'I've spoken to law students who will tell me they don't know anyone who works in the legal profession,' Long says. 'Our approach ensures they can make those links that then give them the experience and confidence to think they could pursue it as a career.' When it comes to raising aspirations, Northumbria's Allstars guidance programme offers outreach sessions at schools across the north-east and priority access to university taster days and scholarships. And in 2021, Northumbria worked with the charity IntoUniversity, together with Newcastle University, to open the region's first IntoUniversity centre, where seven to 18-year-olds experiencing disadvantage can get support with academic work, university applications and more, plus opportunities such as visits from employers, mentoring and work experience. This centre, in Newcastle's east end, has worked with more than 2,000 students so far – with 64% of leavers going on to higher education – and a second centre, in Gateshead, will open in September. Ryder Architecture, a long-term partner of the university, supports IntoUniversity through Northumbria's Higher Education Without Barriers fund, and offers work experience and workshops with its people. Managing director Mark Thompson says: 'IntoUniversity helps us put more structure around our work with school-age children and young people, and links it to an outcome too, where students are actively encouraged to consider university. Anything that inspires somebody to push themselves academically and want to do more has to be a good thing.' The company, which helped Northumbria University develop its architecture degree apprenticeship, has put colleagues through the course, and has provided work placement opportunities for Northumbria students across the business. 'We do well out of it as well,' says Thompson, who studied at the university back when it was Newcastle Polytechnic. 'There's a business benefit to unearthing people on our doorstep who might otherwise go into different careers.' At Bede academy, a local school in Blyth, Northumberland, and longtime Allstars partner, Northumbria University has been instrumental in the development and delivery of a new T-level course in health. The course is equivalent to three A-levels and designed as an alternative route to university and careers in the NHS and social care. As well as supporting the school with the design of the curriculum and upskilling staff to deliver the course, Northumbria helped create a brand new healthcare training facility that simulates a hospital environment, giving students hands-on experience. 'Northumbria have been absolutely phenomenal in supporting us,' says the school's principal, Andrew Thelwell, who pays tribute to the university's 'strong moral purpose' around social mobility. 'We can't speak highly enough of their dedication, commitment and passion.' But it's not just about the facilities, Thelwell says – or even the professional workplace uniforms the university provides that are worn proudly by the students every day. 'Our students are working alongside university staff at the age of 16 or 17, and building professional relationships with them,' he says. 'They start to see themselves heading towards university – it becomes something very real for them. And that really is transformative.' The first cohort of students are now finishing their first year, and the vast majority are expected to apply for university places. Northumbria will provide support with that process too, and the school is now exploring future partnerships around sports education. It's clear that the university recognises the important role it plays in transforming lives in all aspects of its work, with Northumbria's dedication to addressing inequality extending to its research too. Researchers within its Centre for Health and Social Equity are working to drive policy reform with the Healthy Living Lab, which explores the links between public health and food insecurity, playing a pivotal role in encouraging the government to invest millions in national school breakfast and holiday clubs to better support children and families. Ultimately, Long says, equality of opportunity is an issue for society as a whole. 'If you don't pay attention to this, everybody will be worse off. I want everybody to have the opportunity to succeed, whatever their background.' Find out more about how Northumbria University is shaping futures and driving change
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘We put our money where our mouth is': how the arts are transforming the north-east of England
There has been no shortage of creative talent from the north-east. The region's writers have created work that has educated generations (Terry Deary's Horrible Histories) and been reimagined by Hollywood (Lee Hall's Billy Elliot). Even those not from the region have chosen to base their most famous creations there (Ann Cleeves' Vera). Approximately 60,000 people are now working in the wider region's creative and cultural industries, and north-east mayor Kim McGuinness wants to see this increase. Her 10-year local growth plan aims to transform the north-east into a cultural powerhouse to rival current heavyweights, such as London and Glasgow. 'We want to treat our culture and creative industries the same way we treat green energy, advanced manufacturing or other traditional sectors that you would expect of the north-east,' McGuinness says. 'As mayor, I'm going to make sure we put our money where our mouth is.' At the heart of this plan is Northumbria University, which has produced a host of distinguished creative alumni, including Apple's former chief design officer Sir Jony Ive, Oscar-winning cinematographer Lol Crawley (The Brutalist), and bestselling author Cally Taylor, better known as CL Taylor. 'Northumbria [University] plays a strong role in helping us build an ecosystem of culture and creativity,' explains McGuinness. 'They're a really important partner.' One significant recent investment is £5m from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to create a new writing centre for the region. The campaign to establish the new centre, set to be based within Newcastle's historic cultural and creative zone, known as Creative Central NCL, was led by the charity New Writing North in partnership with the university. Including audio studios and event spaces, the centre will have extensive collaborative working and teaching spaces dedicated to Northumbria University. Academics are collaborating with the likes of Hachette UK, Faber & Faber and Simon & Schuster to drive innovation within the publishing industry and provide students with sector-specific learning experiences. This is part of a broader, ambitious plan to integrate such opportunities across all undergraduate courses. 'We're keen to widen access to the publishing industry,' says Dr Neil Percival, co-director of cultural partnerships at the university. 'The real-world learning experiences students will gain from working with these partners will make them a key part of the future of the creative and cultural sector in the region.' McGuinness agrees, adding that 'the national centre for writing will be a jewel in our crown'. The university has other key partnerships, including Live Theatre, a theatre company specialising in new writing that provides students with access to rehearsals and delivers an industry-focused module; North East Museums, which includes teaching and research around heritage, curation and community wellbeing; and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, which offers bespoke postgraduate training designed especially for Northumbria students. 'With Live Theatre, our creative writing students have been able to see their scripts read on stage, with professional actors and a creative director,' says Percival. 'Our partnership with North East Museums provides placement opportunities and projects on their sites all over the region for students across many subject areas including education, health and law, not only within the arts, and our fine art students have their graduation show professionally curated at Baltic and other galleries in Newcastle. 'You can't replicate that kind of real-world experience. They are very powerful, transformational opportunities that would be difficult to come by without the cultural connections we provide,' he says. And the university's involvement doesn't just benefit its students, with its research opening up opportunities for communities that don't traditionally have access to creative industries. The university was an instrumental founder of A Writing Chance, working with actor and philanthropist Michael Sheen, New Writing North and other partners to open access to the writing industries for writers from working class, low income or minority backgrounds, and it is leading on a national £3.9m research programme that fosters creative communities and promotes the devolution of powers over culture and the creative industries. 'Our research with our partners helps to break down barriers to access within the creative industries,' says Percival. 'We're able to give our cultural partners solid, evidence-based understanding of the impact of what they do … That, in turn, helps them meet local needs and bid for funding for further development, as well as helping to shape policy decisions much further afield in Westminster.' Known for its natural beauty (the region has two Unesco world heritage sites in Durham Cathedral and Hadrian's Wall and more than 300 miles of coastline), the north-east also hopes to further cement its place as a prime film location. A major move in this direction is the plan for the new Crown Works Studio in Sunderland, which will grow to include 19 sound stages, a vendor village and backlot. Crown Works received a £25m investment from the north-east devolution deal and will help create more than 8,000 jobs. Northumbria already has a partnership with the British Film Institute, and, through its work with all five regional universities to maximise opportunities for graduates and producers, can see enormous potential emerging from the development, making the region an even more attractive destination for students wanting to work in a vast range of roles connected with the film-making industry. It's something Gabriel Brown is excited for. Graduating from the university's film and TV production course in 2021, Brown now combines work on productions such as ITV's Vera and BBC's Smoggie Queens, with running his own company, Terabithia Pictures. 'There is just so much opportunity and so much experience in this region,' he says. 'The north-east as a whole is very much on the rise. It's fully deserving of that chance and that funding. 'There's a mass of incredibly talented crew and cast [here],' he says. 'It's an incredibly beautiful place to film, and a very friendly place to film as well, and in general, the locations and studios go unsung in terms of praise, because the attention is focused on London, Manchester or Glasgow.' Like the film industry, the music industry is now seeing the enormous potential in the north-east too. The 2025 Mobo awards were held in February at Newcastle's Utilita Arena and the Mercury Prize will also be hosted there in October, the first time this event has been held outside London. Meanwhile, industry giant Warner Music UK has announced ambitious plans to open a major studio facility in the heart of Newcastle, working closely with Generator, an organisation dedicated to nurturing and growing musical talent in the region – all of which is contributing to the north-east's transformation into a region that meets cultural needs. 'Having access to things you enjoy, whether that be a choir in your local community centre, or going to the Stadium of Light to see Bruce Springsteen – that whole range of cultural opportunities should exist for you,' says McGuinness. 'It's about mass participation.' Percival agrees. 'Go out and see things,' he says. 'Get your kids involved. Let your young people see the career routes available to them in the north-east, so that they have a fair crack at the whip.' Find out more about how Northumbria University is shaping futures and driving change
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Getting in is just the start: Northumbria University's ambitious push for social mobility
From support for an outreach centre that helps children as young as seven with their schoolwork to academics researching the benefits of a universal basic income, a commitment to driving social mobility and tackling inequality is deeply ingrained in Northumbria University's DNA. Participation in higher education remains lower in the north-east of England than in other parts of the country, and while Northumbria has an impressive record on access – 40% of its students come from areas with low rates of higher education participation, the highest of any research-intensive university – it's constantly striving to ensure students from all backgrounds can excel. For vice-chancellor Prof Andy Long, what makes Northumbria stand out is its recognition that social mobility for universities is not just about students getting in – the business of 'widening participation' – but getting on: making sure they have all they need to do well both in their studies and when they graduate. Long has set an ambitious new target: making sure that by 2030, students from low-participation backgrounds are just as likely as any of their peers to be in highly skilled work or further study 15 months after they graduate. 'It's no good just chipping away at the gap in outcomes,' he says. 'We want to eliminate it.' That means making sure courses are taught flexibly in a way that fits around other demands students may be juggling, such as caring responsibilities or doing part-time work to support themselves. Students facing extra challenges, such as care leavers or caregivers, are given additional support through schemes such as NU Belong or the Higher Education Without Barriers fund. Most important for Long is a drive to include meaningful experiential learning – learning by doing – in every programme, so students who may have no links with the world of work associated with their studies have the opportunity to realise they could flourish in it. Final-year law students, for instance, work alongside a qualified solicitor from the student law office doing pro bono work in the community, while business school students act as 'consultants' for local companies. 'I've spoken to law students who will tell me they don't know anyone who works in the legal profession,' Long says. 'Our approach ensures they can make those links that then give them the experience and confidence to think they could pursue it as a career.' When it comes to raising aspirations, Northumbria's Allstars guidance programme offers outreach sessions at schools across the north-east and priority access to university taster days and scholarships. And in 2021, Northumbria worked with the charity IntoUniversity, together with Newcastle University, to open the region's first IntoUniversity centre, where seven to 18-year-olds experiencing disadvantage can get support with academic work, university applications and more, plus opportunities such as visits from employers, mentoring and work experience. This centre, in Newcastle's east end, has worked with more than 2,000 students so far – with 64% of leavers going on to higher education – and a second centre, in Gateshead, will open in September. Ryder Architecture, a long-term partner of the university, supports IntoUniversity through Northumbria's Higher Education Without Barriers fund, and offers work experience and workshops with its people. Managing director Mark Thompson says: 'IntoUniversity helps us put more structure around our work with school-age children and young people, and links it to an outcome too, where students are actively encouraged to consider university. Anything that inspires somebody to push themselves academically and want to do more has to be a good thing.' The company, which helped Northumbria University develop its architecture degree apprenticeship, has put colleagues through the course, and has provided work placement opportunities for Northumbria students across the business. 'We do well out of it as well,' says Thompson, who studied at the university back when it was Newcastle Polytechnic. 'There's a business benefit to unearthing people on our doorstep who might otherwise go into different careers.' At Bede academy, a local school in Blyth, Northumberland, and longtime Allstars partner, Northumbria University has been instrumental in the development and delivery of a new T-level course in health. The course is equivalent to three A-levels and designed as an alternative route to university and careers in the NHS and social care. As well as supporting the school with the design of the curriculum and upskilling staff to deliver the course, Northumbria helped create a brand new healthcare training facility that simulates a hospital environment, giving students hands-on experience. 'Northumbria have been absolutely phenomenal in supporting us,' says the school's principal, Andrew Thelwell, who pays tribute to the university's 'strong moral purpose' around social mobility. 'We can't speak highly enough of their dedication, commitment and passion.' But it's not just about the facilities, Thelwell says – or even the professional workplace uniforms the university provides that are worn proudly by the students every day. 'Our students are working alongside university staff at the age of 16 or 17, and building professional relationships with them,' he says. 'They start to see themselves heading towards university – it becomes something very real for them. And that really is transformative.' The first cohort of students are now finishing their first year, and the vast majority are expected to apply for university places. Northumbria will provide support with that process too, and the school is now exploring future partnerships around sports education. It's clear that the university recognises the important role it plays in transforming lives in all aspects of its work, with Northumbria's dedication to addressing inequality extending to its research too. Researchers within its Centre for Health and Social Equity are working to drive policy reform with the Healthy Living Lab, which explores the links between public health and food insecurity, playing a pivotal role in encouraging the government to invest millions in national school breakfast and holiday clubs to better support children and families. Ultimately, Long says, equality of opportunity is an issue for society as a whole. 'If you don't pay attention to this, everybody will be worse off. I want everybody to have the opportunity to succeed, whatever their background.' Find out more about how Northumbria University is shaping futures and driving change
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
From a new asthma detector to using AI responsibly – research at Northumbria University is driving change
Diagnosing lung conditions has traditionally been a difficult – and very expensive – task. Obtaining fluid samples from deep inside organs which are tucked away within our ribcage can't be done without a highly invasive, risky procedure. And most sampling devices can't tell the difference between fluids from the lung and ones from the mouth, often leading to unclear or misleading diagnoses. As a result, millions of patients with common, chronic conditions such as asthma have been left waiting years for effective treatment, while millions of others have been hospitalised with pneumonias impossible to diagnose with current tests. All that is set to change with the launch of a new handheld device later this year, developed by Dr Sterghios A Moschos, a renowned molecular biologist and visiting professor at Northumbria University, which will revolutionise the diagnosis of these diseases. The new breath-sampling technology by PulmoBioMed, a Northumbria University spin-out founded by Moschos in 2020, offers a fast, non-invasive and inexpensive way to test for lung conditions. Called the PBM-Hale, it captures the breath as the patient exhales and separates the droplets that come from the mouth from those found deep in the lung. It has been shown in clinical studies to help quantify lung infections and inflammation in 100% of symptomatic cases. 'PBM-Hale has the potential to transform respiratory care,' says Moschos. 'It is more than 40 times cheaper than endoscopy, where a tube is inserted into the lung, which carries a one-in-seven risk of injury. 'There are seven different types of asthma, and we hope this will allow doctors to quickly diagnose not just the condition but the exact type, without having to try several different kinds of treatment to see if the patient responds.' The device is one of a growing number of pioneering innovations being developed by researchers at Northumbria University to tackle some of the biggest real-world challenges facing us, regionally, nationally and globally. The first to be commercialised, the PBM-Hale is likely to be followed soon by the portable Solar2Water system developed by the university's department of mechanical and construction engineering, which uses solar energy to extract moisture from the air and turn it into water. The unit could be a gamechanger for remote regions where there is no grid connection or water availability nearby. Running on solar energy alone, it can be deployed quickly and easily to any location, such as army camps and field hospitals, or to support displaced communities in refugee camps and disaster zones. Moschos credits much of the success of his innovation to the support he received from the university at every step of the process. 'Since I arrived at Northumbria in 2016 and told them the idea I was working on, I couldn't have asked for more,' he says. 'They gave me everything I needed to create the device, supported the patent and grant applications and helped us apply for programmes to commercialise academic research.' PulmoBioMed raised an extraordinary £1.4m in an investment round last year to help grow its business, as well as a £700,000 grant from Innovate UK. It's these kinds of groundbreaking advances that have powered Northumbria's meteoric rise through the ranks for research: in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2021), Northumbria made the biggest leap of any UK university in research power, climbing from 50th in 2014 to 23rd in 2021. It was the second time Northumbria achieved this impressive feat, after previously rising from 80th place in 2008. Building on this momentum, and with a mission to create new knowledge that shapes change, Northumbria is investing in, and attracting funding for, new research innovations that will have an impact on society and the economy. One of its most ambitious projects to date is the North East Space Skills and Technology centre (NESST). A state-of-the-art facility being developed by the university, NESST is the result of a £50m investment with partners including the UK Space Agency and Lockheed Martin UK Space that will create new knowledge and skills intended to transform the UK's space economy. 'We doubled the value of our research awards in the last year,' says Prof Louise Bracken, Northumbria's pro vice-chancellor for research and knowledge exchange. 'Not only does that money fund more research, it also demonstrates the value of that research to others.' The university's social mobility ethos – approximately 40% of its undergraduates are from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and 65% are from the north-east region – also underpins many of its research projects. Overcoming social inequities is central to all the research done by another of its biggest schemes, the Centre for Health and Social Equity (CHASE). 'We're working with people experiencing homelessness, vulnerable adults, children and young people and veterans, to drive policy to better serve their needs. We want to ensure our research has tangible benefits for society and the environment. That's our USP at Northumbria,' says Bracken. The principle of benefiting society is also at the heart of the work being done by professor of law Marion Oswald, who leads a flagship research project. The multimillion-pound PROBabLE Futures project, in collaboration with several other universities as well as partners from law enforcement and commercial tech, explores how AI can be adopted responsibly in law enforcement and the criminal justice system. The 'probable' in PROBabLE Futures refers to the fact that AI produces results which are probabilities, but not certainties. This means that great care needs to be taken when using AI in the criminal justice system to avoid unfairness and miscarriages of justice. 'We're looking at how these AI systems are being used in policing, potentially becoming part of criminal justice – in the US, they're even being used to help determine sentences – and then in prisons and with probation,' she says. 'We're also thinking about whether this sector should have new independent oversight.' The team's AI checklist for policing has recently been adopted by the National Police Chiefs' Council – an instance of the university's research making a significant impact in the real world. It is this type of outward facing research that has inspired the university's brand-new Northumbria Centre for Responsible AI. 'As AI becomes widespread, we're pulling together all the research, experience and expertise at the university to look at how we make sure it's being used for the public good,' says Oswald. 'It's one of the biggest issues of our time, so it's really exciting.' Many applications of AI are relatively mundane, but others will have far-reaching consequences for people's lives, 'like deciding whether somebody should get a government benefit or not, or deciding whether somebody should be put on a police watchlist', she says. 'We're concerned that the public sector thinks very carefully about how it implements this technology and that people should have the skills and knowledge to navigate this new AI-informed world.' Find out more about how Northumbria University is shaping futures and driving change
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
The many benefits of rosemary: Secret to brain health is hiding in your kitchen
Rosemary, the aromatic herb native to the Mediterranean, has long been a staple in kitchens around the world. However, a recent study led by Dipa Kamdar from Kingston University reveals that rosemary's benefits go far beyond its culinary appeal. This powerful herb plays a vital role in supporting brain health, reducing inflammation, and enhancing immune function. Also read | Looking for hair growth solution? Try rosemary oil; doctor reveals this simple herb oil is the go-to for thicker hair According to multiple studies, rosemary has been associated with healthy brain function. One study associated rosemary to decreased risk of Alzheimer's. According to a study conducted by the researchers at Northumbria University, participants who inhaled rosemary's scent performed better in memory tasks than the ones who performed the same tasks in an unscented environment. Even historically, rosemary had been associated with better brain functioning. It is believed that in ancient Greece and Rome, students used rosemary to improve concentration and memory. Also read | Super herb: Benefits of rosemary water for great hair Blood circulation: Rosemary helps in stimulating blood circulation in the brain, which helps in delivering more blood and nutrients that can improve mental clarity. Calming properties: The aroma of rosemary is believed to have calming properties that can help in reducing anxiety and stress. It also helps in inducing better sleep. Lower stress can help in better memory retention and clarity. Antioxidants: Oxidative stress can cause damage to brain cells, that can affe4ct cognitive functioning. Rosemary is packed with antioxidants that can prevent this process. Also read | Habits that damage your brain health: Modern lifestyle routines you need to stop immediately Health-enhancing effects: Rosemary is loaded with carnosic acid, an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory agent that helps in shielding brain cells from harm. Beyond brain health: rosemary's health effects go beyond the brain. It also helps in easing digestion, relieving bloating and reducing inflammation. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
