UCB Staff Share their Ideas

University College Birmingham’s recent Staff conference saw the annual exchange of research and ideas between members of the UCB community and contributors from academics from the UK and overseas.  

Key note speakers were Professor Keith Johnson (pictured in action) from Leeds Metropolitan University who’s talk looked at creativity and it’s importance in the world of Higher Education, particularly focussing on innovation in hospitality and Professor David Eastwood, Vice Chancellor of the University of Birmingham (pictured with UCB Principal Professor Ray Linforth) who gave a talk about the future of Higher Education and UCB’s strength as a specialised Institution on the Higher Education landscape.

With 20 papers being presented the range of subjects was far reaching from ‘An analysis of ‘The Big Society’ and the affect that has on education’ to ‘The Evolution of Capitalism’ and from ‘An Evaluation of graduate training programmes in the hospitality industry’ to ‘The academic potential of instant messaging’ and ‘The use of social media in spa and salon management’ sessions were lively and informative and showed the breadth of interests and research going on throughout the institution and beyond. 

Panel Chair Chris Watson said:

“The conference was a fantastic event to showcase the variety and the depth of subject matter presented in the most part by members of the university college. The research and papers that I saw were thought provoking and professionally presented.  The conference does what it always does, it stimulates the mind with a kaleidoscopic array of subject areas.”

UCB lecturer and conference speaker Marj Jeavons after presenting her paper on ‘Special Needs Schools as placements for Early Childhood Studies students’ said:

“This conference is a must for all UCB staff as it has such interesting and informative input from all taking part."