Degree Students Get Published Aeronautical Engineer Wins Best

… c e l e br a t i n g achi e vement
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Degree Students Get Published
Aeronautical Engineer Wins
Best Dissertation Award
The School of Engineering is delighted to recognise the
exemplary work of degree student Denis Clarke, who is the
winner of the Ian White Memorial Prize for BEng (Hons) Degree
in Aeronautical Engineering Best Dissertation, sponsored by
BAE Systems and also the Royal Aeronautical Society Prize for
Highest Achieving Student.
Having started his
degree studies at the
University of Surrey,
Denis took time out
to work with local
engineering firm
Kinetrol and gain
some real industry
experience. After a
couple of years, Denis
decided to return
Denis Clarke
to education and
complete his degree.
Being able to stay local and save money helped him make the
decision to study at Farnborough.
Denis commented on the high quality lecturing at Farnborough
but also emphasised the hands-on nature of the degree courses:
“It’s great being able to work in the experimental labs; we’ve done
aerodynamics experiments and wind tunnel testing.” Denis used
the labs as part of his winning dissertation, which addresses a
current issue within the aviation industry. A ‘Lifecycle Assessment
of Composite Structures in Commercial Aircraft’, explores whether
or not carbon fibre composites are an environmental solution,
compared to traditional aluminium-based construction materials.
Having completed his degree studies at Farnborough with a
string of awards to his name, Denis now plans to return to his
job at Kinetrol at a higher level with more career prospects, “my
degree will give me greater flexibility in work and allow me the
opportunity to progress professionally”, Denis said. Eventually he
would like to work in the field of project management consulting
within the aerospace industry. We wish him the very best of luck
for the future.
Six students on the BA
(Hons) Degree in Education
have contributed work to
an academic publication
released earlier this year.
The students, who all
graduated last year with
first class honours, were
willing to contribute their
dissertations, as a way
of sharing best practice
with this year’s students,
who have all used the
publication as a valuable
reference within their own
degree studies.
Dr Jodi Roffey-Barentsen
The book, which is entitled Research Projects and Dissertations: A
Collection, is the first of a series called Contemporary Education Studies.
It aims to help students familiarise themselves with the format and
structure of a dissertation, as well as the different approaches it is
possible to take. Currently available on Amazon, the book is already
receiving excellent reviews and proving to be an indispensible
resource for anyone writing a dissertation, especially those in the field
of education.
Dr Jodi Roffey-Barentsen, Programme Manager of Education and
ITT at the College co-edited the publication and has had 11 books
published altogether within the areas of training and education.
Dr Roffey-Barentsen said, “All of the students who contributed to
this book are mature students who have come from a variety of
educational establishments, they have studied extremely hard, on a
part-time basis alongside their employment and it’s great to now see
their work in print and being used by the current degree students.
Some have progressed onto PGCE courses and all will undoubtedly
continue to do well.”
The School of Education and Humanities would also like to
acknowledge the work of a truly inspirational foundation degree
student; Karen Hammerton, who sadly passed away recently, but
not until after determinedly completing the Foundation Degree in
Learning Support. Karen has also had her Action Research Project
published in another publication from the same series: Action
Research Projects: A Collection.
Summer 2013 Edition
The degree lecturers at Farnborough are recruited from industry and experts in their field. Mos
their subjects and look forward to sharing their key areas of expertise with you throughout yo
Ruth Torr
Programme Manager for
Performing Arts
Qualifications/Expertise/Specialism:
MA Dance Studies
BA (Hons) Dance and Drama
(University of Surrey)
Previous to working at Farnborough College, Ruth worked at the
Isle of Wight College as a Head of Performing Arts and at Middlesex
University as a Teaching Fellow in the Performing Arts Department. At
Middlesex, Ruth lectured on the MA and BA programmes, developing
one of the UK’s first interdisciplinary performance degrees. Ruth has
externally examined for London Studio Centre, Bird College and the
Royal Academy of Dance.
Ruth’s background in performing arts has provided her with skills
in physical theatre, dance and interdisciplinary performance,
culminating in a sabbatical from Middlesex University to English
National Opera, where she appeared in Phillida Lloyd’s acclaimed
version of Verdi’s Requiem at the Coliseum in London. Ruth
is passionate about performance as a live event but also that
performances reach a “non-theatre” audience.
Debbie Stephenson
Programme Manager for Early Years
Qualifications/Expertise/Specialism:
RSCN, RGN, RM
BA (Hons) Education PCET
(University of Surrey)
Debbie is currently completing an
MSc in Maternal and Child Health
Debbie’s professional career started when she undertook the Integrated
Registered Sick Children’s Nurse/Registered General Nurse training at
the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street. Following this she
worked on a Special Baby Care Unit, before training as a midwife and
then working in a number of positions both in hospitals and in the
community.
Debbie started working at Farnborough College of Technology in
1998 and has been involved in designing and delivering the Higher
Education Early Years programmes since they started at the College in
2002.
• Arts in the community
Debbie’s background in child health and development has provided
her with an understanding of the importance of a holistic approach
when working with children and their families. She has extensive
experience of working in multi-agency teams, to promote positive
outcomes for the child. Debbie has also been involved in the
management of an Early Years setting and served as a governor at a
local infant school for five years.
• Assessment for learning
Particular interests are:
Particular interests are:
• Interdisciplinary performance
• Street performance
Ian Hamilton
Programme Manager for
Sports Science
• Social determinants of child health and wellbeing
• Infant and child mental health
• Early Years workforce development
• Safeguarding and empowering children
Qualifications/Expertise/Specialism:
MSc Exercise and Health Science
(University of Bristol)
Currently the Programme Manager for the Sports Science programmes
(Level 2 to Level 6) Ian has worked at the College for 18 years and has a
background in Sport, Health Club, and Gym management both in the UK
and abroad.
Ian has recently overseen the development of new degree
programmes in Sports Science and Human Performance and in
Personal Training and Fitness endorsed by the University of Surrey.
He is committed to the development of sport, including the social
aspects of sport and human interaction with it. He sits on the boards
of a number of local sports clubs to help steer their development and
is a lifelong lover of rugby but in particular, Ulster Rugby Club.
Particular interests are:
• Research into the Gastrointestinal Disorders of Endurance
Athletes
• Sports Injuries
• Fitness Testing
• Health Club Management
• Degree Study Skills
Pam Hardy
Programme Manager for Foundation
Degree in Business / BA Top-up and
BA Psychology and Marketing
Qualifications/Expertise/Specialism:
BA (Hons) Politics and Modern
History
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of
Bankers
Pam has worked at the College for a number of years and taught
across the finance, business and accounting spectrum. Previous
to this, Pam worked for a major international bank in the UK and
overseas.
Pam maintains strong links with the financial services sector and
acts as an external examiner for the Institute of Financial Services in
international trade.
st importantly they are passionate about
our degree studies.
Emil Naydenov
Guest Speaker Tells Cautionary
Tale of Drugs and Crime
Students studying the BSc (Hons) Degree in Psychology and
Criminology were amongst a group of Education and Humanities
students who welcomed Shaun Attwood, a former stock-market
millionaire and author of Hard Time and Party Time, into College,
for his cautionary tale of drugs and crime.
Lecturer in IT
Qualifications/Expertise/Specialism:
MSc Software Engineering
(Ruse, Bulgaria)
Cisco Certified Instructor
Microsoft Certified Professional
Previous to lecturing within the Hampshire Business School,
Emil worked as a software and network engineer for the
Bulgarian Customs Offices, which has provided him with
various skills in the programming, networking and hardware
domain.
Emil is passionate about web technologies, Linux OS,
networking and “big data” interexchange.
Particular interests are:
• Networking
• Digital Living Networking Appliances
• Web Design
• Raspberry Pi Development
• Enigma 2 Linux Development
Gal Sapir
Lecturer in Digital Media
Qualifications/Expertise/Specialism:
MA Design Studies (Central St
Martins, University of the Arts,
London)
BA (Hons) Graphic and Media
Design (London College of
Communication, University of
the Arts, London)
Currently a lecturer for digital media, Gal also runs his own
graphic and media practice specialising in web design and
motion graphics. Previous to this, Gal was a visiting lecturer
at London College of Communication, lecturing across the
programmes at the School of Media, specialising in web
design. Gal is a practicing image maker, with a particular
interest in printmaking and the crossover between digital and
analogue media.
Gal’s professional practice includes web design using a range
of technologies and platforms, motion graphics and branding.
Gal is passionate about the visual arts and the ability of
traditional materials to preserve their complexity through their
transition into a digital environment.
Particular interests are:
• Pigments and materials
• Interactive media and web design
• Printmaking
• 3D printing and post-digital processes
• Painting and public art
The fascinating talk provided an insight into some controversial
issues surrounding the criminal justice system. Mr Attwood focussed
primarily on his own personal experiences in the Arizona jail
which has the highest rate of death in America. Whilst in jail, Mr
Attwood read over 1,000 books; by studying texts in psychology
and philosophy he attempted to better understand himself and
the behaviour that had led him to prison. As part of an attempt to
uncover the conditions of the jail, Shaun started the risky venture of
writing ‘Jon’s Jail Journal’, a continually updated account of the people
and goings on where he was imprisoned. The journal was smuggled
out of the prison by his aunt and sent back to the UK, where it turned
the international media spotlight on the real conditions of life in jail.
Whilst the graphic nature of the lecture was at times shocking, with
images of the daily living conditions and violence associated with life
as an inmate, it was well received by students and staff alike, leading
to thought-provoking discussion of the current criminal justice system
in the USA. It also emphasised to students the importance of ignoring
the sometimes glamourised images of drugs and crime that we are
presented with by the media, and instead, opening our eyes to the
potential pitfalls of getting involved in drugs and crime.
Media
Lecturer
Achieves PhD
Congratulations to
Media Lecturer Max
Sexton, who recently
achieved his PhD in
Television and Film
from Birbeck, University
of London.
Testimonials
Corinne Lewis
BSc (Hons) Psychology
and Criminology (fasttrack)
I wanted to study close
to home and felt the
combination of two
complementary subjects
would offer a wider range
of career opportunities. I
felt the more intense ‘fasttrack’ mode of study would be more like
what I was already used to from college.
I particularly love the criminology side but being it’s
being combined with the psychological aspects too,
such as learning how a criminal’s mind works, that
makes it especially interesting. Studying as part of
a small class, with interactive lessons and alongside
students of different ages and backgrounds has
definitely matured me; it has introduced me to new
ways of thinking and helped to build my confidence.
I am looking forward to hopefully starting volunteer
work as a support mentor in the probation services
soon and would like to eventually work as either a
prison officer leader or start on a graduate scheme
for the Metropolitan Police.
Andrew Fuller
BA (Hons) Early
Childhood Studies
I chose to study at
Farnborough because the
classes are small and I knew
this would allow me the
support I needed to excel.
Also the price was a factor I
couldn’t turn down!
I have loved the work
experience side, I’ve done three
different placements all of which offered amazing
experience. I was able to put my theoretical
knowledge into practice as part of everyday, working
life. I have also enjoyed the fact that the teachers are
really approachable, which makes studying easier
and more fun.
I am currently working as an LSA, but completing
this course will allow me to go on to do my PGCE and
become an infant school teacher in the future.
Did you know?
As a degree student at Farnborough College
of Technology you are entitled to discounted
access to Surrey Sports Park, a multi-million
pound sports facility in Guildford.
Call Surrey Sports Park on 01483 689111
for more information.
HE Events for your diary...
Why not come along to one
of our Open Days?
Wednesday 9th October 2013, 2pm*
Wednesday 5th March 2014, 2pm*
Wednesday 14th May 2014, 5.30pm-7.30pm
*Please arrive for a 2pm start
We also run taster sessions throughout the year where you
can gain a valuable insight into studying your degree at
Farnborough – keep an eye on our website to find out more.
Got a question?
Email info@farn-ct.ac.uk
or contact the Information Centre on
01252 407040.
Higher Education Bursary
The College was
delighted to award
eight students
with £500 cheques,
courtesy of the
College Higher
Education Bursary
Scheme, part of the
National Scholarship
Scheme. Pictured here
are three of the lucky
winners, from left to right: Jamie Bailey (Computing), Jonathan
Willis (Hospitality) and Holly Didyk (Theatre, Dance and Film
Acting).
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For more information about any of our courses
please visit our website www.farn-ct.ac.uk