drbexl.co.uk » Winchester

University of Winchester at Risk?

drbexl — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 12:16:02 +0000

Below is University of Winchester’s Senior Management’s response to the Universities at Risk Report which was published yesterday.

The report, titled Universities at Risk, published on 8 December by the University and College Union (UCU) is deeply flawed. The report assesses likely financial difficulty or closure by crudely highlighting the level and proportion of public funding and the numbers of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, while crucially ignoring fundamental factors such as profitability, liquidity, student demand and the ability to replace the loss of funding with fees.

It is unacceptable and irresponsible of the UCU to publish this ill-informed report. The University of Winchester, like many of the institutions included on the list, is in strong financial health, is able to demonstrate high quality teaching and research and is continuing to attract high numbers of students. The report has the potential to be deeply damaging to the reputations of the universities identified and therefore their ability to recruit students under next year’s new fee regime.

The University shares UCU’s concern about the removal of HEFCE and TDA funding for large numbers of subjects and the disproportionate effect on particular institutions. However, higher education is about to be transformed by the new fee regime and it will be student demand that will determine the financial health of institutions. The University recognises the scale of the challenges ahead and is well-placed with a strong track record, a distinctive ethos and specialist reputation to compete in the market and ensure its future.

Essay 2 for PGCLTHE: Developing a Community of Practice at the University of Winchester

drbexl — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 02:31:09 +0000

Developing a Community of Practice at the University of Winch Ester 14-9-10 Footnotes

The Real Jam & Chutney Co.

drbexl — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:07:46 +0000

“Do you like real food that tastes of what it says on the label? So do we. In fact, that’s why The Real Jam and Chutney Co was formed in 2004.

Hazel Southam, one of the company’s founders, had never tasted Raspberry Jam that lived up to that made by her grandmother, Constance Hall. Realising that if she couldn’t find jam of the quality that she’d known as a child, then probably other people couldn’t either, Hazel helped set up the business.

We wanted to bring Constance Hall’s delicious recipes to a wider public who we knew would love them as much as we did.”

Read more here. I especially love the RASPBERRY JAM!

Winchester: Space for Peace, 27th January

drbexl — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:46:24 +0000

A CHORAL event at Winchester Cathedral to promote peace is being held next Wednesday (January 27). Organised by the city’s university, it aims to bring together several choirs and a host of musical styles from across the globe. Professor June Boyce-Tillman will lead the interfaith event, and it follows on from a similar concert at the cathedral in early 2009. The performers will tackle a range of motets, hymns, religious songs, chants and music from other alternative faiths.

Read full story.

Doh, a Dear…

drbexl — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:17:58 +0000

Thanks Pennie Ley for the reminder of this video – seen it before – can’t help but smile when you watch it! Reminds me of the Winchester Flashmob.

More Snow in Winchester

drbexl — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:42:30 +0000

OK, now I think I want to go and see what is outside – get the ski gear on I think?!

I did put my salopettes and ski jacket on… felt nicely wrapped up as I headed out…

Snow Day in Winchester?

drbexl — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:07:49 +0000

Triffids in Winchester?

drbexl — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:47:11 +0000

St Catherine’s Hill in Winchester (which I walked up yesterday) – apparently covered in Triffids!

The Hospital at St Cross gets a quick role as the Abbey. I’d caught part 1 by mistake, then thought I’d go back and check part 2 after I’d heard Winchester featured in it (read about it in the Daily Echo).

2nd January

drbexl — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:42:27 +0000

It’s been an odd day so far, woken by the postman, read for an hour – then next thing I know it’s 1pm! Not in favour of the gym today, so decided to go out for a walk before it got too late!

Just in time to catch the sun falling at the bottom of St Catherine’s Hill!

Beautiful colours…

Halfway up the hill, the sun is going down quickly over Winchester…

Just in time to catch the last drops of sunlight…

I finally worked out how to use the Macro function on my camera – it had moved from the previous model and I’d given up looking!

New Year’s Day 2010

drbexl — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:39:56 +0000

After a surprisingly delightful New Year’s Eve on my own (I’m an Extrovert, don’t you know, get my energy from being round people!), I chilled out with a DVD, and was still awake when a very luminescent “blue moon” (apparently meaning 2 full moons in a month), made me look outside – this shot doesn’t in any way do it justice (what do you expect), but it was pretty magical!

A Blue Moon

After a morning of cleaning out the fridge, whipping up a smoothie and a doze, decided to hit the outside – and MY was it cold! Walked into town, seeing the old buses trundling past (all full!), before taking some time to locate the 93 out to Twyford Waterworks. Beautiful crisp day, but took about 2 hours to rewarm once I got in!

Beautiful weather as I head into Winchester…

One of many old buses hanging around the bus station

I risked the top deck for a bit of a view on a LOVELY day!

Couple more old buses outside the Guildhall – if you’re into buses you’ll know more – I’ve known this goes on for years, just never witnesses it! Buses were jam-packed… run by the Friends of King Alfred Buses.

Bus took me out to Twyford Waterworks (after a 20 minute delay) – where Matthew Feldwick gave me what was probably the quickest tour of his life, but enough info for me – it was just me so we were able to talk “small amounts of steam, getting bigger”, rather than “tech speak” – hurrah!

Theoretically functional (and beautifully decorated), and will be again, once National Lottery funding has been awarded (bidding in process)… on the boiler room (3/4 remaining boilers in the country in this building)

How beautiful was the light on a crisp, frosty afternoon! This was the view from up by the lime kilns/trains! Check out their open days, and support this historic building (gives me lots to think about for Creating and Consuming History module!)