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Think Before You Click

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cyber-security-1BU is aware that students from, and applying to, other universities have been targeted with spam, phishing emails and websites designed to look as though they legitimate agencies but are in fact malicious and designed to deliver malware and/or gather sensitive information.

Then there are sites which may be legitimate but ask for a username and password as part of the registration process in such as way it may unknowingly influence you into to disclosing your Uni credentials.

We can confirm that your BU username and password, or any other BU credentials, should not be use anywhere else but on BU systems. e.g. Systems delivered by or through Bournemouth University (.bournemouth.ac.uk).

For your own protection please be aware Cyber related threats are constantly being developed to beat our own counter security measures and can cause considerable harm to individuals, as many attempt to steal personal identifiable information. They can also have a huge impact on the university’s IT operations.

We’re not aware that any BU students have been affected but please protect yourself and the university by taking time to be vigilant.

To find out more about these types of threats and how to protect yourself and others, please head to Get Safe Online or contact BU’s Cyber Security Unit or BU IT Services Helpdesk.

The Centre for Digital Entertainment Celebration Event

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CDE-Asha-BlatherwickThe Beautiful City of Bath played host to this year’s annual conference, the ‘CDE Celebration Event’. The aim was to open the Centre for Digital Entertainment up to the world, offering something different and exciting, bringing together students, academics and industry partners to share experiences and celebrate all things CDE. And what better place to do this than in the magnificent Assembly Rooms in Bath, used in the eighteenth century for social occasions and still as grand and as welcoming as ever.

CDE is an EPSRC Doctoral Training Centre, funding research engineer students working in companies that specialise in computer games, animation and visual effects to name but a few.

The Student Exhibition was the perfect platform to showcase the fantastic research by our engineers, giving them the opportunity to network with some very high profile industry members and leaders. Delegates could experience first-hand, the diverse range of research projects in progress, including an interactive Punch and Judy Show, ‘Future Interactive Living Rooms’ and ‘Virtual Eye Tracking Systems’. Guests even had the chance to control a robotic arm using an ‘eye-gaze’ system and take part in a simulation to help brain injury patients relearn social skills. The atmosphere within the Student Exhibition was electrifying, with industry members, research engineers and academics all sharing knowledge and highlighting the potential impact and social importance these projects may have in the future.CDE-Rosie-Campbell

It was a privilege to welcome a number of industry guest speakers to help CDE celebrate in style.

Hans-Peter Seidel from Max Planck Institute for Computer Science and Saarland University engaged the audience with his talk on ‘3D image Analysis and Synthesis – The world inside the computer’.

Steffen P Walz from University of RMIT in Melbourne, Australia, discussed ‘How to Play in the Gameful World: Researching the Potentials and Pitfalls of a Ludic Age’

Andrew Vidler from Ninja Theory, Marco Romeo from Moving Picture Company and Andy Gibb from the BBC, also enthralled guests with details of past, present and future projects the challenges faced and the future of the industry.

Phil Willis – Centre Director CDE project (Bath and Bournemouth) said “It was a real delight to see 170 people come together at the Bath Assembly Rooms for two days of CDE Celebration. With the Major of Bath in attendance, the mix of 50 CDE Research Engineers, academics from Bath and Bournemouth Universities, six senior Research Council staff from EPSRC and AHRC, national and international research laboratory Directors and representatives of some of the most vigorous, exciting and fun companies in the digital entertainment sector generated a lively and hugely enjoyable event. I think everyone enjoyed our many student exhibits, the networking sessions and the presentations. We hope many others will want to join our growing CDE family!”CDE-Fabio-Turchet

All of this, combined with an inspirational showcase of the two Universities’ academic staff research, provided two days of high energy, interactive content and it proved to be the Centre for Digital Entertainment’s biggest and best event yet.

*50 students. 40 companies. £20 million of investment. See it all on our new web site: www.digital-entertainment.org *

InsideBU – New Issue Out Now

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Inside-BU-Summer-2015-vThe latest issue of InsideBU, the internal magazine for BU students and staff is out now.

Containing a mixture of news, interviews, events and features, InsideBU provides an insight into the activities taking place at the university and this edition highlights career opportunities for students and staff at BU

Hard copies can be found around both campuses and you can also read it online. If you use a screen-reader, Word and PDF versions are also available.

Please email insidebu@bournemouth.ac.uk if you would like hard copies sent directly to you.

We appreciate all feedback and suggestions for future issues. If you have a story for the next issue of InsideBU, email insidebu@bournemouth.ac.uk.

West Hants Club Squash and Racketball Offer

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sportBU_logo_bigsportBU have arranged a partnership with West Hants Tennis Club, to give all BU students and staff discounted rates on squash courts.

The offer is available at the following times:

  • Monday – Friday 9pm – 4pm
  • Saturday 1pm – 4pm
  • Sunday 1pm – 7pm

Students: £2 per player (with access to changing and bar facilities post game)
Staff: £3 per player (with access to changing and bar facilities post game)

To book a court ring West Hants on +44 (0)1202 519455 stating that you are a member of BU staff and take your staff ID card with you to show at reception on arrival.

For further information, please contact sportBU by calling +44 (0)1202 965012 or email sportbu@bournemouth.ac.uk.

Important: New Procedure Relating to Third Party Involvement

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bu-logoPlease note that the University has now published a new procedure relating to third party involvement which will apply to University procedures that include, but is not limited to, Academic and Non-Academic Complaints, Appeals, Fitness to Practice/Study, Disciplinary and Welfare procedures.

From May 2015, this process is implemented with immediate effect. Further details are outlined below and within the document itself, which is available on the Student Portal under Rules and Regulations, so please take a moment and understand what this means for you.

The Third Party Involvement document and all other regulations, policies and procedures concerning students can be accessed throughout the year on the Student Portal at the same location should you need to consult them. If you find you have a query in relation to any of the documents, please discuss these with the relevant member of your course team, your administrator or the SUBU Advice team.

11L – Third Party Involvement: Procedure

Bournemouth University recognises that you may wish to be advised, supported or represented by a third party during formal University processes.

For the purposes of this procedure, a third party is defined as a person who is not directly involved in the issues relating to the formal processes but who is advising, supporting or representing you through the process.

Whilst the University strongly encourages you to represent yourself and to communicate directly with the University on all matters including those relating to formal University procedures, you may prefer to appoint a representative. However, if a third party representative is explicitly acting on your behalf, the University will only recognise them following your express written permission as per the procedure via completion of the Third Party Representative form.

However, a Third Party Representative form is not required if you are representing yourself and you are seeking advice or support from a third party (e.g. SUBU Advice). It is also not required if you wish to give consent for the University to discuss your case with a third party (e.g. a parent).

We are Celebrating the International Day for Biological Diversity

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biological-diversityEvery year on 22 May the World celebrates International Day for Biological Diversity.

As a fairly urban campus it might seem like we don’t have a lot of biological diversity but you’d be wrong! Make sure you check out the Biodiversity on Campus displays in the Atrium and Studland House Café on Friday 22 May!

Within just 5km of Talbot Campus we have 7 sites designated for Wildlife Conservation Interest, including; Dorset Heathlands, Bourne Valley, Turbary and Kinson Commons and Talbot Slopes & Cuttings.

18 protected and notable species were identified within a 10km radius of Talbot Campus, meaning that they may occasionally be present on campus if there is suitable habitat available. These include; Badgers, Bats, snakes, slow worms, and lizards. Plus there are many species of beetle, insect and bees to be found on campus.

There are over 25 species of tree and ornamental plants, including; Field Maples, Common Lime, English Oak, Sycamore, Wall Speedwell, Bluebell, Whitebeam, Rowan, Soft Brome, Barron Brome, False Brome, and many more.

As the estate develops The University and the Estates Team are committed to improving the external environment on campus, including biodiversity. Specific measures for building works so far include;

  • Commitment to environmental performance – all major construction projects are required to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating and as part of this assessment we must address the impact of construction on ecology and biodiversity. For the Student Centre and the New Academic Building projects the University has worked with ecologists, landscape architects and academics from SciTech to develop landscape proposals which enhance the ecological value of these sites. Examples of this include the provision of bird boxes and green roofs with sedum planting specifically selected to benefit local wildlife.
  • As part of the New Academic Building project the University will also be introducing local heathland planting on campus.
  • The development of an ‘Open Spaces Strategy’ which aims to improve the holistic quality of the external environment, including soft landscaping, street furniture and the use of space.
  • All works on campus are required to comply with BU’s environmental and biodiversity policies

The University will shortly be conducting a full ecological assessment of the estate and will produce a gap analysis of all ecological assessments previously carried out. Additional ecological assessments will then be carried out to develop a full picture of the whole estate.

A Biodiversity Action Plan will then be created with a view to enhancing biodiversity on campus, setting Key Performance Indicators, and creating a robust monitoring schedule.

For more information about biodiversity at BU please contact the Sustainability Team via sustainability@bournemouth.ac.uk or if you’d like to join the SUBU Green Taskforce e-mail SUPresident@bournemouth.ac.uk for more info.

Nepal Earthquake Appeal

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nepal-friendship-societyUK Nepal Friendship Society and students from BU are organising a fundraising event for the Nepalese earthquake victims, on Tuesday 12 May, from 4pm -7pm, in Bournemouth Square.

Nepal was stuck by a huge earthquake on 25 April and there have been numerous aftershocks since. This natural disaster has created havoc on a massive scale; people are traumatised and lacking the proper care needed, continuous heavy rain across different parts of Nepal has increased the risk of disease on an epidemic scale. The death toll has reached almost 8,000, and thousands have been made homeless and destitute.

As a result, the UK Nepal Friendship Society and BU students are planning to raise funds for immediate relief and to help with the vast operation to rebuild Nepal, by hosting an event in Bournemouth Square. Donations will help to provide the much needed aid to people who have lost their homes and their families.*

*Donations via the UKNFS will be provided to disaster victims through official/reliable Government of Nepal and Embassy of Nepal – London – recommended/advised channels.

BU Careers & Employability support available to ALL BU students and graduates

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The support offered both on and off campus by the BU Careers & Employability Service includes:-

Careers & Employability Centre, Edge Student Development Centre, Talbot Campus The-Edge

You can drop in to our career centre in the Edge Student Development Centre (outside the Talbot Campus library), Mon – Fri between 8.45am – 4.30pm, and speak to members of the team about your careers and employability needs, loan out job hunting and application books, as well as pick up free careers and job hunting guides.

Access to the ‘MyCareerHub’ Online Careers System

Accessible 24/7 you can access the following with your BU username and password:-

*Careers advisors will see students from any course but they are also attached to the Schools/Faculties as follows:-

  • Jane Pimblett – Media
  • David Wakeford – Sci/Tech
  • Lynne Jones –Business, Law, Tourism, Hospitality, Retail, Events, Sport
  • Adrian Cuthbert – Business, Law, Health & Social Care

School/Faculty related careers and job hunting resources

To help you with finding careers and jobs within a specific sector, there is a whole section on MyCareerHub dedicated to providing resources for different job sectors to help you with identifying potential employers, job opportunities and careers information as follows:-

  • Online Job Sites
  • Employer Directories
  • Recruitment Agencies
  • Useful Organisations
  • Making Job Applications
  • Potential Earnings & Salary
  • Careers Information
  • What do BU Grads do after Graduation
  • Further advice & guidance

To access the ‘Sector Resources’ in MyCareerHub click here

Find us on Social Media!

  • BU Twitter Page – keep up to date with recruitment news, vacancies, job search hints and tips
  • BU Employability Blog – selection of useful articles sourced from around the web to help with the career planning and job application process

Other ways to contact us

  • 01202 961663

Key Opportunities to boost the CV!

  • Student Development Award – Valuable award helping students to stand out from the crowd and equip them with the skills that employers will find impossible to resist! Find out more here
  • Global Horizons Fund – Want to experience another culture? Want to boost your CV with an international experience? The Global Horizons fund could help! Find out more here
  • BU Volunteering – Lots of opportunities on campus to boost your CV through volunteering. Find out more here
  • Latest Competitions & Opportunities – The BU Careers & Employability blog features all the latest competitions and opportunities to boost your CV. Find out more here

BU Careers Support available to BU students AFTER graduation

  • Once you have graduated, you are still entitled to use the services of the Careers & Employability Service for up to 3 years from graduation, including access to MyCareerHub, whether you stay in the Dorset area or relocate to another area of the UK.

Timetabling and bus information at Lansdowne

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bu-logoStudents on the Lansdowne Campus can now find timetabling information as well as the latest bus information on the large TV screens in Royal London House, Studland House and Bournemouth House.

The screens change every minute, so whether you’re looking to check what room you’re in – or what time the next bus is – the information you need will always be readily available.

You said, This Happened: Improvements to U1 & U2 Bus Service

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In response to passenger feedback, the following improvements are being introduced to the university bus service from this week:

The U1 Service will run an enhanced term-time service with additional bus services from both campuses.

From the Lansdowne Campus:

  • 8.47am (departing Cranborne House not Dorchester House)
  • 9.43am (departing Dorchester House)
  • 10.43am (departing Dorchester House)

From Talbot Campus:

  • 9.25am (departing Fern Barrow)
  • 10.25am (departing Fern Barrow)

The U2 Service will also operate an enhanced level of service from 3.40pm to 7pm, where the frequency of service will increase to every 30 minutes.

Reece Pope, SUBU’s VP Welfare Officer, said: “The changes made to the bus service is a perfect example of how the voice of students are listened to and acted on here at BU. The University and Morebus have been very happy to listen to your feedback so feel free to contact me if you have any further suggestions on how to improve this service.”

Updated online timetables for the enhanced U1 and U2 services are available here and you can also check timetables and live bus information in our iBU mobile app.