Photojournalism: Tulips for Spring Mood

By Galya Dimitrova

Today was the last day of the week in which several giant tulips were “planted” in Coventry City centre. The huge artificial flowers were lit night and day, adding some more charm to the city.

The aim of the beautiful decoration was to hail the upcoming spring. The flowers were widely discussed throughout the city. From a distance, their bulbs resembled huge red spots on the foreground of the cloudy, iron-grey sky. What brought the tulips to the city centre was Jigantics, who ploughs many of the company’s funds back into running a community project based around creative arts internationally, including the Giant Puppet Project in Cambodia and The Book Bus in Zambia.

Along with the symbol of Coventry, Lady Godiva, whose statue is also in Broadgate, the flowers could also be considered a warming up for International Women’s Day on the 8th March.

Cov Uni Goes Green!

By Galya Dimitrova

This week Coventry University sets a “green” agenda. From 11^th till 15^th February the University School of Art and Design is running various events to raise awareness of Green issues and the University contribution to a healthier, “greener” life.

 

The main issues to be brought up are the reducing of energy wastage and the improvement of recycling.

 

If you are particularly creative and ecology is something you stand for, this is your chance to win one of the prices that are going to be given by the School. The categories are “Best Idea to Reduce Energy Wasting within the School” and “Best Piece of Work Made of Recycled Materials”.

 

A Fairtrade Coffee afternoon is taking place on Friday 15^th February from 11am till1 pm at Graham Sutherland building. Everyone interested in the development of the Green issues can join the School of Art and Design and use a sample Fairtrade coffee and biscuits.

 

Again in Graham Sutherland topical environmental films will be screened almost every day of the Green Week. The screenings are in the following order:

 

11^th February, 3-5pm: “Wall-e“

13^th February, 12-2pm: “The Age of Stupid”

14^th February, 11am-1pm: “Food Inc”

15^th February, 1-3pm: “Koyaanisquatsi”

 

All events are free and everyone is invited to go.

 

Coventry University Graduate Wins Top Journalism Award

 By Galya Dimitrova

Coventry University journalism graduate Jason Craig has become winner of a prestigious award by the Motor Sport Association and become Young Motor Sport Journalist of the Year 2012.

The twenty-five-year old Jason has been singled out as the most promising journalists aged 25 or under working within British motor sport. His nomination for the award was supported by Damian Mullan, his sport’s editor at Coleraine Chronicle, which Jason joined after graduating in 2009. Former British Historic Rally Champion Dessie Nutt also praised Jason for helping to raise the profile of motor sport in the region.

Thanks to his natural passion for motor sport Jason beat off stiff competition from across the UK, leaving the MSA judges impressed with his accomplished news writing, the breadth, depth and originality of his stories, and the sheer amount of copy bearing his by-line. He was presented with his award at a special ceremony in London in January 2013.

Jeremy Townsend, Communications Director of Renault UK, said:

“The standard of entries was as high as ever with a very impressive breadth of work. Of all though, Jason’s work stood out with unanimous agreement from the judges. I wish Jason every success with his future career.”

Jason’s accomplishment was highly praised by members of the University staff as well. Andrew Noakes, Senior Lecturer in Automotive Journalism at Coventry School of Art and Design, was delighted to hear of Jason’s success in the MSA competition:

“Jason always worked very hard, and was always looking for opportunities to make an impression with people in the media. He was only here a week before he introduced himself to Steve Cropley, editor in chief of Autocar – and pressed into his hand a feature he’d written for him!

“His final project, setting up the CUToday website which is still running today, was one of the best I’ve ever seen.

“It’s great that Jason’s extensive reporting of rallying in Northern Ireland – largely done in his own time – has  been recognised with the Renault MSA award, and I’m sure a few editors in motorsport media will take notice.”, he said.

Jason himself said he sees this as “the culmination of two years hard work with the Chronicle” and a perfect confidence booster for his projects in 2013.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the journalism staff at Coventry University – all of them were very supportive during the course of my undergraduate studies. They made me feel most welcome from day one, and I built up a strong rapport with all of them, especially Andrew Noakes, who advised me on how to pursue my passion for motor sport.”, he added.

The award is surely something that would make his portfolio really stand out amongst many others and if he keeps up the good work, he will hardly have any problems getting any job he wants.

Along with the trophy and the recognition, Jason also collected a cheque for £1000 at the Motor Sport Association’s Night of Champions at the Royal Automobile Club, London, on 19 January 2013.

 

Coventry University Applications up 18% for 2013

By Galya Dimitrova

It seems like 2013 will be a successful entrepreneurial year for Coventry University as the latest figures show a dramatic rise in its applications compared to the same point in 2012. Despite the fact that the introduction of the new fee system lead to an overall decline of the applications for university places throughout the country, Coventry University has managed to buck the national trend. Its undergraduate applications are 18% up on 2012, while the latest figures published by UCAS show university applications are down by 5.6% throughout the UK. As well as an increase in undergraduate applications, the University has seen a rise of over 50% in its applications for postgraduate studies.

In response to last year’s changes to the university fee system, Coventry University announced that it would implement a variable fee scale with a view to encouraging applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, rather than charging £9,000 for all courses. The University also launched an initiative which sees students provided with their core textbooks and materials as part of the tuition fee, adding further value for money to Coventry’s courses.

Vice-chancellor Professor Madeleine Atkins believes the increased interest can be attributed to the University’s ongoing improvements in performance and reputation, as well as its different approach to setting course fees.

“We are still at an early stage in the applications cycle for September 2013 starters, but these are positive signs that Coventry’s ‘Fair Fee Policy’ and much-improved standings in the league tables are setting the University apart from the competition.

 “At Coventry we felt that setting variable fees which were based on the actual cost of delivering the course was the only fair answer to the changes to the higher education fee system. Value for money and transparency around costs are crucial to prospective students when choosing a university, and so far the evidence seems to suggest that students and their families are supportive of our different approach.”, she added.

 

Second year Journalism student from the Erasmus scheme Lilice Werner observed that “it is a good strategy to vary charges at Coventry University”, so that students from various social and economic backgrounds can get a place in it.

“Also, students don’t only choose a University because of it’s course offer and reputation, but also because of it’s location and leisure facilities”, she added.

Even though she believes a lot more could be improved in terms of the campus and the internal organisation of the courses, she definitely enjoys her studying here and would recommend Coventry University to everyone she knows searching for a place at an UK university:

“I can recommend Coventry University for students, that are open minded, like to engage and don’t get scared by Coventry’s rough appearance. It is definitly not the UK’s flagship town, but the University is nice.

“All in all it’s a very informal, pleasant atmosphere with helpful lecturers and multicultural mates.”

The increase in applications follows a strong year for the institution, which saw its best ever student satisfaction ratings in 2012 and a significant boost in the Guardian and Times university league tables.