Author: Stephanie Thomson

Meet Jennie Harding

Jennie Harding is the course leader for our Software Engineering BSc(Hons) degree at Brighton.

My career path and journey into teaching.
I was training as a nurse and left to have a child. When I returned to work I worked for supporting housing, supporting clients based on alarm call response and was intrigued to see the database system that enabled call handlers to responds to an alarm and also call next of kin or career, access information about GPs, medications, call history amongst other things.

This seemed to solve so many of the problems that I’d seen in hospitals around discharge care, for example people remaining in hospital when there was no medical need. I was hooked on how well-thought-out systems can help people. So I changed my plan from completing my nurse training and took a computing degree instead.

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TEF silver 2023 logo

Brighton secures national Silver Award for teaching excellence

The University of Brighton has been recognised for the quality of its teaching and student outcomes in a UK-wide evaluation of higher education institutions.

The university has today secured a Silver award in the national Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). The award confirms that the student experience and student outcomes across all of the university’s undergraduate provision including apprenticeships are “typically very high quality”, delivering excellence above the rigorous standards set for the UK’s higher education providers. The rating lasts for four years, until September 2027.

The TEF is a national scheme run by the Office for Students (OfS). It aims to encourage universities to improve and deliver excellence in the areas that students care about the most: teaching, learning and achieving positive outcomes from their studies.

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Mindful thought processes, science and a world of possibilities

In this blog, automotive engineering student and course representative James Allan, reflects on a recent module, and how it has further enhanced his knowledge and skills as a ‘graduate of the future’.

I have been actively engaged in the Energy Systems modules for 12 weeks and I can honestly say it has been a very interesting subject. With regard to the modern world, there are a vast array of everyday items that rely on productive and efficient energy systems. This module has primarily focused on the transportation sector, whilst also covering fluid dynamics, thermal storage systems, heat exchangers and refrigeration systems.

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Close of female student in engineering lab wearing a white lab coat and safety glasses looking at the camera

Focusing on solutions and sustainability in engineering

Mechanical engineering student Isabel Paglinawan tells us about the Energy Systems modules and reflects on how it has enhanced her knowledge and skills as a ‘graduate of the future’.

Critical Thinker
The ‘Energy Systems’ module, gives us the opportunity to undertake learning in a much more practical approach. Our lecturers have first-hand experience working in relevant industries that made it really engaging. They gave us problems similar to ones they have faced in the industry and walked us through their way of finding a solution. As students, we had to think critically about each possible solution and its possible effects.

Aside from many real-life relevant problems, we engaged with many visuals during lectures which kept our learning experience engaging and easier to visibly understand the function of systems such as Turbofan or Gasoline engines.

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Engineering lecturer working on robot project with primary school pupils

Engineering students mentor primary pupils in school STEM week robot tournament

A team of our first- and second-year engineering students, along with engineering lecturer Ian Watts, have been out and about encouraging pupils from a local primary school to discover the possibilities within STEM by taking part in robot tournament as part of the school’s STEM week.

Under the mentorship of our engineering students, 120 pupils from years three to six constructed ‘Antweight’ robots, which were tested in various competitions including football, sumo, and an assault course. The sumo competition was a particular hit.

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Architecture and design awards 2023

Architecture and Design end of year show and awards

Architecture and Design hosted their End of Year Show in June, showcasing the talent of our school’s creative community. In the midst of a summer heatwave, the show attracted a remarkable turnout, demonstrating the ongoing importance of our Architecture and Design reputation.

Bringing together students from various design disciplines the show included students from BA(Hons) Architecture, MArch Architecture, BA(Hons) Interior Architecture, BSc(Hons) Product Design, MA Interior Design, MA Sustainable Design, and Architecture and Design Integrated Foundation courses. Each course presented a unique fusion of creativity, practicality, and innovative design principles, with every project showcasing outstanding vision and execution.

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poster explaining civil engineering project work

Two firsts for civil engineering graduate Luke

Congratulations to Luke Gardiner on winning the esteemed ‘Best Poster Award’ at the British Geotechnical Association Conference 2023 and graduating with a first from our Civil Engineering BEng(Hons) with integrated foundation year.

We caught up with Luke and Maria Diakoumi, Principal Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering about his project and the opportunity to get involved in research.

Luke’s dissertation and the work presented in his poster received high praise and the winning vote at the conference, an annual event attended by universities and industry. The poster focused on numerical modelling, building on earlier research on Gravity Base Structures for offshore foundations carried out by civil engineering lecturers Dr Maria Diakoumi and Dr Kevin Stone.

“This recognition is particularly significant given the tough competition from prestigious institutions such as the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford and Imperial College. We all felt very proud,” said Maria.

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Selfie of student Sonia taken outside in a garden

My Clearing Story: Getting help as an international student in Clearing

Hear from Civil Engineering student Sonia about her Clearing experience as an international student and the reasons why she chose Brighton.

Attending university had always been a dream for me since the first career talk I had at my primary school. Towards the end of the academic year, our schools arranged for some successful people to speak to us about the importance of having a goal to work towards. They asked each of us what we wanted to be when we grew up and I almost knew, although the answer changed every year!

Honestly, I was not clear about what I wanted to study until an opportunity for me to study abroad came along. This, for me, was a once-in-a-lifetime dream about to come true. I had to sit down and decide on the course I wanted to do and why – it was Civil Engineering BEng. My decision affected the next years of my life and the career to pursue after graduating.

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Headphones hooked over a wooden stand on a desk

Graduates 2023: Christy Cairns: Product Design BSc(Hons)

The course began with a very broad introduction to the breadth of what Product Design means and led to us all being in a position to pursue the areas that complement our interests. My work’s impact on the environment is a key driver for me. A lot of my work looks at resource use and circular systems.

Please tell us a bit about your work and your influences:

I have a love of nature and my work’s impact on the environment is a key driver for me. A lot of my work looks at resource use and circular systems. I’ve worked on projects here and abroad that have aimed to utilise waste materials. I’m influenced by designer’s with a similar ethos and are critical of their impact on the world.

How have you found your course and time at Brighton?

Good. It has been full of challenges, some hard, most enjoyable. The course began with a very broad introduction to the breadth of what Product Design means and led to us all being in a position to pursue the areas that complement our interests. The faculty are a real strength of the Product Design course. They’re engaging, supportive and exceptionally knowledgeable of contemporary design. Regardless of the direction you are travelling in, or where your interests lie, they are able to recognize its connection to the course and provide strong references to work from.  

How did you choose your course – why did you choose to study Product Design?

Initially I wanted a change and a challenge. I knew I would enjoy a course that combines creativity and research, it leads to creating with purpose. Over other courses the studio space we have is unique, it is intimate, casual and creative space which although daunting at first, having fellow students and your tutors constantly wandering past your desk and your work is incredibly beneficial. Forget the scheduled contact time, some of the most informative conversations I have had have been quick 10 minute chats on the fly.

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