Liverpool Hope beats academic targets again

Official statistics released today show that Liverpool Hope University is going from strength to strength in academic performance. Annual performance indicators released by HESA (the Higher Education Statistics Agency) show that Hope is six points ahead of its benchmark figure for student retention.

HESA’s figures illustrate how well academic institutions are performing in key areas. It is projected that just one in 12 of students who began at Hope in 2007 will not have completed their degree within a three year period by this summer. This rate, 8.6%, is against a benchmark target of 14.9%. This marks yet another improvement in year-on-year performance by the University which last year was 2.5% ahead of its benchmark target.

Vice Chancellor Professor Gerald Pillay welcomed the results saying: “We are now seeing the fruits of many years of hard work at Hope both in regard to student engagement and academic depth. We are committed to creating a collegial university with the emphasis on individual care alongside rigorous academic preparation.”

The HESA figures also reveal continued strong performance in the area of widening participation – ie giving those with ability the best opportunity for success irrespective of their background. Hope has again improved its figures beyond target.

At the same time the University has introduced a number of initiatives aimed at improving student opportunities. Its brand new £7.5m performing arts centre, The Capstone, was opened last month on the Creative Campus in Shaw Street. Later this year it opens a new Education and Enterprise building at its Hope Park campus in Childwall.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 20 April 2010 )

Professor Ron Geaves: Islam in Victorian Britain

Liverpool Hope's Professor of the Comparative Study of Religion, Ron Geaves, has written the first full biography of Abdullah Quilliam (left), the most significant Muslim personality in nineteenth century Britain.

Professor Geaves's book, Islam In Victorian Britain: The Life and Times of Abdullah Quilliam (Kube Press), not only provides the first account of Quilliam's colourful and turbulent life, but examines his teachings and considers his legacy for British Muslims today.

‘Based on painstaking research by a scholar of Muslims in Britain, this book offers the first definitive account of the life and legacy of one of the most important figures in the history of Islam in Britain.’

Dr Sophie Gilliat-Ray, Director, Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK

Professor Geaves launched his book 'Islam in Victorian Britain; The Life and Times of Abdullah Quillam' in The Hope Theatre at The Creative Campus on 16th April

Last Updated ( Monday, 19 April 2010 )

Faculty of Education Doctoral Lecture Series - Dr Jennifer Chung

jennifer chung The Faculty of Education's Doctoral Lecture series continued on Tuesday 13th April, as Dr Jennifer Chung presented 'An Investigation of Reasons for Finland’s Success in Programme for International Student Assessment'.

The Faculty of Education has introduced the Doctoral Lecture series to celebrate doctoral achievements of staff as they complete doctorates and to provide the opportunity for new colleagues to share their doctoral research with the Faculty.

Other lectures in the series will take place on the following dates: 13th May Kath Orlandi; 16th June Namrata Rao; and 8th July Chris Atkin.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 14 April 2010 )

Professor Bernard Jackson to Deliver Sherman Lectures

professor jackson Professor Bernard Jackson will deliver this year’s Sherman Lectures at the University of Manchester on the theme: Halakhah, Inheritance and the "Heritage of Israel"'.

The Lectures will take place on April 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd, each day at 5.15 p.m., in the Arts Lecture Theatre of the Samuel Alexander Building, University of Manchester (Building 67 on the Campus Map).

The lecture titles are as follows:

1. Monday 19th April 2010: 'Heritage and Inheritance in the Hebrew Bible'   2. Tuesday 20th April 2010: 'Between the Hebrew Bible and the Rabbis'  3. Wednesday 21st April 2010: 'The Rabbinic Inheritance'  4. Thursday 22nd April 2010: 'Halakhah and the "Heritage of Israel" in the State of Israel'

Abstracts are available at http://www.mucjs.org/sherman10abs.htm#mon

Colleagues from Hope are warmly invited to attend.

Last Updated ( Monday, 12 April 2010 )

Hope Academic Leads War Discussion

Dr Terry Phillips, Dean of Arts and Humanities, who is also Chair of the International Advisory Board of the Desmond Tutu Centre for War and Peace Studies, led a pre-performance discussion at Liverpool’s Playhouse Theatre on 31st March, immediately preceding the first performance of a new production by Northern Stage of the 1963 Theatre Workshop Classic, Oh What a Lovely War.

Dr Phillips introduced the debate, entitled, ‘When is War the Only Answer’ by outlining the international situation which prevailed at the time when the play’s irreverent, and profoundly anti-war treatment of World War One, was first staged, against the background of the Cold War and the crisis over Soviet missile bases in Cuba.

She then invited the panel, consisting of university, further education and sixth form students and Grant Taylor, who had served in the British army in Northern Ireland and Iraq to consider a number of questions, related to British involvement in Afghanistan, using scenes from the play to prompt discussion on the reasons for British involvement; the issue of who profits from war; and civilian and media responses.

Last Updated ( Friday, 09 April 2010 )

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