Information on Loughborough
News Index
2012
Feb 2012Jan 2012
2011
Dec 2011Nov 2011
Oct 2011
Sep 2011
Aug 2011
Jul 2011
Jun 2011
May 2011
Apr 2011
Mar 2011
Feb 2011
Jan 2011
2010
Dec 2010Nov 2010
Oct 2010
Sep 2010
Aug 2010
Jul 2010
Jun 2010
May 2010
Apr 2010
Mar 2010
Feb 2010
Jan 2010
2009
Dec 2009Nov 2009
Oct 2009
Sep 2009
Aug 2009
Jul 2009
Jun 2009
May 2009
Apr 2009
Mar 2009
Feb 2009
Jan 2009
2008
Dec 2008Nov 2008
Oct 2008
Sep 2008
Aug 2008
Jul 2008
Jun 2008
May 2008
Apr 2008
Mar 2008
Feb 2008
Jan 2008
2007
Dec 2007Nov 2007
Oct 2007
Sep 2007
Aug 2007
Jul 2007
Jun 2007
May 2007
Take Over Day At University
Posted on 23/11/2007
P. Klein
Posted on 23rd November 2007
R.Reed
Should Loughborough Universitys iconic Towers building be knocked down? Should there be more or less parking on campus? Or the Library become solely a virtual, online facility?
These and other issues were discussed by around 30 local school pupils, when they become Loughborough Universitys decision makers on Friday 23 November, as part of the first national 11 Million Take Over Day initiative.
11 MILLION is a national organisation led by the Childrens Commissioner for England, Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green. The Childrens Commissioner position was created by the Children Act 2004 to be the independent voice for all children and young people in England.
Take Over Day is an opportunity for Englands children and young people to take over the running of some of the countrys key organisations and services " to become the head teacher in their school, for instance, or to run a national newspaper for the day. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate the countrys commitment to listening to and recognising the talents and contributions of children and young people.
Loughborough is the only university in the East Midlands taking part in the event, and one of just four universities across the country.
"As a UK leader in social policy and child and family research, it is fitting that the University should be taking part in this important initiative, which celebrates the importance of children and young people in our society, says Professor Alan France, director of Loughboroughs Centre for Research in Social Policy (CRSP).
"I hope the students involved will gain as much from their experience as I know the University will.
On arrival at the campus, the students were greeted by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Shirley Pearce. They then then split into groups to begin their assessment of the University.
Students from Burleigh Community College and Woodbrook Vale High School spent the morning in the Department of Social Sciences. They helped two of the countrys leading social policy research groups " CRSP and the Centre for Child and Family Research (CCFR) " identify potential future research projects that address issues of importance to young people.
The Universitys in-house residential accommodation service, imago Services, welcomed students from Burleigh Community College. They visited three halls of residence to see where they think improvements, particularly relating to environmental issues, could be made.
A group of sixth form students from Harry Carlton School, East Leake, spent the morning in the Universitys Library, acting as marketing consultants. They were asked to report on the Librarys current provision and how they would change it for the future.
The fourth group of students, again from Burleigh Community College, looked at the campuss buildings with the Universitys Estates Service. The students visited the relatively recently built Centre for Collaborative Construction Research and the ECB National Cricket Centre and were asked to report on the impression these, and all the Universitys buildings, gave them as visitors.
Afterwards, the students reunited with the Vice Chancellor at the Council Chamber to report back their findings and to suggest ways for Loughboroughs future direction.
The students came up with a variety of ideas and identified areas of concern. Various suggestions, such as encouraging students to recycle more, provision of greater transport facilities on campus, what to do about buildings with high maintenance costs, improvements to lighting and planting on campus were made. The students also identified assets the University has such as certain buildings and the quality of student to be found in the library.
The Vice Chancellor after listening attentively to the presentations thanked the students for their time, hard work and suggestions. The students were told that some of their ideas would be taken forward for further discussion and that they would be kept informed of the outcome.
ENDÂ