January 2022 at the University of Winchester

1 Feb 2022

The beginning of 2022 has brought a sense of anticipation and excitement for the year to come. January 2022 saw us welcome our new Vice-Chancellor and awards, accolades and new initiatives. Read on for some of January's highlights.

A warm welcome to Professor Sarah Greer

Portrait of Sarah Greer

Sarah Greer took up her role as our new Vice-Chancellor at the beginning of January.

Professor Greer thanked The Reverend Professor Elizabeth Stuart for her leadership of the University over the last nine months, particularly during such challenging times.

She plans to meet as many students and members of staff as possible over the coming semester and said: "I am looking forward to us working together to shape the University's future direction and success."

Winchester Health Clinic makes a splash with new aquatic physiotherapy classes

Winchester Health Clinic tretament room

The Winchester Health Clinic - set up by the University to provide high-quality physiotherapy assessment and treatment to the local community - has launched aquatic physiotherapy in the hydrotherapy pool at the Winchester Sport and Leisure Centre.

Aimed at building strength and supporting movement that might not be possible on land, the classes will be taught by a mix of students on the University's BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy degree programme on placement at the Clinic as part of their studies. They will work closely alongside Health and Care Professions Council-accredited (HCPC) Physiotherapy practitioners. Find out more.

Student and staff collaborate on Responsible Futures accreditation

Three people standing by the entrance to the University

The University and Winchester Student Union have been awarded the National Union of Students (NUS) Responsible Futures accreditation for the second time. The award recognises their shared commitment to embedding sustainability and social responsibility in teaching and other activities.

Professor Sarah Greer, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Winchester, said: "Shaping education is fundamental to shaping society and, in partnership with Winchester Student Union, we are committed to fostering an environment where education for sustainability and social justice forms part of every Winchester student's experience while they are studying here." Find out more.

Flagship West Downs Centre in running for architecture award

The West Downs Centre has been selected as one of only 35 successful national and international projects in the final of the Civic Trust Awards 2022.

The learning and teaching building - designed by Winchester-based Design Engine Architects - will receive either an Award or be Highly Commended when the results are announced on Monday 7 March. The Awards recognise outstanding architecture, planning and design in the built environment and are the longest standing built-environment awards scheme in Europe.

In December 2021, the building scooped the Gold award in the global World Architecture News WAN Awards 2021 Education category, beating six other shortlisted international projects in the sector.

Pop up vaccination clinic hosted on campus

The University hosted a pop-up clinic on 27 January, welcoming members of the local community, students and staff to get a Covid-19 vaccination.

Staff from Solent NHS Trust administered Pfizer jabs, with 162 people vaccinated during the day. The University and the Trust joined forces to host two previous pop-up clinics earlier this month and in September 2021.

University creative writing alumna wins Costa Book Award 2022

Claire sitting in the countryside with her chin in her hand

Congratulations to author Claire Fuller, who has been announced as the winner in the Novel category in this year's Costa Book Awards for her latest novel Unsettled Ground.

Unsettled Ground, which was also shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2021, is a portrait of twins living on the fringes of society. The judges described it as 'a beautiful, nuanced observation of the richness and pain of marginalised life'.

Claire is a graduate of the University's Creative and Critical Writing Masters degree course and lives in the city with her husband and two children.

Richard III's reign was dogged by more rumours than just the princes in the tower

Portrait painting of Richard III

Fake news and conspiracy theories need not only be associated with the internet or even the modern world. In an article for The Conversation, Dr Gordon McKelvie, Senior Lecturer in Medieval History, outlines how the reign of Richard III shows that Richard was not beyond using rumours and fabrication to his own advantage. Read the article.

University Archaeologist throws light on leprosy in new podcast

Dr Simon Roffey, Reader in Medieval Archaeology, has recorded an episode of the Gone Medieval by History Hit podcast, which explores leprosy in the Middle Ages. The image of the medieval leper as an outcast from society is a familiar one - but is it accurate? Simon talks to presenter Dr Cat Jarman about how medieval society treated those with leprosy.

With Dr Phil Marter, Simon leads the Magdalen Hill Archaeological Research Project (MHARP) with the aim of studying the history and development of the former medieval hospital and almshouse of St Mary Magdalen, Winchester. Listen to the podcast.

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