Inez Brown, a prominent lawyer and advocate for equality and diversity in the legal profession, has been awarded an honorary degree by Aston University.

She received the honour at a ceremony at Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on 27 July 2023.

Dr Brown has had an illustrious career in the legal profession spanning over 20 years, during which she has risen from a legal secretary to partner and former head of clinical negligence at Medical Accident Group for 11 years.

She has been recognised for her contributions by being named Law Society Partner of the Year in 2016 and being inaugurated as the first black president of Birmingham Law Society in 2020, where she has served as an ambassador and leader in the legal profession, forging partnerships with local businesses and communities.

In her role as president, she has helped to grow the Society’s membership and set up its first diversity and inclusion scheme, which has provided scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

Inez has also been appointed as the regional chair of the Institute of Directors, overseeing East and West Midlands where she provides support to seven branch chairs and business director members.

Dr Brown said:

“I am humbled and honoured to be awarded an honorary degree by Aston University.

“I am dedicated to ‘giving back’, inspiring and creating a legacy for the younger generation.

“I would like to thank Aston University for recognising my achievements.”

Professor Zoe Radnor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences at Aston University, said:

“I am thrilled that the University has decided to honour Inez Brown with this well-deserved award.

“Her dedication to promoting equality and diversity in the legal profession and supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds is an inspiration to us all.”

The first students to complete the ONCAMPUS Aston programme have graduated from their postgraduate courses.

Libina Scaria from India and Whitney Nga from Cameroon joined the University in January 2022. After successfully passing a one term masters foundation programme to improve their English while learning the study skills and research methods needed for Master’s degree studies, they progressed onto postgraduate degrees in human resource management and accounting and finance respectively.

The partnership between Aston University and Cambridge Education Group (CEG), based at the University’s campus, offers pathway programmes designed for international students who do not meet the requirements for direct entry to university.

The programmes help students develop the key academic and English language skills needed to succeed in their degree level studies, with the aim of maximising every student’s potential.

Professor Kathy Daniels, Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor (Engagement) at Aston University, said:

“It is fantastic to see the first students progress from ONCAMPUS Aston to the University.

“Since ONCAMPUS Aston opened in September 2021 we have seen hundreds of students enrol, and we look forward to many more graduates in the future.”

Chris Hooper, director of Global Study Centres, CEG, said:

“We are delighted to see the first ONCAMPUS pre-master’s students graduating to receive their master’s degree from Aston University.

“We are certain they will go on to do achieve great things in their fields.

“These are the first two of many success stories to come, as our ONCAMPUS Aston centre continues to grow and help more international students prepare for their Aston University degree programmes.”

International students have the opportunity to study a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at Aston University through ONCAMPUS Aston including business, finance, engineering, the health professions and law.

Deborah Cadman OBE, chief executive of Birmingham City Council, has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Aston University for her significant contribution to public service.

The Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) was conferred on Friday 28 July at a graduation ceremony at Eastside Rooms in Birmingham.

Deborah has nearly 40 years of experience in public service and has served as the chief executive of local authorities for around 14 years, leading district, county and city councils.

She was appointed as the first chief executive of West Midlands Combined Authority in 2017 and is currently a trustee of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, a commissioner on the Social Integration Commission and a trustee on the Centre for Cities.

In recognition of her exceptional leadership skills and commitment to public service, Deborah was awarded an OBE for services to local government in 2006 and has been listed in Local Government Chronicle’s ‘100 Most Influential in the Sector’. She holds a degree in politics and a masters degree in economics and management practice.

On receiving the award, Dr Cadman said:

“It is an honour to be awarded a Doctorate in Business Administration and to be recognised for my contribution to public service and to the city of Birmingham. I am proud to be associated with Aston University and its commitments to diversity and academic excellence.”

Professor Aleks Subic, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Aston University, said:

“I am delighted to award an honorary doctorate to Deborah Cadman in recognition of her outstanding leadership and contributions to public service.

“Deborah has demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout her professional career dedicated to public service, advocating, developing and maintaining the highest standards in providing services to the public, supporting communities and city regeneration and demonstrating commitment to equality and diversity.

“Her career spanning almost four decades is an inspiration to our students and graduates who aspire to make a positive impact in their communities.”

As part of a new collaboration, the Eshelman Institute for Innovation (EII), within the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, will work with Aston University on a three-year project focused on preventing damage caused by swelling of the central nervous system (CNS).

EII issued a US$400,000 grant to co-principal investigators, Dr Kevin Frankowski, assistant professor for the Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery at the Eshelman School of Pharmacy, and Professor Roslyn Bill, professor of biotechnology at Aston University, to develop treatments for CNS swelling.

The EII was established in 2014 with a $100 million commitment from Dr Fred Eshelman, and provides translational grant funding to Carolina faculty for therapeutic research focused on oncology, infectious disease, and neuroscience (including rare diseases); however, the EII welcomes ideas for devices and diagnostics, and other therapeutic areas and services. Through their grant mechanism, the EII encourages research proposals that include a broad spectrum of scientific engagement through meaningful collaborations across a variety of diverse disciplines, departments, schools, and institutions.

Dr John Bamforth, executive director of the EII and a former graduate of Aston University, said:

“We are extremely excited to see this collaboration begin. EII embraces bringing together the brightest and best scientists to solve major patient needs. Personally, it is also a delight to see the number one school of pharmacy in the US partner with Aston.”

Frankowksi said:

“The validation of non-surgical approaches to treat the CNS swelling that may occur following a stroke or traumatic brain or spine injuries remains a critical unmet medical challenge. Safe and effective treatment options are urgently needed for the millions of patients worldwide who suffer from these injuries every year. I am excited to partner with Roslyn Bill and her team to develop first-in-class small molecule candidates as potential therapeutic agents to treat the underlying cause of CNS swelling post stroke or accident.”

Both Frankowski and Bill bring unique and necessary knowledge to the table for this project. The opportunity to work together, research and develop new therapeutic agents is only possible because of EII.

“It gives me unparalleled access to the medicinal chemistry expertise at EII and I’ll be working with a world expert in their neuropharmacology area, Kevin Frankowski. That will allow us to combine the discovery that I’ve made on the biological mechanism behind traumatic brain injury and Kevin’s deep knowledge of the chemistry. I can’t think of a better partner for that. This work will get us closer to a medicine for people who’ve had a traumatic injury to the brain or spinal cord. There’s currently nothing available so the potential is huge,” said Bill.

Professor Julian Barratt and Professor Rebecca Jester have joined Aston University as honorary professors on the university’s new nursing studies degree course.

Aston Medical School launched the Nursing Studies (Registered Nurse Adult Nursing) BSc course in December 2022, and the first students will begin in September 2023. The course is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Julian is the Lead for the Centre for Advancing Practice at National Health Service England (NHSE) Workforce, Training and Education, and the Regional Faculty Lead for the NHS Midlands region. His registrant background is as an emergency medicine nurse and in advanced practice as a nurse practitioner in unscheduled primary care, general practice, and event healthcare. Julian has extensive clinical academic experience in advanced clinical practice, prescribing, research, and nursing academic and strategic leadership, including leading and developing multi-professional advanced practice education. He has been involved in advanced practice innovations, associated policy and research developments since the mid-1990s.

“I am excited and honoured by this opportunity to contribute to the development of nursing education and advanced practice at Aston Medical School, and I’m looking forward to working in collaboration with colleagues and students at Aston University. In particular, the provision of nursing education is a new endeavour for Aston, so it’s great to be involved in this key activity from the beginning of the first cohort of nursing students starting at the university in September 2023,” said Julian.

Rebecca’s background is as a specialist orthopaedic nurse, working in the UK and Sweden. After opting for a clinical academic career in 1997, she obtained a PhD in Health Sciences from the University of Birmingham in 2001. Her subsequent academic appointments have included Head of School of Nursing & Midwifery, Keele University, Head of the Nursing School Abu Dhabi for Griffith University, Head of Department of Adult Nursing and Midwifery, London South Bank University, Professor of Nursing, University of Wolverhampton, and Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI). She continued to work as an advanced nurse practitioner in orthopaedics during this time and has authored and contributed to a number of leading textbooks in orthopaedic and rehabilitation.

“I am delighted to be joining the team at Aston University as honorary professor to support the new undergraduate nursing programme. I wish the first cohort of nursing students every success and happiness with their studies and very much looking forward to meeting them. The new nursing programme is an exciting opportunity for interprofessional learning and expanding nurse education provision at a time of unprecedented global nursing shortages,” said Rebecca.

Dr Jayne Murphy, Programme Lead for Pre-Registration Nursing at Aston University, says:

“We are incredibly fortunate to have Professor Jester and Professor Barratt on board, with their extensive experience and passion for the nursing profession. Our nursing students will benefit greatly from their knowledge, their inspiration and influence on nursing research to benefit patient care.”

A senior teaching fellow at Aston University has been awarded a National Teaching Fellowship for his contribution to excellent teaching and student outcomes.

Jean-Baptiste Souppez teaches materials and manufacturing, engineering for the user, engineering for industry, and design for manufacturing and assembly in the University’s College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.

The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS), operated by Advance HE, celebrates and recognises individuals who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession in UK higher education.

Jean-Baptiste is a member of the College’s Education and Professional Practice Academic Research Group, a multidisciplinary education and professional practice research group launched to create a community of practice around driving excellence in learning and teaching, where he leads the Assessment and Feedback Research Group. The group brings together like-minded academics from different fields to carry out research and scholarship to enhance learning and teaching in higher education.

He is also a higher education course accreditor for two engineering professional bodies and helps ensure quality assurance and educational standards are upheld and enhanced as part of the Engineering Council. Additionally, he contributes to the Erasmus Mundus community, where he supports the pedagogical development of international consortium of universities as part of an initiative for cooperation for innovation and exchange of good practices.

Recognised as an international leader in yacht design, he sits on several prestigious and influential international committees and is the deputy editor-in-chief of the Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers Journal of Sailing Technology, the world’s leading peer-reviewed journal for sailing research. He has won multiple awards for his research in yacht sail aerodynamics, while his work in structural design and regulations was awarded a Medal of Distinction by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects.

In total, Advance HE has made 55 new National Teaching Fellow (NTF) awards, along with 15 winning Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) teams, taking the total number of awards to 1143 for NTFS since the scheme’s launch in 2000, and 119 for CATE since the first awards in 2016. All the winners are acknowledged for their outstanding contribution to excellent teaching and inspiring colleagues in higher education.

On receiving the award, Jean-Baptiste said:

“This National Teaching Fellowship is a tremendous honour, and I am immensely grateful for Aston University’s nomination and faith in the value, reach and impact of my pedagogical work. I am also extremely thankful to the overwhelming number of colleagues and former students that came together to provide the supporting evidence that underpinned the nomination.

“My pedagogical research revolves around empowering learners through the implementation of learning and teaching strategies for diversity and inclusion, as well as real-world learning and authentic assessments for employability. This is the foundation of my strategical leadership on Erasmus Mundus consortiums of universities to enhance and harmonise teaching, fostering collaborative communities of practice and impacting students and educators worldwide. It also contributes to my quality assurance expertise and involvement with professional bodies and the Engineering Council on accreditation and educational standards.

“It is a tremendous achievement to receive such a prestigious award that recognises outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession, and I am excited to continue driving innovative and transformative changes in higher education.”

Professor Aleks Subic, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Aston University, said:

“Achieving a National Teaching Fellowship is widely acknowledged in the higher education sector both in the UK and internationally as a mark of academic excellence.

“At Aston University we are committed to providing an outstanding teaching and learning experience for all our students and I am delighted that Jean-Baptiste’s excellence and innovation in teaching and learning have been recognised in this way.”

Alison Johns, chief executive of Advance HE, said:

“Congratulations to all of the new National Teaching Fellows and CATE teams on this prestigious accolade which recognises and rewards their commitment to teaching and learning and the impact it has on student success.

“It is with great pride that we run these awards for the UK higher education sector designed to celebrate these passionate people who make such a difference to students’ education and to the practice of their colleagues. We look forward to working with the new NTFs and CATE winners and sharing their excellent practice with colleagues around the sector.”

An independent panel of senior higher education leaders representing the four UK nations assures the quality of the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence and recommends winners.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education at the University of Hull and chair of the UK Teaching Excellence Awards Advisory Panel 2023, Professor Becky Huxley-Binns, said:

“Every year as we select the NTFS and CATE winners, we are in awe of these extraordinary and gifted people who are teaching with such professionalism, passion and commitment in higher education. This year was no different.

“These awards are incredibly important in recognising and celebrating these people and in sharing ‘what works’ so that colleagues can build on their expertise too and students can enjoy the benefits of great practice in teaching and learning.”

The 2023 awards ceremony will take place on 28 September at The Library of Birmingham.

Aston University postgraduate researcher Diana Galiakhmetova has reached the semi-finals in the national Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.

The 3MT competition, organised by Vitae, originated at the University of Queensland, Australia in 2008 and has since gained worldwide recognition. The competition attracts entrants from more than 900 institutions from across the world, making it a highly competitive and diverse platform for showcasing ground-breaking research. The competition challenges doctoral researchers to present their research to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes; a substantial challenge, considering a typical PhD thesis is around 80,000 words, which would take nine hours to present.

Diana’s journey to the semi-finals began with her victory in Aston University’s internal 3MT competition, where she explained how she is using lasers to restore brain functionality and treat dementia, through a technique called optogenetics.

Current dementia treatment requires surgical procedures, so being able to use non-invasive lasers have the potential to revolutionise the field. Diana’s thesis looks at making the treatment more accessible and scalable for a wider population.

Diana said:

“Reaching the semi-finals of the Three Minute Thesis competition has been an absolute honour for me, as I had the privilege to represent Aston University among nearly 100 UK universities. I cannot express enough gratitude for the unwavering support, encouragement, and belief in the success of our work from my friends and colleagues. I am especially grateful to Eren Bilgen (Researcher Development Advisor, Aston Graduate School) whose detailed training and dedicated assistance helped me to prepare for the competition and made this achievement possible.”

Professor Phillip Mizen, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor Researcher Development, said:

“Diana’s success is a testament to her dedication, innovative research, and exceptional communication skills. Aston University takes immense pride in nurturing talented doctoral researchers like Diana, who strive to tackle critical challenges within society and the NHS.” .

A student “annoyed” at wasteful plastic hotel toothbrushes launched a business providing recyclable bamboo products as part of their MSc in Entrepreneurship at Aston Business School.

This was just one example of how students who want to turn their ‘eureka’ moment into a successful business need to embrace innovation, find a problem that needs solving and then create customer value.

The success story was recalled by Jocelyne Fleming, the course director of Aston Business School’s MSc in Entrepreneurship.

Mrs Fleming, a senior teaching fellow in economics, finance and entrepreneurship, was speaking in the latest episode of the ‘Aston means business’ podcast series, presented by journalist Steve Dyson.

She said she defined an entrepreneur as someone who sets up a business and wants to take a financial risk for the hope of profit.

She recalled one such student who was very interested in sustainable products for hotels after becoming “annoyed” at all the “throwaway” products.

Mrs Fleming said: “Even before he’d graduated, he had secured several contracts of hotels who said: ‘Yes, we want sustainable products,’ and he hadn’t even fully sourced them then. He subsequently has won a contract with a leading chain to sell bamboo toothbrushes.”

Another success story she referenced were two alumni who met during their MSc and started an educational consultancy that develops “bespoke training programmes” for large businesses.

She said there were two types of entrepreneur: “We have people who have a real passion to try and make things better, or try to improve on existing products or services, and then you have another type of person who really is interested in creating new things we haven’t experienced before.”

She said an example of innovation was Airbnb, which was “a take on hotels and visiting places”. And when Blockbuster collapsed, Netflix sold videos, adding: “It’s really that idea of how you can improve an existing service.”

“But anybody can be an entrepreneur,” she added, “if you are using eBay, you’re setting up on Vinted, or you are managing your car-boot items on a Sunday. There could be a bit of entrepreneurship in all of us really.”

Mrs Fleming said Aston University’s MSc in Entrepreneurship was a mixture of core modules relating to business venturing, entrepreneurial strategies, innovation and emerging economies, and a module where students have to run a business throughout the term to see if they can make a profit.

In term three, they start their main project, which could be starting up an idea for a business or studying in another country with one of Aston’s partnering universities.

There were also placement opportunities, an “incubation space” for students to think about their business, mentors, and specialised academics with vast experience of start-up businesses.

“We also have innovation vouchers which is an opportunity for students to apply for funding to help start up their business.”

She added that Aston University was “completely committed to entrepreneurial activity”, adding that they won Entrepreneurial University of the Year in 2021.

“Aston loves everything entrepreneur, so you get support from a whole host of areas.”

She said the MSc course had a “very high pass rate” with around 65 to 70 per cent of graduates ending up either starting a business or undertaking entrepreneurial developments back in their existing business.

Mrs Fleming’s top tips for prospective students began with having a plan and being “passionate about something that you’ve noticed, this gap or problem you think you can solve.” And then to test it. She said there was no point in having an idea, or ‘eureka’ moment, that no-one was interested in.

Students also needed to “embrace innovation” as everything was changing, while her last tip was creating value. “Is there something, an idea that you have, that can make a difference to somebody? Then it’s worth pursuing.”