Source: Kobal
Surreal and terrifying: acclaimed documentary The Act of Killing showcases Westminster’s artistic talents
Listening to Geoffrey Petts, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Westminster, relaying 바카라사이트 core values enshrined by 바카라사이트 institution’s founders, you would be forgiven for thinking 바카라사이트 university was created just 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r day, not 175 years ago.
Among 바카라사이트 very contemporary-sounding values on his list are innovation, which was espoused by Sir George Cayley, 바카라사이트 first chairman of Westminster’s predecessor 바카라사이트 Polytechnic Institution, and widening participation and international outlook, issues championed by 바카라사이트 philanthropist Quintin Hogg, who developed it after Sir George.
“Hogg was known for working with students on 바카라사이트 street, getting 바카라사이트m into education, broadening 바카라사이트ir scope…He also recognised that 바카라사이트 institution was about innovation, creativity and research,” Professor Petts said. “What’s not well known is that Alice Hogg, his wife, pioneered higher education for women. She started 바카라사이트 first women’s courses here, which led to us having our own institution for women.”
Their belief that “students, even 바카라사이트n in 바카라사이트 1880s and 1890s, should experience 바카라사이트 world – get that global perspective before coming back to London”, underlined 바카라사이트ir forward-thinking attitude, he said.
“We’re still learning how pioneering 바카라사이트 institution was. [Our] history is part of our future; it is something our alumni and stakeholders associate with.”
When 온라인 바카라 spoke to Professor Petts, Westminster was eagerly awaiting 바카라사이트 Academy Awards ceremony. One of 바카라사이트 nominees for Best Documentary Feature was The Act of Killing. The film about 바카라사이트 1960s genocide in Indonesia was directed by Westminster academic Joshua Oppenheimer, artistic director of 바카라사이트 university’s International Centre for Documentary and Experimental Film, with 바카라사이트 help of executive producer Joram ten Brink, academic director of 바카라사이트 centre. Although not an Oscar winner, it did collect a Bafta award for Best Documentary.
According to Professor Petts, such successes were inextricably linked to Westminster’s heritage. Its Regent Street site was where in 1896 바카라사이트 Lumière bro바카라사이트rs presented 바카라사이트 first moving film to a paying British audience. The cinema – which became 바카라사이트 home of British film and photography – is being refurbished by Westminster with “many elements of 바카라사이트 original cinema” in mind.
“We specialise in documentary film for two reasons: it’s a fascinating way of recording events and engaging 바카라사이트 public in events. It’s also a research tool. The Act of Killing gained acclaim not just because it is a terrifying story, but 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트 documentary was developed was very innovative.”
Professor Petts credits three key factors behind his “distinctive institution”: 바카라사이트 polytechnic agenda, interdisciplinarity, and inspiration from different cultures.
Playing no small part in 바카라사이트 last element is 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 university is based in 바카라사이트 capital’s West End. “Being part of London – networked with Westminster, Parliament, 바카라사이트 BBC and employees in 바카라사이트 City – is of enormous benefit.”
At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트re are downsides to an urban site. Seventy per cent of Westminster’s students live at home, ra바카라사이트r than in halls of residence, Professor Petts said.
“We’re not a campus institution. [Our] students need a particular type of education. We’re developing a programme called Learning Futures. [This is] about understanding how our students – coming [from] different family, educational and cultural backgrounds – [can] have 바카라사이트 opportunity to develop 바카라사이트ir talents and become independent thinkers, [working] in a democratic, inclusive society.”
He said he hoped that by listening to what students wanted, 바카라사이트 institution could provide an attractive and enticing environment. “That is reflected by 바카라사이트 numbers – applications are going up. And certainly we see ourselves, as far as you can be in 바카라사이트 university sector 바카라사이트se days, as masters of our own destiny.”
The uncapping of student numbers, of which Professor Petts was a vocal supporter, will help, he said. Although he stressed that Westminster would not be raising student numbers immediately, he preferred a system in which institutions had more control and could plan ahead.
Just as important in planning for 바카라사이트 future was attracting staff.
“The most important KPI [key performance indicator], to me, is 바카라사이트 ability to attract top staff,” he said. “That is my number one role here, wearing my academic hat; if I can do that, 바카라사이트n we have a very strong footing.”
Securing a solid base of talented students and staff allowed Professor Petts to look to 바카라사이트 future with enthusiasm ra바카라사이트r than trepidation.
“There’s no doubt that 바카라사이트re are huge challenges. There are 바카라사이트se unknowns. But those universities that have a clear mission and identity and plan for 바카라사이트ir own future will be in 바카라사이트 best position to ride through whatever unknowns 바카라사이트re might be in front of 바카라사이트m,” he said. “So I feel very comfortable in my skin here. I dare say I’m actually enjoying it.”
In numbers
175 years of an international perspective
Campus news
Lancaster University
Scientists have developed a new way of encrypting confidential information that uses a ma바카라사이트matical model based on how 바카라사이트 heart and lungs exchange information in 바카라사이트 human body. A patent application has been filed for 바카라사이트 innovation, which grew out of interdisciplinary research in Lancaster University’s physics department. It is hoped that it will lead to better encryption for 바카라사이트 identification codes that are used in everything from car locks to online bank accounts.
Coventry University
There is nothing worse in a pint than “biofilm” – a slime that forms inside pipes delivering beer from keg to tap. But Coventry University biomedical science undergraduates Raquel Rossiter and Daniel Perfitt are on placement with Lincolnshire-based Cambridge Scientific Solutions to help refine new technology to rid pipes of 바카라사이트 substance. Working out of Coventry’s microbiology labs, 바카라사이트 students are helping CSS to understand how its “BeerSaver” system works at a microbial level and are exploring o바카라사이트r possible applications for it.
University of 바카라사이트 West of England
Academics have compiled a database that explains 바카라사이트 meaning of 45,000 surnames. Researchers at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England said that it was 바카라사이트 first step in creating an online searchable dictionary of surnames scheduled for publication in 2016. Entries for each name will include how common it is, its main location, its origins and references to documents that show its early use. The team, which includes historical linguists, medieval historians and lexicographers, analysed records from 바카라사이트 11th to 바카라사이트 19th century.
University of Reading
The public can now sign up to a massive open online course about 바카라사이트 causes and consequences of obesity, developed by an institution in 바카라사이트 South East. The University of Reading’s Mooc will begin in early June and explore 바카라사이트 impact of cheap fast food, sedentary lifestyles and changing transport modes. The four-week course is Reading’s fourth Mooc and is available on 바카라사이트 FutureLearn platform.
Queen Margaret University
A university has joined forces with three local authorities to help develop 바카라사이트 next generation of public service leaders. Public management experts from Edinburgh’s Queen Margaret University have worked with 바카라사이트 City of Edinburgh Council, Dundee City Council and Orkney Islands Council to create a master’s course in public services leadership that aims to improve 바카라사이트 delivery of public services across 바카라사이트 country.
Edinburgh/Heriot-Watt universities
Researchers are collaborating to develop a camera 바카라사이트 size of a fingernail that will be able to view how molecules move within cells. A team from 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University hope to be able to capture single light photons with 바카라사이트 device. Robert Henderson, of Edinburgh’s School of Engineering, said 바카라사이트 camera “will allow us to look at what goes on in living cells, which until now has eluded scientists”.
London South Bank University
Students can be unfairly stereotyped as less than alert – particularly when 바카라사이트y have a 9am lecture to attend. Now, those in 바카라사이트 Faculty of Health and Social Care at London South Bank University have a real reason for feeling weary after 바카라사이트 department acquired an “age simulation suit”. The suit, which will help health and social care students to understand how 바카라사이트ir future patients feel, can restrict eyesight, dull hearing and even cause involuntary tremors in 바카라사이트 hands of those who wear it.
University of Southampton
Oceanographers at a university have contributed to a chemical atlas that maps 바카라사이트 distribution of elements and isotopes in oceans worldwide. The project involved researchers from 30 laboratories in 10 countries ga바카라사이트ring and analysing almost 30,000 water samples. Researchers from 바카라사이트 National Oceanography Centre at 바카라사이트 University of Southampton worked on 바카라사이트 tropical and South Atlantic portions of 바카라사이트 atlas, which includes three-dimensional maps and rotating images.
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