Valentine's Jazz Night (14 Feb)
The PGA and the RAG are co-hosting a Valentine's Jazz Night with live music from blues/rock band the Pedantics.
It's £4 on the door, or £3 in advance from the Plug Bar of the PGA Office in 1E 3.21. All profits go to the British Heart Foundation», who fund vital research, education and life-saving equipment as well as providing help for patients with heart and circulatory disease.
The event is on Thursday 14th February (obviously), runs from 7.30-11.30 and is in Elements, the bar just off the Plug Bar in Norwood House (the Students' Union building).
The Pedantics (a unique blend of the best of British pop, blues, Americana and more!) are replacing Speakeasy on the bill, as Speakeasy have sadly split up(!) recently.
No Platform Referendum - make your mark
by Marcel Ooms
The referendum on the proposed No Platform policy, held this week (11th Feb - 15th Feb) by the Students' Union, is one of the most important opportunities you ever get to influence your Union's policy.
It's an issue that addresses free speech itself. The policy would give the Union the power to exclude speakers whose presence could threaten or endanger students, but this does mean that there would not then be the chance to hear and challenge such views directly.
The No Platform policy was drafted in response to last year's events surrounding the invitation to Nick Griffin of the British National Party to speak at the University of Bath. Although the referendum is not a part of 'Diversity Month' (the timing is a coincidence), both are a result of last year's controversy.
It can seem difficult for us postgraduates to get involved with the Students' Union as much as we'd like. But the referendum takes a moment to be involved on an issue of fundamental importance. It's therefore imperative you take this chance to leave your mark.
Polls open on Monday 11th and you can vote by logging on to the BathStudent website.
The proposed policy is published in its entirety online. You have until Friday 15th to have your say. I call upon all of you to take this chance, and vote now.
Ede and Ravenscroft Prize
The Ede and Ravenscroft Prize is for the best postgraduate research student. It shall be awarded annually by Senate on the recommendation of the Ede and Ravenscroft Prize Committee.
All students registered for a higher degree, and whose period of registration at 31 March of the year of the award has not exceeded the maximum time permitted by the regulations for the particular degree, are eligible for nomination.
Nominations, supported by Heads of Departments, will be submitted during March each year.
The Committee will then normally draw up a shortlist of candidates who will be invited to make oral presentations to a University audience, including members of the Prize Committee (usually in May).
The Committee will make its recommendations to Senate (in June) on the basis of the cases submitted by the Heads of Departments, the oral presentations and any additional evidence the Committee sees fit.
First prize £800. Four shortlisted finalists will each receive a £50 book token. A small presentation ceremony is held in the summer.
View the publicity poster»
Burning issues
Are you aware of an issue relating to postgraduate learning at the University of Bath that needs highlighting? If so, the PGA wants to hear from you.
The QAA is the government agency that carries out 'Institutional Audits' of UK universities, monitoring the quality of the education that they deliver. The PGA is providing them with a report on issues that affect postgraduates, which will be taken into account in seeking to ensure the quality of the University's provision.
Topics must be relevant to the student learning experience (i.e. academic or skills-based, rather than issues relating to other University services such as accommodation, social events or commercial services).
If you have any suggestions, please contact Tim Stoneman at t.stoneman@bath.ac.uk.
End-of-term cocktail evening (13 March)
An end-of-term cocktail evening for postgraduates, organised by a team of postgraduates, is being held at the Claverton Rooms on Thursday 13th March from 7.30 pm - 12.00 am.
Profits will be going to the Prince's Trust, a UK charity that helps young people to overcome problems and barriers and to achieve their potential.
The cocktail evening forms part of an entry in the Enterprise Project, a Prince's Trust competition sponsored by Ernst and Young, designed to raise money for the trust and to develop the business skills of team members.
The evening will include a finger buffet, DJ and dance from BodySoc, the University Dance Society. The dress code is smart but not formal: for guys: shirt, tie, preferably suit jacket. No trainers or jeans. For girls: smart (not full on ball dresses, but dressy).The event is only open to postgraduates.
Tickets are £15, and can be bought from the PGA Office (1E 3.21) or from the event's organiser, Katrina Breithaupt.
For more information, contact Katrina at kmb28@bath.ac.uk.
Innovation in Learning & Teaching Week (14-20 Feb)
The University's Learning & Teaching Enhancement Office is running a week-long series of events to support and enhance learning and teaching. The Week includes shared practice through poster displays, innovations cafes (discussion events) and online participation.
Everyone is welcome, but as the innovations cafes provide coffee and cakes for those who attend it's very helpful if you could confirm in advance that you will be coming to Shaun McGall, Learning and Teaching Development Officer, on x 3848 or e-mail: S.A.McGall@bath.ac.uk.
More details of the event are avaiable at Innovations Week page»
You can also view and participate in discussions of emerging themes in the Innovations Week blog»
UBSA Amsterdam & Keukenhof Gardens trip (25-27 Feb)
UBSA (University of Bath Staff Association) is running a three-day trip to Amsterdam and the nearby Keukenhof Gardens, leaving Bath on 25th April 2008.
The trip is open to postgraduates as well as members of staff, and as the event is UBSA-organised tickets are extremely cheap at £197 per person. Allocation of tickets is on a first-come, fist-served basis.
In addition to a full-day visit to Amsterdam (including a visit to the diamond mines) and a full-day visit to Keukenhof, the trip will also include the historic town of Delft (birthplace of 17th Century painter Vermeer) and the Kinderijk area, famous for its windmills.
Keukenhof is famously the world's most beautiful spring garden, and is also the most photographed place in the world. For more details of Keukenhof Gardens, see the Wikipedia entry»
Further details and the itinerary of the trip are available on the UBSA website»
Tickets are available from Margaret Pickering, the UBSA Secretary. Margaret can be contacted on 6923 (strictly between 12.30 - 1.00 pm) or emailed on m.pickering@bath.ac.uk.