PYNDA AGM and SOCIAL - Thursday November 15th 2007
Norton Rose London
PLYMOUTH REPORT - INTRODUCTION The report is a brief summary of some of the activities of the University of Plymouth during 2006 and 2007 which will be of interest to PYNDA members. PYNDA has provided practical support to marine and maritime students of the University of Plymouth including the Fresher's Tamar cruise, Prizes, visiting speakers and student fieldtrips.
FRESHER'S PLYMOUTH SOUND CRUSE 2007 PYNDA supported the Plymouth Sound Cruise for Freshers during Fresher's Week 2006. This year students on both undergraduate and postgraduate maritime programmes took the opportunity to see Plymouth from seaward. Despite the dampness of the day (typically Plymouth ) the cruise was appreciated and considered a great success. Freshers were introduced to PYNDA during the ‘on board' commentary and were presented with a ‘flier' describing the opportunities provided by PYNDA at the at the conclusion of the cruise.
PRIZES In the Summer Graduation of 2007 PYNDA arranged for Prizes to be given by other organisations replacing the PYNDA Prizes.
LONDON MARITIME PRIZE - GERASSIMO PASCHALIDIS
Awarded to the student producing the best BSc(Hons) Maritime Business with Maritime Law dissertation
NORTON ROSE PRIZE - KATE REED
Awarded to the Maritime Business student with the best marks for Maritime Law
The University is very appreciative to the sponsors of the prizes.
Fresher's Cruise 2007 Pomphlet stone and cement bulk terminal forms a backdrop
Graduation Ceremony Summer 2007
PYNDA present at the beginning and completion of a student's time at Plymouth University
VISITING SPEAKERS & VISITS PYNDA members have continued to support the Visiting Speaker Programme. During the Academic Year the following PYNDA members came to Plymouth to give talks to final year undergraduate and postgraduate students; Philip Purdy (HIM Ltd), Alexander Ryland (Royal Bank of Scotland) Julie Lithgow (V Holdngs Ltd) Nic Ingle (PYNDA) Philip Rogers (Galbraiths) Ian Teare (Norton Rose), John Philips Lloyds Maritime Intelligence Unit and Capt Mukundan, International Maritime Bureau.
A visit by ten students to ABP's Port of Southampton was hosted by Ian Palacio , Commercial Manager ABP Southampton. The University is appreciative of the effort and time given by PYNDA members (and others) to share their interests in the maritime and related industries.
Student Field Trip to ABP Southampton
the 8,500 TEU containership ‘CMA CGM Debussy' departing port
Visiting Speaker Julie Lithgow with Nic Ingle and Dr John Dinwoodie
ORGANISATION On New Year's Day 2007 the Vice Chancellor of Plymouth University, Professor Roland Levinsky died in a tragic accident whilst walking with his family. A search to find a successor has taken time. The University Governing Body has been determined that the “right” person should be found to continue the work of developing the University of Plymouth as one of the most progressive Universities in the country. In the Summer of 2007 a successor was appointed. Professor Wendy Purcell, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Hertfordshire will join the University at the end of November.( A brief overview of the new Vice Chancellor is described in ‘ISL News' Summer 2007). In a communication to staff Professor Purcell has stated that s that “the key factors to ensure continued success will be “disciplined planning, disciplined people, disciplined governance and disciplined allocation of resources” . Since the death of Rolnd Levinsky, interim leadership of the University has been provided by Professor Mark Cleary (now Vice Chancellor at Bradford University ) and Professor Steve Newstead.
BUILDINGS The building programme on the Plymouth Campus continues. Students have moved from Seale Hayne (Newton Abbot) Exeter and Exmouth to the Plymouth campus.
The Arts Building which will be opened on Friday 16 th November and named the Roland Levinsky Building , has recently won the “Best New Building Award” and the “People of Plymouth Award” in the Abercrombie Design Awards. Designed by the Danish architects, Henning Larsen Tegnestue, the building cost £36 Million.
The St James Street Building (which required the demolition of 22 Portland Square ) is part finished and opened its accommodation to students in September 2007. Teaching accommodation will be completed by 2008.
The St James Street Building
A new building to house the Dental School – one of only two new dental schools in the country commenced its build in 2007. Completion is expected by by 2008. The building is located at Endsleigh Place . Work has also commenced on the adjoining Drake Reservoir to refurbish it as a public space. The reservoir and surrounding parkland was acquired by the University from the City Council.
The refurbishment of the former Planetarium was completed in the Summer and is now an “Immersive Vision Theatre” having a unique immersive environment in sound and vision.
MARINE INSTITUTE Planning is ongoing for the co -location of the University of Plymouth 's Marine Institute and marine science partners to a new waterfront location. Two sites are being considered , one at Trinity Pier, Millbay Docks, the other at South Yard. An appointment has recently been made to lead the development of the co-location and establish an associated Marine Science Park . Included in the planning will be incubation units for embryonic businesses. Further details are expected to be announced before Christmas.
Meanwhile the Marine Institute has moved from being a “virtual” organisation to one which has a small office in the Portland Square Building.
The Marine Institute and Exeter University are jointly engaged in a renewable energy project concerning wave energy – known as “Wavehub”. The project has already provided the resources to employ six new high class researchers within the Marine Institute which will involve studies including collision mitigation and environmental economics.
The yacht “Fair Tide” has been refurbished and has a dual role as a research vessel - she is particularly suitable for “quiet” underwater research - and as a training vessel for students following the degree courses in Merchant Shipping and Ocean Yachting. A new research boat is being considered for work on the WaveHub project.
The Marine Institute publishes a twice yearly journal “Mainstay” which provides a view on the marine and maritime research being undertaken. Recent articles have included the work of Dr Donping Song on “Integrated Container Fleet Management in Transportation Service Systems” and Dr Philip Rogers “Linking the University to the World of Shipping and Logistics” “Mainstay” can be accessed as a pdf file from the Marine Institute web site. A 32 page brochure concerning the “Marine Institute” will be formerly launched on November 23 rd . The brochure provides an overview of the marine and maritime research, innovation and education undertaken by 3 faculties, 5 schools and 12 research groups.
“Tectona”, the previous training vessel of Plymouth 's School of Navigation has been found in Marseilles by a local recently retired GP. He has plans bring her back to Plymouth in late Spring 2008 for a year's refurbishment. After being refurbished she will be used to help disadvantaged young people. This presents many opportunities which individuals and companies might wish to consider ( Further details will be posted when known)
CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT
In October the Faculty of Social Science and Business inaugurated the Centre for Sustainable Transport. Members of the International Shipping and Logistics Group are on the Board of the Centre. The Centre aims to be a ‘centre of national and international excellence in the field of sustainable transport'
COURSES & RESEARCH In September the School of Law and Social Science launched a new LLM in Maritime and Marine Law. The course presently covers Admiralty Law , the Carriage of Goods by Sea, EU Maritime Law Environmental Law and the Laws of Institutions and Regional Seas . The proposed Marine Bill included in the recent Queens Speech will encourage development of law associated with activity on and under the sea. The course leader is Professor Paul Todd writer of a Lloyds of London Press text on Bills of Lading. The LLM Maritime and Marine Law has links to the courses provided by the International Shipping and Logistics Group.
Dr Tengfei Wang won a £290,000 ESRC award to develop a project on “Sustainability in the European Union's Container Ports Industry”. He is also leading the organisation of the International Association of Maritime ne Economists (IAME) Annual Conference 2008 which is a joint venture between the University of Plymouth and Dalian University China . IT will take place in Dalian in March.
Recruitment for the Maritime Business undergraduate and postgraduate courses was stable 2006 and 2007 compared. Numbers enrolling on the honours degree Marine Studies (Merchant Shipping and Ocean Yachting) course which also provides opportunity to achieve an OOW Certificate of Competency for service as a Deck officer in the merchant navy, have seen a significant increase in numbers .
PEOPLE NEWS Students
“A satisfied group of students! ” Each year a national survey is taken among students to find out how they viewed their courses. In 2007 the University topped the national league when “ 96% of our students studying Tourism, Shipping and Logistics and Supply Chain management courses stated they were satisfied with their time in Plymouth” Staff Sarah Tuck, Mater Mariner , will receive her PhD at the December Graduation Ceremony. Her study concerned the impact of change on the small ports of the South West of England. Ian Teare (Norton Rose) has been appointed as one of two External Examiners for the postgraduate programmes run by the International Shipping and Logistics. He replaces Philip Rogers ( Research Director ,Galbraiths) who has been active in this position for the last four years. New staff members appointed since last year have included Dr Jinxing Dong (Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate), Dr Jingjing Xu (Lecturer in Maritime Law and Economics (Wave Hub) and Dr Gotthard Marc Gauci, (Lecturer in Maritime and Marine Law).
L-R: Hans Ozturk (Treasurer) Ian Teare (Chairman) and Alex Gullen
Attentive Listeners at the PYNDA 2007 AGM !
Time for a drink and refreshments
Additional business conducted by the Chairman
To the right of Ken Livingstone's Building the new home of Norton Rose – International Law firm venue for the AGM 2007 of PYNDA
The offices of Norton Rose - a dramatic glass fronted building on the South Bank of the Thames
THANKS Grateful thanks are expressed to all PYNDA members who support the marine and maritime activities of the University. Change is a constant, but the reputation of the University of Plymouth as a place to study maritime and marine based subjects, including international shipping, logistics, supply chain and port management remains very positive. Last year it was stated that exciting and demanding times lie ahead because “ Plymouth is a happening place”.
The strap line for this year comes from an article which appeared in Lloyd's List (November 2007)
“Popping up everywhere in the maritime world the alumni of Plymouth University are in constant demand”
