For some months now, I could see from my diary that July 2011 was going to be a very hectic month – it turned out to be more hectic than I could have imagined! For two weeks of the month I was largely occupied teaching and supporting students through doctoral summer schools, one in Ireland, the other at the Lincoln campus. These were both busy, but very enjoyable and interesting weeks. In Ireland the study school was opened by the Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, it was an honour to meet him – in his opening speech, Enda Kenny stated that it was a ’unique and special week in education in Mayo and nationally’ and that the study school was ‘creative and innovative’ – you can see the Lincoln teaching team with the Prime Minister in this photo -
As well as the study schools, I also presented, with colleagues at two conferences this month. The first was the Higher Education Academy’s national conference in Nottingham where we presented on an innovative project to develop and implement our own Professional Standards Framework for Teaching and Learning in Higher Educaiton at the University of Lincoln. The second was the Joint Social Work Education Conference held in Manchester, where we presented on a SWAP (social work and policy subject centre) funded research project to explore students’ experiences of mentoring children and young people looked after by the Local Authority. These are just some of the areas of work that made July such a busy month – all in all, I felt as though I was hardly at home all month! So, I am looking forward to a chance to catch up and have some annual leave in August! 
October has had its ups and downs – it has also been a busy month.
On the ‘up’ side, at home, we had a good time celebrating my son’s birthday, these are always precious family times to be enjoyed – so another year older and another year wiser … well maybe!
On the ‘down’ side, as the University develops and consolidates, there is increasing awareness of the impact of national funding changes (cuts!) to structures and practices in the institution. A key example this month has been the confirmed decision to sell the campus building in Hull. It is pleasing that all current students from the campus will be supported to continue and complete their studies before Hull based activities are consolidated at the main Lincoln campus; however, change always has its challenges. At the same time, nationally students and colleagues are protesting about financial cuts to higher education, the whole picture is very worrying.
I have been pleasantly distracted, however, through my involvement in some interesting research projects that have required a good deal of activity this month. I have been in southern Ireland gathering data, which has involved some really interesting and enjoyable time spent with school children and professionals. The research project I am leading, that is funded by the Social Work and Policy subject centre of the Higher Education Academy, has also ‘taken off’ this month, with the first tranch of data collection with students and key stakeholders; for details of this project click here. My teaching this month has centred around supporting delivery of a doctoral study school and individual work with students completing their final undergraduate independent study work.
July started with a few days well earned rest; following the ICED 2010 conference in Barcelona, I stayed on in Spain, but went down to the coast to a lovely fishing village called L’Escala – good weather, good food, good scenery, good company, just excellent! Back at work and July was partially filled with teaching and tutorials on the taught doctoral programme’s summer study schools. I also presented in two sessions at the HECU5 conference in Lancaster (see ‘Conference’ page of this website for details and photographs). Finally the month ended with our Social Work award board, always a really satifying culmination of a year of everyone’s hard work; students, tutors and support staff – great to see so many students progressing really well and others graduating having achieved so much, professionally and personally, over the period of their studies.
