Bye for now!

It’s officially the end of the year which means two things: exam results and time to say goodbye. Whether you’re packing up your room in anticipation of moving somewhere else for the next academic year, or packing up your things once and for all, we hope you've had a great year!

 

If you’re joining Essex in September, I’m sure you’re starting to get very excited as there is so much to look forward to. University life can often fly by so quickly, so make sure you make the most of your time here and enjoy all of the wonderful things Essex has to offer you. If, like me, you’re leaving once and for all, good luck for the future and don’t forget to come back and visit!

Our students will continue to keep you up to date with everything Essex related over the next academic year too, so do continue to check out future blog posts, especially if you’re missing the ducks that wander around the squares or want to reminisce about the first time you took the lift in the library (new students: you’ll see what I mean soon enough!).

Have a great summer!

Amy

Graduation Day!

So the exam period is nearly up, and for some this signals the end of the academic year; for others, the end of their time at Essex. Even if your time at university has finished and it’s time to find a job, never mind because you still have Graduation day to look forward to! Yes, it’s the day that every student (and their parents) dreams about. No more essays to submit or exams to revise for, and proof that we didn’t actually spend all our time at university sleeping! So what can you actually expect when you officially graduate from Essex? Will you actually get to throw your hat in the air like they do in the movies?

First of all, you won’t be graduating with every single finalist. Can you imagine how long the ceremony would take?! There are separate ceremonies that take place throughout the week, so you’ll just be with your school or department, and possibly a couple of other departments too. The ceremony takes about 2 hours, and the fun part where you walk up to the front of the hall and shake the Chancellors hand will only last a few seconds, so yes, you will have to sit through the whole thing even if you are the first person called up! After the ceremony takes place, there will be a reception outside for you to celebrate with your friends, family and tutors, and the iconic hat-throwing tradition will finally happen!

Every year, Essex honours certain people who have made a big impact in all sorts of ways, for example they might have campaigned for human rights or perhaps they’ve influenced education in some way, so you might be lucky enough to have one of these special people being honoured in your ceremony too! This year, along with a few others, Essex will be honouring Annie Lennox due to her political and social activism, as well as Laura Trott, who you might have seen participating in numerous cycling competitions in the Olympics last year and winning gold medals for Great Britain. So if you do have an honorary graduand at your ceremony, it will definitely make your graduation day extra special and memorable.

The ceremony is filmed and made into a DVD, as well as being streamed live online, so wherever your friends or family might be in the world, they can still be a part of your special day. Essex wouldn’t be what it is without the many different nationalities that make up its student population, so if the country you’re from has a national dress that you want to wear on the day, you can!

Although a word of advice to the ladies: if you decide to wear high heels, just make sure you can walk in them first. You don’t want to trip on the stairs and fall flat on your face in front of your friends, family, and every other person sitting at home watching it online…or have to relive it when you watch the DVD in years to come…

Whether you are graduating this year or in a few years to come, I hope you enjoy bidding Essex one final farewell as a student. See you at alumni weekend?

Amy

Celebrating 50 years of the University of Essex

“The University of Essex was born during a rare moment of national hope and enthusiasm in the early 1960’s, when everything seemed possible and new departures seemed essential.” -Professor Hugh Brogan.

If you’re going to be at the University of Essex in 2014, you can look forward to an extra special year as the university celebrates its 50^th anniversary! A lot has happened at Essex in its fifty years, so there will certainly be plenty of great stories from our alumni and lots of exciting events for students to participate in.

You probably already know lots about Essex if you are going to be joining us here in the future, but what about its history? There are many interesting facts about Essex that have made me open my eyes more as I walk around campus, as a lot of what happened at the University in the past make Essex what it is today.

The University of Essex opened in 1964 with just 122 undergraduates, quite unimaginable compared to today’s 11,000 students. The campus itself was designed to be more than just lecture theatres and a library so that students could actually live here too and still feel part of a community, despite being away from home. With its 1960’s architecture mixed with modern designs, the Colchester campus certainly continues to pay tribute to each decade of its existence.

There’s a lot more to Essex than meets the eye, so here are a few facts that I didn’t know before:

·         The first student residence to be built was Rayleigh Tower, and was completed in 1966. When they were first built, the towers were the tallest brick buildings in the UK. The first Vice-Chancellor, Dr Albert Sloman, and architect Kenneth Capon, wanted accommodation to be in tower blocks that would symbolise the strength and confidence of the new university.

·         In 1967, it cost £230,000 each to build the tower blocks William Morris and Tawney.

·         When the university first opened, it had only three areas of study: Physical Sciences, Social Sciences and Comparative Studies.

·         The campus shop, which sells groceries and other basic student needs, has been open since 1966.

·         The first female professor joined the university in 1968 and was part of the Department of Literature.

·         In the 1960’s and 70’s, Essex was well-known for its protesting students. Many students took part in sit-ins on campus and demonstrated against different things from the Vietnam War to the increase of rent in student accommodation. In 1974 there were almost 100 arrests on campus.

·         The first Student’s Union bar opened in 1975.

·         In 1977, a mortar bomb from World War II was found on campus.

·         Queen Elizabeth II has visited the Colchester campus twice; first to celebrate the university’s 21^st birthday in 1985, and again in 1994 to celebrate its 40^th.

·         In 1986, 23% of students at Essex were international students, the highest amount in the UK.

·         The University of Essex even made it onto the Berlin Wall in 1990 when two students wrote on it ‘Essex University is against all forms of political oppression’.

·         A third year government student won the ‘Miss Nigeria’ competition in 1991.

·         The first Summer Ball was in 1994 and over 1000 people attended. (Take a look at our blog further below to see what an Essex Summer Ball is like!)

·         Nelson Mandela visited the Colchester campus in 1996.

·         The former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto gave a lecture at the university about democracy and the role of women in modern society in 2000.

 Have a look at this youtube video for some great footage of the university from the very beginning and you can see how it has transformed over the years. Nelson Mandela offers his opinion on Essex too! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olVrFSJB0f0

Even though turning fifty might make the University of Essex quite young compared to other institutions around the world, it has certainly done a lot in its time, and no doubt it will continue to make its mark in the future too. It’s a very exciting time and there’s a lot of fun in store over the next couple of years, so see you at the celebrations!

Amy

For more information on the 50th anniversary and links to the podcast series, go to: http://www.essex.ac.uk/fifty/podcasts/

International Restaurants

The University of Essex is well known for being exeptionally international. Even though you have nothing againts the British cuisine, there will come a time when the hunger of your traditional food will conquer you. Therefore, I present you a guide of the best ranked places to eat in Colchester and Southend-On-Sea.

International restaurants in Colchester

Maharani Restaurant
Famous for its Indian cuisine! What is more, you can order a delivery to home after hours. Address: 102 High Street, Colchester, England
http://www.maharanirestaurantcolchester.co.uk/



Mussi's
Cuisines vary from European (mostly Italian) to International. Price range: £5-£35. Best for having breakfast or brunch. Reservations also available.
Address: 3-7 Museum Street, Colchester, England
01206076200


Thai1
Best Thai food place in town! Especially good for group gatherings. Reservations can be made by 01206870770. Also deliveries after-hours are available.
Address: 82A East Hill, Colhester CO1 2QW, England
http://www.thai-1.co.uk/



China Chef
Looking fror a good Chinese food? You can get it here and also enjoy other Asian and Vegetarian dishes. Price range is £12-£25. Reservations also can be made.
Address: 73 Crouch Street CO3 3EZ, Colchester, England
http://www.china-chef.co.uk/




International restaurants in Southend-On-Sea

La Pizzeria
They say it's the best Italian cuisine in Southend. Good for breakfast or brunch. Reservations are available. Delivery after-hours also welcome.
Address: 640 London Road, SS0 9HW, Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, England.
https://twitter.com/la_piz



The Grove
If you are a seafood lover, you will enjoy this place. It is famous for Mediterranean and seafood cuisines.
Price range: £13-£26
It's located in a very beautiful place, so eating outdoors and enjoying the view is a must. reservations are available. Delivery after-hours also welcome.
Address: 4 Belton Corner, Marine Parade, Leigh-oan -Sea, Southend-on-Sea SS9 2HP, England
http://www.thegroveleigh.co.uk/



Shima Indian Dining / Brothers Broadway Co.
Best for Indian, Bangladeshi, Asian cuisines enthusiasts. Delivery after hours also welcome. Address: 56 The Broadway, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, SS9 1AG,England
http://www.shima.uk.com



Pearl Dragon
A fancy place for Chinese food lovers.  A price range is about £18 - £43, even though could be a little expensive for a student, it’s worth trying.Good for breakfast or brunch. Reservations are available. Delivery after-hours also welcome.
Address: 18 Eastern Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea SS1 2ER, England
http://www.pearldragon.co.uk/



"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well."
-Virginia Woolf, The Room of One's Own, 1929

Enjoy and good luck finding your favourite place!

Changing Campus

Here at the University of Essex we are surely being provided with the wide range of facilities and the studying environment is of the best quality. However, as the university’s reputation is growing, the campuses are growing with it. Literally.

One of the most well-known and most anticipated projects is the Student Centre and extension of the Albert Sloman library in the main Colchester campus. The start of construction is expected to start in March and end in early 2014. Even though the noise disruptions and closed pathways are not ideal for those who will be trying to prepare for exams or use library facilities, it is definitely worth waiting for. The building is designed by architects Patel Taylor, they also created the design of the Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall at the Colchester Campus, so obviously we can expect an exceptional design and quality!

The new centre will be providing students with broad range of services. The so called ‘one stop shop’ will be concentrating accommodation, finance, registry and student support. The University is famous of its labyrinthine walls, so this centre will definitely be a time saver having all these functions under one roof. What is more, the centre will also include us with new integrated learning spaces for group working, new IT facilities, a state-of-the-art media centre and will offer a 24-hour reading room. What more can a dutiful student wish for!

Even though we already have a pretty efficient and comfortable system in the library, the extension of Albert Sloman library will update an archive and special collections book store, provide a 24-hour postgraduate study area, additional study space and library shelving and an expanded student book collection.

 

  

The construction of another also very important and ambitious project has already been started and it is expected to be completed in early 2014. It is the new home for our popular Essex Business School, which is being created next to the University’s new Knowledge Gateway research park in Colchester campus, and the building is already famous for its sustainable design.

It is of essential importance to be as friendly to the environment as possible these days. The materials that are harmful are old fashioned and Essex is going GREEN! The building will have a range of sustainable design features integrated. This reflects Essex Business School’s ethos of encouraging the development of sustainable business strategies. At the heart of the design is a winter garden which will act as an environmental buffer zone, supporting the passive ventilation and heating strategy of the three storey building. The designs include formal and informal learning and teaching spaces, a 200-seater lecture theatre, state-of-the-art ICT provision, social spaces and a café. One of the greenest business schools in the UK maybe?

    It is not only the Colchester campus that is changing. The plans are that in August 2013 a four-storey building will be built on the site of the former Farringdon Car Park, our Southend campus. It will provide a new public and academic library to replace the existing Central Library, a new teaching facility for the College and new research and learning facilities for the University. This new project is to be called The Forum. It will also provide a new home for the Focal Point Gallery as well as a new café and lecture theatre. All new and all for you!

To sum it up, despite of a few interferences during construction periods, new developments in the facilities of the University will help in many ways. It is essential to keep moving forward and open new doors. The most important thing is to get as much use of these facilities as possible.

Good luck!

Amber

Theatre and Arts

There is no doubt that studying at university can sometimes get frustrating and nerves before exams can reach the highest level. However, I have found a way to relax and I am going to share it with you!

For those who are not into clubs or pubs, theatre is the best place to turn off their mind and add a little something special to their day. To me, theatre is a place where magic happens; it is a place of provocation, challenge, and intrigue. Here at The University of Essex your needs for art will be fulfilled! East15 Acting School is working on both Loughton and Southend campus, so students there make their own productions and enjoy those of their colleagues. On the main campus (Colchester) we have a fully-fledged theatre. It is called Lakeside Theatre and it undoubtedly creates a cosy atmosphere full of usual thrills, spills, sorrow and confusion, magic and laughter, and everybody is welcome to join. It has been described as an underground delight and the best kept secret of Colchester. So, want to hear what they are actually offering?

Here are some of the upcoming events:

 BLUEPRINT - Thu 06 Dec

Lakeside Theatre and Inspiring Artists

Blueprint is our work-in-progress scratch night. It’s where they gather together artists from Colchester, Essex and further afield who inspire us and invite them to scratch their work-in-progress performances in an informal and lively atmosphere.

More info here: http://lakesidetheatre.org.uk/events/blue-print/

 Comedy Central Live With Shazia Mirza - Sat 08 Dec

Shazia Mirza

Comedy Central Live is Lakeside Theatre’s dedicated comedy night, bringing the best live comedians from around the country straight to our stage. Shazia Mirza’s distinctive act combines a deadpan delivery with deftly crafted observation on her world.

More info here: http://lakesidetheatre.org.uk/events/comedy-central-live-with-shazia-mirza/

 Sleeping Bootay - Wed 12 Dec - Fri 14 Dec

Theatre Arts Society presents:

From the team that brought you last year’s sell out success comes the newest in the Theatre Arts Society’s series of 16+ panto’s.

More info here: http://lakesidetheatre.org.uk/events/sleeping-bootay/

 Writing The Self - Sun 03 Mar

A stimulating writing workshop with Andrew Burton and NicolaWerenowska.

This workshop focuses on exploring the often complex relationship between writing and the self. Using a range of tried and tested practical writing exercises.

More info here: http://lakesidetheatre.org.uk/events/writing-the-self/

What is more, you can actually join Theatre Arts Society and maybe you will get a chance to perform yourself and be a part of this interesting experience!

More info how to join here:  http://sxtas.webs.com/

Or find them on Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/UoETAS

As you can see they are offering various activities and this is happening throughout the year! If you have a possibility to visit, I recommend you to do so. Believe me, when you leave, whether walking on air, sobbing your heart out, or completely confused, you will definitely feel invigorated by the magic of live theatre.
For more information about Lakeside go to http://lakesidetheatre.org.uk/

Enjoy!

Gintare

Making the most of your time at Essex- UK Travel

The United Kingdom is such a diverse country with a lot of great places to visit. If you want to travel around the UK during your time here but aren't sure where to go, read on!

London



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v London really is an amazing city, and how lucky you are to be able to visit it so easily during your time at Essex! From Colchester North station, it takes just 50 minutes to London Liverpool Street, so you can spend a whole day in the capital without having to leave ridiculously early to get there and back. I'm sure you're familiar with the main London attractions and already have an idea of what you want to see, but there is more to see than just the tourist attractions. Don't be scared to roam the streets and discover parts that you would never get to see by sitting on the tube or taking the bus everywhere (you'll never end up too far away from a tube station anyway!). There are plenty of parks to stroll through, or equally you can rent a 'Boris Bike' for the day; you can hand-feed squirrels (St James Park), see herds of deer (Richmond Park) and go rowing on the lake (Hyde Park). Whichever part of London you're in there is so much to do and see there are so many different cultures and so much history that you will quickly realise just how amazing London really is.

London City Guide: http://www.visitlondon.com/

United Kingdom

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Wherever you go in the UK, it's never the same. It's really difficult to pinpoint specific towns and cities that are worth a visit as there are so many! Different regions offer different experiences, so here is a quick regional guide to help you decide where else you might be interested in visiting and links that will give you more information on the main cities and attractions in those regions.

v  Scotland: Scotland is home to the Loch Ness Monster, Haggis and bagpipes, so if you're at a loose end during the holidays you might want to consider a trip up north. Cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow have a lot to offer, and you can also visit the beautiful highlands that Scotland is renowned for. Just make sure you prepare for cold and wet weather!

http://www.visitscotland.com/  

v  North-West England: In the North-West of England you will find Manchester and Liverpool (home of The Beatles), two very important cities in England. Blackpool, famous for its pleasure beach and illuminations, is also in this region, as well the Lake District in Cumbria, England’s second largest county, which has 15 lakes and England’s highest mountains. If you want to experience Northern hospitality, this is the region to visit.

http://www.visitenglandsnorthwest.com/  

v  Yorkshire and The Humber: In the east of England you will find miles and miles of picturesque English countryside, with dales and foothills covered in heather. This is the place to go to if you like long walks and beautiful landscapes.

http://www.yorkshire.com/  

v  East of England: There's a lot of great heritage in this area of the UK, so dedicate a day at a time to specific towns in this region, as it's so close that you don't have to plan any trips too far in advance. Essex is already in the East of England, so cross over the border into Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, counties home to Ipswich, Cambridge and Norwich respectively. The East of England offers great coastlines, pebble beach’s, quaint English villages, it’s also home to the Queen (who lives in Sandringham Palace) and there's also a great Christmas Market every year in Norwich. When you haven't got much planned on the weekend and don't fancy another trip into London, this is an ideal region to visit.

http://www.visiteastofengland.com/  

v  Wales: Wales has more to offer than just rugby, sheep and leeks. You might see and hear a funny sounding language if you visit Wales, as they still speak the Celtic language Cymraeg (Welsh), as well as English. There are over 600 castles which are perfect for indulging in some history, Snowdonia National Park, which is 3,650ft at its highest point, and a rather strange event called Bog Snorkelling... The capital city, Cardiff, is also a great place to visit. A city where old meets new, once you’ve explored the city centre you can walk along the waterfront of the bustling Cardiff Bay.

http://www.visitwales.co.uk/  

v  Southwest of England: If you have a list of things to do before you leave the UK, you'll be able to tick off many if you visit the Southwest. In the northern area you will find the Cotswolds, an area known for its beauty and typically English sleepy villages. Head down south a bit and you will get to Bath, a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site world-famous for its Roman baths, Thermae Bath Spa and for being the home of Jane Austin. As you go further into the Southwest you will reach the prehistoric monument Stonehenge, which is very mysterious and worth a visit. In an area called the West Country, you will find the counties of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, where you will discover a slightly different identity and culture, especially in Cornwall, than other parts of the UK. Embrace it, as you will be able to try traditional cider, delicious clotted cream tea with scones and walk through villages where people live in cottages with thatched roofs. If you like surfing, Newquay (Cornwall) is the perfect place to go, so long as you don't mind the cold Atlantic Ocean!

http://www.visitsouthwest.co.uk/  

There's a lot of information to get through, but use it as a rough guide when you're not sure what to do next or where else to visit. If you have any questions about absolutely anything, even where to get a nice coffee, don't hesitate to ask! Take advantage of your spare time, if there's something you want to do, do it. Before you know it, the year will be over and it will be time to go back home, so make sure you leave with no regrets!

Enjoy yourselves,

Amy