Tag: Bristol Law School

RISE Securing a green, resilient future – College of Business and Law research showcase

Author Faculty of Business and Law | Posted on

After the first successful Research Showcase on the RISE Beacon ‘Enriching Culture, Place and Community’, the College of Business and Law hosted a second bringing colleagues together under UWE Bristol’s RISE Beacon ‘Securing a Green, Resilient Future’.

Opening the event, Professor Wendy Phillips, Dean of Research and Enterprise, highlighted the College’s growing role in research on climate resilience, sustainable economies, governance reform, leadership and community transformation. Emphasising the unique position and need for more interdisciplinary collaboration to address complex global challenges, Professor Phillips said:

“Securing a green, resilient future is not something any one discipline can achieve alone. As our graduates won’t work in a single context, neither should our research.”

As before, the showcase featured a series of quick-fire 5 minute presentations across two panels.


Panel 1: Reimagining systems for a green, resilient future

The first panel explored how systems: economic, legal and environmental, can be reimagined to support sustainability and resilience.

Understanding regional environmental impact

Dr Peter Bradley presented a detailed account of greenhouse gas emissions across 100 sectors in the West of England. One of the most comprehensive regional datasets to date, his work highlights both direct and embodied emissions, providing important evidence base for both policy and decision-making. For example, Professor Bradley showed how directing efforts on key sectors could have a big impact on our emissions and how zero carbon policies will not impact on jobs in the region.

Rethinking river governance

Elena Blanco invited the audience to reflect on childhood memories of rivers, paddling, fishing and connection to nature and then contrasted these with the reality of increasingly polluted waterways across the UK. Highlighting fragmented governance and under-resourced systems, she explored how a rights of nature approach could transform river management in the Bristol Avon bioregion. By recognising rivers as entities with intrinsic value rather than resources to exploit, her work positions governance as a tool for community mobilisation, bringing stakeholders together proactively to protect rivers rather than responding only after damage has occurred.

Building a circular economy through ship recycling

Dr Amore Minayora presented ship recycling as a powerful example of the circular economy. Noting that with around 140,000 ships in global circulation, many eventually reach the end of their service and must be dismantled and reused. While this system is already in operation in countries such as India, Amore highlighted both its environmental significance and its challenges, including greenhouse gas impacts and serious concerns around worker safety, regulation and practices such as beaching. Positioned at the intersection of global trade, circular economy ambitions and growing demand for greener steel, this research explores how ship recycling can be better supported and regulated to deliver safer and more sustainable outcomes.

Environmental harm and international law

Professor Gerhard Kemp explored how environmental destruction intersects with international criminal law, drawing on examples from conflict zones such as Gaza and Ukraine to illustrate the scale of damage to infrastructure and agricultural land. He questioned whether international criminal law should, and can, play a role in holding those responsible to account, noting key limitations including the lack of distinct ecocentric crimes and enforcement mechanisms. His work engages with emerging efforts to define ecocide as an international crime and introduces the concept of “terraforming warfare” as a way of understanding and framing extreme environmental destruction within existing legal frameworks.

Panel 2: Leadership, lifestyles and youth engagement for sustainable futures

The second panel focused on the human dimensions of sustainability, from leadership and behaviour change to inclusion and youth engagement.

Young people and climate action: The Think Fashion campaign

Laura McAllister shared research on sustainable consumption, highlighting how young people are often highly motivated to engage in climate action, particularly through everyday behaviours shaped by both altruistic and more individual drivers. Building on this, a HEIF-funded project brought together students, researchers and local partners to co-create the forthcoming Think Fashion campaign, encouraging more conscious consumer choices and a shift towards reducing and reusing rather than relying on recycling. With plans to develop a wider toolkit for schools, the project promotes a system wide approach, positioning consumers as active citizens who can use their purchasing power to influence change.


Making outdoor events more inclusive

Clare MacKay and Dr Ed Little presented research on the experiences of outdoor event attendees with dietary requirements, including religious, medical and lifestyle needs. Their findings show that many face anxiety, exclusion and stigma, often relying on coping strategies due to limited or unsuitable food options. The research highlights the risks of one size fits all solutions, such as assuming vegan options meet all needs, and emphasises the importance of inclusive design. By developing personas and teaching materials, their work encourages a more thoughtful approach to event planning that supports a healthier, greener and fairer society.

The Burnout Cure: A Radical Rethink of SME Leadership

Dr Alison Miles introduced her forthcoming book The Burnout Cure, which reframes sustainability through the lens of individual leadership and wellbeing. Highlighting the scale of mental health challenges among SME leaders, she described how many feel overwhelmed and uncertain, “lost in the woods” when navigating business pressures. Her work argues that sustainable change begins with the individual, showing that it is possible to run a business in a way that prioritises peace of mind over constant growth. By shifting how leaders think and act, she suggests, wider transformation across organisations and systems can follow.

Leadership beyond the Sustainable Development Goals

Professor Richard Bolden shared insights from his forthcoming edited volume The Elgar Companion to Leadership Beyond the Sustainable Development Goals, which brings together perspectives on the future of leadership in the context of global sustainability challenges. Reflecting on the need to move beyond existing frameworks, he highlighted the importance of more inclusive and system wide approaches. Drawing on a quote from humanitarian Tom Fletcher, he closed by posing a provocative question about the future of leadership in an increasingly technological world: how do we shape systems and algorithms that are more humanitarian than we are?

The next showcase will focus on the RISE Beacon of ‘harnessing creativity and technology’ date to be confirmed. For more details, contact Noelle Quenivet or Sarah-Louise Weller.

Using Generative AI for research: Insights from the CBL workshop

Author Faculty of Business and Law | Posted on

On 18 February, more than 30 academics and postgraduate researchers from across BBS and BLS came together for an engaging, hands-on workshop exploring how Generative AI (GenAI) can support different stages of the research process. Hosted by Professor Noelle Quénivet and Dr Sarah-Louise Weller, the session was designed to be practical and reflective. It was suitable for colleagues at all levels of experience with GenAI, whether just beginning to experiment or already integrating these tools into everyday research practice.

The workshop set out to demystify GenAI, highlight responsible and ethical use and offer real examples of how colleagues across the College are already using AI tools to streamline their research workflows.

Understanding the landscape: what GenAI can and can’t do

The session opened with an informative presentation from Boudewijn Dominicus (Research Development Manager, Health & Science) and Lindsay McDonagh (Research Development Manager, Creative Technology). They introduced the capabilities of GenAI tools and UWE Bristol’s newly issued Guidance on Generative AI and Large Language Models in Research.

Their talk covered how large language models (LLMs) work, accuracy challenges and common pitfalls, issues around data security, ethics and environmental impact and how funders are responding. They also outlined the policies researchers need to be aware of. UWE’s policy for using AI, specifically Microsoft Copilot, was introduced alongside a clear and memorable framework for effective prompting (RISEN):

R – Role: Give Copilot a specific role
I – Instructions: Provide clear and specific instructions
S – Steps: Break complex requests into manageable steps
E – Examples: Provide examples of desired outputs when helpful
N – Notes: Add important constraints and context

They also shared several practical “pro tips”, including asking the model to rewrite your prompt for clarity, refining prompts iteratively (“multi-shot prompting”) and specifying desired output format, tone or length. They highlighted ways Copilot can support the research funding process, from aligning ideas with call scopes to structuring narratives, editing, tailoring content for different audiences and preparing for interviews.

Exploring ethical questions through scenario-based discussion

Participants then worked in groups to unpack the ethical and legal dimensions of three fictional (but very realistic) scenarios involving GenAI use in research. These discussions encouraged colleagues to reflect on confidentiality, attribution, fairness, transparency and the responsible handling of data when using AI tools.

How researchers are using GenAI right now

One of the highlights of the session was a series of demonstrations from colleagues and PGRs across CBL. Each showcased a different real-world application of GenAI in research practice.

M. Emre Hayyar: Gemini as a learned friend
Emre highlighted the importance of clearly setting boundaries in prompts. Using a powerful “kill-switch” example, he showed how the quality and accuracy of outputs can differ dramatically depending on how a prompt is constructed. His take-home message was clear: LLMs tend to be overly supportive, so ask them to be critical or to take on the role of a supervisor, reviewer or journal editor.

Dr Mike Pollard: using LLMs to build research scenarios
Mike demonstrated how an LLM can act as a research assistant when given detailed and highly specific instructions. He emphasised the importance of fact-checking and refining outputs. He also showed how to instruct the model to exclude certain sources, such as particular years, languages or jurisdictions. He highlighted the need for researchers to reshape and refine generated material themselves to ensure it meets the needs of the task.

Dr Neeti Shikha: from manuscript to conference-ready slides
Neeti shared how she uses Gamma to transform a 5,000-word manuscript into a 15-minute conference presentation. The tool helps create visually engaging, audience-appropriate slides that can be adapted for academics, students or practitioners. She also offered helpful tips for responsible use.

Alexander Grimmig: from annotation to insight
Alex demonstrated how he integrates Zotero, Obsidian and AI tools to annotate, connect and synthesise his notes on journal articles and reports. This combined workflow helps avoid fragmented notes and reduces time spent re-reading papers.

To round off the afternoon, Professor Noelle Quénivet demonstrated how she uses Copilot to draft abstracts and conclusions for journal articles, as well as composite conclusion chapters for books. She closed with an important reminder to always check your target journal’s policy on AI use and disclosure before submitting.

A collaborative and insightful session

Huge thanks go to all the presenters for generously sharing their expertise and to all attendees for their thoughtful contributions and insightful questions throughout. The workshop showed how creatively colleagues are beginning to use GenAI, while also reminding us of the care, ethics and critical thinking required to use these tools responsibly.

The strong engagement across the Business School and Law School demonstrates a genuine appetite for learning how GenAI can enhance, streamline and support high-quality research. We look forward to building on this momentum with further sessions in the months ahead.

PS: For full disclosure, Copilot was used to structure notes taken during this three-hour session and the final version was edited using Copilot.

Using referencing software

Author Faculty of Business and Law | Posted on

Sarah-Louise Weller and Noëlle Quénivet

Referencing is a cornerstone of academic integrity and scholarly communication. It ensures that ideas are properly attributed, supports the credibility of research and facilitates peer review. In today’s fast-paced research environment, manual referencing is time-consuming and error-prone, making referencing software indispensable.

On 19 November 2025 Sarah-Louise Weller (Director of Research and Enterprise, Bristol Business School) and Noëlle Quénivet (Director of Research and Enterprise, Bristol Law School) organised a training session for colleagues in the College of Business and Law to explore why referencing matters, the benefits of using software, and compare two leading platforms: EndNote and Zotero which were presented by Cobus Jooste and Emre Hayyar of the Law School.

Importance of referencing

Correct referencing is not just about avoiding plagiarism; it reflects professionalism and respect for intellectual property.

Researchers who fail to reference accurately risk damaging their reputations and being rejected by journals.

Moreover, referencing provides readers with a roadmap for verifying sources and exploring further readings, thereby strengthening academic discourse. From a REF perspective, supporting arguments with credible, easily verifiable evidence certainly bolsters these arguments and enhances the rigour of the output. Clear and precise citations allow for greater transparency and reproducibility in research, both of which are vital to research integrity.

Importance of using the journal referencing system

Proper referencing is essential for meeting journal guidelines, as it not only facilitates the submission process but also enhances the likelihood of a manuscript’s acceptance. While some journals use unique styles, leveraging referencing software can help manage these variations effectively.

Standardised references help the peer review process by providing clear, comprehensive information about sources. It not only helps reviewers evaluate the work on its merits but also gives the manuscript a professional appearance, suggesting it is a finished product rather than a draft. This signals that the author values accuracy and takes the writing process seriously.

Challenges of not using referencing software 

Manual referencing is error-prone and time-consuming, with risks like misspelt author names, incorrect dates and formatting mistakes. Cross-referencing footnotes manually often requires repeated checks, while switching citation styles for different journals can take hours and introduce new errors. These tasks waste valuable research time.

In contrast, referencing software automates citation and bibliography creation, allows quick style changes and integrates with word processors, saving effort and reducing mistakes.

Referencing generators v referencing managers

Referencing generators quickly create individual citations for short papers but lack long-term storage, requiring repeated entry. They mainly support styles like Harvard, APA and Chicago. Some cannot handle primary legal sources.

In contrast, referencing managers like EndNote and Zotero offer comprehensive solutions: they store and organise references, integrate with word processors, automate citation and bibliography creation, enable collaboration and sync across devices, which is ideal for large projects and consistent referencing.

EndNote and Zotero

Cobus Jooste and Emre Hayyar introduced Endnote and Zotero, two popular tools, each offering unique features.

EndNote excels in managing large libraries, supports PDF annotation and offers AI-assisted summarisation. It integrates seamlessly with Thomson Reuters journals, enabling quick imports. Users can create multiple libraries, share group libraries and switch citation styles effortlessly. With over 7,500 styles and community-driven customisation, EndNote ensures compliance with (legal) journal standards. The downside is that EndNote is paid software, which may be costly for individual researchers.

Zotero, in contrast, is free and open-source, making it accessible to everyone. It supports PDF annotation, tagging and categorisation, enabling flexible organisation. Zotero allows migration between platforms, supports footnotes and provides cloud backup options. Its intuitive interface and ability to refresh references make it ideal for collaborative and long-term projects. While it is free and user-friendly, excellent for collaboration and adaptable for various citation styles, it has limited free storage.

Practical tips for researchers

Choosing between EndNote and Zotero depends on budget, project size and collaboration needs. EndNote is suitable for large-scale, institutional projects that require advanced features and style compliance. Zotero is ideal for individual researchers or teams looking for flexibility and affordability.

Some of the tips shared by Cobus Jooste and Emre Hayyar included always backing up libraries to prevent data loss, understanding style requirements (particularly concerning primary sources in law), starting early to avoid last-minute changes, using tagging and categorisation for efficient document retrieval, and exploring tutorials and community forums for troubleshooting and advanced features.

Conclusion

Referencing software is now essential: it ensures accuracy and professionalism in research. Both EndNote and Zotero enable scholars to manage citations effectively, saving time and minimising errors. By using these tools, researchers can focus on producing high-quality work rather than struggling with formatting issues. Ultimately, the choice depends on individual needs, but adopting any referencing software is a step towards improved research practices.

Africa Research Showcase: Exploring Collaboration and Innovation Across the Continent

Author Faculty of Business and Law | Posted on

On Wednesday, 22 October 2025, the College of Business and Law (CBL) and the Centre for African Social and Economic Transformation (CASET) came together to host the inaugural Africa Research Showcase held at UWE Bristol’s Frenchay Campus. It was one of the events organised to celebrate Black History Month. Participants joined both in person and virtually from across the continent, including attendees based in Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa.

Setting the Scene

“The inaugural CBL and CASET Africa Research Showcase marks a major milestone in strengthening UWE Bristol’s commitment to Africa-focused, impact-driven research,” said Professor Paschal Anosike, Director of the Centre for African Social and Economic Transformation (CASET) and Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Opening the event, Professor Anosike stressed that,

“as the continent with the world’s largest vibrant youth population, Africa’s future depends on strong entrepreneurship and digital innovation systems – it cannot create decent jobs without them. Equally vital are accountable governance, resilient healthcare systems, and effective partnerships to realise both Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This Showcase is therefore more than an academic endeavour. It is a platform for collaboration between researchers, practitioners and students across Africa and UWE. Together, guided by our RISE framework, we aim to foster and generate evidence-based knowledge and solutions that drive inclusive growth through cross-continental dialogue and partnerships.”

A Thoughtful Discussion on Research and Impact

Presenters shared fascinating snapshots of their research around the four research areas of CASET. Each presentation reflected a commitment to understanding and addressing Africa’s complex challenges and opportunities, through innovative, collaborative and interdisciplinary research.

Panel 1: International development and digital capability:

  • Dr Lotta Takala-Greenish – Employee-Led/Practice-Based Learning: 4IR Technology in South Africa
    Dr Takala-Greenish presented a study looking at the core of economic growth and employee-led problem solving. The study found that whilst technological advancements are reshaping learning environments, their real value lies not in the tools themselves but in their strategic application within new business contexts. There is a growing focus on deep engagement and a nuanced understanding of problems, rather than simply emphasising technology. 
  • Dr Ada Peter – Digital Sovereignty and Capability: Rethinking Africa’s Dependence in the Global Cyber Order
    Dr Peter emphasised the need for control over technology, data, and standards that govern critical services and the economy. The continent’s reliance on foreign-owned networks, cloud services and undersea cables was highlighted, which creates vulnerabilities for intelligence harvesting, coercion or disruption.
  • CEO of FirstCap (Nigeria) Ukandu Eme Ukandu – Fintechs and Digitisation as Catalysts of African Entrepreneurship
    Mr Ukandu highlighted the continent’s rapidly growing, youthful population and the shift toward urbanisation and digital payments, with countries like Kenya and South Africa leading the way toward cashless economies. While e-commerce and tech start-ups are creating jobs and driving innovation, he noted that infrastructure gaps remain a key challenge to sustaining this momentum.

Panel 2: Global health and sustainability:

  • Professor Peter Case – Organisational Development for Health Systems Improvement in Africa
    Professor Case’s work focused on malaria control using participatory action research. Peter engages communities and stakeholders to co-design solutions, including task groups and visual tools like drawing to address challenges. Projects highlighted included the OPTiMIX Malaria Study in Cameroon and the LEAD Ubuntu Global Foundation, emphasising a locally driven, collaborative approach.

  • Professor Richard Bolden – Strengthening Public Healthcare Leadership in Africa (in collaboration with the University of Pretoria)
    Professor Bolden explored the challenges and opportunities for leadership, including resource constraints and corruption. He emphasised the need to reimagine leadership at a local level, drawing on African concepts such as ‘Unembeza’, a value system rooted in ethical behaviour, integrity and collective responsibility.

Panel 3: Governance and leadership:

  • Dr Luke Eda – African Union and Immunity of Heads of State under International Criminal Law
    Dr Eda began by stressing that if leaders who commit serious international crimes are not held accountable, wars and injustice are more likely to prevail, thus undermining economic and social development. His presentation offered a historical overview of the relationship between the International Criminal Court and the African Union. He pointed out that the row between the two institutions began around the issue of the immunity of Heads of State.
  • Professor Gerhard Kemp – Transitional Justice in Africa
    Professor Kemp, who also serves on the board of directors of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation in Cape Town (South Africa),highlighted justice’s role in transforming post-conflict societies toward peace and democracy. He emphasised the importance of African-led, context-specific solutions grounded in shared values and how media coverage of major international crimes can shape perceptions of justice and support societal healing.

Panel 4: Entrepreneurship and innovation:

  • Dr Chisa Onyejekwe – Impact of Inflationary Control Measures on the Economic Rights of Women Microentrepreneurs in Nigeria
    Dr Onyejekwe’s presentation focused onthe severe inequalities that result from centrally imposed inflationary control measures on marginalised demographics such as female ‘microentrepreneurs’ in Nigeria. Her research calls for gender-sensitive, context-specific policies whose potential effects on all segments of the population are properly assessed prior to implementation.
  • Dr Tinkuma Edafioghor – Resilient Entrepreneurship: How Nigerian SMEs Innovate to Survive Uncertainty
    Dr Edafioghor asked how do SMEs survive the uncertainty of volatile markets and shifting government policies in Nigeria? What can we learn from this? Drawing on data from 150 SMEs in Lagos, she found that resilience is people-focused and social, with both employees and CEOs contributing through strong networks, supplier relationships and market insights.
  • CEO of Social Enterprise Ghana Edwin Zu-Cudjoe – Social Entrepreneurship in Africa
    Mr Zu-Cudjoe highlighted how social enterprises and innovators can drive both impact and economic transformation. He emphasised that the common myth, that you cannot do good and make money, is challenged by social enterprises, which show that positive social impact and financial sustainability can go hand in hand.

Building Bridges Across Borders and Looking Ahead

The CBL and CASET Africa Research Showcase exemplifies UWE Bristol’s ongoing commitment to equitable, globally engaged research partnerships. By bringing together diverse voices from across disciplines and geographies, this event helped strengthen the bridge between UK-based academics and African scholars and practitioners.

The success of this first Showcase has laid a strong foundation for future collaboration. Plans are already underway to host an even bigger and more ambitious event next year, further expanding the reach of CBL and CASET’s African research partnerships.

In his closing remarks, Professor Paschal Anosike reflected on the energy and engagement shared throughout the session:

“This event shows our shared commitment to building bridges across borders through equitable and globally engaged research. By connecting scholars and industry practitioners from Africa and UWE’s Africa research community, we are turning collaboration into action. We will sustain the momentum by building on this inaugural success with an international conference next year. Our ambition is to further strengthen equal and mutually beneficial partnerships that drive continuous dialogue and action with relevant stakeholders for sustainable transformation in Africa.”

Follow this blog for details of future CBL Africa Research conferences and events in 2026.

Building a Research Identity: Insights from a Collaborative Workshop

Author Faculty of Business and Law | Posted on

By Sarah-Louise Weller and Noëlle Quénivet

On 15 October, a dynamic and thought-provoking workshop titled “Building a Research Identity” was hosted by Dr Sarah-Louise Weller, Director of Research and Enterprise (Business) and Professor Noëlle Quénivet, Director of Research and Enterprise (Law). The two-hour session brought together around 30 colleagues and postgraduate research students from across the College of Business and Law, keen to explore how to shape and strengthen their academic presence.

Understanding Research Identity

The session began by unpacking what a research identity is: its purpose, influence and evolution. Participants reflected on why having a clear research identity matters. A strong identity not only enhances academic impact but also supports collaboration and career progression.

Key elements of a research identity include:

  • Academic Fingerprint: Your unique combination of skills, knowledge and experiences that distinguish you from others. It reflects your expertise, preferred methods and topics of interest.
  • Public Narrative of Academic Journey: A compelling story that highlights your professional development, milestones and influences. This narrative helps communicate your growth and engages a wider audience.

  • Focus, Values, Audience and Aspirations: These define what drives your research, the questions you aim to answer, the principles that guide your work, who it is for and where you want it to lead.

  • Visibility and Credibility: A strong identity enhances recognition within the academic community and positions you as a credible, thought leader and expert in your field and among your peers.

  • Attracting Collaborators, Mentors and Funders: Clearly articulating your research identity can draw attention from potential collaborators, mentors and funding bodies to build networks that share your unique vision.

  • Career Direction and Impact: A defined research identity helps you set goals, stay aligned with your values and measure how your work contributes to your discipline and society.

Using Online Platforms to Showcase Research

The workshop then turned to practical ways of building an online research presence. Participants learned about different platforms and were directed to consider how to use them effectively.

A key distinction was made between essential platforms such as institutional profiles (e.g., on the UWE website) and global identifiers (e.g. ORCID) on the one hand and  recommended platforms to support wider engagement such as Google Scholar, LinkedIn, Academia.edu, ResearchGate or SSRN on the other. Some are useful for discovering research and staying informed, while others for showcasing publications or engaging with peers.

Among the key tips that were shared were:

  • Select your profile platforms wisely
  • Keep them up to date, post regularly
  • Connect and integrate your profiles
  • Track citation metrics
  • Publicise your profiles

Panel Discussion: Experiences and Tips

Professor James Green (Law), Dr Sarah-Louise Weller, and Professor Noëlle Quénivet shared their own experiences of managing online research profiles. They discussed the benefits and challenges of using Google Scholar, LinkedIn, Academia.edu, ResearchGate and SSRN.

Guest speakers Dr Tom Bowden-Green and Dr Jonathan Gilbert shared how they use LinkedIn, podcasts and newsletters to increase visibility and shape their research brands.

Their advice included:

  • Be intentional about how you present your work.
  • Embrace both positive and constructive feedback.
  • Support and learn from your colleagues – research identity is built within a community, not in isolation.

Reflective Exercises: Defining Your Research Identity

Participants then took part in a practical reflection exercise designed to help them define their research identity in fewer than 21 words. They were asked to:

  • Describe their research focus.
  • Explain its significance.
  • Identify what makes their approach unique.
A diagram outlining the following steps: - One sentence, 21 words max describe your research focus One sentence, 21 words max explain what makes it or your approach unique - Ask your peer to Google you and discuss whether the results match your profile - One sentence, 21 words max explain why it matters - Share notes with a peer

While many found it challenging, the exercise encouraged clarity and focus, helping participants distil their academic interests into a concise statement. In a peer-sharing activity, colleagues looked up each other’s profiles on Google to spot differences in search results – revealing how others perceive their online presence. Many were surprised by the discrepancies between their self-view and public visibility, highlighting the importance of curating an accurate online identity.

Continuing the Conversation – join our next event…

The next training session, “Using Referencing Software”, will take place on 19 November, 13:00-14:00 in Room 3X109. All colleagues are welcome to attend, please contact Dr Sarah-Louise Weller for details.

BBS | BLS Online Christmas Fair 2021

Author Faculty of Business and Law | Posted on

Welcome to the 2021 Bristol Business School | Bristol Law School online Christmas fair.

After the success of our virtual fair last year, we have decided to keep up the tradition and encourage everyone to shop small and local. Luckily, this year we are able to also hold our in-person Christmas fair in the Bristol Business School Atrium on Thursday 9 December 11:00 – 15:00 so please do pop down if you are able.

For those who can’t, we have a fantastic range of products on offer in our online brochure with stalls from UWE Bristol students, staff, and businesses in the local community.

All you need to do now is view the stalls below and click the links to shop. We hope you enjoy.

Online Christmas Fair 2021View stalls here

If you have any questions please email fbl.news@uwe.ac.uk. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in this year’s online fair.

Five ways to up your exam game

Author Faculty of Business and Law | Posted on

Exam season is just around the corner and we know that this can be a stressful time, so we have gathered our top tips from some of our Business and Law academics to give you a head start in acing your upcoming exams.

Read the question, answer the question

Lucy Rees (Associate Head of Department, Law)

It might sound obvious, but it’s really important that you carefully read the whole question thoroughly and actually answer the question. Take time to identify the key words – if it asks you to define, you get marks for defining, if you are asked to provide examples that means you will get marks for your examples. Only write what is relevant and required in the question.

Remaster the art of pen to paper

Hilary Drew (Associate Head of Department for Partnerships and Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management)

How much time do we actually spend writing these days? Writing with a pen on paper, for two and a half hours, even the thought of it is enough to make your wrists ache! When doing your revision, actually write up your notes by hand instead of typing them. Buy a fancy notebook, some highlighters, and a new pen or two! By writing your revision notes longhand, not only will you be training your arm for the exam marathon, but also engaging with your learning at a deeper level. It helps you to absorb the information you need to learn, making it easier to recall it in the exam room.

Make it easy for the person marking it

Osman Yukselturk (Associate Head of Department, Accounting and Finance)

Sometimes presentation can be as important as calculation and arriving at the result. Remember that somebody will be marking your paper, so present your work in a clear and understandable way that makes it easy for them to see how you got to the answer. Having a look at the mark allocation might give you a hint about how detailed your answer should be and how much time you should spend on it.

Prepare for the exam, not just the content

Marcus Keppel-Palmer (Senior Lecturer, Law)

Answering an exam is a skill, the same as any other skill or assessment. You get better at sport or piano by practising, and it’s the same with essays and exams. The more you practice writing out answers in full – adhering to time limits, word limits and structures – the easier it is under the extra pressure of the exam setting. If the first time you write an answer out is actually in the exam, you are trying to master a new skill under stressful circumstances. Write out your answers in full and within the time limit, then read them back. It’s amazing how you will see an improvement.

Read the entire exam paper

Yvette Morey (Associate Head of Programmes, Marketing, Events and Tourism)

Don’t dive straight in, take some time to read the entire exam paper first. Take in the scope of the paper and questions, and start thinking about what is being asked of you. By doing this, your brain will start doing some of the processing for you. Use some paper to do a rough plan of each answer – it’ll help you remember, save you time when you come to later questions, and break the paper down into smaller, more manageable chunks.

Guest blog post: A student representatives’ perspective of the Times Higher Education awards ceremony

Author Faculty of Business and Law | Posted on

Guest author: Mia Collins, 3rd Year Business and Management Student 

Currently in my final year of studying Business and Management, I have been fortunate enough to represent the department as its Lead Department Representative and the Finance, Business and Law faculty as its Learning, Teaching and Student Experience Committee member. These roles have demonstrated huge benefits to my educational and professional development, yet, the most monumental opportunity the positions have brought me is attending the Times Higher Education Awards in London. As a typical student does, I have had significant exposure to Bristol’s nightlife – but none of them compare to the night I had at the awards ceremony.

The night began on, rather, a stressful start; having only 1 hour to get to get ‘black tie’ ready, I was under significant pressure– for those who know me well enough, will understand exactly the level of stress I mean. Despite this, I was immensely excited. We ventured over to the JV Marriott Grovesnor House in London, where we were met with bubbly and snacks. Walking into the reception room, in itself, was an experience; everyone had gone above and beyond with their appearance and looked fantastic. Before the night had really began, this was a great opportunity for me to get to know the people who facilitate the day to day operations of UWE; as a team of 14 (2 being myself and Lily Liu, the only students in attendance), were able to get to know the likes of Steve West, Donna Whitehead and lot more. Before one too many glasses of prosecco, we got a #teamUWE picture:

(Don’t we scrub up well!)

After a chatter and a social, we were taken into the main awards hall. Merely walking towards the hall, you are greeted by the most amazing floor imaginable (see below). From the onset, everything about the night was glamourous. Once we (eventually) found our tables, we sat down to a starter of crispy salt cod fritter (essentially, the fanciest fish finger ever), followed by slow braised beef short rib with vegetables, finishing off with a Greek yoghurt tart and petits fours – yum.

As time went on, the more nervous we all became, and before we knew it, our category was up next. We had thankfully been shortlisted, for the second year in a row, Business School of the Year and were up against some intense competition. The category was announced… UWE’s participation was mentioned… a huge cheer from all of our 3 tables… on the very edge of our seats…the winner was announced… and THEN, ah. ESCP Europe Business School were awarded the winners of 2018. Despite not winning, this year(!), we didn’t lose spirit. We were up for Most Innovative Contribution to Business-University Collaboration. Again, we didn’t quite get it this time; we did, however, receive a special commendation for our efforts. Not all bad, eh?

The night didn’t end there – a disco was to follow. Thankfully, we were sat the closest to the stairs, so UWE were the first to get to the dancefloor. I must add, we took over the ENTIRE dance floor, truly a UWE takeover. The night didn’t purely involve partying, it was a great opportunity for me to develop my networking skills and get to meet some senior figures from all across the country – one in particular, the Sponsorship Director of the Times Higher Education awards. After hours of singing our hearts – out at the very top of our lungs – lunging and squatting(?) to the beat and showing the other universities why UWE really are the best, the disco came to an end – it takes a lot of skill and endurance to be the FIRST and LAST ones on the dancefloor, but we executed it so well.

We got back to our hotel in the early hours of the morning and, with no voice left and feet in agony from high heels, we sat in the lobby, each with our takeaway laughing and chatting until it was time for bed.

The night as an entity was phenomenal, I am incredibly grateful to be 1 of the 2 students fortunate enough to attend. I’ve not only taken away great memories from it but have also made great relationships with senior staff whom I would never usually have the opportunity meet. A huge thank you to everyone who facilitated the evening and made it as incredible as it was. Every day I am more and more honoured to represent UWE and everything we achieve. Bring on Business School of the Year 2019!

Below are a few photos from the evening:

Global network celebration dinner in Kuala Lumpur

Author Faculty of Business and Law | Posted on

On Friday 5th October, the UWE Bristol International Office organised an appreciation dinner in Kuala Lumpur to celebrate our global network of partners and to show appreciation for their efforts in recruiting and supporting our international students.

More than 80 representatives from key strategic dual award and progression partners, as well as leading Malaysian recruitment agencies attended the event.

Amongst the attendees were representatives from one of our partnerships institutions, Taylor’s Univeristy, with whom we run a number of dual awards.

The event was also attended by  representatives from HELP University and INTI International College who send a large number of final year students to our Business, Accounting, Economics and Finance and Law Undergraduate programmes.

Thanks to all involved for organising such a wonderful event.

 

Bristol Business School staff named as part of Bristol’s BME Powerlist

Author Faculty of Business and Law | Posted on

Earlier this week Bristol 24/7 announced the inaugural BME Powerlist which showcases the city’s 100 most inspiring, successful and influential black and minority ethnic people.

Published on October 1 to mark the start of Black History Month, the project aims to celebrate excellence across a broad spectrum of fields – from activism to arts, politics to business – and provide role models for the next generation.

The Bristol BME Powerlist has been 18 months in the making and is a joint partnership between the University of Bristol, Bristol Students’ Union and Bristol24/7 to showcase and celebrate diversity across the city; with a panel of ten judges whittling down 500 nominations to 100.

Amongst the several alumni and students from UWE Bristol that have been nominated, two members of staff from the Bristol Business School have also been highlighted in the list.

Dr Zainab Khan and Mohamud Mubarak have been selected alongside other UWE staff and students to be on the list.

Dr Zainab Khan is a BME staff forum coordinator at UWE and faculty representative on the Race Equality Task Force. Zainab has been at the forefront of the newly-launched Equity talent management programme. She is also the curator of The Link, Bristol’s largest BME professional networking event, which takes place at the university during Black History Month.

As a Somali refugee, Mohamud Mubarak uses his background in creative ways as a lecturer at UWE. He has helped and inspired countless BME students to achieve their potential and works tirelessly in his own community to promote higher education. Mohamud commented:

“To be featured on the inaugural #BristolBMEPowerlist is a huge honour among such notables. It’s amazing how far Bristol has come”

Everyone named on the list, panel judges and members of the city are invited to an event on Saturday, October 27 to engage in conversations with students and increase BME engagement in local communities. 

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