Guardian top ten
The University of Exeter has been rated as one of the top ten UK universities in the Guardian University Guide 2013. The league table ranks Exeter tenth out of 116 UK higher education institutions. We are now in the top ten of the three main UK higher education league tables, as well as being ranked in the top one per cent of institutions globally.

Diamond Jubilee scholarships
The visit of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh to the University on 2 May will have a lasting legacy through new scholarships announced for overseas study. The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Scholarships will give five exceptional students each year £2,000 to study abroad - expanding their cultural, social and career horizons. The scholarships are funded by gifts from alumni and supporters through the Annual Fund.

Forum open
The Queen performed the official opening of the £48 million Forum. It includes a new Student Services Centre, an extended and refurbished Library with 100% more seating and PCs, and new technology-rich learning spaces. The Forum is large enough to accommodate 330 double-decker buses; it has 1,229 roof panels, 400 doors and 85 toilets. In a typical week the Forum delivers over half of the wireless traffic on campus and 60% of all mobile internet users go into the Forum at some point.

Teaching award winners
The winners of this year’s Exeter Students Guild Teaching Awards were announced on 3 May at a glittering ceremony in the Great Hall (using Royal visit decorations). This year over 2,000 nominations were submitted for 588 individual staff members, highlighting the excellence of teaching across the University. For a list of all winners, go online.

We sent you a text
On 1 May the University launched its text messaging service to alert students to the Royal visit. We successfully delivered more than 14,000 messages. In future the service will be used for appointment reminders where students have consented, and to provide alerts when there are timetable changes. To benefit from the services make sure we have your mobile number. Full details can be seen online.

Sport Park development begins
More than £8million is being invested at the Sports Park on Streatham Campus. Kier Construction has begun development work around the water pitch, outdoor tennis courts and hockey pitch. Fencing is going up and footpaths around the pitches will change – see map. Phase one should be completed by mid-September. Project updates will be published online and plans are also on display in the Sports Park reception.

Rugby champs
The University of Exeter Women’s Rugby 7’s team have been crowned British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Champions. The University is currently sitting in 7th position out of 149 institutions in the annual BUCS rankings, having amassed our highest points tally ever in BUCS competition.

Career development week
The Employability and Graduate Development team is running a week of career development activities between 29 May and 1 June, particularly for finalists and second- years to help to secure a graduate job or an internship. It will also help all students to complete their Exeter Award or Leaders Award. All events are bookable via My Career Zone or call in to see Employability and Graduate Development in the Forum.

Paid Internship support
'Access to Internship' is a new fund to help students secure paid internships this summer. The University is offering eligible employers a £500 subsidy towards the cost of an internship placement. Students can use this as part of a marketing toolkit when seeking an internship. Go online to Access to Internships for info and to register. Funds will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

SIFE winners
Enterprising students on the SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) team, set up only six months ago, have won multiple awards at the 2012 National Competition held at Canary Wharf in London. They won the Rookie Champions award, came joint runner-up in the Wilkinson Sustainable Entrepreneurship Award, and third in the Bernard Hodes Group Annual Report Award. Employability advisors at the Cornwall and Exeter campuses, who also won the University Advisor award, are immensely proud of the hard work, dedication and enthusiasm of all students involved in SIFE.

Lasok Law library Move
The Lasok Law library is moving to its new home on Level -1 of the Forum Library during 29 May – 7 June, where the collections will be available alongside all the other student services in the Forum. Materials will be unavailable for a short period only as they transfer between libraries. The space vacated by the current Law Library in Amory is part of a £1 million refurbishment project which will deliver new space for the Law School on the upper floor and a new Amory Study Centre, with approximately 220 seats, on the lower floor. For more information or a tour of the new Lasok Law Library, contact Patrick Overy.

Grand Challenges Cornwall
An exciting project will explore Cornish culture and identity from 11-20 June.It is open to undergraduate and masters’ students from any discipline who want to research Cornwall’s rich heritage and environment. You will be working with the artist Neil Canning and leading academics to explore this topic in creative ways. The programme is flexible and can be combined with other activities you might be undertaking during this period including the sustainable social enterprise project, Shelterbox or Bioblitz. More info online or email Roos Zandstra or Liz Dunne. This programme is being run from the Cornwall Campus – Exeter based students would need to find accommodation.

NSS 2012
A big thank you to all final year students who completed the National Student Survey. The final results are released by Ipsos Mori in the summer and will be carefully analysed to continue to improve the student experience. The winners of the five Amazon Kindles are: Nick Preston, William Tarrant and Oliver Whittle (College of Humanities), Guy Tomlinson (College of Life and Environmental Sciences), and Zhiqi Cai (Business School).

Café changes
Investment in catering and retail facilities on the Streatham campus in recent years has resulted in an exciting and diverse range of places to eat, drink and socialise. As a result of these changes, the University has made the decision to cease running three outlets which are amongst the oldest. At the end of the summer term Amory’s, Harry’s and Queens will officially close. The spaces which the cafes currently occupy will be retained as key social learning space for students and academic staff.

Green gains
Kay House, the University’s state-of-the-art music facility located at Duryard, won one of the first ever Greenbuild awards, which celebrate excellence in sustainable buildings. Also, the Business School is claiming a first in the sector with its decision to become completely carbon neutral.

Sports Park Summer offer
Platinum membership costs £24 per month from now until 9 Sept, with no annual contract or joining fee. Outdoor pool included for first time this year. Info: 01392 724452 or online.

Blackwell’s books
Although the bookshop has closed, Blackwell’s are still here providing students and staff with a service desk in the Forum Market Place for orders, collections and enquiries manned by full-time expert staff. There will be temporary bookshops at the start of terms, and a new website supplies key titles within a 4 hour delivery period to the collection point.

Consider your neighbours
Many students who are completing exams will soon be planning some well deserved celebrations - but incidents of excessive noise and anti-social behaviour, particularly late at night, can cause serious disturbance to other residents. The University greatly values its reputation in the local community and can exercise a variety of disciplinary measures if disturbances on and off campus are brought to our attention. See pages 14-15 of the My Exeter Community Guide 2011/12.

End of year refuse
Students living off campus with lots of rubbish should look out for the special green ‘Students On The Move’ envelopes that will be delivered at the start of June. They contain special refuse stickers that will help identify your extra waste for a series of extra collections. This service is just for grey waste - not glass. To find the nearest bottle bank is, see page 8-9 of the My Exeter Community Guide and don’t forget that most major supermarkets have glass recycling facilities. Contact streetwise@exeter.ac.uk if you have any queries.

Email upgrade
The Exchange email system is being upgraded over the next two months – you will be contacted to advise when being upgraded. More info on the Academic Services website.

Parents needed
The Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry is carrying out a study looking at the development and wellbeing of 2-4-year-olds and need parents to complete a confidential assessment for approx 40 minutes; online or with a researcher. Feedback will be given. See website, contact Katie Reeves or 01392 726012.

Mobile men
Dr Fiona Mathews and Prof Tamara Galloway's group in Biosciences are currently recruiting men for a randomised control study investigating the effect carrying a mobile phone in a pocket has on sperm. Confidentiality guaranteed. Contact by email.

First year survey
First year undergraduates are wanted to take part in a national survey on student mental health. It takes 20 minutes to complete and you will get the chance to win a a £50 book voucher. Visit the survey for more details.

Thurs 24 May
Symposium: Early life origins of adult disease - New approaches and new challenges
12th Annual Plymouth Diabesity Symposium on Obesity, Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome
Location: Postgraduate Medicine Centre, Plymouth

Thurs 24 – Sat 26 May
Conference: New Trends in Political Representation in the EU
Funded by the EU Jean Monnet Programme. Organised by Sandra Kroeger and Dario Castiglione.
Contact: Fiona Raffael

Thurs 24 May, 6pm
Recent alumni social
Location: Ram bar, Devonshire House, Streatham Campus

Thurs 24 May, 7.30pm
The TV Detective
Crime Writer and BBC Crime Correspondent Simon Hall talks about his work as reporter and author including his book The Balance of Guilt.
Refreshments provided. Open to all. Please register your interest with Jo Cole.
Location: Xfi
Contact: Jo Cole

Fri 25 May, 5pm
2012 Lasok Lecture at the Centre for European Legal Studies, School of Law
Balancing Fundamental Rights in European Law
Professor Allan Rosas, Judge at the Court of Justice of the European Union
Location: Xfi Lecture Theatre, Streatham Campus

Tues 29 May, 3-5pm
Credit in Science: An Interdisciplinary Workshop
Organised by Egenis, The IPBio Network Science, Culture and The Law at Exeter (SCuLE) & University of Exeter Business School
Speaker: Professor Graham Dutfield, University of Leeds
Venue: Byrne House, Streatham campus
Places are limited so book in advance

Tues 29 May, 5pm
University – school based partnerships; networking to increase social capital
Dr Elaine Wilson (Cambridge University)
Location: Baring Court, BC114, St Luke’s Campus

Tues 29 May, 5pm
Public lecture: Hardy and Devon
Dr Angelique Richardson (Exeter)
Location: Lecture Theatre 1, Queen’s Building, Streatham Campus
Advance booking essential on 01392 725879 or artsandculture@exeter.ac.uk

Weds 30 May, 11am-2pm
Dr Bike
Free bike tune up session
Location: next to Cross Keys, St Luke’s Campus

Thurs 31 May, 11am-2pm
Sustainability event
Interactive fun and games with an Energy Bike and Eco Suitcase, free-to-enter prize draw, and Dr Bike session. See Sustainability website.
Location: Northern Piazza (next to the Forum main entrance), Streatham Campus

Fri 1 June, 11am-midnight
Chance to Dance
12 hour dance marathon
Tickets £2
Info: by email
Location: Lemon Grove, Cornwall House, Streatham Campus

Sat 2 - Sun 3 June
Exeter Respect Festival
Free celebration of diversity with music, dance, crafts, food, drama and Radio 1's Nihal.
To volunteer contact Tim on goonasac@blueyonder.co.uk
Location: Belmont Park, Exeter

Tues 9 June, 1pm
Musical Creativities in Practice
Dr Pamela Burnard (Cambridge University)
Location: BC114, St Luke’s Campus

Tues 12 June, 5-6pm
Inaugural lecture: That was Now, This is Then: Living in the Past in Shakespeare's England.
Professor Philip Schwyzer, Department of English,
Further information: humanities-deans-office@exeter.ac.uk
Location: Queen’s Building, Lecture Theatre 2, Streatham.

Weds 13 June, 7.30pm
Religion and Welfare in Modern Europe: Making the Connections
Professor Grace Davie, Sociology and Philosophy
Location: St Michael's Church, Dinham Road, Mount Dinham, Exeter, EX4 4EB. Free.
Info: David Beadle

Fri 22 June, 9am – 12.30pm
Open Exeter: Discuss Debate Disseminate
Discuss issues around the management of research materials and data and network with other researchers: PhD students and early career researchers from all disciplines welcome.
Confirm attendance via email to Hannah Lloyd-Jones or on Event page.
Location: Upper Lounge, Reed Hall, Streatham Campus.

Exeter Northcott theatre events

Wed 23 May
Made in Heaven

Sun 27 May
Peggy Seeger

Thurs 31 May – Sat 2 June
Shakespeare: No copyright
Programme A, presented by University of Exeter Drama Department

Thurs 7 – Sat 9 June
Shakespeare: No copyright
Programme B, presented by University of Exeter Drama Department