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Three students from the University of Huddersfield are bursting with pride after the Oscar winning film they worked on has taken the world by storm.
The King’s Speech, which stars Colin Firth and Helena Bonham-Carter, won ‘Best Film’ at the 2011 Academy Awards and swept the board at the BAFTAs.
Catherine Hibbert, Kara Bayer and Rosie Lorenz (pictured), who are all Costume with Textile students at the University were lucky enough to get the chance to work behind the scenes of the award winning film, when filming took place at in Leeds.
“We worked on the set for five days in the week leading up to Christmas in 2009” said Catherine.
“Our lecturer Steve Harrington-Simpson brought the opportunity to the class’s attention and we were lucky enough to get chosen to do it.”
The girls worked on a key scene in the film shot at Leeds United football stadium in Yorkshire, where Firth as King George VI, addresses a 1,500 strong crowd at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924. However, of the 1,500 bodies in the crowd, only 300 were human extras, the rest were inflatable dummies.
“The dummies were just an inflatable torso and we had to put a face mask on them all and then dress them in period clothes which had been shipped over from America,” said Catherine.
“On the days they were filming we had to be on set at 5am, it was really cold and snowy. We had to make sure all the dummies were dressed and arranged properly and that all the male ones had trilby hats on.
“We were sat right behind the cameras while Colin Firth and Helena Bonham-Carter were filming, it was an amazing experience, even though we were working up to and over 12 hours a day in the freezing cold, I loved it.”
Supplied by a Yorkshire based firm, the dummies are used to provide film makers with the ability to film large 3D crowd scenes on a budget. Extremely lifelike the dummies are positioned next to real people, who move and cheer to create an optical illusion that the whole crowd is responding to the action in front of them.
Firecrackers, lion dancing and some fine cuisine sampling kicked off Chinese New Year celebrations at the University in February.
Organised by the University’s Chinese Society, the event marked the year of the rabbit and brought a flavour of the Far East to Huddersfield.
Among the celebrations were a Chinese cultural exhibition, lion dancing, fireworks, a traditional dinner and a talent show. Hundreds of students and staff joined in the festivities which were also attended by the Chinese Consul.
The University has over 400 Chinese students - among them is the President of the Chinese Society and Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) in Huddersfield Jian Wang, who said: "This is a hard-working year for all the members in the two societies. Thanks to the help from the University’s International Office who gave a big support and encourage to us, we are able to produce a big attraction to all the students in the University.
“For the first time, the two societies work together with the common goal that is to set up the first Chinese gala in the campus, not only for Chinese, but also for all the international students and staff.”
"We are very pleased and feel lucky to work and study in the University of Huddersfield. This success cannot exist without of the firm and comfortable communication and cooperation with the University staff. In recent years, the population of the Chinese students in the University has developed with a fast growth.
“Many students have known the attention to the Chinese group from the University has spread widely. Tukun, the 2006 president of the CSSA Huddersfield said, “We believe more and more students from China will want to join our big family in Huddersfield - a very warm international University.”
The event was sponsored by both the University of Huddersfield and local engineering company Cummins Turbo Technologies. Li Hengshuo, Chair of the Chinese Affinity Group comments, "Cummins Turbo Technologies was proud to co-sponsor the Chinese New Year celebrations at the University of Huddersfield. Cummins is a multicultural company employing more than 35,000 people worldwide and serving customers in more than 190 countries and territories. We work daily with colleagues and customers in China and wish everyone joy and good fortune in the year of the Rabbit wherever they are celebrating.”
The University of Huddersfield celebrated the success of its graduates in Hong Kong during January.
Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield, Professor Tim Thornton was joined by Huddersfield colleagues at the annual graduation ceremony. Over 150 graduates in Logistics, Business, Art and Design received their awards who have studied University of Huddersfield courses at Caritas Bianchi College of Careers and at Caritas Francis Hsu College in Hong Kong.
Huddersfield has always been a popular destination for Hong Kong students. Indeed it was just over thirteen years ago that the first students from Hong Kong arrived in Huddersfield, mostly to study degrees in Transport and Logistics Management. All were higher diploma holders from Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HKPU).
As well as visitors from HKPU, many students have also come to Huddersfield from the Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) and Caritas Francis Hsu College. Overall over 1,100 Hong Kong students have obtained Huddersfield degrees in the past 10 years.
Among this years graduates was Fung Ngai Hang (pictured top with University of Huddersfield Professor Tim Thornton) who successfully gained a first in the BSc(Hons) Logistics degree.
Associate Dean, Professor Colin Bamford said, “The University’s presence in Hong Kong is now well established and our graduates are truly making their mark through their work in freight forwarding, logistics and business management. Our most recent graduates are in Hospitality Management, Business and Design. My colleagues and I are very proud of them and what they have achieved.”
As Huddersfield graduates, a discount on tuition fees is available to any Hong Kong student who wishes to study a master’s degree with the University.
Two students from the University of Huddersfield have been successful in securing themselves an amazing opportunity to experience a brief but diverse introduction to China on a government funded programme. As one of the world’s oldest civilisations, China is steeped in history and rich in culture.
Competition for the 400 places on the Study China Programme was tough, with over 2,000 students across the UK applying. Of the two students who applied from the University of Huddersfield - Mofozzul Choudhury and Faheema Bibi Mulla - both scored highly enough with their applications to secure a place on the trip.
Founded in 2007 the Study China Programme is a government funded initiative which encourages UK students to study abroad, developing skills and awareness to live and work in the global community. Due to government cuts this year’s trip may well be the last one, which is something which encouraged Faheema to apply.
“I am a final year student, but I had heard about the Study China Programme in my first year, it really interested me and I wanted to go, but because I had taken a year out already I decided not to apply. When I heard that this might be the last ever trip, I had to apply and I can’t believe I got accepted, I’m so excited,” said Faheema, 21 from Dewsbury.
Taking place over three weeks in April the students will receive over 40 hours of Chinese language classes while out in China, in an attempt to help strengthen their relationship and understanding of the country.
Alongside their language classes they will also be immersed in Chinese culture by means of a number of exciting and interesting activities which include Tai Chi, calligraphy, kite making, attending an archaeological dig and numerous excursions.
At the end of the three weeks there will be a closing ceremony which all applicants have been offered the chance to speak at. Very passionate about the opportunity to go and experience what China has to offer, Mofozzul is keen to be selected to present.
“I have already drafted my speech and really hope I get selected to speak,” he said. “I cannot wait to go and experience three weeks in China, I can’t even begin to imagine how much I will learn and be able to bring back.”
The University of Huddersfield was pleased to hear that the Institute of Hotel Management – Taj Hotels was awarded ‘Best Learning and Development Centre’ at the 4th Golden Star Awards 2011 during a ceremony in Mumbai.
The University has had a long-standing relationship over the past 15 years with the Institute of Hotel Management in Aurangabad, India. The college has two ‘designed and delivered’ undergraduate courses which are validated by the University. The first of these is a BA(Hons) Hotel Management and from 2006, a BA(Hons) Culinary Arts. At present, the college has over 800 students on its campus which is adjacent to the 5-star Taj Residency hotel where students obtain all forms of work experience under professional Taj managers.
This programme is unique in India as it is the only one of its kind that has been recognised by the All India Council for Technical Education, an official governmental body. Its development owes much to the work of the Principal, Satish Jayaram, a Huddersfield first class degree graduate, and to Rita Carmouche, Head of Hospitality and Events Management at Huddersfield. More recently Professor Colin Bamford and Dr Derek Cameron from the University of Huddersfield have been involved.
The awards aim at understanding the ambition and aspiration levels that differentiate one hospitality organisation from another and their relentless effort in pursuit of excellence by being at the vanguard to cater to the expectations of customers. The awards are a benchmark to motivate individuals and organisations to excel in their profession thereby signifying progress and saluting the professionals who have made a difference to their organisations.
The University welcomed Bill Chalmers from the Bahraini Petroleum Company (BAPCO) to Huddersfield in February.
BAPCO and the University of Huddersfield have a strong relationship which results in a good number of Bahraini students arriving to Huddersfield each year. Students from the petroleum company study one of the University’s top-up courses for one year and then return to the company in Bahrain to continue their work.
(Pictured with BAPCO students from left to right are; John Baron (Subject Leader in the University’s Engineering department, Khalil Aryan, Hussain Saeed, Sayed Saleh Sharaf, Habib Ramadhan, Bill Chalmers (BAPCO) and Professor David Taylor (Dean of International Development at the University).
Bill, who is the Senior Career Development Specialist for BAPCO, met with his students at the University, together with staff members from the Engineering department and from the International Office. It was also an opportunity for him to see the heavy investment that the University has put into the campus.
“I was delighted to see the significant investment in new facilities - very much state of the art and comparable with other top universities in the country - the University is catering for a diverse range of students in a warm, friendly environment - I'm very happy to expose our international students to the Huddersfield experience - they stand to gain from an excellent academic centre set in an attractive part of the country. The friendliness of staff and the local people are an added bonus,” said Bill.
Earlier this year Elena Nikoulina from the International Office with engineering academic John Baron and business academic Andy Stanley from the University visited Bahrain and met with Huddersfield alumni who have returned to the Middle East.
The University has welcomed even more students this year from EU and international countries. Open days are scheduled throughout 2011 and are only open to students already residing in the UK.
However, if you reside outside of the UK, we can arrange for you to visit the University by contacting the International Office.
The next scheduled Open days will be:
The International Office is continuing its schedule of overseas visits during the next few months.
For a full listing of forthcoming international visits please see the International Office Visiting your country page.
Graduates - please take some time to visit our Alumni Society web pages for ways of keeping up-to-date with the University of Huddersfield.
John Ramsdin
William Marshall
Gemma Robinson
Editor: Alan Tobi
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