Welcome to the October Edition of the Alumni Community Update.

This month includes another archive find, public lecture events, graduate success stories and much more!

The University of Chester is celebrating three shortlisted places in the UK’s most prestigious higher education awards.

Recognising excellence across the sector, the Times Higher Education awards are known as the ‘Oscars’ of higher education. The University has been shortlisted in the categories of Knowledge Exchange/Transfer Initiative of the Year; Most Innovative Teacher of the Year and Technological or Digital Innovation of the Year. 

The award for Knowledge Exchange/Transfer Initiative of the Year recognises the most innovative and original initiative in knowledge exchange or transfer. The University has been shortlisted for its Chester Festival of Ideas – a programme of free, inclusive and accessible public events held over a long weekend in July.

Working with local partners, the University has established a model that encourages and facilitates university staff to engage the public and communities in their work, while also supporting the public and communities to hold their own events as part of the Festival. In 2024 the Festival welcomed more than 2,500 attendances at nearly 90 events. In 2025 the Festival included more than 90 events and increased its engagement from University staff and local schools compared to last year.

Read more here.

•    Thursday 30 October 2025 
•    6pm-7.15pm
•    Chester School of Education, Exton Park

Michelle Charters OBE is Head of International Slavery Museum, part of National Museums Liverpool (NML).

Michelle is leading the museum through a £80m redevelopment project (which also includes the Maritime Museum), that aims to make the venue a global leader in understanding and exploring the impact and legacies of historic and modern slavery.

Prior to taking up her post in January 2024, Michelle was a key supporter of NML since 1994, becoming a trustee from 2018 until 2024. Her past roles include Chief Executive Officer of Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre; founding Chair of Merseyside Black History Month Group (2003 -2009); the first Black female Trustee of Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Theatres, and a Common Purpose Matrix Graduate.

Michelle was active in the charity sector for 40 years and is passionate about the promotion of diversity and equality for all. She has consistently worked tirelessly to build bridges between sectors and communities and has local, regional, national and international influence.

Michelle received her OBE recognition for longstanding work with communities in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours.

A University of Chester Fashion Design graduate is starring in the eagerly-anticipated second series of M&S: Dress The Nation on ITV and ITVX.

Alexandra Novacki has been selected to showcase her design skills as a contestant on the acclaimed primetime programme - the first of five hour-long episodes aired on Sunday 14 September.

Following the success of the first series, which attracted more than eight million viewers, the show has made a return with hosts AJ Odudu and Vernon Kay.

Alex is one of nine candidates taking on a range of challenges designed to test their design, problem-solving, commercial, and collaboration skills.
Documenting M&S’ search for the very best emerging fashion designer, the winner will receive exclusive mentorship from M&S, working alongside top industry professionals across Design, Buying, Merchandising, and Marketing. Their winning design will also be sold in selected M&S stores and online for the AW25 season.

Read more here.

Image credit: 'M&S: Dress The Nation - ITV/ITVX'

We’ve been busy cataloguing and protecting some university clothing in our archive. 

This University blazer is in really good condition considering that it’s 75 years old. We think R.C. and H.C. stood for Rugby Club and Hockey Club unless any of our readers know otherwise?

Other sportswear we’ve acquired is this basketball vest that was used by the University’s basketball team in the 2010s.

•    Wednesday 15 October 2025
•    2pm-4pm
•    Chester School of Education, Exton Park

Join Professor Greg Irving (MA MSc MPH PhD PFPH FRCGP FAcadMED), on Wednesday 15 October. As the 2025 NHS Long Term Plan charts a bold course - from hospitals to communities, reactive to preventative care, and analogue to digital - another critical transformation is underway: what some have described as the "fourth shift" - embedding research into everyday clinical practice.

In this lecture, we’ll explore how General Practice is not just central to delivering care, but to generating the evidence that underpins system-wide change. With over a million consultations each day and deep roots in local communities, primary care is ideally placed to bridge the gap between policy and patient impact.

We'll cover:

• Why research-active GP practices deliver better care
• How new infrastructure (e.g. PRIDES and PC-CRDCs) is making research more feasible than ever
• Real-world examples of high-impact studies and practices leading the way

Whether you're already involved or just curious, this session will provide practical insights, inspiration, and pathways to participate in this growing movement.

Book here.

We are pleased to share that this year the Emma Galton Award has been awarded to Evie Choi-Peng to support with her experiential trip to Costa Rica. The award is named after and in-memory of alumnus, Emma Galton a former language student who read Spanish at University of Chester, graduating in 2017. Sadly, just a year later, Emma was involved in an accident and lost her life. To honour her memory, Emma’s family in partnership with the Bible Study Fellowship, made a donated to the University, to create the Emma Galton Award. 
 
Each year, a language student is selected with the intention to enhance their learning and understanding of the cultural history of their placement country.

Evie shared: “Without the Emma Galton Award, I wouldn’t have been able to participate in so many amazing activities which made my month in Costa Rica a once in a lifetime experience.”

Receiving a scholarship or award can change a student's life. Scholarships have long been part of the institution's mission, and we have been offering opportunities through education throughout our history. If you would like to make a donation that could help to fund a scholarship or award at the University, please get in touch at giving@chester.ac.uk.

• Saturday 18 October 2025
• 10am-4pm
• Wheeler, Chester

Are you interested in learning about the Masters in Mental Health Nursing or Adult Nursing courses at the University of Chester?

The MSc Pre-registration Nursing allows you to gain a professional nurse qualification and register with the NMC. The course provides you with the skills and knowledge to provide person-centred compassionate care and is an exciting opportunity for graduates to undertake a professional qualification as an Adult Nurse whilst studying for a Master’s degree. 

This is a dynamic, interactive professional course which places the needs of individuals and their families at its centre. The Programme Team are committed to supporting students to realise their potential to become compassionate, competent and autonomous nurses, who are able to meet current and future healthcare demands. 

The course is delivered by experienced registered nurses who have expertise in both teaching and research and a variety of clinical specialities, including all four fields of nursing across acute and community settings. The team work closely with local acute and community providers to ensure that the course remains contemporary.

Book your place to find out more.

Contemporary Art Space Chester (CASC) has a pop-up gallery space in the Grosvenor Shopping Centre, and we’re inviting expressions of interest from alumni who would like to:

• Use a studio or co-working space (rent-free)
• Contribute to utility costs (shared, low-cost arrangement)
• Support the gallery by invigilating during exhibitions (maximum one day per week during exhibitions)

This is a fantastic chance to work in a creative environment, connect with other artists, and be part of CASC’s public-facing programme. (Important note: The space operates under a meanwhile lease, which means the shopping centre could give us 30 days’ notice to vacate.)

If you’re interested, please email: cascgallery@chester.ac.uk with:

• Your name and contact details
• A short statement about your practice and how you’d like to use the space

Deadline for expressions of interest: Monday 29 September 2025

Thank you for being part of our creative community - we’d love to see you involved in this exciting project!

Each month the University shares a wide range of news updates which you can follow on the website’s ‘News Page’. 

This month includes, a leading UK law firm awarding a prize to an outstanding Chester student, another student creating a superb new mural at Chester Racecourse and a significant research project to ensure marginalised communities can have their say in shaping major environmental decisions, has taken a major step forward.

Head over to the website now to read more.

It is really important for your physical and mental health to build some relaxation time into your busy schedule. This could be a time where you engage in some of your hobbies, socialise with friends or simply chill out with a good film or book. Making time to do something you enjoy helps you to look after your Mental Wellbeing.

Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO)

T: +44 (0)1244 512477
E: alumni@chester.ac.uk
W: www.chester.ac.uk/alumni

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