An academic from Birmingham City University has been working with PhD students at the University of Rwanda (UR) to help them advance academic research in the East African country and the wider region.

Senior Lecturer Dr Peter Samuels previously volunteered at UR in 2016 and 2017 before returning in December last year to teach a group of doctoral researchers on a trip made possible with an International Credit Mobility from Erasmus+.

Dr Samuels is based in Birmingham City University’s Centre for Academic Success, which equips students with the skills they need to make the best of every opportunity during their studies.

The Centre offers advice on study skills, helps students improve their academic writing and bolsters competencies in maths and statistics in both one-to-one tutorials or group workshops. It was using this model that Dr Samuels was able to assist these African PhD students towards their own academic goals.

In 2016, the World Bank Board approved the award of 24, competitively-selected, African Centres of Excellence (ACEs) for eight countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, with four being based at the University of Rwanda.

During his recent visit, Dr Samuels spent time teaching 26 students at one such Centre – the African Center of Excellence for Data Science (ACE-DS) – based in the College of Business and Economics in the country’s capital Kigali and in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU).

The Center is aiming to produce 40 academically qualified PhD students from across Eastern and Southern Africa within the next five years. Dr Samuels supported the first cohort with contextualised teaching that is assisting them in formulating project proposals and writing in an academic style, using an objective, evidence-based and formal voice.

Dr Peter Samuels, Senior Lecturer, Birmingham City University, said: “By encouraging scholars in ACE-DS to think differently, it allows them to be more engaging and understand how their research can not only change their lives, but have a positive impact on their country, continent and the wider world. In more established education systems, this is perhaps something that is taken for granted, but in Rwanda a lot of what I was teaching the students had never been shared with them before and it was humbling to see a methodology used back in the UK making an immediate impression on the way they took ownership of their ideas and studies going forward.

“As well as helping them prepare for postgraduate study, we also spent time exploring how one goes about writing for publication and how to maintain a good relationship with their supervisor, which are all important milestones in the development of an outward, globally-conscious academic.”

In the growing and interdisciplinary area of data science, ACE-DS will combine expertise from statistics, economics, business, computer science and engineering to use big data and data analytics to solve some of the 21st century’s biggest challenges across the continent.

It aims to serve an important role of helping the region to satisfy the aims of the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA) 2024 by collecting, sharing and analysing data. It will also provide expertise to measure and monitor the United Nation’s new Sustainable Development Goals and the African aspirations for 2063.

Reflecting on Dr Samuels’ course, one student commented: “Before attending the course, I knew little about academic writing, especially for journal papers. Throughout the course I learnt a lot in terms of critical thinking and analysis, paragraph writing through structured arguments and how to use different argument styles. In addition, I learnt how to use evidence properly in academic writing.

“Furthermore, I practiced a lot all the tips and guidance from the course to improve my PhD research proposal and I have seen a big improvement and difference in my academic writing before and after the course. You could say that I am a completely different person in terms of academic writing.”

Dr Samuels’ third trip to the University of Rwanda took place in December 2017. He also visited the African Centre of Excellence for Innovative Teaching and Learning Mathematics and Science (ACEITLMS) at the institution’s Rukara Campus in the east of the country, and plans to work more with this Centre on future visits.

Incidentally, the Vice-Chancellor of UR is Birmingham-born Professor Phil Cotton, a former GP and Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners. As well as his role at UR, Professor Cotton is a Methodist Preacher, founding chair of a Scottish fair trade organisation and Board member of several development charities working in Africa.

Last year, Professor Cotton was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to education in Rwanda.

Work has this week started on landscaping the open areas of Bilston Urban Village. The City of Wolverhampton Council project ties in with the Garden City concept commissioned by the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Up to 450 homes will be built by private developers on the former brownfield land, which will be connected by around 14 hectares of land designated for public open space and a nature conservation.

idverde, who boast award-winning landscaping works such as Media City in Salford, and award-winning maintenance of prominent sites such as Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in their portfolio, are carrying out the open space landscaping works, which are expected to be completed this summer.

The aim is to improve biodiversity and recreation, with works to include developing a network of paths for walking and cycling, clearing overgrown trees and shrubs, and providing fencing to properly define and protect areas.

Work will also be undertaken to significantly improve the nature conservation value of the sites. This will involve a range of activity such as woodland management, development of ground flora, meadow creation, tree planting, hedge planting, development of the attenuation pond, possible creation of a community orchard, provision of bird and bat boxes, and actions to increase biodiversity along the edges of the canal.

All this will lead to a significant enhancement of the open spaces within Bilston Urban Village, and it is proposed, on completion of the works, to declare the open space sites a Local Nature Reserve (LNR).

Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “This is a major milestone for Bilston Urban Village.

“People are already moving into the first of up to 450 new homes being developed.

“The open space strategy will see idverde deliver a green environment for the community to enjoy and thrive in as it becomes established.”

Phil Topping, Operation Director for idverde, added: “We are delighted to have been awarded the landscape improvement contract located within the Bilston Urban Village development area.

“We look forward to working closely with the wider project team in ensuring the successful delivery of this important recreational area, and improving access arrangements with the provision of new footpaths, planting, fencing, creation of meadow areas and lighting.

“Very importantly, we are privileged in being able to assist with the development and improvement of the nature conservation elements of the scheme.”

The council has secured a £681,000 boost from the European Regional Development Fund for the Bilston Urban Village Open Space Development Strategy.

The remainder of the £1.5 million needed for the landscaping scheme will be funded from £156,000 Section 106 private sector money already secured from developers, and council investment.

A Steering Group for the Bilston Urban Village Open Space Development Strategy is in place, consisting of City of Wolverhampton Council, Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, Canal & River Trust, University of Wolverhampton, local residents, the Land Trust, and Ormiston South Wolverhampton and Bilston Academy.

Durham City has another accolade to add to its collection, after being shortlisted as one of the ten most romantic UK city break destinations by TripAdvisor-owned site HolidayLettings.co.uk.

According to research generated by the online holiday lettings company, Durham received the second highest percentage of reviews mentioning 'romance', and the vote is now open for the public to choose their winner.

Michelle Gorman, managing director at Visit County Durham, said: “We are thrilled that this shortlist is shining a light on Durham as a romantic city. With our award-winning eateries, luxury accommodation, breath-taking scenery and world-class spas, Durham is a year-round destination for romance and winning this award would be an incredible way to showcase Durham as a romantic getaway destination”.

Spokesperson for Holiday Lettings Laurel Greatrix added: “Durham's vibrant history, stunning architecture, and proximity to the Durham Dales, makes for a perfect romantic getaway travellers will enjoy”.

Voting is open until Tuesday February 13, with the winner being revealed on Valentine's Day.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) are calling on residents in the West Midlands to take part in a World Record attempt and help fund life saving research, by visiting their local BHF shop.

Heart shaped messages have been filling BHF shop windows in the run up to Valentine’s Day for over a decade, but this year the public also have the chance to have their personal messages displayed in a record-breaking chain of paper hearts.

For Valentine’s Day, the BHF are attempting to break the world record for the longest chain of paper hearts, which currently stands at 8525. With the help and support of people in the West Midlands, the charity is hoping to break this record as a mark of solidarity for the 7 million people in the UK fighting a daily battle with heart and circulatory disease, which includes 655,800 people in the West Midlands.

To get involved and become a record-breaker, pop down to one of the 42 BHF shops across the region, make a donation towards life saving heart research and write a message on a World Record heart to be included in the impressive final chain.

What you write on the hearts could be anything from a thank you or dedication in memory of someone, to a message for a loved one, best friend, family member, work bestie or even your pet.

The World Record hearts will be sold in BHF shops across the country in the run-up to Valentine’s Day and will be sent to London to be included in the World Record attempt, where they will be strung together to create the giant chain.

Allison Swaine-Hughes, Retail Operations Director at the BHF, said:

“Heart and circulatory disease is one of the UK’s biggest killers and bringing messages of love, support and hope together from people all across the country, shows we are all standing united against these devastating conditions.

“BHF research has helped halve death rates from heart and circulatory disease over the past 50 years but there is still a long way to go. Through the public’s generosity the BHF will fund half a billion pounds of new research by 2020.

“So visit your local BHF shop today, make a donation and write a message to take part in the World Record. You’ll be sharing the love and saving lives in the process.”

A Surrey woman will be busking in 15 cities across the UK, in three days, in a bid to raise vital funds for Alzheimer’s Society.

Kitty Pandya hopes to raise more than £500 for the charity, during the first weekend of March this year. She will start her journey from Winchester, to Southampton, through the West Midlands and finishing in London.

The 23-year-old said: “I decided to take part in this challenge for Alzheimer’s Society because of both my personal experience and the challenges dementia causes to society and people living with dementia.  My nana was diagnosed with dementia around three and a half years ago, and it was only then that I began to understand exactly what the disease entails.

“I’m one person out of millions affected by Alzheimer’s disease – directly or indirectly – and my hope with this challenge is that I can do a little to help fund both the vital research conducted and support offered by Alzheimer’s Society.

“It’s great to think that I will be raising funds to help support people to live well with dementia and to fund research to one day find a cure for dementia.”

Alzheimer's Society community fundraiser for Coventry, Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent, Lisa Courtney welcomed Kitty’s decision to boost the charity.  She said: “It’s great that Kitty is giving her time to support Alzheimer’s Society. Dementia can happen to anyone and there is currently no cure. But with the right support, people can live well with dementia.​

“As a charity, we rely on the generosity of individuals like Kitty to help us continue our vital work so that Alzheimer's Society can continue leading the fight against dementia.”

A rise in `car key burglaries’ – where your home is broken into specifically to take your car key and steal your vehicle – has led independent charity Crimestoppers to launch a campaign warning the public to keep your car keys safe.

The criminals involved target high-powered, high-value vehicles and can often `cruise’ around an area in the hunt for opportunities.

Latest police crime data shows the biggest rise in car thefts across the West Midlands were in Solihull, although the area still has the lowest rate of car crime in the region. In August last year, a car that was stolen in a car key burglary later smashed into another parked car in Allsey in Coventry and the driver fled the scene.

Nationally, in the twelve months to June 2017, over 100,000 vehicle thefts were recorded by police in England and Wales which is a rise of around a fifth.

Pauline Hadley, West Midlands Regional Manager at the Crimestoppers charity, said: “Thieves are finding new ways to overcome impressive security measures being introduced by manufacturers. This is why in recent years they are resorting to new technics beyond the conventional when stealing cars – hence `car key burglaries’.

“The best way to protect your vehicle, especially if it’s high-value and therefore more at risk, is to keep your car keys somewhere safe and out of sight. It’s also recommended to use extra security systems such as immobilisers and visible security locks.

“We are a charity that gives people the power to speak up to stop crime. We won’t ask your name and we won’t judge. We’ll just listen to what you know. Please speak up and stay safe.”

If you have any information, please contact Crimestoppers charity 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through the non-traceable Anonymous Online Form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. We urge anyone who has information to come forward and speak to us 100% anonymously.