Following on from the staff briefings you should all have received the following information:

• a copy of the presentation
• a set of notes outlining the main points from the briefing
• a set of questions (with answers) that were raised

Again, please do send in your comments, questions and feedback either through the generic email – generic email address – the virtual suggestion box – Virtual suggestion box – or why not email me direct at paul.bandeen@ncl.ac.uk

As the different working groups start to be set up, I’ll make sure that all information and updates are sent out or posted on the intranet for you.

Finally, because of the extreme and adverse weather conditions please be careful on your way to and from work.  I’ll be reviewing the situation and will advise managers about closing times accordingly

By now, most of you will have attended a staff briefing session outlining the forward vision and plan for our service.  I expect since then you have taken time to reflect upon the main points raised and will be starting to think of questions to ask and, quite naturally, have concerns too.

I think that more than ever before we all have a great opportunity to shape not just what our accommodation looks like but also what it means for those living in it.  This is why I want your feedback warts and all – tell me what you really think as the only way to move forward is to address everybody’s point of view.

Let me sum up the main points as I see them:

• Now, more than ever, students have a huge choice of accommodation to live in and as consumers they will go wherever meets their needs best
• As a University investment will continue in our accommodation and in house services but they must meet the needs and expectations of those looking for accommodation
• Working together we can provide the best accommodation and experience and give people a good reason to live with us

As staff you already offer a welcoming, positive and supportive environment for students, lets build on this to make sure that when future generations ask themselves where should I  live in Newcastle there is only one answer – WITH US

Many of you are taking advantage of the virtual suggestion box and posting a range of questions and/or ideas.  Thanks to all of you and it’s encouraging that the suggestion box is being made use of.

A lot of your questions relate to Park View and how it will operate when open from this September.  I do think that it’s important to see Park View in overall terms and how it fits in with the wider plans for our service which is why it is difficult to go into specific detail.

As you know, the senior management team have been working on the Accommodation Services’ Strategic Plan, which I am please to report was endorsed by University Council at their meeting in December 2017.

The plan sets out how the service will move forward over the course of the next five years and meet the challenges presented by an ever changing student housing market and higher education sector.

The staff briefings in February will be your opportunity to hear first hand what the vision for Accommodation Services is and what it means in terms of investment, service provision and future development of the accommodation stock.  That’s why I think its better for me to go through this with you all rather than try to answer very detailed questions about Park View without showing the ‘bigger picture’ as it were.

As always please let me know if there is anything else you’d like covered in the briefings

Paul

Well that’s me done and dusted in Malaysia.  This week, the local team here met with four different accommodation providers as well as visiting a number of sites that were either complete , nearing completion or partially constructed.

We’ve also updated operating procedures and looked at how best to ‘tie’ our services together – been busy but a lot achieved !

Next step is to decide which would be best for our students out here, do the negotiations and fingers crossed welcome the new intake in September 2018 !  Easier said than done I think as doing any sort of business over here can be at best lengthy and protracted, at worst like banging your head against a brick wall !!

As a final hurrah, last night I went to a restaurant specialising in Nyonya cooking – Baba-Nyonya is the termed used to describe the Chinese immigrants who first settled in what is now Malaysia and Indonesia.  Baba is man and Nyonya woman.  Given the large are the immigrants first lived in, it is little wonder that the food is so varied ! Not only have my taste buds been tingled, my chopstick skills are now second to none – by the end of last night I was picking up peanuts and rice with out any bother at all !!

For those of you concerned about my poor sleeping patterns I never did make it through the night so my fav films, in no particular order and after much debate are:  Brief Encounter, The Magnificent Seven (original), Get Carter, Field of Dreams, Toy Story, Breaker Morant, Sicario, The Third Man, Key Largo and Adams Rib

Finally, from reading the papers I understand that the Greggs Christmas advert is causing a bit of a stir.  From my point of view, and please don’t take this the wrong way, as much as I love stir fries, noodles, curry and rice the thought of the North Star guiding me towards a freshly baked sausage roll truly is the message of Christmas

Morning all !  For those of you with a delicate disposition I apologise in advance for pictures of me chomping on my noodles !  Someone once said that to know a country you must eat it, so with that in mind I set off for a traditional Chinese breakfast of Mee Siam which is chilli noodles Thai style.

Noodles that are extremely hot would be a better description, add this to the weather (86 degrees) probably not the wisest choice !! Malaysia has a multi-cultural population of Malay, Chinese and Indian so the food is varied, spicy and never dull.

Last night saw me in downtown Bukit Indah at a traditional Chinese restaurant – given my previous experiences of ‘traditional’ Chinese cuisine consisted of snake, intestines, turtle and bull’s unmentionables I was somewhat wary !  However, I needn’t have worried as my host explained that when ordering its custom to have a vegetable dish, meat dish and fish dish so it was with great relief that I recognised each of the ingredients and that the meat and fish weren’t heads or eyes !  All in all most tasty !!

Away from the giddy nightlife, I have been working – honest !

NUMed currently has 96 four person flats for it’s students and the agreement for these is now coming to an end so I’m working with the local team to identify new accommodation that’ll meet future requirements.  Malaysia is currently experiencing a building boom and there are plenty of options to choose from – getting the right one at the right price is the tricky part as is ensuring that the facilities, management and security all meet our requirements too.  At the end of the day, whether you’re coming to study in Newcastle or Malaysia parents and students want the assurances that their accommodation will be safe, secure and well managed – that’s what we’re trying to provide be that at home or abroad !

Finally, the difference in time does mean I spend a couple of hours awake between 2 and 4 am most mornings, given that counting bottles of tiger beer hasn’t done the trick I’m reduced to picking my top of things – having already picked my best Newcastle team (based on players I’ve seen and in a 4-3-3 formation) of Given;Frank Clarke,Jonathan Woodgate,Bobby Moncur,David Craig;Robert Lee, David Batty, Gazza;Chris Waddle, Malcolm MacDonald and Nobby Solano Ive done my desert island discs and tonight will move to films !!

Please comment or add your lists too or send any tips you have for a good nights sleep

See you soon

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Morning to you from a rather wet and humid Malaysia !

I spent yesterday afternoon visiting the University’s brand new Research and Innovation Institute in Singapore yesterday.  Newcastle University has been operating in Singapore since 2007.  I was really impressed with the student social and study space there and will post some pictures for you to look at – I would be interested to know what you think !

For more information about the our involvement in Singapore please visit

www.ncl.ac.uk/Singapore/about

its another fascinating tale !

Talking of fascinating tales, I took the opportunity to retrace the footsteps of my dad who frequently sailed out of Singapore in the late 50’s and early 60’s.  Though he passed away recently I remember his stories about the infamous Bugis Street in downtown Singapore as it was a renowned gathering place for sailors on shore leave – I’m sure you get my drift….

Anyway, I thought I’d best visit for old times sake as it were.  I have to say he was right when he said you could have the time of your life there and experience many new and wonderful things !  Bugis Street is now the largest shopping and outdoor market area in town with loads of traditional street food vendors, restaurants and trendy bars.  A far cry from days of old I imagine, and pretty sure not the type of shopping dad meant but who cares it was a great day !!

Catch you all soon

By rights Saturday’s are all about Strictly and a take away !  Not tonight though as I’m currently sat in Terminal 5 Heathrow on my way to Changi Airport, Singapore.  Blimey, is he off again I hear you say, he’s never in the office.

As you may know, the University has a medical school NUMed Malaysia, situated outside of Johor Bahru, which is just over the straits of Singapore.  I’ve been lucky enough to travel there on a number of occasions, the first time being 2014 to help set up the accommodation for students there.

The reason for this visit is to identify potential new accommodation probably nearer to the campus.  It seems students are the same all over the world in that the closer the accommodation the better !! It’s also true that students there want good quality and value for money so no pressure there for me to tick all the boxes !!

I may find time for a bit of R n R – hoping that the local football team, Johor Tigers are at home so I can cheer them on.

I’ll keep you posted

For those of you wondering just who CIMC have a look at this !!