ISSUE NO.01 | JANUARY 30, 2015

IN THIS ISSUE ►MessagefromtheExecutiveCommittee ►HumansOfMiddlesexUniversity ►2015:What’supatMiddlesexUniversity ►AIESEC:EmbracingMediaAsAWorkingTool ►InterviewwithDrBrendanMaartens ►Someupcomingeventsandactivities

MESSAGEFROMTHEEXECUTIVECOMMITTEE

Dear Reader,

It is indeed an immense pleasure to launch this first issue of the Media Cluster newsletter.

The content won’t just be a general digest. It will highlight articles of interest,upcoming events, news, and other inspirational posts. Good news for you. It will be free for you all!

There is no doubt the journey will be interesting and we hope you find the Media Cluster a welcome companion along the way and we really do hope you’ll stay with us for the ride.

We wish to encourage your participation and we will look forward to receivingcontributions of news, announcements, and even short stories of your experiences to ensure a continued success of the newsletter.

Of course, we also welcome comments and suggestions that could improve the quality of the newsletter. Finally, we do look forward to hearing from you.

For now, happy reading!

Kind Regards,The Executive Commitee

2015:WHAT’SUPATMIDDLESEXUNIVERSITYBy Preshanta Carloo

Avyivor said: “To choose your suitable dreams, you must think well.”

What better opportunity than the beginning of the year to start planning? Where on one hand people are buzzing with their New Year resolutions, we, at Middlesex University, are all busy setting up new activities and events, fellow students!

Besides new lecturers and new people from the March intake, the university is proudly welcoming a new society in its midst. The Media Cluster is making its entry into the Big World. Entry with a bang dare I say, with its first official newsletter already out! It leaves us on great hopes, with plans tailored for the benefit of all.

However, AIESEC in Middlesex University also is not going to be much idle this year! With its 2014 review already circulating, activities like the Youth to Business forum and, not to forget, the Global Village are also on the way. And icing on the cake is the iGCDP(Global Community Development Program) which is soon to start.

But we shouldn’t forget the other societies. With Law Society’s continuity of the mooting competition, Pi Day from MathSoc, and more to come from MISAM and Psychology Society among others; the University will be doing its best to provide you with opportunities. Choosing what you pick up on depends on you people!

In any case, Go For It!

HUMANSOFMIDDLESEXUNIVERSITYBy Rebecca, Production Executive - MDX Media Cluster

Let’s face the fact: we’re over 800 and many of us don’t know each other. It’s high time we break all the barriers and create one big family by knowing each other.

So, to help with that is the Humans Of Middlesex University (#HOMU) initiative from the MDX Media Cluster, a census of all the lovely people of the university.

The first series of #HOMU is coming soon. Stay tuned and you might see yourself!

AIESEC:EMBRACINGMEDIAASAWORKINGTOOL

You asked yourself this question: What does AIESEC has to do with Media Cluster or media in general?

Well, you’ll be surprised. But first, what is AIESEC?

AIESEC is an international non-governmental not-for-profit organization that provides young people with leadership development and cross-cultural globalinternship and volunteer exchange experiences across the globe, with a focus to empower young people so they can make a positive impact on society.

In AIESEC, we have a department called Marketing and Communications which is mainly responsible for the major media presence. Our main media outlets remain Social Medias such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Working in a network of over 100,000 members in 125 countries and territories, the online platforms have become very useful. They have turned into amazing networking platforms and good working tools. This is how we are able to provide life changing internships around the world.

Having to use media on a daily basis to reach set goals, our members are also able to develop and showcase their various talents in creative ways such as makingreally nice posters to promote events and internships or making promotional videos and fun videos.

Media as a whole has become a good means of creating or maintaining culture while creating work opportunities. In AIESEC, we are aware of that and we try to make the most of it.

On an ending note, I hope to see lots of AWESOMENESS from Media Cluster.

Signing off,

Urvashi AppiahLocal Committee CoordinatorAIESEC MDX

1. Who is Dr BrendanMaartens and currentlywhatdoeshedo?

I am the Programme Coordinator for the Advertising, PR & Media BA and a lecturer in that field. I was born in South Africa, moved to the UK when I was eight, and spent the best part of eight years studying at the Uni-versity of Sussex before moving to Mauritius to take up my current post.

2.Whoorwhatinspiresyoutogoforwardinlife,andwhy?

I have admiration for anyone who devotes their life to education, the pursuit of new ideas and knowledge, and the eradication of poverty and social injustice. I believe that universities should be concerned with all of these things, and that academics have a duty not just to their students but to society as a whole. Education, as a great philosopher once said, is not just about understanding and ‘interpreting’ the world; it is about changing it as well.

3. What might peoplegenerally be surprisedtoknowaboutyou?

That I was a little wild when I was younger! From the age of about 12 until

16, I made a conscious decision to learn as little as possible at

school and to rebel against my

parents whenever they gave me the opportunity. It took a year of working on building sites, at factories and in a dock-yard to convince me of the need to go back to education, and Ihaven’t looked back since.

4. Being new toMauritius,howisthisnewexperiencesofar?

I’ve loved every minute of it – even thesweltering summer heat that makes it difficult if not impossible to get any work done! Mauritius is such a relaxed place, the people are warm and friendly and the food is great. I can see myself, and my wife, staying here for a long time.

5.Therearequitesomenicebeacheshere.Anyoneyouprefer?

I was wondering when you’d get to the important stuff! I love the beaches in Mauritius, although mywife and I have onlyexplored about a third of the island so far so we’re in no position to list a ‘top ten’. I will say, though, that I like Flic en Flac for its brilliant white sand, Tamarin for its surfing and view of the surrounding mountains, and Le Morne for its snorkelling.

6.ComingtoMiddlesexUniversity,howhas thefirstsemesterbeen?

In a word, exhausting! The travel ban imposed on certain West African nations disrupted the first part of the semester, and I also had to get used to a new VLE and a new way of organising and delivering modules. But things have calmed down a little since then, and my wife and I have also managed to find a house to live in overlooking a beautiful bay on the west coast and a new car to ensure we no longer have to rent.

7. Anything you wouldwanttoimproveon?

There are a range of areas that I believe we could improve in APRM, and we have alreadytaken the first tentative steps towards ensuring the programme serves its students, and thewider Middlesexcommunity, better. The Media Cluster, a body set up and overseen by students, is oneexample of arecent change, and thecampaign our first years are currently running on behalf of Lupus Alert, a local NGO, is another.

In the future, we also want to develop closer links with advertising and PR agencies that operate in Mauritius, and to arrange internships and guest lectures with these agencies to give our students an idea of what it is like to work in the media.

8. What advice wouldyou give to graduatesforgettinghired?

Never underestimate how difficult it is to get a job. Thirty years ago a degree would have been enough to get your foot in the door, but today there are so many graduates in so many different fields that you need to workexceptionally hard to stand out from the crowd. One way to do this is to graduate with first-class honours, something which can only be done if you consistently apply yourself to your studies. Another way, however, is to gain a wealth of practical experience in whichever field you choose to work in.

I also advise my students that if you see anadvertisement for acareers event or a CV writing workshop, go to it! If you read

something about an opportunity in your area, contact the relevant person andexpress your interest! It is these things, which employers will treat as evidence of your engagement with your profession, that will get you a job.

But, enjoy university while you’re here. Most people look back on their undergraduate days as the best time of their lives.

9.Onafinalnote, yourexpectations of theMediaCluster?

I think that it will improve the communication and promotion of students’ issues and events across the entire university. However, I also feel that the Cluster will in particular benefit APRM students, who will be able to practice their production skills and develop their own portfolios in the process.

Employers, as I said earlier, like to see evidence of real-world experience, and I am extremely proud of all the students who played a part in setting up the Media Cluster – in particular Nazeer Hussain , who developed the idea before his induction!

THEBIGGESTDEBATEOFTHEYEAR

Open to all MDX students. The audience gets to judge the winning team and a special team of panellists gets todecide who will take home the ‘MDX DEBATER OF THE YEAR AWARD’.

February 24 at Middlesex University in Room 3.32 from 12:30 until 14:30

AIESECGLOBALVILLAGEFEB’15

The Global Village is a fair where different countries show, on their stands their traditions and culture. It may include customs, food or clothing

February 7 at Le Caudan Waterfront from 10am until 5pm.

SOMEUPCOMINGEVENTSANDACTIVITIES

MISAMINTERNATIONALCULTURALDAY

One of the Middlesex International Students Association of Middlesex’s main events of the academic year.

Stay tuned to MISAM; more information will be made available to you soon.

Note the date: February 28, 2015

SURPRISEFROMTHEMEDIACLUSTER

Stay tuned to the MDX Media Cluster Facebook page, an announcement for an interesting activity will be made very soon!

There will most probably be a reward along!