Inside Track – Sir Alan Langlands: Taking action on equality and inclusion
In his latest Inside Track feature, Vice-Chancellor, Sir Alan Langlands, explains why it’s imperative we create an inclusive environment that meets the needs and aspirations of students and staff from diverse backgrounds in the UK and internationally. Our newly-published Equality and Inclusion Framework 2020-25 outlines our commitments and ambition in this area, and we will continue to consult with colleagues through representative bodies, via the Equality and Inclusion Delivery Group and the Leeds11 Network.
Staff survey responses
We’ll be emailing you soon to share the findings from our recent survey, which asked how you are managing and where more help and information may be required. More than 2,300 of you kindly took part, and the Wellbeing, Safety and Health team has been analysing responses to help determine the next steps and the actions we’ll be taking as a result of your feedback.
Phased reopening of library buildings
Read our three-phase plan on reopening the library so you can access materials, return items and, in later phases, use study spaces. Dates for each of the phases are still to be confirmed, but we’re working hard to get things ready as quickly and as safely as possible.
2020/21 Year Planner published
Download our planner for the new academic year, featuring key dates such as term times, exam periods and University holidays.
UK Black Pride 2020
There’s still time to join online events to help mark UK Black Pride 2020 – Europe’s largest celebration for LGBTQ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Latin American descent. Amnesty International, UK Black Pride, Stonewall, Gendered Intelligence and ParaPride have joined forces to present Pride Inside – a series of events running until Friday 10 July.
REF2021 open meetings
Register via email to attend the latest REF2021 open meeting on Teams from 2-6pm on Tuesday 14 July. The meeting will provide an update from the University’s REF Steering Group about our preparations for the submission and how we are responding to changes to the national timetable. Quote ‘open meeting’ in the email subject line and include your name, school and preferred date.
Join the ‘Engaged Research’ team
Created by our Public Engagement team and Policy Leeds, you can now join the new ‘Engaged Research’ Microsoft Team. This is the go-to place for all things related to engagement with research, including resources, and a space to bring like-minded people together to build a supportive community. Use code fc84jre to sign up.
Research action plan
Have your say about the research environment you work in by completing the Culture, Employment and Development in Academic Research Survey (CEDARS). We’ve extended the period we’re running CEDARS until Friday 31 July, as part of our actions to implement the Principles of the revised Researcher Development Concordat. Your anonymous responses will help develop our action plan to ensure our researchers can achieve their full potential. We want to hear from all colleagues involved in research, including teaching fellows, technicians and managers. Contact Dr Emma Spary or academicdev@leeds.ac.uk for institutional questions.
Senate elections timetable
The timetable for elections to the Senate has now been published. Please contact Helen Pickersgill in the Secretariat if you wish to either nominate someone or be nominated yourself.
Health and Safety Policy consultation
Make sure you have your say on our updated Health and Safety Policy and see how the responsibilities affect you. Feedback can be submitted until Monday 20 July.
Lecture Capture retention and deletion policy: a reminder
Please remember that in accordance with the updated Lecture Capture retention and deletion policy implemented in September 2019, lecture recordings are only retained for two years. You will need to store any content you want to keep beyond this period in your own personal storage quota. This does not apply to ad-hoc recordings, Mediasite desktop recordings and media uploads, which are managed via the quota system, or to recordings saved in other digital education systems.
Updated Audio Video Recording Policy
Our updated Audio Video Recording Policy has been approved at Senate. Heads of School guidance is now available, while the Digital Practice website provides further information about audio and video recording of educational activities – an important part of our strategy to ensure the teaching and learning requirements of our diverse student population are met.
Library support for your teaching
Did you know you can access online texts, skills and data from the library to support your teaching? Help your students source core texts; discover how academic skills, maths and statistics support can be embedded into the new hybrid model of teaching; and see how our unique Special Collections and data repositories can provide primary source material for final year research projects.
Take part in Leeds Digital Festival 2020
You can now make a submission to host an event at Leeds Digital Festival. We have renewed our sponsorship of the latest physical instalment of the hugely popular tech showcase, scheduled to run between Monday 21 September and Friday 2 October.
LinkedIn Learning subscription renewed
Following a successful pilot, our LinkedIn Learning subscription has been renewed. With more than 15,000 courses available on a wide range of topics, you can learn new skills, curate collections to share with your students and benefit from a wealth of readymade content.
Celebrate Our Staff
See the latest instalment celebrating the achievements of colleagues across the University, featuring international awards, fellowships and appointments. Contact Internal Comms to make submissions for the next roll of honour. This is open to all colleagues.
Research Round-up
We’re shining the spotlight on our research success stories again. This month we explore how dolphins learn from their peers, ways businesses are bouncing back from the covid-19 crisis, the impact of gold mining on rainforest recovery and much more.
Leaders appointed for new cancer research centre
Professor David Sebag-Montefiore and Professor John Ladbury have been announced as Directors of the Leeds Cancer Research Centre. This major new interdisciplinary initiative aims to put Leeds at the forefront of global efforts to tackle cancer.
Partnership Awards 2020
Read the latest in our series of profiles on the winners of this year’s Partnership Awards, which recognise the amazing achievements of staff and students working together to support all aspects of our University community. This time we focus on recipients of the Global accolade.
DARE Art Prize winner
Poet, writer and visual artist Professor Redell Olsen is the winner of the £15,000 DARE Art Prize 2020-21. Professor Olsen will produce a song cycle and film in collaboration with the BioDAR research project, which uses radar to collect information about insect biodiversity.
Help us celebrate our Class of 2020
As we look forward to celebrating this summer’s graduations online, our social media team is calling for academics to get involved in the virtual festivities. There will be opportunities to offer congratulations to students, as well as sing the praises of the Class of 2020 from your school or faculty. Please contact webcomms@leeds.ac.uk for further information.
International Medieval Congress goes virtual
The International Medieval Congress returns as a major digital event until Friday 10 July, with this year’s festivities expected to break the ‘attendance’ record set in 2019. About 500 speakers from 60 countries are running online academic sessions, with an extensive programme of fringe events also on offer – all scheduled through the new UniLeedsEvents app.
Hit the high note with Couch to Chorus
Ever wanted to learn how to sing in an opera chorus? Our DARE partners Opera North are hosting a series of Zoom workshops from Monday 20 July to Wednesday 12 August. Learn all the best tips and tricks from professional music leaders and singers.
Opera North shows postponed
As a result of the ongoing pandemic, our DARE partners Opera North have postponed all mainstage productionsscheduled to take place in autumn/winter 2020/21. All ticketholders, including those who purchased them through our staff offers scheme, will be contacted in due course by Opera North about refunds.
Immigration solicitors
International staff can book a free and confidential 30-minute appointment with an immigration specialist from Freeths Solicitors on Friday 17 July. Sessions take place on Microsoft Teams or over the phone and provide an opportunity to discuss anything relating to visas, Indefinite Leave to Remain and British Citizenship issues. Please note appointment availability may be limited.
Carers Leeds
If you are a carer for a family member or a friend who has an illness, disability or addiction, Carers Leeds offers confidential telephone appointments providing a wide range of practical advice, support and information to unpaid carers. The next dates are Thursday 16 July, Wednesday 12 August and Thursday 10 September – email the Equality Policy Unit to book.
Quit smoking support
You can still sign up for remote support to cut down or quit smoking. We can help with personalised online information and motivational guidance, as well as sending you treatments, such as Nicotine replacement and Champix.
Inside Track – Professor Lisa Roberts: Re-powering our research
Professional behaviours training reminder
MCard extension/cancellation scheme
Nexus first anniversary report
This enewsletter is brought to you by the Communications team. You can keep up to date with our latest news on the For Staff website and by following the staff Twitter account.
Send your story or comments on the For Staff website to the Communications team, email internalcomms@leeds.ac.uk or call extension 38562