eNews 10 February
Thought pieces, wellbeing resources, have your say, NSS, digital support, strategy events and more.
Thought pieces
Vice-Chancellor’s blog | The problem with perfectionism
“If we wish to lift the burden of perfectionism, we should define important but attainable outcomes and create a culture in which we can work collaboratively towards those, without unsustainably high stress levels.” Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk, shares her latest blog, which focuses on the problem with perfectionism and how trying to reach the unreachable is making us unhappy.
Inside Track | Transforming research and innovation through digital technology
In his latest Inside Track article, Professor Neil Morris, Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Digital Transformation, showcases excellent examples of how digital technology is at the heart of some of our major research success stories, also enriching students’ learning and our operational activities.
Wellbeing and support
Self-care and wellbeing resources
Access OD&PL’s range of online self-care and wellbeing resources, as well as a suite of personal resilience workshops being delivered in collaboration with the Staff Counselling and Psychological Support Service. The OD&PL website also includes links to advice and information on LinkedIn Learning and a range of LOGIK personal development classes and workshops.
Virtual Love and Pancakes Run Relay
Feeling as flat as a pancake? Has your New Year resolution to exercise more proved to be a flash in the pan? Feel batter about yourself by signing up for Get Out, Get Active’s Virtual Love and Pancakes Run Relay, exclusively for colleagues at Leeds. Registration closes at 10am tomorrow (Thursday 11 February) with the event starting on Monday 15 February. You’ll be allocated to a mixed ability team, with the emphasis on having fun and connecting with other colleagues.
Feedback
Digital content reuse policy: have your say
As the volume of digital content we create, reuse and repurpose grows, we’ve drafted a set of principles about how and where this new content can and will be used, to increase transparency and clarity for colleagues. Have your say about the digital content reuse policy by Friday 26 February.
Health and Safety Policy 2021 consultation
Have your say in the final consultation phase on our updated Health and Safety Policy. The policy sets out the responsibilities for all colleagues, and we want to make it as easy as possible to understand. Feedback can be submitted until Wednesday 10 March.
eNews questionnaire
We’d like to get your feedback about our new weekly version of eNews, issued every Wednesday. Please fill in our short eNews questionnaire, which only takes a few minutes to complete. Your anonymous responses will really help improve our future communications.
Students
National Student Survey 2021
Please encourage all eligible students to take part in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2021. The NSS is an annual student experience survey of undergraduates, normally in their final year, and is open until Friday 30 April.
Digital developments
Virtual Windows Desktop
Desktop Anywhere is being retired on Tuesday 16 February. If you’ve not already started using the Virtual Windows Desktop, find out more on the IT website.
Digital essentials courses
Book your place on one of a series of virtual 30-minute roadshow sessions being held by OD&PL in February and March showcasing how to access our new collection of LinkedIn Learning courses, supporting colleagues to develop their digital skills for personal and career development. Available via your free University LinkedIn Learning account, courses can also be viewed on mobile phones.
New information security system
Duo Security – a two-factor authentication system – has been implemented for colleagues to improve security and help protect your University account. It’s similar to systems used by online banking and shopping websites, so even if someone knows your password, you’ll be immediately alerted if they try to log in as you. We’ve now begun to roll it out for students as well.
Research
Fellowship applications
Applications close on Sunday 14 February for two new Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence (LITE) Fellowships, exploring the link between sense of belonging and the student experience. Sense of belonging is at the heart of our newly launched Access and Student Success Strategy 2025, and these fellowships will directly contribute to the strategy’s objectives.
Take part in Be Curious 2021
Researchers from all disciplines are invited to make contributions to this year’s instalment of Be Curious, showcasing our innovative research to the wider public. Read the guidelines for taking part and complete the online form by 5pm on Friday 12 March to register your interest. You’re also invited to book a 15-minute slot at a Be Curious surgery, which runs from 9-11am on Wednesday 3 March, if you’d like to discuss your ideas before making a submission.
Campus life
International Childhood Cancer Day
Parkinson Building will be lit up gold on Monday 15 February to mark International Childhood Cancer Day – a global campaign to raise awareness and to express support for children, teenagers and young adults fighting the disease, survivors and their families.
Pancake Day treats
We’re making it easy peasy, lemon squeezy to celebrate Shrove Tuesday if you’re on campus on 16 February! Head to The Refectory from 4.30-6.30pm to enjoy some flippin’ perfect pancakes. It will be a toss-up as to which tasty topping to try, from chocolate sauce to fruit compote. Either way, you’ll be stacked!
Over the moon!
Enjoy a delicious Lunar New Year-inspired menu from The Refectory this week. Great Food at Leeds chefs have been busy creating Chinese-style cuisine, available from the Classics counter between 11.30am and 6.30pm on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 February.
Training and development
Leaders and Managers Toolkit surgeries
Get support and advice to resolve your work-related challenges by signing up for a series of new online surgeries. Facilitated by OD&PL, the 45-minute sessions cover a variety of themes, including communication, decision making, delivering results, leading and managing change, purposeful leadership, leading and managing remotely and self-awareness raising.
Events
Book your place | University of Leeds Strategy 2020-2030
We’re launching our new strategy – Universal Values, Global Change: University of Leeds Strategy 2020-2030 – this month. To mark the launch, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk, and our Deputy Vice-Chancellors are hosting two events – on Wednesday 17 and Friday 26 February – for colleagues to hear about our objectives in the areas of research and innovation, student education, digital transformation, international and our core overarching elements of community, culture and impact.
LGBT+ History Month 2021
See the Equality Policy Unit website for details of the Leeds-based online events taking place to mark LGBT+ History Month 2021, which focuses on the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, their lives and their experiences. You can also read more about the University’s LGBT+ Role Models and Allies, together with links to support available for staff and students.
Free online talk
Join Leverhulme Research Fellow, Dr José Pérez Díez, from 1-2pm tomorrow (Thursday 11 February) for a free online talk about the Brotherton Library’s acquisition of King Charles II’s copy of the 1647 folio ‘Comedies and Tragedies’, published during the English Civil War.
Online workshop
Register for the latest Share, Adopt, Adapt Workshop (SAAW) at 2pm on Wednesday 17 February. Speakers will share practical examples and underpinning pedagogic principles for maximising interaction and engagement in online breakout rooms. A collaboration between Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence (LITE) and OD&PL, the series continues to examine and showcase best practice across the University, as well as address new challenges posed by covid-19 restrictions.
In case you missed it
Free twice-weekly asymptomatic (lateral flow) tests
Inside Track | We need kindness and the ability to be human now more than ever
Podcast | Changing The World: The importance of listening
Balancing caring responsibilities
New mandatory supplier framework
Library’s Annual Report 2019-20
Keeping up to date
This enewsletter is brought to you by the Communications team. Keep up to date with our latest news on the For Staff website and by following the staff Twitter account. Our previous staff email communications can be found on our dedicated In Depth page, together with guidance on how to request an eNews entry. Please keep checking our coronavirus website for the latest information and advice, including updated data for the number of coronavirus cases among staff and students
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