eNews 17 February

University strategy, staff survey, new appointments, Women of Achievement Awards, professional learning opportunities and USS update.

eNews 17 February

University strategy

University of Leeds 2020-30 Strategy launches

Read our new 2020-30 strategy, Universal Values, Global Change, which sets out our ambitions to build a thriving community and a collaborative culture to make an impact locally and globally in the areas of research and innovation, student education, digital transformation and international.  

Inside Track | A values-driven strategy for the next 10 years

To mark the launch of our new strategy, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk, discusses the vision and themes of community, culture and impact in this latest Inside Track

Book your place | strategy event

You can still register for our second strategy event, hosted by Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk, and our Deputy Vice-Chancellors, at 1.30pm on Friday 26 February. Hear about the strategy that will guide our direction, our work and the impact we will have for the next decade.

Thought pieces

Vice-Chancellor’s article | Only Connect

“I believe the relative success of our efforts has been to a significant degree due to the meeting of technology and our shared humanity.” Reflecting on almost a year of learning to live – and work – with the coronavirus pandemic, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk, shares an article she has written for Research Professional News arguing that fostering strong relationships in higher education is more important than ever.

Feedback

Staff survey: wellbeing and managing work

Please take part in our latest staff survey, this time focussing on wellbeing and how you’re managing work. These were the key themes to emerge from your most recent feedback, highlighted in a new For Staff article together with action already taken to try and address some of these points. Open until 5pm on Monday 1 March, the survey is anonymous and should take no more than five minutes to complete. We recognise there are lots of calls being made on you. However, we’d be grateful if you can find the time to fill in the survey, as it’s an effective way of helping us gauge and respond to the issues you’re facing.

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.

Appointments

New Deans for Student Education

Professors Alice O’Grady, Kenny McDowall and Paul Taylor have been appointed new Deans for Student Education. They will focus on critical areas of our new ten-year strategy, leading activity on quality and standards, portfolio and curriculum, and student experience respectively.

Celebrate

Women of Achievement Awards 2021

You can attend the online Women of Achievement Awards 2021 ceremony from 1-3pm on Thursday 11 March. The awards recognise the significant contribution and impact women make across the University and beyond. Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk, will deliver the keynote speech during the ceremony, which will be hosted by Professor Louise Bryant, Academic Lead in Gender Equality and Associate Dean in the School of Medicine for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Water Woman Awards 2021

Winners have been announced in the Water Woman Awards 2021, recognising achievements of women in research and their power to inspire others. Launched by water@leeds, in partnership with Athena Swan teams at Leeds, recipients were fittingly honoured on International Day of Women and Girls in Science – a United Nations initiative highlighting the significant gender gap at all levels of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines across the world.

Digital developments

Improving teaching and learning systems – have your say

The next Digital Education Systems User Group (DESUG) meeting is from 1-3pm on Wednesday 10 March. Open to all staff and students, attendees receive the latest updates and can propose improvements to teaching and learning systems, as well as provide feedback on recent and future projects. Contact Ellie Dunn to book your place.

Accessibility legislation reminder

Colleagues creating content for our websites and systems are reminded guidance is available to meet accessibility legislation requirements and the University’s approved best practice approach. This includes not uploading files such as PDFs, Word documents, slides and Excel spreadsheets to websites unless they’re accessible or the information is also available on a webpage.

Research

Leeds Centre for Disease Models – virtual inaugural meeting

Join the virtual inaugural meeting of the newly established Leeds Centre for Disease Models on Tuesday 16 March. The centre aims to bring together research groups across multiple disciplines with a shared interest in modelling genetic human diseases. Delivered on Zoom from 10am to 5pm, the meeting will be a platform for introducing members of the centre and for fostering collaborations. Postgraduate and early career researchers can also register to present a poster on their research for an associated competition.

Students

LUU Vote Week

Parkinson building will be lit up purple from Monday 1 to Thursday 4 March to promote Vote Week for this year’s LUU student leadership election

Leeds Business Plan Competition 2021

Students and graduates who have a business idea, or have started their own enterprise, have until Friday 19 February to enter the University of Leeds Business Plan Competition 2021 to win a cash prize. Read the full terms and conditions, including entry details.

Campus life

Free parking

Free parking on campus for staff and students has been extended until the end of March. Before you can park on campus, you must ensure your car is registered for out-of-hours parking (you will need to log in via the Virtual Windows Desktop from home). Students should register by emailing their vehicle registration details from their University account.

Professional learning

Learning for Life

Sign up for the new series of online Learning for Life workshops providing personal and work-related skills development for colleagues on grades two to four. Workshops include: cross-cultural communications in the global workplace; networking effectively; developing personal health and wellbeing; communicating more effectively and speaking the same language; getting your voice heard and maintaining self-confidence in challenging times.

Online workshop

There’s still time to register for the latest Share, Adopt, Adapt Workshop (SAAW) at 2pm today (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.

Wellbeing and support

Step into Spring

Put a spring in your step by joining Get Out, Get Active’s Virtual Step Challenge, exclusively for colleagues at Leeds. You will be randomly assigned to a team of six, with walkers of all abilities welcome. There are photo bonuses up for grabs and a lively Microsoft Teams chat to keep you motivated and connected with other colleagues. Registration closes at 10am on Thursday 25 February, with the challenge beginning in the week commencing Monday 1 March.

Events

Coming soon: Latest on USS pension scheme

The USS pension scheme is currently going through a valuation – a statutory assessment of its financial health, carried out at least once every three years. The scheme faces some significant challenges and we want to talk openly about these as a University community. Look out for registration details for live events, where you’ll have a chance to raise your questions.

Leeds Lit Fest 2021

You can now book to attend the digital Leeds Lit Fest, which returns for 2021 with a selection of online talks, launches and workshops. Some of the events, which run from Tuesday 2 to Sunday 7 March, also feature colleagues from the University.

Frank Dawtry Annual Memorial Lecture 2021 

Book now to hear Dame Sara Thornton deliver this year’s Frank Dawtry Memorial Lecture from 10-11.15am on Friday 12 March. During a 33-year career, Dame Thornton served as Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police from 2007 to 2015 and was appointed the first Chair of the National Police Chiefs Council in 2015. She is currently serving as the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner.

Book now

Digital Essentials for Staff courses: virtual roadshow sessions

OD&PL’s range of online self-care and wellbeing resources

OD&PL’s Managers and Leaders Toolkit Surgeries

In case you missed it

Vice-Chancellor’s blog | The problem with perfectionism

Inside Track | Transforming research and innovation through digital technology

National Student Survey 2021 goes live

Health and Safety Policy consultation – have your say

Take part in Be Curious 2021

Get involved in LGBT+ History Month 2021

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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