19 May 2021

eNews 19 May

2021/22 teaching and research arrangements on campus, pay, digital developments, awards, eNews deadlines and more.

eNews 19 May 2021

Coronavirus

Plans for 2021/22 teaching and research arrangements on campus

Our approach to teaching and research for the 2021/22 academic year was emailed to all colleagues yesterday (Tuesday 18 May). The email outlines the principles agreed by the University Executive Group (our most senior management body), which will inform how we will observe social distancing on campus from the start of the next academic year, and how these will read through to research, student education and the student experience generally.

Reward and benefits

Pay 2021-22: Final offer presented

The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) recently met the sector unions for a final national negotiating meeting for pay 2021-22.

Unions are taking the improved final offer to their respective committees and conferences during the next few weeks. Find out more about the final offer for pay 2021-22

Digital developments

New Fully Online Education Teams site

Our new ‘Fully Online Education’ Teams site is now live (enter joining code qzuwui6). This is a one-stop shop for anyone interested in Fully Online Education. It will guide you through the process of developing a fully online programme, from registering an initial expression of interest or opportunity through to the development stage. The site is also a space to discuss ideas with colleagues across the University.

Live Q&A | Meet the Digital Education Service team

Continuing with its series of live Q&As, the Digital Education Service will host an informal ‘meet the team’ session on Friday 28 May, introducing colleagues you’ll work with if your bid for a fully online course is approved. Open to all, the session will continue to help familiarise colleagues with the Fully Online Education process.

New communications website goes live

We’ve launched our new Communications website to help you commission creative services from our external suppliers framework. Featuring a much-improved and simplified process, guidance on the website has also been updated to make it accessible. Contact the Comms Production team for further information.

Sign up | IT investment online events

There’s still time to sign up for our online open events on Thursday 20 or Tuesday 25 May to learn about a major five-year investment to deliver two interlinked IT programmes – Digital Enablement and Be Safe. Together, they will ensure we have IT services capable of supporting the ambitious vision in both the University Strategy and Digital Transformation Strategy.

Minerva is changing

Minerva will be upgraded to the latest version of Blackboard during the summer. Along with a more intuitive interface, the upgrade will bring substantial improvements to mobile accessibility, as well as introducing new features, such as Activity Stream, which will provide students with alerts regarding assessment deadlines and an at-a-glance view of changes made to their modules. Further improvements will be delivered during summer 2022, providing a powerful teaching and learning experience for staff and students.

Sign up | New PebblePad training dates

New dates are now available for a series of PebblePad training sessions between Wednesday 2 and Friday 11 June. Designed for new and experienced users, sessions provide support in learning how to use this ePortfolio system to create innovative and reflective teaching and learning materials for students.

Research

Legal update | Academic Technology Approval Scheme

The Government has extended the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) to international employees and visitors carrying out research in certain disciplines, with effect from Friday 21 May. The scheme provides a vetting service to prevent technology research/knowledge being used to support military programmes ‘of significant concern’ overseas. Existing employees and visitors who meet the criteria don’t need to apply for an ATAS certificate unless/until they’re applying to extend permission to stay in the UK, or to switch into one of the relevant immigration routes.

Register | Covid-19: Understanding the Research Behind the Pandemic

Register now for a free online FutureLearn course, developed by Leeds and the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), which explores the public’s critical role in delivering innovative research and the development of the covid-19 vaccine.

Campus life

Bragg Building FAQs and video update

Work is underway to install furniture, specialist research equipment and IT in the Sir William Henry Bragg Building. View the ‘fit-out’ FAQs and watch the latest video update on the Estates and Facilities website.

Celebrate

Inspirational figures celebrating success

Read the first in our series of profiles on the inspiring winners of this year’s Leeds Partnership Awards, which recognise the outstanding achievements of staff and students working together to support all aspects of our University community. First up are the staff, student and group winners of the overall Partnership Award.

2021 Sustainability Awards shortlist

The shortlist of nominees for the 2021 Sustainability Awards has been announced. Team members from across the University make up the judging panel for this year’s accolades, which focus on the theme ‘creating a future for all’. Winners will be announced in the week commencing Monday 14 June.

BRIT Virtual Distance Challenge

Congratulations to everyone involved in Get Out, Get Active’s BRIT Virtual Distance Challenge. Staff and students covered a total of 3,976 miles – that’s the distance from Leeds to Prince Albert National Park in Canada! More than £1,000 (including Gift Aid) has been raised so far to support young adult mental health charities and donations are still being accepted towards the final target.

Learning and development

Explore OD&PL’s Leadership Development Programmes

OD&PL is providing a series of Leadership Development Programmes for colleagues this summer. There are four running between May and July, each with a different focus: the development of new leaders; leading transformational change; inclusive leadership; and a series of workshops to address practical challenges currently faced by leaders across the University.  

Wellbeing and support

Countdown to Healthy Week 2021

Healthy Week returns from Monday 7 to Friday 11 June to ‘bring colleagues together’ by encouraging us all to get out into nature. You can take part in a selection of online events, including live classes and workshops, as well as some in-person activities in small groups, such as walking and running. Watch this space for details of the full programme, due to be released on Monday 24 May.

Menopause in the Workplace workshops 

Did you find Davina McCall’s TV programme ‘Sex, Myths and the Menopause’ enlightening? Want to know more about support for staff at Leeds? All colleagues, irrespective of age or gender, can register for interactive Menopause in the Workplace workshops, which aim to raise awareness of Menopause and explain how to develop a supportive culture. Latest sessions are scheduled for Wednesday 26 May (managers) and Wednesday 2 June (all colleagues). Contact Bee Macpherson for further information or book your place at one of our ‘Menopause for thought’ café sessions, with the next one scheduled for Thursday 27 May.

Events

Register | Learning in Inclusive Knowledge Societies After Covid-19

Sign up for a discussion exploring the links between learning, intersectionality and inclusion in the aftermath of the covid-19 pandemic. This event – taking place on Tuesday 25 May and jointly organised by the Inclusion, Childhood and Youth Research Centre, the Centre for Research in Digital Education and the Centre for Disability Studies – is aimed at staff and students alike, especially those with a focus on education and childhood.

Sign up | LITE Fellowship Showcase

Register for the LITE Fellowship Showcase: Supporting Student Learning During Study Abroad on Wednesday 26 May. Dr Chloe Wallace, Teaching and Scholarship Associate Professor in the School of Law, will explore the different kinds of experiences students have when studying abroad.

Event and podcast | National Technicians Development Centre

The National Technicians Development Centre (NTDC) – part of the N8 Research Partnership, of which Leeds is a member – is hosting TechMeet 12 on Tuesday 25 May. The event gives technicians a chance to share good practice, ‘back to work’ planning and general discussions. The NTDC has also released its first podcast, which focuses on technicians’ role in supporting the online delivery of teaching.   

In case you missed it

Lifting lockdown | Step 3 on the Government roadmap

Vice-Chancellor’s blog | The importance of trust

Royal Society Fellowship honours

Equality, diversity and inclusion champions honoured

Changes to UK aid budget | register your interest to support parliamentary scrutiny

Book now | Top Hat support sessions

Advanced Science Warehouse upgrade

Register | Research Professional online training

Options for hosting internal video

Sing up | Free HESPA 2021 conference registration

Download | The Edge indoor classes timetable

Editions

eNews deadlines

Due to the Bank Holiday, eNews will take a break after the Wednesday 26 May edition, resuming on Wednesday 9 June. The deadline for submissions is the Friday before publication.  

Keeping up to date

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