The Big Leeds Conversation: have you had your say?
“It’s been a great opportunity to engage with opinions and ideas across our University community.”
This is just one of the thousands of contributions from staff and students discussing what our new University-wide values should be in the biggest online conversation of its type at Leeds.
From mutual respect to open mindedness, use of language to respecting personal space – more than 580 ideas have already been shared in The Big Leeds Conversation about the behaviours we should expect of each other and how we can become a values-led university.
And all this in less than a week since the anonymous online forum was launched.
Stewart Ross, Operations Director, is one of many colleagues who’ve found taking part an insightful experience.
He said: “It’s been a great opportunity to engage with opinions and ideas across our University community.
“The online format has allowed me to offer support and feedback on some of the views which are important to me, and I’ve enjoyed engaging with colleagues on a large breadth of issues and views.
“So far, The Big Leeds Conversation has lived up to its name!
And Stewart’s views are echoed by many across the University.
Dawn Able, Cleaning Services Supervisor, said: “The conversations are easy to follow. You can search for words which give you a list of related results about a particular topic, or you can just click on the most recent posts you’ve made to see if others have agreed with you.
“It’s a really rewarding and insightful process.”
A safe space to share and challenge ideas
The Big Leeds Conversation is anonymous and open to all staff and students. Encouraging open discussion in this way means you can read views from a range of perspectives across our community, whilst also having the confidence to speak freely about what’s important to you.
All ideas and suggestions in the conversation can be commented on, as well as ‘up voted’ or ‘down voted’.
And it couldn’t be easier to have your say.
Ruth Buller, Head of Human Resources, said: “The Big Leeds Conversation is easy to take part in, as it works on a laptop, phone or any device connected to the internet, which means you can drop in to the conversations anytime, anywhere you like.
“I've already ‘liked’ many of the ideas and made some of my own suggestions about how we should treat each other with the values I would like to see.”
Have you taken part yet?
The conversations may have begun, but there’s still plenty of time to get involved.
Professor Karen Birch, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences, said: “One week into The Big Leeds Conversation and it’s great to see such lively and engaging discussions about who we are and what we stand for.
“I hope all colleagues will take the opportunity to get involved and contribute to the community-wide effort in establishing what our values could and should be at Leeds.”
To have your say, or for support and further information, visit The Big Leeds Conversation website, using the unique login emailed to you by our partners thebigleedsconversation@clevertogether.com.
Remember, none of the ideas, comments or votes you share in the online conversation will ever be shown with your username or personal details.
The first Big Leeds Conversation will close at 5pm on Friday 30 July.
See also
Inside Track: Your part in The Big Leeds Conversation
Video: The Big Leeds Conversation
Posted in: University news