eNews 25 August
Introducing Curriculum Redefined, digital developments, Royal Society award, campus development videos, ticket offers and more
Student education
Introducing Curriculum Redefined
The University Executive and Council have approved an ambitious and exciting new project to redesign and fundamentally update all of our taught programmes over the next five years. Find out more about Curriculum Redefined – the rationale, the plans and how you will be asked to contribute at the Student Education Forum on Tuesday 7 September, 4-5pm.
Digital developments
Online IT software shop closing
From September, staff and students using personal devices for work or study will need to access all software from AppsAnywhere, as the IT shop that previously supplied some of this will be closing. This doesn’t affect colleagues using University-owned devices.
Sign up | New PebblePad training dates
New PebblePad training dates are now available. Running from Tuesday 7 to Friday 17 September, sessions are designed for new and experienced users, providing support in how to use this ePortfolio system to create innovative and reflective teaching and learning materials for students. Access your PebblePad account and take a quick tour of the homepage before you join the session.
Mediasite Desktop Recorder retirement
Mediasite Desktop Recorder will be retired on Friday 27 August and replaced by Mediasite Mosaic. This new application provides multiple recording options and can also be used to bulk upload videos created in other applications to Mediasite. Full instructions on downloading and using Mediasite Mosaic are available for Windows 10 and MacOS (Catalina onwards).
Training | Mediasite: Create and Share Digital Content
Don’t miss our short workshop on digital content taking place on Wednesday 8 September. This session explores how to create and share digital content using Mediasite, including the new Mosaic application. The session is delivered via an online webinar and self-paced learning via Microsoft Sway
Digital Education Service Digest
The second edition of the Digital Education Service (DES) Digest is now live, offering a round-up of its latest news. Contact the DES Marketing and Communications team to be added to the mailing list for future updates.
Teaching software update
Please use the new teaching software request form for update requests. This isn’t required for systems already on the core teaching software list or those that are already available in AppsAnywhere. A new team is being formed to improve engagement between IT and academic colleagues about all aspects of teaching software. Pease contact Michael Beck if you’d like to be involved.
Reminders
Alert | Phishing emails
We continue to see a rise in phishing emails designed to trick recipients into submitting passwords or downloading malicious files. While our security systems offer some protection, please continue to be alert. Look out for unrecognised email addresses, poor spelling and grammar, a sense of urgency and suspicious attachments or links (a top tip is to hover over a link to see the full address). See the IT Knowledge Base website for our guidelines for handling spam and phishing emails. If you’ve clicked on a link in a phishing email or suspect your password has been compromised, contact the IT Service Desk immediately.
Update your Windows and Office licences
If you see pop-up messages telling you your Windows or Office licence is about to expire, follow the instructions on the IT website to renew them. Licences usually renew automatically when you’re connected to the campus network, but you may need to do this manually if you’re working from home.
Teaching Excellence Framework
Institutions are no longer allowed to promote their Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) awards. Please ensure the TEF logo is removed from email signatures and promotional material, as per the latest branding guidance from the Office for Students. Please contact Jenny Lyon for further information.
Celebrate
Royal Society award
The Royal Society has awarded its prestigious Clifford Patterson Medal and Lecture to Professor Anne Neville, who had to cut short her career after becoming terminally ill. The award recognises her research work in the field of engineering, particularly around corrosion and tribology – the science of the way the surfaces of components change when they interact.
Passion and dedication are honoured
‘Incredible dedication’ to fellow students in the face of adversity has been recognised in a prestigious awards scheme. The latest in a series of profiles on the winners of this year’s Leeds Partnership Awards highlights the outstanding accomplishments of recipients of the Student Academic Rep of the Year accolade.
Apply | Public Engagement with Research Awards 2021
Applications for the Public Engagement with Research Awards 2021 close at 5pm on Monday 6 September. The awards aim to recognise excellent public engagement and patient involvement work, as well as raise awareness of innovative, high-quality practice. Submissions are open to all staff and postgraduate researchers, either as individuals or as part of a team.
Campus life
Watch | Campus development videos
Video updates for two key campus developments can now be viewed on the Estates and Facilities website. See the progress being made on the Sir William Henry Bragg Building and the Esther Simpson Building, both of which are scheduled for completion this autumn. The Bragg Building will foster a culture of interdisciplinary work in the development of novel materials to address 21st Century challenges, while the Esther Simpson Building will further advance the delivery of world-class teaching solutions for LUBS and the School of Law.
Wellbeing and support
Supporting disabled employees
You can now take advantage of a range of benefits through our membership of the Business Disability Forum (BDF). As well as access to its team of experts, who can offer practical problem-solving help to managers, the BDF Knowledge Hub features a resource library with in-depth information, guidance, research, blogs and podcasts on a range of topics to support disabled employees across the University.
Sign up | Upper and lower body postural sessions
Are you experiencing aches and pains? Try the 15-minute upper body postural sessions, offering gentle exercises for your neck and shoulders, including mobility, stretches and activation. The class runs every Monday at 12 noon via Teams. And why not give the 15-minute lower body postural sessions a go, too? They target lower back pain or stiffness in your legs linked with a sedentary job/lifestyle. The class runs every Wednesday at 12 noon via Teams. Contact Fran Andralojc to be added to the mailing lists.
Research
Top tips for research funding applications
The UK Research Development team has created a new MS Stream channel helping researchers apply for funding. Resources include recordings of workshops and training sessions for developing grant and fellowship applications. These cover a range of UK research funders, providing advice ranging from information on grant schemes, to grant writing tips and post submission support, including how to respond to reviewers’ comments. Further resources and tips are featured on the Research and Innovation Service website.
Register | Free social media unconference
You can still register for our first social media unconference, free to all Leeds academics, researchers and postgraduate students. The event – from 10am to 12 noon on Thursday 9 September – is an informal opportunity to meet and share experiences of using social media in a research capacity. The team from 448 Studio has been working alongside the University to develop a programme of social media support for research groups and will be hosting the event. The unconference will feature presentations from our own academics involved in the social support programme, with time for discussions and networking.
Book | Researcher Education and Development Scholarship Conference
Bookings are open for the seventh annual Researcher Education and Development Scholarship (REDS) Conference, hosted by Leeds on Thursday 14 October. The online conference will explore how inclusive research cultures can be developed and includes a keynote presentation by Dr Jessica Gagnon (University of Strathclyde). The conference is free to attend and is suitable for everyone interested in the Scholarship of Researcher Development.
Learning and development
Book now | Personal branding webinar
OD&PL is hosting an online webinar about personal branding with Susan Chritton on Thursday 2 September. The session is part of the Careers Summer for Researchers programme, but all colleagues are invited to attend. It will consider the importance of personal branding and how to develop and communicate yours. Susan is a thought leader in personal branding based in the US, and is an executive career coach, master personal brand strategist and applied positive psychology practitioner, as well as the author of ‘Personal Branding for Dummies’.
LeedsforLife Refresh | Essential training for academic personal tutors
As part of the LeedsforLife Refresh project, we’re providing essential training for academic personal tutors (APTs). Running from Tuesday 7 September to Friday 15 October, sessions provide an opportunity to find out more about our new digital tools (PebblePad, StREAM@Leeds, ATLAS and MS Bookings), signpost to additional sources of support and help you explore the refreshed approach to academic personal tutoring.
Ticket offers
2021 Leeds Opera Festival
This year’s Leeds Opera Festival programme celebrates the works of English composer Gustav Holst. You can still enter the promotional code for a 10% discount on ticket prices when booking online for any of the events, taking place in and around Leeds until Monday 30 August. Please note you will be prompted to login to For Staff with your username and password to access the offer.
The Leeds International Piano Competition
The Leeds International Piano Competition returns in September with the most internationally diverse line-up in its 58-year history. To celebrate, you can enjoy a 10% discount on The Leeds tickets for the second round and semi-final, being hosted by the University. Simply select your tickets and enter the promotional code at the checkout. Please note you will be prompted to login to For Staff with your username and password to access the offer. Armchair fans can stream performances via medici.tv or catch a broadcast of the semi-final and final on BBC Radio 3.
Events
Piano Trail launch
The Leeds Piano Trail launches on Saturday 4 September, featuring 11 pianos and 10 sculptures by Pianodrome dotted around the city, including one in Leeds University Union. A series of events and live performances take place at different points along the trail until Sunday 19 September.
Call for papers | International Medieval Congress 2022
Submissions for International Medieval Congress (IMC) 2022 papers close on Tuesday 31 August. One of the biggest online academic conferences in the world, next year’s instalment of the internationally acclaimed event – organised by the Institute for Medieval Studies and dubbed the ‘Medieval Glastonbury Festival’ by delegates – runs from 4-7 July with the special thematic focus of ‘Borders’.
Book | Menopause in the Workplace workshops
Register now for new interactive Menopause in the Workplace workshops, which aim to raise awareness of menopause and how to develop a supportive culture for colleagues. The three workshops – geared at all staff, managers and men respectively – will be delivered by Bee Macpherson (Programme Lead, PGCert Clinical Education, School of Medicine) and Bernadette Hardware (Health and Wellbeing Co-ordinator in Wellbeing, Safety and Health).
In case you missed it
Covid-19 self-isolation rules | Updated guidance
New name | Learning Development Team
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Editions
Due to the Bank Holiday next week, eNews will take a break after today’s edition, resuming on Wednesday 8 September. Deadline for submissions is the preceding Friday (3 September).
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