eNews 3 November
Values, Fairer Future for All events, COP26, USS information sessions, VC's blog, student support, staff successes, changing your identity and more
Values
Check and challenge our new draft values
Our new draft values and behaviours framework is now available to review, in phase two of The Big Leeds Conversation. On Monday 1 November, all colleagues should have received an email with a unique survey link to review our draft values framework. The email will come from thebigleedsconversation@clevertogether.com, so please check your clutter folder if it doesn’t reach your inbox. If you have problems accessing our draft values framework, or you haven’t received your email, please contact the Clever Together support team.
Video | Fairer Future for All
Watch a new video from our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk, in which she invites you to attend the online Fairer Future for All events starting today (Wednesday 3 November). See below for full details of how to register.
Sign up | Fairer Future for All events
Sign up to join Vice-Chancellor, Simone Buitendijk, and other senior colleagues, as they share more detail about how our 10-year strategy will create a fairer future for our staff, our students and our global community. Events take place today (Wednesday 3 November) at 3.30pm, Tuesday 9 November at 5.15pm and Thursday 11 November at 9.30am.
COP26
Visit | COP26 virtual engagement guide
The Priestley International Centre for Climate has created a mini-guide on how to engage with COP26 virtually, helping you to stay involved with the most critical climate summit to date. Visit the dedicated COP26 webpage and our latest COP26 round-up for further information about the ongoing negotiations.
Read | Climate action blog
Dr Neil Crawford, Research Fellow in the School of Geography at Leeds, has co-published new articles exploring ‘Climate change and gender’ and the ‘Cultural relations of climate change’ with Dr Katie McQuaid and Dr Michael Mikulewicz respectively. These are the latest in a series of climate action blogs hosted by Policy Leeds, in collaboration with the Priestley Centre, being published to coincide with COP26.
Other resources
Inside Track | University of Leeds Climate Plan and Net Zero Plan
Inside Track | Leeds on climate action and COP26
Watch | Leeds at COP26 recording
USS pension
Book now | USS information sessions
If you’re an active member of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), or eligible to be one, you will have recently received, via email, a notice of statutory consultation to be conducted by employers. The consultation began on Monday 1 November and is open until Monday 17 January 2022. To support you through this process, independent USS consultation information sessions during November and December are available to book.
Thought pieces
Vice-Chancellor’s blog | Decreasing the distance – the value of keeping close
“After more than 18 months of the pandemic, we must guard against fear and exhaustion eroding our community spirit. Togetherness has got us this far, it’s essential we don’t lose sight of that now.” Our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk, shares her latest blog in which she reflects on the ongoing challenges posed to the University community by the covid-19 pandemic.
Campus life
FAQs | Face coverings
Access the updated FAQs outlining our approach to face coverings on campus for staff and students. Please consider using a face covering in crowded indoor spaces. You will need to wear a face covering (unless exempt) if a risk assessment identifies that one needs to be worn, with signs telling you where this is required.
Remembrance Day
Our annual act of Remembrance will take place on Thursday 11 November in the University precinct, outside the LUU building. There will be a two-minute silence at 11am, followed by a wreath laying at the Brotherton memorial. The Parkinson Building will also be lit up red on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 November to mark the occasion.
Digital developments
IT support and requests
As for many colleagues, it’s a very busy time for the IT Service Desk team at the moment. IT has extra staff servicing those requests and is prioritising issues that are preventing people from working. Thank you for your patience and support since we first highlighted this issue. More of you are using the website to contact the Service Desk, and this is helping us respond more quickly, but it’s still very busy.
We can help IT to help us when we have an issue or request by first of all checking the:
- IT Knowledge Base to see if this answers your question, and the
- IT Service Status to see if there’s a major incident relating to your enquiry – if so, log on to the IT website and click the ‘I’m affected’ button rather than messaging the Service Desk directly.
If, after this, you still need to contact the Service Desk:
- Log on to the IT website and click on ‘Something Broken?’ or ‘Request Something’. You’ll receive an immediate reference number and can add details and track the case.
- Please don’t use email – this takes longer to process and will delay how quickly IT can resolve your incident or request.
Microsoft Outlook updates
To increase security, Microsoft has started to withdraw support for older versions of Outlook. Most colleagues won’t be affected, but if you use systems such as Microsoft Office 2007 or 2010, you will lose access to Outlook email and calendars when the changes are applied. It could also affect those on more recent versions who haven’t recently updated them. Find out more, including how to update your version of Office
Embedding online course material in on-campus teaching
As we continue to adjust our ways of working to incorporate different approaches, the Digital Education Service has created a web resource outlining the steps required to begin using FutureLearn and Coursera materials within class teaching. It’s easy to add into your module or course, and provides rich, tailored content and learning activities to engage your students.
IT collaboration powering research
Read a new case study highlighting how the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (LIDA) and the University’s IT department are collaborating with Microsoft to support researchers using LASER – a secure environment for research hosted in Azure. See the IT Knowledge Base to find out how LASER can help your research
Students
Help us deliver faster, better student support
Please help us promote the Student Information Service (SIS) as the first point of contact for student enquiries. Featuring a helpline, email address and four physical information points spread across campus, the SIS offers timely and coordinated student support on topics ranging from navigating studies to adjusting to life at Leeds, getting connected with specialist advice and more.
Student newsletter
Read the latest student newsletter, which covers ways students can look after their health and wellbeing. Students can also find some top tips on how to manage their funds and learn about opportunities to earn money.
Celebrate
Happy Diwali
To all those celebrating Diwali tomorrow (Thursday 4 November), we wish you a joyful Festival of Lights.
Celebrate Our Staff – October 2021
Read the latest edition of our regular feature celebrating the achievements of colleagues across the University, showcasing new appointments, awards and more. You can contact Internal Comms to make submissions for the next roll of honour. This is open to all colleagues.
Launch | Fully Online Education Masters programme
Read about the successful collaborative project to launch our third Fully Online Education Masters programme. The MSc in Sustainable Business Leadership is an excellent example of how academics can use digital innovation to explore new research and develop learning opportunities that are vital to our global future.
Research
Register | Elsevier negotiation meeting
If you read, cite or publish in Elsevier journals, book onto our latest online town hall-style meetings from 2-3pm on Tuesday 9 November or 10-11am on Monday 22 November. Hear about the Elsevier contract negotiations and discuss the implications of a deal – or no deal – for Leeds once our current contract expires on Friday 31 December. This includes alternative routes to access Elsevier content.
Public engagement
Take part | HE-BCI survey
Record your public engagement data on Sympletic by Friday 5 November to contribute to the 2020-21 Higher Education Business and Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey. You can record lectures, performances, exhibitions and other public events that happened between Saturday 1 August 2020 and Saturday 31 July 2021.
Sign up I VOICE pilot
Do you have an idea for a patient and public involvement (PPI) activity that could be delivered in February or March 2022? If so, sign up to take part in the VOICE pilot – an online platform used to recruit and involve patients, carers and members of the public in health research – and receive support for your activity from PPI colleagues. The deadline for expressions of interest is Tuesday 30 November.
Wellbeing and support
Changing your identity: do you have experience of this at the University?
We’re working on improvements to the way we handle requests to change identity in University systems and processes, and we want to consider your lived experiences as we do this. If you have experience of this at the University in the past two years, we’d love to hear from you. Share your experience of requesting a change to your title, name or gender
Flu vaccinations
Winter flu virus season is here and we’re supporting all colleagues to get vaccinated. The University will reimburse the cost – up to £15, via e-expenses – of a private flu vaccination if you’re not eligible for an NHS jab.
Sign Up | Mindfulness at Work for Leaders and Managers programme
Register for the Mindfulness at Work for Leaders and Managers programme to explore this approach to mental balance, personal effectiveness and responding to stressful situations. The online programme consists of two workshops – on Monday 24 January and Monday 7 February 2022 – which will be delivered by Marcus Hill (Learning and Development Advisor, OD&PL) and Sally Rose (Psychotherapist and Mindfulness Teacher, Staff Counselling and Psychological Support Service).
Health and safety
Updated | Laser Safety Management Protocol
Following consultation, you can now access the updated Laser Safety Management Protocol, including clarification about laser classification, roles of key people, risk assessments, products, work, authorisation and systems.
Learning and development
Register | Lifelong Learning Centre open house
Sign-up for an open house event to find out more about the Lifelong Learning Centre, its work and areas of expertise, and how these may be useful in your role supporting students. The online events run from 8.30-9.30am on Wednesday 24 November and 12.30-1.30pm on Thursday 25 November.
Register | Cross-Disciplinary Innovation Fund
The Cultural Institute and Leeds Museums and Galleries (LMG) are launching a third round of the Cross-Disciplinary Innovation Fund. The project will pair up academics with curators, enabling them to work together in exploring LMG’s nationally recognised collections from a broad range of research perspectives. You can also attend the Meet the Curators event from 3-5pm on Thursday 11 November to find out more.
Briefing | National Teaching Fellowship (NTF) and the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE)
OD&PL is hosting a 2022 NTF and CATE briefing session from 2-3.45pm today (Wednesday 3 November). The event will provide further information about the awards and guidance on how to become a successful applicant. It’s aimed at potential applicants, as well as senior leaders and colleagues who have leadership roles in student education.
Register | Find out about PGCAP
Register to attend an OD&PL event to find out more about the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP). Running from 12 noon to 1pm on Friday 5 November, the online session will explore why participants engage with the PGCAP and the impact it has on enhancing their student education practice, including how it’s one route to gain a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). OD&PL will also explain how the course works, with the opportunity to ask questions as well.
Register | Lunch & Learn: Introduction to agile working
Book your place on the ‘Introduction to agile working’ Lunch & Learn session, running online from 12 noon to 1pm tomorrow (Thursday 4 November). Agile methodology is a way to manage projects by breaking them up into several phases, involving constant collaboration with stakeholders and regular evaluation. The Lunch & Learn session is designed for colleagues with little or no prior knowledge of this subject. Contact Alex Tomlin for further information.
Sign up | Career Programme for Grades 2 to 4
Book onto a series of career planning and development events, designed for colleagues on Grades 2 to 4. These cover areas such as career planning, effective interview skills, mock interview practice, creating effective CVs, job applications and developing skills profiles. Sessions start on Tuesday 9 November, with further dates planned for the remainder of the academic year.
TIPS blog | New articles
Two new articles are available to read on the Teaching, Innovation and Practice in Student Education (TIPS) blog:
The blog is a collection of short features written by colleagues to share examples of best teaching practice. Check out the guidance on submitting to the TIPS blog if you’re interested in contributing.
Events
Get involved | Pint of Science 2022
Sign up for a virtual meeting at 6.30pm today (Wednesday 3 November) to find out more about preparations for Pint of Science’s return to Leeds. Running from Monday 9 to Wednesday 11 May 2022, live and in-person science talks will take place across the city. Organisers require a wide range of support, from hosting to event management. Email Chris Snowden to register your interest.
Register | 2021 Festival of Social Sciences
Register to take part in the 2021 Festival of Social Sciences this month. As a partner organisation, we’ve scheduled a series of digital and face-to-face events as part of the programme. Open to all, this year’s festival focuses on environmental issues to mark the UK’s hosting of COP26.
Register | Business Confucius Institute (BCI) annual lecture
Register to attend the BCI’s annual lecture taking place from 5-6pm on Wednesday 24 November in the new Esther Simpson Building. Andrew Seaton, Chief Executive of the China-Britain Business Council, will talk about his work and provide a perspective on UK-China business.
Register | MedTech virtual event
Register to attend the North-South MedTech Summit on Friday 26 November. Led by the National Institute for Health Research, part of the University’s School of Medicine, this free-of-charge event provides businesses, innovators, academics and clinicians with the chance to explore new collaborations and connect with exhibitors.
In case you missed it
Blog | It’s on us to ensure everyone is safe
Register | New PebblePad training dates
New | Leadership Development Programmes
Sign up | Building Impact Momentum Programme
Take part | Library reading lists system survey
Survey | National Institute of Health Research (NIHR)
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Keeping up to date
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- keep up to date with our latest news on the For Staff website and by following the staff Twitter account
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- check for the latest information and advice on our coronavirus website; including updated data for the number of coronavirus cases among staff and students; and
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