eNews 16 March
eNews: Ukraine, changing your password, World Changers, Leeds Curriculum workshop, feedback, graduation celebrations, staff ID cards, Inspired by Bragg and more
Ukraine
Response from the Vice-Chancellor
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk, has written to the University community about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including detail of some of the steps we’re taking in response. There’s support on offer at the University for staff or students affected.
Industrial action
Strike action
University and College Union (UCU) plans strike action at Leeds from Monday 21 to Friday 25 March 2022. Our industrial action questions and answers have been updated, including the deadline for reporting your participation.
UNISON has also announced further strike dates of Thursday 24 and Friday 25 March. Our questions and answers about this will be updated shortly.
There’s still time to book your place at upcoming ‘Leeds Conversations: Let’s talk' events
Digital developments
Improving information security | Changing your password
We’re continuously working to improve the University’s information security. One way to do this is to change the nature of our passwords to make them stronger. To meet these requirements, you will shortly be required to change your University password. We’ll contact you via email with further information.
Action required | macOS devices
A new tool to improve support will soon be rolled out to all the University’s Apple desktops and laptops. Complete this macOS survey to provide crucial information about your device(s), to ensure they’re included in the upcoming improvements. Please note that if your details aren’t submitted, your system cannot be updated and your access to applications and services could be restricted in the future.
Research
Listen | World Changers podcast
In the first episode of the new World Changers podcast series, Dr Lucy Ziegler and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk discuss how we’ve joined forces with St Gemma’s Hospice to transform palliative care. The World Changers: Celebrating Impactful Research essay collection, which Dr Ziegler contributed to, launched in November 2021 and highlights the transformative research taking place at Leeds.
Submit | World Changers essay collection
Following its success last year, you’re invited to submit essays for the next edition of the World Changers collection. Research and teaching fellows, lecturers and associate professors at Leeds can offer ideas in support of our academic strategy’s three key themes – culture, community and impact – by Friday 1 April.
Register | Thycotic Privilege Manager Pilot Programme
Researchers can now sign up to take part in the Thycotic Privilege Manager Pilot Programme. This new software aims to transform the way local computer administrator privileges are accessed, dramatically improving both usability and security. Contact Pankti Vadalia for more details and to get involved.
Curriculum Redefined
Register | Leeds Curriculum interactive workshop
There’s still time to sign up for an interactive workshop to learn about the exciting progress we’ve made on establishing our curriculum themes and principles, as part of Curriculum Redefined – our innovative 10-year educational change programme. There will also be the opportunity to share your thoughts and ideas about what the Leeds Curriculum means to you. The session takes place from 2-4pm today (Wednesday 16 March).
Feedback
Undergraduate Programme Survey
The Undergraduate Programme Survey 2022 is now open. All non-finalist undergraduate students have been invited to have their say. Your help to encourage and enable students to participate would be greatly appreciated, as their feedback helps us improve their academic experience.
Balancing Life Survey | Win Love2shop vouchers
Take part in the Balancing Life Survey for your chance to win a Love2shop voucher. Run annually by the Sport and Physical Activity Service, the short survey provides vital insight into the health and wellbeing levels among our University community. Have your say about what else the University could do to support you to become more physically active, helping shape future initiatives. All responses are anonymous and confidential. Complete the survey by Sunday 27 March to enter our free prize draw, with two £100 and two £50 Love2shop vouchers up for grabs.
Help shape digital teaching and learning
Share your feedback about digital teaching and learning at Leeds. Last year’s Jisc Digital Experience staff and student surveys inspired a raft of improvements in how we deliver online education. This year’s surveys should take no more than 10 minutes to complete, and both are open until midnight on Monday 21 March. 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 staff survey – and encourage those you teach to complete the student survey – to help improve experiences of digital teaching and learning at Leeds.
Supplier Framework experience
The supplier framework for design services was launched a year ago, and we’re keen to hear your experiences of using the new process to procure suppliers of graphic design and video. If you’ve used any of the suppliers, please fill out our short, three-question survey with your feedback by 5pm today (Wednesday 16 March) to help us improve the process, ensure quality and offer value for money.
Feedback | Risk Management of Events Protocol
Share your thoughts on the proposed Risk Management of Events Protocol, which has been reworked based on staff feedback. The consultation runs until Wednesday 23 March
Learning and development
Register | New PebblePad training sessions
Book your place on a new three-week PebblePad training programme, starting on Monday 21 March. Sessions take place on Teams, and will take you from a general introduction right through to more advanced development of resources. It’s ideal for anyone who would like to use PebblePad to create engaging teaching and learning materials, or to adopt portfolios for their own use. Don’t forget you can also explore PebblePad before the sessions.
Workshop | Embodied Learning
Sign up for the latest virtual Share, Adopt, Adapt Workshop (SAAW), taking place from 1-2pm tomorrow (Thursday 17 March). The session explores ‘Embodied Learning’, which refers to pedagogical approaches focussing on the non-mental factors involved in learning, and that signal the importance of the body and feelings. A collaboration between Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence (LITE) and OD&PL, the SAAW series continues to examine and showcase best practice across the University.
Sign up | Introduction to the Compassionate Curriculum
Sign up for an introduction to the Compassionate Curriculum, following on from Dr Bridgette Bewick’s World Changers essay on the topic. The session runs from 10-11am on Tuesday 22 March and offers the chance to explore the themes highlighted in the essay with Dr Bewick. It aims to give both staff and students a foundational knowledge of the topic through a 15-minute presentation, followed by discussion and questions.
Campus life
Graduation celebrations
From this week until Wednesday 6 April, we’re welcoming back our alumni for graduation celebrations that were delayed in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19. You'll be seeing lots of people on campus wearing robes and taking pictures! You can also watch the ceremonies online as they take place in the Esther Simpson Building.
Deli(very) on campus
Visit the updated Deli(very) delivered catering service webpage for all your meeting or event catering needs. The new order form makes it even quicker and easier to arrange for handcrafted lunch bags to be delivered to your preferred location on campus, at a time to suit you. Email the Deli(very) team to order other menu items, from hot and cold refreshments to sweet treats.
Changes to staff ID card process
You can now order your University of Leeds ID badge through an online system. The process also allows you to place orders for lanyards and ID card holders, too. Please contact the Print and Mail Service for more details.
Events
Register | Be Curious LATES: World Changers
Sign up for the next Be Curious LATES, taking place online from 8-9pm, today (Wednesday 16 March). From helping to address climate change to empowering young women through creativity, join us as we shine a light on some of the brilliant Leeds research helping reduce inequalities and improve lives. Tickets are free and sessions build on the success of last year’s programme of Be Curious LATES events, designed exclusively for adult audiences.
Leverhulme Lecture | Changing the Voices of Science Fiction: The Progressive Fantastic in Germany
Register to attend the latest Leverhulme Lecture, taking place at 4pm on Tuesday 26 April. Dr Lars Schmeink, Leverhulme Visiting Professor, will discuss the ‘progressive fantastic’ in German science fiction literature, and how it’s helping widen inclusivity in the genre, strengthening authors’ voices and re-examining the tradition and structure of fantastic texts.
Inspired by Bragg | Public Cheney Lecture
Sign up to attend a joint Public Cheney Lecture taking place in the Esther Simpson Building from 5.30-8pm on Thursday 7 April. ‘A Thing of Beauty: Where science and art combine’ will be delivered by Professor Ron Lifshitz, Tel Aviv University and Leeds Cheney Fellow, and sculptor Dominic Hopkinson. The lecture is part of the Inspired by Bragg programme of scientific and cultural events.
Concert | Kabantu: Multiscale
Join award-winning world music collective Kabantu for a concert at 7.30pm on Saturday 19 March, as part of the Inspired By Bragg season. The group will take the Bragg Centre research area of multiscale modeling as inspiration for the music, collaboratively written based on conversations with academics, together with a ‘hotseat’ jam involving the audience – please bring an instrument!
Register | Chartism Day comes to Leeds
Register to attend the Society for the Study of Labour History’s annual Chartism Day conference, being held at Leeds on Saturday 19 March. This year’s event honours the late Professor Malcolm Chase, who died in February 2020 after a long and distinguished career at the University.
In case you missed it
Vice-Chancellor’s blog | Women’s progression – how it starts from the top
Introduction to Ultra Course View eLearning resource
Esther Simpson Building blue plaque and official opening
Designed to inspire | New Roger Stevens lecture theatres
Book | OD&PL’s career development sessions
Spring break | Support and activities for students
Sign up | Regional collaboration for climate action: a leadership discussion
Sign up | Language@Leeds Triennial Showcase 2022
Submit a request
You can submit a request for an eNews entry via email. Please contact us in advance of the deadline (the Friday preceding the relevant Wednesday circulation date) so we can advise you on our editorial and content guidelines.
Other than in exceptional circumstances, eNews entries should be no more than 60-70 words long, as these are designed to be bite-sized chunks of news linking to other trusted sources (such as University websites) for full details.
Keeping up to date
This eNews is brought to you by the Communications and Engagement team. You can:
- keep up to date with our latest news on the For Staff website and by following the staff Twitter account
- access our previous staff email communications on our dedicated In depth webpage
- 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
- access key University systems and information, such as HR self-service, IT, the Office365 web app, year planner, Minerva and purchasing, via the staff systems and quick links sections towards the top of the For Staff homepage. Even more handy links have been added, including OD&PL, the 2020-2030 Strategy, Wellbeing and Safety, Sustainability hub, Research and Innovation Service (RIS), USS pension, ResearchFish and MyGrants.