eNews 30 March
eNews: A Fairer future for all, Leeds Conversations, academic personal tutoring, new Information Governance training, World Changers essay call, wellbeing and support, Be Curious 2022 and more.
A Fairer future for all
Inside Track | A Fairer future for all – reducing fixed-term contracts
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk, and Chief People and Culture Officer, Paul Boustead, update on the University’s efforts to boost job security as part of our drive to create a Fairer future for all
Leeds Conversations
Leeds Conversations: Let’s talk
Book your place at the next Leeds Conversations event and hear from Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk, as she outlines why the University supports the UUK proposals for the USS pension scheme, gives details on the University’s financial position and updates on progress in our Fairer future for all initiative. Sessions are open to all colleagues and the first event takes place online at 11.30am tomorrow (Thursday 31 March). Read the email to all colleagues from the Vice-Chancellor outlining what to expect at the sessions.
Thought pieces
Inside Track | Academic personal tutoring: Why is it important?
In this Inside Track feature, Professor Paul Taylor, Dean: Student Education (Experience), outlines the vital role academic personal tutors play in fostering a sense of belonging among students at Leeds, our future plans to enhance these roles and how to get involved.
Digital developments
New Information Governance training
A new Information Governance training programme is being rolled out to all staff and postgraduate researchers between April and June this year, replacing the existing IT Security training in Minerva. The new training will give you the knowledge to protect yourself, your data and the University from cyber-security threats, as well as providing you with the tools needed to comply with data protection legislation. Look out for an email in the coming weeks from a new platform called Learning Pool, containing further guidance on how to access the training.
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 by the end of Friday 1 April 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.
Minerva Ultra Course
Key dates relating to the move to Ultra Course View in Minerva can now be viewed on the Digital Education Systems Help website, alongside information about further training and support.
Research
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.
Staff benefits
Carer’s leave
In response to the pandemic and to support colleagues who were balancing caring responsibilities, we increased the standard entitlement of paid carer’s leave from five to 10 days (pro rata for part-time staff). This increased provision ends tomorrow (Thursday 31 March). In line with our approach to the Government announcement of its ‘Living with Covid plans’, our standard policy and associated leave entitlement will resume from Friday 1 April. At this point, any previously taken carer’s leave will not be considered when determining an individual’s entitlement – i.e. the rolling 12-month period will re-start for all employees from Friday 1 April.
Enter now | Bike competition
Time is running out to enter a competition to win a new bike worth £1,100! Cyclescheme, which administers our Cycle to Work Scheme, has teamed up with retailer Tredz to give away a Boardman SLR 8.9 Carbon bike. All colleagues, whether they’re scheme members or not, can enter the competition before midnight tomorrow (Thursday 31 March). Good luck!
Students
Apply | 2022 summer school placements
Students can apply for 2022 summer school placements – an opportunity to study abroad this summer at one of our partnering universities. The deadline for applications is 10am on Friday 1 April. Additional funding to study abroad is available via the Turing Scheme and Santander scholarships for students accessing the Plus Programme.
Feedback
Survey Provider Framework
Have your say to help create a preferred supplier list of survey providers. Answer three multiple choice questions to ensure your preferred provider is invited to apply for a position on the University-wide framework contract, which is being developed by the Research and Innovation Service and central Purchasing Department. Closing date is Friday 8 April.
Learning and development
Apply | Transforming your Student Education Practice
Apply to join the next cohort of the Transforming your Student Education Practice course starting in May. It’s designed for colleagues with a Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, those working towards it and those considering how their practice can include supporting and developing others. The deadline for applications is Friday 22 April.
Book | Research Culture Cafés
Book your place on upcoming Research Culture Cafés. The next event – on Monday 4 April – focuses on open research, research impact and career development. Dates and themes for sessions running until August are also now available. The online café-style conversations aim to promote a positive and inclusive research culture.
Sign up | Pedagogical Power of PebblePad – Professional Placements
Register for the latest Pedagogical Power of PebblePad session, being held online from 11-11.30am on Thursday 7 April. The second workshop in this new series will focus on using this ePortfolio software as a tool for recording, supervising and assessing external professional placements. The quick-fire, 30-minute session will include time for you to ask questions.
Register | LITE Masterclass: Experiences of Digital Assessment
Sign up for the latest LITE Masterclass, running from 12.30-2.30pm on Wednesday 6 April. Organised by Dr Samantha Pugh, Academic Lead for Digital Assessment at Leeds, and run in partnership with the Online Educators Network, this interactive session explores different approaches to digital assessment, to help you plan and design this aspect of your own teaching. This is a hybrid event, with lunch provided for those taking part on campus.
Wellbeing and support
Ramadan support
From next week, many Muslims will begin observing the month of Ramadan (Saturday 2 April to Sunday 1 May). Find out more about Ramadan and how you can support Muslim staff and students during this time. Colleagues can also contact the Muslim Staff Network for further information and guidance.
To those of you observing Ramadan, Ramadan Kareem! We hope everyone stays safe and united as you enter this period of reflection and spiritual renewal.
Trans Day of Visibility 2022
Tomorrow (Thursday 31 March) marks Trans Day of Visibility (TDoV) – an annual celebration of trans and non-binary people, while aiming to raise awareness of discrimination faced by trans people worldwide. To mark TDoV, the Parkinson Building will be lit up in the colours of the trans flag – blue, pink and white.
Events
View | Be Curious 2022 programme
Staff, family and friends are invited to visit Be Curious 2022 – a day of free, fun activities suited to all age groups! Taking place on campus from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 7 May, this year’s event features more than 35 interactive stalls and activities, a hands-on tinker space, maker kits, performances, workshops, tours and more. There’s no need to book and everyone is welcome, with the full Be Curious 2022 programme now ready to view.
Register | Be Curious LATES: Cotton – unpicking the stories woven into our clothes
Don’t miss your chance to sign up for the first in a new series of Be Curious LATES. Taking place from 8-9pm tonight (Wednesday 30 March), the online event explores the complex history, production and consumption of cotton, from the UK and Indian perspective. Discover the global importance of cotton, learn about its history and influence on fashion and take an exclusive peek into the rich textile collections of Leeds Museums and Galleries. LATES events are free to attend and designed exclusively for adult audiences.
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, of Tel Aviv University and a Leeds Cheney Fellow, together with sculptor Dominic Hopkinson. The lecture is part of the Inspired by Bragg programme of scientific and cultural events.
Sign up | Language@Leeds Triennial Showcase 2022
It’s the final call to register to attend the Language@Leeds Triennial Showcase 2022, which runs from 4-6.30pm today (Wednesday 30 March). Language@Leeds is an interdisciplinary centre for language research and scholarship at Leeds. Held at Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall, the showcase includes an extensive programme of talks and posters, finishing with a drinks and canapés reception.
Register | Pedagogic Research in the Arts Slow Conference 2022
Sign up for the inaugural Pedagogic Research in the Arts Slow Conference, which is running until Friday 1 April. The online event explores pedagogical innovation in the arts after the mass move to online teaching and learning with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
In case you missed it
Appeal | Leeds Together For Ukraine
Read | Update on University systems
Reporting your involvement in UCU or UNISON strike action
New year-round student welcome programme
Meet | 2022/23 LUU Student Executive team
Making changes to your identity information
Book | Astbury Conversation with Nobel Prize winner – in person or online
Watch back | Be Curious LATES: World Changers
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