eNews 1 June
Ways of working, awards, Queen's Platinum Jubilee prize draw, industrial action, student support, Virtuocity tours, Window on Wellbeing, events and more.
Ways of working
Introducing our new approach to ways of working
Dennis Hopper, Interim Chief Operating Officer, wrote to all staff on Thursday 26 May to outline our new approach to ways of working at the University. Please visit the ways of working website to get familiar with our refreshed approach and consider any questions you may have for your line manager, your local leader or to share via the feedback form. The website also includes guidance and support for leaders. Alternatively, you can also contact your local HR team.
Celebrate
Final call | Research Culture and Impact Awards
Applications are open until 5pm today (Wednesday 1 June) for our inaugural Research Culture and Impact Awards. Prizes, funding and an invitation to a special awards ceremony are up for grabs to those colleagues who collaboratively support and enhance research culture and impact at Leeds. You can also read an Inside Track feature by Professor Nick Plant, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, in which he explains more about the awards and shares progress on research culture and impact, as part of the University strategy.
Enter now | Jubilee prize draw
Did you know that a student in the School of Design, Edward Roberts, created the emblem for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee (pictured above)? To celebrate this, we’re running a prize draw. Ten lucky members of staff will win a bottle or bag featuring Edward’s design. Retweet our prize draw post and follow @UniLeedsStaff on Twitter before 5pm on Monday 6 June to enter. Read the terms and conditions for the prize draw on the For Staff website.
Celebrate Our Staff
Catch up on May’s edition of our regular feature celebrating the achievements of colleagues across the University – showcasing new fellowships, awards and much more! Contact Internal Comms and Engagement to make submissions for the next roll of honour. This is open to all colleagues.
Leeds Partnership Awards 2022 | Wellbeing winners
Read the latest in our series of pieces profiling the winners of the Leeds Partnership Awards 2022. This year’s Wellbeing Award was shared between Sashenka Jones (Student Education Service), in recognition of her efforts as a Wellbeing Ambassador, and the Cleaning and Catering team for its extraordinary efforts during the pandemic.
Jubilee | Parkinson light-up
Along with several other major landmarks across Leeds, the Parkinson Building will be lit up red, white and blue during the Bank Holiday weekend (Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 June) to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Industrial action
Information and support
We’re asking colleagues to advise the University of their intention to participate in the University and College Union (UCU) boycott of marking and assessment by completing the action short of strike (ASOS) MS Form by Thursday 30 June. Where colleagues do this and there’s no ultimate impact on their students, no pay deductions will be made.
During this time, we will continue to be guided by three overarching principles: to protect the interests of our students; to retain the cohesion of our community; and to preserve the standard and integrity of Leeds degrees and other qualifications.
The University remains open to finding a resolution to this current period of industrial action, and many local actions are already in train through our Fairer future for all action plan, including collective consultation with our trades unions on the proposed changes to fixed-term contracts, reviewing our workload principles and modelling, and initiatives around equity, diversity and inclusion. At the Joint Committee of the University and UCU meeting last week, senior management and local UCU branch members had a positive discussion and we hope to continue talks.
See our staff industrial action questions and answers and student industrial action questions and answers, which are updated with the latest information.
Students
Updates | Banner Student Record system
Updates planned for the Banner Student Record system mean it will be unavailable on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June. Improvements are part of the work being undertaken to ensure the system is ready for the next round of student admissions and the new academic year. More details will be communicated directly to Banner users once the update is complete. Contact Ruth Wilson or Louise Marr for further information.
Join | Student Success Forums mailing list
Join the Student Success Forums (SSF) mailing list, hosted by the Student Success at Leeds team, to receive event invites. The SSF bring staff and students together to reflect, discuss and share best practice to maximise student success. Upcoming forums include ‘Inclusive Assessment’, from 10am to 12 noon on Wednesday 15 June, and ‘Inclusive Pedagogies’, from 2-4pm on Wednesday 29 June. Visit the Student Success at Leeds webpage for further information and resources.
Book | ‘Supporting Student Mental Health’ webinar
Academic Personal Tutors, and other colleagues with an interest in supporting student mental health, can book on to an OD&PL webinar, hosted via MS Teams from 10-11.15am on Thursday 30 June. The event considers some of the issues faced by students with poor mental health and explores how we might create a culture of acknowledgement and support.
Feedback
Final call | Security Services survey
The Security Services team is dedicated to making campus welcoming, safe and secure. To maintain and improve this service, the team needs to know what you think about safety on campus. Please complete the Security Services survey by Friday 3 June and be in with the chance of winning a £100 gift card.
Research
Register | Virtuocity facilities tour
Book a tour of the Virtuocity facilities – our unique programme for city simulation and co-design – as part of the Institute for Transport Studies’ 50th anniversary celebrations. Staff and postgraduate students can sign up for sessions running from Wednesday 6 to Friday 8 July. Tours, which last for 60-90 minutes, include a short demonstration of each Virtuocity lab by the team of developers and the chance to meet our researchers. You’ll also be able to discuss opportunities for future collaboration in software development, research projects and student education. Closing date to book tours is Monday 13 June.
Apply | Research Development Fund
Applications for the next round of the Research Development Fund are open until 5pm on Monday 6 June. Awards of up to £600 are available to support patient, public or stakeholder involvement or engagement in the research design stage.
Digital developments
Reminder | Change to Minerva Ultra Course View
The change to Minerva Ultra Course View module areas for the 2022/23 academic year will take place from the week commencing Monday 6 June. A series of online resources and complementary virtual training sessions will soon be available to provide a smooth transition for colleagues during the summer period.
Learning and development
New PebblePad webpage
Visit the new PebblePad webpage – a one-stop shop for all things PebblePad, ranging from a general introduction to the ePortfolio platform and access tips, to training, workshop links, technical guides and more.
Register | PebblePad workshop
Sign up for the latest PebblePad workshop. Natasha Watchorn will present on implementing PebblePad into clinical practice, while her School of Medicine colleague, Imelda Marshall, will explore how PebblePad can be used as a paperless, streamlined student workbook. The event takes place from 11-11.30am on Thursday 9 June.
Campus
Leeds Ball | Campus restrictions
Advice has been issued regarding restricted access on campus during this year’s Leeds Ball. Thousands of students will congregate in and around LUU on Saturday 4 June to enjoy a packed programme of entertainment, including live music, DJs, stalls, fairground rides and games.
Taste of Summer | New campus café drinks
To celebrate the arrival of summer, Great Food at Leeds (GFaL) has launched a new Taste of Summer drinks range! Enjoy the refreshing range of beautiful beverages, including the Iced Caramelised Biscuit Latte and Raspberry Heaven Smoothie! Available from selected GFaL outlets across campus now. Follow GFaL on Instagram for further information and updates.
Wellbeing and support
Window on Wellbeing (formerly Staff Healthy Week)
Find out more about our new Window on Wellbeing initiative. Formerly called Staff Healthy Week, the exciting programme of online and in-person events – running from Monday 13 to Friday 17 June – offers opportunities for all colleagues to explore a wide range of wellbeing activities and support, from Qigong classes and healthy posture advice, to indoor bouldering and high-energy dance sessions. There will also be a day of activities devoted to menopause support. Everything is free and you can book as many sessions as you like.
Events
Inspired by Bragg | Afternoon celebration
Join us on Tuesday 7 June for an afternoon celebration to mark the official opening of the Sir William Henry Bragg Building. View rare items from our Treasures of the Brotherton collection, enjoy live music from the Black Dyke Brass Band and hear an inspiring talk giving a fascinating insight into ‘hidden worlds’. Professor Dame Julia Higgins’ lecture will explore how the use of neutron beams helps us see the beauty of the microscopic and understand how large molecules are arranged and move. The free event will be held at the Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall, or you can also watch Professor Dame Higgins’ lecture online
Sign up | Future Fashion Factory Showcase 2022
Register to attend this year’s virtual Future Fashion Factory Showcase, which takes place from 8.45am to 6.30pm on Wednesday 15 June. Hear from leading designers, as well as manufacturer and technology experts, on topics ranging from industry skills and digital fashion to sustainability and some of the new innovations being supported by the Future Fashion Factory
Register | The Future of 3D Printing
Sign up for the latest event in the Life of Colour Seminar Series, run by the Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour from 2-3pm on Thursday 23 June. In the online event, Yoav Bressler, from 3D printer manufacturers, Stratasys, will discuss the future of laser technology to achieve the goals of business and industry.
Watch back | Be Curious LATES: Cotton’s Hidden Voices
Watch back the most recent Be Curious LATES event on YouTube. ‘Cotton’s Hidden Voices’ offers global insights into the environmental and social challenges of cotton production. You can also sign up to the final Be Curious LATES series event. ‘Fabric Futures’, which explores the future for cotton and fashion, takes place from 8-9pm on Wednesday 13 July.
In case you missed it
Appointment | Next Chief Operating Officer
Leeds Partnership Awards | Overall winner
Flood management project completed
Northern Gritstone plans first investments
Register | UCAS confirmation and clearing call-handling
Graduation information updates
Apply | LITE Fellowships for academic and professional staff
Sign up | Research Culture Cafés
Register | LITE Masterclass: Towards the inclusive university
Support | Academic personal tutoring
Cleaning team photographic exhibition
International Concert Series | Summer Festival 2022
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
- view our previous staff email communications on our dedicated In depth webpage; 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.