21 June 2022

eNews 21 June

eNews: Increased annual leave, Climate Plan update, Executive Dean announcement, new staff survey, awards, Summer in Leeds 2022, Esther Simpson sculpture, Piers Sellers Prize and more

university building

Fairer future for all

Increased annual leave and other commitments to you

On Friday 17 June, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk, wrote to all staff to share a series of commitments which, aligned to our University values of collaboration, compassion, inclusivity and integrity, aim to improve conditions for colleagues and will help us build a fairer future for all. Find out more about additional leave for all staff and other commitments

Climate change

Climate Plan update  

Our first Climate Plan update provides details of progress made against each of our seven climate principles in the past six months, as well as outlining our Climate Plan governance structure.

Appointments

Executive Dean announcement

Professor Mark Kearney has been appointed Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health (FMH). Having held the post in an interim capacity since March 2021, Professor Kearney will take up the role with immediate effect. Find out about his vision for the future of FMH

Feedback

A new approach to seeking your opinions 

Soon we’ll be launching a new staff survey platform to improve the way we seek colleague opinions and build subsequent action plans. We’ll share further information soon.

Celebrate

Research Culture and Engaged for Impact Awards

Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination for the inaugural Research Culture and Engaged for Impact Awards. The impressive number of applications highlight the broad spectrum of world-changing research at Leeds, together with the amazing work being undertaken by a wide range of colleagues to support this vibrant community. Winners and runners-up will be presented with their awards during a campus showcase on Tuesday 19 July, hosted by our Chancellor, Professor Dame Jane Francis, and Professor Nick Plant, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation. The awards committee also thanks the external judging panel for its vital contribution to this exciting new initiative.

Leeds Partnership Awards | Giving a voice to mature students

Read the latest in our series of articles profiling the winners of this year’s Leeds Partnership Awards. The feature highlights the achievements of the Mature Student Advisory Board – part of the Lifelong Learning Centre – which won this year’s School Community Partnership Award in recognition of its work to amplify the voices of mature students.

Industrial action

Strike action | UNISON

UNISON is calling on its members to take industrial action this week (until Friday 24 June). If you take strike action, you must report your participation as soon as possible upon your return to work following the strike dates and, in any event, no later than 5pm on Friday 1 July. Visit our Industrial action webpage for further information, including our updated questions and answers about UNISON action

Digital developments

Apple Mac users | Urgent action required

If you use a University owned Apple Mac laptop or desktop computer, you must register it with us by completing the Device Data Validation form before 5pm on Friday 24 June. Any devices not registered by this time will no longer be supported by IT and will be in breach of our security guidelines. These devices may also be locked out of University applications, such as Office 365 and Outlook.

Online resources and training | Minerva Ultra Course View 

Need assistance or advice in the transition to Minerva Ultra Course View? A series of online resources and bookable training sessions are now available to support colleagues in updating their module areas during the summer period.

Update | Teams meeting recordings

From Monday 27 June, Teams meeting recordings will be stored in the new version of Microsoft Stream (Sharepoint) rather than the old version (Classic). You’ll still be able to access your previous recordings, and the way you start and stop recordings won’t change. This is part of an update by Microsoft to bring Stream, SharePoint, OneDrive and Teams together.

Research

Final chance | Virtuocity facilities tour 

This is your final chance to book a tour of the Virtuocity facilities, with the deadline extended until Monday 27 June. 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, together with the chance to meet researchers. You’ll also be able to discuss opportunities for future collaboration in software development, research projects and student education.

Book | Inspiring Innovation Seminar Series

Book a place at the first Inspiring Innovation Seminar, which takes place from 12 noon to 2pm on Monday 27 June, followed by lunch and networking. The seminar, which is being held at the Nexus lecture theatre, will showcase real-life examples of innovation journeys taken by researchers and provide insight on how to move an idea arising from research through to implementation. You can also book to join the second seminar on Monday 18 July. 

Apply | UK Research and Innovation Impact Acceleration Account

As part of the UK Research and Innovation Impact Acceleration Account (UKRI IAA), the University has been awarded funding of £4m for the period from April 2022 to March 2025. University researchers can apply for IAA funding, which supports early-stage translation of UK research to real impacts, transforms public services, forges new partnerships and more. Visit the dedicated IAA Funding webpage for further information.

Learning and development

Register | Part-time Business Management and Leadership degree

Find out more about our Business Management and Leadership degree, a part-time course taught one evening a week designed to build on your knowledge and experience of business management to develop your career. Staff can register to attend a taster session on campus, which takes place from 5.30-8pm tomorrow (Wednesday 22 June), or attend the online information event, which runs from 6-7pm on Wednesday 20 July.

Students

Register | UCAS confirmation and clearing call-handling 

Colleagues not already involved with admissions are invited to volunteer for confirmation and clearing call-handling for when this year’s A-Level results are published on Thursday 18 August. No prior knowledge of admissions is needed as full training and support will be provided. We’re also looking for volunteers to help with a ‘practice run’ on Tuesday 19 July.

Summer in Leeds 2022 

Following the success of Summer in Leeds last year, plus the Winter and Fresh Start festivals, this year’s Summer in Leeds programme will run from Monday 27 June to Friday 16 September. Events are free for our staff, students and their families/friends – all we ask is that advance bookings are made. To help colleagues share key messages, we’ve created a Summer in Leeds 2022 communications toolkit you can use to help promote the free events to students and staff staying in Leeds or arriving during the coming months.

Wellbeing and support

Join | Parent and Carer Peer Support Network  

Are you a parent or carer looking for extra support? Help is available through the MS Teams-based Parent and Carer Peer Support Network, which includes a series of monthly online sessions. The next Parent and Carer Support session takes place from 11am to 12 noon tomorrow (Wednesday 22 June). Contact Gemma Traviss-Turner or James Willmoth for further information and to be added to the Teams group.

Take part | Mindful movement and music

Chat, have fun and express yourself in a Mindful movement session running from 10am to 12 noon on Thursday 23 June. The event will introduce you to the gentle exercise of Qigong and give you the chance to write your own song lyrics in a group. Sessions are facilitated by a Qigong instructor and two experienced musicians, with light refreshments available throughout.

Events

Esther Simpson | Sculpture unveiling and memorial concert

Juanjo Novella's sculpture ‘Curtain’ will be officially unveiled during an event at the Esther Simpson Building from 5.30-7.15pm tomorrow (Wednesday 22 June). Juanjo will then take part in a conversation with Jane Bhoyroo (Principal Keeper, Leeds Art Gallery) and an audience question-and-answer session. Following this, Opera North and the School of Music will hold a joint concert from 7.30-9pm in Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall marking Esther Simpson’s contribution to refugee welfare, as part of Refugee Week 2022. Find out more and register to attend on Eventbrite or contact LUBScomms@leeds.ac.uk for further information.

Register | Piers Sellers Prize

Register for our annual Piers Sellers Prize event, being held online via Zoom from 11am to 12.15pm on Thursday 7 July. Prizes will be presented in the name of the climate scientist astronaut and Leeds alumnus, Piers Sellers. This year’s winner is Professor Joyeeta Gupta, from the University of Amsterdam, for her world-leading contribution to solution-focused climate research. The prize-giving event will also include short presentations from the 2022 PhD prize winners, Adele Dixon (School of Biology) and Angus Naylor (School of Earth and Environment).

Register | The Future of 3D Printing

Sign up for the latest event in the Life of Colour Seminar Series, being 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.

Book | Nexus Connect 

Sign up for Nexus Connect, the second in a new series of networking events, which takes place at Nexus from 4.30-6.30pm on Thursday 30 June. The event brings innovators together to make meaningful connections, discuss ideas, share common areas of interest and discover opportunities for collaboration. This is a great opportunity for colleagues to find out more about, and network with, the innovative businesses within the Nexus community.

Register | Global Citizenship Conversation 

Sign up for the latest Global Citizenship Conversation, being held online from 2-3pm on Monday 27 June. Led by Leeds Institute of Teaching Excellence fellows, this is an opportunity for colleagues to discuss what’s meant by global citizenship in the context of higher education, and explore if there are possible alternatives to a global citizenship education.

Book | Gryphons Go Kids Camps  

Summer holidays approaching and not sure how to entertain the kids? Book them onto Sport & Physical Activity’s Gryphons Go Kids Camp for either single or multiple days. Children can swim, climb and explore the outdoors, as well as develop their physical skills and make use of our superb educational facilities. Camps will be hosted at The Edge from Monday 1 to Friday 26 August.

In case you missed it 

Agreement reached | End of marking and assessment boycott

Inside Track | Improving equity, diversity and inclusion for all

Sir William Henry Bragg building officially opened

Update | Ukraine

How do I keep personal data safe?

Update | New reading lists system  

Action required | Windows 7 devices

Update | Key Travel Service  

Book | ‘Supporting Student Mental Health’ webinar

Cycle to Work Scheme | New options

Wellbeing in our ways of working

Register | Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship

Apply | Building Impact Momentum Programme  

Deadline extension | Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice

Sign up | Business Disability Forum

Read | Lifelong Learning Centre newsletter

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