eNews 12 October
New podcast, Further Together, Campus Live programme, making the most of campus, Celebrate Our Staff, Athena SWAN success, Black History Month, wellbeing and support, events and more.
Thought pieces
Listen | World Changers podcast
Catch up on the latest episode of the World Changers podcast series with Associate Professor of Enterprise, Dr Richard Tunstall, and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk. Discussing Dr Tunstall’s World Changers essay, their conversation focuses on how connecting students to real-world experiences opens up their confidence as active problem solvers, providing communities with a creative resource. The podcast is based on the World Changers: Celebrating Impactful Research essay collection, which highlights the transformative research taking place at Leeds.
Inside Track | Collaboration is crucial for our environment
Read a new Inside Track by Professor Selina Stead, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Environment, in which she explains how collaboration plays a vital role in the faculty’s vision for the future. As part of the Further Together campaign, Professor Stead highlights the crucial contributions to research success from a wide range of colleagues, who should be seen and celebrated.
Campus life
Campus Live
Check out this week’s Campus Live programme and watch out for creative art installations and fire performers in the coming days. Week one proved to be a big hit, with attractions including Yorkshire Circus displays, musicians and a superb sand sculpture (see the picture above). Get involved online using #LeedsCampusLive and sign up for weekly Campus Live email updates so you don’t miss a thing.
Making the most of campus
Browse the wide range of activities, events and spaces available to you across the University in the handy new ‘Our ways of working’ webpages. As campus comes alive again with students, it’s good to remind colleagues there’s so much on offer for the whole University community to enjoy. Perhaps you’re new to Leeds or you need inspiration for a team get-together. Maybe you’re looking for some balance in your working day. Whatever your interest, there’s something on campus for you!
Brotherton Research Centre refurbishment
New teaching and research space has been created with refurbishment of the Brotherton Research Centre. Funded by a generous bequest, the John Bedford Room will widen access to the Library’s Special Collections, enabling hybrid teaching and events via Teams or Zoom. It’s part of a wider refurbishment of the centre, which is divided into group and silent study areas to facilitate research and collaborative work involving the collections.
Recycle Week 2022
Parkinson Building will be lit up green from Monday 17 to Sunday 23 October to mark Recycle Week 2022 – a national campaign encouraging people to recycle more of the right things, more often.
Celebrate
Celebrate Our Staff
Read the latest edition of our regular feature celebrating the achievements of colleagues across the University, showcasing success stories ranging from new appointments and awards to an epic US cycle ride! You can contact Internal Communications and Engagement to make submissions for the next roll of honour. This is open to all colleagues.
Athena SWAN success
The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures has received a prestigious Athena SWAN Bronze award, recognising its ongoing efforts to promote equality and inclusivity for all staff and students. The Athena SWAN Charter supports and transforms gender equality and inclusive working practices within higher education.
Appointment | National role for leading researcher
Professor Cath Noakes, who played an important role in Britain’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, has been appointed to chair a new national science committee. Professor Noakes, from the School of Civil Engineering, led a sub-group of SAGE, the UK’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, during the pandemic. She will now chair a new committee that will offer assurance to Great Britain’s workplace regulator, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Black History Month
Access | Information and resources
Visit the Equality and Inclusion Unit’s Black History Month (BHM) 2022 webpage to access information and resources to help mark this year’s programme, including a history of the initiative, guidance on how to support the anti-racism movement, and details of local and online events. Running throughout October, BHM provides an opportunity to promote and celebrate contributions of Black people to British society and foster a deeper understanding of Black history. University buildings will be lit up black and yellow on Monday 31 October to mark BHM.
Sign up | CERS talk
Join the Centre for Ethnicity and Racism Studies (CERS) for a talk by guest speaker, Dr Kennetta Hammond Perry, titled ‘Black Futures Not Yet Lost: Black Abolitionism and the Politics of History’. The online event, which marks Black History Month, takes place from 5-6.15pm on Thursday 27 October. Please register in advance via Zoom to receive a joining link.
Students
Student newsletter
Read the latest student newsletter, which includes top study tips, safety advice, Campus Live information, reverse mentoring opportunities, event listings and more.
Higher education news
Information | New OfS regulations
The Office for Students (OfS) has changed how it regulates quality and standards at English universities. The five new conditions of registration for existing providers set more stringent expectations than the conditions they replace. Four of these came into effect in May, and the final one was introduced at the beginning of this month. Read more about the new OfS conditions of registration on our SharePoint site. Work is ongoing to map how the University complies with each of the conditions of registration, and to ensure they’re factored into our own review processes.
Research
Apply | UK Research and Innovation Impact Acceleration Account
As part of the UK Research and Innovation Impact Acceleration Account (UKRI IAA), Leeds has been awarded funding of £4m for the period up 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. Deadline for the current call is Wednesday 9 November.
Wellbeing and support
Sign up | World Menopause Day activities
Register to take part in activities to mark World Menopause Day on Tuesday 18 October. The programme, designed to raise awareness and to highlight available support at Leeds, includes cafés, lightning talks and yoga.
Register | Menopause in the Workplace workshops
Our next Menopause in the Workplace workshops take place on Thursday 20 October and Wednesday 16 November. The interactive sessions are designed to raise awareness of the menopause and develop a supportive culture for colleagues. Workshops are aimed at all colleagues, but there’s also a specific session for managers.
Book | Physical activity for females
Join Sport and Physical Activity’s interactive workshop for females from 12.30-1.30pm on Wednesday 19 October to discover the benefits of exercise and movement during the menstrual cycle and beyond.
Flu and COVID vaccinations
We’re supporting you to protect yourself by offering paid time off for seasonal flu vaccination and COVID booster appointments. If you’re not eligible for a free NHS flu jab, you can still book a private vaccination. Please keep your receipt and you can claim the cost through e-expenses, up to £17.
Quit smoking support
The national Stoptober campaign offers a range of free support and tools to anyone wanting to quit smoking or cut down. Download the free NHS Stoptober app and join thousands of people quitting this October.
Learning and development
Pilot project | White Rose Equity in Leadership
The White Rose University Consortium has launched the White Rose Equity in Leadership pilot project. Supporting the career development of Black, Asian and other minority ethnic colleagues aiming to advance into senior leadership positions, the project was initiated by the three Vice-Chancellors of the White Rose Universities, including Professor Simone Buitendijk.
Book | Research Culture Cafés
Book your place on upcoming Research Culture Cafés. The next event takes place on Tuesday 18 October. Dates and themes for sessions running until August 2023 are also now available. The online café-style conversations aim to promote a positive and inclusive research culture, helping colleagues propose solutions for change, share experiences and create a community network.
Register | Building Impact Momentum programme
Register your interest in the next Building Impact Momentum programme, which will help develop concrete ideas for impact that can be applied to research projects or grant applications. Running from December to March, the programme is open to research, academic and professional services colleagues. It consists of six webinars, additional reading, partner work and impact practice. The deadline for expressions of interest is 5pm on Friday 4 November.
Sign up | Active Learning Network
Join the new Active Learning Network at Leeds, a collaborative forum where all colleagues with an interest in active learning can share ideas and approaches. Register to attend the network’s launch event and working lunch, which takes place on campus from 12.05-1.55pm on Tuesday 18 October.
Events
Book | Regional collaboration for climate action: a leadership discussion
Book tickets to hear from four key regional voices as they discuss climate action and the importance of collaboration. Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simone Buitendijk; Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin; Priestley Centre Director, Professor Piers Forster; and Professor Andy Gouldson, representing the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission, will form a panel for the event. The discussion will take place in The Great Hall from 11am to 12.30pm on Tuesday 18 October.
Ilkley Literature Festival programme
Access the Ilkley Literature Festival programme to view this year’s events, which run until Sunday 23 October. Through the Cultural Institute, the University is the festival’s higher education partner, offering a range of initiatives and events. These include ‘Melvyn Bragg: Back in the Day’, with our former Chancellor sharing stories from his captivating memoir, and the University of Leeds Poetry Centre Showcase.
Light Night Leeds
Light Night, the UK’s largest annual arts and lights festival, returns to Leeds tomorrow (Thursday 13 October) and Friday 14 October. As part of the celebrations, the University will host three exciting installations on campus, titled ‘Under Pressure’, ‘Voicing Silence’ and ‘Extreme Water’.
Register | Festival of Social Science 2022
Register to take part in the Festival of Social Science 2022. Open to all, the festival showcases leading social science research or related events to engage and inspire public audiences and young people. As a proud partner organisation, we’ve scheduled a series of events for this year’s programme, which runs from Saturday 22 October to Sunday 13 November. From The Great Big Dialect Hunt Quiz to sustaining active travel, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
International Concert Series | Autumn Season
The University of Leeds International Concert Series Autumn Season continues with The Gould Piano Trio performing from 1.05-1.55pm on Friday 14 October. This is followed by the final event in the Inspired by Bragg series, featuring Kabantu: Multiscale from 7.30-9.30pm on Saturday 15 October. The award-winning world music collective has teamed up with academics at Leeds and prolific folk musician, Will Pound, to create a collaborative set inspired by the science of multiscale modelling. Take an instrument along and join in the experimental ‘hotseat’ jam! Taking place in Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall, entry to both events is free and no booking is required. You can also watch the Kabantu concert online.
Register | Bike maintenance session
Clunky gears? Dodgy brakes? Annoying puncture? Join our next bike maintenance session, taking place at the Bike Hub from 2-3pm on Wednesday 19 October. Monthly sessions, which are open to staff and students, teach a range of basic skills, including fixing lights, tyres, brakes and chains.
Book | Online Educational Resources toolkit launch
Register to attend the launch of a new Open Educational Resources (OER) toolkit, which takes place online from 1-2pm on Tuesday 25 October. Dr Chrissi Nerantzi, Associate Professor of Education at Leeds, will talk about the theory and practice of open education. There will also be a tour of the toolkit, developed by the White Rose Libraries of Leeds, Sheffield and York to support educators to understand, engage with and sustain OER in their work and practice.
In case you missed it
Further Together | New stories
Apply | Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice
Book | Building a relationship-based approach to working with students
Sign up | Psychosocial Resources suite of workshops
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