eNews 2 November
COP 27, Climate Plan, Campus Live, annual reward process, Remembrance Day Service, Brontë manuscripts, football hub, Fresh Start Festival, graduation, Guy Fawkes event and more.

Climate action
Register | COP27 webinar
World leaders, researchers and civil society will meet in Egypt from Sunday 6 to Friday 18 November at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) to negotiate the next steps in tackling the climate crisis. The University is sending a delegation to host events and contribute to the accountability of the process. Register for a COP27 webinar, taking place at 3pm today (Wednesday 2 November), to hear members of the Leeds delegation discuss their planned activities and hopes for the conference.
COP27 at Leeds
A range of interesting events are taking place to bring COP27 back to Leeds, including ‘Ask a Climate Researcher’, a climate change play and a webinar about water. Keep up to date with the latest information by visiting the Priestley Centre COP27 webpage and by following the centre on Twitter.
Consultation | Climate Plan Annual Progress Report
Have your say about the University’s Climate Plan Annual Progress Report. The Priestley Centre has been commissioned to coordinate an independent progress review of our Climate Plan. As part of this, a consultation is open until 5pm on Wednesday 9 November to ensure staff, students and the public can submit feedback on the report, which covers the period from November 2021 to October this year.
Campus Live
Take part | Questionnaire
Have you heard about Campus Live, our packed programme of exciting events taking place at the University throughout the autumn term? There’s still time to take part in our Campus Live questionnaire, with the chance to win a £25 Amazon voucher! Closing date is 5pm on Friday 4 November.
Latest line-up
Campus Live continues to be a huge hit, with recent attractions including live musical theatre and dance shows, as well as fascinating workshops focusing on the arts and crafts. Week four Campus Live programme highlights range from mural painting to interactive music performances – there really is something for everyone to enjoy! Get involved online using #LeedsCampusLive and sign up for weekly Campus Live email updates so you don’t miss a thing.
Staff reward
Annual reward process
The annual process for managers to recommend colleagues for additional scale increments (ASI) or discretionary increments (DI) will begin later this month and conclude in February 2023. Further details of the process can be found on the HR website or by speaking to your HR team. A reminder will be shared with managers later this month.
Campus life
Remembrance Day Service
Our Remembrance Day Service takes place in the University Precinct, outside the LUU building, from 10.55am on Friday 11 November. There will be a two-minute silence at 11am followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Brotherton Memorial in the Parkinson Building. Contact chaplaincy@leeds.ac.uk for further information.
Rare Brontë manuscripts go online
New acquisitions of rare manuscripts are now available online in the Special Collections catalogue. A treasure trove of literary history, the collection (pictured above) includes first editions and handwritten manuscripts by the Brontë sisters, as well as letters from their brother, Branwell, and fellow author, Elizabeth Gaskell.
Community football hub opens
Grassroots sport in Leeds has received a huge boost with the unveiling of the Bodington Football Hub. Located at Sports Park Bodington and made possible thanks to a £4.3m grant from the Football Foundation, the new community facility includes three full-size, artificial 3G floodlit football pitches, car parking and a pavilion with changing facilities and a café. Watch our football hub video featuring Suzanne Glavin, Head of Sport & Physical Activity.
Nightline Awareness Week
University buildings will be lit up blue to mark Nightline Awareness Week on Friday 11 November. Leeds Nightline, a confidential listening and information service for students over 16 in Leeds, is a student society based at LUU.
Bike thefts | Security support
Support is available from the University’s Security team following a recent spate of bicycle thefts on campus. D-locks can be bought at a discounted rate from the Security Office at 175 Woodhouse Lane. Colleagues are also advised to sign up to BikeRegister, with Security able to attach one of the scheme’s tags to your bike so it can be easily identified, should it get lost or stolen. Call 0113 343 5494 to make an appointment.
Road reopening
Vernon Road has reopened following its closure since early September for repairs. Temporary traffic lights will be in place between Nexus and the Physics Deck from 9am to 4pm on Monday 7 November for a survey investigation.
Digital developments
Teams calls | Reducing interruptions
From mid-November, you’ll be able to manage your call settings in Microsoft Teams. Rather than interrupting you during another conversation or meeting, you can choose whether new calls go to voicemail, are forwarded to another number or group, or the caller just gets a busy tone.
Register | IT open sessions
Register now to attend IT open sessions to find out what’s happening within the service and to put your questions to the IT Executive Leadership Team. Sessions on Wednesday 9 November will also provide updates about Teams Voice and the Windows Refresh project, as well as the migration of M/N drives and Documentum. Don’t worry if you can’t attend – you can still use the registration form to submit your questions and a recording will be made available afterwards.
Students
Fresh Start Festival
Following the huge success of this year’s inaugural event, we’re seeking ideas for Fresh Start Festival 2023 – a week of activities run in association with LUU to bring the whole University community together. Running from Monday 30 January to Sunday 5 February, the festival includes opportunities for colleagues to host events, activities, networking sessions and stalls designed to help students connect with the University and each other, ensuring they get the most from their time at Leeds. Deadline for submissions is noon on Friday 25 November. Email leedsandyou@leeds.ac.uk for further information.
Student newsletter
Read the latest student newsletter, which includes advice about how to register with a doctor, exploring the student union, being a good neighbour and meetings with personal academic tutors.
Graduation
Order | Graduation ceremony gowns
Academic colleagues attending graduation ceremonies in December are reminded the deadline to order a gown is Friday 25 November. Colleagues who’ve ordered before have been sent an invitation to register attendance and submit their gown requirements. Please check your junk folder if the email hasn’t landed in your inbox. New staff should contact the graduation team to set up an account.
Research
Apply | Research funding
Applications are open to the Research England Enhancing Research Culture Fund 2022-23. Proposals ranging from £5,000 to £50,000 are invited for projects promoting a more supportive, inclusive and collaborative research environment. Projects can be undertaken by researchers or academic, technical and professional services colleagues and teams. Deadline to apply is 5pm on Friday 9 December.
Register | For the Public Good
Academic colleagues are invited to apply to take part in ‘For the Public Good’ by Wednesday 9 November. Part of Leeds 2023, and supported by the Horizons Institute and the Cultural Institute, this is an opportunity to collaborate with internationally based artists to create technological solutions for climate justice.
Join | UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships panels
Academic colleagues at all levels are invited to contribute to the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships by joining the Peer Review College or Talent Panel College for the scheme. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in identifying the UK’s next generation of research and innovation leaders. Deadline to apply is Friday 4 November.
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.
Learning and development
Build your Scholarship Practice
Explore the new Build your Scholarship Practice programme from Organisational Development and Professional Learning (OD&PL). Informed by Curriculum Redefined, it’s designed for colleagues to realise their pedagogic research agenda by asking questions, devising methods for investigation, identifying opportunities to share research and connecting with peers. The launch event, featuring speakers including Professor Jeff Grabill, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Education, takes place in the Newlyn Building from 2-4pm on Monday 21 November.
Online PGCAP event
Find out more about the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) during an online event, taking place via Teams from 12 noon to 1pm on Friday 4 November. This session explores how the course works, why participants engage with the PGCAP and the impact it has on enhancing their student education practice. Applications to join the PGCAP are open until Monday 21 November.
Register | Building Impact Momentum programme
Register your interest in the next Building Impact Momentum programme by 5pm on Friday 4 November. Running from December to March, the programme will help develop concrete ideas for impact that can be applied to research projects or grant applications. This is open to research, academic and professional services colleagues.
Events
Register | Guy Fawkes, the Gunpowder Plot and the Yorkshire Connection
Remember, Remember the 5th of November! Register to hear a fascinating talk about Guy Fawkes, the Gunpowder Plot and the Yorkshire connection. Leeds academic and author, Tony Morgan, brings this important part of our history to life during a special event at the Laidlaw Library, running from 2-3pm on Friday 4 November.
Sign up | Women in Data
Join us on campus from noon to 2pm on Monday 21 November as we co-host a Women in Data (WiD) event. Part of WiD Week 2022, the event features our Chief Data Officer, Monica Jones, together with Jackie Shears (NHS, Our Future Health) and James Morgan (ASDA) sharing their insights on reinvention, transition and upskilling. This is followed by Roisin McCarthy, WiD founder, moderating a panel on the power of networking and partnership. Join the WiD community to register or for further information.
Book | Leeds University Business School (LUBS) Distinguished Speaker Series
Register to attend the latest event in the LUBS Distinguished Speaker Series. Professor Cynthia Lee (Northeastern University) will discuss ‘How and why COVID-19-associated uncertainty affects employee work outcomes?’ during the seminar, which takes place in the Maurice Keyworth Building from 9.45am to 12 noon on Wednesday 9 November. Refreshments will be provided. Email researchtraining@leeds.ac.uk to book your place.
Register | Nexus Connect
Sign up for the latest Nexus Connect event, being held at the University’s innovation hub from 4.30-6.30pm on Wednesday 9 November. This networking series 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.
Sign up | Child of the North webinar series
Register for the latest Child of the North webinar, part of a series focusing on children growing up in the North of England. Hosted by the N8 Research Partnership, the webinars showcase the variety of research into this theme across the member universities, including Leeds. The third webinar in the series takes place online via Zoom from 1-3pm on Wednesday 9 November.
International Concert Series | Autumn Season
The University of Leeds International Concert Series Autumn Season continues with two events on Friday 4 November. First up is the Ivo Neame Quartet, who perform their varied mix of sonic landscapes in Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall from 1.05-1.55pm. This is followed at 7pm with an open mic session in the Clothworkers Bar. Attendance to both events is free and no booking is required.
In case you missed it
Inside Track | Community approach to student success
Results | Balancing Life Survey 2022
Apply | Early Career Researcher Development Fund
Read | Lifelong Learning Centre newsletter
Register | Research Impact Coaching
Book | Building authentic tutor/tutee relationships
Register | UKCGE Research Supervision Recognition Programme
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