eNews 23 November
Decolonising the curriculum, staff celebrations, Disability History Month, Campus Live, Climate Plan, industrial action, Wider Wallet, Fresh Start Festival, research podcasts, events and more.
The Stage Musicals Society performs a flash mob to the soundtrack from Grease, as part of Campus Live
Thought pieces
Inside Track | Decolonising the curriculum
In a new Inside Track feature, Bethan Corner, Leeds University Union Education Officer, and Dr Amrita Mukherjee, one of our Decolonisation Academic Leads, outline the reasons for decolonising the curriculum, the next steps being taken at Leeds and how you can get involved.
Celebrate
Celebrate Our Staff
Read the latest edition of our regular feature celebrating the achievements of colleagues across the University, showcasing new appointments, awards and more. You can contact Internal Communications and Engagement to make submissions for the next roll of honour. This is open to all colleagues.
Award | Horizons in Education Prize
Colleagues in the School of Chemistry have been celebrating success after receiving an Horizons in Education Prize. Awarded by the Royal Society of Chemistry, the coveted accolade honours their work helping students “think more like scientists”. Colleagues, including Dr Nimesh Mistry and Dr Stephen Gorman, are recognised for encouraging students to shape their own experiments to develop their skills.
UK Disability History Month 2022
Visit the Equality and Inclusion Unit website for information about the events we’re hosting to mark UK Disability History Month 2022, together with available support for staff and students. Running until Friday 16 December, this year’s theme is ‘disability, health and wellbeing’. University buildings will also be lit purple for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Saturday 3 December.
Order | Graduation ceremony gowns
Academic colleagues attending graduation ceremonies in December have until Friday 25 November to order a gown. 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 colleagues should contact the graduation team to set up an account.
Campus Live
Packed programme of events
More exciting events are scheduled for Campus Live this week, with highlights including free plants being given out by Leeds Islamic Society from 1pm today (Wednesday 23 November) outside Leeds University Union (LUU). This is also the venue tomorrow (Thursday 24 November) for a water and ink painting show, as well as an origami roadshow. Live and interactive music performances on Friday 25 November see Jenna Bowman, who specialises in musical theatre, singing outside Edward Boyle Library at 12 noon. Adam Maghout and Miles O’Sullivan will then perform pop and rock hits of the past three decades, from 2pm outside LUU. Get involved online using #LeedsCampusLive and sign up for weekly Campus Live email updates so you don’t miss a thing.
Final call | Yarn bombing
Submit squares of knitting or crocheting by 12 noon on Monday 28 November to be part of an exciting art installation for the University precinct gates! Pieces can be up to 25cm x 25cm in size. Collection points are at the LUU Helpdesk and the student information points in the Ziff or Worsley buildings.
Read | New blog
Read the new blog from Kseniia Lazareva, Jessica Todd and Austra Aprane, who share their experiences of working as interns on the exciting Campus Live project.
Climate change
Update | Climate Plan Annual Progress Review
As a result of our request for feedback on the Climate Plan Annual Progress Report, we received submissions from staff and students spanning many faculties and services. We really appreciate all the responses shared through the public consultation. The Climate Plan Research Partnership Committee will consider the feedback and publish its response in early 2023. We will provide updates in due course, both through the Priestley Centre bulletin and eNews.
Industrial action
Strike action this week
Strike action by three trades unions is due to take place this week. Please refer to the industrial action FAQs on For Staff for further information.
- Three days of strike action are planned by University and College Union (UCU) on Thursday 24, Friday 25 and Wednesday 30 November. Action short of strike (ASOS) will commence today (Wednesday 23 November).
- Seven days of strike action are planned by UNISON, running from Thursday 24 to Wednesday 30 November.
- Five days of strike action are planned by Unite on Thursday 24, Friday 25, Monday 28, Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 November.
Digital developments
Viva Insights
From mid-December, the MyAnalytics dashboard will automatically redirect to the Microsoft Viva Insights webpage. You will still get the same personalised information and tips, based on your existing Office 365 data, but Viva Insights also shows how you spend your time and suggests ways you could work smarter. Set your virtual commute, track how you feel over time, send praise to colleagues and more. You can also build helpful habits by booking focus time and viewing wellbeing, networking and collaboration insights.
Update | Teams Voice project
All 4,000 colleagues in phase one of the Teams Voice project have been successfully migrated to the new system, but please contact the project team via the feedback form if you’re experiencing any issues. We’re now updating the underlying infrastructure, and the next phase – starting in January 2023 – will look at colleagues with more complex telephony requirements, such as hunt groups and switchboards.
Staff benefits
Wider Wallet benefit temporarily extended
The University has temporarily extended its contract with the Wider Wallet discount portal to enable colleagues to continue using this service. Existing users can access their account with their current username and password. New accounts can be registered on the Wider Wallet website using the code WW9775R.
We’re working hard to introduce extra staff benefits, and we will soon be announcing a new reward and recognition partner, but Wider Wallet will remain in place until that time.
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 12 noon on Friday 25 November. Email leedsandyou@leeds.ac.uk for further information.
Read | Student newsletters
Read the latest student newsletter, which includes top tips for managing studies, wellbeing advice, links to available support at Leeds and the latest Campus Live information. A special cost of living newsletter offers money-saving tips from other students, together with budgeting and financial advice. This follows the University’s recent announcement of a £1.5m boost to our financial support fund, which also includes extending free period products across campus, scrapping library fees and subsidising hot meals.
Feedback
Have your say | Travel to Work Survey 2022
Take part in Leeds City Council’s Travel to Work Survey 2022, with feedback used to inform transport planning, strategies and investments. The survey should only take about five minutes to complete, with a deadline of Friday 2 December.
Research
Listen | Research Culture Uncovered podcast
Listen to the latest instalment of the new Research Culture Uncovered podcast. Professor Cat Davies, Dean for Research Culture at Leeds, talks about her role, the importance of research technicians, her pride in our grassroots initiatives and hopes for the future. A collaboration between Researcher Development and Culture in Organisational Development and Professional Learning (OD&PL) and Open Research in the Library, the weekly episodes are funded by Research England. About 20 minutes long, they cover different aspects of research culture and feature a range of special guests.
Register | New tool for funding opportunities
Sign up for an online training session on Pivot-RP, the new easy-to-search database containing details of active internal, national and international funding opportunities available to researchers at Leeds. The session takes place from 10-11am on Tuesday 6 December. See the Research and Innovation Service website for further information about Pivot-RP.
Listen | Global Challenges podcast
Listen to the latest episode of Global Challenges, the podcast series from the Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour (LITAC), which looks at the role of textiles in healthcare and how they can make an impact on patients, healthcare providers and industry.
Learning and development
Deadline extended | Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme 2023
The deadline for academic colleagues to submit project proposals for the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme 2023 has been extended to Monday 28 November. The scheme invests in talented and motivated undergraduate students, giving them the knowledge, skills and experience to become active global citizens and future leaders.
Book | Pedagogical Power of PebblePad workshop
Book your place on the next Pedagogical Power of PebblePad workshop, taking place from 11-11.30am tomorrow (Thursday 24 November) via MS Teams. Rachael O’Connor, Lecturer in the School of Law, will speak about her use of PebblePad for students’ authentic reflection, while Judith Simpson, Student Education Service Manager, talks about the platform’s usefulness as an electronic guidebook.
Become a LinkedIn Learning curator
Get more from your LinkedIn Learning account as a curator. Upload your own custom content, create and share learning pathways and get insights into the number of content views and completions. LinkedIn Learning curator roles are available for all schools and services, and it’s an ideal opportunity for colleagues with a focus on learning, teaching or leading the development of others.
Sign up | Academic personal tutoring workshops
Sign up for an introduction to academic personal tutoring, which takes place from 2.30-3.45pm on Wednesday 11 January 2023. Designed for those new to the role at Leeds, this online session will consider key aspects of academic personal tutoring, such as the boundaries of the role, referrals and facilitating a sense of belonging. You can also join an online session about how to build authentic tutor/tutee relationships, which has been rearranged to take place from 10-11am on Thursday 8 December.
Wellbeing and support
Apply | Workplace mediators
Do you have the personal skills to provide confidential and impartial support to colleagues experiencing problems with their working relationships? The University Mediation Service is looking for volunteer workplace mediators. Training and support are provided. Deadline for applications is Sunday 18 December.
Register | Mindfulness-based stress-reduction course
Join the next free eight-week mindfulness-based stress-reduction course, available online via Zoom in the spring term. Contact Yvonne Bell for further information and to book your place. More details are available by clicking on the Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources link at the foot of the Wellbeing, Safety and Health webpage (please note some of these documents are PDFs).
Events
University Carol Service
Start the festive season on a high note by attending the University Carol Service, featuring traditional readings and Christmas music. Taking place in the Great Hall from 5.15-6pm on Tuesday 6 December, the event is free and no booking is required. Contact the Chaplaincy for further information.
Launch | Working Class Network
Join us for the online launch of the Working Class Network, featuring guest speaker Dr Teresa Crew, author of ‘Higher Education and Working-Class Academics: Precarity and Diversity in Academia’. This group aims to provide a space for colleagues who self-identify as being working class or who have working-class heritage. The event will take place via MS Teams from 4.30-5.30pm on Monday 12 December. Please join the Working Class Network MS Teams area to access the event invite.
World Antimicrobial Awareness Week
Find out more about World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, which aims to highlight the risks posed by bacteria, parasites and fungi developing resistance to medicines, such as those used to treat malaria. Running until tomorrow (Thursday 24 November), the University’s AMR@Leeds network is promoting the cross-sectoral collaboration taking place to tackle antimicrobial resistance. The Parkinson Building will also be lit blue tonight (Wednesday 23 November) to mark the occasion.
Register | MedTech Showcase 2022
Register to attend the MedTech Showcase 2022, which takes place from 12 noon to 6pm on Monday 28 November. We’re joining forces with our innovation community at Nexus, The Data Shed and Leeds Digital Festival to provide a platform to the region’s MedTech innovators, shining a spotlight on the important work being undertaken and the challenges they face. This is an opportunity for colleagues and industry professionals working in these fields to connect, share knowledge, support one another and advance innovation.
Exhibition | Another Brick in the Wall
A new exhibition opens at The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery today (Wednesday 23 November). ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ delves into the architecture of British university campuses in the post-war period.
International Concert Series | Autumn Season
The University of Leeds International Concert Series Autumn Season continues with a performance by versatile ensemble Cobalt Brass, taking place in Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall from 1.05-1.55pm on Friday 25 November. Entry is free and no booking is required. Don’t worry if you can’t make it in person as the concert will also be screened online.
In case you missed it
Fifteen to One | Jenny Baynes Q&A
Register | Transforming our staff and student experience
Breaking barriers: Professor Lisa-Dionne Morris
Register | Menopause in the Workplace workshops
Submit a request
You can submit a request for an eNews entry via email. Please contact us in advance of the deadline (the Friday preceding the relevant Wednesday circulation date), so we can advise you on our editorial and content guidelines.
Other than in exceptional circumstances, eNews entries should be no more than 60-70 words long, as these are designed to be bite-sized chunks of news linking to other trusted sources (such as University websites) for full details.
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.