eNews 18 January
Fifteen to One Q&A, memorial tribute, coronation bank holiday, Staff Festival, Leeds Partnership Awards, Fresh Start Festival, IT website, Be Curious, welcome event, Women at Leeds Network and more.
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Thought pieces
Fifteen to One | Ann Allen
From shaping the future vision for our amazing campus to focusing on delivering net zero by 2030, Ann Allen’s role at Leeds is as diverse as it is central to the University’s strategy and values. In our latest Fifteen to One Q&A feature, the Director of Campus Innovation and Development reveals the thinking behind these exciting projects and where she draws her inspiration from.
Campus life
Memorial tribute
More than 100 members of the Cleaning Services team and other University staff attended a moving and uplifting memorial service in St George’s Field on Thursday 12 January to honour eight colleagues who recently passed away. Team members read poems, played music and led tributes. Lead Chaplain, the Rev Anthea Colledge, and Muslim Student Advisor, Farhat Yaqoob, from the University’s Chaplaincy, conducted a short service during which all eight names were read out. This was followed by the laying of flowers and the unveiling of a memorial plaque.
Coronation bank holiday
The coronation of His Majesty King Charles III takes place on Saturday 6 May. Monday 8 May has been designated a national bank holiday to mark the occasion, so the University will be closed on this day with only critical services available.
Road closures
Several roads on campus are closed for resurfacing. Vernon Road is shut until tomorrow (Thursday 19 January). There’s no access to the south of campus during this time for vehicles heavier than 7.5 tonnes. A diversion is in place via Willow Terrace Road for vehicles under this weight. Lodge Street is closed until Friday 20 January, while Cavendish Road will be reduced to a single lane – and subject to traffic management – until tomorrow (Thursday 19 January). Contact James Wright, Senior Maintenance Manager, for further information.
You can keep up to date about disruptions on campus by visiting the Campus Development webpage, where you can also sign up for a newsletter. Updates are also posted on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Celebrate
Final call | Staff Festival 2023 charity nominations
There’s still time to nominate a charity to benefit from this year’s Staff Festival. Plans are in full swing for this summer’s return of the hugely popular entertainment extravaganza, with a packed programme of events in the pipeline. All colleagues, family and friends are invited to join us on campus on Friday 30 June for an afternoon of exciting activities, full details of which will be announced nearer the time. Homeless Street Angels will be one of the beneficiaries of this year’s event, but you can also nominate a second charity to receive a funding boost. The deadline is 5pm on Friday 20 January, after which you’ll be able to vote for the winner.
Leeds Partnership Awards make a positive impact
The annual Leeds Partnership Awards will once again highlight the achievements of staff and students who truly put into practice the agreement setting out our shared commitment to work together to support all aspects of our University community. As entries open for this year’s coveted accolades, some of the 2022 recipients reveal what winning has meant to them.
Apply | Water Woman Award 2023
You can now enter the Water Woman Award 2023, recognising the achievements of women in research and their power to inspire others. Organised by water@leeds in partnership with faculty Athena SWAN teams, each of the four winners will receive £1,000 for their staff development accounts. Applications close at midnight on Monday 30 January.
Students
Fresh Start Festival
Fresh Start Festival returns for a second year, with a week of exciting events, activities and opportunities planned from Monday 30 January to Sunday 5 February. Run in partnership with Leeds University Union (LUU) and part of the year-round welcome approach, the festival helps students find information and support, make connections and discover their place at Leeds, however long they’ve been with us. The full Fresh Start Festival programme is available on the Leeds&You page, with new events being added regularly. You can also visit the Student Communications team SharePoint site to download templates and resources to promote the festival to students, including email headers and signatures, social media tiles and PowerPoint slides.
Digital developments
IT website new look
The University’s IT website will be changing soon. Together with an updated look, it will include new features to make it easier to use and find support. You’ll also be able to discover more about what’s going on behind the scenes in IT. The site was developed in consultation with staff and students, and we’ll continue to work with you to make further improvements.
Climate change
Register | UK Climate Change Committee event
Book your place at a UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) event being held in the Nexus Lecture Theatre from 12 noon to 1pm on Tuesday 7 February. Chief Executive, Chris Stark, will talk about CCC’s upcoming research programme, which will be followed by lunch and networking opportunities with University colleagues and members of the CCC Secretariat.
Research
Apply now | Research Development Fund
Applications for the next round of the Research Development Fund are open until 5pm on Wednesday 22 February. Awards of up to £600 are available to support patient, public or stakeholder involvement or engagement in the research design stage. Contact the Public Engagement team for further information.
Be Curious 2023
Submit a proposal to feature your research at Be Curious 2023, the annual open event showcasing the University’s world-changing research to the wider public. Watch last year’s Be Curious highlights video and see how, with your help, we can inspire the next generation of researchers. The Public Engagement Team is taking proposal submissions until Friday 3 February. You can also book 15-minute slots at the Be Curious surgeries taking place today (Wednesday 18 January) and Thursday 26 January, where you can discuss your ideas before making a submission.
Apply | Collaborate Fund
Expressions of interest are invited for the second round of Collaborate funding. Overseen by the Leeds-based Centre for Cultural Value, the fund supports the development of collaborative research projects between the UK cultural sector and academics. Applications can be submitted until Monday 20 February for the 10 shortlisted projects.
Learning and development
Foundations in Teaching course
Register for the online, self-paced Foundations in Teaching (FiT) course from Organisational Development and Professional Learning (OD&PL), providing information and advice to those new to teaching at Leeds. After completing the course, you’re invited to optional sessions to support teaching development in specific areas, such as planning, designing and delivering your teaching.
LinkedIn Learning | Most popular courses
See what the most popular LinkedIn Learning courses of 2022 were globally and among staff and students at Leeds. If you haven’t accessed your free University account before, find out how to get the most out of LinkedIn Learning in this handy staff guide from OD&PL.
Wellbeing and support
Welcome event for new staff
Book your place at the next virtual welcome event for new staff taking place from 10-11.30am on Thursday 16 February. Find out more about Leeds, meet new colleagues and explore the range of benefits, support and advice available.
Sign up | New Year step challenge
Put your best foot forward in 2023 by joining colleagues across the University in registering for the New Year step challenge. Running from Monday 30 January to Sunday 5 February, those signing up for the fitness fun will be randomly assigned to a team of six colleagues. People of all abilities are encouraged to take part, with a range of methods available to measure and track your movement. There are photo bonuses up for grabs and a lively Microsoft Teams chat to keep you motivated. Registration closes at 5pm on Thursday 26 January.
Register | Social leagues
Fancy starting or getting back into playing sport? Why not join staff and students in the Sport and Physical Activity (SPA) social leagues, featuring netball and five-a-side football. Visit the SPA website for further information or to submit a team before registration closes on Friday 20 January.
Events
Book | Bragg Exchange 2023
Book your tickets for the Bragg Exchange 2023, taking place on Wednesday 25 January. The Bragg Centre for Materials Research will be hosting its biggest and most wide-ranging symposium yet, with presentations and talks from Leeds researchers and special guests on interdisciplinary research related to materials.
Sign up | Child of the North webinar series
There’s still time to 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 member universities, including Leeds. The latest webinar in the series takes place online via Zoom from 1-2.30pm tomorrow (Thursday 19 January).
Register | New exhibition launch
Sign up for a special celebration event, taking place from 5.30-7.30pm on Tuesday 24 January, launching an exciting exhibition for the curious explorer! Shifting Borders: A Journey to the Centre of our World(s), housed at the Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery, delves into the world of maps, from a pioneering travel guide printed in the 15th century to contemporary artists’ books. On display will be artefacts belonging to, or created by, explorers, spies, scientists, mapmakers, artists and authors, showcasing the depth and variety of Special Collections at Leeds.
Workshop | Women at Leeds
The Women at Leeds Network (WALN) is hosting a workshop event on ‘The Emotional Labour of Research’. Taking place on campus from 12 noon to 1pm on Wednesday 22 February, the event brings together three speakers – led by Melanie Bell, Professor of Film History at Leeds – talking about how the often ‘hidden’ elements of the research journey can be recognised in a supportive way to build a sense of connection among participants.
Register | Working Class Network
Join the Working Class Network from 4-5pm on Monday 23 January for its second event, featuring an online talk from guest speaker Charlie Davis, Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham. Titled ‘Fostering narrative encounters for HE staff of working-class heritage’, the event will draw on his Academics of Working-Class Heritage Talking project. Join the Working Class Network MS Teams area to access the event invite.
In case you missed it
VC blog | Faith in difficult times
Blog | Our Curriculum Redefined journey so far
Fifteen to One Q&A | Masud Khokhar
LEEDS 2023 | Poet Laureate kicks off spectacular show
Further Together | Inspirational stories
Watch | Campus Live highlights video
Find out more about our new Transformation Office
Apply | Funding opportunity for early career researchers
Listen | LITAC Global Challenges Podcast
Apply | Leeds Museums and Galleries collaboration
Staff guides | Assessment tools
Assessment and feedback resources and events
Book | Minerva Ultra Course View training
Sign up | PebblePad training course
Register | Management Essentials
Sign up | Sustainability: The Role of the Manager
New dates | Development programmes
Professional Recognition in Student Education (PRiSE)
Book | Concordat Awareness Month
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