eNews 1 March
Employee engagement survey, Staff Festival supremo, LGBT+ videos, pay award, industrial action, Our Future Health, GDPR, free fitness and wellbeing sessions, International Women’s Day and more.
Have your say
Join your colleagues by sharing your views
Thousands of you have already taken the opportunity to tell us what matters most to you through our employee engagement survey.
Thank you to everyone who’s filled out the survey. And for those who haven’t, there’s still plenty of time to make sure your voice is heard.
Open until 20 March, the survey takes an average of 15 minutes to complete, depending on how detailed your answers are. Just click on your unique link in the email from Culture Amp – the software platform we’re using to deliver the survey – to take part. For those without an email address and/or access to a computer, facilities are available in your place of work to fill it out.
Visit the employee engagement survey online hub for further information, including video messages explaining why it’s so important to take part and some handy FAQs.
Employee survey | Helping transform our health and wellbeing
Patrick Craig, Head of Health and Wellbeing, outlines why taking part in the University’s employee engagement survey is crucial in helping develop our first ever Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
Inside Track | Continuing the big conversation about our research culture
With the launch of our employee engagement survey, Professor Cat Davies, Dean for Research Culture, outlines how past feedback is helping shape ongoing improvements to the research culture at Leeds.
Thought pieces
Fifteen to One | Jo Westerman
Discover Staff Festival supremo Jo Westerman’s plans for this year’s exciting entertainment extravaganza, why she was awarded an MBE and how winning another coveted accolade led to one of her most treasured career highlights.
Celebrate
Watch | Favourite LGBT+ films and shows
As LGBT+ History Month draws to a close, we asked colleagues across the University about their favourite LGBT+ films, TV shows and famous figures. Watch our LGBT+ videos on Twitter.
Leeds Partnership Awards 2023 nominations
More than a thousand nominations have been submitted for the Leeds Partnership Awards 2023. Thank you to everyone who took the time to help celebrate the amazing people who work together to support all aspects of our University community. Finalists will be invited to a special ceremony on campus on 9 May.
New projects promote healthy research culture
Funding has been approved to “strengthen and diversify the vital research undertaken at Leeds”. Thirteen projects from across all seven faculties will share £267,000 from the Research England Enhancing Research Culture funding we received, aimed at promoting a more supportive, inclusive and collaborative research environment at the University.
Celebrating the people behind our world-changing research
Did you know a team of University researchers has been turning food waste into useful and desirable products, or that we’ve found a way of helping more dental patients secure appointments following COVID-19? Read about these – and more – inspiring stories on the redesigned Further Together website.
Industrial action
Update on strike action
The UCU has announced one additional day of strike action on 15 March. Planned strike action this week is paused as Acas-facilitated discussions between the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) and the higher education trades unions continue.
Our regular meetings with our three campus trades unions provide clear, established routes to discuss all employment matters. We continue to progress the work underway to improve conditions locally, including how we reduce the number of staff on fixed-term contracts and address pay gaps, the cost of living crisis and workloads. More information can be found on our Industrial Action In depth and FAQ pages on For Staff.
Campus life
Take part in the UK’s largest health research programme on campus
Our Future Health – the UK’s largest health research programme – is opening a clinic at Beech Grove House on campus, which will operate from 6 March.
Our Future Health aims to transform the prevention, detection and treatment of conditions such as dementia, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. With up to five million volunteers across the UK, the goal is to create one of the most detailed pictures ever of people’s health.
Staff and students can book an appointment now on the Our Future Health website. As well as having a small blood sample and some physical measurements taken at your appointment, you will be offered information about your own health, including blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Update | Work to fix low water pressure
We apologise for the ongoing water supply issues in the Social Sciences, Edward Boyle Library and Ziff (13th and 14th floors) buildings. The Facilities Directorate (FD) continues to work with Yorkshire Water to find solutions. This includes tracing possible leaks and connecting local pipes to a mains feed, which has improved water flow in the lower floors of Edward Boyle Library. Major works begin next week to improve supply reliability and should be complete by the Easter break. Please contact the FD Helpdesk for further information or support.
Digital developments
Helping ensure GDPR compliance
As previously outlined in an email from University Secretary Jennifer Sewel, the quarantine process for the M: and N: drives starts today (1 March). This is part of the project to ensure the University’s files are compliant with data protection regulations and our own data retention schedule. Visit the IT website for an explanation of the quarantine process or read the data protection FAQs for further information. Please contact the Information Governance team if you have any other questions.
Reporting spam and phishing emails
From 6 March, you will be able to report spam and phishing emails to Microsoft from both the desktop and web versions of Outlook. Click on the ‘Report phishing’ or ‘Report message’ buttons when you open or preview a message. Reporting will help Microsoft update its email filters and the message will be moved to your junk folder.
Minerva | Your feedback and 2023/24 module content copying
Provide feedback on Minerva and find out about module content copying for the 2023/24 academic year at the Digital Education Systems Help website.
Students
Register | Access and Success Insight Session
Sign up for the latest Access and Success Insight Session – an online forum held every other month to share information and discuss our performance against the Access and Student Success Strategy. The next event, running from 9.30-11am on 30 March, focusses on how we’re using learning analytics to offer support to students. Speakers include Professor James Pickering, Dr Bronwen Swinnerton, Jenn Coates from the Plus Programme and Student Engagement Callers Will Reid and Chantelle Fuller. Contact Jess Burgess to register your place.
Helping students make the most of their money
Please encourage students to participate in Student Money Week (SMW), which runs until 3 March. Held in partnership with Leeds University Union (LUU), SMW features a packed programme of free on-campus and online activities, including careers advice, financial tips from a bank, giveaways and more to help students make the most of their money.
Volunteer | In2science work placements
The In2science summer work placement programme helps inspire Year 12 students from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths. The charity is looking for volunteers to host short in-person placements for students in July or August. An induction course is provided and applications close on 31 March.
Research
Listen | LITAC Global Challenges Podcast
Listen to the latest episode of the Global Challenges Podcast from the Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour (LITAC). Hosted by Richard Blackburn, Professor of Sustainable Materials at the University, this episode discusses how a discarded cotton t-shirt can end up making its way into the ocean and what damage it causes. You can also catch up on previous episodes in this series.
Be Curious goes global
Be Curious is now on Twitter! Organisers of the annual open event – taking place on 13 May – will use the site to showcase the University’s world-changing research to the wider public. Its sister site – @UniLeedsEngage – has undergone a makeover. Now called UoL Public Engagement, it will focus on how the PE team can support our researchers in the wider community.
Helping researchers have real-world impact
The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTPs) team is holding engagement events for researchers who want to see their work have real-world impact. Partnering researchers and businesses, this initiative puts research into practice while helping businesses to grow. Events introducing KTPs will be held on a faculty basis from 6-20 March, with a showcase event in Nexus on 24 March.
Bootcamp | Boost your research profile
Does your research profile need a boost? Could your online presence be stronger? Running from 6-10 March, the Research Profile Bootcamp offers practical workshops delivered by professionals from the University and industry, who can help you make the most of your profile as authors, storytellers and champions. View the full bootcamp programme and book sessions.
Sharing your research with the UK Parliament
Research and evidence have a crucial role to play in making and scrutinising national policy, but what’s the best way to go about sharing your research with the UK Parliament? Join the Priestley Centre and Policy Leeds from 12 noon to 1pm on 7 March to hear from an expert panel about their experiences of engaging with politicians, with a particular focus on climate and environmental research.
Final call | Cultural research with Leeds Museums and Galleries
Academics are encouraged to apply to the Cross-Disciplinary Innovation Fund opportunity through the Cultural Institute, which aims to link up researchers with curators from Leeds Museums and Galleries (LMG). With more than one million objects in its collection, LMG is looking for researchers to help explore its extensive, nationally recognised catalogue. The deadline for applications is 7 March.
Overcoming boundaries in global research
Research projects crossing international and disciplinary boundaries have a range of benefits. But what are the challenges? In an online event organised by the Horizons Institute from 11am to 12 noon on 7 March, Professor Martin Dallimer from Leeds and Professor Aliyu Barau, of Bayero University Kano in Nigeria, reflect on their collaboration and how they approach challenges posed by global research projects.
Wellbeing and support
Free mindfulness course
Join the next eight-week mindfulness-based stress-reduction course, run online via Zoom by the Staff Counselling and Psychological Support Services. Contact Yvonne Bell for further information and to book your free place.
Sign up | Fitness Fiesta
Would you like to try some new fitness classes? Join the annual Fitness Fiesta at The Edge between 9.30am and 5pm on 4 March. Sessions range from Body Jam and Hula Hoop to Yoga and Zumba. Try one or have a go at them all! Sessions are free but donations are welcome for the Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal.
Events
Book | Sustainable Garden workshop
1-2.30pm, 2 March
Fancy getting your hands dirty? If so, book your free place at the latest Sustainable Garden workshop. Don’t worry if you can’t make this session as there’s another one scheduled for the same time on 30 March.
International Women’s Day 2023 | Programme of events
3-11 March
Visit the Equality and Inclusion Unit website to view the full programme of University and city-wide events planned to celebrate International Women’s Day 2023 on 8 March. This year’s campaign – #EmbraceEquity – aims to explain the difference between equality and equity and to get the world talking about why equal opportunities are no longer enough.
Register | International Celebration of Women at Leeds
12 noon to 2pm, 8 March
To mark International Women’s Day, the Women at Leeds Network (WALN) is hosting an event celebrating the University’s female staff and postgraduate researchers. A panel of colleagues will explore their experiences of adapting to a new cultural environment, with audience members invited to share their thoughts.
Sign up | Use of AI in higher education
4-5pm, 8 March
As part of Open Education Week, students from the MA Digital Education course in the School of Education are organising an online event to discuss the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education from a student perspective.
Register | Inaugural Tex Talks lecture
2-3pm, 22 March
Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour (LITAC) presents the first lecture in its bi-monthly Tex Talks series. Taking place in Clothworkers’ Building South, Professor Karen De Clerck, from Ghent University, will introduce the technique of electrospinning and the many interesting applications of the nanofibrous materials it produces.
International Concert Series
Various dates
The University of Leeds International Concert Series continues with three more performances. Pianist Siwan Rhys brings together diverse works from the past five years from 6-7pm tomorrow (2 March). The Jervaulx Singers entertain from 1.05-1.55pm on 3 March, followed at 7pm on the same day by the concerts+ open mic night. Taking place in Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall, entry to all these events is free and no booking is required.
Tell us your story
We’d like to hear about the great work you’re doing. Contact the Internal Communications and Engagement team to share your stories.
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 previous editions of eNews and other 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.