eNews 22 March
Employee engagement survey, Library success, Staff Festival appeal, digital transformation event, online courses, parking, development opportunities, Ramadan, British Academy Lecture and more.
Feedback
Employee engagement survey | Thank you for taking part
Thank you to everyone who completed the employee engagement survey, which closed on Monday (20 March). Nearly 5,300 of you took the opportunity to tell us what matters most to you, submitting more than 30,000 individual comments. The Executive and Leadership teams will now analyse the results, review all the feedback and begin the process of developing action plans in response, to help make working at the University more enjoyable and fulfilling. We will let you know as soon as we’re able to share this information.
Thought pieces
The future of libraries
In an interview with the Bayt Al Fann website, Masud Khokhar (pictured above), University Librarian and Keeper of the Brotherton Collection, discusses how libraries shape identity and culture, as well as future possibilities generated by technological developments.
Celebrate
Library excels in Customer Service Excellence
The Library’s strong record in Customer Service Excellence has continued, achieving 12 ‘Excellent’ or ‘Compliance Plus’ ratings in a recent reassessment. This prestigious accreditation is measured against internationally agreed standards of service, including staff attitude, delivery of service, customer insights and the culture of the organisation. Particularly praised was the emphasis on customer feedback and user experience shaping policy and improving services.
Final call | University of Leeds Teaching Awards
Applications for the University of Leeds Teaching Awards 2023 close at 5pm on 24 March. The prestigious scheme recognises excellent practice in student education.
Sign up to support Staff Festival success
An urgent appeal has been issued to help make this year’s Staff Festival the best ever. Success of the eagerly anticipated event will once again rely on the hard work of a dedicated team of volunteers, together with those willing to showcase their skills through a variety of wonderful workshops and memorable musical performances.
Digital developments
Book | Achieving digital transformation: The roadmap and latest developments
Interested in hearing about our Digital Transformation Strategy? Book your place on a hybrid event – taking place from 1-2.30pm on 12 April – to share the roadmap and latest developments, including the opportunity to ask questions. You’ll hear from Pro Vice-Chancellor: Digital Transformation, Professor Jo-Anne Murray, and Professor Arunangsu Chatterjee, Dean of Digital Transformation.
Fully online MSc in Data Science (Statistics) launched
A new fully online Master of Science (MSc) in Data Science (Statistics) has been launched by the University on the online learning platform, Coursera. Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Education Professor Jeff Grabill explains the significance of this development.
Outlook security advice
Did you know if your personal devices are running an older version of Outlook, attackers could steal your password by sending you a meeting invite? University devices are secure, but if you access work emails on a personal device, always use the Office 365 website to ensure you stay safe. If you have the desktop version of Outlook on your personal device, make sure it’s the latest version.
Climate change
Meet the researchers | Tackling global water challenges
The urgency to tackle water-related challenges facing the world features in the latest webinar series from the Advancement team with researchers from water@leeds. Sessions are being held on Zoom from 6.30-7.30pm every Wednesday until 29 March.
Students
Student Education: ‘Human library’ to bring colleagues together
Fancy borrowing the brains of University experts to help shape your student education projects? A new series of events with the concept of bringing people together in a ‘human library’ – including the Leeds Educator Community Coffee Morning from 9-11.30am on 28 March – will let you do just that. Read more, sign up for events and subscribe to news and resources on student education from the Student Education microsite.
Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme 2023
There’s still time for students to apply for the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme 2023. If you have teaching responsibilities, please share details of this paid opportunity with first year undergraduates or students on the second year of a four-year course. Eligible students can submit applications through MyCareer until midnight on 26 March.
Undergraduate Research Conference | Call for abstracts
We’re hosting our first ever Undergraduate Research Conference on 15 June to showcase the incredible variety of projects undertaken by our students. Please encourage your students to apply by the deadline of 24 March. Further information about the conference and guidance on how to apply is available on the undergraduate research webpage.
Student podcasting workshop
Attend a workshop to explore the ethical, educational and social benefits of student podcasting for teaching and assessment. Learn how to design assessed podcasting tasks for a variety of undergraduate modules, and support students to research and script their podcasts. Examples of assessment criteria and rubrics will also be provided. The workshop takes place from 10am to 1pm on 29 March.
RAG Week
Featuring karaoke contests, art stalls and abseiling down the Michael Sadler building, RAG Week is taking place across the University until 26 March. Four charities will share the money raised, and colleagues can donate and take part in the activities. The Parkinson Building is also being lit up green this week to mark the occasion.
Research
Social sciences research funding
Leeds Social Sciences Institute (LSSI) has been awarded £1.25 million of Impact Acceleration Account funding. The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) award will strengthen our interdisciplinary social science research and help establish new partnerships to accelerate the translation of our research outputs into direct benefits for society.
Helping researchers achieve real-world impact
The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) team has been holding engagement events for researchers who want to see their work achieve real-world impact, culminating in a showcase at Nexus from 10am to 1pm on 24 March.
Campus life
University Road parking restrictions
Parking will be prohibited along the entire length of University Road from 6-11 April while line markings are refreshed. Please don’t leave your car there during the Easter weekend. Contact the Estates Services Helpdesk for further information.
Supporting people who struggle to communicate
The Parkinson Building will be lit up yellow on 24 March for Communication Matters. A UK-wide charity supporting people who struggle to communicate, Communication Matters’ 2023 conference will be held at the University in September.
Take part in the UK’s largest health research programme on campus
Our Future Health – the UK’s largest health research programme – has a clinic at Beech Grove House on campus. You can book an appointment on the Our Future Health website. A blood sample and physical measurements will be taken, and you will receive blood pressure and cholesterol level results in return. You can also hear from staff and students about their experiences of taking part.
Learning and development
Sign up | The Conversation training
Register for a training session with The Conversation, the news analysis and opinion website featuring content written collaboratively by academics and professional journalists and read by 5.5 million people in the UK each month. Taking place on Zoom from 10.30-11.30am on 23 May, the training will provide an introduction to writing for the site. Contact the External Communications and Campaigns team for further information.
Register | Management Essentials
Book your place on the upcoming Organisational Development and Professional Learning (OD&PL) Management Essentials sessions, designed for new and existing managers. Sessions cover a variety of topics, including an introduction to management, health and wellbeing, sustainability, recruitment, health and safety, SRDS, supporting excellence, having difficult conversations and managing professional relationships.
PebblePad resources
Browse the new portfolio of PebblePad resources for colleagues, including a selection of workbooks, templates, portfolios and assets that some of our schools and faculties have created for students. You can request a copy of the resources and adapt them for use in your own practice.
Apply | Personal and professional development programme
Apply for the next Springboard development programme. Run by OD&PL, the course is designed specifically for the personal and professional development of women working in roles graded two to four. Topics include improving self-confidence, setting goals, networking and effective communication, assertiveness and work-life balance. The programme consists of eight workshops running from May to August.
New programme to develop skills and action plans
Register for the Navigator development programme, run by OD&PL and designed for men in roles graded two to five. Navigator has been developed in response to the success of the Springboard development programme. It supports participants to develop the skills and action plans needed to achieve their goals, while also helping manage stress, change and work-life balance.
Sign up | Development drop-in session
Attend the next drop-in session run by OD&PL at the LOGIK Centre on 28 March to find out more about personal and professional development for colleagues working in roles graded two to five. The event runs from 10am to 12 noon with no need to book. Sessions take place on every fourth Tuesday of the month, unless the University is closed.
Read | Lifelong Learning Centre newsletter
Read the latest Lifelong Learning Centre (LLC) newsletter, providing information about how the LLC can support you in your role at the University. Sign up to the LLC mailing list to have the termly newsletters sent direct to your inbox.
Wellbeing and support
Ramadan Mubarak
Many colleagues will be fasting as they observe the month of Ramadan (22 March to 21 April). The exact dates depend on the moon sightings based on the lunar calendar. During this period of reflection and spiritual renewal, we hope everyone stays safe and united. Guidance is available for supporting staff and students during Ramadan and colleagues can also contact the Muslim Staff Network for further information.
Reduce stress with 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.
Finding calm and mindfulness in times of pressure
Practice meditation with Buddhist monks and nuns and hear more about their knowledge and experiences in a session about finding calm and mindfulness in times of pressure. Taking place in Leeds University Union from 10am to 2pm on 19 May, and including a mindful walk and lunch, the event is open to all with a range of ticket prices.
Events
International concert series
24 March
The University of Leeds International Concert Series continues with two more performances. Violinist Charlotte Salust-Bridoux and pianist Joseph Havlat grace the Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall stage from 1.05-1.55pm, followed at 7.30pm by the School of Music Ensemble Performance: Chamber. Entry to both events is free and no booking is required.
Register | 2023 British Academy Lecture
5-6.15pm, 29 March
Book your free place at the 2023 British Academy Lecture, taking place in Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall. Tamara Levitz, Professor for Comparative Literature and Musicology at UCLA, will talk about The Future of Music Studies.
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.