eNews 5 April
eNews: Climate Plan videos, Student Opportunities and Futures Strategy, Digital Universities UK, digital transformation events, Spring break, Be Curious 2023, mentoring, Cyclescheme and more.
Climate plan
Watch | Professor Dame Jane Francis video
Watch a video by Professor Dame Jane Francis, Chancellor and Director of the British Antarctic Survey, as she talks about the need to take action on climate change and the impact on at-risk areas such as Antarctica.
Watch | Net zero video
Ann Allen, Director of Campus Innovation and Development, and James Dixon Gough, Head of Net Zero Delivery, update on the University’s ambitious plans to reduce carbon emissions, which will enable us to hit our net zero targets.
Thought pieces
Inside Track | Collaboration key for Student Opportunities and Futures strategy
Jane Campbell, Head of Student Careers, and Professor Karen Burland, Academic Lead for Student Opportunities and Futures, explain how our new Student Futures and Opportunities strategy puts students at the centre of the employability ecosystem.
Pay and contracts
Gender, Ethnicity and Disability Pay Gap Report 2022
The 2022 Gender, Ethnicity and Disability Pay Gap Report – for the period March 2021 to March 2022 – has been published. We’re committed to addressing all pay gaps and the report sets out the measures we’ll be taking to reduce them. Visit the Equality and Inclusion Unit website to access the 2022 Gender, Ethnicity and Disability Pay Gap Report and for further information.
Campus life
Update | Water supply issues
Work to fix problems with the water supply in the Ziff Building (floors 13 and 14), Social Sciences and the Edward Boyle Library is on schedule. Final connections are due to be made during the spring break (6-11 April), after which it’s hoped services will return to normal. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we work to resolve this issue. Please contact the Estates Helpdesk at eshelp@leeds.ac.uk with any questions or for further information.
University Road parking restrictions
Parking will be prohibited along the entire length of University Road during the spring break (6-11 April) while line markings are refreshed. Please don’t leave your car there during this time. Contact the Estates Helpdesk at eshelp@leeds.ac.uk for further information.
Digital developments
Two weeks until Digital Universities UK
We’re proud to be co-hosting The Times Higher Education (THE) Digital Universities UK 2023 from 17-20 April, bringing together higher education, industry and policy leaders where the fields of academic innovation and technology meet.
This is the first time this annual event is being held outside London and sessions are being delivered by several colleagues from across the University. We will be showcasing our academic innovation and technology expertise, including robotic endoscopies, data-driven farming and simulating cities to make urban transport safer and more efficient.
Book | Achieving digital transformation: The roadmap and latest developments
1-2.30pm, 12 April
Interested in hearing about our Digital Transformation Strategy? Book your place on a hybrid event 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.
Register | Coffee and chat with our Pro Vice-Chancellor
2-4pm, 19 April
Book your place on our coffee afternoon for the opportunity to meet our Pro Vice-Chancellor: Digital Transformation, Professor Jo-Anne Murray. Drop in to Seminar Rooms 1 and 2 at Nexus for coffee and a chat. This will be a chance to ask Jo-Anne any questions you may have and will also be a networking opportunity to meet colleagues from across the University.
Helping shape digital experiences
Teaching staff and colleagues working in professional services roles are encouraged to complete their respective Jisc Digital Experience surveys by 17 April. The surveys are an important way to understand how digital tools and technology are helping to support colleagues in their roles and to identify where improvements can be made. Participants will be entered into a draw for the chance to win one of six £50 Love2shop vouchers.
Finance website new look
The Finance website has a new look from today (5 April). It has been split into two, with an external-facing website that includes financial information the University is required to publish and an internal-facing SharePoint site featuring University financial policies, a department overview and financial ‘jargon buster’. Contact the finance team at finance@adm.leeds.ac.uk with any comments about the new sites.
Celebrate
Communications Matters awards
Communications Matters – a registered charity based on campus – celebrated its ground-breaking work during a recent biannual awards event. The charity supports people of all ages who find it hard to communicate because they have little or no clear speech, working across the UK to promote the best possible solutions for people with complex communication needs.
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 – being held on 30 June – 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. Applications close on 21 April.
Watch | Professor Sanjoy Bhattacharya – World Health Organization’s 75th Anniversary
Professor Sanjoy Bhattacharya, Head of the School of History, spoke at the 75th Anniversary campaign for the World Health Organization (WHO). Watch the broadcast on the WHO’s Twitter account (Professor Bhattacharya appears 18 minutes and 55 seconds in).
Spring break (6-11 April)
University closure
Colleagues are reminded the University will be closed during the spring break. It will reopen on 12 April. Check out the updated spring break opening hours for Great Food at Leeds and The Edge.
Easter
Happy Easter to all our staff and students celebrating this religious festival. Easter Sunday falls on either 9 or 16 April, depending on which Christian denomination is being followed. Many Christians also observe Holy Week from the Sunday before Easter, during which they remember the events surrounding the death of Jesus, while on Easter Sunday they celebrate his resurrection. We wish you all a hope-filled Easter.
Helping students stay up to date
Keep students informed of University opening hours, services and events during the spring break with editable content and templates to share in your local communications. Visit the holiday information page on For Students to see what’s on and access the student comms SharePoint hub to download email and social media templates to share with your students.
IT Service Desk
The IT Service Desk will be closed during the spring break. Find out more about getting technical support during this time and how Falco, the IT services chat bot, can help with your queries.
eNews deadlines
Due to the spring holidays, eNews will take a break after today’s edition, resuming on 19 April (submissions deadline 14 April).
Research
Save the date | Be Curious 2023
10am to 4pm, 13 May
Be Curious – the annual open event showcasing the University’s world-changing research to the wider public – returns next month. Each year we turn campus into a hub of free family friendly activities, with the chance to get hands on with the research that happens at Leeds. There’s no need to book and everyone is welcome. See the full Be Curious programme, which features more than 40 interactive stalls and activities, from marvellous microbes, robots and chocolate trials to DIY spell books and a brain booth!
Sign up | Research Culture Cafés
9.30-10.30am, 17 April
Book your place at the next Research Culture Café. The online event will discuss the themes of equality, diversity and inclusion in research. Dates and themes for sessions running in June and August are also available to book. The online café-style conversations aim to promote a positive and inclusive research culture at Leeds. They help colleagues propose solutions for change, share experiences and create a community network.
Expression of Interest | Climate Change and Africa
Showcasing the wide range of research projects relating to climate change and Africa, the Leeds University Centre for African Studies (LUCAS), the Priestley International Centre for Climate and the Centre for Global Development are organising an event for colleagues from across the University interested in collaborating and showcasing their research. The event takes place in July and colleagues can submit their research for the showcase by emailing the LUCAS team at African-Studies@leeds.ac.uk by tomorrow (6 April).
Call for proposals | ‘African Ecologies’
LUCAS and the British Institute in Eastern Africa are hosting an interdisciplinary writing and mentoring workshop on the theme of ‘African Ecologies’. Taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 29-31 July, Africa-based Arts, Humanities and Social Science early-career researchers can submit papers by emailing the LUCAS team at African-Studies@leeds.ac.uk by 12 April.
Resource | Leeds Social Sciences Institute Co-Production Research Toolkit
Aimed at early career researchers and academics looking to engage in co-production and participatory research practice, the Leeds Social Sciences Institute Co-Production Research Toolkit highlights best practice in participatory research at the University and identifies key priorities for innovative interdisciplinary methods development.
Learning and development
Register | Mentoring scheme
Apply to be a mentor or mentee on the University mentoring scheme before 24 April to be included in the next matching process. Mentoring partnerships are available to all colleagues and are mutually beneficial and rewarding. Colleagues will share their knowledge and skills and support others to achieve their individual objectives. Organisational Development and Professional Learning (OD&PL) provides workshops for mentors and mentees to support you in getting the most from this process.
Career information, advice and guidance
Sign up for the next OD&PL programme providing career information, advice and guidance for colleagues working in roles graded two to five. The programme consists of three sessions exploring effective CVs and applications, interview skills and mock interview practice.
Staff benefits
Sign up | Cyclescheme webinars
Register for webinars hosted by Cyclescheme – the provider of the University’s Cycle to Work scheme. The free 30-minute sessions – running on four dates in April and May, starting tomorrow (6 April) – will give you a general overview of how Cyclescheme works, the savings to be made and how you can apply.
Staff networks
Join | Women at Leeds Network committee
The Women at Leeds Network is undergoing some big changes, including refreshing its committee membership. The committee is key in driving and informing the development of the network. Please send an email to women@leeds.ac.uk by 30 April if you’re interested in joining, briefly explaining a little about yourself, why you'd like to join and what you feel you’d bring to the network.
Wellbeing and support
Ramadan support, advice and information
Many staff and students are currently observing Ramadan, which takes place until 21 April. But what exactly is the Islamic holy month? Find out answers to the most common questions about Ramadan, discover the meanings to some of the Arabic terms you may hear and learn how to support your Muslim friends and colleagues during this period of prayer and contemplation. You can also read about advice and support available during Ramadan, including links to campus prayer spaces, the Iftar programme, celebrating Eid and how to ask for help.
Special offer | The Edge pass
Get a seven-day pass to The Edge for just £12 during the spring break! Make the most of all the facilities, including the 25m swimming pool, newly refurbished gym and spin studio, climbing wall and a variety of exercise classes for any week until 1 May. This special offer can be purchased from The Edge reception or contact the team on 0113 343 5095.
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.