eNews 24 May

Employee engagement survey results, intranet survey, Data Transformation, hybrid meeting rooms pilot, World Changers essays, Staff Festival attractions, IMC team profile, Window on Wellbeing and more.

eNews 24 May 2023

Feedback

Employee engagement survey | Communicating the results

The employee engagement survey results have been published. In an email sent to all colleagues yesterday (23 May), Professor Simone Buitendijk, Vice-Chancellor and President; Professor Hai-Sui Yu, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor; and Rachel Brealey, Chief Operating Officer, laid out the next steps for how we will analyse, reflect and act on the results.

Have your say in our future employee intranet

Help us design a modern news and information online service for employees. We hope to build a single, trusted intranet for employees. Give us your insights in this short survey by 2 June. You’ll also be automatically entered into a prize draw with the chance to win one of five £25 shopping vouchers.

Thought pieces

Inside Track | Accessing all areas

In a new Inside Track feature, Louise Banahene, Director of Educational Engagement, and Kenny McDowall, Dean of Student Education (Portfolio and Curriculum), reflect on the University’s strong track record in widening access – and the challenges to improve it further at all levels of study.

Digital developments

Making the case for Data Transformation

We’re transforming the way we use data. Chief Information Officer Dan Simms and Chief Data Officer Monica Jones tell us how.

Pilot project plan to improve hybrid working

In response to demand from colleagues, we’re piloting hybrid meeting rooms on campus until the end of June to further improve our ways of working at Leeds. Find out how you can take part.

Minerva | Preparing modules for 2023/24

New Minerva module areas for the 2023/24 academic year will be available for population from early June. Information and support are available, along with a summary of key updates made to Minerva since June 2022. 

Celebrate

World Changers | Celebrating impactful research

In a message sent to colleagues on 19 May, Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Simone Buitendijk shared the second collection of World Changers essays, which celebrate the impact of research undertaken at Leeds. 

Nominations | IT Recognition and Excellence awards

IT Services is hosting an awards ceremony this summer to celebrate members of its community. Nominations are invited in the ‘Recognition of Excellence’ category, which honours an IT employee going above and beyond to deliver a service. Nominations close on 21 June.

Reverse mentoring project

Colleagues are invited to celebrate achievements of the reverse mentoring project. The two-year cross-campus scheme was part of a Leeds Institute of Teaching Excellent (LITE) Fellowship by Associate Professor in Law Rachael O’Connor. Rachael will give an overview of the project, with staff and student presenters sharing the impacts on them. The hybrid event runs from 2-4pm on 12 June in the Clarendon Building. Vegan refreshments will be served.

Staff Festival attractions announced

Confirmation the dodgems are making a welcome return will help ensure there’s a bumper list of attractions on offer at this year’s Staff Festival! Full details will be announced during the coming weeks, but we can now reveal the family-friendly fun lined up for the big day.

Meet the team behind record-breaking event

When it comes to records, the International Medieval Congress (IMC) can lay claim to more than its fair share! Not only is it the biggest on-campus event held at Leeds, it’s also the largest academic gathering of its kind in Europe! Find out about the exciting plans for this year’s 30th anniversary celebrations and meet the dedicated team working behind the scenes to make this incredible undertaking happen.

Order | Graduation ceremony gowns

Academic colleagues attending graduation ceremonies in July have until 26 June to order a gown. Those who’ve ordered before have been sent an invitation to register attendance and submit their requirements. Please check your junk folder if the email hasn’t landed in your inbox. New colleagues should contact the graduation team at graduation@leeds.ac.uk to set up an account.

Climate

Watch | Developing a sustainable curriculum for all students

In a new video, students Alexandra Wybieralska, Hazel Mooney, Eleanor Pettem and Phillipa Tuffin talk about how sustainability is being embedded in teaching and learning across all courses at Leeds, and how student sustainability architects can make a difference.

Walking to Zero exhibition
28 June

Student sustainability architects (SSAs) are hosting an exhibition to reconnect people with the natural landscapes. For the To Walk Project, SSAs have photographed their walks on campus, as well as how they feel about climate change and walking itself. Consisting of images, personal reflections and audio, the exhibition takes place throughout the day at Leeds University Business School foyer in the Maurice Keyworth Building.

Wellbeing and support

Sign up | Window on Wellbeing Week 2023

Our week-long free festival of health and wellbeing activities returns from 26-30 June. The packed programme features a great mix of in-person and online events for staff and students. Whether you’re looking to feel energised, discover a new hobby or find a sense of calm, there’s something for everyone. Complete the online form to receive an email alert as soon as event listings go live.

Register | Adult Oral Health Survey 2023 preparation 

Register by 28 May to take part in the Adult Oral Health Survey 2023 – the national study that’s the main source of NHS information on UK oral health. Taking place at the Royal Armouries on 8 June, participants will receive a £50 shopping voucher for participating. Contact Dhriti Mandalia at Dhriti.Mandalia@natcen.ac.uk or Alanna Ryder-Dalton at Alanna.Ryder-Dalton@natcen.ac.uk for further information or to volunteer.

Campus life

New places for student help and support

We continue to trial additional student support hubs on campus. The following services are now located in Beech Grove House, opposite Leeds University Union
(all services are open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday):

Annual Travel Survey 

Whether you cycle, walk, drive or take the bus, we want to hear how you travel to and from campus. The Annual Travel Survey is open to colleagues until 9 June. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and you can enter a prize draw to win one of five One4All vouchers worth £50 each. Read more about the survey on the Sustainability website.

Leeds 10k road closures

Several roads will be closed during the Run For All Leeds 10k event on 18 June. With the start located outside the Parkinson Building, the main University entrance from Woodhouse Lane will be closed from 4am to 12 noon, with further restricted access along the route to campus and residential properties. This includes Blenheim Terrace, Cavendish Road, Clarendon Road and Headingley Lane. Campus can still be accessed from the Willow Terrace entrance.

Research

Apply | Enhancing Research Culture 2023-24 open call

Applications are open for the second Enhancing Research Culture 2023-24 open call. Proposals up to £50,000 are invited for projects promoting a more supportive, inclusive and collaborative research environment. These can be undertaken by researchers, academic, technical or professional services colleagues. The deadline is 5pm on 30 June.

Apply | Horizons Institute Global Crucible 2023/24 cohort

Early and mid-career researchers have until 31 May to apply for the Horizons Institute Global Crucible programme, which helps build interdisciplinary skills and global collaborations. Visit the programme webpage for further information or email horizons@leeds.ac.uk for an application form.

Panel events | What Comes After the UN Sustainable Development Goals? 

Watch a recording of the first of three Horizons Institute panel events discussing What Comes After the UN Sustainable Development Goals? You can also book your free place at the second hybrid event, which takes place from 11am to 12.30pm on 14 June. The panel includes Professor Julia Bennell, Executive Dean of Leeds University Business School; Ian Smith (Global Preparedness Monitoring Board); Emmy award-winning filmmaker, Lisa Russell; Molly Scott Cato, Professor of Green Economics at Roehampton University; Ben Lamptey, visiting professor of Meteorology at Leeds; and Carl Miller (Centre for the Analysis of Social Media).

Register | Bragg Centre PhD Colloquium 

Register to attend the 2023 Bragg Centre PhD Colloquium taking place on 6 June. The Bragg Centre for Materials Research will showcase student research at Leeds and welcomes submissions for posters by 30 May. The event is open to all students and includes an external industry panel discussion and networking opportunities.

Apply | Ilkley Literature Festival

Academics have until 5pm on 31 May to apply to present their work, host workshops or chair talks at Ilkley Literature Festival’s 50th anniversary season. Partnered by the University of Leeds Cultural Institute, the festival will see more than 100 events take place, representing an ideal opportunity to introduce an engaged and curious audience to your work. 

Students

Register | UCAS confirmation and clearing call-handling 2023

Colleagues not already involved with admissions are invited to volunteer for confirmation and clearing call-handling when this year’s A-Level results are published on 17 August. No prior knowledge of admissions is needed as full training and support are provided. We’re also looking for volunteers to help with a ‘practice run’ on 25 July, which will be held on campus.

Promoting student content in your newsletters

The Student Communications and Engagement team has put together new resources and guides to help support students during the current assessment period, which runs until 9 June. This accompanies a redesigned assessment section on the For Students website.

Toolkit | Harassment and Misconduct Team

A new toolkit has been created for colleagues, with advice about how to direct students to the Harassment and Misconduct Team – the recommended first point of contact for any student or postgraduate researcher who has been impacted by inappropriate behaviour. With their consent, you can connect them to the team, which can also provide consultation to colleagues about available support.

Top enterprise award is music to students’ ears 

Third year Music, Multimedia and Electronics students, Sol Harter and Matthew Twitchen, have won the prestigious Sir Peter Thompson Award, organised by the University’s business start-up service, Spark. The annual accolade comes with a £5,000 cash prize, generously gifted by Michael Collins, Chairman at Goldcrest Custom Homes Ltd. Students and graduates can watch a video outlining the types of businesses Spark has previously supported to see how the free award-winning service could help them.

Learning and development

Visit our For Staff webpage for all the latest learning and development opportunities available at the University, including information about: 

  • Registering for the PGCAP
  • Management Plus Programme
  • Foundations in Teaching course
  • PebblePad drop-in session

Staff networks

Network for Minoritised Ethnic Staff 

The Network for Minoritised Ethnic Staff – formerly Leeds11 – is holding a series of on-campus drop-in events for those curious about the Network and its membership. Join members on 25 May in the Affine Café at Nexus or on 21 June at Café Seven in the Worsley Building. There’s no need to register, with network members on hand between 11.30am and 3.30pm.

Join | Pregnancy Support Hub 

The Pregnancy Support Hub – part of the Parent and Carer Peer Support Network – is a safe space for pregnant colleagues and their partners to share experiences, resources and information. Contact Sarah Budello at s.a.budello@leeds.ac.uk for details, including how to access information anonymously.

Screening | The Business of Birth Control
1-2.40pm, 24 May

Sixty years after the pill revolutionised women’s emancipation, The Business of Birth Control examines the complex relationship between hormonal birth control and women’s health and liberation. Book a free ticket for the hybrid screening, which takes place online and in Clothworkers North Building Cinema. Organised by the Women at Leeds Network (WALN), you can also register to stream the film online until 26 May.

Women at Leeds Network (WALN) Summer Conference: Agents of Change
9.30am to 2pm, 27 June

WALN will host a range of speakers at this year’s summer conference, sharing their stories of overcoming challenges, breaking down barriers and making waves in their fields. Contact women@leeds.ac.uk for the full schedule, which takes place in the Esther Simpson Building, and book tickets via Eventbrite.

Events

Key Travel | Engagement Week
Multiple dates 

Key Travel will be at different locations on campus throughout the week commencing 5 June, hosting day-long drop-in sessions and travel system training. Full details, including dates, locations and timings, can be found on the Purchasing SharePoint site. Pre-booking training sessions isn’t essential but would be appreciated to assist with catering arrangements. Refreshments will be available and there’s a prize draw for all attendees.

Register | #creativeHEjam 23: All voices matter
9.30am to 3pm, 7 June

Register for this year’s #creativeHEjam to explore the latest experimentations in learning design. Run with the Learning Design Agency, you can hear from guest speakers and play the e(ducation)-pizza game! The event is open to all educators and students. You can also register to showcase your creative work at the event’s ‘marketplace’.

Book | Networking event for research colleagues
10-11.30am, 7 June 

Book your place on a networking event for research colleagues being held at Nexus. Hosted and organised by early career researchers from the Faculty of Environment, the event provides the opportunity to meet other researchers and find out about shared interests and experiences through ice-breaking activities and ‘academic speed dating’. 

Register | ‘African Apocalypse’ film symposium 
13 June – Various times

The Faculty of Social Sciences invites colleagues and students to attend the ‘African Apocalypse’ film symposium, which will explore racial violence, colonial accountability, literature and oral history. This all-day event includes a screening of the BBC/BFI feature documentary African Apocalypse (Rob Lemkin, 2020), with a series of talks and discussions with director Rob Lemkin on the film’s diverse themes and developments. 

Last chance | Fair Trade International Symposium 2023 
19-21 June 

Registration closes on 9 June for the Fair Trade International Symposium 2023. Featuring workshops and panel events, there will also be the opportunity to hear from major Fair Trade organisations, local campaigners and people working on connected themes of education for sustainable development and climate justice. 

Exhibition preview | Becoming the Brontës
5.30-7.30pm, 29 June

Book your ticket for the Becoming the Brontës exhibition preview and drinks reception – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see these literary treasures up close and personal. The free exhibition, co-curated by the University, the British Library and the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth, will be on display in the Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery from 30 June to 28 October.

Editions

eNews deadlines  

Due to next week’s Bank Holiday, eNews will take a break after today’s edition, resuming on 7 June (submissions deadline 2 June).

Tell us your story

We’d like to hear about the great work you’re doing. Contact the Internal Communications and Engagement team at internalcomms@leeds.ac.uk to share your stories.

Keeping up to date

You can keep up to date with our latest news on the For Staff website and by following the staff Twitter account.

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