eNews 7 June
Strategic partnership, Celebrate Our Staff, World Changers, graduation ceremonies, Staff festival updates, LGBT social, thought pieces, Horizons Institute and much more.
Celebrate
Strategic agreement marks new University collaboration
The University has signed a strategic partnership with the University of Pretoria. The next five years will see us collaborating on research, pursuing global educational excellence and tackling some of the world's most pressing challenges together.
Celebrate Our Staff
A new book, an honour from France and a medal for services to Spanish cinema, among other stories, feature in our regular series celebrating colleagues across the University. Contact internalcomms@leeds.ac.uk to make a submission for the next roll of honour.
World Changers | Celebrating impactful research
As part of the second collection of World Changers essays, Dr Simon Howell explains how getting good outcomes from major surgery doesn’t just depend on what happens during the operation.
Reverse mentoring project
Colleagues are invited to celebrate achievements of the reverse mentoring project, part of a Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence (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.
Take part | NHS at 75
The NHS marks its 75th anniversary on 5 July and we’d like to celebrate this milestone by hearing from the people that make the NHS what it is – our staff, students and researchers who work, have worked or are planning to work in the health service. If you’d like to take part, please record a short video (30 seconds or less, including your name and job role) on what the NHS means to you, and share it with Lauren Ballinger at l.ballinger@leeds.ac.uk using wetransfer.com.
Thought pieces
Fifteen to One | Professor Ben Walmsley
Recently appointed Dean of Cultural Engagement and Director of the Centre for Cultural Value, Professor Ben Walmsley reveals exciting plans on how he’s looking to showcase the impact of arts and culture on higher education and communities.
Fifteen to One | Patrick Craig
In the run-up to the University’s Window on Wellbeing Week (26-30 June), Head of Health and Wellbeing, Patrick Craig talks about this annual event and wider collaborative projects to promote and support the health and wellbeing of the University community.
Industrial action
Progress on pay, equality, reducing fixed-term contracts and workload
In an email to all colleagues on 27 April, Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Simone Buitendijk outlined progress on pay, equality, reducing fixed-term contracts and workload at the University. We have now published a dedicated In Depth page on For Staff to keep you updated on our latest progress.
UCU and UNISON strike action
The University and College Union (UCU) has called on its members to take indefinite strike action from Thursday 15 June. UNISON has announced a period of discontinuous strike action from 15 June to 18 June. Find out more about industrial action and the University response on our Industrial Action In Depth page.
Graduation
Get involved at summer graduation ceremonies
Summer graduation ceremonies take place over two weeks from 17-28 July and we are looking for volunteers to support the smooth running of the ceremonies and create a memorable experience for our students. Read about the various roles available and how to sign up.
Please share graduation success stories
With summer graduations approaching, we need your help to celebrate our wonderful staff and student success stories. Do you want to share a memorable story or give a shout out to a particular student who is graduating? Does a colleague go above and beyond to make graduation possible? Did you have an amazing graduation experience or are you graduating yourself this summer? We want to hear it all. Please get in touch with our Internal Communications and Engagement team at internalcomms@leeds.ac.uk.
Climate
Watch | Living Labs: Solutions for a Sustainable Future
Sustainability Manager Thom Cooper and the School of Geography’s Dr Megan Klaar discuss the University’s innovative Living Labs which tackle critical real-world problems such as climate change.
Launch | Leeds University Network for Sustainability in Higher Education
The Leeds University Network for Sustainability in Higher Education (LUNSHE) is being launched on 13 June. This falls under the University’s Climate Plan. Open to academic colleagues, professional services staff and students, the network will look at how to embed sustainability in teaching and learning.
Feedback
Survey | 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.
Do you feel safe on campus?
The annual Security Survey is your chance to feedback on campus safety and security. Have your say by 18 June.
Survey | Win a personalised canvas print
The Print & Mail team are shaping their services for 2023 and they’d love to hear from you. Fill in this survey for your chance to win a personalised canvas print.
Digital developments
Minerva module areas now available
New Minerva module areas for the 2023/24 academic year will be ready for population at the end of this week. This will give staff around four months to build their modules before teaching begins in the new academic year. Information and support are available to guide you through this process.
Banner | Student records system upgrade
Chief Operating Officer Rachel Brealey and Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Education Professor Jeff Grabill inform colleagues of the upcoming update for Banner to a cloud-based system. Read the full update on For Staff.
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 improve ways of working at Leeds. Find out how you can take part.
What’s new in IT Services?
A new feature series looking at some of the recent stories in IT Services is available to read. Find out how collaboration by colleagues from IT, Organisational Development and Professional Learning (OD&PL) and the Facilities Directorate resulted in a Leeds Partnership Award, as well as how we’re working with teams across the University to move important systems to the cloud.
New look for Yammer
Yammer, Microsoft’s social network for business, is being rebranded as Viva Engage. Viva Engage will be closely integrated with other Microsoft 365 products, providing a range of new features, and is already available in Teams. Colleagues will still be able to access it through a web browser if needed.
Campus life
Leeds Ball 2023 | Restricted access to campus
Advice is being issued regarding restricted access on campus during this year’s Leeds Ball. Thousands of students will gather around Leeds University Union (LUU) on 10 June to enjoy a packed programme of live music, stalls, fairground rides and games. It starts at 9pm and finishes at 6am on 11 June.
Staff Festival | Food and drink vendors announced!
With the big day less than a month away, the countdown to this year’s Staff Festival is well and truly on. As well as a jam-packed programme of entertainment and activities – including dodgems, archery and live music – we’re delighted to share our line-up of mouth-watering food and drink vendors.
International Concert Series Summer Festival
From 30 June to 7 July, the University of Leeds International Concert Series Summer Festival will explore the Leeds 2023 theme of ‘Untold, Unheard and Hidden Stories’. Featuring performances by musicians with a connection to Leeds, concerts will include marginalised and forgotten composers, little-known music, and genres from around the world yet to find their way to the UK. Check out the full festival schedule online. University staff can take advantage of 20% off tickets using discount code SUMMERFESTUOL20 at the box office.
Update | Council and Senate news
Read the latest news from the University Council and Senate. This includes highlights from meetings of the Senate (on Wednesday 10 May) and Council (on Wednesday 31 May), featuring the plan for the summer assessment period, LUU’s standing report on matters affecting students across the University, and an update on the Banner Cloud migration project.
Research
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 at 11am on 14 June.
International Medieval Congress (IMC) 2023 | Late call for papers
The late call for papers for IMC 2023 closes at 5pm on 14 June. Taking place on campus and online from 3-6 July, planned festivities include markets, a book fair and exhibitions, and a programme of academic sessions.
Students
Increasing diversity in data science workforce with Masters scholarships
Applications for scholarships to study on three data science-related Masters courses in the 2023-24 academic year close at 12 noon on 12 June. The scheme aims to encourage more women, Black students, disabled students and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds into data science and AI industries. Each scholarship is worth £10,000 per student.
Raising and Giving
In honour of Leeds RAG, Leeds University Union’s official fundraising society is celebrating, fundraising and championing their partner charities through their Glitter and UV Paint Stall across Leeds Ball on the 10 June. The Parkinson Building will also be lit up green. You can read more about the four charities involved.
Staff Networks
Drop in | LGBT+ Staff Network
1-2.30pm, 27 June
The University's LGBT+ Staff Network will be holding its monthly social on campus later this month. It’s an informal drop-in space for colleagues to network and/or catch up in person. It's also an opportunity for any members of staff who might be considering joining the Network to meet members of the committee, and to find out more about its current plans. Refreshments will be provided. To sign up fill in this form.
Get involved | Creative Network
Do you design and create visual content? Would you like to join a network to discuss ideas and meet others in the University in creative roles? Then the Creative Network may be for you, with plans to discuss all things design, motion and creative. Complete this short questionnaire to register your interest.
Learning and development
Visit our For Staff webpage for all the latest learning and development opportunities available at the University, including information about:
- Management Plus programme
- Build your Scholarship programme
- Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship
- How to make LinkedIn work for you
- Research Culture Change for Leadership
- Active listening workshop for Academic Personal Tutors
Events
Visit our For Staff webpage for all the latest upcoming events at the University including:
- Leeds Creative Labs Share Event
- ‘African Apocalypse’ film symposium
- Feminist Responses to Gender Violence during the Egyptian Revolution
- N8 Digital Health Community Conference
- Research showcase: Tackling violence against women and girls
- BA Fine Art Degree Show 2023
- Fair Trade International Symposium 2023
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.