eNews June 21
eNews: Expanding Online Education, World Changers, Industrial action, Staff Festival and more
Thought pieces
Expanding Online Education... for life!
“Can you imagine a world where you can achieve a university degree by stacking the different learning experiences you’ve gained over the course of your life? How about a degree where prior learning is recognised?
This future is becoming a reality at the University of Leeds, and we are pleased to share the first step on this journey: the expansion of our postgraduate online degree portfolio and range of microcredentials, short-course and skills-based education.
The ultimate vision is to create a sustainable model for online learning that helps faculties complement their portfolio with online programmes and allows Leeds to extend access to our world-class research and teaching to a global audience.”
Margaret Korosec: Dean of Online and Digital Education
Want to know more?
- Read Margaret’s blog in full
- Register for our event on 5 July where we’ll talk through the next steps and how you can get involved
- Join the conversation on online and digitally-enhanced education at the Online Learning Summit 2023 on 10-11 July and Leeds Digital Festival in September.
Fifteen to One | Dr Gaynor Miller
With the launch of our first ever Research Culture Strategy fast approaching, Dr Gaynor Miller reveals why this work is so crucial to our University community and how the changes will benefit us all.
Industrial action
UCU and UNISON strike action
The University and College Union (UCU) called on its members to take indefinite strike action from Thursday 15 June.
UNISON’s second period of discontinuous strike action starts from 22 June to 28 June.
Chief Operating Officer Rachel Brealey wrote to all colleagues on 14 June about reporting participation in strike action.
Find out more about industrial action and the University response on our Industrial Action In depth page.
Climate
Open event | Priestley Centre for Climate Futures
3.30-5pm, 12 July
Register for an informal event to learn about an exciting new phase of development as the Priestley Centre becomes the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures. You’ll hear from Director Piers Forster and Head of the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures, Shona Smith. The event will start with a short presentation, but feel free to drop in any time. Light refreshments will be provided.
Walking to Zero exhibition
10am to 5pm, 28 June
Student sustainability architects (SSAs) are hosting an exhibition to reconnect people with the natural landscape. Featuring images, personal reflections and audio, the To Walk Project exhibition is taking place in the Maurice Keyworth Building foyer, with a launch event at 11am.
Celebrate
Leeds community recognised in royal honours
Members of the Leeds community have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours, which mark extraordinary contributions and service to the country. Professor Muhammed Basheer, Chair in Structural Engineering, has been named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and a number of our alumni have been recognised.
Leeds Educator Community Celebration
26 June
Start the summer with a bang(er) as we celebrate the achievements of our educator community this year. We’ll be hearing from special guests and showcasing your fantastic student education efforts – from designing innovative curriculum to supporting your school in style! We’ll finish with a BBQ in the Chancellor’s Court. Places are limited so be sure to register your place.
World Changers | Celebrating impactful research
As part of the second collection of World Changers essays, Professor Ghazala Mir talks about access to public services. Everyone needs equal access to public services. But not all of us get it. Ghazala Mir argues that cracking this complex problem will require radical transformation across many levels at the same time.
Celebrating transformation
Jenny Baynes, Director of the Transformation Office, shares her recent experience celebrating transformational projects across the public sector and gives her top five takeaways for successful change, from keepings things simple and people centred to thinking big but celebrating the small.
Sustainability Service Lunch
12 noon to 2pm, 29 June
The Sustainability Service is hosting a celebration of the diverse and innovative sustainability initiatives being delivered across the University. Including a complimentary lunch, the event will also explain opportunities to collaborate on sustainability projects. The celebration, taking place in the School of Music, is open to all colleagues.
Nominations | IT Recognition and Excellence awards
Today (21 June) marks the deadline to submit nominations in the ‘Recognition of Excellence’ category at the IT Services awards ceremony. The category honours an IT employee going above and beyond to deliver a service.
Take part | NHS at 75
As the NHS marks its 75th anniversary, we’d like to hear from staff, students and researchers who work, have worked or are planning to work in the health service. 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.
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.
Please share graduation 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.
With summer graduations approaching, we need your help to celebrate our wonderful staff and student success stories. Contact the Internal Communications and Engagement team at internalcomms@leeds.ac.uk for further information.
Staff Festival
Save the date
Chief Operating Officer Rachel Brealey emailed all colleagues yesterday (20 June) inviting you, your family and friends to attend this year’s Staff Festival, with the entertainment extravaganza returning to campus on 30 June after a four-year absence.
Book now | Staff Festival workshops
Bookings are open for this year’s packed programme of wonderful Staff Festival workshops! Ranging from Bollywood dance and Chinese opera masks to beer and cocktail tasting, there really is something for everyone to enjoy. Find out how you can sign up for sessions.
Wellbeing and support
Sign up | Window on Wellbeing Week
26-30 June
There’s still time to book your place on one (or more) of our health and wellbeing activities taking place across campus next week. There’s more than 50 to choose from, including a sleep well seminar, guided art trail, tai chi, physio and chiropractic sessions, menopause cafes, gardening and cycling – there really is something for everyone. Check out the Window on Wellbeing webpage for full event listings.
Digital developments
Banner upgrades complete
Chief Operating Officer Rachel Brealey and Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Education Professor Jeff Grabill wrote to all colleagues on 19 June to confirm that essential upgrades have been successfully completed on our Student Records System (Banner). Read the full update on For Staff. Thank you to all colleagues who have been involved in this essential improvement work. You can find more information about the upgrade and answers to frequently asked questions on the Banner SharePoint site.
Hybrid meeting rooms pilot | Trial the latest technology
“The setup was so simple and easy to use. Love it!”
“Really easy to use and really like that you can clearly see when rooms are booked or free.”
These are just a few of the positive comments from those already taking part in the hybrid meeting rooms pilot, open to all colleagues in locations across campus. Discover for yourself how the latest technology can launch your meeting with the click of a single button, offering instant connection to room audio and video, enabling improved collaboration with colleagues.
Update | Moving M and N drives – and Documentum – to the cloud
Read an update on our project to move the M and N network storage drives, and Documentum – a piece of document management software used by some teams around the University – to cloud-based alternatives.
Changes to email processing
Do you use systems other than Outlook to send University email? If so, there are some changes to email processing that may impact you. If you are using one of these systems to send anything, it is critical to ensure that you send a test email before you need it. If it doesn’t work, please get in touch by logging a ticket on the IT website.
Research
Apply | Enhancing Research Culture 2023-24 open call
Applications close at 5pm on 30 June 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.
Students
Marking and assessment FAQs go live
During the past few weeks, we’ve been gathering questions from staff and students to create a list of FAQs about the potential impact of the marking and assessment boycott. These are now live on the For Students website and will be updated during the coming weeks. Please refer to these when managing queries from students, alongside the template communications and operational guidance already shared.
Learning and development
Register | Active Listening Workshop for Academic Personal Tutors
Sign up for an online workshop on 22 June to explore and experience how active listening can enhance your academic personal tutoring practice. Refine your active listening skills and explore the theme from different perspectives.
Staff Networks
Drop-in | Network for Minoritised Ethnic Staff
11.30am to 3.30pm, today (21 June)
The Network for Minoritised Ethnic Staff – formerly Leeds11 – is holding an on-campus drop-in event today at Café Seven in the Worsley Building for those curious about the organisation and its membership. Registration isn’t required.
Drop-in | LGBT+ Staff Network
1-2.30pm, 27 June
Register to attend the University’s LGBT+ Staff Network monthly social on campus. An informal drop-in space, it’s also an opportunity for any colleagues considering joining the network to meet committee members and to discover more about its plans. Catering and refreshments are provided. Email lgbt+staff@leeds.ac.uk for further information.
Register | Women at Leeds Network Summer Conference
9.30am to 2pm, 4 July
The lineup for the Women at Leeds Network (WaLN) Summer Conference has been announced. Leeds alum Aqila Choudhry MBE will share her story of changing lives through person-centred care; IT colleagues Bex Cattran and Antonia Jones show how our vulnerabilities are often our biggest strengths in the ‘Groove is in the Heart’ workshop; and Life and Career Coach Naama Zusman offers the opportunity to reflect. Full agenda and tickets are available online. Due to industrial action, the event will now take place in the Moot Court in the Liberty Building.
Events
Attend | Fair Trade International Symposium 2023
Ends today (21 June)
The Fair Trade International Symposium 2023 will be hosted at the University. 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.
Book | Devika Rao’s Dance Academy
18 to 27 June
Devika Dance Theatre is hosting an unforgettable cultural experience bringing together eight artists from the performing company of Yakshadhruva. Offering an action-packed itinerary, the week commences with a press meet at stage@leeds following performances, workshops, demonstrations, lectures and networking events. Book your tickets, priced £12.
Register | Online Education at Leeds event
11.30am to 1pm, 5 July
Register for this event to find out more about our Online Education strategy. Launching the conversation about online and digitally enhanced education in the July to September period, the event will include insight into our ambition, next steps and how you can get involved. It will also look ahead to the 2023 Online Learning Summit and the Digital Education Annual Report.
Online Learning Summit
10 to 11 July
The University is hosting our first Online Learning Summit covering themes of learning design, digital accessibility, AI and lifelong learning. Colleagues will be able to access the main sessions in real time via live link individually or, depending on interest, as a live-streaming event on campus. Register for free virtual access. Colleagues are also invited to share stories and case studies of their own experiences of online learning, course design and development and cross-project activity to be shared during the event. Submit a story here. Please feel free to share the Online Learning Summit event on LinkedIn.
Panel events | What Comes After the UN Sustainable Development Goals?
1-2.30pm, 12 July
Book your place for the Horizons Institute’s final What Comes After the UN Sustainable Development Goals? discussion panel, being held online and at Leeds City Museum. Chaired by Director of Educational Engagement at Leeds, Louise Banahene, the panel includes political scientist Henrik Skaug Sætra, period poverty campaigner Zaakira Mohamed, political ecologist Jessica Hope and the British Council’s Rosanna Lewis. You can also watch a full recording of the second discussion panel on the Horizons Institute blog.
Book | Gryphons Go Kids Camps
31 July to 25 August
Want to get ahead and plan some entertainment for your kids this summer? There's still chance to book them onto Sport and Physical Activity’s Gryphons Go Kids Camps hosted at The Edge. Children can swim, climb and explore the outdoors, as well as develop their physical skills and make use of our superb educational facilities.
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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