eNews 5 July
Celebrate our Staff, NHS at 75, Staff Festival, Brontë literary treasures and more.
Celebrate
Celebrate Our Staff
National prizes, new books and an international post feature in our regular series celebrating colleagues across the University.
From the workings of tiny microbes up to the outflows of dying stars, and from here in Leeds all the way to Singapore, read what academic and professional colleagues have achieved over the last few weeks.
Celebrate Our Staff is open to all colleagues and we love to hear what has been achieved by members of our University community. Contact internalcomms@leeds.ac.uk to make a submission for the next roll of honour.
Staff Festival shines despite the showers
Rain failed to stop play as Staff Festival celebrations defied the drizzle to bring a ray of sunshine to campus. Thousands of colleagues, their friends and family flocked to the University on Friday (30 June), dodging the occasional shower to enjoy a packed programme of hugely entertaining activities and attractions. See if you appear in our video footage or picture gallery and have your say in our short Festival survey.
Watch | NHS at 75
The NHS is 75 years old today (5 July). In a new video featuring one of the organisation’s first female doctors and a cancer doctor with 40 years’ experience, colleagues and Leeds alumni have honoured the milestone by describing what the NHS means to them. You can also read how Leeds has contributed to the global fight against cancer.
World Changers | Celebrating impactful research
As part of the second collection of World Changers essays, Dr Luba Pirgova-Morgan talked to researchers working with international partners about how pandemic restrictions forced them to change the way they work. Learn about 'What can we take forward from their creative responses'.
IT Awards
IT Awards were presented as part of last week’s IT staff conference. Finalists in most categories were nominated by IT staff, but the Recognition of Excellence Award was opened up to colleagues across the University. The winner was John Dodds, Business Relationship Manager. Colleagues commented how he’s “always helpful, supportive and professional”. Congratulations to all the award winners.
Fifteen to One
Fifteen to One | Tim Watkinson
Our new Director of Communications and Engagement, Tim Watkinson, introduces himself and talks about his role and responsibilities in our Fifteen to One Q&A feature.
Fifteen to One | Helen Foster
In our latest Fifteen to One Q&A feature, Helen Foster reveals our exciting new International Strategy Fund to support global partnership work across research, teaching and student opportunity. Helen joined the University last year as Director of the International Office.
Industrial action
Strike action update
Chief Operating Officer Rachel Brealey wrote to all colleagues on 30 June about reporting participation in previous UCU and UNISON strike action.
UNISON has cancelled one day of upcoming strike action on 10 July. The deadline for reporting participation via ESS for UNISON’s planned 11-13 July strike action is 21 July.
Find out more about industrial action and the University response on our Industrial Action In depth page.
Digital developments
New principles on use of AI in education
A new set of principles, created by the Russell Group, with input from colleagues at Leeds, will help universities ensure students and staff are ‘AI literate’ and can capitalise on the opportunities technological breakthroughs provide for teaching and learning. The University welcomes the principles, which will be discussed further through our Working Group on Artificial Intelligence in Student Education as we consider their impact on our approach.
Climate
Vital climate action supported by the University
Excellent galvanising work of regional climate commissions is now guaranteed to drive climate change for a further five years. Leeds Climate Commission and the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission (YHCC) will receive a further £2.35m in funding from the University.
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.
International
Join | A university with global reach and impact
3-4pm, 12 July
Join an online event to learn about the progress against our international strategy goals. You’ll hear from our Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Hai-Sui Yu, and Helen Foster, Director of the International Office. We will also talk through the support and advice available for colleagues undertaking international activities.
Graduation
Celebrating Graduation
Our summer graduation ceremonies start on 17 July. Find out what’s happening and how to get involved in the celebrations in our graduation staff briefing, which we will continue to add to.
Please share graduation success stories
Do you want to share a memorable story or give a shout out to a particular student who’s 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. Contact the Internal Communications and Engagement team at internalcomms@leeds.ac.uk for further information.
Staff benefits
Book | International Concert Series Summer Festival
Until 7 July
Internationally renowned acts, rising stars and homegrown talent will be performing at the University for this year’s International Concert Series Summer Music Festival. Tickets are available now. Colleagues can use the code SUMMERFESTUOL20 at the box office to get 20% off.
Campus life
Let battle commence | Making Leeds Medieval Festival
10am to 6pm, 6 July
Axe-wielding Vikings and soldiers with cannons will invade campus tomorrow! The Making Leeds Medieval Festival is one of the many highlights of the packed programme for this year’s International Medieval Congress (IMC). Campus is opened up for colleagues and the wider public to enjoy a range of medieval activities, including craft and combat demonstrations, a falconry display, musicians, costumed reenactors and so much more.
Exhibition | Brontë literary treasures
Handwritten poems, miniature books and printed first editions are on display at the Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery in a free exhibition tracing the evolution of the Brontës into literary icons.
Leeds Bear Hunt on campus
Can you find Spectrum Bear – one of 35 bears hidden across Leeds? The Be Curious team has enrolled a very special scholar to join us on campus for the next 10 weeks. Spectrum Bear forms part of Leeds Bear Hunt, a family-friendly art trail that takes you across the city.
Students
Call for papers | Student Success Conference 2023
Submit proposals by 10 July to present papers or best practice on the Student Success Conference (SSC) 2023 themes, including co-creation, student voice, belonging and more. You can join the free, in-person SSC 2023 on 7 November to explore the meaning of student success.
Register | Online Learning Summit 2023
10-11 July
Join the conversation on online and digitally enhanced education at our first ever Online Learning Summit. This hybrid event provides opportunities to engage with leaders, practitioners and specialists in designing ecosystems of learning that reflect our transforming world, incorporating technology such as artificial intelligence, extending accessibility and enabling lifelong learning. Colleagues can join the summit online for free.
Research
LIDA x Turing 5 Year Anniversary Event
10am to 2pm, 6 July
We’re celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (LIDA) being the official partner of The Alan Turing Institute. Hear about the past, present and future of what this collaboration means for you and the University. Join us in Room 8.43Y of the Worsley Building for talks by speakers across the University and the Alan Turing Institute. Hear about data science and artificial intelligence (AI) projects, PhD Enrichment Schemes, Data Study Groups and more. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Research Computing Conference
12-13 July
The Research Computing Conference will showcase our fantastic computational research, with opportunities for networking, problem solving and learning best practice. Our Research IT programme team and Research Software Engineers will be on hand to field any queries. Register to attend on the event page, where researchers can also submit an abstract for the conference.
Wellbeing and support
Updated menopause guidance
You can now access the updated menopause guidance for staff and managers on the Wellbeing, Safety and Health website, together with links to workshops and our Meno-Pause for Thought Cafés.
Event | Harassment and Misconduct Team roadshow
Various dates
The Harassment and Misconduct Team is organising a series of events intended to share with colleagues our new Report and Support site and introduce you to the Harassment and Misconduct Team. The one-to-one service provides a non-judgemental space for students to explore their options if they experience inappropriate behaviours. This session will support you to feel confident in the process after receiving a disclosure and the options available to students. Book your place on the roadshow sessions.
Learning and development
Introduction to LinkedIn Learning
10.30-11.30am, 6 July
Join Organisational Development and Professional Learning (OD&PL) for a virtual event to find out more about LinkedIn Learning. This session is designed specifically for colleagues working in roles graded two to five. It will explore how to get the most out of their free LinkedIn Learning account, which all colleagues have access to.
Aurora leadership development programme
Applications are open until 14 July for the 2023/24 Aurora programme. Aurora is a leadership development programme for women (including non-binary and transgender colleagues) in grade 6-8 roles. Delegates will explore several leadership themes and skills through a mix of sessions involving guest speakers, mentoring, self-directed study and more. Find out more about Aurora and changes to this year’s programme on the OD&PL website.
PebblePad Training for Staff
OD&PL will be running PebblePad training sessions this month for colleagues requiring assistance, guidance or support updating student-facing content for the new academic year. The sessions will cover basic workbook and template editing, as well as workspace creation from Minerva. There will be opportunities to ask questions.
Events
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.
Book | Gryphons Go Outdoor Kids Camps
27 and 28 July
Want to get ahead and plan some entertainment for your children this summer? There's still time to book them onto Sport and Physical Activity’s new Gryphons Go Outdoor Kids Camp held at Bodington Football Hub. Children will learn new skills, develop existing ones and put them into practice through small-sided games. The main summer camps will run from 31 July to 25 August.
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.