eNews 2 August
eNews: Graduation, Green Gown Awards, Leeds Pride, 2023-24 pay award and more.
Celebrate
Celebrating graduation
The ticket desk has closed, the gowns have been shipped off and the photography equipment has been packed away. After months of preparation resulting in two fantastic weeks of campus celebrations, our summer graduations have now ended. Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Simone Buitendijk wrote to all colleagues on 1 August thanking everyone for making graduation possible.
Chancellor, Professor Dame Jane Francis:
“Graduation is just a fantastic time of celebration. It’s a celebration for everybody.
“It’s for students who are celebrating the end of their degree, for all the staff and all the support staff that have helped them all the way through their university career, and then the parents and all their supporters as well. Everybody comes together in these fantastic few days to celebrate.
“I remember when I was a member of staff at Leeds sitting on the stage in graduations and I think there’s an amazing feeling of pride that the students are graduating.
“I think the graduates now are at a really exciting time of their life when they’ve got their whole career in front of them.
“It’s really important that they just go for it, that they have a passion for something in life and they follow that passion. But also that they don’t hold back. They go out and make opportunities for themselves.”
Have you seen our graduation videos?
- Watch the Chancellor’s video in full as she shares what makes graduation so special at Leeds
- Watch a graduation round-up video which celebrates our incredible staff community
- Watch our Forever Leeds graduation video which captures the memories of our graduating students.
Green Gown Awards
Leeds has been shortlisted in four categories for the 2023 UK and Ireland Green Gown Awards. The coveted higher and further education accolades recognise outstanding sustainability projects. Our shortlisted projects include Gair Wood, which supports the University’s Climate Plan; Student Engagement through the Residential Services Blueprint team; and the Student Sustainability Research Conference. PhD student Hazel Mooney is also in the running for the student impact award. Hazel recently featured in a sustainable curriculum video with other Student Sustainability Architects. The winners will be announced in November.
Community
Sign up | Leeds Pride
6 August
The LGBT+ Staff Network, along with allies, are marching at Leeds Pride and are inviting colleagues to join in. Taking place in the city centre from lunchtime onwards on 6 August, colleagues who would like to attend can sign up for the last few remaining places to join the Network on the day, as the form closes on Thursday. The Parkinson building will be lit up from 5-6 August to celebrate the march.
Pay and contracts
2023-24 pay award
Following the implementation of the first part of this year’s pay award in March, which was backdated to 1 February 2023, the second part of the national pay award will be applied from August 2023, giving a total increase of between 5% and 8% for all colleagues. Read more details on how the pay increase affects you.
Thought pieces
Take part | LITE study on Curriculum Redefined
There’s still time for you to share your views on Curriculum Redefined. The Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence (LITE) fellowship is running a study that’s open to all staff. The study, run by Dr Sarah Joyce, aims to influence the continued progress of the Curriculum Redefined project. Watch a video by Sarah to hear more, while further information and a link to sign up can be found in the introductory document on the study.
Digital Developments
Banner upgrades
Essential upgrades were successfully implemented to our student record system (Banner) in June. Find out more about this important work and hear from Chief Operating Officer, Rachel Brealey, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Education, Professor Jeff Grabill, on this significant achievement.
Purchasing training | Advanced Science Warehouse Catalogue
Training on the Advanced Science Warehouse system, which is hosted on Minerva, has been upgraded. Requisitioners and budget holders can access the short training modules, which contain videos and quizzes and the key activities required when requisitioning and approving the purchase of goods. The training is open to both new and existing users, though new users must complete the online modules before receiving a login to the Science Warehouse system.
Purchasing training | SAP goods receipting
Training on Goods Receipting your goods and/or services in SAP, as well as why this is crucial to the University, has now migrated to online modules on Minerva. Module 1 is accessible and is highly recommended for all staff and module 2 is mandatory for those physically creating a goods receipt in SAP. Both modules consist of short videos, interactive quizzes and hints and tips. The training is open to both new and existing users, though new users must complete the online modules before receiving access to Goods Receipt.
Register | Digital transformation coffee afternoon with Professor Jo-Anne Murray
12.20-3.20pm, 23 August
Book your place on a coffee afternoon to hear more about digital transformation at Leeds. You will have the opportunity to speak with Professor Jo-Anne Murray, our Pro Vice-Chancellor: Digital Transformation, on a one-to-one-basis, hear about the critical work she’s overseeing and ask any questions you may have.
Register | IT open session
Register to attend an IT open session on 10 August to find out what’s happening within IT Services and to put your questions to the IT Executive Leadership team. If you can’t attend, you can still use the registration form to submit questions and a recording will be made available afterwards.
Data quarantine | Research data action required
GDPR data quarantine for personally identifiable information will start tomorrow. Ensure your research data is exempted by taking necessary actions. Join our second Q&A session via our Teams site tomorrow (3 August 1-2pm) for guidance on the process and to discuss additional concerns. Email the Information Governance Team for further information.
Change to IBM SPSS
From 7 August, we’ll be removing locally installed versions of the IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) as they contain a vulnerability that allows attackers to access our devices without a username or password. You can continue to use version 28 and 29 of SPSS using AppsAnywhere, although earlier versions will be removed from the service. Read more information on how to download apps using AppsAnywhere.
Research
World Changers | The impact of heritage research
For a long time, people thought heritage had little in common with development. But this misses so much of what heritage is about and what heritage research and practice can fulfil. An essay by Dr Francesca Gilberto considers how heritage projects around the world are finding fresh ways of approaching global challenges. Read the latest collection of World Changers essays.
Open call | ESRC Festival of Social Science
The festival is an annual event showcasing leading social science research or social science-related events to engage and inspire public audiences. Email lssi@leeds.ac.uk for an Expression of Interest form before 5pm on 4 August. Researchers from all disciplines are welcome to apply and you don’t need to be a social scientist to participate, as long as the research has a social science component or collaborating partner.
Register | Astbury Conversation
Register for the Astbury Conversation – the University’s biennial flagship event for structural molecular biology. Taking place on campus from 8-9 April 2024, the event brings people together from across the globe to discover, explore and inspire ideas whilst showcasing the latest innovations making waves in this field of research. The 2024 theme – Illuminating Life – will shine a light on the hidden world of macromolecules. Network with colleagues and hear from a range of speakers, including multi-award winner Professor Xiaowei Zhuang, a trailblazer in biophysics.
Learning and development
Top LinkedIn Learning courses of 2022/23
See what the most popular LinkedIn Learning courses of the 2022/23 academic year were among our staff and students. If you haven’t accessed your free University account before, find out how to get the most out of LinkedIn Learning in this staff guide from Organisational Development and Professional (OD&PL).
Springboard Development Programme
September – December
Sign up for the next cohort of the Springboard Development Programme, running from September to December. It’s designed for the personal and professional development of women in grade 2-4 roles, and covers topics including improving self-confidence, being more proactive, goal setting, identifying your values, networking, effective communication and assertiveness.
Live webinar to enhance LinkedIn profile
Sign up for a free webinar to make the most of your LinkedIn profile. Hosted by LinkedIn, the event will look at how you can build a great profile that speaks directly to your ideal audience and provides the opportunity to get your questions answered by their experts. You'll need to log in with a LinkedIn account to register for the session.
Enhance your Student Education Practice
Apply for OD&PL’s Enhance Your Student Education Practice course. The programme is designed for early and mid-career academic teaching and professional services staff. It features six workshops and provides you with the tools and skills to plan, evaluate and enhance your teaching and scholarship practice, helping support your career development and plans for professional recognition. Applications close at 5pm on 30 August.
Events
Book | Gryphons Go Kids Camps
Until 25 August
Looking at booking entertainment for your kids this summer? There's still time 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.
Child Friendly Leeds Live
2 August
The biggest children’s festival in Yorkshire is taking place today. Aimed at children aged 12 and under, the event will feature popular children’s characters, performers, music and entertainment. Our Be Curious team is also taking part, featuring two groups of researchers sharing activities to get hands on with their research.
Cycle to Work Day
3 August
Whether you’re a committed commuter or haven’t hopped on a bike since your school days, you’re invited to get involved in Cycle to Work Day tomorrow. Experience the brilliant benefits everyday cycling offers – mental, physical and financial – and be in with a chance of winning some prizes at the same time.
Register | New live polling tool and webinar event
17 August
A new live polling tool, named Vevox, which incorporates polls, quizzes and surveys, is now accessible to all staff and students. Vevox can be used in a variety of settings to enhance participation, engagement and feedback. Register for a Vevox webinar, which will take place at 11am on 17 August. The webinar will give you training on how to use and access the new tool.
Tell us your story
We’d like to hear about the great work you’re doing. Contact 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 the staff Twitter account.
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