eNews 25 October
eNews: Refreshed Leeds Curriculum, Black History Month, University partnership, vote for your top cat, and more.
Thought pieces
Inside Track | Equipping our students with the skills to succeed
“It’s our joint responsibility to ensure we’re not only able to provide students with the attributes to stand out from the crowd within their chosen career, but to contribute meaningfully to change.”
Professor James Pickering, Academic Director of the Learning Design Agency, outlines how the refreshed Leeds Curriculum is providing students with the opportunities to develop the capabilities required to succeed in their future ambitions.
Fifteen to One | Welcoming students into our residences
“Arrival into halls is our Christmas and I’ve never met a student accommodation professional who doesn’t love that time of year.”
Rebecca O’Hare, Interim Deputy Director of Residential Services, reflects on this year’s accommodation intake and celebrates other colleagues who ensure our students receive the best possible welcome to Leeds.
Listen | How do we make sure everyone has a warm home?
“The energy transition is one of the most pressing challenges we currently face, but it cannot be tackled in isolation without considering affordability.”
Listen to this week’s podcast featuring Lucie Middlemiss, Professor of Environment and Society, Dan Edmiston, Associate Professor of Sociology and Social Policy, and Fleur Loveridge, Professor of Geo-Energy Engineering.
Black History Month
Blog | Building communities of influence among BME researchers
Earlier this year, the University hosted the seventh Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Early Career Researchers (ECRs) conference. In a new blog, Dr Sally Osei-Appiah, who organised the event, reflects on the importance of the conference for bringing together ECRs and Postgraduate Researchers to build ‘communities of influence’ to help them go forward in academia.
New banners unveiled at Parkinson Court
Four new banners celebrating the talent and achievements of Black women leaders and role models at the University have been unveiled in Parkinson Court South. Marking Black History Month, the 4.5-metre-long flags feature photographs and quotes and will remain on display until mid-November.
Dr Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso, one of those featured said:
“It is such an honour to be displayed at the Parkinson Building alongside these incredible women leaders in their field. The feedback I’ve received has been outstanding and it’s made me more aware of the need to see people like me in these spaces.”
Film screening | Re:Tension
31 October
As part of Black History Month, Go Higher West Yorkshire is co-hosting a free online screening of ‘Re:Tension’, which explores the experiences and aspirations of a Black student. The event will shed light on the experiences of Black students in higher education and provide insights for their success.
Lighting | Black History Month ends
The Parkinson Building will be lit up in red, yellow and green once again on 31 October. The colours used are those selected by the Black History Month founders as part of their logo. This marks the end of Black History Month following several events recognising the lived experience of Black people, and their contributions to the University and British society.
Community
Israel and Gaza: a message of support for all in our community
The events unfolding in Israel and Gaza are deeply concerning and as a global university community, we want to do everything we can to support our staff and students at this time. Read a joint message from the University and Leeds University Union on For Staff.
Hamburg and Leeds sign university collaboration
“The signing of this strategic partnership with Universität Hamburg is part of our ongoing work to create a collaborative, global network of institutional partners who share our ambitions to make a difference in the world.”
Professor Simone Buitendijk, Vice-Chancellor and President, discusses the recent news that the University has signed a strategic partnership with Universität Hamburg that commits to addressing some of the world's biggest challenges.
You’re invited | First screening of Cut Short
7.15pm and 8pm, tomorrow (26 October)
Join us for the very first screening of 'Cut Short: Fighting against Knives in the North'. Made in collaboration with postgraduate student Sarah Lloyd, the knife crime documentary has been made to educate young people against gang exploitation and youth violence.
Register | Hear more on crucial University change in the latest COO session
1-2pm, 1 November
Register for a hybrid event to hear more about the University’s strategic priorities direct from Chief Operating Officer (COO) Rachel Brealey. Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Education Jeff Grabill will share an update on the National Student Survey (NSS) and Jenny Baynes, Director of the Transformation Office (TO), will talk about the TO. There’ll be time for questions and the chance to network with colleagues, with tea and coffee provided afterwards.
Vote | National Cat Day competition finalists
Thank you to everyone who submitted their cat pictures. We had a cat-alogue of submissions and have narrowed it down to ten finalists. Vote who will be your top cat? It’s meow or never! The winner will be revealed in eNews on 1 November.
Graduation
Order | Graduation ceremony gowns
Academic colleagues attending graduation ceremonies in December have until 27 November 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.
Did you know?
The new British Netflix series ‘Bodies’ starring Stephen Graham shows scenes filmed in the University buildings: Bragg, Nexus, Red Route, Roger Stevens, Garstang horseshoe, Willow Terrace Road and TV courtyard!
Campus life
New library hub open for creative innovation
“The Library Makerspace opens up opportunities for creative exploration and disruptive thinking in a very welcoming and supported innovation space at the heart of the campus.”
Exciting new facilities designed to enable experimental collaboration among the University community have been officially opened. Located in the Edward Boyle Library, the Library Makerspace is packed with all the latest kit required to help turn your innovative ideas into reality.
Staff benefits
Cycle to Work webinars
11.30am, tomorrow (26 October)
The Cycle to Work scheme – Cyclescheme – has hosted open-to-all webinars during October. Sign up for the final Cycle to Work Zoom session, which will provide a run-through of the benefits of the scheme, how much money you can save and how to get started, as well as offering the chance to ask questions.
Sustainability and Climate
Arts and Climate Week
26 October to 3 November
Climate Action Leeds and Yorkshire Life Aquatic are hosting a week of Arts and Climate curiosities at Imagine Leeds, the climate action hub in the city centre. From workshops to exhibitions, including the Climate Action Leeds Assembly of family-friendly workshops and food on 31 October, these events are designed to look at climate and our oceans.
Climate Week
30 October to 3 November
Want to meet Leeds-based organisations doing incredible work on sustainable and social action? Keen to hear about the University's Climate Plan? Or maybe you're ready to swap some unwanted clothes or household items? Then take part in Leeds University Union's (LUU) Climate Week.
Climate Plan roadshow
11am to 2pm, 30 October
Visit our roadshow stand in the Leeds University Union (LUU) foyer, as part of its Climate Week. You can win some great prizes by telling us which aspects of the Climate Plan matter most to you.
New Repair Café launching on campus
The Sustainability Service and Makerspace are launching a new Repair Café to help staff and students save money, reduce waste and keep items in use for longer. You can bring your broken items, such as textiles and small electronics, and skilled volunteers will help you fix them using the facilities in Makerspace. The first café takes place during LUU’s Climate Week – drop in from 12.30-4.30pm on 3 November.
Register | Taking action to achieve net zero by 2030: a deeper delve into our plan
4.30-6pm, 4 December
Director of Campus Innovation and Development, Ann Allen, will host a discussion on net zero and our recently approved Net Zero Delivery Plan. Experts including Dr Cat Scott, Professor Fleur Loveridge and Shaun Scholey will discuss topics that you voted as most important to our University community. Refreshments will be provided afterwards.
Applications open for 2024 Student Sustainability Research Conference (SSRC)
The SSRC will be back at the University on 6 March 2024, run collaboratively with Yorkshire Universities as part of the Sustainable Curriculum principle of the Climate Plan. SSRC Applications are now open for students from any discipline and level to present their sustainability-related work.
Feedback
Have your say | Research Culture pulse survey
Share your views in the first of our new Research Culture pulse surveys, which this month focuses on enabling open research. Open until 31 October, the survey only takes five minutes to complete, with feedback helping create a positive and inclusive research culture at Leeds. You can also join the Research Culture conversation on MS Teams. [NB: Use Research Culture Strategy illustration image with this entry]
Digital developments
Register | IT open sessions
Register now to attend an IT open session on 10 November to find out what’s happening within the service and to put your questions to the IT Executive Leadership team. Don’t worry if you can’t attend – you can still use the registration form to submit your questions and a recording will be made available afterwards.
Students
Supporting student wellbeing
Students can face a number of challenges and difficulties while at university, and this can sometimes lead to concerns about their wellbeing. We’re committed to the wellbeing of all our students. Find out more about where and how students can access wellbeing support and advice.
Research
Apply | Horizons Connect Fund
Applications for the Horizons Institute’s Connect Fund – designed to help research-focused colleagues explore external partnerships – close on 30 October.
Attend | Grant writing series
The Leeds Arts and Humanities Research Institute (LAHRI) team is running a series of sessions geared towards grant writing. Colleagues can sign up to one or all sessions. There will be recordings for those who cannot attend the sessions.
Grant | Sapling Fund: Bradford Edition
LAHRI and the Cultural Institute have launched the Sapling Fund: Bradford Edition. It is open to colleagues across the University to develop projects leading to longer-term community collaboration and partnerships. Projects should be in, with or for Bradford. They will fund up to three projects up to £5,000.
Wellbeing and support
Join the Autumn Step Challenge
Sign up today and join colleagues across the University taking part in our popular step challenge. The challenge runs from 30 October to 5 November and those registering will be randomly assigned to a team of six colleagues. We’re encouraging people of all abilities to get involved and offer a range of methods to measure and track your movement. There are photo bonuses up for grabs and a lively Microsoft Teams chat to keep you motivated. Registration closes at 5pm on 26 October.
Learning and development
Keep up to date with the latest learning and development opportunities from the University on our For Staff website, including:
- Building Impact Momentum Programme
- LinkedIn Learning career features
- Building authentic tutor/tutee relationships
- University-wide mentoring scheme
- Lifelong Learning Centre (LLC) newsletter
Events
Book | Becoming the Brontës
Until 28 October
This is your last chance to book tickets for the 'Becoming the Brontës’ exhibition, which explores the creative beginnings of Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Branwell Brontë. This free event takes place at the Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery.
Attend | Visiting Artist’s Talk – Paul Harfleet
2-4pm, 30 October
The Visiting Artist’s Talk (VAT) series hosts talks by an exciting range of arts practitioners from around the world. They welcome speaker Paul Harfleet next week. Paul describes himself as an ‘accidental activist’ and is an award-winning London-based interdisciplinary artist.
Attend | ADHD in Women: Embracing Neurodiversity
1-2pm, 8 November
Nadine Cavigioli and Jenny Love share their personal experiences of ADHD and discuss the ways in which neurodiversity has impacted their lives, why ADHD is under-diagnosed in women, and the unique benefits that come with it. The event will take place on Microsoft Teams via the Women at Leeds Network events calendar.
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.
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Keeping up to date
You can keep up to date with our latest news on the For Staff website and the staff Twitter account.
With best wishes,
The Internal Communications and Engagement team.
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