|
|
Welcome to our weekly in Focus update...... |
Past Issues << | Issue 68: Monday 3 September 2007
|
Sandra Partington (pictured opposite), new Project Manager for our DEEP (Developing and Embedding E-Learning Project) Pathfinder Project, joined us last week and attended her first Pathfinder Team and Steering group meetings. Sandra got to meet many of the colleagues she'll be working most closely with over the course of the project.
Sandra, who comes from City and Islington College where she worked as their E-Learning manager, says of her new job: "I'm delighted to be working in such a key role on the Pathfinder Project which will provide invaluable research and insights into embedding and developing E-Learning for staff and students not only here but throughout higher education institutions."
DEEP - Developing and Embedding E-Learning Practice is a project to initiate change and continuous improvement in our E-Learning culture, infrastructure and expertise. The aims of the project are based on our findings from our Benchmarking of E-Learning surveys, which went out to staff and students earlier in the year.
The project aims to have a comprehensive E-Learning staff development portfolio of programmes and to embed E-Learning into all our policies and practices for curriculum design, development, delivery and evaluation. Improved internal and external communication strategy regarding E-Learning developments, initiatives and good practice are essential to the success of the project.
Dina Vyortkina, E-Learning manager explains: "We were able to benchmark the results from our recent E-learning surveys amongst staff and students. One of our findings showed that the reason staff and students are not currently making wide use of E-Learning applications is because they simply don't know what's already available. This means effective communication is vital to the success of this project."
The Pathfinder team consists of representatives from our Schools and Services. The project team is led by Dina Vyortkina, E-Learning Manager and the Steering Group is chaired by Susan Price. DEEP is funded by the Higher Education Academy (HEA) with matched UEL funding.
For more information our E-Learning resources see the web links below in the Staff Development section.
Following the September resit boards, a number of our students will receive an assessment decision of NFN. This means they cannot continue on their current programme or work towards the degree title for which they originally enrolled. However, they can transfer to Combined Studies and still complete an honours degree and obtain a full honours classification.
Our Combined Honours office (Michelle Restarick, Graham Curtis and Susan Fitzgerald of our Combined Honours Office are pictured opposite) has produced a podcast, presented by Susan Fitzgerald and Hannah Lowry, to hopefully alleviate any distress as well as effectively explain to our students why they've received an NFN decision and how to take up the Combined Studies Option.
To view the podcast and for full information about the NFN decision and Combined Studies option visit: Changing to Combined Studies NFN Podcast
16 Aug – 5 Oct |
Clearing |
5 Sept |
Open Evening. Part-time, full-time, undergraduate and postgraduate. Docklands and Stratford campuses. 5.30pm – 8pm. |
10 – 14 Sept |
School of Education UG Programmes Induction |
12 Sept |
Open Evening. Part-time and postgraduate. Docklands and Stratford campuses. 4pm -8pm. |
12 – 16 Sept |
International Student Orientation |
12 Sept |
Airport pick up for International Students begins |
14 Sept |
International Students enrol |
15 – 16 Sept |
Welcome Weekend |
17 Sept |
First Week begins |
18 -21 Sept |
Freshers’ Fayre (Docklands) |
19 Sept |
Keep Your Campus Beautiful Day |
21 Sept |
First Week Ends |
24 Sept – 5 Oct |
Late Arrivals permitted |
For more Open Evening information see: /www.uel.ac.uk/openday/index.htm
Ambitious international artwork from our School of Arts and Digital Industries will go on show in an exhibition at the Docklands campus from Friday 7 to Monday 10 September.
The MA showcase, involving eighteen students on Masters of Art programmes in Fine Art and Contemporary Art and Design Practice, will feature painting, sculpture, photography, and graphic and digital art.
Chunkit Man (pictured), of Beckton, is a part-time student on our MA Contemporary Art and Design Practice. His graphic artwork is inspired by an attempt to reconnect British-born Chinese youth with their ancestral culture, heritage and traditions.
Chunkit said: “My own family are originally from Hong Kong, so I'm very interested in exploring my roots. I’ve chosen to present my work in the style of a commercial advertising campaign, enabling me to visually modernise traditional concepts in a way that appeals to a more youthful Western-influenced audience.“
Other highlights of the exhibition include Alison Rayner’s hand-carved abstract sculptures, David Pairpoint’s figurative paintings based on childhood memories, and Vanessa Wiegand’s hour-long documentary providing a personal glimpse into middle-class German life.
The MA exhibition will be open to the public at our Docklands campus from Friday 7 to Monday 10 September, from 10am-6pm on weekdays and 10am-4pm at the weekend.
For full listings check our Events webpages: http://www.uel.ac.uk/news/events/index.htm and Public Lectures webpages: http://www.uel.ac.uk/lectureseries/
We have a busy events, conferences and public lectures calendar over the coming weeks. Some highlights include:
Monday 10 September, a one-day, international conference looks at
The Mixed Economy of Childcare: Risks and Opportunities. Stephen Timms MP, Minister of State for Competitiveness at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform will launch a new research centre, the International Centre for the Study of the Mixed Economy of Childcare, ICMEC, at the conference. Based in our School of Education, the Centre is led by Professor Helen Penn and Eva Lloyd.
Friday 14 September, a one-day conference De-medicalising misery to mark the retirement of Professor Mary Boyle and to celebrate 30 years of clinical psychology training at UEL. De-medicalising Misery examines the effects of our current understandings of distress, and explores ways to rethink them. Registraiotn is now full on this conference which brings together psychiatrists, service users and clinical psychologists at the forefront of this work.
Our Centre on Human Rights in Conflict presents a panel discussion on the subject of the Extraterritorial application of human rights obligations on Tuesday 2 October at Duncan House, followed by Professor Andrew Silke's inaugural lecture 21st Century shocks: the psychology of terror, on Tuesday 9 October. Andrew's lecture explores the way in which psychology is increasingly recognised as key to developing an effective understanding of terrorists and terrorism. Andrew aims to provide a review of some of the psychological approaches to studying terrorism and the key findings which have emerged. On Friday 12 October Professor Mica Nava's lecture to accompany the launch of her book Visceral Cosmopolitanism: gender, culture and the normalisation of difference takes place at the Rich Mix Cultural Foundation in Bethnal Green.
For full listings check our Events webpages: http://www.uel.ac.uk/news/events/index.htm and Public Lectures webpages: http://www.uel.ac.uk/lectureseries/
David Woodhouse has provided a series of links so that we can access information and news from our Academic Board, Governing Body and Corporate Management Team.
Please see the following links:
Academic Board: http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/committees/acaboard.htm
Board of Governors: http://www.uel.ac.uk/governors/board.htm
Good news from the CMT: http://www.uel.ac.uk/vcg/news/index.htm
To conduct a search of current funding opportunities , including all the major competitions , or to set up email alerts specific to your interests, visit www.researchresearch.com.
If you intend to submit an application for funding please contact Tim Brooks (Acting Research Funding Officer) in the Graduate School. Tim is retaining his other responsibilities within the Graduate School so the more notice you can give, the better!
For a round-up of what's on in London visit: http://kids.visitlondon.com/whatson/august_events.html
Return to top
Brush up your IT skills and get an internationally recognised qualification online. Contact Greg Price, Organisational Development Manager on ext 4361 or email g.price@uel.ac.uk
Simply click here for the dates for Staff Development courses August - October 2007
http://www.uel.ac.uk/staff-development/documents/ForthcomingStaffDevelopmentCourses-Sept-Nov2007.doc
To find out more about the wide range of E-Learning applications available to us in our everyday,visit:
UEL Plus info: http://www.uel.ac.uk/uelplus/index.htm
SDEL staff development: http://www.uel.ac.uk/sdel/staff_development/index.htm
E-Learning Resources: http://www.uel.ac.uk/sdel/e_learning/resources.htm
Barking Ladies 3 Cambridge United 1
The sunshine brought out the best in Barking Ladies (pictured), our local UEL sponsored team, for the first game of the season at the end of August.
With two goals in the first half, scored by Sarah Barnes and Liane Prior, Barking were already standing strong. In the second half the game was sealed for Barking when Sarah Barnes scored the team's third goal.
The team included Haylee Bernet (daughter of Jan Bernet, Catering Manager at Duncan House), Tilde Nseka, Maddie Zucker, Nicola Stevens, Nicola Maggs, Carly Vigors, Nicola Moore, Carly Brewster, Liane Prior, Sarah Barnes and Hannah Benjamin. Subs: Lucy Blurton and Anna Wyatt.
If you would like items included in In Focus Update please send them to me by Wednesday of the preceding week at infocus@uel.ac.uk
Please print off a copy of In Focus Update for those of your colleagues who may not have easy access to email.
© 2006
