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Welcome to in Focus Update… |
Past Issues << | Issue 182: Wednesday 3 February 2010 |
On Monday Professor Patrick McGhee, started his new role at UEL. Professor McGhee, 47, is one of the youngest Vice-Chancellors in the UK and a graduate of the universities of Glasgow and Oxford. Prior to moving to UEL he was Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Central Lancashire.
Patrick said: “I am delighted and honoured to be taking up the position of Vice-Chancellor at the University of East London. The University has huge opportunities ahead and I look forward to listening to the views of staff and students on how we develop as an institution to realise our full potential. There is no doubt the sector faces challenging times but at UEL we face those challenges with confidence, given the energy and talent of our staff, the drive and ambition of our students, our commitment to academic excellence, our unique location and our strong financial footing. The diversity of our student community is a particular source of energy and dynamism. I am passionate about education and its potential to transform people’s lives. I believe UEL is well placed to lead that agenda nationally and internationally over the next decade. The University has a proud history in this area and we must continue to promote educational opportunities for those who might otherwise be excluded.”
Born in Glasgow, Professor McGhee was the first member of his family to attend university. He is a Chartered Health Psychologist, and has written extensively on psychology, learning and higher education. Last year, Professor McGhee was a winner of a National Teaching Fellowship from the HE Academy.
Widely travelled, Patrick has also helped develop international partnerships world-wide including in China, the US and Russia. Nationally, he is also a member of the HEFCE Teaching Quality and Student Experience Committee and the Higher Education Advisory Panel for the Sector Skills Council for Lifelong Learning.
Patrick believes that while universities can and do make significant practical contributions to society, their role is much wider. “My vision of a university is one which includes both research and teaching, and which covers a broad spectrum of disciplines. I further believe that while education rightly serves to boost employability and enterprise, and applied research can demonstrate benefits for industry and business, learning and research are worth doing for their own sake. It is part of human nature to learn and explore and universities have a historically unique role in promoting that kind of intellectual endeavour.”
Two bin presses were installed at Stratford recently, just one of the changes taking place with VEOLIA, UEL’s new contractor for waste and recycling. The presses are designed to reduce the number of carts Veolia’s drivers need to collect by compacting waste on site before it is loaded into the dustcart. Training for GAs and Ocean cleaning staff took place last week with TonyTeam manager, Jonathan Oates.
Kenny Bennett, Facilities site supervisor at Stratford said “The presses are easy to operate and there has been a dramatic improvement in our operations. Provided my team keep up the work of 
compacting our waste and recycling, we expect to reduce our collections from three to just two a week. That’s a big saving for everyone”.
For more information on the new scheme, see: http://www.uel.ac.uk/greenthing/recycling.htm
Jane Skinner is responsible for introducing recycling on campus and will be happy to answer your questions. Contact her on ext: 3330 or e-mail Jane on j.skinner@uel.ac.uk
VEOLIA will be hosting roadshows at Stratford campus on 3 February and Docklands on Thursday 4th Feb. Look out for their stand in the Atrium/Reception area and you can win yourself a canvas shopping bag of complimentary items when you complete a simple questionnaire.
Pictured: Left (L-R) Mick Baker, Freddie (Ocean) Richard Williams, Kenny Bennett, Luis Oviedo (Ocean Manager) Len Glensman( just in shot) watch a demonstration from TonyTeam manager, Jonathan Oates.
Right - Making light work of cardboard. Italo Moreno (Ocean staff) operates the press.
In Focus Update is now on Twitter. Follow us here. For the latest on our activities visit the news releases section of our website www.uel.ac.uk/news
First week 1st - 5th February 2010 For February starts, see http://www.uel.ac.uk/firstweek/index.htm for more information.
VEOLIA roadshow 3 February 2010 Stratford campus, Reception and 4 February 2010 Docklands, East Building Atrium
Look out for their stand in the Atrium/Reception area and you can win yourself a canvas shopping bag of complimentary items when you complete a simple questionnaire.
Human Rights, Self Determination and Military Intervention, Wednesday 10 February 2010 4.30pm-6.30pm, DH110
Professor Michael Doyle explores these questions in a “dialogue” with John Stuart Mill’s classic (1859) attempt to outline an ethical doctrine of nonintervention and intervention. Professor Michael W. Doyle is the Harold Brown Professor of International Affairs, Law and Political Science at Columbia University - School of International and Public Affairs. He co-directs the Center on Global Goverance at Columbia Law School. This lecture is organised by The Centre on Human Rights in Conflict Spring Events Series 2010. Full details of the series on www.uel.ac.uk/chrc or to confirm your attendance contact Victoria Perry v.perry@uel.ac.uk All welcome, refreshments provided, admission free.
International Day of People with Disabilities 2010 Tuesday 16 February 2010 10-12pm Room TBC, Stratford Campus
Are you interested in furthering equality for disabled people? Do you want to raise the profile of disability equality at UEL? Have you got lots of ideas about how we can do this? Do you want the chance to get involved in planning events throughout the year and especially for International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2010? Contact: Seta Perez, Equality and Diversity Administrator on 020 8223 6361 or e-mail seta@uel.ac.uk
UELconnect - One year on... Wednesday 24 February Noon onwards, Knowledge Dock, Docklands Campus
An opportunity to..
- See the new projects we've worked with you on over the past year
- Hear the introduction from the new Vice Chancellor
- Come and discuss your how we can support your new ideas
A buffet lunch will be served at 12.30pm with the VC Address at 2.15pm, and drinks at 3.30pm
To book a place RSVP to: connect@uel.ac.uk by 10 February
Programme Leaders & Link Tutors Forum 24 February 2010 & 28 April 2010
Our half day forums aim to give Programme Leaders & Link Tutors the chance to network, discuss issues that are important to them as well as hear from others in UEL. Some of the topics covered at the forums include Advertising and Marketing - Issues of Relevance to Programme Leaders and Link Tutors, Managing Collaborative Partnerships including the use of UEL Plus and Turnitin and Programme Committee Management and Student Representation. For further information including programmes for each of the forums please see - Programme Leaders & Link Tutors Forum 2010
Please email to Nina Harding in Learning & Development n.harding@uel.ac.uk to register your place at one of the forums, stating your preferred date and any special dietary requirements.
Crash Course in New Technologies Saturday 27 February 10am-11am or 11am - Noon, Thurrock Learning Shop, Grays
If you’re interested in knowing more about new tools
and technologies, the University of East London will be
running a free one hour taster session on a wide variety of
new technologies.
This session is aimed at anyone with an interest in
learning about new technologies and how they are used.
A basic understanding of computers and the internet is
desirable, but not essential.This session is restricted to 12 participants and places
will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
For further information or to book a place on this session
please contact: Debbie Brisco, Thurrock Learning Shop,
Tel: 01375 485490
Quality Assurance Agency Institutional Audit (March 2010) Briefing
Briefing sessions on the forthcoming QAA Institutional Audit will be held for all staff on the following dates. Please could you make every effort to attend ONE of the sessions, to book a place email esdsadmin@uel.ac.uk:
Tuesday 2nd February from 1-2pm in room EB1.04, Docklands Campus
Thursday 4th February from 1-2pm in room RBG.13, Stratford Campus
Further information on the QAA Institutional Audit and FAQs, including a timeline for action, is available on our QAE webpage at http://www.uel.ac.uk/audit2010/faqs.htm
Public Lecture: “From Personal Property to Speaking Subjects: Youth, Gender, and the Right to Credit in an Attention Economy.” by Theresa Senft Tuesday 9 March 5.30pm WBG.02, Docklands Campus
This talk engages with the politics of female sexual self-display over the Internet, especially focusing on teens in America and the U.K. Theresa will begin by discussing a recent U.S. law suit filed by two Indiana teens against their high school principal after he punished them for posting risqué photos in a private section of their MySpace accounts. Echoing current wisdom that there is never a guarantee of privacy on the Internet, the American Civil Liberties Union (representing the girls) has chosen to frame their activities as free-speech acts, arguing that these teens were expressing themselves to themselves in two sorts of bedrooms: their real-life one, and their online one. In this talk, Theresa frames the case in terms of her recent work on a phenomenon she calls “micro-celebrity”: a new way to perform the self that combines the visual techniques of corporate branding with the distribution technologies of the Internet. Theresa is particularly interested in how sexism and ageism converge within micro-celebrity’s overwhelming investment in the so-called ‘attention economies of the Web.’ This speech returns to a question raiseded in her book Camgirls: “Why are women continually encouraged to express themselves in media through confession, celebrity and sexual display, yet punished with conservative censure and backlash when their representation becomes ‘too much’ to handle?”
Skills Module Leaders Fora Thursday 18 March 2010 12pm-4.30pm, UH3.12 Stratford Campus
The first in a new series
where Skills Module Leaders have an opportunity to network and discuss issues of importance to them. The first forum will be covering areas of relevance to Level One Skills Modules; our next two forums later in the year will focus on Employability and Research. We hope as many Skills Module Leaders as possible will attend. For further information including the programme please see Skills Module Leaders Forum 2010
Please email learn-teach@uel.ac.uk to register your place at the forum, including details of any special dietary requirements
Mayfest, Wednesday 5th May 2010
Our annual cultural and arts extravaganza, more information coming soon! To get involved please contact Becky Williams, events@uel.ac.uk or ext. 2884
Open Days 2010
Wednesday 21 April 2010, 4-7pm, Stratford Campus only – Postgraduate advice evening
Saturday 26 June 2010, 12-4pm, Stratford and Docklands
Wednesday 1 September 2010, 4-7pm, Stratford and Docklands
Saturday 16 October 2010, 12-4pm, Stratford and Docklands
For more information about Open Days, contact Vicky Rossiter on v.rossiter@uel.ac.uk
Key links:
Academic Board: www.uel.ac.uk/qa/committees/acaboard
UEL Chaplaincy: www.uel.ac.uk/chaplaincy
Board of Governors: www.uel.ac.uk/governors
Graduation:www.uel.ac.uk/graduation
Mayfest: www.uel.ac.uk/mayfest
Open Days: www.uel.ac.uk/openday
Public Lectures: www.uel.ac.uk/lectureseries
Stonewall Information Service, for advice on housing, parenting, school, work, partnerships, health, immigration and crime call 08000 50 20 20. For details, visit: www.stonewall.org/info
See Events Calendar for a full listing: www.uel.ac.uk/marketing/support/eventscalendar.htm
Stratford Campus Strength and Conditioning Facility A unique athlete conditioning service is being provided at our Stratford campus within the M Building. The facility is fitted out with the very best selection of strength and conditioning equipment to enable athletes and sportspeople the opportunity to receive the very best support. David Cosford, the Director of Sport, has developed a team of 15 volunteer coaches offering this free of charge service from 0730 to 2000 Monday to Friday. All users must be involved in competitive sport, and require the services in order to improve their performance.
Since its opening in November, the centre has over 170 members and over 20 different sports represented. The centre services a unique mix of UELSports clubs, staff, students and external sports clubs including Newham and Essex Beagles Athletics Club and VC Londres Cycling Club. Anybody interested in using the facility needs to undergo a basic induction and enrolment process.
For more information contact David Cosford on ext. 6398 or d.cosford@uel.ac.uk or call the centre direct on ext. 4180
Royal Society (UK). Education Research Fellowships. Deadline: 18 March 2010. The aim of this scheme is to provide educationalists with the opportunity to build an independent research career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics as 5-19 subjects. Funding is provided for five years and covers the research fellow's salary costs, pension contribution, London allowance if applicable, and research and travel expenses of up to £4,000 per year. http://royalsociety.org/Education-Research-Fellowship/
NIHR Service Delivery and Organisation Programme. Responsive Mode Funding. Deadline for outline proposals: 18 March 2010. Funding is available for follow-on empirical studies, evidence synthesis and scoping reviews for future research needs. The budget is £2 million and awards are worth up to £300,000 for a period of up to 24 months. http://www.sdo.nihr.ac.uk/10_1008.html
The Classical Association (UK), Grants. Deadline: 19 March 2010. The Classical Association awards in the region of £50,000 each year to classical projects and conferences, mainly in the UK. The Association will consider applications for: (1) Subventions to summer schools and to institutions offering extra-mural courses in Greek, Latin and Classical Civilisation. (2) Bursaries for teachers attending courses abroad, notably the British School at Athens Easter Course. (3) Support of Greek and Latin reading competitions arranged by CA branches. (4) Support of regional Greek or Roman days or of school conferences. (5) Subventions to academic conferences particularly when of broad appeal and held in major centres, with a view especially to assisting students, teachers and scholars from East European and developing countries. The Association prefers to give grants in the form of student or other bursaries, and does not normally subsidise the running costs of conferences. http://www.classicalassociation.org/Grants/Grants.html
The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) (FR), Programme Grants. Deadline: 22 March 2010. HFSP supports innovative basic research into fundamental biological problems with emphasis placed on novel and interdisciplinary approaches that involve scientific exchanges across national and disciplinary boundaries. Such collaborations have opened up new approaches for understanding the complex structures and regulatory networks that characterize living organisms, their evolution and interactions. To stimulate novel, daring ideas and innovative approaches, preliminary results are not required in research grant applications. The HFSP places special emphasis on encouraging scientists early in their careers – this is expressed both in the establishment of a special Young Investigators’ Grant and in encouraging scientists early in their careers to participate in the Program Grants. Applicants are expected to develop new lines of research through the collaboration. http://www.hfsp.org/how/appl_forms_RG.php
Missed an Update? All previously advertised funding opportunities are archived until their date of expiry at http://www.uel.ac.uk/gradschool/research/ResearchUpdate.htm or http://www.uel.ac.uk/gradschool/research/euroupdate.htm
The English Language Centre is running Academic Writing and Communication Skills Courses in every School and across most programmes this semester. This course aims to provide students with the necessary academic writing and communication skills to succeed in their chosen field, and will help them in preparing assignments such as essays and presentations.
Please check http://www.uel.ac.uk/elc/insessional.htm for information on when courses are meeting and which students are eligible. There is a course available for every International Student and every Level 1 student, as well as many Level 2&3 and PG students. Staff and students can contact the ELC at elc@uel.ac.uk or on x6253 for more information on this programme.
Bookings are now being accepted for UEL's 2010 'Be Your Own Boss' programme, which is organised by our Knowledge Dock Business Centre for February - April. If you are a recent graduate, unemployed or thinking of starting your own business then this course is a great opportunity for you. For further details or to book a FREE place please visit:
Stratford: http://bookingsatuelstratford.eventbrite.com
Docklands: http://bookingsatueldocklands.eventbrite.com
Download the 'Be Your Own Boss' flyer here.
Do you want to win research funding, present a paper at a conference or get a journal article published? Are you studying for a PGR degree, or do you supervise PGR students? Then please have a look at the courses we are offering you this semester! Course details are available at http://www.uel.ac.uk/gradschool/training.htm
To book a place, or if you have a query, please e-mail Dr Caroline Dunmore, Research Skills Development Adviser in the Graduate School, on c.dunmore@uel.ac.uk.
For details about First Aid courses, contact Frances Bronzite on f.s.bronzite@uel.ac.uk
For details about ECDL, contact Cedrick Nosa on c.nosa@uel.ac.uk
For Learning and Development Course dates see: www.uel.ac.uk/staff-development/handbook
Thurrock Learning Shop Photography Competition Take a photo of your local area and enter our competition with the opportunity to win prizes of £50, £25 and £10*. The winning entry will also be enlarged and displayed at the Thurrock Learning Shop. Winners will be announced at a photography coffee morning to be held on Saturday 20th February at the Thurrock Learning Shop from 10-12 noon.
At the coffee morning you will be able to:
- Look at the competition entries
- Attend a talk on how to take better photographs
- Receive information and guidance on local photography courses.
To enter please e-mail your entry to tthurrock@uel.ac.uk with the words “Photography Competition" as the subject.
Please send comments or contributions for in Focus Update to: infocus@uel.ac.uk
© 2010
