|
|
Welcome to in Focus Update… |
Past Issues << | Issue 201: Wednesday 30 June 2010 |
It's ten years since the then Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, officially opened the architecturally-pioneering University of East London Docklands campus on his very first day in office - the site was the first new university campus to be built in London for over fifty years. In autumn 1999, the University moved nearly two and half thousand students to the Royal Albert Dock, once the world's longest dock, but closed to commercial shipping since the 1980s, in a classic exercise of brown-field urban regeneration. In 2001, the campus was short listed as Building of the Year by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, competing with architectural achievements worldwide. Many thousands of students have passed through its doors since then but the buildings themselves remain as visually striking as ever. The campus is designed with a high performance low-energy fresh air delivery system, allowing windows to be shut to keep out the noise from the City Airport opposite and is centred around a pedestrian square facing south onto the Dock. Its 384 student rooms are gathered in brightly-painted paired drums along the dockside in front of the main academic buildings. Edward Cullinan, the architect who designed the campus, was presented with an award and officially opened the showcase for final year architecture students at the University’s School of Architecture and Visual Arts. He said of the project: “it was a lovely job to do, on a truly marvellous site”.
Pictured L-R: Patrick McGhee, Renee Tobe, Ted Cullinan cutting the Docklands campus birthday cake
HR Services will be writing to all academic and research staff to inform them of the arrangements for their transfer to our new grade structure. All academic and research staff will be assimilated to our new common pay and grading structure by the end of September (with hourly-paid lecturers by the end of October), to be backdated to 1st August 2006. Staff will be informed of the changes in their terms and conditions by individual letter, which will also include the arrangements for their assimilation; the schedule for that is as follows: Law and Psychology - staff to receive letters in early July and to be paid on our new grade structure (backdated to 1.8.06) in July. CITE, Education, Humanities & Social Sciences - staff to receive letters in early August and to be paid on our new grade structure (backdated to 1.8.06) in August. AVA, Health & Bio and RDBS - staff to receive letters in early September and to be paid on our new grade structure (backdated to 1.8.06). Hourly-paid lecturers - all schools - staff to receive letters in early October and to be paid on our new grade structure (backdated to 1.8.06). The Framework Agreement is on http://www.uel.ac.uk/hrservices/frameworkagreement.htm and our new salary scales are on http://www.uel.ac.uk/payroll/documents/PAYSCALES.xls
Perhaps not surprisingly, given the current economic and political climate, funding was the hot topic at the University of East London’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Conference on Monday. The event, which brought together key staff from Knowledge Dock (UEL's enterprise development service) and the Research Support Unit in the Graduate School, kicked off with a round-table discussion involving UEL’s Research Institute Directors, intended to give staff and students the opportunity to find out more about research and business-partnership opportunities at the University. However, it was the speech in the afternoon by David Sweeney, Director of Research, Innovation and Skills at the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) that sparked the liveliest Q&A session.
Attendees were given a final opportunity to ask questions of the Vice Chancellor, Patrick McGhee, followed by an evening BBQ and networking opportunity with guests, including potential funding partners along with special guest, networking guru and business consultant, Heather White. For the full story go to: http://www.uel.ac.uk/news/press_releases/KnowledgeConf.htm
UEL alumna Karen Brummund has been awarded a New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) fellowship in Architecture and Environmental Structures. Unrestricted cash grants, totalling $805,000 this year, were awarded through fellowships to just 115 New York State artists after a record 6,279 applications were received. Karen said: "I’m flattered to have been awarded a fellowship. During my studies at UEL I focused on not only showing work outside of the gallery, but also making art outside of the studio. This led me to use public space as my canvas and architecture as a form of sculpture. The tutors and staff at UEL helped me reflect on these processes as well as ideas about drawing ”. For full story, visit: http://www.uel.ac.uk/news/press_releases/KarenBrummond.htm
This year, the staff party is on Friday 9 July, so lets start the weekend early with free food and drink, a DJ, karaoke and outside games such as Bungee Run and Penalty Shoot Out. There will be prizes for the best karaoke singer and best dressed, so dust off your football kit, fake tan, and Gucci handbags and join us at Oscars from 3:30pm!
This year, transport to and from Stratford and Duncan House will be provided for those who need it, leaving at a variety of times for the Docklands campus. Full details to be confirmed, but to provisionally book your place on the coach, email staffparty@uel.ac.uk. To RSVP, or for more information, please email staffparty@uel.ac.uk We look forward to seeing you there!
For the latest on our activities visit the news releases section of our website www.uel.ac.uk/news
UEL’s 5th Learning, Teaching & Assessment Conference will take place on Thursday 1 July, in the Computing & Conference Centre, Stratford Campus.
This one-day Conference is free and open to all UEL staff and collaborative partners. Conference registration is now OPEN. A number of themed sessions will run during the morning and afternoon of the Conference, incorporating elements of traditional conference activity and enquiry-based learning. Themes will be innovative practice, inclusive learning, teaching and assessment, Partnership and Collaboration (including the Student voice), professional development, technology enriched learning and teaching. There will also be high profile Keynote Speakers (topics and profiles will be available shortly); offering insights into topical issues of relevance to UEL and to the wider HE sector. For further information, please contact Dinaz Trudeau, Conference Organiser on d.trudeau@uel.ac.uk CONFERENCE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Coaching & Positive Psychology in Education - 2 July
The School of Psychology are hosting an international conference at Docklands with speakers attending from USA, Australia and Europe to share their experiences of using coaching and positive psychology with young people. The event is expected to attract around 100 people from schools, colleges and universities, and builds on leading work being undertaken in positive and coaching psychology at UEL.
Staff Summer Party, Friday 9 July from 3.30pm, Oscars Bar, Docklands Campus - World Cup Theme
This year, the staff party is on Friday 9 July, so lets start the weekend early with free food and drink, a DJ, karaoke and outside games such as Bungee Run and Penalty Shoot Out. There will be prizes for the best karaoke singer and best dressed, so dust off your football kit, fake tan, and Gucci handbags and join us at Oscars from 3pm! This year, transport to and from Stratford and Duncan House will be provided, leaving at a variety of times for the Docklands campus. Full details will be confirmed, but to provisionally book your place on the coach, email staffparty@uel.ac.uk stating your requirement for a seat on the coach.
To send your RSVP, or for more information, please email staffparty@uel.ac.uk
Coaching in driving development - 30 July
The School of Psychology's third conference this Summer focuses on driving and road safety.UEL has been working with the Government, police and army to develop driver learning using coaching. The conference will explore how different organisations have been using coaching to improve learning and safety outcomes. Speakers include Sir John Whitmore and Trevor Wedge, Director, Driving Standards Agency.
UEL Open Days
Please note that the Aug/Sept open day events are split between campuses. Book online at www.uel.ac.uk/openday
For more information about Open Days, contact Vicky Rossiter on v.rossiter@uel.ac.uk
Come along to one of our open events at our Stratford and Docklands campuses and get a real feel for what it is like to study at UEL.
Psychology Postgraduate Taster Event |
Wednesday 21 July |
6.30 pm |
Stratford |
Careers Guidance, Coaching/Coaching Psychology, Business Psychology, Occupational Psychology |
|
Open Day |
Tuesday 31 August |
4–7pm |
Docklands |
Programmes taught at Docklands Campus starting Sept 2010 |
|
| Open Day | Thursday 2 September | 4–7pm | Stratford | Programmes taught at Stratford Campus starting Sept 2010 | |
Open Day |
Saturday 16 October |
12–4pm |
Stratford/ |
All start dates |
|
See Events Calendar for a full listing: www.uel.ac.uk/marketing/support/eventscalendar.htm
UELSports and the 30 sports clubs are gearing up for a successful 2010/11 sporting calendar. Since taking on the management of the sports clubs at UEL, UELSports have developed a demand led programme for students and staff. Most of the sports clubs have developed to such an extent that they show good growth and governance, however some of the ‘newer’ sports to be introduced would benefit from additional support from across the UEL. Therefore UELSports are seeking enthusiasts or interested individuals to support the development of the following clubs:-
David Cosford states ‘there are pockets of expertise and experience in sport right across UEL, with lots of common interests and synergies. I wish for this potential to be harnesses for the good of our sports clubs, and to see UEL achieve maximum representation, and ultimate honours. Our clubs are open to all, enabling staff to enjoy them as much as students. Please come forward if you feel you can offer these sports some of your time and effort’.
Please contact David on ext 6398, d.cosford@uel.ac.uk
Are your Year 11 students interested in the Olympics and learning about sports?
UEL is inviting local Year 11 students to attend the On Track residential summer school to explore the science of sport and learn more about what’s happening in the lead up to the 2012 Olympic & Paralympics Games. Participants will gain an insight into sports participation and practice through workshops, field trips, mini-lectures and activities. The four-day summer school is ideal for students with a passion for sport, or those who have an interest in coaching, sports psychology, how the body works and sports nutrition.
For more information go to: http://www.uel.ac.uk/news/press_releases/Sportsummerschool.htm
External Research Funding Opportunity News (supplied by the UEL Graduate School)
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Third Sector Placement Fellowships. Deadline: 5 August 2010. These enable social science researchers to spend time within a third sector organisation to undertake practice-relevant research and work with the host organisation on specific projects, as well as third sector organisation employees to work on a project in a setting where they have access to academic resources. The placements enable third sector organisations to access collaborative funding, academic expertise, innovative ideas and the opportunity to enhance the organisations creativity, effectiveness and impact. All of which are crucial for enhancing and supporting the third sector through a challenging economic climate. Visit the ESRC website for information.
European Commission, Tender Call: Comparative study on the purpose, scope and procedures of impact assessments carried out in the member states of EU. Deadline for receipt of tenders or requests to participate: 9 August 2010 (12:00 Brussels time). The study will provide a comparative analysis of national provisions in this field, in order to draw examples of best practices for EU-level discussion. Funding is available for up to 12 months. Please visit here for more information.
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Career Acceleration Fellowships and Leadership Fellowships. Deadline for outline proposals: 11 August 2010. EPSRC offers Career Acceleration Fellowships annually to provide up to five years funding to outstanding researchers at an early stage of their career. For information on Career Acceleration Fellowships please see here. Leadership Fellowship scheme is designed to support talented researchers with the most potential to develop into international research leaders who can set and drive new research agendas, by the end of the award. Visit the call’s website for information.
EPSRC, Postdoctoral fellowships at the cross-disciplinary interfaces. Deadline: 12 August 2010. These enable talented new researchers to establish an independent cross-disciplinary research career shortly after completing a PhD in a physical science or any engineering discipline. Awards are for a period of up to three years and cover the salary costs of the fellow, reasonable consumables, travel and subsistence. For more information visit here.
European Science Foundation, Grants for ESF-EMBO symposium on molecular perspectives on protein-protein interactions. Deadline: 14 August 2010. The conference will address a range of topics to adopt an interdisciplinary approach to the subject. Grants are available to cover the conference fee and part of the travel costs for students and early stage researchers. Visit here for information.
European Commission, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Pilot projects on employment of persons with autism spectrum disorders. Deadline: 19 August 2010. Grants support projects which use innovative practices to help develop policies for the employment and social integration of people with ASD. The budget for this call is 1 million euros and funding is worth between 150,000 euros and 350,000 euros per project over 12, 18 or 24 months. Please visit the Directorate’s website for information.
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
What social media tools are your competitors using? Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, LinkedIn, YouTube? How are they doing it? This FREE online course is an introduction to learn how to use social media in your marketing. Set up your own business accounts on Facebook and Twitter to monitor news and find new leads, understand about the importance of blogging and tie it all together to establish your own social media strategy. The course runs for 3-weeks with approximately 5 hours study required per week. Support is provided in terms of group discussions and scheduled chat sessions. To reserve your place please state the dates you wish to join and email: R.bell2@uel.ac.uk
For Learning and Development Course dates see: www.uel.ac.uk/staff-development/handbook
For Learning and Development Course dates see: www.uel.ac.uk/staff-development/handbook
2010 LIFT festival which is taking place in Canning Town between June 27 and July 12
A new arts venue is rising from the ground here in Canning Town. The LIFT is actually a mobile performance venue – basically a big tent - designed by a team of 200 Londoners, and it’s where some incredible stage shows and events are going to be taking place for LIFT 2010 in Canning Town. So... from boxing to a ‘cut and a colour’ by a 9 year old to building a miniature ideal home, there are some great shows in Canning Town this summer. Come and see us between June 23rd and July 18th. Look out for The Lift on Silvertown Way just across from Canning Town tube station. There’ll be something pretty amazing on every day.
http://www.liftfestival.com/events/lift-2010/introduction/the-lift-in-canning-town
Festival Brazil, at Southbank, 19 June - 5 September
Bringing the vibrant, dynamic culture of contemporary Brazil to the heart of London, Festival Brazil celebrates the country's rich cultural heritage – including music, visual arts, dance, literature, debates and food. For more information on what's happening visit: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/festivals-series/festival-brazil
Please send comments or contributions for in Focus Update to: infocus@uel.ac.uk
© 2010
