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Welcome to in Focus Update… |
Past Issues << | Issue 223: 01 December 2010 |
The Digital Media Team’s innovative personal prospectus scoops two major industry awards in as many weeks. Developed with on-demand digital print experts, KnowledgePoint, the personal prospectus claimed awards for ‘Revolutionising Variable Data Print in the Education Sector’, and its outstanding use of digital printing technology. For the full story, please visit uel.ac.uk/marketing/web/vdpawards.htm and to view this pioneering new service visit uel.ac.uk/myprospectus
Transformation for Excellence set out our nine strategic objectives for 2015. We are now setting up nine programme boards tasked with achieving these objectives. We want all our staff to be engaged in the strategy. To help you understand how the new process works, and how you can make your contribution, we are publishing a one-page summary and a more detailed Corporate Plan. Please see the Strategic Planning webpage for updates: uel.ac.uk/planning/index.htm
A member of the University's Board of Governors has recently been appointed to the House of Lords. The
leading industrialist and philanthropist
Lord Raj Loomba, who joined the Board in 2008, is widely recognised as
a tireless campaigner for improving the plight of widows and their children all over the world, having set up the charitable Loomba Trust in 1997. Lord Loomba has also forged
a successful business career as founder of Rinku Group PLC, the fashion and clothing company of which he is Executive Chairman. Lord Loomba recently attended the Indian Honorary Awards celebration at the Docklands Campus last month.
In recent weeks, female entrepreneurship has been at the forefront of the University’s initiatives. Now, UEL has sought to create a Business Innovation Centre which aims to provide support to women’s business ventures abroad, as well as create close ties with the Royal Docks Business School and School of Arts and Digital Industries. The University has teamed up with The Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs (a non-profit organisation based in Hyderabad, India) in order to create the centre, which (once status is granted next year) will be the first BIC in India. Hannah Simcoe-Read, Professor of Entrepreneurship at the RDBS and coordinator for the centre, recently presented the School at the Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs Trade Festival in Hyderabad, to build upon the close links with the Indian Business School. For more information, please visit co-we.com or contact Hannah via h.simcoe-read@uel.ac.uk
UEL has recently become the 52nd member of an important charter which aims to promote the careers of women in Science, Engineering and Technology. The Athena Swan Charter, which was launched in 2005, were “delighted to welcome UEL”, recognising that the University are “actively engaged in developing the female talent of both their students and academic staff”. Professor Cornelia Boldyreff, of the School of Computing, IT and Engineering, will be the UEL designated charter contact, and will be responsible to promote and implement the Charter principles throughout UEL. To get involved, contact Cornelia on c.boldyreff@uel.ac.uk . For more information, please see consult her blog (boldyreff.wordpress.com) or visit the Athena Swan newspage (athenaswan.org.uk/html/athena-swan/news).
UEL will be holding a seminar on Wednesday 8 December in celebration of Human Rights Day. The seminar entitled "The media as a force for good: how we can help create safe spaces to give voice to marginalized communities" will be lead by Trupti Magecha (Strategic Development Advisor at the Trinity Centre, Newham) who has had a long history of work associated to human rights. She will look at the powerful role that the media can play in raising awareness of human rights issues and illustrate the challenges through case studies. For more information on the Trinity Centre, visit thetrinitycentre.org The seminar will be held in Room 110 at Duncan House from 3.30 – 5pm on the 8 December. For more information please see uel.ac.uk/chrc or contact j.simpoha-nylin@uel.ac.uk
The International Day of People with Disabilities promotes awareness of disability issues, the rights of people with disabilities, and their integration in to the mainstream of the social, political, economic and cultural aspects of their communities. This year we will be holding an event on Thursday 2 December in the East Building Atrium at Docklands Campus from 10am to 3pm. Come along and find out about life coaching, mental and physical well-being, employment advice, assistive technologies and how UEL can support staff and students with disabilities, and lots more. For more information, please visit uel.ac.uk/equality/enable.htm or contact Seta Perez (Equality and Diversity Administrator) via seta@uel.ac.uk or 020 8223 6361.
Unwanted gifts and disappointed smiles could be a thing of the past if former UEL employee Donna Plakhtienko has anything to do with it. Donna has recently launched a ground-breaking new web service, Don’t Ask Don’t Get that allows users to create a wish list of gifts, which they can share with their family and friends. It provides users with total freedom of choice as they can compile their gift list from any website they visit. The company has also developed a new iPhone application (currently awaiting approval from Apple) which allows users to build their gift list by scanning an item’s bar code using their iPhone whilst out shopping. To sign up for the service, please visit dontask-dontget.co.uk
Due to severe weather conditions, Martina regrettably cancelled the book signing and lecture which was due to take place today (30 November) at the Docklands Campus. The Events team sincerely apologises for any inconvenience and disappointment this caused. We are aware that many of you had purchased books in advance of the book signing. Therefore, Martina will write and sign dedications on book-plates which can be fixed onto the inside cover of your book. If you would like a signed book-plate from Martina, please email your dedications to HSS Lecturer Helena Blakemore via H.C.Blakemore@uel.ac.uk For any queries regarding the event, please email events@uel.ac.uk
For the latest on our activities visit the news releases section of our website www.uel.ac.uk/news
Open Day dates 2010/11
Following consultation with schools and services the open days dates for the 2010/11 academic year have now been set. The Student Recruitment & Marketing Team will be reviewing the format of these events with colleagues and prospective students over the next few months to ensure we maximise our recruitment this year. If you are planning any school recruitment events over the coming year please contact your account manager in the Student Recruitment & Marketing Team who will be able to provide you with advice and support. You can find details of all account managers by visiting uel.ac.uk/marketing/srm/accountmanagers.htm
Date |
Event |
Time of event |
Times staff required to work |
Campus |
Saturday 22 January |
Application drop-in event |
12-4pm |
9-5pm |
Docklands and Stratford |
Saturday 25 June |
General (UG & PG) open day |
12-4pm |
9-5pm |
Docklands and Stratford |
Saturday 20 August |
Clearing application drop-in day |
12-4pm |
9-5pm |
Docklands |
Jump 4 London: 2 December (Docklands Campus)
Get snapped mid-jump for the world’s largest photograph, to be exhibited at ExCel Centre! To participate, turn up outside Oscar’s Bistro at Docklands Campus on 2 December and get ready to jump your way into the Guinness Book of World Records. For more information contact Shahida on 020 8223 2345, 07872 600992 or suv@uel.ac.uk, or visit jump4london.co.uk
‘How can the sporting legacy of the London 2012 Games deliver lasting change to the East End of London?’: Thursday 2 December, 6 – 8pm, Drinks reception, 8 – 9pm (Docklands Campus)
This event will explore how the sporting legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games might transform the East End of London. It will draw on the economic lessons of previous urban sporting regeneration initiatives and explore London-wide ambitions for sporting participation. The event will include guest speakers, as well as an introduction by Vice-Chancellor Professor Patrick McGhee. Attendance is free but registration is essential. To register please go to legacycompany.co.uk/news-events/whats-on/?event_id=9 For more information please contact Victoria Stonebridge via info@legacycompany.co.uk or 020 3288 1800.
Improving Progression to Higher Education: Thursday 2 December, 9am – 4pm (Mayfair Conference Centre, London, W2 2ES)
Professor John Storan, Director of the Centre for Widening Participation at UEL, will be one of six guest speakers to appear at a one-day conference, which will address the areas of understanding policy, clarifying funding structures and identifying ways to work more effectively in partnership. To register, please visit emapeducation.com/progression For more information email educationconferences@emap.com or call 020 7554 5800. Please note this is not a University event.
International Day of People with Disabilities: Thursday 2 December, 10am
–
3pm (East Building Atrium, Docklands Campus)
The day promotes awareness of disability issues, the rights of people with disabilities, and their integration in to the mainstream of the social, political, economic and cultural aspects of their communities. Find out about life coaching, mental and physical well-being, employment advice, assistive technologies and how UEL can support staff and students with disabilities and lots more. For more information visit uel.ac.uk/equality/enable.htm or contact Seta Perez (Equality and Diversity Administrator) via seta@uel.ac.uk or 020 8223 6361.
Managing Your Career Workshop: ‘From Application to Interview’: Thursday 2 December, 1 – 5pm (Docklands Campus)
Organised by
the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Staff Network, the aim of this workshop is to provide participants with an insight into how recruitment and selection processes are conducted within the public and private sectors, and the skills and qualities required in order to ensure that their applications have a unique selling point (USP). The session covers completing applications and CVs, delivering presentations and psychometric assessments. It is open to all staff, but places are limited.
If you would like to attend, please contact Seta Perez (Equality and Diversity Administrator) via seta@uel.ac.uk by 26 November.
Christmas Market: Wednesday 8 December, 12 noon – 3pm (Docklands Campus,
Children’s Garden Early Years Centre)
The Children’s Garden Early Years Centre is delighted to announce their forthcoming Christmas Fair. All goods-donations are welcome, however large or small! Food items should be brought to the Children’s Garden by Monday 6 December. Raffle tickets will shortly be available. For further information, please contact Annette James at the Children's Garden via a.james@uel.ac.uk or 020 8223 2663.
Human Rights Day: Wednesday 8 December, 3.30 – 5pm (Room 110, Duncan House)
A seminar entitled The media as a force for good: how we can help create safe spaces to give voice to marginalized communities will be lead by Trupti Magecha, Strategic Development Advisor at the Trinity Centre, Newham, and will look at the powerful role that the media can play in raising awareness of human rights issues. For more information please see uel.ac.uk/chrc or contact j.simpoha-nylin@uel.ac.uk
Alumni Christmas Party: Thursday 16 December, 6.30pm 'til late (West Ham United Football Club)
The programme for the evening includes a DJ and disco, quizzes, raffles and live music. A festive buffet and your first drink are included in your ticket. Tickets are £10 purchased before, and £15 after, 3 December. To attend, please send a cheque made payable to ‘UEL Development Trust’ and send it to Development and Alumni Office, UEL Docklands Campus, University Way, London E16 2RD, and write 'Christmas 2010' on the back. Please include a note with your name, your guest(s’) name(s), contact address, phone number and email address. A formal ticket will be sent to you closer to the event. For more information, please contact alumni@uel.ac.uk or call 020 8223 6443.
See Events Calendar for a full listing: www.uel.ac.uk/marketing/support/eventscalendar.htm
Women’s rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK. This is helped partly by the recent World Cup that took place in England and the likes of Maggie Alphonsi, who has recently been nominated for the Times Sportswoman of the Year award. Rugby is an incredibly inclusive sport and here at UEL, we are establishing a team. We already have a good core of players and are always looking to increase our numbers. The UEL women got off to an impressive start with their first match against University of Essex. We held them to a 10-25 score line which was excellent considering there were four regional players for the Essex region in University of Essex line up. UEL women took on Imperial College on 24 November at Memorial Park, KO, which proved to be a good test for the women who had been training hard for the match.
If you are looking to participate in a physically and mentally challenging game, and want to develop speed and strength at the same time, come along to our training sessions every Monday at 7pm at the Memorial Park, near West Ham tube. For more information, email rugby@uel.ac.uk
Rugby is a sport unlike any other. There is a position for everyone which will utilise your strengths as an individual in a team context. Give it a try!
UEL Sports – ‘Get involved, Join, Learn, Participate, Train, Motivate, Compete, Enjoy’
Society for In Vitro Biology (USA), Philip White Memorial Award. Deadline: 31 January 2011. The aim of this award is to supplement expenses for a student to further study plant tissue culture by acquiring specialized training in a plant tissue-related technique not available at their home institution, by traveling to another laboratory. A stipend of $650 is awarded for travel to, and training at, an institution of the awardee's choice. Visit sivb.org/awards_student_Phillip.asp for more information.
Glasgow Caledonian University, Visiting International Fellowships in Social Justice. Deadline: 31 January 2011. Fellowships aim to foster the development of research in the area of social justice. An honorarium of £3,000 will be paid to fellows who stay at the school for one semester. Please see gcu.ac.uk/lss/research/visitinginternationalfellowships/ for more information.
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), New Investigator Awards. Deadline: 1 February 2011. This competition is for investigators at the outset of their scientific career and who are within three years of first becoming eligible to apply for NERC funding as a principal investigator. Grants are worth up to £100,000 at 80 per cent full economic cost. See nerc.ac.uk/funding/available/researchgrants/typesofaward/newinvestigators.asp for more information.
British Association for Canadian Studies (GB), Travel Awards to Visit Canada. Deadline: 1 February, 1 May, 1 October 2011.These awards are intended to enable suitably qualified British scholars to make academic visits to Canada. The grants are worth up to £500, and are awarded to full-time academic staff or postgraduate students from the UK. See canadian-studies.info/main/content/view/32/43/ for more information.
European Science Foundation (ESF), Conference attendance or travel grants:
– ESF-EMBO Symposium on B Cells and Protection: Back to Basics (12-17 June 2011). Grants are available to cover the conference fee and possibly part of the travel costs for students and early stage researchers. Deadline: 10 March 2010. Visit esf.org/activities/esf-conferences/details/2011/confdetail366.html?conf=366&year=2011 for more information.
– ESF-LiU Conference: Religion, Gender and Human Rights: Challenges for Multicultural and Democratic Societies The conference will examine the nexus of religion, gender, identity, human rights and politics with a particular focus on Europe and the EU. Grants are available to cover the conference fee and possibly part of the travel costs. Deadline: 29 March 2011. Visit esf.org/activities/esf-conferences/details/2011/confdetail352.html for information.
Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe. Call for proposals: Preparatory access. No closing dates, applications accepted all year round.
PRACE (Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe) Research Infrastructure (RI) allows researchers from across Europe to apply for time on high-end, high-performance computers via a peer review process. Preparatory access allows researchers to apply for code scalability testing and also support for code development and optimisation from PRACE RI members software experts. Preparatory access allows researchers to optimise their codes before responding to project calls. Machine(s) available: IBM Blue Gene/P “JUGENE” (GCS@Jülich, Germany) and, after 1st of January 2011, BULL Bullx cluster “CURIE” (GENCI/CEA, Bruyères-Le-Châtel, France). Please see this Adobe Reader file (prace-project.eu/hpc-access/prace_preparatory_access_call.pdf) for further information on the Call and guidelines.
Missed an Update? All previously advertised funding opportunities are archived until their date of expiry at uel.ac.uk/gradschool/research/ResearchUpdate.htm or uel.ac.uk/gradschool/research/euroupdate.htm
UEL has a brand new Fairtrade policy, showing the University and SU’s commitment to promoting ethical trade. Fairtrade guarantees a fair price to disadvantaged producers in the developing world and promotes investment in social, environmental and business schemes in the wider community. The Fairtrade system includes environmental standards as part of producer certification. Fairtrade products are available in all campus catering and retail outlets with a wide range available from hot drinks to muffins. To read the policy and find out more about Fairtrade, visit uel.ac.uk/greenthing/fairtrade/index.htm
Did you know that anyone living, working, or studying in Newham is eligible for free one-to-one cycle training with a qualified instructor? This training follows the National Cycling Standards Level 1 to 3 (1 is off-road control, 2 is on quiet roads, and 3 is busy roads and junctions). The training focusses on learning to ride with skill, confidence and assertiveness on real roads and traffic situations to be safe on your journey. Staff or students interested in free cycle training at UEL can email cycle.training@newham.gov.uk and they will be sent details on how to book some free lessons. Presently, there is no limit on the number of sessions that can be booked before March 2011. For more information on cycling incentives, please visit uel.ac.uk/greenthing/getting.htm
Following a successful conference on urban biodiversity held at Stratford Campus, UEL’s biodiversity baseline has been published. Carried out by the Environmental Research Group (uel.ac.uk/erg) this survey measured current biodiversity levels at both campuses, recording all plant, mammal, bird and invertebrate species. Recommendations have been made for enhancing biodiversity across the estate, from installing green roofs to providing bird boxes in mature trees. If you are interested and would like to get involved, please contact greenthing@uel.ac.uk. To read the survey results and find out more about biodiversity at UEL, visit uel.ac.uk/greenthing/wildlife.htm
Please send comments or contributions for in Focus Update to: infocus@uel.ac.uk
To contribute a UEL news item please supply a headline (c. 10 words), short paragraph (c. 50-100 words) with a call to action (email / web link or phone) together with a photo.
To contribute a UEL event please supply a headline (c. 10 words), date, time, location, short description, with call to action (email / web link or phone)
© 2010
