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Welcome to in Focus Update… |
Past Issues << | Issue 226: 11 January 2011 |
Happy New Year and welcome back. I hope you enjoyed the festive break and that you are suitably refreshed and ready to tackle the challenges of 2011.
And 2011 will undoubtedly be a year of significant change and challenge.
With the new fees regime approved by Parliament we must begin preparations for 2012 and ensure we maximise our recruitment at all levels. We are already engaged in lobbying the Government in relation to the most effective, fair and sustainable arrangements for student financial support for 2012 but there is a lot of work to do in this area. In this context you may also have seen my press release before Christmas opposing the abolition of EMAs. Similarly our discussions are continuing in relation to visa arrangements for overseas students.
Our values of academic excellence, ambition, diversity, partnership and sustainability will not change but how we deliver on them as the world changes around us must change. We know that in 2011 we are better placed that most universities of our type to deal with the challenges ahead, providing we make changes, but nonetheless some of the changes will not be easy.
To view the full message please visit uel.ac.uk/vcg/internal/index.htm If you experience difficulty in viewing this page please see uel.ac.uk/internal/vcg/index.htm
Professor Patrick McGhee
Vice-Chancellor
UEL’s inaugural sports scholarships were awarded to student athletes on 14 December in honour of their outstanding achievements over the last year. The scholarships were presented by Vice-Chancellor Professor Patrick McGhee to 24 of UEL’s top-ranking athletes, ranging from cricketers to taekwondo champions, all of whom have competed nationally or internationally in their chosen sport. In accepting the scholarships, the athletes thanked the University for its continuous support and for its commitment to their sporting careers. Basketball player Jamell Anderson said, “Without this scholarship I would not be able to afford to attend training and tournaments”. For the full story visit uel.ac.uk/news/press_releases/SportsScholarship.htm
UEL has been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard, demonstrating that it has taken real action on climate change by reducing its carbon emissions. Some of the projects that have enabled the University to get the Carbon Trust Standard include the installation of new heating controls, efficient condensing boilers, additional insulation, improved lighting controls, renewable technologies (solar photovoltaic cells and a wind turbine) and optimisation of building management systems. The award is great recognition of everyone’s contribution to saving energy on campus. To find out how you can be environmentally switched-on, and to play the fun, new, interactive game ‘The Great Green Scheme’, visit uel.ac.uk/greenthing You need to green your office quickly and catch the Energy Bandit before he gets away!
Bunmi Olaye (UEL fashion student and Creative Director of her own luxury brand, Bunmi Koko) was announced as one of the most influential professionals in the country on her graduation day, just one year after launching her brand. Bunmi and her partner Francis Udom (CEO of Bunmi Koko) appear in the JP Morgan Black Power List for 2011, a definitive list of the top 100 most influential people of African or Caribbean descent working in the UK. Bunmi and Francis met Vice-Chancellor Professor Patrick McGhee before the Christmas holiday to hand him a personal copy of the Power List (pictured). For the full story visit uel.ac.uk/news/press_releases/Bunmipower.htm
Two successful small local businesses, Eco Cleaning & Ironing Services and Lovely Gorgeous Things, have both benefitted from UEL's Eureka programme, through Product Design students working on designs for a range of their products. The programme is a European-funded initiative which offers free environmental and sustainability expertise to London-based small and medium-sized enterprises; from product development, through to expert environmental advice, accessing new markets, reducing waste and reducing carbon footprints. For the full story visit uel.ac.uk/news/press_releases/ProductDesign.htm
Linking London, the lifelong learning network, recently funded a UELconnect work-based learning project for library managers in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, with participation from library managers from across the country. The project developed modules for a conference (on 13 December) which addressed the key skills gap within the public library sectors, and reflected the changing nature of local authority libraries and the need for innovation. The first cohort of library staff was presented with their certificates by the Mayor of Barking and Dagenham, Cllr Nirmal Singh Gill. For the full feature see linkinglondon.ac.uk/partners/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=385:linking-london-library-project-showcases-the-best-of-work-based-learning&catid=2:news
Six UEL researchers attended Vitae’s three-day intensive ‘Leadership in Action’ course at the London School of Economics in December. One commented, “This was a great opportunity to practise leadership in various situations. The ongoing support of highly experienced facilitators made for a safe yet challenging environment where strengths were pushed to the limit and weaknesses were identified through experiential-learning approaches. Having researchers from different institutions and disciplines made for stimulating working groups.” Dr Caroline Dunmore, who manages the UEL Researcher Development Programme, was on the facilitator team and will work towards running ‘Leadership in Action’ again to benefit more UEL researchers. For more information about Vitae see vitae.ac.uk For more information about the UEL Researcher Development Programme see uel.ac.uk/gradschool/training.htm
For the latest on our activities visit the news releases section of our website www.uel.ac.uk/news
Open Day dates in 2011
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 |
See Events Calendar for a full listing: www.uel.ac.uk/marketing/support/eventscalendar.htm
Get involved with some of the activities that UELSports has to offer in 2011 and make a commitment to get fit, healthy and active. UELSports are constantly increasing the activities available, with the following planned or already arranged:
No-Strings Badminton
Social, fun and organised weekly badminton sessions on Tuesdays from 5.30 – 7pm at Sarah Bonnell School (opposite Stratford Campus). Restarts on Tuesday 11 January. Available to staff and students. See youtube.com/watch?v=txfvjlDPZQU
Jogging sessions
Join the lunchtime and after-work jogging sessions at both Docklands and Stratford Campuses. Suitable for all levels of fitness.
Triathlon Club
Join fellow staff and run at Triathlon Club (weekly swimming and jogging sessions available). For more information, email triathlon@uel.ac.uk
Rounders
A new, weekly indoor rounders session will start in late January, leading through to outdoor sessions in the summer. Contact UELSports to register.
Dodgeball
A new, weekly dodgeball session will start this month. Contact UELSports to register for this fun, fast and frenetic activity.
Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, Aerobics and Circuit Training
UELSports have planned these sessions to run on a weekly basis on campus during lunchtimes and after work. These pay-as-you-go sessions are a great way to fit in healthy activity during a busy and hectic work schedule.
For more information on any of the above, and to register your interest, please contact uelsports@uel.ac.uk
UEL Sports – ‘Get involved, Join, Learn, Participate, Train, Motivate, Compete, Enjoy’
'The Outdoors Show' is London’s new event for everyone with a love of the great outdoors and a spirit of adventure. On offer will be outdoors clothing and gear, exclusive discounts, celebrity and expert speakers, professional demos and many exciting activities. The show will run alongside the 'Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show' and the 'London Bike Show'. Admission tickets are valid for entry to all three shows. It will be held Thursday 13 – Sunday 16 January at the ExCeL Centre and would like to offer to UEL staff 20 complimentary tickets. Please contact luis@vosmedia.co.uk to collect your ticket. Students can receive a £9 concession by visiting theoutdoorsshow.co.uk, clicking on 'Buy Tickets' and quoting STUEL11 (advance bookings only). See theoutdoorsshow.co.uk for more information.
Sylvie Prasad, visual artist and senior lecturer in HSS, talks about the making of May Days for Radio 4’s Pocket Cinema programme. The show looks at artists and filmmakers who use mobile phone technology in their work. May Days (2010) is a work in progress exploring memory, belonging and autobiography. Mobile phone technology is utilised in the film as a record-keeping device but is also implicated in the formation of memory for one Alzheimer’s sufferer. Pocket Cinema will be broadcast on Sunday 30 January at 11.30am. For further information, please contact s.e.prasad@uel.ac.uk
Strategic Planning and Quality Assurance staff member Amy de Campos has recently co-authored a book on the Sheffield-born novelist and poet A.S. Byatt. A book launch party will be taking place on Thursday 20 January at Westminster University, with Dame Antonia Byatt in attendance. For more information, please contact Amy via a.de.campos@uel.ac.uk
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)
© 2011
