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Welcome to in Focus Update… |
Past Issues << | Issue 236: 22 March 2011 |
UCU have announced that strike action will be called for 24 March to coincide with a sector-wide strike day which encompasses action over ‘Job Protection and Pay’ and over the proposal to introduce increases to the contribution rates for the Teachers Pension Scheme and other unspecified ‘proposed detrimental changes’.
Deans and Directors may reschedule teaching classes on that day at their discretion; they will advise staff and students of any changes. UEL has recently issued an all-staff email with the guidelines regarding strike action. Detailed information is available from the HR services website: www.uel.ac.uk/hrservices/index.htm For further information please follow the link and click on the top item under useful links (right hand panel) and download the full guidance.
Mike Moore
Director of HR Services
Sports Coaching student Louise Little has achieved sporting excellence again for UEL, by gaining the gold medal at BUCS last weekend. Having retained last year’s title, Louise’s performance will be a hard act to follow for future years of elite athletes. Louise won the Achievement of the Year Award at the UELSports annual awards last year, and has this year benefitted from the University’s sports scholarship programme. Director of Sport, David Cosford, is keen to agree a closer working relationship with British Judo, and ensure the stars of the future can study at UEL and be gold medal performers. Louise’s efforts have made a great addition to the University’s ambition to become the best university for sport in London by 2015. For more information on UELSports see uel.ac.uk/sports (Photo credit:
David Finch, Judo Photos.com)
A charity event is being held to raise funds to help those in need in Japan. A minimum donation of £5 is being asked of each guest, with a minimum of £3 from UG students. A 20 minute group meditation will also be on offer to help anyone who feels affected by the recent tragic events. The Pray for Japan Charity Event will take place on Thursday 7 April, 12 noon – 2pm, in CC.1.01 (Stratford Campus). All are welcome. For more information contact sachuk8@aol.com
On 2 March 2011 the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Joughin launched a consultation on the Proposals for New School Structures with students and staff. This consultation document lays out a number of proposals to be discussed on the future structure of Schools at UEL. Since the start of the consultation Professor John Joughin has met with hundreds of staff and students at a range of meetings and events across the Docklands and Stratford Campuses. The consultation process ends on Friday 25 March so you still have time to feedback if you haven’t already.
There are 3 ways to feedback:
1) Come along to one of the consultation meetings this week
2) Complete the feedback form at uel.ac.uk/schoolstructures
3) Email questions and comments to schoolstructures@uel.ac.uk
To read the FAQ’s visit uel.ac.uk/schoolstructures-faqs
A UEL student has been chosen by the London 2012 Olympic Games to promote their ticketing campaign around the capital. Fitness and Health student Tania-Cyrena Cyrus can be seen leaping over a hurdle in the middle of two other athletes on the official London 2012 billboards and posters, which are pasted all over London, including the Underground. Look out for Tania hurdling on a poster near you!
Bob Neill MP, Minister for the Thames Gateway, today paid a visit to UEL to meet the members of the Vice-Chancellor’s Group and discuss the role that UEL has played in the economic development of the Thames Gateway. UEL has been vocal in focussing discussions not just on physical infrastructure, such as the new high-speed rail links, but also on the role that skills development and higher education achievement plays in the socio-economic growth of the area. The minister met the Vice-Chancellor and PVC Strategic Planning and External Development before being given a tour of Docklands Campus and meeting some of our entrepreneurs in the Knowledge Dock. PVC SPED, Selena Bolingbroke, said, “Knowledge Dock alone has helped establish 250 companies. The Minister was clearly impressed by how much UEL is a driver for private economic wealth in East London and the wider Thames Gateway.” Bob Neill said, “London's newest university is helping to create a new generation of entrepreneurs who, with the support of the university's award winning business incubator – the Knowledge Dock – are building their own local businesses, from creative industries and e-learning to bio-technology and healthcare."
Entrepreneurship Day is a day that brings together the themes of entrepreneurship and overseas opportunities, through live examples of students setting up and running their own student companies as part of their business studies programmes. There will also be presentations from current practicing young entrepreneurs. In additon, you can give support to the overseas student company members, whose companies will be judged by a panel of experts. The ‘Entrepreneurship Day’ will take place on Tuesday 12 April, beginning at 9.45am, in WB.G.02 (Docklands Campus). For more information see uel.ac.uk/entrepreneurshipday
School children at a local school will be able to learn about cutting-edge scientific research thanks to UEL's School of Health and Bioscience. An advanced laboratory, the Clinical Skills Lab, has been opened at the Hackney-based Petchey Academy, which aims to introduce a university level medical research facility into a secondary school environment. Using advanced molecular biology equipment donated by HAB, children from year 7 and above will investigate the molecular nature of inheritance and diseases like Sickle Cell Anaemia. The lab was officially opened by UEL Vice-Chancellor Professor Patrick McGhee with members from the Jack Petchey Foundation on Wednesday 9 March.
UEL's strategy 'Transformation for Excellence' set out nine strategic objectives for 2015. The Outstanding Workforce programme board is one of nine programme boards which have been set up to achieve these strategic objectives.
The Outstanding Workforce programme board has identified key projects that will encourage and empower our staff community to be truly transformational, by encouraging ways of working that lead to significant change and opportunity. Our programme board is outward facing and is considering relevant best practice from within and 
outside the HE sector. We are also determined that we involve and fully engage with UEL staff, tapping into our diversity, knowledge, energy and creativity. Existing projects include the attraction, recruitment and retention of talented staff, performance management, recognising achievement, enhancing our external focus and standing, and encouraging flexibility in all that we do. For more information on the work of the Outstanding Workforce programme board contact Greg Price via g.price@uel.ac.uk
Jill Grinstead
University Secretary and Registrar
In conjunction with UELSU, the Student Academic Advice & Support Project Team (part of the Outstanding Student Experience programme board) will be holding an ‘Open Space’ event for students. An experienced outside facilitator, Annette Zera, will be running the event, and together with student and UELSU reps, a headline question as the basis for the event has been decided upon: ‘Teaching, learning, modules, exams, course work, group-work, results, feedback, being listened to…what needs to change?’ The ‘Open Space’ event will take place on Wednesday 6 April, from 1 – 5pm, in KD.2.22/KD.2.12 (Docklands Campus). Lunch will be provided. Please encourage students to attend. For more information contact d.trudeau@uel.ac.uk
On 7 – 11 March, SMART held it’s Money Awareness Week with a range of money advice activities at Docklands and Stratford Campuses, with great success. A broad range of information was made available to students both from SMART staff members and from Community Links, a local based advice agency. The event attracted 832 students, and combined with in-person enquires and facebook activities the team reached 1305 students as part of National Student Money Week. UEL student Victoria Onikosi (pictured) even won the coveted food hamper, as well as Amazon vouchers, by guessing the hamper’s correct value. To find out more about this event please visit the UEL Money Matters facebook page: on.fb.me/uelmoneymatters
The Improving health in Newham seminar series continues with an informative seminar entitled ‘Exploring Research Participation (a local perspective)’. Organised by Angela Harden, Professor of Community and Family Health at UEL and NUHT, the event will address a survey conducted by the Central and East London CLRN in 2008, which aimed to identify the main barriers to research participation within North East London. NUHT identified language and health literacy as key influencing factors in service user’s decision making. ‘Exploring Research Participation (a local perspective)’ will take place on Tuesday 29 March, 4.15 – 5.30pm, in Common Room, Education Centre, NUHT. Refreshments will be provided. Please register your attendance with Emil Kazounis via Emil.Kazounis@newhamhealth.nhs.uk
Staff and students from UEL were recently visited by the distinguished Harvard University academic, Professor William Maxwell, who spoke of a revolution in education which will see the quality of learning and teaching improve the world over. By contrasting visionary methods of education with traditional schools of thought, the lecture introduced Professor Maxwell’s ‘simple games’ approach’ which can be used to bring out the genius in every child. Every student, said Professor Maxwell, must be nurtured in a positive and inclusive atmosphere which recognises that every child is equal. The lecture also cited examples from home and abroad, where modern technology has been successfully utilised in order to increase the pace at which young children learn. UEL lecturer Johnnes Arreymbi, who co-organised the event with Dr Chris Imafidon, from the School of Computing, IT and Engineering, said: “It was so wonderful to hear the eminent professor speak on the passionate issues of educating young people, who are the future of every nation.”
The Student Health and Wellbeing team are hosting a series of workshops and activities to provide advice on healthy living and to help students during difficult times. The next event (beginning on Monday 4 April) will be a 3-week cognitive behavioural therapy workshop, a 3-session module which will cover understanding anxiety and depression, enhancing your coping strategies and planning for future prevention. Please inform any interested students of the current events, which can be found at bit.ly/health_events
The Energy Bandit returned to UEL on Friday (18 March) to raise funds for Red Nose Day. He could be seen lurking around the offices of Docklands Campus, collecting a respectable £55.65 in total (and stealing energy along the way). The Bandit said, “A big thanks to everyone that supported the Energy Bandit for Comic Relief on Friday. I enjoy get dressed up anyway, and the opportunity to raise some money for charity is an added bonus”. To stop energy going missing and find out how to save energy on Campus see bit.ly/green_game
For the latest on our activities visit the news releases section of our website www.uel.ac.uk/news
Open Day dates in 2011
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 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 |
International Development Guest Lecture Series – Fighting Poverty Around the World and Just Around the Corner: Tuesday 22 March, 5pm (EB.3.19, Docklands Campus)
The guest speaker will be Kate Wareing, UK Poverty Programme Director at Oxfam. For more information contact Susannah Pickering-Saqqa (Lecturer in International Development and NGO Management) via s.pickering-saqqa@uel.ac.uk
Patterns of teacher engagement in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities: Tuesday 22 March, 5pm (ED.2.01, Stratford Campus)
The presenter will be Dr Amelia Roberts. Everyone is welcome to attend. For further information contact Veronica Burton via v.a.burton@uel.ac.uk
What is UEL doing about Olympics and Paralympics? Wednesday 23 March, 1 – 2pm (CC.1.01, Stratford Campus); Thursday 24 March, 1 – 2pm (EB.G.08, Docklands Campus)
John Lock, Director of UEL's 2012 Office, will give a talk followed by a Q&A session. This free event is open to all students, staff and friends.
Symbolic Interactionism, Narrative and the Sick Body: Personal Reflections: Wednesday 23 March, 2 – 5pm (WB.3.01, Docklands Campus)
At this Centre For Narrative Research tenth anniversary event, Ken Plummer from the University of Essex will connect back to his long time interest in life stories, narrative and the theory of symbolic interactionism. His main themes will be the social experience of multiple bodies, the social nature of contingency in illness, and the role of the social self in making sense of it all. For further details contact C.Squire@uel.ac.uk
From transmission to dialogue: promoting critical engagement in higher education teaching and learning: Wednesday 23 March, 5pm (ED.2.03, Stratford Campus)
This article by UEL lecturer Mohamed Moustakim reports on a self-study that focuses on encouraging a group of undergraduate students to be active learners by promoting their critical engagement with what they are learning. All are welcome. Please RSVP to Veronica via v.a.burton@uel.ac.uk in order to confirm numbers.
Ofsted Celebration Event: Thursday 24 March, 3 – 5pm (Children’s Garden Early Years Centre, Docklands Campus)
A recent report from Ofsted found the Children’s Garden to be 'outstanding' in all areas. Join the nursey staff in a small celebration at the Children's Garden on 24 March. Refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP to Thais Bishop via t.m.bishop@uel.ac.uk
TWENTY:TWELVE exhibition: Thursday 24 – Tuesday 29 March (The CAMP, 70 – 74 City Road EC1Y 2BJ)
35 UEL fine art students will be holding an exhibition of their works at The CAMP. The opening night will include performances, videos, poetry and live music followed by a DJ. For more information visit bit.ly/uel_twentytwelve
Contested meanings of social enterprise in the English health services: Friday 25 March, 2 – 3.30pm (UH3.04, Stratford Campus)
This seminar will be presented by Professor Fergus Lyon fromthe centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research at Middlesex University. Fergus is Director of the ESRC-funded Social Enterprise Research Capacity Building Cluster and Associate Director (social enterprise)for the Third Sector Research Centre, a part of the Cabinet Office. He will be presenting some of its current work on social enterprises in the health sector. All are welcome. Contact m.bertotti@uel.ac.uk for more information.
‘Synaesthesia as a window into human nature’, by Edward Hubbard: Friday 25 March, 6pm (CC.1.01, Stratford Campus)
What do David Hockney, Stephen Fry, Vladimir Nabokov, Olivier Messiaen and Stevie Wonder all have in common? They all have (or had) synaesthesia, a 'union of the senses'. For some synaesthetes, listening to a piece of music may also cause them to see specific colours, while for others letters or numbers are always tinged a certain colour. This talk will discuss recent research, showing what synaesthetes already know: synaesthesia is real. For more information see bit.ly/hubbard, email synaesthesia@uel.ac.uk or contact Mary Spiller on 020 8223 4004. For information about synaesthesia see bit.ly/uel_syn
UK Synaesthesia Association Annual Conference: Saturday 26 – Sunday 27 March (CC.1.01, Stratford Campus)
The School of Psychology's Mary Spiller and Ashok Jansari are pleased to be hosting the annual conference of the UK Synaesthesia Association. This annual event includes presentations from scientists, synaesthetes and artists from the UK and abroad. They will be discussing the latest cutting-edge research as well as the fascinating experiences of individual synaesthetes. The keynote speaker will be the world-leading expert Edward Hubbard, from Vanderbilt University, USA. See uksynaesthesia.com or email synaesthesia@uel.ac.uk for further information.
Science and Football conference: Sunday 27 March, 9.30am – 5.30pm (Docklands Campus)
What does it take to work in professional football? Presenters from leading professional football teams and technology and sports brands will be discussing sports science, medicine and marketing as well as careers advice. All are welcome. Book you place online at scienceandfootball.com or telephone 0844 809 4911.
International Development Guest Lecture Series – Faith-based Response to the Pakistan Floods: Tuesday 29 March, 5pm (EB.3.19, Docklands Campus)
The guest speaker will be Saleh Saeed, Chief Executive Officer at Islamic Relief Worldwide. For more information contact Susannah Pickering-Saqqa (Lecturer in International Development and NGO Management) via s.pickering-saqqa@uel.ac.uk
Effective CVs workshop: Wednesday 30 March, 1 – 2pm (EB.1.44, Docklands Campus); Wednesday 6 April, 1 – 2pm (RB.G.13, Stratford Campus)
This workshop is aimed at students and graduates that are new to writing a CV, or for those that already have a CV and would like some top-tips and useful advice. Please encourage students to attend and register via http://bit.ly/hwehnE
How can the sporting legacy of the London 2012 Games deliver lasting change to the East End of London? Wednesday 30 March, 6pm – 8pm (WB.G.02, 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. This event is free but registration is essential. To register please visit bit.ly/hIBMHG For more information contact Victoria Stonebridge via 020 3288 1800.
How to make a real success as an entrepreneur?: Wednesday 13 April, 6 – 9.30pm (Docklands Campus)
The Alumni Development Office and Royal Docks Business School invite UEL students, staff and graduates to an alumni evening of presentations and discussions about successful entrepreneurship, networking, and food and drinks. This event is free. Please RSVP to alumni@uel.ac.uk or call 0208 223 2222 by Friday 25 March.
UEL Alumni Celebration in Lagos, Nigeria: Saturday 25 June, 7.30pm (Victoria Island location, TBC)
UEL is celebrating 35 years of the School of Law and hosting a reunion for ALL Nigerian alumni. Alumni will be joined by Pro Vice-Chancellor, International John Shaw and representatives from the School of Law and the International Office. Please RSVP to alumni@uel.ac.uk by 31 March to provide an indication of numbers attending. For further information see uel.ac.uk/alumni/events If you are in touch with any Nigerian alumni, please forward these details to them.
See Events Calendar for a full listing: www.uel.ac.uk/marketing/support/eventscalendar.htm
As the BUCS season draw to tense cup final climax, UELSports already has reasons to celebrateAs we count down to the BUCS Conference Cup Finals on Wednesday 23 March, UELSports is already celebrating a plethora of titles won in a superb season for clubs and individuals at UEL. To read on, visit the UELSports blog: http://bit.ly/htmNYa
The Newham All Stars Sports Academy (NASSA), a grassroots through to competitive basketball programme, and UEL basketball partners (based in Newham, East London) has been granted the Inspire Mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire Programme. The London 2012 Inspire programme recognises innovative and exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. For the full story see bit.ly/f2VxQf
UELSports in conjunction with Rounders England have organised a weekly indoor rounders activity for staff and students to attend. This is an exciting game played indoors, and will give lots of physical activity alongside fun and friendly competition. Dust off your trainers and come along for this new activity:
– Every Friday (from Friday 18 March)
– Sarah Bonnell School, Stratford. Opposite the Stratford Campus on Water Lane
– 5.30 – 7pm
– Free of charge for the first 6 weeks. Coaching provided by qualified rounders coach (funded by Rounders England)
This activity will lead on to outdoor rounders in the summer months, planned for West Ham Park and New Beckton Park. UELSports requests that all interested participants register before attending in order to give an idea of numbers. To register, to receive further details, email d.cosford@uel.ac.uk
Attendance to Sarah Bonnel School is via the student entrance, directly off Water Lane. Participants must attend between 5.20 and 5.30pm promptly to gain access, as the school is closed outside of these times.
The UELSports third annual staff five-a-side tournament is fast approaching on Monday 18 April. Last year’s winners from the Business School will be looking forward to retaining the trophy. Get your school or service team together ASAP. The top two sides will then represent UEL in the Royal Docks five-a-side tournament on Wednesday 18 May, won last year by Team Excel. Register via d.cosford@uel.ac.uk and for further details see uel.ac.uk/sports/notices.htm
For more information on any of the above please contact uelsports@uel.ac.uk
To view the UELSports webpages visit uel.ac.uk/sports
To view the UELSports blog visit
uelsportsblog.wordpress.com
And to contribute your own sports stories to the blog see
uelsportsblog.wordpress.com/contribute-to-the-uelsports-blog
UEL Sports – ‘Get involved, Join, Learn, Participate, Train, Motivate, Compete, Enjoy’
The multi-award winning Grand Designs Live exhibition returns to Excel from Saturday 30 April – Sunday 8 May and is presented by design-guru Kevin McCloud. inFocus has teamed up with the show organisers to gain exclusive access to the show in the form of a free invite for UEL students and staff from Tuesday 3 May – Friday 6 May.
Find out more about what’s happening at the show at granddesignslive.com
To claim your free weekday tickets, visit bit.ly/grand_designs and quote UEL11 in the ‘Special Offer Code’ box. Offer ends Thursday 31 March. Terms and conditions apply; see website for details.
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
