|
|
Welcome to in Focus Update… |
Past Issues << | Issue 254: 26 July 2011 |
University of East London senior lecturer Faisal Adbu’Allah brought crowds to the Olympic Park this month with a thought-provoking open-air screening of his new film Double Pendulum. The film was screened for two and a half weeks from 30 June to 17 July as a large-scale outdoor projection with the Olympic stadium as the backdrop. For the full story see bit.ly/faisalolympic
UEL photography student Roger Molloy has managed to secure odds with high street bookmakers William Hill that he’ll win the Turner Prize by the time he hits 50. The first-year BA (Hons) Photography student has opened the book on himself with a £10 bet and has the slip to prove it. William Hill does not give out odds on any bet without first considering the probabilities involved and so Roger is very encouraged by his 10-1 odds. He said, “The only way to know what your odds are of winning something is to actually get your odds! Once you have that you can then work towards improving them." bit.ly/rogermolloy
Saralyn Mark, a world-renowned leader in women’s health and the first Senior Medical Advisor appointed to the Office on Women’s Health at NASA, will be visiting UEL to give an exclusive book reading from her recent publication Stellar Medicine: A Journey Through the Universe of Women’s Health. The reading will take place tomorrow, Wednesday 27 July, 12 noon – 4pm, in the Knowledge Dock Showcase Room at Docklands Campus. Refreshments will be provided. For more information and to RSVP email J.P.Oneill@uel.ac.uk This event is being organised by the Centre of Excellence for Women's Entrepreneurship, a place for enterprise development, based at UEL: www.uel.ac.uk/cewe
The inFocus team is currently working on a revamp of the newsletter, and needs your help. We will be refreshing and improving the design and content of inFocus, by categorising content, making it easier to navigate and submit content for a relevant section, and updating the overall design so that it is in line with the new branding. As you are the regular readers of and contributors to inFocus, we would very much like your comments, suggestions and feedback for the new-look inFocus. To submit your thoughts please email infocus@uel.ac.uk
The Alumni Development Office is pleased to announce that it has now selected the winners of this year’s Annual Fund Awards. This year they will be awarding five categories: Student Financial Assistance, Sports Coaching, Start-Up Research Grants, the Worshipful Company of Paviors Financial Assistance Grants and The Women’s Entrepreneurship Award. Each will be awarded at the second Annual Fund Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 21 September, hosted by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Patrick McGhee. The money to fund these awards has kindly been donated to the University by the alumni and friends of UEL. A full list of winners can be found here Pictured: a winner at the 2010 ceremony.
This week, we had a chat with Project Manager Greg Price to find out more about the ‘Raising expectations and achievement through performance management’ Project.
What was your challenge?
My challenge was to identify the staff X factors that will have an impact on student experience and success. I recognised that we need to celebrate and incentivise positive staff performance, as well as improve our ability to resolve poor performance issues, if UEL is to succeed in such challenging times. As the project originates from HR Services, another challenge was not falling into the trap of believing that all issues can be met by simply redesigning processes.
What did you achieve?
We have formed a project team that has certainly widened the gene pool, so that the project is not dominated by HR. We have enrolled several UEL academic colleagues to undertake research into proven good practice within the HE, public and private sectors. We are driving through key ‘teaching excellence’ outcomes, such as ensuring that all colleagues are engaged in continuing professional development. Such CPD will be informed by having teaching practice endorsed by the Higher Education Academy, regular and robust peer reviews, student feedback and Module Review Reports
What does everyone need to know?
Staff are welcome to join the project team, as we are determined to look at performance management from all angles and at all levels. We will be running staff and student focus groups as part of our research and to engage staff to ensure that our proposals are workable – watch this space!
What next?
We are currently developing an ‘Outstanding Workforce’ website for the end of August, where staff can add comments and see how the component projects are progressing. For more on this project, or to get involved, contact g.price@uel.ac.uk or 020 8223 4361.
Plans for First Week and Enrolment in Semester A 2011 are already in progress throughout the University. We will be keeping staff notified of important dates for your diary in the following weeks. To find out the latest dates for early and international enrolment, Welcome Weekend, First Week and enrolment, and mop-up/re-enrolment visit www.uel.ac.uk/firstweekforstaff
Following the launch of UEL’s MIDAS (Museum Integrated Digital Archiving System) project in May, the MIDAS team has been busy completing a series of pilot scans at several London museums. With funding from JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee), pilot scans of artwork have been carried out at the Dulwich Picture Gallery, the Wallace Collection, the Science Museum and the Palestine Exploration Fund. Previously unseen online, these pieces of art have been made available in high resolution for the first time, for use by the learning and research communities and the general public. Following the successful pilots, MIDAS formed a research consortium with the four above mentioned museums, as well as the National Gallery, the National Maritime Museum and Sony BPRL (UK), to submit a large application to JISC for mass digitisation of artifacts for the first time in Europe. This is expected to be successful and begin in November 2011. For more on MIDAS see bit.ly/_midas
For up-to-the-minute graduation information about all of this year’s awards ceremonies, ‘like’ the UEL Graduation Facebook page. Spread the word and keep up to date with the latest announcements at facebook.com/uelgraduation Graduation 2011 will take place at indigo2 in North Greenwich, on:
Tuesday 8 November (PM): AVA
Monday 14 November (AM): RDBS Undergraduates
Monday 14 November (PM): RDBS Postgraduates
Tuesday 15 November (AM): CITE Undergraduates
Tuesday 15 November (PM): CITE Postgraduates
Wednesday 16 November (AM): H&B
Wednesday 16 November (PM): Education
Thursday 17 November (AM): Law & Psychology
Thursday 17 November (PM): HSS & the Graduate School
Eva Lloyd, Reader in Early Childhood and Co-director of the International Centre for the Study of the Mixed Economy of Childcare at the Cass School of Education, addressed members of the Greater London Assembly Health and Public Services Committee recently. She discussed findings of a report on the London childcare market she co-authored with Professor Helen Penn, Co-director if ICMEC, and three economists from London research agencies. To view the webcast of Eva’s presentation and the discussion that followed visit bit.ly/assemblywebcast The London Childcare Market was published in February 2011 by the London Development Agency and can be accessed via bit.ly/londonchildcaremarket
Organised by the Youth and Community Team in the Cass School of Education, UEL recently hosted a BERA Youth Studies Special Interest Group seminar, entitled Youth Work in Challenging Times for Young People. The event, which took place on Monday 11 July at Stratford Campus, saw 43 participants from 18 UK universities (including UEL Youth and Community students) meet with academics and practitioners to critically debate the challenges and opportunities facing youth work and young people. In particular, the forum addressed youths from marginalised communities who have to deal with unprecedented obstacles to access HE and the labour market in the current austere economic climate. Dr Mohamed Moustakim, the BERA Youth Studies SIG Convenor, said “We believe that the BERA Youth Studies SIG will help raise the Youth and Community Team's research and scholarship profile nationally and we plan to make it an annual event.”
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 and 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 20 August |
Clearing application drop-in day |
12 – 4pm |
9 – 5pm |
Docklands |
Book reading by Saralyn Mark: Wednesday 27 July, 12 noon – 4pm (Knowledge Dock Showcase Room, Docklands Campus)
Saralyn Mark, a world-renowned leader in women’s health and the first Senior Medical Advisor appointed to the Office on Women’s Health at NASA, will be visiting UEL to give an exclusive book reading from her recent publication Stellar Medicine: A Journey Through the Universe of Women’s Health. Refreshments provided. For more information or to RSVP email J.P.Oneill@uel.ac.uk
Bike Portraits: Saturday 30 July – end of August (Hackney, east London)
Seeking to present some of the rich and diverse cycling cultures of Hackney, this exhibition showcases 25 photographic portraits of the area taken during the past 12 months. They will be displayed for a short time across cycle stores and cafés in Hackney, while people looking to attend are encouraged to cycle from venue to venue. To find out more about the exhibition see bit.ly/bike_portraits To attend the launch ride and private view on 30 July, contact Kat Jungnickel on K.E.Jungnickel@uel.ac.uk
Leading Success: an induction programme for new programme leaders: Tuesday 6 September, 9.30am – 4pm (Stratford Campus)
This is an essential one-day induction programme for all new programme leaders, which is hands-on and practical. The course is designed to support you in managing your role effectively and confidently by enabling you to understand fully your leadership role, its remit and how it fits in with our infrastructure. To book your place email n.harding@uel.ac.uk by 31 August.
Sixth Learning, Teaching and Assessment Conference: Wednesday 7 September (Docklands Campus)
This one-day conference is free and open to all UEL staff and collaborative partners. This annual event offers opportunities for active debate, discussion and reflection regarding current issues in learning, teaching and assessment. To reserve your place complete the online booking form by clicking here
See Events Calendar for a full listing: www.uel.ac.uk/marketing/support/eventscalendar.htm
'No Strings' badminton: cancellation‘No Strings’ badminton will not be held tonight (Tuesday 26 July) due to major cleaning works at Sarah Bonnell School. Badminton will resume as normal next week on Tuesday 2 August, from 5.30 – 7pm.
Come and take part in free rounders sessions every week at West Ham Park* (Ham Park Road, Linden gate access, E15 4AD). All UEL staff and students welcome!
The rounders sessions will now take place every Thursday, 5.30 – 7pm. Click here for a map of the park.
*Venue likely to change in September 2011.
Yoga Flex is a gentle, therapeutic and natural way to exercise. It will help you to relax, de-stress and energise, giving the body a complete workout ‘inside-out’. Yoga Flex focuses on breath control to promote calm, relaxes the body with yoga-based flexibility stretches, improves postural alignment and muscular tone, and helps clear the mind with simple and natural meditation techniques. Yoga Flex is delivered by Vicente Faba Calderon, who has delivered yoga in Cuba, Mexico, Thailand and the UK for over 20 years.
When: Every Wednesday, 12.30pm – 1.30pm
Where: The Dome, Students’ Union at Stratford Campus (Next to Health and Bioscience helpdesk in University House)
Cost: Staff – £5, students – £3
Free use of yoga mats available.
To register your interest and for more information please contact Yassin from UELSports on 020 8223 6399 or email y.abidou@uel.ac.uk
Come and take part in a bootcamp circuit session that works your entire body with cardio, lower body, upper body and core exercises. Don’t be scared by the name, bootcamp circuit is a fun way to lose weight, tone the body and strengthen your core while working at your own pace! The sessions will be delivered by Stephen Aish, a member of UEL’s strength and conditioning team. He is currently British Weightlifting Champion for his age and weight, a Third Dan Taekwondo instructor, one of the first users of kettlebells in the UK and is internationally ranked.
Mondays – Stratford Campus, M-Block gym, 12.30pm – 1.30pm
Wednesdays – Docklands Campus, New Outdoor gym, 12.30pm – 1.30pm
Staff – £5, students – £3
For further details please contact Yassin from UELSports on 020 8223 6399 or email y.abidou@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
