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Welcome to in Focus Update… |
Past Issues << | Issue 277: 24 January 2012 |
Over the past few weeks, Dusty Amroliwala, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Services and Infrastructure, has held various discussions groups with members of staff to look at some of the key changes proposed to our overall HR thinking at UEL. This includes looking at how we can:
• continue to develop staff performance
• build on our strengths and develop our staff
• nurture talent, plan for the future and recognise success.
To ensure we get as many people as possible involved in these discussions, we are holding two open forums where staff can come along to talk about some of these issues and feedback their ideas.
The forums will be held on:
• Wednesday 7 March: 12.30 – 2.30pm (EB.1.01, Docklands Campus)
• Monday 12 March: 12.30 – 2.30pm (RB.1.04, Stratford Campus)
To attend please RSVP to c.orobator@uel.ac.uk by Wednesday 29 February.
Please also see www.uel.ac.uk/culturalchange which explains in more detail how we will deliver the HR component of our University strategy, or send your views directly to culturalbridge@uel.ac.uk
UEL’s Starting Out programme is a series of free workshops designed to provide those interested in returning to education the skills and knowledge to do so. Delivered jointly with Birkbeck, the programme consists of six two-hour workshops which are held over six weeks and offered three times a year at Stratford Campus. The next course starts on Thursday 2 February. For further details contact the Information, Advice and Guidance team on 020 8223 4354 or book online at uel.ac.uk/partnerships/iag/form.htm
The Corporate Marketing Service is currently seeking friendly, articulate and reliable student ambassadors to work on a campaign from its call centre from early February. If you know of students suitable for the role please direct them to uel.ac.uk/marketing/srm/srmsa.htm where full details can be found. Deadline for applications is Monday 30 January.
Library and Learning Services has a wealth of useful tools at your disposal, so make sure you:
• send them your reading list – if a textbook is core reading, you need to let your Librarian know.
• invite them to key meetings to keep abreast of changes in your School, listen to feedback from students and keep you updated.
• make sure your students receive library training by booking your Subject Librarian for a session on services and resources
• book yourself on a one-to-one refresher with your Librarian and let your students know they can too
• renew your Athens details and encourage your students to use good quality information
• recommend our award winning Info Skills resource
• ask us questions via the Ask A Librarian service
For more information email Simone on s.n.okolo@uel.ac.uk or contact your Subject Librarian
UEL has demonstrated its commitment to tackling homophobia in sport by being the first UK university to be involved in the National Union of Students ‘Out in Sport’ project. For the full story see bit.ly/OutInSport
Final-year fashion students are getting ready to reveal designs they hope will catapult them into the big league when they graduate this summer. For the full story see bit.ly/UELfashion
Two senior lecturers within the Cass School of Education and Communities have been working with the UN’s Refugee Agency, UNHCR, to aid the development of refugee teachers in Malaysia. Dr Linda Amrane-Cooper and Nasima Hassan have developed a series of workshops and support materials for teachers working with some 10,000 refugee children in Kuala Lumpur. Through generous donations from UEL staff, the pair were also able to provide them with essential equipment. To find out more visit on.fb.me/Agwfcj or email l.amrane-cooper@uel.ac.uk
Nishaant Kumar, a member of staff in the Students' Union, has recently been elected to the National Committee of WIDAR (Workers in Democracy and Representation), as the Regional Co-ordinator (London and South East). Part of NUS Charitable Services, WIDAR aims to bring together practitioners working in students' unions to develop and support student representation and democracy. Nishaant will be responsible for developing and continually supporting a strong network of practitioners in SUs across London and the South East. For more information see bit.ly/widar
A UEL student has secured a place on an internship scheme at Electronic Arts, one of the world’s largest publishers and distributors of games. Following a recruitment event held at Docklands Campus, Computer Games Design (Story Development) student Alexandra Perry fought off competition to scoop one of only two places. Alexandra will begin her internship once she completes her undergraduate degree at the end of the semester. Electronic Arts is renowned for the FIFA, Sims and Battlefield franchises.
For the latest on our activities visit the news releases section of our website www.uel.ac.uk/news
Mini Musical Makers: Monday mornings (The Hartley Centre, East Ham); Wednesday afternoons (Discover, Stratford)
Newham Music Trust is offering free music and story-building sessions to parents with nursery-aged children who live in Newham. Sessions run weekly for 30 minutes during term-time. To book phone Discover on 020 8536 5555, or The Hartley Centre on 020 7540 6923.
Vice-Chancellor's staff meetings: Wednesday 1 February, 12 noon (EB.G.18, Docklands campus)
In his last meeting of this series, the VC will update staff on university and sector-wide developments, and consult colleagues on issues of importance such as student recruitment 2012 (and 2013), the student experience, employability, preparations for the Research Excellence Framework and other associated matters. There will also be opportunities for questions. No RSVP necessary.
Write Now: Thursday 16 February, 7pm (Stratford Circus)
Presented by The Writing Centre and IPAD, Write Now is a literary evening of readings, performances and discussion on contemporary writing practice. Admission is £4 per person (£2 concessions). For more information email t.a.mcwatt@uel.ac.uk or call 0844 357 2625 to buy your ticket.
Establishing collaborative partnerships: Wednesday 25 January, 1 – 4.30pm (KD.1.16, Docklands Campus)
This course is suitable for link persons and school administrators with responsibility for setting up new collaborative partnerships. For more information or to book a place email Nazmin Uddin on n.uddin@uel.ac.uk
Academic writing workshops: various times and locations (see below)
There are still places available on two Researcher Development Programme workshops on academic writing: Writing Articles for Publication in Peer-Reviewed Journals (Monday 30 January, 10am – 4pm, Stratford Campus) and Writing Your Thesis (Tuesday 7 Feb, 9.30am – 1pm, Stratford Campus). For more information see www.uel.ac.uk/gradschool/training.htm or book a place with Dr Caroline Dunmore at c.dunmore@uel.ac.uk
White Lines: Racist Graffiti, Skinhead Youth and Violence in the English Suburbs: Thursday 26 January, 5 – 6pm (ED.2.02, Stratford Campus)
Anoop Nayak, Professor in Social and Cultural Geography at the University of Newcastle, will be hosting this seminar. All are welcome to attend, but please RSVP to v.a.burton@uel.ac.uk
APSE lunchtime discussion forum series – How to be an HEA Fellow: Monday 30 January, 12 noon – 2pm (RB.1.17, Stratford Campus)
This PSF lunchtime session will offer full guidance on the application process to gain the important professional recognition of becoming a Fellow or Associate of the Higher Education Academy.This is a repeat of the forum held for staff at Stratford Campus on 13 October 2011. Refreshments and a buffet lunch are provided. No booking necessary. For the full schedule click here
Improving health in Newham – research seminar series: Tuesday 31 January, 4.15 – 5.30pm (Education Centre, classroom 3, NUHT)
The seminar series returns with Achieving equity in access to antenatal care: findings from a pilot project to overcome the barriers presented by Professor Angela Harden, Dr Joanne Morris and Farah Jamal. Click here for further details or contact Sadna Ullah at sadna.ullah@newhamhealth.nhs.uk or 020 7055 5628 to book your place.
See Events Calendar for a full listing: www.uel.ac.uk/marketing/support/eventscalendar.htm
Already broken your New Year's resolution? Don’t despair, as UELSports has a wide range of physical activities available to all staff. Regardless of your level of fitness, ability or interest, UELSports has something for you.
For more information contact Claire Smith on 020 8223 4528 or c.e.smith@uel.ac.uk
Sport |
Time |
Venue |
| MONDAY | ||
BACK TO NETBALL – FREE |
5.30 – 6.30pm |
Kingsford School, Beckton |
TUESDAY |
||
CARDIO TENNIS – FREE |
12.15 – 1.15pm |
West Ham Park, Stratford |
JOGGING – FREE |
12.30 – 1.30pm |
UEL Stratford, Water Lane entrance |
YOGA FLEX – £5 |
5.15 – 6.15pm |
UELSU, Stratford Campus |
‘NO STRINGS’ BADMINTON – £4 |
5.30 – 7pm |
Sarah Bonnell School, Stratford |
WEDNESDAY |
||
ZUMBA – £5 |
1.15 – 2pm |
UEL Docklands, AVA26 |
BACK TO NETBALL – FREE |
5.30 – 6.30pm |
Sarah Bonnell School, Stratford |
| THURSDAY | ||
BEGINNERS BOXING – FREE |
5.15 – 6.15pm |
UELSU, Stratford Campus |
JOGGING – FREE |
5.15 – 6.15pm |
UEL Docklands, EB car park |
YOGA FLEX – £5 |
5.15 – 6.15pm |
UEL Docklands, WB.3.02 |
TRAMPOLINING – FREE |
6 – 8pm |
NewVIc, Plaistow |
| FRIDAY | ||
ROUNDERS – FREE |
5.30 – 6.30pm |
Sarah Bonnell School, Stratford |
Welcome to the Green Thing, a regular section full of information on environmental projects, tips and ideas for staff at UEL. Visit our website www.uel.ac.uk/greenthing, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/uel_greenthing or get in touch at greenthing@uel.ac.uk
We’d love to hear from you!
Environment Team, Facilities
On Friday 27 January, Catering Services and the Environment Team are partnering up to host a Feel Good Food Day at The Green on Stratford Campus. On the menu will be a special ‘climate friendly’ and healthy selection of certified British meats, sustainable fish and fresh, local and seasonal vegetables and fruits. Advisers from the food charity Sustain will also be on hand during lunchtime, to give advice on the sustainable and healthy food choices you can make at home. More information on sustainable catering initiatives at UEL is available at www.uel.ac.uk/greenthing/catering.htm
As announced in inFocus last week, 19 January 2012 marked our first anniversary as a Fairtrade University. We are now pleased to announce further reasons to celebrate Fairtrade at UEL: we have recently been reaccredited and will retain our Fairtrade University status for another year. We hope those who joined us for the celebration cake last week enjoyed it. You can now find the recipe on our Fairtrade pages: www.uel.ac.uk/greenthing/fairtrade/recipes.htm To help promote and support Fairtrade at UEL and ensure our next successful reaccreditation, join the Fairtrade Steering Group by emailing greenthing@uel.ac.uk
…that, in line with the University’s Operational Energy Standards (bit.ly/energystandards), UEL aims to maintain workplace space temperatures at between 19°C and 21°C in the winter (October through to April). To check the temperature in your working area, order a free Carbon Trust thermometer online at bit.ly/CTthermometer
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.
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