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Welcome to in Focus Update… |
Past Issues << | Issue 283: 7 March 2012 |
To help save energy, IT Services has been working with the Environment Team to implement ‘PowerMan’ on all computers. This allows them to turn off inactive machines and logs you off if you forget so no one else can use your PC. If you have not used your computer for over 15 minutes you will receive a warning message giving you five minutes to save your work before the computer switches off. Remote desktop users should contact IT Service Desk to confirm your PC host name to avoid it being switched off. See the IT News pages for more.
Due to unforeseen circumstances the two HR forums on Transformation for Excellence, which were due to take place on 7 and 12 March, have been postponed. Staff will be notified of new dates in due course. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
SportsDock is opening on Monday 12 March and to celebrate this, UELSports has prepared a two-week Festival of Sport Programme. The free events are running throughout the day so you can come along and try out a new sport or activity at a time to suit you. If you want to adjust your hours to be able to participate, please speak to your manager to ensure that the needs of your service area are met and you are able to make up the time. See the full timetable.
The Alumni Development Office is pleased to announce the launch of the 2012 Annual Fund Awards. This year they will be awarding four categories: Student Financial Assistance Grants (£500), Sports Coaching Grant (up to £1,000), Start Up Research Grants (£2,000), and The Women’s Entrepreneurship Award (up to £1,000). To apply click here and return the application form to development@uel.ac.uk by Thursday 31 May. For more information email the Alumni Development Office or call 020 8223 6443.
The next two panel dates receiving applications for colleagues to become Associates or Fellows of the Higher Education Academy are:
• Thursday 29 March 2012
• Wednesday 25 April 2012
Staff in teaching and/or supporting learning are encouraged to apply to these panels and use UEL’s CPD route to gain the nationally recognised award of Associate or Fellow of the HEA, which evidence high standards and professionalism in teaching and supporting learning within HE. Read more on the APSE pages. For further details and to apply to a panel date contact Dallas Davis. Documentation is required two weeks prior to the panel date.
Starting next Monday 12 March, the Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are running a series of events to help students manage their money better. Events include information stalls, food tasting, sumo debt wrestling and much more! Please encourage your students to attend. View the full timetable.
First-year Architecture and Product Design students will be exhibiting at Eco-build, the world's largest exhibition for sustainable design, construction and the built environment, at ExCel this month. The exhibit, entitled Re-take on Make: the possibilities of re-using and re-appropriating found and recycled materials in design, will focus on the Architecture programme’s hands-on approach and showcase three 1:1 scale pieces of public furniture. The cohort will be exhibiting at stands S1266 and S1753 from 20 – 22 March. To find out more visit their blog.
Buttle UK has awarded its Quality Mark to UEL for a further two years in recognition of the University’s commitment to care leavers in higher education. UEL has increased the level of support to care leavers through pre-entry activity, financial support, admissions procedures and accommodation access. In addition to this, the Education and Community Partnerships Team are currently recruiting Student Ambassadors who have experience of a care background. If you know of any students who may be interested in being an Ambassador to local school children in care, please ask them to contact Maggie McLinden.
Work is continuing on the Stratford Library site with a UEL work experience student helping out on site over a six-week period. A temporary UEL Sports Studio is now open at the edge of the site which will be used for aerobics, zumba and yoga over the next few months – more details about classes and using the studio to follow shortly. Read more about the construction project or view the live webcam on the New Stratford Library website.
Johnnes Arreymbi, Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, delivered a lecture at the world-renowned Corporate IT Forum event last month. The forum provided an opportunity for top corporate executives from around the world to share their expertise on the future of IT. Read more on the News pages.
The Docklands Library and Archive hosted an exciting workshop for students from Forest Gate Community School last week, co-organised by the Library, the Education and Community Partnerships Team and Newham Inspire Learning Centre. The students learnt about the hardships and triumphs of the 1948 'austerity' Olympics and the planning of the 2012 Olympics, through photographs, films and rare material held in the BOA Archive at Docklands. This was the first in a series of 10 workshops run for schools from surrounding boroughs over the next few months.
Grand Designs Live, the UK’s number one, award-winning homes show, is coming to ExCeL in May. We have been offered a fantastic deal allowing staff and students to claim two free tickets on any weekday from 8 – 11 May. To claim click here and enter code UEL2012, together with your details. You can then download a maximum of two tickets.
For the latest on our activities visit the news releases section of our website www.uel.ac.uk/news
Epilepsy Society at UEL
Wednesday 7 March, 12 noon – 2pm, EB.G.05, Docklands Campus
• A presentation and discussion from Chief Executive Graham Faulkner on reasonable adjustments for students with epilepsy.
• Lunch will be provided. Please make Eleanor Girt aware of any dietary or access requirements in advance of the event.
UNISON AGM
Wednesday 7 March, 1 – 3pm, LT.03, Stratford Campus
• Lunch and refreshments provided, and free gift for attending.
• Guest Speaker: Mike Short, Head of Higher Education at Unison.
• RSVP to Branch Secretary Sue Parkin.
Re-thinking the teaching of reading: Wayne Tennent
Thursday 8 March, 1 – 2pm, ED.2.01, Stratford Campus
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Since 2006 The Simple View Of Reading (Gough & Tunmer, 1986) has provided the theoretical basis for the teaching of reading in English state primary schools (4 – 11 years old). This talk explores the implications of the simple view for the teacher of reading with a particular focus on factors related to text comprehension.
CIMA's sustainability lecture series
Thursday 8 March, 6.30pm, WB.G.02, Docklands Campus
• Sustainability has long been on the corporate agenda with the main focus being on protecting profit margins rather than social responsibility.
• The lecture series focuses on how companies have more responsibilities today than imagined 10 years ago.
• Register online.
Lunchtime discussion forum: Using the 'petcha-kucha' format in lectures
Monday 12 March, 12 noon – 2pm, BS.3.06, Docklands Campus
• Facilitated by Alan Chandler and Roland Kartaus, School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering.
• The Master's in Architecture: Sustainability and Design (MAASD) has successfully been using the petcha-kucha format, of 20 slides that change automatically every 20 seconds, as a learning and teaching tool.
• Buffet lunch provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Booking not necessary.
• View the Lunchtime Learning and Teaching Series schedule.
RDBS Masterclass: An audience with Lord Victor Adebowale
Thursday 15 March, 3pm, MLT, Royal Docks Business School
• A masterclass with the Chief Executive of Turning Point.
Access to NHS services in the era of superdiversity: reflections from Britain’s most diverse city
Tuesday 20 March, 1pm, UH.3.08, Stratford Campus
• Presented by Dr Jenny Phillimore (Senior Lecturer at the University of Birmingham and part of the Third Sector Research Centre).
• RSVP to Gail Barrow-Guevara.
RDBS Masterclass: An audience with John Burton
Thursday 29 March, 1pm, MLT, Royal Docks Business School
• A masterclass with the director of Westfield's Stratford City Project.
Lunchtime discussion forum: Minding the gap about BAME student attainment: some preliminary findings of BAME students' experience of HE
Tuesday 20 March, 12-2pm, RB.1.16, Stratford Campus
• Facilitated by Dr Pippa Dell, School of Psychology
• The session will explore the ways in which BAME students construct their expectations about, and experiences of, higher education, and will use this to clarify some of the reasons for the lower attainment of good degrees.
• Booking not necessary. Buffet lunch (first-come, first-served).
• View the Lunchtime Learning and Teaching Series schedule.
IRCD seminar
Thursday 22 March, 11 am, AE.3.18, Stratford Campus
• Dr Jyrki Tuomainen will present The effects of expectations and selective attention on audio-visual speech integration.
• For further details email Elena Kushnerenko
The Centre of Research on Migration, Refugee and Belonging: Imaging Migrants
Wednesdays, 5.30 – 7.30pm, EB.1.37, Docklands Campus
• A series of free seminars for staff and students.
• See the full schedule.
NatWest 'Ambitions Bus'
Thursday 8 March, 10am – 4pm, Knowledge Dock, Docklands Campus
• NatWest will provide free business advice to entrepreneurs looking to start their own company and existing SME owners.
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Click here to register or email CEWE with any queries.
Workshop and talk: Women’s new world with Shere Hite
Thursday 8 March, 1 – 3pm, EB.G.08, Docklands Campus
• Bestselling author and feminist Dr Shere Hite will be joining Lola Atkins, founder of London social enterprise Eye with a View Works, to run a series of events aimed at empowering young women.
• Suitable for men and women of all ages. Refreshments provided.
• Find more information and register for the event here.
Book launch
Wednesday 14 March, 3.30 – 5pm, EB.G.08, Docklands Campus
• Erika Cudworth and Steve Hobden from the International Politics Programme at UEL will be presenting their book, Post Human International Relations: Complexity, Ecologism and Global Politics.
• Professor John Urry from Lancaster University and Dr Jonathon Louth from Chester University will be speaking at the event.
• Refreshments will be provided. Discounted copies of the book will be available for purchase.
T and Q event & book launch
Monday 19 March, 10am – 4pm, Cass School of Education and Communities Building
• Former UEL student Simon Watts will launch his new book Doing Q methodological Research: Theory, Method and Interpretation.
• For more information contact Neil Herrington or Joy Coogan
The small ‘c’ campaign
Tuesday 20 March, 10am – 4pm, lower ground floor, Westfield Stratford City
• Health, Sports and Bioscience students will be manning a charity stand along with Community Links, to raise awareness of possible signs and symptoms of bowel and lung cancer. Come along and show your support for the students’ first experience of health promotion in action!
• For more information email Fiona McGowan.
Forthcoming workshops for researchers include:
• Thursday 8 March: Funding bid clinic
• Friday 9 March: Time management for researchers
• Wednesday 14 March: Maintaining momentum in the academic environment
For more information visit the RDP webpage and to book a place email Dr Caroline Dunmore
See Events Calendar for a full listing: www.uel.ac.uk/marketing/support/eventscalendar.htm
Opening on Monday 12 March, SportsDock will offer a wide a range of exercise classes on offer for all levels of fitness, from aerobics to Zumba, body combat to yoga flex and many more. The full timetable can be viewed here. You can pay-as-you-go or join the centre on one of three possible memberships. For more information or to make an advance booking call SportsDock on 020 8223 6888.
Despite extremely testing conditions, a team of high performance scholarship athletes from UEL defied the odds to win gold in a fiercely competitive rowing competition in Peterborough last month. Read more on the News pages.
Welcome to the Green Thing, a regular section full of information on environmental projects, tips and ideas for staff at UEL. Visit our website 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
As part of UEL’s Go Green Week and the launch of the Sustainability Seminar Series last month, the Environment Team are collating a list of all academics and researchers at UEL with an interest in sustainability. We hope this will encourage collaboration between academics with similar interests. View the list online. If you would like to be added send your name, department, area of interest and contact details to the Environment Team.
Fairtrade Fortnight, the annual event where shops, businesses and organisations across the UK celebrate Fairtrade, continues this week. This year, UEL is marking the fortnight by giving away a free Fairtrade drink when you buy a reusable KeepCup in the Catering outlets. We are also giving away a hamper of Fairtrade goodies to one lucky staff member or student who takes part in the Fairtrade Foundation’s campaign to take 1.5 million steps for Fairtrade in 2012. Find out more here.
In January we produced around 53 tonnes of waste – that’s the equivalent weight of nearly nine African elephants! We recycled nearly half of that (45%), but how does that compare to our recycling activity during the remaining 11 months of the year? Well, now you can find out just how many trees we’ve saved through paper recycling and lots more interesting recycling facts by reading the latest monthly Recycling and Waste Report
…that Duncan House Restaurant is now selling KeepCups and Aquatina bottles? The special Fairtrade Fortnight offer outlined above is also available at Duncan House, so you can get a free drink with the purchase of your KeepCup! Click here for further details.
Please contact ReDS as soon as possible if you are developing a proposal.
EPSRC Innovative Manufacturing Processes: Flexible and reconfigurable manufacturing systems maintaining productivity and reliability, whilst allowing flexibility and adaptability, is a major technological challenge. Three linked research domains have been identified as critical to addressing the challenge of flexible and reconfigurable manufacturing systems. Proposals must address one or more of these in a coherent innovative programme: Reconfigurable Assembly Systems;Self-Adaptive Equipment; Automation and Mechanisation. Up to £2.5 million grant for up to five years. Closes 26 April 2012.
NIHR Research for Patient Benefit: RfPB Competition 18. The RfPB programme is a national response-mode programme for high quality investigator-led research that addresses issues of importance to the NHS in England. Supports: studies of the provision and use of NHS services; evaluations of the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of interventions; examination of the resource utilisation of alternative means for healthcare delivery; the scrutinising of innovations and developments; pilots or feasibility projects to help reach the next step of a definitive trial. Up to £250,000 grant for up to 36 months. Closes 25 May 2012.
Daiwa Foundation Awards For collaborative projects that enable British and Japanese partners to work together, preferably in the context of an institutional relationship. Can cover projects in most academic, professional, arts, cultural and educational fields. £7,000 – £15,000 grant. Closes 30 March 2012.
BBSRC New investigator scheme Assists early-career researchersto secure their first major element of research funding. Research must relate to BBSRC priorities. Closes 24 April 2012.
The full spreadsheet of opportunities is available from a secure page on the ReDS website. Current external funding opportunities and other announcements also go out on the ReDS Twitter feed.
The ReDS team provide administrative and development support to all research and knowledge exchange projects across UEL. Please contact us on 020 8223 7776 or email reds@uel.ac.uk if you would like to discuss any opportunities.
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)
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