issue560 september

8/10/2019 Issue560 September

1/16

Staff and students have worked together to refreshthe original Partnership Agreement and now the newPartnership is ready to be put into practice.

Working in

partnership

Reporter

Next issue: October 2011 Deadline: 26 September 2011

Inside

Countdown to the StaffFestival:activities to suiteveryone at this years event on

Friday 9 September. Page 15

Leeds art libraries on themap: a new guidebook is takingresearchers to the citys treasures.

Page 7

Making sense of violence:a new multi-media project

launches to coincide with the tenth

anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist

attacks.Page 4

Issue 560

September 2011

At the heart of the Partnership are the core

values on which a Leeds education is based.

Professor Vivien Jones, Pro-Vice-Chancellor

for Student Education explains: The

Partnership sets out mutual expectations

for all of us, both staff and students. Justas staff expect students to be open and

willing to engage in learning and to be active

participants in their education, so students

can expect staff to engage fully in making

sure that education is of the highest quality,

including great teaching, constructive

personal tutorials and advice on opportunities

after graduation.

Its now crucial we take this agreed

Partnership back to schools and services so

that as many of us as possible get involved

in discussions about how best to put it into

practice. In schools, this will mean workingwith Leeds University Unions (LUU)

representatives through Student:Staff Forums

to ensure there is a clear understanding

of what the Partnership will mean in their

school clarifying deadlines for the return of

feedback and sticking to them, for example,

or making sure that students know how

best to contact staff or to use LeedsforLife to

prepare for personal tutorials.

Ben Jackson, Education Officer for LUU, ispleased the University promotes dialogue

between staff and students so strongly: Im

delighted that staff and students at Leeds

have created the Partnership together.

Having clear expectations of each other

will help us work collectively to make the

University better for everyone. I look forward

to seeing students and staff collaborating on

more projects in the future.

The Partnership, together with supporting

materials and case studies, will be made

available online. School, faculty and services

information about the Partnership will bepublished on their websites during the

coming year.

[continued on page 2]

Thisp

ho

tograp

hwas

taken

by

Chineses

tuden

tWang

Ziwe

i,w

ho

is

do

ingan

MAinInterna

tiona

lCommun

ica

tions,

andwasan

en

try

inthe

Cu

lture

inFocus

p

ho

tograp

hycompe

tition.


2/16

Reporter / Issue 560

Working in partnership[continued from front page]

2

The Partnership in actionThe Partnership is already in action across

the University in a variety of different ways.

Visit the website to view case studies and to

share examples of best practice:

http://partnership.leeds.ac.uk W

INTERCULTURAL AMBASSADORS

PROGRAMME

The University of Leeds Intercultural

Ambassadors Programme, which waslaunched with a LeedsforLife-funded pilot in

2010-11, trains UK and international student

volunteers to create and run exciting projects

to help students from all backgrounds enjoy

the benefits of being part of our multicultural

global community.

During the programmes pilot year, with

the support of Santander Universities,

ambassadors ran the I-Fiesta Global

Village, the Global Football Tournament and

the Global Perspectives Creative writing

workshop and short story competition

as part of the annual LUU International

Cultural Festival. Other projects included

Show us your life in collage; Culture in

Focus photography competition; Leodis

International Dining Club; and the new LUU

society, Unity in Diversity Forum.

In the pilot year, staff from International

Student Office, Skills@Library, Language

Centre, Leeds University Union, Lifelong

Learning, Careers Centre and Health and

Safety Services worked together to support

the ambassadors, with staff from other parts

of the University also contributing.

The International Student Office has been

awarded a Higher Education Academy

Teaching Development Individual Project

grant for 2011-12 to further develop and

disseminate the programme. Staff interested

in contributing to the programme shouldcontact Katy Manns, Head of International

Student Office.

LUU BLUEPRINT

Leeds University Union hasbeen listening to student opinionall year and we have pulledtogether a report that outlinesstudent expectations at theUniversity of Leeds. We lookedat where the Union and theUniversity could work togetherin partnership to improve,dramatically in some places, theexperience of current and futurestudents. The Blueprint coversall areas of student life fromrecruitment, to learning, frominduction to renting and fromfacilities to employment.

Tom SalmonMarketing Manager, Leeds University Union

You can read and download the Blueprint

from the LUU website.

www.leedsuniversityunion.org.uk/news/

article/website/2574/ W

Support materialsto help youTo support colleagues in discussing

and raising awareness of the

Partnership, the following materials are

available on the Partnership website:

1) Powerpoint slide, leaflet and

posters for use in student

inductions this September.

2) Workshop materials to support

discussion of the Partnership in

Student:Staff Forums.

3) Codes of Practice and advice for

staff and students.

Access these at: http://partnership.

leeds.ac.uk W

THE REPORTER

is the University of Leeds staff magazine

and produced eight times a year. Over

8,500 copies are distributed to staffacross campus.

The Reporteris produced by Sarah Ward

in the Communications and Press Office.

Contributors to this issue include Kate

Murphy, Rose Roberto, Clare Shortall and

Abi Rowson.

http://reporter.leeds.ac.uk W

STORIES AND LETTERS

Story ideas and letters are welcomed as

hard copy or in email. The deadline for the

next issue is Monday 26 September.

EVENTS

Please submit events online at

www.leeds.ac.uk/events W

DISTRIBUTION AND INSERT ENQUIRIES

Phone Tom on 0113 343 8373

or email [email protected]

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES

The Reporter

Communications and Press Office

Level 14

Ziff Building

Leeds LS2 9JT

Tel: 0113 343 6699

Email: [email protected]

If you would like information in

alternative formats (eg, large print

or audio) please contact us.


3/163

September 2011

With wide-ranging experience of working

in joint appointments in the NHS and

universities over a period of 30 years,

she has led and managed numerous

organisational change programmes and

was awarded a Fellowship by the Royal

College of Nursing in 2002 for her innovative

change management methodology which

included reflexive modelling. As a Professor

of Mental Health for a decade, Dawn joined

the University four years ago as the Head of

School of Healthcare.

Professor Freshwater hopes to bring a

different perspective to the PVC role: The

remit is much broader role than previously

importantly, the focus of the role is academic

driven, so with academic colleagues, I

hope to better understand the dynamics of

our organisation and, in the context of the

available resources, optimise the potential

to deliver our academic mission. With

optimum systems and processes for leading,

managing and developing our staff, were

better positioned to deliver the best research

and teaching and to be on track to achieveour 2015 mission.

Professor Freshwater will work with

academic colleagues, including Deans,

Heads of School and the Professoriate, to

look at established systems and, where

appropriate, develop new strategies and

processes to optimise performance: Its a

great opportunity to revitalise some existing

processes, and ask questions about whether

some approaches are still fit for purpose. Ill

be listening and asking questions about what

works and what doesnt, trying to understand

how some of the ideas and suggestions thatpeople have can be fed into the organisation

development process positively. I see change

as optimising our potential, but I dont see

myself as the one to make that happen

rather Id like to hear how people are already

managing this and how existing quality

practices resonate across the organisation. I

see myself as a conduit and enabler between

staff who working to develop and implement

effective and sustainable strategy.

Organisational effectiveness is everyones

business; its a vital and dynamic aspect of

our daily work, even an exciting part! We canreframe the way we define it, so that its not

viewed as simply foregrounding cost savings,

but instead a much more complex interplay

of influences and drivers that facilitate

opportunities for enhancing the ways in

which we manage movement. As Head of

the School of Healthcare, I experienced a

great deal of freedom and flexibility about

how I worked with the School Management

Team to shape academic vision and

develop strategy, and now want to share that

experience and work with people to develop

creative solutions and approaches.

Professor Freshwater will bring an academicperspective to a number of University

committees and the Equality Service will

report to her. She will also provide a lead

academic input into the prioritisation of

capital projects. She will continue her

research work she has two national

research grants and six PhD students and

also edits an international journal, sits on

the Council of Deans of Health and sits on

the Research Excellence Framework (REF)

panel. Its going to be extremely busy but

its also going to be very exciting she says.

It will be a balancing act, but how better to

know about how people can balance theirlives effectively and creatively than to be

experiencing it myself?

A fresh approach to changeProfessor Dawn Freshwater, our new Pro-ViceChancellor (PVC) for Staff and OrganisationalEffectiveness, believes that ethical relationships,public service values and integrity are central toeffective leadership and organisational development.

Leeds and the Chinese Olympic Committee have announced that

the sporting superpower will use the city as its official European pre-

Games training base ahead of the London 2012 Games.

The deal has been agreed with the Chinese Olympic Committee by

Leeds City Council, and is supported by the University and Leeds

Metropolitan University, with the initial direct financial benefit from

hosting the team expected to be a minimum of 250,000.

The University will accommodate and host some 300 athletes,

coaches and support staff representing China in at least 11 sports, as

they prepare and acclimatise to English conditions before heading to

London for the Games.

The athletes coming to Leeds will be representing their country

pending qualification in mountain biking, fencing, modern

pentathlon, athletics, swimming, womens water polo, womens

handball, womens hockey, table tennis, boxing and taekwondo.

Discussions are also ongoing regarding a number of other sports.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Arthur said: Its a great honour for

the University and city of Leeds that China has chosen to complete

their preparations for the London 2012 Olympic Games here. We

have superb facilities on campus and more than 1,500 students from

China at the University, and I know we will provide a superb training

camp environment for world-class athletes. Our staff and students

will give the Chinese team a wonderful reception next year and I hope

be inspired by our involvement with the 2012 Olympics.

China chooses Leeds as Olympic training base


4/16


4

Making sense of violence

The inaugural event a symposia called Ten

Years of Terror will be launched through

the Guardians Comment is Free news site.

It features filmed lectures by some of the

worlds most pre-eminent thinkers, including

Noam Chomsky, Mary Kaldor, Simon

Critchley, Michael Hardt, Saskia Sassen, and

Zygmunt Bauman, reflecting on different

aspects of violence and how the world has

changed since the 9/11 and 7/7 terror

attacks. Excerpts of the films have been

edited together to form a public broadcast

which will be screened at leading art galleries

and institutions, including the Guggenheim

Museum in New York, Leeds City Art Gallery,

The Hague, Pace University in New York,

and the University of Paris VIII.

Histories of Violence is dedicated to exploring

the theoretical, practical and aesthetic

dimensions to violence, the age-old problem

which afflicts humanity, says Dr Evans.

Its a trans-disciplinary project thats open

to everyone academics, students and

members of the public and all the resources

can be freely accessed via the website

www.historiesofviolence.com The aim is to

encourage the widest possible dissemination,

discussion and reflection about violence and

the impact it has on our lives.

The website also features a Theory section,

containing more footage of noted academicsas they give lectures about key figures such

as Nicoll Machiavelli, Michel Foucault,

Slavoj Zizek, and Judith Butler. Each lecture

is accompanied by a biography and reading

list to help a non-specialist audience explore

the subject further. Other website elements

are dedicated to Art which launches with a

retrospective of the internationally acclaimed

work of New York-based artist Robert Longo

Literature which features an interview

and reading with Tom McCarthy, in particular

his latest novel C Film and Theatre.

The idea for such a multi-media, multi-

disciplinary project came from Dr Evans

research and teaching. I was initially going

to get people to contribute their thoughts

about violence for a theoretical book, but I

got the sense that there was a real possibility

to multi-media learning in an innovative way,

he says. The more the idea developed, the

more I realised that there was the potential

to say something important about violence

in all its various forms. Not least, how we

understand the problematic of violence in

the post 9/11 world. Most of the academics

involved in the project are at the global

forefront of critical thinking in their areas, so

Leeds is at the hub of all this activity which is

very positive for us. As the project grows, Im

hoping that there will be more opportunities

for people from different backgrounds, as

well as other faculties and schools across the

University, to get involved.

Histories of Violence, a new multi-media project led by Dr Brad Evans (School ofPolitics and International Studies), launches in September to coincide with the tenthanniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York and the USA.

News round-upREF2014 Guidance onSubmissionsThe REF2014 Guidance on Submissions

is now available, setting out the general

framework for assessment in the 2014

Research Excellence Framework (REF).

It includes guidance on procedures, data

that will be required and the criteria and

definitions that will apply. The document can

be accessed at www.hefce.ac.uk/research/

ref/pubs/2011/02_11/ W Please emailqueries to [email protected]

Encouraging results in theNational Student SurveyThe results of the National Student Survey

2011 show that 86% of our final year

students are satisfied with their experience at

Leeds up from 82% last year.

Our scores went up in all six of the question

categories, with the greatest increases(4 percentage points) for overall satisfaction

and assessment and feedback.

The improved overall satisfaction scores

mean that we move up significantly in the

national ranking as well as within the Russell

Group, where we are now in the top 10.

With 75% of eligible students completing the

survey, we have one of the highest response

rates in the sector. The information provides

us with valuable feedback on what students

think of their experience at Leeds.

Free minibus now availableto Weetwood HallWeetwood Hall has introduced a free minibus

service to and from the University, which isavailable to all staff and visitors staying at

Weetwood Hall. Pick-up points are outside

Parkinson Steps and the LUBS car park.

Journeys can be pre-booked by calling 0113

230 6000 and are subject to availability.


5/16

Investmentto improveaccessNew adjustable furniture has been installed

in 125 of the Universitys central teaching

rooms, greatly improving accessibility for our

disabled students.

The furniture, which represents an investment

of some 60,000, was installed after colleagues

from Estate Services, Equality Service and the

Central Timetabling and Room Bookings team

acted to further improve access for wheelchair

users and other disabled people.

During the summer, adjustable tables were

installed in most of the seminar rooms accessiblevia wheelchair and in lecture theatres with flat

level access and a space for a wheelchair. Also,

at least one chair with arms can now be found in

the majority of the seminar rooms.

We were looking for maximum flexibility

when we chose the furniture, so that it can

be adapted to suit a wide range of people,

says Greg Brachacki of the Leeds Assessment

Centre. It was also selected and positioned to

be discreet and, where possible, its matched to

the adjacent desks.

Its often the simple, straightforward things thatmake a massive difference to disabled people,

and these adjustable tables and chairs will do

just that, adds disability coordinator Joanna

Cannon. Theres still work to be done to further

improve accessibility of the central teaching

rooms but this furniture is a big improvement.

Whilst this investment focuses on accessibility

from the student perspective, further work will be

carried out to look at improvements for disabled

staff using the central teaching rooms. Other

initiatives during the next year include a review

of the assistive listening systems used in the

University and a further review of lecture theatresto identify where waiting spaces for wheelchairs

need to be created to improve accessibility.

To coincide with the installation of this furniture,

the Universitys central rooms database has

been further developed to include accessibility

information and describe the level of provision in

all the central teaching rooms, explains David

Dixon, timetable manager. Were also working

on developing the online registration system to

help gather information about disabled students

in a more timely fashion.

For further information on any of these initiatives

or if you have any feedback on access issuesrelating to central teaching rooms, please contact

Equality Service at www.equality.leeds.ac.uk/ W

The rooms database can be found at

www.teachingspace.leeds.ac.uk/ W

5

September 2011

New network for asustainable future

HM the Queens DiamondJubilee Bank HolidayAs the additional Bank Holiday granted to

celebrate HM the Queens Diamond Jubilee

will fall at a time when the University wouldordinarily be closed by custom and practice,

it has been agreed that staff will be granted

an additional day of disposable leave in

2012. The day should be added to your

usual entitlement for 2011-12.

Leeds graduateemployment rates improveFigures from the Higher Education Statistics

Agency (HESA) report, Destinations of

Leavers from Higher Education for 2009/10,show that 92.6% of Leeds graduates were in

employment or further study six months after

graduating, an improvement on the previous

year. The number in graduate-level jobs also

increased to 73% up 7% compared to

2008/09.

Networking for sustainability (l-r): Chris Warrington, Laura Stroud, Julia Clarke, Mike Parnwell, Claire Marsh,

William Young, Nick Taylor and Carl Foster.

As issues such as climate change, land

degradation, and food insecurity force

industrialised nations to shift their fossil-fuel

based, resource intensive lifestyles to more

sustainable alternatives, the higher education

sector is being urged to consider its role ineducating future leaders, thinkers and citizens

to build their capacity for meeting these

challenges. The Education for Sustainable

Development Network (ESDN) is a new

group of University staff and students who

seek to consider how taught programmes

and research activities can be designed and

delivered to respond to this need.

Chaired by Dr William Young from the

Sustainability Research Institute, the ESDNs

steering group comprises representatives

from each faculty who lead initiatives in

their disciplinary areas, identify and buildlinks with others already working towards

these aims, and develop cross-disciplinary

experiences linked to the formal curriculum

and to the broader experience of studying

and living in Leeds. The ESDN is also

contributing to the Curriculum Enhancement

Project, specifically via the ethics thread

and a proposed strand on sustainability.

ESDN is partially funded by an Academic

Development Fund (Fund for Learning &

Teaching) project, led by William Youngand Julia Clarke, which is supporting pilot

initiatives in the faculties of Environment and

Business.

The Network has launched a new website

to showcase best practice examples from

each discipline, along with a space on the

Virtual Learning Environment to share actual

teaching materials, says project officer

Claire Marsh. Wed like interested staff and

students to help populate this site with details

of what they are doing to enhance education

for sustainable development.

Contact Claire Marsh or visit www.esd.

leeds.ac.uk to find details of your faculty

representative, news of upcoming events or

register your support. W


6/166


Research reaching awider audience

New postbringsDean new

challenges

Case study - SyntopixSyntopix was founded in 2003 as a spin-out

from the Department of Biochemistry and

Microbiology by Dr Jon Cove and Dr Anne

Eady, and focuses on the discovery and

development of compounds for the topical

treatment of dermatological conditions. The

science underpinning the company was

initially funded by the Wellcome Trust and,

with support from IP Group, Syntopix raised

further investment prior to floating on the AIM

market in 2006.

In May 2011 skin care specialist Syntopix

joined forces with another successful spin out

company from the University in a deal worth

900,000. Syntopix bought Leeds Skin Centre

for Applied Research Ltd (Leeds Skin), a

commercial testing facility whose clients

include several major players in the medicinal

and cosmetic healthcare sector. Leeds Skin,

founded in 2008 by Dr Richard Bojar from the

Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology,

is based in Wetherby and evolved from

what was the Skin Research Centre at the

University. The acquisition of Leeds Skin wasa pivotal transaction for Syntopix, which can

now carry out clinical trials in-house, meaning

it can conduct more sophisticated studies and

minimises risks. The significant cell biology

experience of Leeds Skin complements

Syntopix microbiological expertise, aiding the

development of Syntopix products.

An expanded and increased

commercialisation service is aiming to bring

innovations, ideas and inventions from the

Universitys academics to a wider audience,

through the formation of spinout companies,

licensing agreements or knowledge transfer

partnerships.

To help these expansion plans, the University

now has a renewed contract in place with

IP Group, an organisation which specialises

in the commercialisation of intellectual

property originating from research-intensive

institutions like the University.

The University already has 25 listed spinout

companies the largest number of any UK

university and were aiming to increase

this further, says Andrew Duley, Director

of Commercialisation in the Universitys

Research and Innovation Service.

Weve already been working with IP Group

for nine years, during which time theyve

helped us process around 1,000 Initial

Opportunities for Disclosure IODs the

preliminary form that people submit

which outlines their research or idea and

how it might be applied commercially,

says Andrew.

Once we have an IOD, the

commercialisation team and IP Group will

work with the academics involved to look

at some key areas of the proposal. This

includes its intellectual property, the value

proposition and market opportunities which

may be wider than initially thought financial

requirements and the team required to

support and manage the project. Once weve

clarified these areas, we can offer advice on

how best to take the project further.

If youre interested in discussing

commercialisation, get in touch with Andrew

Duley at [email protected] or, if you

want to discuss spinout companies in more

detail, contact IP Groups Dr Laura Bond at

[email protected] or

07855 771375.

This is a completely new role which has

never been done before so, for the first time,

theres someone whos specifically looking

after postgraduate research and focusing on

the interests and experiences of current and

future postgraduate research students, says

Professor Paul Harrison, the newly-appointed

Dean of Postgraduate Research Studies

(PGR).

The University created the post because it

recognises that the quality of PGR students

is vital to the success of our research mission

and, therefore, our overall strategy, he

continues. Ill be reviewing the experiences

of existing students, including their induction,

supervision, transfer to full PhD, thesis

production, training and eventual graduation.

I want to get a clear picture and make sure

were doing the best we can in every one

of these areas. My aim is to facilitate the

sharing of good practice; its not a case

of one size fits all students in differentfaculties have different needs but where

there are points in a process when uniformity

is good, we should adopt them.

Another part of Professor Harrisons role

is to further develop relationships with

funding bodies. I want to gain a better

understanding of current and future funding

strategies, so I can direct new opportunities

to the relevant people. Ill also be

coordinating joint funding submissions from

multiple schools and faculties, and possibly

even universities. PGR is the lifeblood of our

research, and with more funding we can

build a stronger PGR body.

Professor Harrison, who will continue

as Professor of Quantum Electronics in

the School of Electronic and Electrical

Engineering, is keen, too, to build the

Universitys international reputation. The

internationalisation agenda is really important,

and it would be good to establish more

relationships with other organisations and

increase mobility both ways. Students benefit

hugely from spending time abroad and its

also a great way to develop our reputation if

our students do well, other institutions start to

think more highly of Leeds.

Im very positive about the Universitys

future. The development of the strategy map

was important and we decided what kind of

University we want to be. Now were in the

implementation stage and have actually got

to deliver on those aims. The University has

been here for over a century so theres a lot

of tradition to preserve. Change may not be

fast but its about building something thats

going to last and making sure the University

is here in another 100 years.


7/16

Corinne receiveshonorary degreeA live performance by award-winning singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey

Rae was the highlight of this years honorary degree ceremonies.

Also honoured were former chairman and chief executive of iconic

Yorkshire business Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate, Jonathan Wild, who

received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws; biologist Professor David

Stuart, who was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Science; and

NHS Director General of Research and Development, Dame Sally

Davies, who received an Honorary Doctorate in Medicine.

Leeds-born Corinne Bailey Rae grew up in the city and graduated

with a degree in English from the University in 2000. She has since

enjoyed widespread popular and critical acclaim for her music, with a

collection of Grammy, Brit and MOBO awards to her name.

September 2011

7

Librarians and archivists around Leeds

have been working on the Art Researchers

Guide to Leeds, a new guidebook that will

take researchers to treasures such as letters

between Henry Moore and his fellow artists,

centuries-old sketches featuring Kirkstall

Abbey and photos of the Cottingley Fairies.

There are botanical illustrations so realistic

you feel compelled to stroke petals, and

illuminated maps, manuscripts and charterswith the paintings of Queen Elizabeth I,

whose elaborate signature officially classifies

as a work of art itself. Many of these gems

are not online.

Leeds has fantastic collections on

architecture, art, and design, but researchers

dont know how to get their hands on

everything they might need this guide helps

solve that problem, says Rose Roberto,

subject librarian for fine art, cultural studies

and design, and guide editor. Through a

visual narrative, the guide points the way to 10

libraries and repositories with art and designresources. Indexed by over 80 subjects, it

includes a citywide map, navigation icons, a

time-saving subject index to collections and

colour images of each place.

What makes the guide useful is the map

and index. If youre doing research on

fashion, for example, the visual index shows

which places have the right material, and

whether its in book, archives or audiovisual

format, says Rachel Myers, former librarian

for design at the University.

Contributors come from all over Leeds,

including experts from the Henry Moore

Institute, the Royal Armouries and West

Yorkshire Archive Service. Universitycontributors are the Librarys Chris Sheppard,

Jill Winder from the University of Leeds

International Textiles Archive (ULITA), and

retired staff Ben Read and Peter Meredith

from the Schools of Fine Art and English,

respectively. The new Marks & Spencer

Archive also has an entry.

Published by the Art Libraries Society of UK

and Ireland, the guide builds on the work of

Leeds Art Libraries in Cooperation. People at

Edinburgh institutions are writing their own

guide, also to be designed and edited by

Rose Roberto, and a Dublin guide will followin 2013.

The Art Researchers Guide to Leedsis on

sale for 5.95 at the Stanley and Audrey

Burton Gallery and ULITA, the Henry Moore

Institute, Leeds City Art Library and Gallery

and Blackwells.

Leeds art libraries

on the map

Chancellor Lord Bragg congratulates Corinne Bailey Raeon receiving her honorary degree.


8/16


8

Faculty focus

Performance,Visual Arts andCommunications

Faculty facts The Facultys vision is that by 2015 we

will be recognised for our international

excellence in the research and teaching

of culture and its products through

theory and practice in the disciplinesof communications, design, music,

performance and the visual arts.

In the 2010 QS World University

Ranking, Arts and Humanities at Leeds

(including PVAC) was placed 49th in the

world and 9th in the UK.

Over 70% of the facultys PhD students

go on to follow a career in further or

higher education.

PVAC offers 43 studentships through the

Arts and Humanities Research Council

Block Grant Partnership (2009-13).

Performance,Visual Artsand CommunicationsDuring the past few months, the Reporterhas been looking at each of the Universitysnine faculties in turn here, in the last of the series, Dean of the Faculty ofPerformance, Visual Arts and Communications (PVAC) Professor David Cooper tellsus more about the faculty.

For me a great University, a true University,

has three main responsibilities. And like

the sides of an equilateral triangle, they are

entirely mutually dependent and of equalimportance. Thus there is no hierarchy to

them no single aspect can exist without the

other two.

The first of these is to be a forge for the

development of new knowledge and creative

work. The second is to be a storehouse for

the existing work that new outputs arise from,

expand and challenge. And the third is to

share and disseminate that knowledge and

those outputs, whether from the distant past

or the immediate present: with our students;

with other scholars, artists, scientists and

engineers; with commercial, industrial andcultural partners; and with humanity at large.

This lies at the very centre of the strategy

of the University of Leeds this is what is

meant by research-led teaching. And from

research-led teaching springs innovation and

enterprise from our students and a greater

clarity of public engagement from our staff

who are used to explaining their research to

the student audience.

A significant recent development in research

is the Facultys transformation fund project.

The Culture, Society & Innovation Hub was

launched in July, and will be an engine forcultural and creative industries research

at the University. It will strengthen existing

and initiate new strategic partnerships

internationally in its four strands: cultural

industries and innovation; transforming

cultural heritage; design, performance

and technology; and transformations in

broadcasting. Alongside this hub is a diversity

of research projects, all with major impact

within and beyond the academy. Perhaps

the highest profile of these is the waterlesswashing process developed by Professor

Stephen Burkinshaw, which has won a

number of major environmental prizes and

is currently being commercialised. Current

cultural partners include leading arts

organisations, museums and galleries from

Yorkshire to Qatar.

The Academy of Cultural Fellows, inspired

by the highly influential Gregory Fellowships

in the Creative Arts established at the

University in 1950, and strongly supported

by our institutional partner, Opera North, will

consist of a group of brilliant young artistswho have the time and space to develop their

individual voices and make a major impact

through their own work, while at the same

time enhancing student experience across

the institution. Highly successful composer

Cheryl Frances-Hoad was appointed as the

first new fellow in September 2010, and Becs

Andrews, an acclaimed theatre designer, has

been appointed as our second fellow.

A key principle of recent conferences led

by PVAC is the breadth of participation

(including researchers, practitioners and

professionals) and the diversity of forms such as last years Digging the Seam:

Media & the End of the Coal Miners Strike,

or the forthcoming Performance Studies

International: Performance, Culture and

Industrywhich will see a parallel performance

festival in Leeds in collaboration with the

major performance organisations in Leeds.


9/16

September 2011

9

A new report and resource pack has

been produced for use with current andprospective students to help emphasise

and develop connections between

research-led teaching and employability.

Students, Research and Employability

in the Faculty of Arts was funded by

a University Teaching Fellowship, and

involved focus groups, alumni interviews,

observed teaching and document analysis.

Its vital that we consider these issues,

says Dr Matthew Treherne (School of

Modern Languages and Cultures) who ran

the project with Abi Rowson. Nationally,

the role of the arts and humanities in

universities is subject to debate; within the

University the issue of employability is high

on the agenda; and research-led teaching

remains an institutional priority.

The findings confirmed that our

curriculum fosters transferable skills like

communication, problem solving and

project management. We found that

employability isnt the only reason for

studying the arts students love their

subjects for their own sake but that

a research-led education in arts and

humanities is also an investment which will

pay long-lasting career dividends.

The challenge lies in communicating

these dividends clearly and convincingly to

future and current students, so they can

articulate the benefits of their academic

experience at Leeds to future employers.

Theres scope to emphasise a whole range

of skills that our approach to research-led

teaching can bring such as flexibility,

analysis, teamwork and leadership.

The project has produced resources for

students, including: materials outliningwhat research-led teaching is and how it

supports the development of employable

skills; sample questions from job application

forms and interviews with suggestions

for how students engagement with the

research process can enrich answers; and

a case study demonstrating links between

research-led teaching and employable

skills. These can be integrated into existing

resources, in particular module resources

and the VLE, student handbooks and

Careers Centre material.

For staff, the report includes an articleabout the implications of the project for

teaching practice and a paper suggesting

three opportunities for development.

Access the report at https://elgg.leeds.

ac.uk/illmt/weblog W

Research andemployability studyshows that Arts is in theright placeAn international approach

In keeping with our outward looking

philosophy, we have a strong tradition of

international partnerships in which weseek to:

engage with the leading knowledge

creators, critics, disseminators, and users

impact on individuals and societies

adopt a responsible and responsive

global stance in the development of all

academic activities.

We identify, develop and disseminate good

practice via an international curriculum for

all increasing Study Abroad exchange

opportunities with universities in NorthAmerica, Australia, China and across

Europe, and extending the study period for

undergraduates across the faculty to four

years with a year abroad opportunity. We

are also increasing the number of visiting

professors and short-term postgraduate

scholars to enhance the learning experience

of all students. Theres a broad range of

invitations for PVAC staff to make overseas

visits for research and pedagogical events

and this has been extended via Erasmus and

faculty funds to faculty office staff, including

the Research ManagerStudents from China, Taiwan and Korea have

a long history of links with the facultys older

Schools and are rapidly developing them

with the new, and links with India and South

America are being developed.

The faculty has a tiered approach to

international partnerships; at its most in-

depth there is development at research

group, postgraduate and undergraduate

levels. For example, the Design development

with Zhejiang University in China, where a

research centre in colour imaging is linked

to research groups in both institutions,with a collaborative MSc and PhD shared

supervision. A similar strategy is being

followed in the Middle East, starting with the

first museum studies PhD candidate from

Qatar a curator at the National Museum

is returning to an academic career

developing museum studies in collaboration

with the School of Fine Art and the City

of Leeds. In parallel, a lecturer from King

Abdul Aziz University (KAU), Saudi Arabia,

has been working as a post-doctorate here.

She is building a business plan to deliver

museum studies when she returns to theKAU, as part of a wider research proposal

to develop KAUs museum collections and

open a new museum in its school of Art and

Design.


10/16

A friendly forum where people can meet

colleagues face to face, share ideas and bestpractice, and be updated on new initiatives,

with the aim of improving communication

and effectiveness across campus, is

how Debbie Gibbs describes the Personal

Assistants (PA) Network that she and Gaynor

Butterwick, Faculty PA for Leeds University

Business School, have established.

The idea for the PA Network grew from

informal meetings that PAs used to have off-

campus. Thinking that it would be useful to

put the network on a more organised basis,

Debbie whos PA to Pro-Vice-Chancellor for

Student Education Professor Vivien Jones

and Gaynor emailed the PAs for senior staff

to gauge their interest and invite them to an

initial meeting.

We stressed the potential benefits of

the group, and the response was really

encouraging with around 25 people coming

to the first meeting, says Debbie.

Giving people the opportunity to put a face

to a name improves communications on a

practical basis across faculties and between

academic and support staff. Regularmeetings are also an opportunity to discuss

and update each other on current initiatives

and developments across campus.

As well as general discussions, the PA

Network aims to have presentations from

internal teams and services, preferred

external suppliers and senior members of the

University. So far, the Vice-Chancellor has

spoken to the group about the Universitys

strategy, and Marion Lowrence, PA to thehead of Yorkshire Universities, and The

Queens Yorkshire PA of the Year, has given

a presentation. In future, the plan is to hold

meetings every two months which will be

hosted at different venues across campus so

members visit offices away from their normal

working areas.

The network is still in its initial phase of

development and currently consists of PAs

for senior members of staff, but the long-

term aim is to widen membership to other

PAs in the University, says Gaynor. Setting

up this kind of network is also something

that Id recommend to other members of

staff. Getting to know other people who do

a similar role is great; it increases morale

as youre part a recognised and supportive

group, and it also gives you a group voice

across campus.

Professor Michael Arthur, Vice-Chancellor,

said: Large organisations, such as ours,

work best via their informal networks rather

than their formal processes. Its fantastic

that the PA network has formed and that

people from different parts of the University

are getting to know each other well. PAs are

important and influential members of staff

and Im delighted that they are contributing

so positively to new ideas and the future of

the University.

If youre interested in joining the PA Network

or if youd like advice on setting up your own

network, contact [email protected]

or [email protected]

Making the most ofthe power of networks

10


World-classupgrade for

Leeds DentalInstituteA 9.5 million refurbishment of the

Leeds Dental Institute means that dental

students training in Leeds now have

access to some of the best facilities in

the world.

The refurbishment includes 120 new

dental chairs, a new X-ray department,

24 new surgeries for NHS consultants

to provide specialist dental treatmentand a new entrance and reception.

The investment provides a first-class

environment for patients and the most

up-to-date facilities for the teaching of

dental students and other dental care

professionals, including student dental

nurses and hygienists.

The Leeds Dental Institute is run jointly

by the University and Leeds Teaching

Hospitals NHS Trust, who bid for the

investment three years ago so that the

number of undergraduates studying

dentistry could be expanded, and to give

dental students access to up-to-date,

world-class facilities.

Dr Margaret Kellett, Director of Leeds

Dental Institute, said: Thanks to this

very significant investment we have

transformed the building and provided a

state-of-the-art facility where more dental

students will be able to receive top quality

training in a modern environment.

Our new curriculum and our dental

mannequin unit have been hailed asthe most innovative and advanced in

Europe. The changes have been very well

received by students and staff and we are

already making a big difference to dental

training in the region.


11/1611

LeadercolumnProfessor Michael J P ArthurUniversity Vice-Chancellor

From the success of recent open days to

significant improvements in how students

rate their time here, and from the health

of University finances, increased research

turnover (to more than 126m per annum),

to plans to invest millions in enhancing the

student experience, theres much to feel

proud and optimistic about.

This year will be our last to get everything in

place ahead of the arrival next September of

the first cohort of students paying 9k tuition

fees. Expectations will be high and we will

all need to think carefully about how we cancontribute towards meeting them.

Junes open days were our first experience

of recruiting in the new fees environment. It

was vital we got them right. A huge amount

of planning led to a resounding success,

with around 24,000 visitors to campus over

two days greeted by scores of positive and

well-prepared staff and student volunteers.

Feedback was fantastic, with 95% of

visitors rating the day good or excellent

and praising the helpfulness of staff and

students. Many commented on the positive

feeling around the University its spirit, its

openness and its warmth. My thanks toeveryone involved it was so important to set

such a positive tone for our future.

All universities have been through

challenging times, but now we must remain

tightly focused on our future. Spending

9k to study at Leeds will be a significant

investment, but I am confident we will not

have any major problems recruiting students.

Weve just completed the Integrated

Planning Exercise (IPE) and even factoring

in a 5% reduction in student numbers next

year a good forecast given subsequent

White Paper proposals financial projectionsare much better than last year. Despite

ongoing funding cuts, we can feel confident

that our hard work has brought us to a

position that allows us to properly invest in

our student experience and our future at this

critically important time.

I know too some colleagues face ongoing

uncertainty, and we are working closely with

units in organisational review to ensure they

are academically and financially sustainable.

But the number of areas in review is falling.

Seven have exited the process this year,

most recently Research and Innovation

Support and Student Services. I am

confident more will follow.

I touched recently upon our graduates

employment prospects, but they are worth

repeating. The Destination of Leavers from

HE (DLHE) survey shows that 92.6% ofour 2010 graduates were in graduate level

employment or further study six months after

graduation. According to this measure, we

even outperform Oxford!

Great news also comes in the guise of the

National Student Survey (NSS) 2011. 86% of

our students say they were very satisfied or

satisfied with their experience an increase

of 4% on last year and a result that puts us

in 10th= position in the Russell Group. We

also achieved improved scores across all

categories including teaching, academic

support, organisation and management

learning resources and personal development a truly fantastic outcome.

Viv Jones and our Pro-Deans for Student

Education are to be congratulated for their

highly effective leadership and their detailed

and dedicated work in improving our

performance. This years success shows that

with focus and professionalism, real progress

can occur a massive thank you from me to

all staff concerned for this very timely result.

VCEG and the Deans are currently looking

at how best to invest 12m in enhancing

the student experience and the 9m we

have added to our Strategic Support andDevelopment Funds. The Deans input in

this, as in so much else, has been critical.

Different views have been expressed with

some incorporated into plans and some not.

These are major strategic decisions, and

collective input and ownership is critical.

Changes in the composition of VCEG

will also help to refresh and sharpen our

strategic focus. Dawn Freshwater, who takes

over as PVC for Staff and Organisational

Effectiveness, has been highly successful as

Head of the School of Healthcare and has

significant experience of leading change.

David Hogg takes on a new integrated role as

PVC for Research and Innovation. As Head

of the School of Computing, he led a review

which revitalised the school he also brings

considerable experience of leadership andpersonal success in research and innovation.

Dawn and David are first and foremost team

players and I am really looking forward to

working closely with both of them

Richard Williams and Steve Scott have

been in VCEG for six of the seven years I

have been here and I thank both for their

outstanding contribution. Richards major

achievement has been getting everyone

thinking about enterprise, innovation and

research in an integrated way. Steve is a

fantastic citizen of the University I would

highlight his painstaking work on promotions

as his great legacy amongst his manysignificant achievements. Andrew Thompson

made his mark as PVC for Research, as did

Ed Spiers, who stepped in and also did the

job brilliantly. I am indebted to both Andrew

and Ed for great research results this year

and getting our preparations for REF2014

well underway.

I hope everyone had some time for relaxation

this summer and that all feel refreshed. The

coming year will be challenging, but the

success of open days and improvement in

our NSS scores shows us just how good this

University can be when under pressure.They also remind us of an important lesson

if professionalism is combined with effort and

teamwork, we will get the results we want.

Lets put our hearts and minds into making

this year our best yet.

The summers nearly over, but we have every reason to have a spring in our step.


12/16


12

In thenews

Further details of press coverage can

be found at http://mediacuttings.leeds.

ac.uk/index.aspx W

A giant robotic wormthat can wiggle its

way around obstacles caused a media

stir worldwide. Dr Jordan Boyle (School

of Mechanical Engineering) featured on

Channel 5s Gadget Showand news of the

worm appeared in New Scientistand the

Financial Times, as well as media outlets in

Brazil, Russia, France, Australia and The

Netherlands. The super-sized worm-bot

is modelled on the C. elegans nematode, a

tiny worm that uses an ultra-simple nervous

system to control the way that it moves.

Unlike its natural counterpart which has no

skeleton the robot has a rigid backbone

like a snake. However, a series of springs

along the length of its body give the robot

worm-like flexibility. The project was funded

by the Engineering and Physical Sciences

Research Council.

Dr Mark Monaghan (School of Sociology and

Social Policy) appeared on BBC Radio Leeds

commenting on the classification of drugs

under the Misuse of Drugs Act, in particular

the drug ketamine. He suggested that it wastime to reclassify several drugs or review the

current law, especially as recreational drug

use has continued to rise.

Professor Patricia McKinney, (School of

Medicine, LIGHT) criticised research linking

an increased risk of childhood asthma

with electrical lines. She said the research

lacked a biological basis or hypothesis to

test and pointed to major deficiencies

in its methods. Her comments appeared in

the Scotsmanand also gained widespread

international coverage in Australia and

Canada.

Professor Jane Francis (School of Earth and

Environment) featured in an item on the

Observerabout Antarcticas tropical past.

Reporting from the International Symposium

on Antarctic Earth Sciences the article

quotes recent research, including drilling

projects and satellite surveys, which show

that the region previously enjoyed a warm

climate before gradually cooling down to its

present condition.

The current fashion for some women to

favour all things fake including eyelashes,

nails and tans was the subject of an

article in the Independent. Professor Ruth

Holliday (Centre for Interdisciplinary Gender

Studies) contributed to the debate, saying:

Traditionally, there has been a tension

between the natural look, representing

respectability, and therefore marriageability,

and the fake, glamour aesthetic which

was seen as the opposite. For modern

women its no longer important to appear

marriageable Making a show of your

fakeness with red lipstick, or a statement

fringe is a way of not conforming. The most

pernicious form of femininity is the myth of

the natural.

Professor John Young (School of Medicine)

was quoted in an article about delirium

in elderly patients in New Scientist. He is

currently leading a study which is testing

measures to raise awareness of and

prevent delirium, which in many cases goes

untreated.

Professor Liane Benning (School of Earth

and Environment) was interviewed on Radio

Leeds, reflecting on the end of the NASA

shuttle programme.

The campaign to replace mathematical

constant pi with taureceived plenty of

media coverage especially on Tau Day held

on the 28 June, which represents taus value

of approximately 6.28. Quoted in the Daily

Mail, Kevin Houston (School of Mathematics)

said: Pi simply isnt the most natural

number that we should associate with a

circle. The proper number is 2pi, or tau.

The story also appeared in the Timesand on

the BBC.

The state of various European economies

prompted much discussion, and our

academics were interviewed for Radio Leeds.

Both Dr Charles Dannreuther and Hugo

Radice (School of Politics and International

Studies) commented on the announcement

of a second bailout for the troubled Greek

economy, whilst Professor Malcolm Sawyer

(Leeds University Business School) provided

expertise on Italys debt crisis.

Research showing that the heavy

armour worn by the French knights

at the Battle of Agincourt may have

swung the outcome in Englands

favour, received widespread coverage.

Articles quoting lead researcher Dr

Graham Askew (Faculty of Biological

Sciences) appeared in the Guardian,

Timesand Telegraphand the story was

covered by Radio 4s Today, News at

Ten, CBS News and BBC Look North.

Lead researcher Dr Graham Askew

even appeared on Calendarwearing

a suit of armour, demonstrating how

its weight would make it cumbersome

and tiring to wear.


13/16

HonoursProfessor David Hogg(School of Mathematics) has been

appointed the new Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research with effect from

1 September.

Professor Paul Harrison(School of Electronic and Electrical

Engineering) has been appointed Dean of Postgraduate Studies with

effect from 1 August.

Isabel Hunthas been appointed as Communications Director with

effect from 1 October.

Professor Frans L Mullerhas been

appointed to the chair of ChemicalProcess Engineering. Based in the Institute

of Process Research and Development,

he will oversee research into continuous

flow processing, process modelling and

simulation, and innovative ways of working

in the process environment.

The University together with St Gemmas Hospice has appointed

Professor Michael Bennettto the post of St Gemmas Professor of

Palliative Medicine. He will head a new Academic Unit of Palliative

Care at the Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, a teaching and

research institute within the Universitys School of Medicine.

Professor Phil Scott(School of Education) won this years BraggMedal of the Institute of Physics for significant contributions to

Physics Education. The citation makes reference to his: influential

research in physics education which has had a significant impact

on teachers and the teaching of physics in secondary schools.

Very sadly, Professor Scott unexpectedly passed away shortly after

receiving this award.

Professor Alan Andrew Watson(School of

Physics and Astronomy) received the Faraday

Medal of the Institute of Physics for his

outstanding leadership within the Pierre Auger

Observatory and the insights he has provided

to the origin and nature of ultra high energy

cosmic rays. He was also recently awarded theOCeallaigh Medal by the International Union

of Pure and Applied Physics Commission on

Cosmic Rays in recognition of his significant

contributions to the field.

Professor Joe Holdenwas awarded the Gordon Warwick Medal 2011

by the British Society for Geomorphology.

Professor Ken Carslaw(School of Earth and Environment)

and Professor Giles Davies(School of Electronic and Electrical

Engineering) each received a prestigious Royal Society Wolfson

Research Merit Award. Professor Carslaws research involves

modelling of the physical and chemical properties of atmospheric

aerosols and the effect on clouds, atmospheric composition andclimate. Professor Davies leads two groups confronting major

international research challenges of terahertz frequency electronics

and bio-nanoelectronics.

Send your honours to [email protected]

13

Dr Jim Caryland Dr Dave Sprosonwere both declared winners in the

outreach project Im a Scientist Get Me Out of Here. The Wellcome

Trust-funded project sees students talk with scientists online and then

vote for their favourite. Dr Caryl (Faculty of Biological Sciences) won

the Genes zone and Dr Sproson (School of Earth and Environment)

won the Marine and Underwater Science zone. Details are at http://

imascientist.org.uk/ W

Waterloo Teeth, a collection of poems by Professor John Whale

(School of English), has been shortlisted for the 5,000 Felix Dennis

prize for the best first collection of poetry of the Forward Poetry

Competition. Known as the bardic Booker, this annual competition

is the only major award that honours both established and up-and-

coming poets.

Professor Simon R Biggs(Institute of

Particle Science and Engineering) hasbeen elected as a new Fellow of the

Royal Academy of Engineering. The

citation states that the honour is for:

Distinguished for achievements in

the application of colloid and interface

science to the development of new

functional materials and innovations in

the engineering particulate systems in the

chemicals, minerals and nuclear sectors.

Professor Jim Deuchars(Institute of Membrane and Systems

Biology) has been awarded the G L Brown Prize Lecture for 2012 by

the Physiological Society of Great Britain. The prize is given for an

annual series of peripatetic lectures aimed at a younger audience tostimulate an interest in physiology. Watch part of Professor Dauchars

lecture (with audience karaoke!) on the Wonders of the Wanderer

or What your vagus nerve can do for youat www.youtube.com/

watch?v=GERi_LkJ8sw W

Professor Frank Nijhoff(School of Mathematics) has been appointed

a Leverhulme Trust Senior Research Fellow by the Royal Society, the

UKs national academy of science.

Congratulations to Residential Serviceswho have been awarded the

Customer First Standard by Putting the Customer First the awarding

body for the National Standard for Customer Service in recognition

of its efforts as a service to put the customer first at the heart of what

they do and deliver a first-class experience.

Following visits and interviews, the assessor praised many examples

of good practice in all areas of the business and where it was a re-

assessment, was pleased to see that strong progress had been made.

More information about the Customer First Standard can be found at

www.customerfirst.org W

Leeds University Union (LUU)has been awarded Gold status under

the new Students Union Evaluation Initiative (SUEI) Level 2 criteria.

Leeds was among the first unions assessed under the new, more

rigorous SUEI criteria, and one of only three students unions to have

been awarded Gold at Level 2 so far.

Volunteer Elizabeth Stainforthwas awarded the Marsh Volunteer

Award 2010 for the Yorkshire region for her outstanding work at

the Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery. The Volunteers for Museum

Learning awards are run by the British Museum and the Marsh

Christian Trust, and recognise the valuable contribution of

museum volunteers.

Our peopleSeptember 2011


14/16

SmalladsSmall ads can be submitted online at

http://smallads.leeds.ac.uk W

The charge is 7 for 10 words or part

thereof (University members)

or 10 (general public).

The deadline for the next issue is

Wednesday, 5 October 2011 at 4pm.

For enquiries please contact

Thomas Saxton on 0113 343 8373

or email [email protected]


TRADE SECRETS CONSTRUCTION PARTNERSHIPWe design and install kitchens, bathrooms andwetrooms, bedrooms, conservatories, custom-fittedfurniture and more, to your specifications. Repairs andrenovations big or small. All work fully guaranteed. 40years experience. Free estimates. 0113 261 3286 0776 806 1259 (daytime)[email protected]

COMPUTER PROBLEMS?For all hardware, softwareand networking issues. Home visits inc evenings andweekends. Reliable and efficient. 0795 863 [email protected]

BUILDING CONTRACTORAll building workundertaken; roofs, extensions, kitchens and bathroomsfitted. Free quotes. 30 years experience.Malcolm Wells 0789 545 9542

BRIAN WILKINSON PROPERTY MAINTENANCEPointing, guttering, roof repairs, painting etc, freeestimates, no job too small Brian Wilkinson 0777 3071041 [email protected]

GET 50% OFFall personalised canvas prints atwww.2frogs.co.ukwhen you use voucher code: Leeds.0792 851 8748

WEBSITES FROM 75Designed and produced bylocal graphic designer. www.hotshoemedia.co.uk .Richard Baldwin 0113 266 [email protected]

CLARINET LESSONSQualified teacher in theHeadingley area welcomes beginners to Grade 8.

Practical Musicianship also taught as an alternativeto Music Theory for any instrument. Sarah Newman0113 305 2394 [email protected]

House for saleFLAT FOR SALE/RENTFourth floor flat, 75 IngledewCourt, LS17 8TY. Two bedrooms, spacious openplan kitchen/lounge, double-glazed, superb views,no onward chain. 118,500 or 550/month.Manning Stainton 0113 237 0211; [email protected] George Kennaway 0795259 7420 [email protected]

House/flat/room to letTHREE-BED SEMI-DETACHED HOUSEfor rentLS16. Quiet location, garden, driveway, good accessto universities, shops, schools. 600pcm. 0113 3437757 [email protected]

TO LET FURNISHEDspacious, 3 bedroom cedarwoodhouse. Desirable area, Adel (Leeds 16). Private lane,gardens, parking. Excellent schools nearby. Easycommute to University, Leeds centre. 975 pcm.0794 113 3684 [email protected]

LOVELY HOUSE TO RENTnear village station near

Leeds. Weekdays only. Ideal for academic workingaway from home.Janet 0794 673 8836

ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT RIVERSIDE AREAtolet Jan-June 2012. 500/month plus services. Balcony,urban lifestyle. Five min walk to city centre, goodbus connections to University. Ideal for one [email protected]

Holiday home to letCHARMING ANDALUCIAN VILLAGE HOUSEnearGranada and Costa Tropical. www.casalasolea.com

OtherMRI STUDYHelp us to develop new MRI techniquesto advance the understanding and management

of arthritis. We are seeking people over 18 withoutankle problems and no arthritis to have an ankle MRIand ultrasound. Robin Waxman 0113 392 [email protected]

CAFE SCIENTIFIQUE11.30am second Sunday of themonth. Leeds City Museum. Science, tea and a chat.Clare Brown 0113 214 1563 [email protected]

14

Advertisers are independent from the University. The University

makes no warranty or representation as to (a) the accuracy of

ads or (b) the quality of goods or services advertised. To the full

extent allowed by the law the University excludes all liability.

Professional servicesELECTRICIAN PART P REGISTEREDContact GoodConnections for repairs, installations, alterations,periodic inspections, testing, new sockets, lighting andconsumer units. Prompt timekeeper. Good value rates.www.goodconnectionselectrician.co.uk Richard Sykes0777 249 9414

EFFICIENT HEATING SOLUTIONSinstalls and repairscentral heating and plumbing systems, gas appliances,showers, towel rails and radiators. Gas Safe Registered,Worcester Accredited, Which?Local recommended.0786 870 3384 [email protected]

This years Leeds International Summer

School (LISS) 2011 more than doubled in

size since its launch last year, attracting

nearly 30 students from institutions in

Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Hong Kong,

Ireland, Japan, Mexico and the USA.

Students chose two of the following modules

to pursue during their four-week stay, which

were specifically chosen to showcase local

heritage and culture and the Universitys

expertise:

the English Country House:

A Social History

British Popular Music in the

North of England

British Literature and the Bronts

the Olympic Games Sport in the UK

Every Friday was reserved for a field trip

for all students, including a visit to the

magnificent Castle Howard (famously the

location of Brideshead Revisited), a highly

memorable trip to Manchester which

included a punk rock gig featuring one of

their own module tutors John Robb of The

Membranes a weekend in London with

tours of Wimbledon, Wembley Stadium and

a walk to iconic sites and museums, and a

trip to Haworth for an insight into the lives of

the Bront sisters and a walk over the moors.

There were optional trips to local places

such as Whitby (where many students tried

fish and chips for the first time!) and York,

the country estates of Harewood House and

Temple Newsam, a tour of weaponry through

the ages at the Royal Armouries and a look

at the Damien Hirst exhibition at Leeds Art

Gallery. The LISS team also put on social

events such as film nights, bowling, dessert

pot luck and pub quizzes.

Besides all the fun, there was a serious

academic element, as the students

had to write essays and prepare group

presentations for assessment on their

chosen modules. In return for their efforts,

they were able to transfer 20 University

credits to their home institution (equivalent to

six US credits or 10 European Credit Transfer

System credits).

The School also attracted interest from

further afield, with a flying visit from Kyoko

Yamaguchi of International Christian

University (ICU) in Japan, who attended a

class of British Literature and the Bronts

and accompanied students to Haworth.

Kyoko was particularly impressed by

the friendliness and interaction between

students of all nationalities, and confirmed

shed like her students from ICU to

participate in next years programme.

The real test is whether the students enjoyed

it, and of that theres little room for doubt.

Many of the students have vowed to tell

their Study Abroad Coordinators back home

how good the programme is, and three

have already made enquiries into pursuing

further study at Leeds. Sukhi Guram from

the University of South Carolina commented:

The program has definitely exceeded

my expectations so far. Ive really enjoyed

my time here at Leeds, and Amanda

Fitzner of the University of Alberta, Canada,

concluded: I think I speak for everyone

when I say we had a blast!

Summer school goes from strength to strength


15/16

September 2011

15

www.leeds.ac.uk/events

Noticeboard

Countdown to the StaffFestivalLive performances, fairground games, acraft market, kids area, food and drink stalls,

chill out space, green zone and all kinds of

sporting activities are just some of attractions

on offer at this years Staff Festival, which

takes place on campus on Friday 9

September.

You can sample a lunchtime taste of the

fest from 13pm, when the craft market

and refreshment stalls will be open, or

come along after 3pm to take part in the full

Festival experience. All the action is taking

place around the University precinct and

stage@leeds or if it rains in the LUUbuilding, Refectory and stage@leeds.

Its a great opportunity to take some time out

before the new academic year begins and

meet up with colleagues. You can also bring

partners and family members, as theres

definitely something for everyone to enjoy!

If youre feeling creative and competitive,

enter the Cake competition just pick up

a cakeboard from the Catering Offices

on 1st floor of University House by 5pmon Thursday 8 September. Or, bring your

camera along on the day and see if you can

snap the winning image for the Photography

competition. Information on the competitions

and the full programme is available at www.

leeds.ac.uk/staff_festival

Volunteers are wanted to act as stewards and

run some of the stalls, so if you can spare an

hour or two and fancy getting involved, just

contact [email protected] W

Student EducationConference (SEC1)Programme details for the 2012 Student

Education Conference have been finalised

and are available to download. Formerly the

Learning & Teaching Conference, the 2012

conference will be held at the University on 6

January 2012. The conference theme will be

Excellence and will feature a keynote speech

from alumna Claire Cashmore, who will be

representing Great Britain in Swimming atthe 2012 Paralympic Games.

For more details please contact Stephanie

Stones on 0113 343 3186 or s.e.stones@

adm.leeds.ac.uk, or visit the Learning and

Teaching support website at www.lts.leeds.

ac.uk W

Family Concerts SeriesA series of concerts designed to engage

young children and their families is being

held at the University throughout the year,

beginning with The wonderful world ofsongby Family Lieder+. Come and enjoy

an informal and interactive introduction to

the world of song, featuring famous classics

alongside rare gems, which the whole family

can enjoy.Ticket details can be found at

http://store.leeds.ac.uk/ W

The Sadler Gift the legacy of a visionary Vice-Chancellor2011 marks the centenary of visionary Vice-Chancellor Sir Michael Sadler, who came to the University in September 1911. The Stanley &Audrey Burton Gallery is celebrating his cultural legacy to the University and the city, with a new exhibition The Sadler Gift.

The exhibition highlights Sadlers pivotal

role in the development of the University Art

Collection and his wider importance to British

art of the early 20th century. Sadler stayed

at Leeds until 1923 and during this time he

was pivotal in shaping the artistic world of

the city through his involvement in the Leeds

Art Club, the Leeds Art Gallery and in helping

found the Leeds Art Collections Fund. He

had an agenda to make the University a

close participant in the citys cultural life,and organised open lectures and concerts

here and hosted visits by key poets, authors,

artists and thinkers. He left the University a

substantial gift of paintings, drawings, prints

and textiles, which still represents the core of

the University Art Collection.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a

catalogue of the Sadler Gift, edited by Dr

Hilary Diaper, former Keeper of the Gallery. It

will also be complemented by a programme

of events, including the popular Burton

Saturdays. A symposium exploring Sadlerswider legacy for British art and education

is planned for February. In the spring, the

Gallery will also look at the Sadler textiles

through the interpretations of contemporary

artist Pip Dickens.

The Sadler Giftruns from 6 September until

17 December 2011. The Gallery is open from

Mon-Sat, 10-5pm and admission is free.

www.leeds.ac.uk/gallery/events.htm W

A complementary exhibition based on

Sadlers gift of Kashmir shawls will be

displayed at the University of LeedsInternational Textiles Archive from 13

September to 30 March 2012, Tues-Fri,

9.30-4.30pm, admission free.


16/16

Tell us about your job.

Ive actually got two roles. As Information

Systems Officer I look after the systems

within the Careers Centre, providing support

and development where necessary. There are

numerous information systems, ranging from

small Excel spreadsheets to large web-based

databases. Some are just used by teams of

staff whilst others are University-wide and

open to all students, graduates and staff.

Im also a Careers Assistant, working with

students on a one-to-one basis when they

come to drop-in sessions. Weve seen

an increase of 35% in the last year, and

can get over 100 students a day calling

in for information, advice and guidance.

Employability is such an important issue

now, and the Careers Centre is right at the

heart of it.

What are the best bits of your job?

I like both roles and they complement

each other, but I really enjoy working with

students on a one-to-one basis. Giving them

advice and support is great you can make

suggestions and plant ideas that will really

help people with their lives. Its fantastic when

students go on to get a job or placement,especially when they get in touch to say how

much you helped it shows how important

the Careers Centre is to the University.

You helped set up the Events, Vacancies

and Employer system what does that do?

The system gives students exclusive access

to details of around 3,000 employers and

hundreds of graduate and internship

vacancies and careers events targeted at

Leeds students. Its updated daily and is

relevant to students in all years. Its proved

incredibly successful, but the main issue is

letting people know it exists! It can be foundvia careerweb.leeds.ac.uk W

What else is happening in the Careers

Centre to help students?

Our activities include a drop-in service

(open 9-4 Mon-Fri), which is increasingly

popular especially when people are applying

for jobs. We give feedback to improve

application forms and CVs, which is getting

more important as many candidates get

rejected at the application stage. Weve just

launched a Careers Registration System,

so when students register at the University

theyre prompted to choose a statement

which best describes their current careers

thinking. The system automatically responds

with suggestions and links for where theymight go next for information, advice and

guidance. It also provides us with data about

the Decide, Plan and Compete framework

of the Employability Strategy, which will be

useful for faculties and departments.

How can students be encouraged to use

the Careers Centre?

The main thing is to make them aware of the

services and expert advice we offer! Tutors,

especially, are a fantastic resource for us

they can have a huge impact by encouraging

students to use our services. The Careers

Centre gives advice on all kinds of areas,

like the Erasmus work programme, Spark

business start-up scheme, further study,

placements and internships, so weve got

something for everyone.

Whats your most frequently asked

question?

There are two depending on which part of

my job Im doing; Can you check my CV?

or Theres something the matter with my

computer can you fix it?

Tell us about all your fundraising activities.

Ive done a few long-distance challenges to

raise money for charity and recently did a

coast to coast cycle ride with a friend whos

been blind since his teens. He was saying

how much he missed cycling, and I managed

to get a tandem which was bright pink!

from the Universitys Bicycle Users Group.

We went from Whitehaven to Sunderland

in two and a half days, raised 1,500 for St

Gemmas Hospice and had a great time.

Any plans to get involved with the Staff

Festival?

Last year my band Ninja Horses playedbut unfortunately we just played our last gig!

I play a hand drum called a Cajn its like

a box that you sit on. Ive got a new project

Epic Derek which might be ready in time

to perform at the Fest. Id love to play there

again its a brilliant event.

Who would be in your super group?

A very difficult question! Jimi Hendrix for

his guitar, voice, originality/ inventiveness;

Freddie Mercury as front man; John

Bonham because Ive taken so much

inspiration from him; Steve Harris, because

I love what he and Iron Maiden made heavymetal stand for. I think these musicians

would play music thats varied and dynamic,

from heavy to gentle, sublime to outrageous.

What are the three best things that youve

experienced in the last year?

I help administrate five leagues with over

30 members, so being promoted to the

premier league in the staff squash leagues

was great. Cycling the C2C was brilliant

and felt full of worth. Ive had some great

breaks including Glastonbury festival and my

girlfriend and I had the most amazing week

in beautiful Mevagissey.

75%

FAQsJim BirdInformation Systems Officer,

Careers Assistant

Careers Centre

issue560 september

Documents