Campus News
Employee benefits platform staff survey
February 19th, 2024
The contract with our current benefits provider, who also provide our Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support, is due for renewal later this year and the university is seeking your views on the current offering.
Your thoughts, suggestions and ideas will help input into the review of our provider and tendering process to ensure we purchase the best value for money product.
We value your opinion and would like to invite you to complete this short questionnaire to let us know what you think about the platform and its overall offering.
Click here to start the questionnaire.
Please note that this questionnaire is anonymous and will take approximately 10 minutes of your time to complete.
The survey is set to automatically close at midnight on: Tuesday 5 March 2024.
Thank you in advance for your participation.
Tags: Employee benefits, Employee benefits survey, Pluxee
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Change to go-live date of UniCore
February 19th, 2024
The date for the rollout of the university’s new HR, Finance and Procurement system (UniCore) has changed.
During the past few months, the Digital Core project team have made significant progress in preparing for the rollout of UniCore.
The team have been focusing on delivering the project plan: collecting, checking and migrating data; testing systems that will be receiving data from or sending data to UniCore; making preparations for the cutover period; developing a service delivery framework; creating the reports that UniCore will generate; keeping a large network of staff engaged with the project; meeting with Operations teams to model what the rollout will mean in practice; and developing a training strategy.
The project team have also been engaging with more than 250 staff to enable them to test the system for themselves. Having completed around 3,300 tests, they have found that the system is performing well but the quality of the data that has been transferred to UniCore is not at the standard that it needs to be at. Without accurate and complete data we run the risk of rolling out a system that does not work properly or which staff do not have confidence in.
The data quality issues are not related with the accuracy of the data in our current systems, especially ResourceLink and Agresso, they relate to how that data is transformed and presented in UniCore.
The Digital Core Project Board are determined that UniCore must have the highest quality data when it is rolled out, which is why a delay to the May 2024 go-live date is being announced.
It is understandable that colleagues across the university may be concerned about the impact of any revised date, however the project team is committed to ensuring it provides adequate notice for people and teams to prepare. Staff no longer need to work to the cutover dates that were previously set.
The Project Board apologise for the inconvenience caused by the replanning of this work and would like to thank you for your efforts in planning for the cutover period. An update will be provided next month with details of the revised cutover period and go-live date.
With support from colleagues across the university, the project team are in the process of collecting data about our organisational hierarchy, supervisory structure and individual staff working patterns. The project team will keep moving forward with this work as it is vital to improving our datasets now, ensuring it is ready to be finalised prior to being put into UniCore.
The plan and approach for UniCore training will soon be shared. You will also be invited to various briefing sessions to help you become familiar with the new system.
Your support and understanding as we work to put in place our new HR, Finance and Procurement processes and system continues to be greatly appreciated.
A comprehensive set of frequently asked questions can now be found on the Digital Core SharePoint site. Please email digitalcore@nottingham.ac.uk if you require further information.
Tags: finance, HR, UniCore, university systems
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Deputy Registrar to become Executive Director of Business and People Services at Royal Holloway
February 19th, 2024
Deputy Registrar and former Director of Careers and Employability, Stephen McAuliffe will be leaving the university to join Royal Holloway as Executive Director of Business and People Services from 1 June 2024.
Stephen currently co-chairs the University Operations Board and provides cross-university leadership on strategic projects.
He’s been in the Higher Education sector for 25 years, and has worked on major estate projects, digital transformations, wider HR transformations, transnational education, student recruitment and external relations work, as well as serving on major institutional boards and with council.
He has been key in creating an integrated, informed and responsive approach to enhancing the student experience across Student Services, Careers and Employability, Sport, Campus Life and Residential Life.
“Nottingham has a special place in my heart having spent nine years here, five as Director of Careers and Employability and more recently four years as Deputy Registrar.
During my time at UoN I’ve worked with some wonderful people focused on making positive impacts on students and helping them succeed at university, as well as prepare for their future lives – and it’s been a privilege to work with so many dedicated individuals. I will certainly miss them.
Royal Holloway offers me a new challenge. Their mission, traced back to their founding, is one that really appeals, and I am looking forward to working with the Vice-Chancellor and colleagues across the university. It’s a great institution, with a special history, and I am looking forward to both contributing a lot to the university and learning a lot from my new colleagues.”
Registrar Dr Paul Greatrix said: “Stephen has been a great colleague and I have been hugely grateful to him for all that he has achieved as Deputy Registrar over the past four years.
He has made a big contribution within the Registrar’s department and more broadly across professional services and the university during this time.
I am sure everyone will want to join me in wishing Stephen all the very best of luck in his new executive level role at Royal Holloway and in thanking him for all he has contributed to student and university life at Nottingham in his current and previous roles.”
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Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey – support needed
February 16th, 2024
The postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) helps us to understand the experience of our postgraduate students and make improvements for future cohorts.
This year’s survey – run by higher education specialists AdvanceHE – will open at 9am on Monday 4 March and will be available for students to complete until 3pm on Monday 3 June.
The survey focusses on the student’s programme of study and includes questions in the following key areas:
- Teaching and learning
- Engagement
- Assessment and feedback
- Dissertation / Major Project
- Organisation and management
- Resources
- Support
- Skills development
- Overall satisfaction
Eligible students will receive an email to their university email address containing their personalised link to complete the survey. Responses will remain confidential.
Feedback from the survey will inform actions in the school enhancement plans and prove instrumental in making improvements to the postgraduate taught experience. We’re asking for the support of staff in encouraging students to complete the survey – please remind them to check their email for the survey link.
Our promotional materials are available for your use and include digital screens, social media posts and lecture slides.
View promotional materials
All students who complete the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win one of two £250 Love2Shop vouchers.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Hannah Sherwood.
View prize draw terms and conditions
Tags: Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey, PTES 2024
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One week left for Teaching and Learning Conference submissions (submission deadline Friday 23 February)
February 16th, 2024
There is only one week to go until the submission deadline for this year’s Teaching and Learning Conference, which closes on Friday 23 February 2024.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to share your experiences, thoughts and insights at this year’s annual Teaching and Learning Conference.
- Have you experimented with AI in your role in any way? How do you think AI will or should change the HE student experience in the future?
- As a student or staff member, how do you feel about using AI to aid teaching or learning?
- Do you support any interdisciplinary programmes or work with interdisciplinary students, or what are your experiences of being an interdisciplinary student?
- Alternatively, is there anything you would like to explore and share with colleagues about the future of learning more broadly?
We are interested in your thoughts, experiences and approaches and welcome contributions from colleagues across all job families and students. Please find full details and guidance on the conference webpage.
The themes for this year’s conference are emerging areas of focus in the sector and we are not looking for perfection. If you have an idea for a submission and would like some extra guidance, we are running some submission guidance drop-ins – please register using the MS Form.
Registration
We would like to invite you to attend the university’s annual Teaching and Learning Conference. We intend this year’s conference to run in a hybrid fashion and this year we are piloting an online day in addition to an in-person day dependent on the number of submissions.
Therefore, this year’s conference will take place across two days on Tuesday 23 April (online) and Wednesday 24 April 2024 (in-person), from 9.30am – 4.30pm tbc (UK time) in the Monica Partridge building on University Park campus with online, hybrid, and in-person options connecting colleagues both within and across campuses.
Please use the MS form respective to the campus you are based to register for the conference:
‘The future of learning’ central to the conference theme also threads through UoN TeachFests, which provide collegial and collaborative spaces to share experiences and exchange ideas before and after the conference. The next Teach Fest will be held on University Park on Friday 5 July 2024.
Key Dates
Deadline for contributions (abstracts) – Friday 23 February 2024
Reviews completed – Friday 8 March 2024
Notification of review outcome – Thursday 28 March 2024
Tags: teaching and learning, Teaching and Learning Conference, Teaching and Learning Conference 2024
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Professor Robert Mokaya to take Provost and DVC role at Sheffield
February 16th, 2024
Professor Robert Mokaya, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement, will leave the university in June to take up the role of Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Sheffield.
In his new role, Prof Mokaya will work closely with the President and Vice-Chancellor, and have oversight of the effective delivery of Sheffield’s Vision and Strategy. He will hold line management responsibility for the academic Vice Presidents and those with cross-cutting portfolios.
Professor Mokaya has been at Nottingham for 23 years, taking up the role of PVC for Global Engagement in 2019. His role is responsible for the university’s global strategy, covering all areas of the world and including oversight of the international campuses in Malaysia (UNM) and China (UNNC). He has worked closely with the Provosts of UNMC and UNNC, the Office of Global Engagement and all academic schools to develop and sustain purposeful global partnerships that will enrich student experience and enhance research excellence.
Robert received his B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Nairobi in 1988 after which he spent a year working for Unilever in Kenya. He was awarded his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge in 1992. In 1992, he was elected to a Research Fellowship at Trinity College, Cambridge and in 1996 was awarded an EPSRC Advanced Fellowship.
He joined the School of Chemistry in Nottingham as a lecturer in Materials Chemistry in 2000, was promoted to Reader in 2005, and to Professor of Materials Chemistry in 2008. He is a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award holder (2017-2022) and in 2016 to 2018 was Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement.
Robert’s research interest are on the design, synthesis and characterisation of new forms of sustainable porous materials and the study of their structure-property relations. The research involves exploring fundamentally new synthesis methods that are simpler, cheaper, and more efficient and offer valorisation routes to materials with optimised properties for targeted sustainable energy applications. He was appointed OBE in 2022 for services to the Chemical Sciences and was elected Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 2023.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West said: “Robert has been a great advocate for our international agenda, building strong and varied partnerships across the world.
“We are sorry to see Robert leave, but I know that he will be a great asset as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Sheffield, and we wish him all the best in this exciting opportunity.”
Professor Mokaya said: “I am looking forward to joining the University of Sheffield and the new responsibilities and challenges my role will bring. Of course, having worked at Nottingham for more than two decades, it is sad to be leaving. I will especially miss the many friends and colleagues who have been part of my journey and to whom I am very grateful.
“We can be proud of what we have achieved at Nottingham in our international outlook and activities. Over the past five years, I have had the support of a great team here, with drive and ambition. I look forward to seeing how things progress over the months and years ahead and know that Nottingham has a bright future in this area.”
Prof Mokaya will start at Sheffield on Monday 17 June.
Tags: Professor Robert Mokaya, Robert Mokaya
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Update on electric vehicle charging points on campus
February 13th, 2024
In 2023, the university invested in installation of new Electric Vehicle (EV) charge points improving availability across our campuses. As highlighted in previous communications, EV drivers will be charged to use any campus EV charge points, charges to use the EV charging points will come into effect from Friday 1 March 2024.
At the same time restrictions around the use of the campus EV points will be updated, as outlined below.
EV Charging Facilities for UoN employees, students and visitors
What will it cost?
It will cost 44p per kWh to use charging points on campus. This has been benchmarked against charge points in other public sector managed car parks in the Nottingham area and will be regularly reviewed to ensure it remains appropriate.
Where are the charge points?
The following EV charge points are available to UoN car park users:
University Park
- in the main visitor car park (10 points)
- on Beeston Lane near the Sports Centre (2 points)
Medical School car park (2 points)
Sutton Bonington
- in the car park opposite the Brewery Science building (6 points)
- in front of Main Building (2 points)
Jubilee campus
- opposite Business School South (2 points)
- in the UNIP car park (6 points)
King’s Meadow campus
- in the short stay staff parking area (2 points)
What restrictions are in place?
All these charge points will be available to use 24 hours a day, seven days a week. During core hours of 9.15am to 4pm Monday – Friday the maximum charge time is four hours and then you must move your vehicle to a normal parking space so others can use the charge point.
Please note that UoN permit holders can use the UNIP EV charge points but only when charging their vehicle (subject to the terms of use set out here). UoN permit holders cannot park in the UNIP car park.
During the core hours of 9.15am – 4pm, Monday – Friday, users will need a valid university parking permit, or be a visitor who has paid to park via RingGo or has a Pay and Display ticket.
How do I use the charge points?
To use the new charge points, users will need to download the Mer Connect App and register as a user. You can download the Mer Connect app from Google Play or the App Store. Payments are collected via your app-based Mer account, you cannot pay at the charge point using a contactless bank card.
You can only see the UoN charge points on Mer’s charge point maps if you have registered and logged into your account as the points are set up as ‘restricted access’.
No additional verification is required to use the Mer charge points so they can be used by all UoN car park users, subject to the terms of use of UoN car parks and the university’s traffic regulations.
For any issues with setting up your account, please email Mer directly at support.uk@mer.eco or call 02038 842 768. The Mer 24/7 support number is provided on the side of all Mer charge points.
EV Charging Facilities for UoN Fleet Vehicle
From Friday 1 March 2024 all other charging points on campus will be for Fleet Vehicles only (UoN Fleet, School Fleet, Estates and Facilities Fleet). This restriction will apply at all times.
This includes the Mer charge points outside UP East Hub in Life Sciences – these charge points have now been deactivated for general use and can only be used by fleet vehicles charging via a UoN charging fob.
For more information about electric vehicle charging at the university, including maps showing charging point locations, please visit our Sustainability webpages.
Tags: Electric Vehicle charging, electric vehicles, EV Charging, sustainability
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Residential Experience team: book swap and university libraries
February 13th, 2024
The Residential Experience (ResX) team is excited to announce an initiative that is designed to not only promote and nurture a love of reading but also contribute to the creation of community libraries right here on our campuses.
They are organising a book drive to collect a diverse range of books that will serve as a foundation for an upcoming Book Swap Event on Friday 1 March 2024 in Nightingale Hall, University Park.
Students will have the opportunity to exchange books with their peers or from our library of donated books, where they can discover new books and expand their literary horizons.
This event is being run as part of Literary Celebration Week; a whole week of events and activities around getting students excited and engaged with literature.
Any books that have not been claimed at the end of the event will be used to establish term-time community libraries in locations around the Halls. These community libraries will be for halls of residence students, hopefully providing a source of inspiration and knowledge for the community.
The team are inviting all staff members to participate in this cause by donating gently used books that you may have already read, or were thinking of donating to charity.
The genres are limitless – anything from non-fiction, to mystery, science fiction, and beyond. Every book counts, and your contribution will play a crucial role in shaping the literary landscape at the University.
Whether you have a full bag of books that you’re wanting to donate or a single book that has been lying on a bookshelf in your home for a few years, any contributions are greatly appreciated.
The wonderful Libraries team are working with us in this endeavour, meaning you can drop off books at the below library Reception desks:
- James Cameron-Gifford, Sutton Bonington Campus
- Djanogly Learning Resources Centre, Jubilee Campus
- George Green Library, University Park
If you’re struggling to get to any of these locations but would like to contribute, please email ResX@nottingham.ac.uk to chat about getting the books picked up.
Collections for the Book Swap event will be open until Thursday 29 February 2024, but if you have any books to donate after that, please let ResX know.
Tags: Book swap, books, Libraries, Residential Experience Team, ResX
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New campaign launched by Health Improvement Team
February 13th, 2024
The Health Improvement Team have launched a campaign that aims to support the wellbeing of the university community running from February until July 2024.
The campaign is called HealthyU, HealthyUs, HealthyUniversity, and aims to inspire everyone to look after their health and wellbeing as individuals and as a community, helping to shape our wellbeing culture in study and work at UoN.
The campaign webpage will highlight wellbeing events and activities, under six themes; Give, Take Notice, Be Active, Connect, Keep Learning and Future Steps.
The Health Improvement team are asking all areas of the university to let them know about activities which fall under the themes, or get involved and run an event as part of the campaign, by completing the campaign form.
Details will then be shared on the campaign webpage.
Staff are also asked to help promote the campaign. For more details and to access the campaign posters, screen designs and other assets please email br-healthyu@nottingham.ac.uk or join the Health Improvement Communications team where you can access all files and a full campaign guide.
Tags: health, HealthyU, HealthyUniversity, HealthyUs
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Improvements to Campus Solutions: February 2024
February 13th, 2024
The Education Administration Continuous Improvement Team (EACIT) focus on reducing the complexity of university systems and processes where Campus Solutions is at the heart of the student journey, making them as simple and as streamlined as possible.
Curriculum Catalogue
The Curriculum Catalogue (also known as the online course catalogue) is a resource for updating and sharing module and course information. It is available for all staff, students and anyone that wishes to view it externally.
From Tuesday 12 March 2024, Campus Solutions users will be able to access the new and improved Curriculum Catalogue. Created in collaboration with Registry and Academic Affairs (RAA), this redesigned resource will have:
- a better search functionality (requiring fewer clicks)
- a streamlined layout and branded identity
- improved accessibility (data can now be accessed directly via URL links, eliminating the need to navigate through the Curriculum Catalogue home page)
- students and staff will be able to download a date-stamped copy of their programme and modules, enabling the creation and download of a (un-editable) format which is essential for Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) compliance.
The old version of the Curriculum Catalogue will co-exist with the new version for a brief transition period.
If you’re not already a Campus Solutions user, you will be able to access the new Curriculum Catalogue when it becomes available from Tuesday 26 March 2024.
An overview of the new Curriculum Catalogue can be viewed in this introductory video.
A year of progress
We have developed our first annual EACIT report to tell the story of our first fully funded year – from August 2022 to July 2023. This will be available soon.
Get in touch
If you have any questions or feedback about the Curriculum Catalogue, please contact the Curriculum Approvals and Advisory Team.
Any colleague in the university can suggest an improvement to student administration systems and processes.
If you have a suggestion for an improvement, please fill in our form and we will get back to you.
Tags: campus solutions, courses, Curriculum Catalogue, module and course information, modules, online course catalogue, Update to Campus Solutions
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