Campus News
University of Nottingham’s Writer-in-Residence in the running for Man Booker Prize
July 28th, 2017
Congratulations to University of Nottingham academic Jon McGregor, whose new novel Reservoir 13 has made the longlist for the Man Booker Prize 2017.
Jon, who is Professor of Creative Writing in the University’s School of English, has been longlisted alongside other literary greats such as Paul Auster and Zadie Smith.
The Man Booker Prize is the leading literary award in the English speaking world for fiction and each prize has the power to transform the winner’s career. From the very beginning of what was originally called the Booker Prize there was just one criterion — the prize would be for ‘the best novel in the opinion of the judges.’ And 45 years later that is still a key sentence in the rules. Former winners include Hilary Mantel for Wolf Hall (2009), Yann Martel for Life of Pi (2002), AS Byatt for Possession (1990) and William Golding for Rites of Passage (1980).
Published by 4th Estate, Reservoir 13 opens with a desperate search for a 13-year-old girl, vanished on a moor in the Peak District in the depths of winter. According to The Guardian it is: “An extraordinary novel of cumulative power and grace. Reservoir 13 explores the rhythms of the natural world and the repeated human gift for violence, unfolding over 13 years as the aftershocks of a stranger’s tragedy refuse to subside.”
Stephanie Merritt who writes for The Observer says of the novel: “This is not a thriller; McGregor is not interested in the missing girl’s family, nor the investigating detectives, who remain peripheral figures without names. Instead, the focus is all on the small community disrupted by a tragedy that may or may not have a direct connection with them. The author’s concern is with the way people go on with their lives, not only in the immediate aftermath but over the course of the next 13 years.”
Jon, who is an Honorary Graduate at the University, has been Writer-in-Residence in the School of English since 2012. With the help of students, he edits the literary journal The Letters Page, in which all the pieces, whether stories, poetry or essays, are epistolary.
Professor McGregor said, “I’m obviously delighted to be included on this year’s longlist for the Man Booker Prize, especially when such a wealth of great writers have also made it onto the list. Literary prizes always make for lively discussions with the students on the creative writing course, so this will be a good opportunity to bring the topic up again!”
The award-winning novelist and short story writer has previously won the International Dublin IMPAC prize for his novel Even the Dogs in 2012, about an alcoholic who dies at Christmas, and is also famous for his first novel, the Nottingham-inspired If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things and short story collection This Isn’t the Sort of Thing That Happens to Someone Like You.
The 13 books on the Man Booker Prize 2017 were chosen from 144 submissions. The longlist will be reduced to just six books for the shortlist which will be announced on 13 September 2017. The overall winner will be announced on 17 October 2017, in a ceremony that will be broadcast by the BBC.
If Jon is shortlisted he will be reading at the Man Booker Prize 2017 Shortlisted Authors Evening on 10 October 2017 at the University’s Djanogly Theatre, Nottingham Lakeside Arts. The evening will present a unique opportunity to hear this year’s shortlisted authors reading from their novels and discussing their work, followed by a Q&A and book signing. The ticketed event will be presented in partnership with Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature.
Tags: Jon McGregor, literature, man booker, man booker prize, reservoir 13, School of English
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Introducing MyView — and your new e-payslip
July 28th, 2017
Friday 28 July saw the launch of ‘MyView’, the University of Nottingham’s Human Resources (HR) employee self-service platform.
Using MyView, you can view and update your personal information, such as your address, demographic information, bank details and emergency contact information. You can also use MyView to view and print your payslips and P60s.
MyView has a number of benefits – at the forefront, giving staff members a quick and easy way to view and update (where required) some of the key personal information which the University holds about them. It also provides a way to view and print payslips and P60’s from a portal which can be accessed anytime, anywhere.
The introduction of e-payslips will help the University further improve our efficiency and sustainability, whilst also reducing the cost of equipment, paper and time associated with the printing and distribution of paper payslips.
Payslips go paperless from July 2017
Paper payslips for staff across the University are being phased out from July 2017 and will be replaced with e-payslips that you can view and print via MyView.
- Employees in the Research and Teaching, Technical Services and Administrative, Professional and Managerial, and Childcare Services job families will receive their last paper payslip in July 2017.
- Employees in the Operations and Facilities job family will receive their last paper payslip in September 2017.
Your e-payslip will look the same as the paper version and will contain the same details. You’ll be able to view all of your payslips in one place in MyView, with records dating from April 2017. Your future payslips will be stored securely on the platform, and will be available for you to access as long as you work for the University.
Please note: if you are unable to access MyView for a reason connected to a disability please contact payroll@nottingham.ac.uk or HR@nottingham.ac.uk to discuss suitable alternative options as a reasonable adjustment.
How to access MyView
You can now log on to your MyView account via the HR MyView homepage using your normal University IT account Username and Password.
Security is a really important factor within the project. As an additional security measure we have added ‘security’ questions for you to set when you first log on. You will be asked to answer one of these additional questions at random for all future log ons. Please note you should never save your password if your web browser asks, as this creates problems with future log ins.
For more information about MyView you can access a handy User Guide and FAQs on the HR MyView homepage: these documents include useful information to help if you have any difficulties accessing the system.
Log on to MyView here.
MyView: Your questions and answers
Following our previous announcement about MyView, we received a number of questions from staff members: thank you to everybody who took the time to get in touch. All of your comments were passed back to the MyView project team and a number of queries have been incorporated directly into the MyView FAQs webpage.
A summary of several other pre-launch questions and answers can be found below:
- Will P60s and P45s be available via MyView?
P60s will be going paperless and will be available to view and print via MyView. Paper P45s will be continue to be issued as normal and will not be available through the MyView portal. - Staff members from overseas who apply for residency need to supply payslips and P60s as part of their application. Will the printed out versions be acceptable for this?
Institutions such as banks now accept printouts of online payslips as originals, as these will contain all the same details as the paper payslip. Current advice from the Home Office, however, suggests including a covering letter confirming the authenticity of these. Applicants will be able to request this from HR if needed.
- How can people who don’t have a computer – or who are not confident using a computer – access their e-payslip?
Many staff at the University of Nottingham use computers as part of their day to day role. However, we are aware that many Operations & Facilities staff do not access computers at work, and may need support with the skills or equipment needed to access MyView. Support will be offered jointly by HR and the Business Support Unit through drop in sessions at Lenton Hurst in August (information is posted on notice boards), with ongoing support from BSU for queries in person or over the phone including the facility to access a computer and print off pay information if required. MyView is also accessible via the internet, so can also be accessed outside of the University’s network via your home PC or smartphone.
- Will e-payslips be available for people who are receiving their UoN CPAS pension – and if so how can these individuals access MyView? What about pensioners without computers?
We have been working with the CPAS trustees with regards the effect of the changes for any CPAS pensioners paid through the University Payroll and will be communicating directly with our CPAS pensioners regarding any changes for them. Individuals receiving a CPAS pension will continue to get paper payslips until September 2017, and will receive a letter from Payroll detailing changes that affect them before this date.
- Will staff get an email each month informing them that their payslip is available for viewing and downloading?
If you would like a monthly reminder to view your payslip, you can download a calendar appointment here. (Once the appointment has downloaded, you should open it and then select the ‘save and close’ button to save it in your personal calendar.)
- How will University of Nottingham casual/associates or those who work for a non-University of Nottingham company (eg Unitemps, Nottingham Scientific Ltd) log on?
You will log on using your Payroll Number. You’ll need to verify your identity using your date of birth and email address in order to generate a password the first time you log on. Instructions can be found in the User Guide.
Tags: e-payslips, myview, payroll, payslips
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Nottingham leads on new technologies in government’s plan to upgrade the energy system
July 27th, 2017
A plan to give homes and businesses more control over their energy use and support innovative technologies was set out by the Climate Change and Industry Minister, Claire Perry, during a visit to the University of Nottingham this month.
The plan will deliver a smarter and more flexible energy system by removing barriers to smart technology, helping reduce costs for consumers.
The minister met with researchers at the University’s Creative Energy Homes project, which is at the forefront of the development of new smart systems technologies which will change the way the UK stores, manages and consumes energy. Creative Energy Homes that serve as a living test-site for leading firms to work with the University to investigate the integration of energy efficient technologies into houses.
The Minister said: “As part of our Industrial Strategy, the Government has launched an ambitious and far-reaching plan to prepare our energy system in the future. I was fascinated by the groundbreaking research being carried out by the University of Nottingham, which incorporates small energy systems in local housing projects. The plan we published today will help make it even easier for these new technologies to be rolled out across the country.”
Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Research and Knowledge Exchange said: “Today’s developments come at an exciting time following the University’s recent announcement on an unprecedented planned investment of £200 million into six beacons of excellence – key research areas which aim to develop solutions for today’s most significant global challenges.
“Green Chemicals for instance, aims to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels which in turn will give rise to new forms of energy, while Propulsion Futures will further the development of the next generation of high power density and low-loss electrical machines that will drive the electrification of transport. This will see the further development of strategic research priority areas covering Energy, Aerospace and Transport Technologies.
“It is an exciting prospect that we are revolutionising the way people can now be part of creating and managing their own energy system and contributing to the energy needs of the future. It is encouraging that the Government and Ofgem are committed to removing barriers to the introduction of smart energy technologies. The key is to get the regulatory framework right and not hold back progress.”
Tags: claire perry, climate change, Creative Energy Homes, professor dame jessica corner, research, sustainability
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Raja Zarith receives honorary degree from University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
July 27th, 2017
Her Royal Highness, Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah, the Queen (Permaisuri) of Johor, was conferred with an honorary degree from The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus during a graduation ceremony on Saturday 22 July 2017.
The award was presented by Professor Sir David Greenaway, Vice Chancellor of The University of Nottingham, at the first of 10 graduation ceremonies for students from the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Engineering and Science.
University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus CEO and Provost Professor Graham Kendall said how proud the University was to present the honorary degree to HRH Raja Zarith Sofiah.
He added: “Her contribution to society and education is immense and today we want to recognise her contribution in advocating related causes for the betterment of society.”
HRH Raja Zarith Sofiah is currently the Chancellor of the University of Technology, Malaysia (UTM). She is also the Royal Fellow at the School of Language Studies and Linguistics, National University of Malaysia (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia/UKM); and Royal Patron of the Malaysian English Language Teachers Association (MELTA).
HRH has delivered keynote addresses at academic international conferences including those organised by the Malaysian Association of Modern Languages in April 2002, the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia School of Languages and Linguistic Studies (SoLLS) in 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011, and at The Voices of Peace, Conscience and Reason (PCORE) Forum, in 2010 and 2013. At the PCORE 2013 Forum, HRH spoke on ‘Unity and Multiculturalism: Building a Future Together.’
HRH Raja Zarith Sofiah is a prolific writer and wrote two newspaper columns between 2000 and 2012; ‘On Common Ground’ in the New Straits Times and ‘Mind Matters’ in The Star. A book compiling 80 of her selected articles was launched in October 2013 by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdul Halim Muádzam Shah. She also authored four children’s books in 1995.
HRH’s education includes Davies’ College in London in 1977 where she sat for the Oxbridge Entrance Examination. In 1978, she was offered a place at Somerville College at the University of Oxford. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Studies in 1983.
She inherited a love for painting from her father, and has taken part in a number of art exhibitions.
Tuanku Raja Zarith Sofiah married HRH the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar in 1982, who was, at that time, the Tunku Mahkota Johor. The royal couple have six children — five princes and a princess. HRH was given the title of Permaisuri of Johor at the Royal Coronation of both the Sultan and herself in March 2015.
As the consort of HRH the Sultan of Johor, she works with many charitable organisations and NGOs. She is the Royal Advisor of the Malaysian Red Crescent, Royal Patron of the Raja Zarith Sofiah Negeri Johor Foundation, Chairman of the Tunku Laksamana Johor Cancer Foundation, Royal Patron of the Johor Cerebral Palsy Association, Royal Patron of the Malaysian English Language Teachers Association (MELTA) and Royal Patron of the Association of Voices of Peace, Conscience and Reason (PCORE). HRH is also Patron of the Paediatric Palliative Care Programme, Malaysia, Patron of the Johor Girl Guides and Patron of the National Stroke Association of Malaysia (NASAM) Johor.
In May this year, HRH Raja Zarith Sofiah launched the ‘TinDak’ campaign by the Johor Women’s League (JEWEL) — a campaign focusing on protecting children from sexual abuse.
In his oration, Professor Kendall said:
“It is a great honour to welcome Her Royal Highness to our family — the University of Nottingham. We hope that you can draw on our resources and expertise as you continue the important, far reaching work, for which you are known.”
Tags: Graham Kendall, honorary degree, Malaysia Campus, raja zarith, university of technology, utm
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Research publication framework launched
July 25th, 2017
A message from Professor Dame Jessica Corner, DBE, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Exchange):
Dear colleagues,
I am pleased to announce the launch of the University of Nottingham Publication Framework, the development of which was commissioned by the University’s REF Steering Group. The Framework aims to support your decision making about where to publish, and has a focus on improving the overall quality of the University’s research outputs. For UNUK this includes increasing the proportion of 4* outputs available to submit to the forthcoming Research Excellence Framework (REF2021).
The full Publication Framework, which can be accessed via the Publication Framework Workspace, was produced by colleagues in Research and Innovation (formerly REGS) and LRLR. It identifies the principles which define the University’s approach to publication in order to provide a clear line of sight between institutional strategy around publication, mechanisms for support, and your activity as an individual researcher.
I would particularly recommend you read the Researcher Guidance. The individual publication checklist should help you to get the most out of your publications and to access relevant help and support. The checklist will be updated regularly to reflect evolving processes and guidance: click ‘Watch’ on the Workspace page to receive notifications when it is updated.
Roadshows will take place over the coming months to promote the Framework to the widest possible audience, plus supportive activities throughout 2017-18; we also hope to roll out the Framework globally over this timeframe. In the meantime, if you have any questions, feel free to email them to publicationframework@nottingham.ac.uk.
There is other work underway related to publications. This includes advice on REF ‘exceptions’ and the up and coming UK Scholarly Communications Licence. More will follow in due course.
Best wishes,
Jessica
Find out more about support for researchers on the Research Vision Workspace.
Tags: nottingham researchers, REF steering group, research, research and learning, Research Excellence Framework, research publication framework
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Project Transform — new Project Sponsor
July 25th, 2017
Project Transform Sponsor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Karen Cox left the University of Nottingham earlier this month to take up a role as sixth Vice Chancellor and President of the University of Kent.
Professor Cox has been the Sponsor of the project since it first began in 2013. Her support and guidance has been instrumental to the delivery of the Project’s successes. During her time as Sponsor, we have implemented the new system Campus Solutions in Malaysia and for UCAS Admissions, as well as overseeing the creation of the Student Services department.
With Karen’s departure, the role of Project Sponsor will be picked up by Professor Sarah O’Hara, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience. As a member of the Project Transform Programme Board, she has already been extensively involved in Project Transform over the past couple of years.
Professor O’Hara said, “Karen steered the Project for several years, overseeing huge changes at the University — including the procurement of a new student records system, Campus Solutions, and the launch of a 350-strong Student Services team. I want to thank Karen for all her hard work. I’m looking forward to picking up where she left off and seeing the project through to completion.”
Professor O’Hara will guide the Project through the coming months as we roll-out the functionality of Campus Solutions and MyNottingham to the rest of the University.
Tags: Professor Karen Cox, Professor Sarah O’Hara, project sponsor, Project Transform, sponsor
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Moodle and Rogo downtime from Tuesday 1 August
July 25th, 2017
Updated: The August downtime is now over and the full functionality of Moodle and Rogo has been restored. Thank you for your patience during this essential work. Look out for more information about the September downtime in the next few weeks.
We’d like to remind you that Moodle and Rogo will be down for a few days in the first week of August 2017. Moodle will also be down for a short period in September.
The dates and further details are below:
Moodle and Rogo downtime from Tuesday 1 August
6pm on Tuesday 1 August until 6pm on Thursday 3 August (UK time)
There will be a version of Moodle and Rogo available for student revision purposes from 8pm on Tuesday 1 August (UK time).
Students will be able to look at documents and resources but it is NOT for submitting assignments or interacting with forums. Whilst students will be able to complete some activities such as quizzes, nothing they submit or change will be saved in this revision-only version of Moodle. Anything they have changed or submitted will not be available once the full live version is restored.
Staff should NOT make any changes to Moodle during this period, or do any marking, as any changes will not be available on the live version when the system comes back online.
Students will be able to access self-tests in Rogo for revision purposes from 8pm on 1 August until 6pm on Thursday 3 August (UK time).
As a precaution, we would also recommend that staff or students download any particular resources that they need prior to 6pm on Tuesday 1 August (UK time). We will be communicating with students separately but would appreciate your assistance in passing the message on through any channels you have.
There will be a few hours at the beginning and end of this downtime window when the system will be down completely. This is to allow us to switch between the live and read-only versions of the system.
This downtime is to allow us to update the module codes for UNNC ahead of the MyNottingham go-live.
September Moodle only downtime
Wednesday 6 September – Friday 8 September (exact timings to be confirmed)
This downtime is to allow us to upgrade to Moodle 3.2 to maintain security and bring some improvements to the user experience.
If you have any questions about these two periods of downtime, please email learning-technologies@nottingham.ac.uk.
Thank you for your continued support as we update our systems.
Tags: downtime, IT, Learning Technology, moodle, Project Transform, rogo
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Our Research Vision: introducing Green Chemicals
July 25th, 2017
Green Chemicals is one of our six Beacons of Excellence — transdisciplinary areas of world-leading research excellence that address global challenges.
Our Beacons of Excellence were unveiled at the Royal Society in London at the launch of the University of Nottingham’s Research Vision, a landmark investment of more than £200m in our people and our research.
Our ambition is for our University to be recognised as amongst the very best in the world. Our Beacons of Excellence are at the core of this global vision.
The beacons will drive significant inward investment into our internationally renowned research areas, and support our ambitious vision by increasing collaboration, strengthening networks and partnerships, attracting diverse funding, and raising the reputation of our world-changing research.
Each beacon addresses key global challenges and collectively they address all 17 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Following introductions to Propulsion Futures, Rights Lab, Precision Imaging, and Future Food, the spotlight now falls on Green Chemicals.
This beacon addresses the challenge of securing the low carbon bio-economy of the future.
Today, many products are manufactured from fossil reserves using energy-intensive technologies.
We are spearheading the transformation of energy-intensive economies into low-carbon societies; where, in the age of the genome, many products will stem from microbial cell factories. We will pioneer in this multi-disciplinary field, integrating our world-leading expertise in metabolic engineering, process development and sustainable chemistry.
Together with our extraordinary track-record of industrial collaboration, we are creating a cutting-edge biotechnology platform that will unleash economic potential for our collaborators. Facing up to global challenges, our research will have transformational impacts on agriculture, industry and health.
Professor Alex Conradie, Director of Green Chemicals, says this transformation, like the ongoing digital revolution, will turn the world upside down.
He adds: “The products we use every day still rely on energy-intensive petrochemical technologies and fossil reserves. But similar to the invention of the microprocessor, advances in biotechnology have created transformational opportunities in providing cost-effective and more sustainable processes for the chemical industries.”
- Read Professor Conradie’s blog outlining how the University of Nottingham will be at the forefront of this revolution.
- Find out more about the Green Chemicals Beacon of Excellence
- Discover how a world-leading team of scientists has developed a new and faster way to genetically engineer bacteria called Clostridia that have the potential to revolutionise the energy, food and medical therapeutics industries
We will next introduce the remaining Beacon of Excellence, Smart Industrial Systems, while highlighting how our investment is supporting all researchers in the delivery of exceptional discoveries.
What our Research Vision means for you
We cannot achieve the ambitious goals of our Research Vision without the support of researchers and all colleagues working across the University.
Research colleagues should have received a guide, ‘What our Research Vision means for you’. This guide outlines the opportunities available, and where to go for help and support. You can also access the guide on the dedicated Research Vision Workspace.
A guide to the opportunities our research investment offers to Professional Services and support staff is also available on the Research Vision Workspace.
Our beacons are just part of a significant investment in the resources, people, infrastructure and environment essential to delivering our world-leading discoveries and your input, support and engagement is invaluable.
We will be holding further research roadshows for you to hear Professor Dame Jessica Corner outline what the Research Vision means for you, and how you can get involved — to support and shape the future of research at our University.
Look out for more roadshow dates in the coming weeks.
Tags: academic research, beacons, Beacons of Excellence, bio-economy, energy, global challenges, green chemicals, Green Chemistry, investment in research, low carbon, petrochemical, research vision
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Highfields Park restoration — west side of lake to close
July 25th, 2017
The western side of the Highfields Park boating lake will be temporarily closed from Monday 31 July, as work gets underway on the Highfields Park restoration project.
During the restoration work, the footpath on the west side of the boating lake (leading from the park entrance adjacent to the University Boulevard tram stop, towards Jubilee Avenue) will be inaccessible. However, alternative access between these points will be available via the west entrance / Woodside Road.
Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Big Lottery Fund’s Parks for People programme, Nottingham City Council and other partners, the restoration of Highfields Park — which is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2017 — will restore the Grade II listed park to the grandeur of its heyday as well as adding new attractions for park visitors.
Highfields Park will remain open throughout the duration of the restoration project, which will take place in phases and will also include:
- Restoring buildings, park infrastructure and features including bridges, historic railings, ticket office and boathouse.
- De-silting the lake and improving the waterside boating area.
- Repairing footpaths.
- Refurbishing the entrance from the new tram stop, including creating an entrance feature and restoring the historic gas lamps.
- Tree works, including opening up historic views.
- Producing new croquet lawns from the two current bowling greens, enhancing the high quality croquet facilities.
The Lottery funding has paid for the employment of a Park Ranger, who will lead ‘Restoration Rambles’ over the course of the work so that park visitors can see the transformation unfold. The next ramble will take place on Thursday 3 August from 2pm to 3pm with more happening later in the month. Booking is helpful, but not essential, by phoning 0115 8467777.
The Park Ranger has also set up a Friends of Highfields Park group for volunteers who want to get involved with practical work on site. For more details phone 07908 488721.
More information about the Highfields Park restoration can be found on the Nottingham City Council website.
Tags: access, boating lake, footpath, Heritage Lottery Fund, Highfields Park, Highfields Park Boating Lake, jubilee avenue, restoration, restoration ramble, tram
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