Campus News
UniCore: changes to the Nottingham Reward Scheme for 2023/24
October 31st, 2023
You will be aware that we are looking forward to rolling out UniCore, the university’s new HR, Finance and Procurement system, in May 2024. This system will help us to improve and standardise many of our varied processes. It will replace over 45 of our current and dated IT systems.
To enable this rollout, we will have to change, update or pause some processes for a short period of time so that the new system can be put in place.
The Digital Core project team are working through the details of the cutover plan. A series of updates will be shared with you to keep you informed of the plan and the impacts this will have on the processes that you may work with. This is the first update in this series.
Nominations for the 2023/24 Nottingham Reward Scheme (NRS) cycle will continue to be made using the Employee Hub. We are expecting to start using UniCore to make these nominations for the 2024/25 reward cycle.
Further details and training for staff will be provided in advance of this switchover. In the meantime, due to the focus on supporting a successful go-live for UniCore, we would like to give you early notice that we will not be operating the 1 January to 31 March NRS window during 2024.
This means that if a £500 NRS reward nomination is made in the Employee Hub during January to March 2024, instead of being considered ready for payment in May 2024 this reward will be reviewed as part of the NRS panels in June 2024. If approved by the local NRS panel, it will be paid in July 2024.
To avoid this delay with £500 NRS reward payments, we recommend you make any planned nominations for £500 NRS reward payments by 31 December 2023, so they can be considered in the January NRS panel round and be paid in February 2024 after successful approval.
The updated 2023/24 NRS window details can be seen here for your reference.
The NRS voucher scheme (£25 to £100) remains unaffected. Staff will still be able to continue to use the Employee Hub to request and approve vouchers throughout the 2023/24 NRS cycle.
Thank you for your understanding and support as we move to using UniCore. If you have any questions relating to the NRS scheme please email hr@nottingham.ac.uk.
For information regarding the Digital Core project please visit the SharePoint site.
Tags: Digital Core, Nottingham Reward Scheme, NRS, Staff rewards
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University introduces additional parking spaces for late starters
October 31st, 2023
The university will be introducing additional designated ‘late arrival’ spaces to some car parks starting from Monday 30 October 2023.
We recognise the needs of parents and carers, who often have to balance parental/carer duties with finding a suitable car parking space when they come to work. Which is why we have provided more late arrival spaces.
These spaces have been put in place to ensure that parking spaces are available for those arriving on campus after 9.15am. The university’s Security Team take enforcement action against drivers who misuse the late arrival bays.
We’ve listened to the concerns raised by staff about the challenges finding a parking space post-9am on the eastern side of University Park and as a result, are implementing additional late arrival parking spaces in this area.
From Monday 30 October part of the Tower Car Park has been reopened to provide an additional 20 late arrival parking spaces plus one disabled parking space. Access to this car park is controlled by bollards which will be lowered at 9.15am each day – it will not be possible to access the car park before this time.
This car park must be accessed via the access road which comes down from the North Entrance (as shown in the image below), the access from the A52 adjacent to the Tower building remains closed.
There are also late arrival spaces in the Main Visitors Car Park and under the Tram Bridge on University Park, in the Medical School Car Park, on the Spine Road (near the Exchange Building) on Jubilee Campus, and in Car park 3 & 4 at Sutton Bonington.
In the coming weeks, we will be implementing an additional four late arrival parking spaces around the L buildings.
Tags: car parking, late arrival, late arrival car parking, late starters, support for carers, support for staff
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Teaching and Learning Conference 2024: registration and abstract submissions open
October 31st, 2023
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 2 days on Tuesday 23 April (Online) and Wednesday 24 April 2024 (In-person), 9.30am – 4.30pm (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:
If you are involved in Teaching and Learning anywhere in the university, this conference is for you.
The call for contributions from staff and students is now open and should align with the conference focus. Please find full details on the conference webpage.
The deadline for submissions is Friday 16 February and the final programme will be confirmed in April 2024.
The theme for this year’s conference is Thinking Higher: Interdisciplinarity and the Next Generation Curriculum.
‘Thinking Higher’ explores the future of learning in higher education through the lens of enhanced interdisciplinarity and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
Both promise new heights of knowledge integration and collaboration across wide-ranging academic fields and professions.
A more holistic understanding of the world that ensues, arguably has potential to better equip students to address complex challenges of the C21st such as climate change or growing societal disparities.
The conference invites participants to delve into the related themes of interdisciplinarity and AI technologies, share stories of navigating challenges and opportunities, and contemplate the next generation curriculum and future of learning.
If you have novel ideas for conference sessions on any aspect of learning and teaching or the student experience outside the afore-mentioned themes, we enthusiastically invite you to submit a proposal under theme three ‘Other Considerations’.
‘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: Sutton Bonington, 19 December 2023, and University Park, 5 July 2024.
Key Dates
Deadline for contributions (abstracts): Friday 16 February 2024
Reviews completed: Friday 8 March 2024
Notification of review outcome: Thursday 28 March 2024
Posted in Announcements, News, Opportunities, Teaching | 1 Comment »
Share your views on the university’s library services
October 31st, 2023
Complete the survey online or in libraries until Sunday 12 November 2023.
Share your views on our library spaces, services and support in our annual library survey for your chance to win one of three £50 Love2Shop vouchers (terms and conditions apply).
University of Nottingham Libraries are committed to providing the best possible experience for the university community and your feedback will help to shape the future of our library services.
Previous feedback led to the reintroduction of 24-hour opening at three libraries, the development of an interactive maps for Hallward, Greenfield Medical and James Cameron-Gifford libraries and extending the hours and presence of our online Live Chat service.
Find out more about how University of Nottingham Libraries have responded to staff and student feedback.
Complete the survey online or pick up a paper copy in any of our libraries until Sunday 12 November.
Tags: have your say, Libraries, library services, library services survey, survey, UoN Libraries
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Manuscripts and Special Collections archive retains national accreditation
October 27th, 2023
The university’s Manuscripts and Special Collections service has retained National Accreditation in the latest review of the Archive Service.
The service was first awarded National Accreditation in 2016 and has received the news that the award has been retained seven years later, as part of the Archive Service Accreditation’s second review.
Archive Service Accreditation is the UK standard for archive services awarded by a national partnership of archives organisations. Standards, schemes, and frameworks help archives to manage and improve their efficiency and effectiveness through external validation, and by identifying good practice.
Achieving accredited status demonstrates that our Manuscripts and Special Collections archive has met clearly defined national standards relating to management and resourcing; the care of its unique collections, embedding inclusive practice, digital preservation delivery, environment and sustainability, and audiences and future user expectations.
Today, the collections held by Manuscripts and Special Collections consist of over 3.5 million archival items and more than 80,000 printed items.
They are one of the treasures of the University of Nottingham and a rich research resource for the students and academics of the university and the wider community.
Over the past six – seven years, since that initial accreditation, the service has continued to develop, as have the collections in its care.
The award was accepted by the university’s Registrar, Dr Paul Greatrix at an event on Kings Meadow Campus earlier this month.
Speaking about the accreditation, Paul said: “I’m delighted to be here to accept the Archive Accreditation award on behalf of the University Of Nottingham and to help celebrate the amazing, tireless work of Manuscripts and Special Collections.
I’d like to give a special thanks to owners of the archives, who have entrusted the care of their collections to the university – as well as to Hayley Cotterill, keeper and curator of Manuscripts and Special Collections and her team, whose hard work has helped make the re-accreditation possible.”
Find out more about Manuscripts and Special Collections at the university or contact the team at mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk for help and advice on using the collections in your teaching, research or public engagement work.
Tags: Archive Accreditation, archives, archiving, Keeper of Manuscripts and Special Collections, manuscripts and special collections
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Fancy learning Mandarin?
October 26th, 2023
The Nottingham Confucius Institute is offering a three-week taster course, available in person and/or online for free.
This course will introduce you to basic Mandarin, its scripts and sounds, and how words are formed. It will also give you an insight into Chinese society and culture. The course assumes no previous experience of speaking Chinese.
Classes are offered both in-person and online on the following dates:
- In-person: Wednesday 8, 15 and 22 November, 5.15-6:00pm
- Online: Wednesday 8, 15 and 22 November, 12.30-1.15pm
To register by Friday 2 November or find out more, please visit the Nottingham Confucius Institute webpage.
Tags: Mandarin, Nottingham Confucius Institute, opportunity, second language
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Make impact through enterprise with the Ingenuity Programme
October 25th, 2023
The Ingenuity Programme is now open for staff, students, alumni and community members to turn ideas for change into exciting new ventures.
Powered by the University of Nottingham, the Ingenuity Programme is a national innovation programme that directly addresses the UK’s major social, health and environmental challenges through the creation of impactful new start-ups.
The most impactful ideas are awarded top prizes and receive a share of £75,000 in prize funding.
Registration for the Ingenuity Programme 2023/24 is now open. Register today at ingenuityimpact.org.
The programme focuses on three key challenge themes:
- Building stronger communities
- Improving health
- Tackling climate change
The programme provides participants with start-up skills training, support with mentoring and networking and routes to funding for early-stage impact driven businesses, as well as providing experiential learning and entrepreneurial development opportunities.
Past winning campaigns include a physiotherapy app for children with disabilities, allergen-free snacks and flashcards to help refugees overcome language barriers.
Taster events on campus
If you want to learn more about the Ingenuity Programme and the opportunities that come with it, the university is holding a number of taster session events where you can find out more.
The taster sessions will provide an overview of the programme as well as outlining the benefits of getting involved.
They will include a case study of Ingenuity Alumni and their winning idea and will offer an opportunity for Q&A and open discussion.
Find out more and register for a taster session using the links below:
Tuesday 7 November 2023, Ingenuity Centre, Jubilee Campus
5pm – 6.30pm
Register your place here
Monday 20 November 2023, B52 Business School South, Jubilee Campus
1pm – 2.30pm
Register your place here
Thursday 23 November 2023, LT3 Exchange building, Jubilee Campus
1pm – 3.30pm
Register your place here
You can also find a number of online national welcome events to take part in, as well as national learning and development sessions
Tags: Ingenuity, Ingenuity Programme, learning and development
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Enhanced Library Support service for students
October 24th, 2023
UoN Libraries have services available to help students with a disability support plan with their studies.
Our Libraries aim to provide a supportive and inclusive environment for all our library users. That’s why we offer a Enhanced Library Support service designed specifically for disabled students and those with a learning difficulty or long-term health condition.
Our commitment to accessibility means we provide a range of support services to ensure that students have the resources and assistance available to meet their needs.
So, what does our Enhanced Library Support service include?
- Assistive Technology Rooms (ATRs): Our libraries are equipped with dedicated Assistive Technology Rooms where students can access specialised equipment and software to support their studies. These rooms are designed to provide a comfortable and inclusive space to work in.
- Enhanced Support Room: We have created Enhanced Support Rooms located in quieter areas of our libraries. These are dedicated bookable spaces prioritised for students with a disability support plan.
- Extended library loan and collection periods: We understand that sometimes students may need extra time to complete assignments or research. That’s why we offer extended loan periods for high demand materials, ensuring that students have ample time to access and utilise the resources they need.
- Alternative Format Service (on referral): We understand that not all students learn in the same way. That’s why we offer alternative formats for books and resources, such as audio or electronic versions, to accommodate everyone’s needs.
We are committed to providing students with the resources and support necessary to make their library experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible. Which is why we recently created Assistive Technology Room guides for each library.
These guides provide detailed information on the equipment available in each room, as well as instructions on how to book the room and locate them inside libraries. We believe that access to this information will empower students to make the most of our assistive technology facilities.
Find out more about our Enhanced Library Support service and how to access it.
Tags: Enhanced library support, library
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University makes sustainable change to A4 paper stock
October 24th, 2023
To further our commitment to the sustainability goals the university, in collaboration with our Print Partner, Xerox, has changed our A4 paper stock from bright white to unbleached paper in our print devices.
This decision has been endorsed by the User Advisory Print Group.
Over the next few weeks, the new paper supply will begin to arrive at printers across all UK campuses.
The use of unbleached paper offers several environmental advantages in its production process, including:
- Reduced Chemical Usage
- Lower Energy Consumption
- Reduced Water Processing
- Reduced Solid Waste Generation
This move to unbleached paper also potentially offers lower supply costs and increases the availability of paper stock for the university.
This step is one of many in our ongoing efforts to enhance the university’s print service, aligning it with the preferences and needs of both staff and students.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the Digital Transformation Team.
Tags: A4 paper, paper, paper stock, printing, sustainability
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Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hallward Library
October 24th, 2023
This autumn, Libraries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the university’s arts and social sciences library, Hallward.
Opened in August 1973, replacing the original University Library in the Trent Building, Hallward Library has always been a key location for study, research, work and being part of the university community.
Over the last 50 years a great deal has changed in the library to reflect the changing needs of students, including the introduction of more flexible and interactive spaces including a screening room, student kitchen and a SafePod for researchers, but the library’s distinctive Brutalist exterior and wood panelled interior remain.
Exhibition
To mark the occasion, exhibition boards are on display in Hallward Library which explore the history of the library with photographs from the university archives.
The exhibition can be found on Level 2 (entrance level) of the library near the Reference section. Don’t forget to leave a comment in the visitor book before you leave!
If you prefer to explore the history of the library digitally, Manuscripts and Special Collections have been sharing a series of blog posts about the history of the library.
The fascinating series looks at the development of the building from idea to official opening and beyond, featuring photographs and other items from the university’s archival collections.
- Part 1: Need for the library
- Part 2: Designing the library
- Part 3: Building the library
- Part 4: Legacy of the library
Tote bags and notebooks
The Brutalist design of the library has been commemorated in tote bags and notebooks. For anyone who missed being able to get a bag at the Welcome Fairs, Libraries are running a prize draw in which 20 lucky winners will be chosen at random to receive a tote bag and notebook set.
For your chance to win, answer the simple question before Sunday 19 November 2023. Terms and conditions apply.
If you aren’t chosen at random in the prize draw, keep an eye out on the UoN Libraries social media channels for details of where and when more bags will be available.
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