Campus News
Call for study volunteers – get free food for three months
February 16th, 2016
A PhD student is looking for healthy male and female volunteers to take part in a four-month research study to investigate whether replacing red and processed meat improves health.
Over the study, there will be four health assessments (weekday morning appointments) at the Medical School at Queen’s Medical Centre.
You will be provided with free meat-replacement ingredients for three months, and recipe ideas for meat-free meals.
To take part you must:
- be aged 21-50 years
- be a non-smoker
- have a BMI 18-28kg/m²
- female participants must be premenopausal
- have good spoken and written English
- regularly eat four-five portions of red and/or processed meat per week (three-four of these being main meals)
To find out more, contact Dr Azlina A.Razak by email or phone 07519 414501.
Tags: food, health, money, nutrition, research, study, take part
Posted in News, Opportunities | 2 Comments »
Participants required for driving simulator study
February 15th, 2016
Researchers from the Human Factors Research Group are looking for experienced drivers to participate in a study taking place in the driving simulator during weeks commencing Monday 15 and 22 February.
During the study, you will be asked to undertake several drives in the simulator while also completing a secondary task. The study should last no more than 1.5 hours and you will receive a £15 Amazon shopping voucher for your time.
If you would like to volunteer or find out more, please contact david.r.large@nottingham.ac.uk or sign up directly using this Doodle poll.
If you do sign up, please make a note of the time and day you have selected as the Doodle system does not provide confirmation.
Also, if you sign up and can no longer attend, please let the team know by emailing david.r.large@nottingham.ac.uk as soon as possible, so that they can attempt to reallocate the space.
Tags: car, driving, driving study, Human Factors research group, money, study, take part, voucher
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Participants required for driving simulator study
Widening Participation – Small Grants Scheme
February 15th, 2016
Bidding is now open for the Small Grants Scheme fund. Academic schools and departments can bid for up to £3,000 to facilitate outreach projects with widening participation aims.
Funds can be used for a range of one off or on-going outreach initiatives, including both delivering activities in primary or secondary schools and targeting specific cohorts of students from a widening participation background to attend events on campus. Any money awarded must be spent in this financial year.
For an application form and bidding guidance please email lisa.owen@nottingham.ac.uk. This bidding round closes 5pm, Friday 4 March.
Tags: community, funding, initiative, outreach, project, Widening Participation
Posted in News, Opportunities | Comments Off on Widening Participation – Small Grants Scheme
Dr Bike dates for February
February 12th, 2016
Appointments are now available for February’s free Dr Bike maintenance service.
Book yourself into a 30-minute slot:
- Monday 15 February – King’s Meadow Campus
- Thursday 18 February – Sutton Bonington
- Friday 26 February – Coates Road, University Park
Tags: bike, cycling, Dr Bike, free, maintenance, sustainability, transport, travel
Posted in Environment, News | 2 Comments »
Enter the Research Showcase 2016
February 10th, 2016
Calling all researchers – tell us how your research makes an impact and you could win £200!
Your research has the potential to have a huge impact. The Research Showcase gives you the opportunity to share what you do with the world.
About the Research Showcase
Present a poster that clearly describes your work to a non-academic audience and you could win the top prize of £200. Taking part can raise your profile and help you develop key communications skills that you’ll need for your career.
Entries are invited from postgraduate research students (MRes, MPhil, Doctoral students), and level 4 research-only staff.
Entering the showcase will give you the chance to:
- gain confidence in communicating your research
- develop effective communication and presentation skills
- network with other researchers and build your profile
- win one of seven awards – the top prize is £200
What will happen at the showcase?
Fifty researchers will be selected to present their posters. The showcase will be open to all and you will spend the day sharing your research with a wider audience, including members of the public. Non-academic judges from the University and guests from external organisations will choose the winners.
How do I enter?
Submit a press release outlining your work and why it is of interest to the wider community. If you have no experience, don’t worry – we are running a press release course on Wednesday 2 March.
The closing date for entries is noon 30 March.
If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to prepare a poster for the showcase. We will offer a dedicated workshop to help you design your poster and even cover the printing costs. Posters must be submitted by 22 May.
Research Showcase takes place on Wednesday 15 June 2016. To find out more, visit the Research Showcase webpages.
Tags: Graduate School, networking, postgraduate, prize, research, Research Showcase, staff
Posted in News, Opportunities | Comments Off on Enter the Research Showcase 2016
Peer Observation College – open for applications
February 10th, 2016
The Peer Observation College (POC) offers staff who teach the opportunity to be observed by an experienced academic from outside their school.
The POC aims to support colleagues who wish to improve their teaching through observation of their teaching and learning practice. The POC has recruited 50 experienced staff (Associates) from across the University who will provide professional and independent feedback. Staff can also request to observe an Associate with a view to developing their own practice.
The benefits are:
- to encourage staff to reflect on the effectiveness of their teaching
- to increase their awareness of the whole student experience
- to identify areas for improvement and put in place an action plan
The POC will use information collected anonymously by the college to identify and publicise good practice around the University. It will also provide summarised feedback to academic management identifying general strengths and weaknesses in teaching as sampled through observations of individuals.
For more information, visit the POC website. You can request to be observed here, or if you would like to observe a POC associate complete this form.
Tags: feedback, Peer Observation College, POC, staff, teaching, training
Posted in News, Opportunities | 2 Comments »
Designing E-Learning for Health MOOC
February 10th, 2016
The Health E-Learning and Media Team is running the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) ‘Designing E-Learning for Health’, a five-week course aimed at anyone who has an interest in designing e-learning resources.
In this free online course, you will learn a methodology that you can use yourself to design your own e-learning objects in all sorts of contexts, not just health. You will be taken through the process – from deciding on a learning aim to getting ready to develop your resource. By the end of the five weeks, you will have created your own storyboard and specification for a high quality piece of e-learning, which you can then develop further after the course.
The course starts on Monday 15 February and requires a time commitment of around three hours per week. Find out more and sign up.
Tags: FutureLearn, health, Health E-Learning and Media Team, learning, Massive Open Online Course
Posted in News, Opportunities | Comments Off on Designing E-Learning for Health MOOC
Cascade: funding round open until 7 March
February 10th, 2016
Thanks to donations from alumni and friends, current staff and students can apply for up to £10,000 to fund projects which benefit the student experience.
Contact cascade@nottingham.ac.uk or visit the Impact Campaign website for more information.
Tags: alumni, Campaign and Alumni Relations Office, Cascade, funding, Impact, project
Posted in News, Opportunities | Comments Off on Cascade: funding round open until 7 March
Introducing… The Institutional Performance Board
February 10th, 2016
The University’s standing in relation to its peer institutions can’t be underestimated in terms of impact. National and international league tables, the National Student Survey, REF — they all have an effect on research funding; development of teaching and learning; and how we attract the best students and staff to the institution.
Higher education league tables are important. Among other factors, they help prospective students choose where to apply and study; allowing them to compare courses, staff:student ratios and student experience rankings from institution to institution.
But they’re not the easiest things to understand. Data sets are weighted differently from table to table, and sometimes the smallest percentage change in our or our competitors’ results can result in a big leap up — or down — the rankings.
What does this mean for our courses, schools, faculties, and the institution as a whole? The Institutional Performance Board (IPB) tracks the University’s performance across a number of tables, aiming to accurately reflect and improve Nottingham’s performance compared to other institutions.
The Institutional Performance Board was set up to:
- investigate, analyse and interpret league tables and other indicators of institutional performance
- propose and implement or recommend changes to improve performance
- commission and acquire research on institutional performance
- engage where feasible and appropriate with those who prepare league tables
- consider other aspects of institutional performance as may be appropriate
- report to University Executive Board, Senate and Council as appropriate
Established in January 2014, the IPB meets quarterly and is chaired by Prof Todd Landman, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Prof Landman said: “The Institutional Performance Board monitors, seeks to influence, and sets out strategies for addressing the wide range of indicators, metrics, and league tables used to judge different aspects of University performance,” said Prof Landman. “The Board includes key directors of professional services sections and PVCs and meets regularly to undertake its duties. It works with the new Faculty PVCs and structures to work toward improving all aspects of University performance.”
Other work undertaken by the the IPB includes:
- Benchmarking against competitor institutions
- Examination of student population trends and implications for league tables
- Providing advice and support for schools
Last year league table meetings took place across all schools. Prof Sarah O’Hara (Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience) and Tom Loya (Director of Strategy, Planning and Performance) led sessions which covered the UK and international league tables, including measures, position and trends, and the main drivers of performance for each school and subject area, emphasising the impact of average undergraduate tariff and the NSS on rankings in particular.
Since then, the Strategy, Planning and Performance (SPP) Division have released a Subject Table Explorer and an NSS Results Explorer, both of which allow colleagues to quickly reach a much better understanding of their subject area’s performance on both, as well as to see their performance in its competitive context – meaning you can see an analysis of the full results for any subject at any other UK university. These resources (and several others) are available to all staff, and can be found in the “SPP Tableau Catalogue” in the Strategy Support Centre. The Subject Table Explorer also includes an explanation of the meaning and source of all measures.
An important first step to improving the University’s performance is for all staff to better understand these rankings and to appreciate the contribution their individual or team work makes to them, so we do urge colleagues to make use of these resources.
Tags: Institutional Performance Board, IPB, league table, league tables, National Student Survey, Strategy Support Centre
Posted in Announcements, News | 7 Comments »
Knowledge Exchange, Impact and Media Awards 2016
February 10th, 2016
The closing date for the University’s Knowledge Exchange and Impact Awards is fast approaching.
These Awards recognise and showcase the positive impact that academic colleagues make on the economy and society as a result of the application of their research across all faculties and campuses. In addition, this year we will also be including two new Media Awards which celebrate the efforts of those colleagues who have been most effective at communicating the impact of their work through traditional and digital media. Find out more about the Media Awards on the News Room blog.
Shortlisted teams will be invited to attend the Awards dinner at the EMCC on the evening of 5th May 2016.
To find out more about the Knowledge Exchange and Impact Awards and to apply, visit the KEI Awards website. The closing date for entries is Friday 19 February 2016.
Tags: business, Business Engagement and Innovation Services, Impact, knowledge exchange, Knowledge Exchange and Impact Awards, media, press, prize, win
Posted in News, Opportunities | Comments Off on Knowledge Exchange, Impact and Media Awards 2016