Campus News

Consultation on USS – deadline approaching

May 8th, 2015

The employer consultation on proposed changes to USS is ongoing, and will remain open until 22 May 2015.

You can read information about the changes, watch a video, use an interactive modeller to estimate the impact of the changes on your own pension arrangements and leave a response on the consultation website.

We want to hear your views; the feedback you give does matter, you may wish to simply give us your opinion or offer variations to the proposed changes – all feedback is welcomed and will be considered. Once all responses have been reviewed, the trustee will decide whether it is appropriate to make any recommendations to modify the current proposal.

The online response form consists of twelve questions. However, you do not need to leave answers to all questions in order for your response to be valid. You may wish to leave a response for only one, or a selection of, the questions. However, you do need to press ‘submit’ for your response to be recorded so if you’ve started a response please be sure to go back and submit it so your views are taken into account.

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Continuing Professional Development Seed Fund

May 8th, 2015

Apply now for a fund of between £500 – £2000 help develop CPD to external audiences, which can include:

  • Buy-out of staff time for CPD development
  • Running pilot courses
  • Distance learning development
  • Strategic marketing
  • Bespoke marketing materials
  • Specific databases for subsequent business development
  • Payment of registered supplier fees
  • Professional body accreditation (reviewed on a case by case basis)

This rolling application fund, with an initial 6 month lifespan, will be managed by the CPD Services team.

Interested parties will be required to complete a proposal form, which will:

  • Detail the idea
  • State exactly what the fund will be used for
  • State the stage the project is currently at
  • State any completed activities
  • Provide analysis of the potential market
  • State any market research undertaken and leads generated
  • State the time scales involved
  • Be signed off by the proposers Head of School/Department

All proposals must contain agreement to complete a final report within one month of the monies being used, and a case study/report within 6 months.

The CPDs team will assess and request any additional information before submitting to the assessment panel, which will consist of the Head of Asia Business Centre, Head of the CPD Services team and other BEIS senior colleagues who will reach a consensus.

The decision will be conveyed to applicants via email following the panel consensus.

Final deadline for receipt of this first round of the Seed Fund in 2015 is Monday 1 June. All funds allocated in this first round must be spent by Friday 31 July.

For any further queries on the Seed Fund’s regulations, please email cpd@nottingham.ac.uk

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Mindfulness in Nottingham week

May 8th, 2015

Join in our Mindfulness in Nottingham week, running Monday 11 to Friday 15 May.

Mindfulness poster web

Many of the events are short sessions over lunchtimes and are on University campuses or around Nottingham. Staff, students and the public are welcome. Join us for a film screening of ‘The Connection: Mind your Body’ (6.15pm, Monday 11 May), a workshop on ‘Kindness: an expensive luxury or a necessity?’ (1pm, Friday 15 May) and more.

Visit the short courses website for more information about the programme for the week and details on how to book.

Image credit: ‘Meditation’ still from The Connection: Mind Your Body

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New Perspectives on China: People of the Ming

May 7th, 2015

Organised by the University’s newly formed China Cultural Visiting Hub (CCVH), this free seminar series aims to provide a range of new perspectives on China through the lens of culture and history.

The series will run from May-June 2015 with the first talk, titled ‘People of the Ming’, starting on Wednesday 20 May at Nottingham Lakeside Arts. Professor Chris Rudd, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for External Engagement, will open the series followed by a seminar delivered by Jessica Harrison Hall, Curator for China at the British Museum, and curator of the Museum’s recent Ming exhibition. ‘People of the Ming’ will look at life in early Ming China, providing a new perspective on a period of crucial importance to China and the wider world.

Register your place or email Anneke Love for more information about the seminar series.

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May Fest 2015

May 6th, 2015

The University once more welcomes neighbours and alumni for its annual community open day on Saturday 9 May, 11am-5pm.

May Fest 2015 takes place on University Park with activities and events for all ages. The best part? It’s all free.

The full programme is available on our website, so you can start planning your day now.

What’s on

Whatever your age and interests, there’s something for everyone. Highlights include:

  • Physics live – see a ping pong ball shoot through a metal can, discover how a banana can bang in a nail, and find out how to make a real cloud using liquid nitrogen
  • Skulls and skeletons – have a go at making your own skull for display in the University’s museum
  • Archaeology for all – unleash your inner Indiana Jones and try your hand at excavating
  • Bio Racing Simulator – try the virtual reality racing simulator, reaching speeds of around 200mph
  • Gardens and grounds tour – make the most of University Park’s award-winning green spaces by exploring the campus
  • Wattbike challenge – gear up to beat dementia by hopping on the Wattbike, and help raise funds for Life Cycle 5

And much more! There are also plenty of places to eat on campus, including cafes in Portland Building and Lakeside Arts Centre. You can even bring your own picnics to take advantage of University Park’s award-winning green spaces.

Putting the ‘uni’ in community

Everyone is welcome – following six successful May Fests, this year’s event will attract families from across the city and beyond to join the fun and see what staff and students at Nottingham get up to. In addition to the events on offer, we’ve got plenty of advisors on hand whether you are considering a return to education, or want to find out more about the University.

Professor Chris Rudd, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for External Engagement, said: “May Fest is the biggest party in The University of Nottingham calendar.

“This is a chance for us to welcome our neighbours, showcase the work we do here and in the community, and enjoy a range of fantastic events offered by our staff and students. Whatever your age and interests, we hope to see you there.”

More information

Parking for May Fest is free of charge. For directions by road and public transport, visit the University’s getting to May Fest webpage.

For regular May Fest updates, follow @UniofNottingham or search #mayfest. Everything you need to know about May Fest can be found online at www.nottingham.ac.uk/mayfest

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Times Higher Education Awards 2015

May 5th, 2015

The Times Higher Education Awards 2015 are now open for entry.

To enter for an award, email Tim Utton, Deputy Director of Communications, with a 150-word submission outline by Thursday 28 May for consideration. You can preview categories and criteria on The Times Higher Education Awards website now to help put together your entry.

This year’s categories are:

  • The Lord Dearing Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative
  • Excellence and Innovation in the Arts
  • Outstanding Contribution to Leadership Development
  • Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year
  • Most Innovative Teacher of the Year
  • Outstanding Contribution to Innovation and Technology
  • Outstanding International Student Strategy
  • Outstanding Digital Innovation in Teaching or Research
  • Outstanding Support for Early Career Researchers
  • Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community
  • Research Project of the Year
  • Business School of the Year
  • Outstanding Support for Students
  • International Collaboration of the Year
  • Most Improved Student Experience
  • Entrepreneurial University of the Year
  • University of the Year

Winners will be announced at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London on Thursday 26 November 2015. Last year, The University of Nottingham won Research Project of the Year, as scientists from the School of Medicine identified a previously undetected layer of the cornea.

Find out more and browse the award entry requirements at www.the-awards.co.uk

Image caption: winners from The Times Higher Education Awards 2014, Dr Simon Kerridge, Chair of the Board of Directors ARAM (right) presents Professor Dua with his award (centre) alongside Jack Dee on the left, Dr Dalia Said (UoN) second from left, and Dr Lana Faraj (UoN) second from right.

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Professor Stephen Daniels receives Victoria Medal

May 5th, 2015

Professor Stephen Daniels has been awarded the Victoria Medal by the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers).

The Society’s Council recognised Professor Daniels with the Victoria Medal ‘for research Excellence in cultural geographer’. He is Professor of Cultural Geography in the Department of Geography, and Director of the AHRC Landscape and Environment Programme.

Founded in 1830, the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) is dedicated to the development and promotion of geographical knowledge. This year, the Society recognised eighteen people for outstanding contributions to geography, including Professor Daniels.

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On behalf of the Human Factors Research Group

May 1st, 2015

As many of you may already know, on Tuesday 21 April 2015, Sally Shalloe, our much loved, respected and valued member of the HFRG died after a road accident.

We would like to convey our sincere thanks for the support and very kind messages we have received from many people across the University. It has been a great comfort to us and also shown how many people Sally’s life touched.

On Tuesday 5 May there will be a private family funeral. On Saturday 9 May there will be a service to celebrate her life at 12noon, at Sun Rising Natural Burial Grounds, Lower Tysoe, Warwickshire. Everyone is welcome to attend this service and join the family and our team afterwards at the nearby pub, The Castle at Edgehill.

If you are planning to attend the service or go on to the pub please contact sarah.atkinson@nottingham.ac.uk by 10am Wednesday 6 May.

As a tribute to Sally, we are putting together our memories and messages to pass onto the family. If you would like to add to this please send your message to sue.cobb@nottingham.ac.uk and/or sarah.atkinson@nottingham.ac.uk by 2pm Thursday 7 May.

If you wish to send your own card, we will be happy to pass this on to Sally’s family. Alternatively, there is a card in the HFRG office (B floor, ITRC building, Faculty of Engineering) which you are welcome to sign.
The family have requested family flowers only and that donations are made to the MacMillan Cancer Nurses charity. These can be made online: http://sally.shalloe.com or to the Funeral Directors, AW Lymn, Beeston, Tel : 0115 922 0433.

Sun Rising Natural Burial Ground,
Lower Tysoe, CV35 0BU
http://sunrisingburialground.co.uk/visiting/directions.html

Castle at Edgehill Pub
Edgehill, Nr Banbury OX15 6DJ
http://www.castleatedgehill.co.uk/

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Print, copy and scan – benefits for you

April 30th, 2015

The new print, copy and scan service introduced last year can benefit you in several ways.

Did you know that you can:

  • scan to your email or home drive for free
  • print from your mobile – just send documents to mobileprint@nottingham.ac.uk
  • top up or check your credit balance online
  • access cheaper wide-format printing/plotting in more areas than before
  • print in halls

Find out more by visiting the Print, copy and scan website.

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Printed copies of Strategy 2020 now available

April 29th, 2015

Over the next two weeks, printed copies of Global Strategy 2020 will be delivered to all schools and professional services.

As you will already be aware, Strategy 2020 was approved by Council in July 2014 and is the outcome of an extended internal consultation and review process, and has laid out the University’s priorities and ambitions covering the period to 2020.

We are providing a personal copy to all Heads of Schools, Deans, senior academic and administrative staff, and anyone leading a team, recognising of course that unless people are familiar with and understand our University strategy, we cannot reasonably expect them to be part of the collective effort to achieve it.

As you know, Global Strategy 2020 should not be regarded as merely an aspirational document. It is rather a statement of intended priorities, activities and achievement, which the University community commits itself to. It also sets out the values and principles we want to embody in how we approach these challenging undertakings. Important internal changes are already taking place to create a framework to optimise the delivery of this ambitious but achievable strategy. Part of that framework needs to be an enhanced sense of responsibility and accountability for each person, team, School, and professional service to do their part. It is therefore critical that all our senior colleagues are aware of the University’s overall strategy, key aims and objectives and take time to determine how we can most effectively mobilise our talents and abilities toward the various ends we have aimed for. I thank you and colleagues for the time and effort you have already invested in helping to create our strategy and look forward to continuing to work with colleagues on this exciting agenda.

If you require additional hard copies for particular circumstances (senior staff induction packs, special events, foreign delegations, etc.) you can request them via the Strategy Support Centre.

Professor Karen Cox

Deputy Vice-Chancellor

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