Campus News

Leadership and Management Academy programmes: open for applications

July 3rd, 2023

We all need Leadership skills, and you can develop them now with the Leadership and Management Academy.

Leadership doesn’t come from a select few people at the university. It’s a quality that we all have, and we all need, in our complex and ever-changing world.

Leadership doesn’t come out fully formed when we need it either, it needs to be developed, nurtured, and reflected upon. To help us all with this we are thrilled to open our Leadership and Management Academy programmes for applications. 

By joining one of our programmes, you’ll be getting a highly practical, immersive experience that challenges you to embrace uncertainty, grow your knowledge of yourself and your ways of leading, and understand the bigger picture of your leadership and management role.

We’ll arm you with adaptable tools and resources you need to lead with energy and confidence, build trust, and create a shared sense of purpose with your teams.  

The programmes offer much more than just knowledge and skills. They provide you with the space, time, and support to focus on your own leadership practice. You’ll also forge connections with like-minded colleagues, building a network of ambitious individuals all working to be better leaders and managers at the university. 

There’s a programme to suit you whatever stage of your career you’re at, from ‘just’ leading yourself (there’s a real skill to this) right up to executive level leading faculties and departments,  and anywhere in between.

To find out more and identify the programme that’s right for you (choosing from Executive Leadership, Senior Leadership, Operational Leadership, Stepping into Leadership and Aspiring Leadership) go to the Leadership and Management Academy programme pages.

Applications are open until September 15 2023. 

Other ways to develop 

If a programme isn’t right for you right now don’t worry, that’s why we offer many more resources, development tools and events to support you. Here’s what’s on offer:  

  • You can join us for informative webinars and bite-sized learning events, where you’ll connect with colleagues from across the university. With a mix of content picking up the emergent needs of the institution and essential skills, you can access live events and recordings, and a new programme of sessions will be launching in September. 
  • We provide coaching and mentoring opportunities for all staff. No matter what stage of your career or what you need, we can match you with a coach or mentor to help you drive your development and find the solutions to the challenges you face.  
  • Discover a wealth of online resources on the LMA Learning and Resources pages, specially curated to facilitate your development. Explore thought-provoking articles, engaging videos, diagnostic tools, and interactive resources that help you to grow at your own pace.   

No matter which path you choose to develop your leadership practice, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Your growth and development is key to the success of the university, and we are committed to helping you excel on this transformative journey of self-discovery. 

Unlock your true leadership potential today. Apply now for the LMA Development Programmes and become the leader you aspire to be. 

To find out more and start your journey, visit: LMA Development Programmes. 

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Resurfacing work to take place at West entrance and Beeston Lane

June 30th, 2023

From Monday 3 July to Saturday 8 July 2023, work will get underway to resurface the road from the West entrance along to the David Ross Sports Village.

The road is in need of repair and full resurfacing is the best option to enable this.

While this work is underway, the entrance, exit and overall traffic along the road will be subject to traffic management by the contractor.

This will cause disruption at busy times, and users may want to consider alternative options to access campus such as North Entrance (from QMC island).

Access to all buildings, including the East Midlands Conference Centre, the Orchard Hotel, the David Ross Sports Centre and the residences, will remain available.

If you have any questions about this, please contact EstatesHelpdesk@nottingham.ac.uk.

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Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam recognised with prestigious Royal Society award

June 30th, 2023

On Thursday 29 June, Professor Van-Tam delivered the Attenborough Award Lecture, awarded annually by the Royal Society for outstanding public engagement in science.

The award honours Professor Van-Tam’s work as UK Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), when he received international acclaim for his ability to explain complex Covid-19-related issues including transmission risks and the importance of vaccines using creative – often sports-based – analogies during the regular televised Downing Street press conferences.

His dedication to public communication has been fundamental in educating people about the risks posed by Covid-19, the science behind the disease epidemiology and promoting expected behaviours in citizens around issues including testing and vaccination which played a pivotal role in controlling the spread of the virus.

In his lecture, JVT reflected on the challenges of leadership and communication during the pandemic and explained how he developed his now famous analogies to connect with people across the UK to assist their understanding of the novel virus and to encourage them to take simple measures to help to control its spread.

The 45 minute lecture is available to view on the Royal Society’s YouTube channel.

Speaking after his lecture, JVT said: “I feel very humbled to have been chosen for this award by the Royal Society because so many UK scientists do really great work making science accessible to the public. This is quite simply a huge honour.

“I am passionate about people from all walks of life and backgrounds being able to engage with science in a way that meets their needs and allows them in turn to benefit from science discoveries in their daily lives; there is no better example than the Covid-19 vaccines which have literally allowed our society to re-open after a devastating pandemic. But it is always our job as scientists to meet the public at their point of need and understanding.”

As an epidemiologist and the DCMO for Health Protection, Professor Van-Tam has played important roles in a number of different incidents, including domestic outbreaks of MERS and Monkeypox; the severe 2017/18 influenza season; the response to the Novichok attacks; and the Covid-19 pandemic where he worked on the Vaccine Taskforce and supported the development of treatments.

He is an author on over 200 scientific papers including major studies into the transmission of the flu, the efficacy of anti-viral drugs to treat it and the success of the drug Tamiflu in protecting patients during the Swine flu pandemic of 2009-10.

More recently he has contributed to academic papers on the clinical impact of Covid-19, the safety and immunogenicity of vaccine combinations and boosters for Covid-19 and the world’s first human challenge study with Covid-19.

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Professor Sam Kingman: ‘a once-in-a-generation moment for change’?

June 29th, 2023

Update from Professor Sam Kingman, Interim Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange. 

My latest update includes news of REF2028. The next Research Excellence Framework (REF)  has been described by Professor Dame Jessica Corner of Research England (who led our REF2021 submission) as a “once-in-a-generation moment for change”.

So what can we expect?

We know that the next REF will conclude in 2028 and will assess research and impact between 2021 and 2027.

It will mark a shift away from a focus on individuals to how institutions and disciplines contribute to healthy, dynamic and inclusive research environments. The focus on published research output will also widen towards a broader view of what constitutes research excellence and how it can be demonstrated.

UKRI is inviting higher education providers and other stakeholders to share their views on a number of specific policy areas for REF2028 through a short consultation, ending in October 2023.

Pip Peakman, Director of Research and Innovation at Nottingham, has summarised what we know so far about REF2028.

£3m renewed funding from Health Data Research UK

My update also includes news of £3m renewed funding from Health Data Research UK, which has been secured by a team led by Philip Quinlan, Director of Health Informatics in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Phil is leading work in Federated Analytics, a new way of analysing multiple datasets in different locations without having to send or exchange (often sensitive) data. This work is attracting significant interest from Australia and Singapore. By establishing new ways of data analysis while adhering to governance boundaries, this work will be instrumental in supporting international research.

The £70m HDR UK scheme is working to accelerate trustworthy access to health data and improve treatments, deliver better health care and save lives. Whereas some universities have seen reduced budgets from HDR UK compared to its first five years, Nottingham’s funding has almost doubled.

My very best wishes

Sam

Read Professor Kingman’s full update

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REF2028: what we know so far

June 28th, 2023

Decisions on the high-level design of the next Research Excellence Framework (REF) have been published by the UK’s higher education funding bodies. 

The next REF will conclude in 2028 and will assess research and impact between 2021 and 2027. 

Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Executive Chair at Research England (who led the university’s REF2021 submission), said: 

“This is a once-in-a-generation moment for change as we shift national research assessment away from a focus on individuals to how institutions and disciplines contribute to healthy, dynamic and inclusive research environments, and as we shift from a focus on published research outputs towards a broader view of what constitutes research excellence and how it can be demonstrated.” 

UKRI is inviting higher education providers and other stakeholders to share their views on a number of specific policy areas through a short consultation, ending in October 2023. 

Some of the proposed changes include: 

  • Research outputs will contribute to 50% of a Unit of Assessment, down from 60% in REF 2021. This element has been renamed to ‘contribution to knowledge and understanding’ and, while assessment will continue to largely be based on assessment of submitted outputs, at least 10% of the score will be based on evidence of broader contributions to the advancement of the discipline. 
  • ‘People and Culture’ will replace the environment element of REF 2021 and will be assessed at both a disciplinary and institutional level. This element will make up 25% of the overall score, up from 15% in REF 2021, and will be expanded to include an assessment of research culture.
  • An ‘engagement and impact’ element, weighted at 25%, will replace the impact element of REF 2021. Submissions will consist of both impact case studies and an accompanying statement to evidence engagement and activity beyond case studies. 
  • The work of all researchers and research-enabling staff will be eligible for submission to REF 2028. Research volume will be determined from average staff volumes over multiple years and there will not be any minimum or maximum contributions of any individuals. 

Pip Peakman, Director of Research and Innovation at the University of Nottingham, commenting on the initial decisions of the Future Research Assessment Programme, said: 

“We are reviewing the outline for REF2028 and welcome the opportunity to consult on its broader and more holistic approach to research assessment, including the proposed ‘People and Culture’ elements, which align with our own commitment to sustaining a dynamic, inclusive research culture where our people can achieve their potential.” 

The university’s REF Strategy Committee is beginning strategic discussions and preparations for 2028 and further updates will follow. 

The Research Excellence Framework drives research excellence across the UK, provides accountability for public investment in research, and informs the allocation of around £2bn of block-grant research funding each year. In REF2021, the University of Nottingham was placed seventh in the UK for research power according to analysis by Times Higher Education. 

 

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Changes to Virtual Private Network (VPN) software and authentication

June 28th, 2023

On Tuesday 27 June 2023, Digital and Technology Services (DTS) upgraded the Fortinet VPN service to the latest software and improved the authentication process.

What has changed?

As part of the update, we have simplified connection settings and the authentication process. Previously there were two connection types – SSL and IPsec – now we just use SSL and have enable Single Sign-On (SSO).

SSO uses the standard Microsoft 365 sign-in as currently used for all Microsoft services and you will be asked to enter your university email and password and authenticate with MFA as usual. To use Single Sign-On, all VPN users must upgrade the FortiClient software to version 7.

What is the difference with the new configuration?

  • The key change of the VPN update is the new SSO feature within the latest FortiClient software.
  • From Tuesday 27 June, you will need to set up a new VPN connection and tick the ‘Enable Single Sign On (SSO) for VPN Tunnel’. Once set you will then sign in using your Microsoft 365 credentials.
  • Instructions for all device types can be found on the VPN Workspace site.

Please note, from Tuesday 27 June, we no longer support third-party or lightweight VPN clients due to the changes with authentication.

What do I need to do?

If you do not use the VPN service, then there is no action. Otherwise please ensure you are using FortiClient VPN version 7 as a minimum, this applies to all devices (both personal and university owned).

If using a university Windows-managed device, the VPN software can be installed via the Company Portal and the new VPN configuration will be added automatically.

For all other devices, including macOS and Linux, instructions on how to update the software and VPN configuration is on Workspace.

Need help?

If you have any questions, or require any support, please contact the IT Service Desk.

Thank you for your understanding and support during this update.

 

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New Academic Promotion paperwork and webpages

June 28th, 2023

Following a review of the university’s academic promotion paperwork, we are pleased to share with colleagues brand new paperwork and webpages.

These changes aim to make the process and webpages more accessible and inclusive and reduce workload for applicants, Heads of School/Department and Promotion Committees.

Please note that the criteria under each pathway have remained the same and we have focused solely on streamlining the paperwork and clarifying the process.

On the webpages you can find:
• Updated and streamlined paperwork
• Simple visual process maps
• Videos of colleagues sharing their experiences and tips on applying for promotion

The university now requires applicants to complete just one Academic Promotion Application Form which combines and streamlines the previous pro-forma and CV.

Old copies of the pro-forma/CV will not be accepted this year by the Promotion Committees.

We hope you find the new forms more user friendly and accessible and welcome any feedback you would like to offer – please send your feedback to the HR Team.

We strongly encourage all staff who meet the criteria to submit an application for promotion and would particularly encourage those from underrepresented groups to reflect on whether they meet the criteria and apply.

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University featured in 2024 QS World Rankings

June 28th, 2023

The University of Nottingham has been ranked =100th in the QS World University Rankings 2024. We are ranked 17th amongst UK institutions.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West said: “This represents an excellent result for the first year of the University’s Global Reputation and Rankings Strategic Action Plan, commissioned by the League Table Steering Group and led by the University’s Director of Global Reputation and Relations with the support of colleagues across faculties and professional services departments.

“The QS WUR Top 100 is an extremely significant ranking boundary for international student recruitment, particularly in ranking sensitive markets such as China and the Middle East. It is also significant for the University being eligible for a range of other international Government sponsored bursaries for students.”

This year’s QS World University Rankings is the largest ever, with 1,500 universities across 104 locations, up from 1,418 last year. The results account for the distribution and performance of 17.5 million academic papers published between 2017 and 2021 and the 141.6 million citations received by those papers; they also account for the expert opinions of over 144,000 academic faculty and over 98,000 employers around the world.

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Staff walking group volunteers needed

June 27th, 2023

University of Nottingham Sport are searching for staff volunteers to facilitate lunchtime walking groups for staff across our campuses.

Help create a more active campus with 20–30-minute lunchtime walks around DRSV, Jubilee or Sutton Bonington and get your colleagues involved.

The opportunity would simply involve setting a start time and route around the campus once or twice a week and walk the route with a group of staff as many weeks as you could!

To view existing Campus Walking Groups, please click here.

 

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Temporary closure of South entrance for gas works

June 27th, 2023

From Monday 3 July 2023, the entrance to University Park via the South entrance – from University Boulevard – will be temporarily closed for gas pipe replacement works. The exit will remain open.

Cadent have confirmed the work will commence from Monday 3 July until approximately Friday 28 July and is similar to the work that was recently undertaken on the westbound A52.

This is for essential preventative work to replace aging gas pipework and prevent potential future loss of service to some of the main buildings on University Park Campus.

The work will take place in phases (or by Push as identified on the map below).

Phase (Push) 1 and 2 will affect the entrance from University Boulevard up to the Security Hut and alternative options, such as North entrance along the A52, should be used to access campus. (Push 1 and 2 on the map).

Access to public areas, such as Lakeside Galleries and Highfields Park remain open, however alternative entrance routes will need to be used for example in through North Entrance and then either via Cut Through Lane or Keighton Hill / Portland Hill and onto East Drive.

The visitor car park on East Drive will remain open, whilst the visitor car park at the top of Keighton Hill will be closed until 15 July for resurfacing work.

Phase (Push) 3 – 5 will see the work continue along East Drive on to central campus with less disruption expected, as only small sections of the road will be dug up. Whilst this happens barriers will be in place and traffic management operated by Cadent.

It is hoped there will be no interruption to gas service for the main duration of works. There may be a need, towards the end of the works, for a short interruption to service in Trent Building.  We will notify any affected buildings in advance of this and manage closely with Cadent.

We apologise for any disruption during these essential works and will work with Cadent to minimise that disruption and keep the university community informed of progress, pending closures and any changes to this plan as the work progresses.

If you have any questions about this, please contact EstatesHelpdesk@nottingham.ac.uk.

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