Campus News
University’s occupational health provider to re-brand
April 25th, 2023
The university is making colleagues aware that our Occupational Health Provider, TP Health, are re-branding to Optima Health from Tuesday 9 May 2023.
TP Health have joined forces with Optima Health and several other leading OH providers to become the largest Occupational Health provider in the UK.
All services will continue to be delivered by the same people and will work in the same way and we encourage you to continue accessing them if you need any support.
As a result of the name change you will notice a new logo, new signage, new uniform and a fresh new look to the online portal.
As the transition takes place we will also update our documentation in order to embed the new brand. Please bear with us as these documents are updated throughout May and June.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the team on team8@optimahealth.co.uk .
Tags: occupational health, OH, Optima Health, TP Health
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Appraisal and Development Conversation (ADC) – new guidance and support
April 25th, 2023
Following some key changes to the Appraisal and Development Conversations (ADCs), the university has published a collection of new and updated guidance and learning materials to support all staff to have good quality ADCs.
Earlier this year, HR led a review of ADCs to ensure staff feel supported to be the best they can be and are effectively engaged in the achievement of the university strategy.
ADCs intend to facilitate a safe and trusted space for open dialogue about performance, achievements, development and aspirations.
A key finding of the review was that the balanced framework approach is now outdated and has been superseded by the university’s Strategic Framework. Staff are instead encouraged to use Faculty or Professional Service Department operational delivery plans to direct and set future objectives.
The annual ADC window has also been amended to fit better with the university’s business planning cycle which now takes place between May and the end of September. You can find out more about these changes here.
With the introduction of these key changes, it is recommended that every member of staff refresh their understanding of ADCs and review the useful learning materials the university has to offer.
In preparation for this year’s annual ADC, we have:
- updated the ADC guidelines and FAQs
- created a new ADC eLearning module for both appraisers and appraisees
- created a new ADC Discussion Guide for appraisers
- created a new ADC Moodle page which brings together a range of support and learning materials
All of these can be found on the refreshed ADC webpage.
HR will continue to plan and deliver a wider programme of work that will deliver changes to the way we manage and support ADCs. In 2024, the output of our ADCs will be moving into the university’s new HR, Finance and Procurement system (as part of the Digital Core project).
You will be able to look forward to your regular ADC conversations and development plans being held in one central location, as well as being able to set personal and shared objectives in the system.
As part of this programme of work, HR are working to ensure the feedback gained through the ADC review feeds into the design of the new online ADC functionality.
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Artificial intelligence – new learning resource for students
April 25th, 2023
The Learning Development team within Libraries has created a new learning resource for students that covers the appropriate use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT.
The course takes just 10 minutes to complete and details some of the primary limitations of artificial intelligence tools – including their probability-based text generation model, inherent ethical concerns, as well as their engrained biases.
In addition, the guidance outlines some ways that the tools might be used constructively to support students’ learning.
This resource has been shared with students, and colleagues are advised to refer to it in conversations with students where appropriate. Please do it share it where you are able.
Tags: AI, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, learning resources
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Exam Ready webpages updated for upcoming exam period.
April 24th, 2023
The student comms office has today published it’s updated Exam Ready webpage.
The rebuilt exam pages offer support such as exam resources and revision tips to help students be ready for the period ahead. The page also features a daily event calendar to highlight opportunities across the university as well as improved wellbeing information from teams like HealthyU and libraries. Students will also be able to find timetables, arrangements and FAQ’s to put any worries to rest.
We’re encouraging students to remember that to be successful they must be prepared.
Find out more and get prepared on our Exam Ready Page.
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Free Lunchtime Tai Chi and Qigong taster sessions
April 21st, 2023
The Nottingham Confucius Institute is offering Tai Chi and Qigong taster sessions at lunchtime on the Jubilee, King’s Meadow and University Park campuses in May.
Join gold-medallist European Champion in Health Qigong and popular Yang-style Tai Chi instructor, Angela, for a 45-minute taster session, showcasing how the traditional Chinese practice of Tai Chi and Qigong can benefit body, breathing and mind.
Each session includes:
- Gentle body mobilisation, calming the breathing and mind;
- Step-by-step instruction, learning specific health benefits along the way;
- Flowing through the full routine to experience stillness in motion, accompanied by flowing music.
These taster sessions are ideal for beginners and all movements are slow, gentle and low-impact, accessible to all, with the emphasis on working to your own comfort levels. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and flat shoes (or bare feet!).
For more information, and to book your place, please follow the links below:
- Jubilee Campus – 12.30-13.15pm, Wednesday 10 May
- King’s Meadow campus – 12.30-13.15pm, Wednesday 17 May
- University Park campus – 12.30-13.15pm, Wednesday 24 May
- Sutton Bonington Campus – 12.30-13:15pm, Wednesday 31 May
Tags: Qigong, Tai Chi
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Data Protection: how to keep data safe when using Microsoft Teams
April 20th, 2023
As many of us continue to use Microsoft Teams as part of hybrid working, it’s important that we’re clear on how we can keep personal data secure when using it to communicate with colleagues, students and those external to UoN.
Here are five points to consider when using Microsoft Teams from our Data Protection Officer, Tracy Landon.
- Consider what you write on Teams messages – Microsoft Teams messages, just like email, are disclosable via data protection legislation. Consider what you write in messages and how you correspond with colleagues using Teams.
- When hosting meetings or sharing your screen, consider privacy – for example, make sure that you set yourself as ‘do not disturb’ on Teams so that notifications are not visible to others when you are sharing, or turn off your notifications.
- Get consent before recording meetings – if you want to record a meeting make sure that the attendees are aware that you are recording – you must tell individuals why you are recording and what the recording will be used for.
- Teams chat is not email – consider which medium is best for the discussion/message that you are sending. Long messages can get lost in Teams so consider if that message is best placed by using email.
- Set up an anonymous meeting – consider if you need to set up your meeting as an anonymous meeting; this is useful when meeting with those external to UoN and ensures that attendees’ email addresses that are usually seen in an online meeting remain unknown.
- You can send to more than one attendee in the same email – remember to use the bcc field and not the cc field, particularly where you are using personal/non-UoN email addresses;
- Do not share a link to a meeting on social media.
Need to talk to us?
Email us at DPO@nottingham.ac.uk.
Need to report an incident?
Don’t be afraid to get in touch if something goes wrong – report to the Information Compliance Team so that we can help you mitigate the error. Remember we’re here to help.
Tracy Landon, Data Protection Officer
Tags: Data Protection, Data Protection Officer, data safety, data security, Tracy Landon
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Enabling and acting on the People and Culture Survey
April 18th, 2023
The university is running a number of virtual workshops to help line managers and leaders navigate their way through and share results of the upcoming People and Culture Survey.
Workshops have been designed to build on people’s current knowledge of themselves, their teams and the university, encompassing analytics, insights and action.
We will be reviewing, reflecting and working through various models and practical approaches to connecting data, insights and people. The workshops will refer to thought leaders including Simon Sinek, Paul Hershey, Ken Blanchard and Brian R Little, to name a few.
Who are these high-impact workshops for?
If you manage a team at the university, we have developed four virtual workshops to support you as part of a refreshed approach to how we listen to our teams and colleagues.
We have partnered with People Insight, an external research and insight company, to enable us to receive and respond to feedback from our departments in real-time.
We want to make sure that people have the knowledge, information and tools to develop and enhance their leadership and management skills and support our mission to build a culture of success.
Workshops will begin on Tuesday 2 May 2023 and will finish on Friday 26 May 2023. They will prepare people for managing the survey results once they are live and enable line managers and leaders to act on the results.
About the workshops
Workshop one – commencing on Tuesday 2 May 2023
Refresh/learn, how you process and manage data/insights, with the opportunity to view the new ‘voice’ dashboard and management tool.
What you will take away from this session;
• How your brain receives and processes data
• introduction to PI dashboard
• Understanding how your brain filters data, Detailed vs Big Picture
Workshop two – commencing on Monday 8 May 2023
Best practice for sharing and listening to your department/team. Introducing some easy-to-use models to develop high-performing and engaged teams
What you will take away from this session;
• Introduce /refresh 7 habits of highly effective people, trust index, and situational model to support Inclusive Leadership
Workshop three – commencing on Monday 15 May 2023
Refreshing your approach to change, the impact on your department and team, assessing your current Inclusive Leadership approach
What you will take away from this session;
• Clarity on the Kubler Ross model and how it can support team and organisational performance and an introduction to inclusive leadership
Workshop four – commencing on Monday 22 May 2023
Connecting employee voice, management, and outcomes – Group-led case study to utilise and summarise you’re learning.
What you will take away from this session;
• Introduce and work through a case study for leading change. Self-assess current skills/capability as an Inclusive leader and identify 3 skills to develop through peer-to-peer feedback.
Important – What you need to do next
If you manage a team at the university, please book your place on the four different workshops. Upon completing all four, you will receive a certificate.
Each workshop has limited spaces, so please book early to get the date and time that suits you. These will be cross-university groups.
Please bring a journal and pen for the workshops or if you prefer to online journal you can sign up and access Penzu for free here.
As this is virtual learning which will be live, please contact avril.lane1@nottingham.ac.uk if you require help with accessibility.
Tags: engagement survey, People and Culture Survey, People and Culture Survey 2023, staff survey
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People and Culture Survey to launch next week
April 17th, 2023
The university launches the People and Culture Survey next week, on Tuesday 25 April 2023.
This staff engagement survey is an opportunity for colleagues across our UK, China and Malaysia campuses to provide feedback on their working environment and culture, and how they are supported in the workplace.
The survey will run until midnight on Wednesday 17 May 2023 and results will be shared with Departments and Schools to develop detailed action plans in response to the feedback received.
For each survey completed, the university will plant a tree through the Eden Reforestation Project.
Staff will receive an email from the survey administrators People Insight containing a unique link to access the survey. The email will come from survey-invite@peopleinsight.co.uk.
This survey is confidential. People Insight, our external partner, will hold your individual responses and this information will not be released to the University of Nottingham or elsewhere.
It is important that as many colleagues as possible participate in the survey, offering honest and balanced feedback, so that we can build on what works and change things where they are not working. The responses will also be used to assess our progress against the People and Culture Strategic Delivery Plan.
Initial results will be reported to the University Executive Board in June, with School and Department-level results expected to be shared in July.
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Trent building to turn orange for Stephen Lawrence Day 2023
April 17th, 2023
The university’s Trent Building will light up in orange on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 April 2023 in commemoration of the death of Stephen Lawrence.
Saturday 22 April commemorates the life of Stephen, a young Black British teenager who in 1993 was murdered in a racist attack in London.
The Stephen Lawrence Foundation works to continue to influence attitudes towards race; and the journey to restore trust and eliminate racism across Britain is ongoing. #ALegacyofchange
The Foundation will be illuminating several key landmarks in orange on Friday, including the London Eye, National Maritime Museum and the Cutty Sark.
The University of Nottingham will be joining civic partners Nottingham Trent University (Newton Arkwright building) and Nottingham City Council (Council House) in the commemoration event.
All colleagues and students are encouraged to engage in the light up and commit to taking tangible actions to ensure that the next 30 years look different to the last. Get involved on social media and make your #StephenLawrenceDayPledge.
Please visit the Stephen Lawrence Foundation for more information.
Tags: anti racism, Stephen Lawrence
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Vice-Chancellor’s Medal 2023 – nominations now open
April 12th, 2023
Following on from the success of previous years, a call for nominations for the 2023 Vice-Chancellor’s Medal is now underway.
The Medal is awarded for exceptional achievement by staff or students.
Any current member of staff or current student at any of the university’s campuses in China, Malaysia or the UK may be nominated for a Vice-Chancellor’s Medal within the broad criteria for the award set out below.
Criteria for the Award of the Medal
- Exceptional achievement in a particular arena beyond the expectations, including outstanding performance, of the nominee’s role;
- Outstanding contribution to advancing equality, diversity and inclusion in university life;
- Notable endeavour which reflects the values of the university;
- Activity which has had a significant and demonstrably positive impact on the community, whether within or beyond the university;
- An individual achievement of exceptional standards or sustained outstanding achievement over a period of time, demonstrating the highest standards of commitment and contribution to the community.
As well as individual awards, nominations can be made for a team award.
Nominations will need to demonstrate how this criteria has been met for the panel’s consideration.
Anyone can make a nomination, but it is requested that approval from the Head of School or Department is sought in advance. Self-nomination is no longer allowed.
The final deadline for nominations is 12noon on Tuesday 30 May 2023.
Find out more about the awards and nominate someone on the VC Medal Sharepoint Site.
Tags: staff recognition, student recognition, university values, vc medal, Vice-Chancellor's Medal
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