Campus News
Inside out: portraits of emotional resilience
March 14th, 2023
An exploration of living with mental health challenges in the BAME community.
The Faculty of Arts are looking for participants to take part in a unique art project with artist and storyteller Andy Farr. Andy is hoping to work with a small number of people from the UoN BAME community to share their thoughts and experiences of mental ill health.
The results of these conversations will be paintings that represent each individual’s story. Participants can choose to remain anonymous.
The project is part of an NHS drive to raise awareness of mental health in the Nottingham BAME community and better promote access to NHS Talking Therapies.
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Nottingham Reward Scheme – deadline approaching
March 13th, 2023
The Nottingham Reward Scheme is designed to reward exceptional performance for staff whose contribution goes above and beyond the normal expectation of their role.
Since launching the new online nomination system in November 2021 there have been over 4700 staff recognised.
Local Reward Committee’s will next be reviewing the £500 level nominations in April. If you are a line manager and you have a nomination you wish to be considered, please ensure you submit your nominations by Friday 31st March for them to be considered for payment in May.
£500 award nominations can be made by line managers for staff who have made a significant contribution to the university whilst demonstrating behaviours linked to our university’s values.
Please review the Nottingham Reward Scheme for full details, including the full eligibility criteria.
To make a nomination, log onto the Employee Hub and then select the Nottingham Reward Scheme tab across the top. You should then click on the £500 level button on the right hand side to complete your nomination.
Remember that voucher awards for between £25 and £100 can be made throughout the year on the Employee Hub and Microsoft Praise can also be used to say ‘Thank you’ via Teams.
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Changes to printer software and print queues
March 13th, 2023
Digital & Technology Services are making changes to the university’s print fleet to enhance our print service. From Monday 20 March, Xerox will be upgrading printers to new software and installing new print queues.
What is changing?
Printers will have new software installed on them called Control Suite and there will be a new set of print queues installed, these will be called:
- Mono on NottsPrint
- Colour on NottsPrint
- Booklet on NottsPrint
- Draft on NottsPrint
How does this affect users?
While the software upgrade takes place, printers will be unavailable for a brief period between Monday 20 March and Wednesday 5 April. Updates will take place in different buildings each day; the schedule for them is below.
Transition schedule
| Date | Printers in buildings |
| Monday 20 March | Applied House Research Building, Coates Building, ITRC, L2 Engineering, L3 Engineering, L4 Engineering, Life Sciences Building, Manufacturing Labs, Mathematical Sciences Building and Safety Office |
| Tuesday 21 March | Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, Boots Science Building Chemistry Building, ESLC, Institute of Hearing Research, Lakeside Arts Centre, Lakeside Pavillion, NTEC, Pharmacy Building, Music, Nanotechnology Centre, Physics Building, Psychology Building and Wolfson Building |
| Wednesday 22 March | 3D Studio, Cherry Tree Lodge, Cripps Health Centre, David Wilson House, Day Nursery, ECC Building, Hemsley Building, Highfield House, Law & Social Sciences, Lenton Fields, Lenton Firs, Lenton Hurst, Mark Group House, Orchard Hotel, Paton House, Sir Clive Granger Building, Sir Peter Mansfield Building, Sustainable Research Building, The Marmont Centre, The Orchards and Z Block |
| Thursday 23 March | East Midlands Conference Centre, Humanities Building, Lenton Grove, Portland Building, Sports Centre, The Cottage, Trent Building and Welcome Point West |
| Friday 24 March | Amenities Building, Business School North, Business School South, Business School South, Computer Science Building, Dearing Building, Si Yuan Centre, The Exchange Building and Yang Fujia Building |
| Monday 27 March | Advanced Manufacturing Building, Advanced Manufacturing Building,Energy Technology Building, Gatehouse Lodge, Geospatial Building, GSK Carbon Neutral Labs, Ingenuity Building, Institute of Mental Health,Jubilee Conference Centre, PEMC Building, Sir Colin Campbell Building, Sports Centre and The RAD Building |
| Tuesday 28 March | East Block, Medical School, South Block and West Block |
| Wednesday 29 March | BioEnergy Building, Central Stores, Farm Office, Food Sciences Building, Gateway Building, Hounsfield Facility, Main Building, North Laboratory, Plant Sciences Building, South Laboratory, Sports Centre, The Barn, The Firs, The Limes, The Opal Building, Vet Licensing Authority and Veterinary School |
| Thursday 30 March | King’s Meadow Campus, Nottingham City Hospital (Clinical Sciences Building and Maternity Building), Ropewalk House, Royal Derby Hospital (Medical School/Education Centre and Nursing Building) |
| Monday 3 April | Beeston Hall, Broadgate, Business School South Library,George Green Library, James Cameron-Gifford Library, Queen’s Medical Centre (Medical School), Royal Derby Hospital (Medical School/Education Centre) and Si Yuan Centre |
| Tuesday 4 April | Hallward Library, Lincoln Hall Library, Mathematical Sciences Building, Music Library, Physics Building (Student Services Reception), Pope Building, Rutland Hall, Sherwood Hall and Teaching and Learning |
| Wednesday 5 April | Ancaster Hall, Cavendish Hall, Cripps Building North, Cripps Hall,Derby Hall, Djanogly LRC, Hugh Stuart Hall, Lenton & Wortley Hall,Madison Court, Melton Hall, Newark Hall, Nightingale Hall, Portland Building, Sir Clive Granger Building, Southwell Hall, The Exchange Building, Trent Building and Willoughby Hall |
A more detailed summary by device is available. Please note that printers will transfer to the new queues at any time during the stated migration day.
What should I do?
- If you need to print during the upgrade period, please check the schedule for where devices are available.
- Please restart your Windows PC or log out and back in for the new print queues to load. Note, old queues will remain until all printers have been transferred.
- During the disruption period, users should send documents to both the old and new queues to ensure it is available to print at the selected device.
- Do not top up any student print credit between Friday 31 March and Friday 7 April while student devices are upgraded.
- After your device has been transferred, there will be a period where any jobs uploaded to the mobile print website will not appear. However, you can continue to print from mobile devices by attaching your file to an email and sending it to mobileprint@nottingham.ac.uk. The website will transition to the new system on Thursday 6 April, after all devices have been migrated.
Staff using non-Windows devices will need to update their print settings. You can check our guide for Mac users or advice for Linux users.
Users printing to desktop phasers via direct queues will also need to update their settings. General guidance on how to use the UoN print service can be found on the Digital & Technology Services webpage.
Thank you for your support and patience during this upgrade. If you have any questions about the changes to the print service, please contact our Digital Transformation team.
Tags: IT, printer
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Fancy learning Mandarin?
March 10th, 2023
The Nottingham Confucius Institute offers Mandarin courses led by experienced teachers and as China opens up again, there are plenty of opportunities to use it.
This term’s courses commence on Monday 24 April.
There are evening and weekend classes as well as private lessons, in person and online.
Please note, you have until 12pm on Thursday 20 April to register. If you’re interested, we recommend registering as soon as possible – an early bird discount will be available until Thursday 6 April.
For more information, visit the Nottingham Confucius Institute webpage.
Tags: China, language, learn a language, learn mandarin, Mandarin
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Project Period initiative expanded
March 8th, 2023
A newly-expanded university initiative, Project Period, aims to address the issue of period poverty and promote open and inclusive conversations around menstruation and menopause.
Project Period provides free sanitary products across campus, as well as promoting education and awareness about the topic.
The university has also taken steps to create a more inclusive environment by integrating discussions around menstrual and menopausal health into the curriculum. This will help to break down the stigma surrounding these topics and promote a culture of inclusivity and understanding.
As part of Project Period, the university will be offering workshops and events that educate and raise awareness about the challenges faced by those who menstruate and go through menopause.
The goal is to create a supportive and informed community, where everyone can feel comfortable talking about these important and often underrepresented issues.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and People, Professor Katherine Linehan said: “Project Period is a testament to our commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all members of the campus community.
I’m glad the university is taking proactive and important steps in addressing period poverty and breaking down the taboo surrounding menstruation and menopause.”
Project Period was launched in 2020 in the Biodiscovery Institute by Professor Chris Denning and colleagues. It has since spread across University Park, Jubilee, Sutton Bonington, King’s Meadow and Queen’s Medical Centre, Derby and City Hospital campuses. In the coming weeks we’ll be asking staff and students to suggest additional campus locations for free period products.
All products handed out as part of Project Period are made using sustainable materials, helping to reduce plastic packaging and protecting the environment.
You can help Project Period by spreading the word and sharing locations where free period products are available.
Tags: edi, Period poverty, Project period
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Changes to the way users access the university’s Remote Desktop outside the UK
March 8th, 2023
From Tuesday 28 March 2023, there will be a change in the way users access the university’s UK Remote Desktop from outside the UK.
Any inbound traffic to the university’s UK Remote Desktop that originates from outside of the UK will be blocked. Only inbound traffic from known UK IP addresses will be allowed to access the UK Remote Desktop this way.
I am working overseas and need to access the UK Remote Desktop – How can I do so?
You can still access the UK Remote Desktop when outside the UK but you will need to do so via the Web Virtual Private Network (VPN) moving forward. This allows users to access University-restricted web resources and other services off campus in a secure way.
The Web VPN also allows you to connect to university services without installation or configuration of a VPN client. Detailed instructions on how to access the university’s Web VPN via https://remote.nottingham.ac.uk can be found on workspace.
Please note, this will not affect China/Malaysia services. It only affects the UK Remote Desktop.
Why is this changing?
In recent years, UK universities and research institutions have seen a sharp rise in ransomware attacks that exploit the Remote Desktop remote access feature. Users have become increasingly vulnerable to malicious actors who use phishing or social engineering to gain log-in details and access to organisations’ internal systems.
By removing the ability to access the UK Remote Desktop via a web browser when outside the UK, we are mitigating the level of risk and improving our cyber-security.
Need help?
Should you have any issues accessing the Remote Desktop after the change has been implemented on Tuesday 28 March, please contact the IT Service Desk.
Tags: IT, IT Service Desk, UK Remote Desktop, Working overseas
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Join us for Sustainability Action Week
March 7th, 2023
Sustainability Action Week will take place from 13-17 March this year and sees a week of activities and events to raise awareness of environmental and social issues.
There will be something for everyone across our campuses as we focus on sustainable careers, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals in teaching, and actions we can all take to make a positive change for the planet.
You’ll also have the opportunity to find out what the university is doing to address climate change on campus when it comes to our waste, travel, energy and much more.
There’s loads to get involved with, from hedgehog-friendly litter picking through to creating waste from art – alongside a series of exciting lectures and talks.
View the full programme
If you are planning to host your own activity or want to support one of the ones listed in the link above, please contact the Sustainability Team.
Tags: sustainability, Sustainability Action Week
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New AccessAble app launches
March 7th, 2023
The university is proud to announce the launch of the new AccessAble app, a revolutionary tool that will greatly benefit all of our students, staff and visitors to campus.
We know how critical having an inclusive estate is to fostering a strong sense of belonging for everyone, therefore we have invested £200K in the creation of this App to ensure everyone can find and access the facilities they need for their work and study.
The survey information collected to create the App will also be used to help the Estates Team prioritise budget spend to make the campuses more inclusive in the future and to inform the design of Castle Meadow Campus.
The app is designed to provide practical information about facilities available and the access routes into a building before people set off on their journey, as well as signposting to prayer rooms, parenting rooms, gender-neutral toilets and quiet spaces.
It will also provide detailed information on the accessibility of different buildings on campus, including features such as step-free access, parking, gender neutral and accessible toilets.
In addition to the campus features, the app includes information on local transport options, such as bus and train routes that are wheelchair accessible.
This feature means that all of our community can plan their journey to campus with the confidence that they will be able to get there without encountering any unnecessary barriers.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and People Professor Katherine Linehan said:
“As we continue to strive towards a more inclusive campus, the launch of the AccessAble app is a significant milestone that will help create a more welcoming and supportive environment for all members of our community.
The app is a great resource for people to plan and organise their time on campus, locate our inclusive facilities such as parenting rooms and represents a significant step towards removing barriers that may prevent individuals with protected characteristics from feeling fully included in university life.”
The app uses an easy-to-understand rating system to indicate the level of accessibility, which will be incredibly useful for individuals who may face difficulties navigating the campus due to mobility, visual, or hearing impairments or as a result of sensory overload
To celebrate the app going live, the university will be holding an in-person launch event at 2-3pm on Monday 27 March in The Performing Arts Space, Monica Partridge Building where representatives from AccessAble will be available to answer any questions or queries.
Book your place at the launch event
The AccessAble app is now available to download on both Apple and Android devices and we encourage all staff, students and visitors to make use of the valuable information it provides.
Tags: AccessAble, accessibility
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Nurse review of research ecosystem is published as UK reveals plan to become a global science ‘superpower’
March 7th, 2023
The government has published a series of strategic announcements on research, including the much-anticipated independent review of research development and innovation (RDI) in the UK by Sir Paul Nurse.
The recently created Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s Science and Technology Framework meanwhile sets out a 10-point plan for securing the government’s ambition to make the UK a global science ‘superpower’ by 2030.
This includes identifying critical technologies, investing in R&D, developing talent, building international relationships and communicating the UK’s R&D strengths.
The Nurse review examines how an effective UK research ecosystem is essential to delivering these ambitions. It acknowledges the enormous strengths of the UK research base, including how the diversity and quality of our universities enriches the UK RDI ecosystem.
But weaknesses of RDI in the UK include too much bureaucracy, a focus on competition rather than collaboration by funding systems and lack of “end to end” research funding (encompassing direct research costs; administrative services; technical facilities; and laboratory facilities), while policy turmoil disincentivises long-term planning and investment.
Sir Paul recommends the government adopt a single strategic framework for RDI, which could help reform funding arrangements, reduce red tape, increase permeability of knowledge skills and expertise between sectors and boost diversity of organisations in the research ecosystem.
He adds that association with Horizon Europe should also be quickly established to prevent the loss of some of the UK’s most talented researchers and “maintain collaborations… with one of the largest and most powerful research communities in the world”.
The government has yet to publish its response to the Nurse review, although the Science and Technology Framework adopts some of its recommendations.
The Department for Science, Innovation and has meanwhile extended a promise to pay researchers for grants won from the EU’s Horizon Europe funding scheme to June 2023.
News of a potential protocol between the UK and the EU to resolve deadlocked trade issues in Northern Ireland has raised hopes of UK researchers being able to access Horizon Europe, the European Commission’s flagship €95 billion programme for funding research and innovation.
Tags: Global science, Science and Technology Framework, The Nurse review
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Higher education sector – attracting international investment across the country
March 7th, 2023
A new blueprint for universities and government to work together aims to unleash the levelling-up potential of the UK’s world-renowned higher education sector to help attract international investment across the country. It was launched today by the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) and Universities UK International (UUKi).
The report comes as the Government announced nearly £0.5m of funding for the Midlands Pilot, developed by a coalition of 17 universities and partners including the Midlands Engine Partnership. It is led by Midlands Innovation with the support of Midlands Enterprise Universities and hosted by the University of Nottingham. The Pilot is helping identify and develop R&D investment propositions involving universities from across the region.
Drawing on extensive analysis and research from its authors and a pilot underway in the Midlands, the report points to a significant opportunity to provide a long-term boost for local economies by attracting more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the innovation clusters that surround university campuses across the UK. It suggests a number of practical measures that would better leverage universities’ global connections to directly support their local areas by attracting investment to boost economic development and job creation.
It proposes a national programme and policy framework to deliver more ambitious, joined-up thinking between universities, local growth partners and Government around securing FDI into R&D; including learning from international best-practice from around the world.
While the report finds evidence that universities already play an important role in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the UK, it identifies a clear opportunity for this role to be expanded and improved making a number of recommendations for government, universities and local economic growth organisations. These include:
- Government should target the world’s top 200 R&D investors, taking advantage of its new Whitehall Departments to launch a refreshed and more ambitious approach to securing FDI into science and technology
- Government should incorporate FDI into R&D into its ambitious new plans to forge bilateral international research and innovation bridges with partner nations.
- Universities, government and local partners should work together to showcase the investment potential of the innovation clusters that surround campuses across the UK
- Universities should work together and ‘hunt in packs’ in order to attract more significant inward investment into regional economies
- A more systematic approach should be taken to introduce universities to firms who may potentially or have recently invested in a local area
On levelling up, the report finds that universities have a unique role to play: not only to provide the foundation for the research ecosystem that attracts investment, but also offer a pipeline of skilled graduates for industry collaboration and spin-outs. The recommendations could help level-up local economies beyond London and the South East, by supporting the expansion of innovation clusters with universities at their heart.
George Freeman MP, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, said: “The Government is determined to harness the full potential of our nation’s outstanding universities to bring greater investment, growth and prosperity to communities right across the UK. Attracting private investment into our clusters of innovation is central to our ambition to be the most innovative economy in the world and a science and technology superpower. We want to support our universities to continue conducting world-class science and achieving global impact for global good, all in an increasingly competitive international landscape. I welcome this report and hope it will be a catalyst for action on this ambition, as we work together to build a brighter future for our country.”
Nick Hillman, Director of HEPI said: “I have seen close up the enormous benefits that foreign direct investment brings to the UK as a governor of the University of Manchester, as a former special adviser to the Minister for Science and as someone who currently lives in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc. It creates highly skilled jobs, promotes innovation and improves local people’s quality of life. If the UK is to deliver substantial further economic growth while also levelling up, we must now get even better at welcoming new investment from overseas. This report shows clearly how the UK can build an unrivalled offer and I know our excellent university system stands ready to be at the heart of it.”
Dr Helen Turner, Director of Midlands Innovation, said: “This report builds on the trail-blazing universities as drivers of trade and investment pilot led by universities and our partners in the Midlands and supported by Government. It highlights the invaluable role universities already play in attracting high-quality inward investment outside of London and the South East to grow the clusters of innovation that will ultimately help level-up those regional economies.
We particularly welcome the recommendation that universities should work collaboratively to ‘hunt in packs’ by scaling-up their strengths, ambitions and offer to investors. Midlands Innovation is proud to develop and host the Pilot and will continue to share emergent findings from the programme with universities and policymakers from across the UK.”
Jamie Arrowsmith, Director of Universities UK International, said: “This report outlines the major role that international business investment in university R&D has to play in driving growth and prosperity – both domestically and further afield. This investment benefits local communities, creates jobs, and amplifies the global reach of UK research. Our members are increasingly leveraging their role as global actors to build new and strengthen existing links with international businesses, but this report makes it equally clear that there is more to be done. UUKi looks forward to helping take forward the recommendations in the report, to help maximise the potential of our universities to act as beacons for global investment.”
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