Campus News
LMA ‘Management Essentials’ sessions open
December 5th, 2022
As you start to think about the New Year, take a look at the Leadership and Management Academy’s Management Essentials sessions which will start in January and run throughout the year.
Managing teams requires a mix of both technical knowledge and core management skills.
If you are looking to build on your existing knowledge and skills, want a refresh, or have started to manage people for the first time, our management essentials webinars will explore the “what” and the “how” of fundamental management activities and provide practical ways to be effective.
The 50-minute bite-size sessions are held online covering a range of topics including:
- Onboarding and Induction
- Setting and managing expectations
- Managing sickness and absence
- Effective delegation
- Organising resources and tasks
- Performance Management conversations
- Building trust in your team to enhance performance
For further information, dates and booking please visit the Management Essentials page.
Tags: Leadership and Management Academy, LMA, Management skills, Staff training
Posted in Announcements, News | Comments Off on LMA ‘Management Essentials’ sessions open
Professor of Primary Healthcare Tony Avery receives OBE at Buckingham Palace
December 1st, 2022
Professor of Primary Healthcare Tony Avery of the School of Medicine has received his OBE from Princess Anne at Buckingham Palace.
Professor Avery, a GP and Senior Investigator for the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), was honoured for services to general practice.
He said of the ceremony, which took place yesterday (30 November):
“I am very honoured to have received my OBE at Buckingham Palace and I would like to thank all my friends and colleagues who have worked with me to help make the use of medicines in general practice safer for everyone.”
Professor Avery’s research focuses on patient safety in primary care, a priority area for the NHS, and he has led ground-breaking studies to identify the frequency, nature and cause of prescribing errors and avoidable harm in primary care.
He has developed and evaluated a range of interventions that have led to improvements in patient safety. A pharmacist-led information-technology-based intervention (PINCER), reduced prescribing errors in general practice in a large, cluster-randomised trial and has now been rolled out to more than 2,500 general practices across England. As a result, over 20,000 patients have benefitted from safer prescriptions.
After completing his undergraduate medical degree at the University of Sheffield in 1986, Professor Avery completed his GP training in Nottingham, and has been a clinical academic at the University of Nottingham since 1992. He was appointed as the Director of Research for the School of Medicine at Nottingham in 2013 and was Dean and Head of Nottingham School of Medicine from 2015-2019. Professor Avery also works as a GP at a surgery in Chilwell, Nottingham.
Professor Avery is among three University of Nottingham academics in the New Year Honours 2022. Jonathan Van Tam, Professor of Health Protection in the School of Medicine, and one of the most recognisable faces from the scientific response to the Covid-19 pandemic, received a knighthood.
Professor Van Tam specialises in influenza, epidemiology, transmission, vaccinology and pandemic preparedness. He is an alumnus of the university and graduated from the School of Medicine in 1987.
A previous recipient of an MBE, he become a familiar face during Downing Street briefings on Covid-19 while seconded to the Department of Health as a Deputy Chief Medical Officer. Professor Van Tam is now Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Nottingham.
Professor Robert Mokaya was recognised with an OBE for services to the chemical sciences. Joining as an EPSRC Advanced Fellow, he has built an extensive 16-year career at Nottingham and is now Professor of Materials Chemistry and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement.
Professor Mokaya heads up a world-leading research group on sustainable energy materials and valorisation of carbon feedstocks and publishing 175 articles with more than 13,000 citations. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a founding member of the RSC Pan Africa Chemistry Network, vastly improving African chemists’ access to, and the impact of, chemical knowledge in countries across the continent.
Tags: Buckingham Palace, OBE, School of Medicine, Tony Avery
Posted in News | Comments Off on Professor of Primary Healthcare Tony Avery receives OBE at Buckingham Palace
UNNC to complete the semester online
November 29th, 2022
Staff and students at the University of Nottingham, Ningbo (UNNC) will complete the remaining weeks of their semester online, following the detection of a small number of cases of Covid-19 among the student population.
A number of universities and organisations in Ningbo, including UNNC, have been affected by the recent increase in Covid-19 cases in China. Following the legal requirements for the management of Covid-19 in China, the regional health authorities temporarily closed the campus on 23 November and instigated a daily PCR testing programme.
The UNNC Management Board, led by UNNC Provost Professor Nick Miles, implemented the campus contingency plan and UNNC staff have worked 24/7, liaising with the regional health authorities to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the UNNC community, placing the highest priority on the welfare of students and staff.
To date 34 cases have been identified at UNNC in a population of more than 8,000 staff and students, and now, following three consecutive days where no new cases have been detected, preparations are underway to resume teaching activities.
Given the challenges of restarting the full campus experience following temporary closure, teaching will recommence online from Monday 5 December until the end of the semester, with the aim of restoring in-person teaching and activities on campus from the start of the next semester.
Staff and students are being supported and their safety and wellbeing is paramount. Should colleagues receive enquiries from staff or students in China, they should be directed to the dedicated contact points set up by UNNC to raise concerns:
- Students: student2020@nottingham.edu.cn
- Staff: staff2020@nottingham.edu.cn
- Parents: parents2020@nottingham.edu.cn
Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West expressed sympathy for students and paid tribute to the staff at UNNC, saying:
“Our colleagues at UNNC have kept me and UEB closely informed of developments, and we continue to offer all the help, advice and support possible to assist UNNC at this time. I am hugely grateful for the dedication and care shown by UNNC staff for the welfare of our community in Ningbo. I also send my sympathies to our students and thank them for their steadfast response to these most challenging of circumstances.
“I know just how difficult this work can be from our own experience of lockdowns and restrictions at the UK campus, and of course the stringent measures in China will present additional challenges in what remains a fast-moving environment. However, I have every confidence that the professionalism and dedication shown by UNNC colleagues will see the campus through this concerning period.”
UNNC Provost Professor Nick Miles thanked staff for their hard work and students for their patience in observing the testing and quarantine arrangements implemented by the health authorities:
“The strict legal requirements on Covid-19 in China has meant that the majority of students and staff have been subject to a form of quarantine in central hotels, on-campus, or in their own homes. However, I am pleased that their quarantine periods are ending across this week and students and staff will be able to return to their own homes or alternative accommodation provided free of charge by UNNC.
“UNNC staff have continued to place the priority on the welfare of students and staff, ensuring the delivery of meals on campus, and online engagement with quarantining students. Staff are also attending the central quarantine facilities to offer students support. Where concerns have been expressed at the standards of a small number of central quarantine facilities, UNNC has escalated these to be addressed by the Chinese health authorities so that they can be brought up to the standard our students have every right to expect.
“In light of the current circumstances, teaching will resume online from 5 December until the end of this semester, where we will then aim to return to a full in-person teaching operation from the start of the following semester. We will continue to ensure all students and staff at UNNC receive daily communications to update them on what remains a fast-moving situation.”
Tags: China, COVID-19, Ningbo, UNNC
Posted in Announcements, News | Comments Off on UNNC to complete the semester online
CARO wins marketing excellence award
November 29th, 2022
The university’s Campaign and Alumni Relations Office (CARO) were delighted to take home the Responsible Marketing Award at the annual Dotties Awards which were presented at The Troxy in London on 17 November.
Hosted by marketing platform Dotdigital, the Dotties Awards are presented for marketing excellence in 17 categories.
The university was among 60 shortlisted organisations, and took home the Responsible Marketing Award in recognition of the successful Nottingham Ambition Giving Day which raised nearly £70k earlier this year.
The money raised will fund scholarships for disadvantaged students, medical research at the university, mental health support at the Students’ Union and the Cascade student project fund.
From left to right: David Aldrich, Jonathan Jones, Faye Haslam, Tom Hills and Kerry Godliman
The university was presented the award alongside 16 other winners including Help for Heroes, Bristol Airport, Ann Summers, Southampton Football Club and Parkdean Resorts.
The Responsible Marketing Award was collected on the night by Tom Hills, Digital Channels Manager and Faye Haslam, Alumni Communications Manager from CARO.
Plans are already underway for a second Giving Day, due to take place in November next year.
Tags: CARO, DotDigital, Dotties, Marketing
Posted in Announcements, News | Comments Off on CARO wins marketing excellence award
VC staff surgeries: Tuesday 13 December, 11am – 12noon
November 29th, 2022
The next set of ‘staff surgery’ sessions are now available for colleagues to discuss any issue with Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West, on Tuesday 13 December 2022, from 11am – 12noon.
Booking your session
To register for a session, please email BA-VC-Surgery@exmail.nottingham.ac.uk with your preferred date from the list below and a brief agenda for the meeting.
Places are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so colleagues are encouraged to book early.
You will be contacted within two working days of your request confirming the date and time.
Further surgery sessions are available on:
- Tuesday 24 January, 3pm-4.30pm
- Tuesday 21 February, 3pm-4.30pm
- Wednesday 22 March, 1pm-2pm
- Tuesday 18 April, 10.30am-12noon
Further information is available at VC Staff Surgery.
Conversations will usually be held in-person, although can be arranged via Teams if preferred.
Tags: VC Staff Surgeries, VC Surgeries, Vice-Chancellor's surgeries
Posted in Announcements, News, Opportunities | Comments Off on VC staff surgeries: Tuesday 13 December, 11am – 12noon
Information security awareness training: November 2022
November 29th, 2022
To help us all to protect the data we handle, we are continuing our compulsory information security awareness training for all UK-based staff.
Cyber security continues to present a significant threat to universities, with several UK universities suffering significant cyber security incidents this year, impacting their key operations .
At the university, our security team block an enormous number of phishing emails and attacks on a daily basis. We have also been upgrading our cyber security controls, but everyone has a role to play in keeping our data safe.
This week (W/C 28 November 2022) all staff will receive an email from “UoN Information Security” with a safe link to the training modules.
There are two modules covering the topics: Phishing emails, and Protecting Data. The total viewing time is about 10 minutes for each module.
Each topic will help you understand your role in protecting our data, advice on what to do if you receive a phishing email, and where to get help.
The modules can be watched separately or together and each one ends with a quiz.
The training is compulsory for all staff at our UK campuses and the modules will be available to complete until Tuesday 28 February 2023.
Tags: Information security, Information security training, Staff training
Posted in Announcements, News | 3 Comments »
University of Nottingham seasonal e-cards 2022
November 28th, 2022
This year’s seasonal e-cards are now available for staff to send to colleagues, associates and partner organisations.
By sending an e-card you will be contributing to the university’s sustainability goal and supporting our commitment to being a leading green university.
You may also wish to make a donation to the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre or a charity of your choice in lieu of the money you would have spent on cards.
This year we have created two designs – please visit the downloads page to choose your preferred design and for full instructions on how to send.
If you’re having trouble accessing the ZIP file, please email brand@nottingham.ac.uk and they will be able to provide it in an alternative format.
Season’s greetings to all at the University of Nottingham. Enjoy the holiday season and we wish you all the best for the New Year.
Posted in Announcements, News | Comments Off on University of Nottingham seasonal e-cards 2022
Volunteer to join our panel – Your Nottingham Alumni Awards 2023
November 28th, 2022
Would you consider applying to volunteer to join our selection panel?
We are currently looking for staff in all job families and at all levels to apply to volunteer as panel members for our Your Nottingham Alumni Awards.
These awards celebrate our diverse alumni community (people who previously studied at the university) and share the stories of how they carry Nottingham’s values into the world and the impact that they make. No two paths or experiences are the same; that’s what makes our alumni community so special.
The awards are presented at the Summer Graduation ceremonies.
This year, for the first time, we are welcoming applications to join our selection panel. We actively encourage applications to volunteer from staff who identify as members of often underrepresented groups.
Our alumni community is hugely diverse and it is important that our panel reflects this.
Alumni awards at Nottingham have been formally presented since 2007 (previously called Alumni Laureate Awards), but in 2020 we undertook an EDI review, as well as updating their look and feel in line with our broader alumni programme.
Amongst many other changes, we recognised that key to the awards becoming more inclusive, was a diverse selection panel.
Successful applicants will join the panel for one cycle. We will open applications each year and previous panel members are welcome to apply.
As a member of our panel you will be required to complete approx. 1 hour of training at the end of January 2023 (format to be confirmed), commit approx. 2 hours to review the alumni award nominations in early February 2023 (electronic file sent for you to review), and attend a panel meeting to discuss nominees for approx 2 to 3 hours in mid-late February 2023.
Please gain your line manager’s approval for this time commitment prior to submitting an application.
To apply to volunteer to join our selection panel, please complete this quick online form.
The deadline for applications is Friday 6 January 2023.
If you have any queries, please contact Lily.Fairless@nottingham.ac.uk in the Alumni Engagement Team.
Tags: alumni, alumni community, Alumni engagement, Your Nottingham Alumni Awards
Posted in Announcements, News | Comments Off on Volunteer to join our panel – Your Nottingham Alumni Awards 2023
Climate change: we are determined to make a difference
November 28th, 2022
Research update from Professor Neil Crout
Following COP27 in Egypt, I am pleased to share news of how our researchers are delivering solutions to climate change, from a new energy system set to reduce carbon emissions and homeowners’ bills at an award-winning community energy scheme in Nottingham, to the development of the world’s first biodiversity credit standards, to help businesses and governments to quantify their impacts on the natural world.
In Indonesia, our partnerships with Southeast Asia’s largest economy are helping to develop infrastructure for the development of electric vehicles and a new net zero translation centre in West Java, to support the transition of Indonesia’s most populous province a net zero economy.
Research investment to support sector while Horizon negotiations continue
The government has announced almost £500m in funding for the UK’s R&D sector to mitigate the “increasing pressure on UK universities and research organisations” caused by ongoing uncertainty over UK participation in Horizon Europe.
Science Minister George Freeman made a written statement to the House of Commons indicating that details of the government’s planned alternative to Horizon would be published shortly.
Some £280 million of the new funds will be distributed by UKRI, including just over £70m each for both the UKRI World Class Labs fund and the Research Capital Investment Fund, as well as £100m in QR funding for English universities, with additional funding for the other UK nations.
The package also includes £30m for the Talent and Research Stabilisation Fund, designed to help with talent retention in the absence of Horizon association.
Best wishes
Professor Neil Crout
Interim Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange
Read Professor Crout’s full update
Tags: climate change, COP27, Horizon, Professor Neil Crout, R&D, research update
Posted in Announcements, Main News Story, News | Comments Off on Climate change: we are determined to make a difference
Nottingham Reward Scheme (NRS) – submit nominations by end of December
November 28th, 2022
The Nottingham Reward Scheme is designed to reward exceptional performance for staff whose contribution goes above and beyond the normal expectation of their role.
Local Reward Committees will next be reviewing the £500 and fixed value nominations in January 2023.
If you are a line manager or you want to make a self-nomination* please ensure you submit your nominations by Saturday 31 December 2022 for them to be considered for payment in February 2023.
*self-nominations only available for fixed value awards.
There are 3 approval windows for the Nottingham Reward Scheme, January, April and June so any nominations made after Saturday 31 December 2022 will be reviewed in the next available window.
Since launching the new online nomination system in November 2021 there have been more than 3,400 staff recognised.
Please review the Nottingham Reward Scheme for full details, including the full eligibility criteria.
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.
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 appropriate reward level button on the right-hand side to complete your nomination.
Posted in Announcements, News | Comments Off on Nottingham Reward Scheme (NRS) – submit nominations by end of December