Campus News
Research and Innovation: update on refreshed structure and welcome to new colleagues
September 21st, 2022
Research and Innovation (R&I) is welcoming staff into new roles as it completes the first phase of a transition to a new operating structure.
Director Pip Peakman is leading on the restructure, which is designed to strengthen support to academics and allow R&I to be more agile in anticipating and seizing funding opportunities.
R&I’s restructure aligns with delivery of the university’s renewed research strategy for 2022-27 and will further enhance Nottingham’s ability to be strategic and focused in response the challenges facing the UK and societies around the world.
Pip said: “I am delighted that we have successfully enhanced our resources within Research and Innovation. We have achieved this with a combination of external recruitment, internal promotion and changes in roles for some staff. This establishes a strong position for us to provide a more agile and sustainable approach to delivering the Research and KE Strategic Delivery Plans and associated key performance indicators. These changes will improve cross team-working, and enable us to focus on outcome-driven, evidence-based working.
“I recognise this has been an unsettling time for R&I staff and I would like to thank all of you for your patience and professionalism throughout the past few months. I hope that colleagues will join me in looking forward to a new and refreshed division where we can be more focused and strategic as we work towards supporting the delivery of the university’s research and KE strategies.”
Following consultation on a new operating structure in January 2022, an extensive recruitment process culminated in 27 appointments to new roles. Some existing roles changed and others remain the same, with the number of R&I posts overall increasing in the new structure.
Pip added: “We congratulate staff who have been promoted and welcome our new recruits. Niall O’Loughlin will be joining us from Durham University at the end of November as our new Director of RKE Excellence and Strategy.
Niall O’Loughlin
“Niall has worked in UK higher education for the past 14 years and at Durham University since 2016, latterly as Co-Director of Research & Innovation Services, where he led a specialist multidisciplinary team responsible for research and KE performance, policies and systems across Durham’s 29 academic departments and 10 interdisciplinary research institutes, as well as supporting Durham’s submission to the Research Excellence Framework, Knowledge Exchange Framework and the Higher Education Business and Community Interaction Survey.”
Niall said: “I am very excited to come Nottingham as Director of RKE Excellence and Strategy, where I’ll be leading the newly formed Research and Knowledge Exchange Strategy Directorate. Our key objectives are to develop, implement and monitor the university’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Strategic Delivery Plans, support high performance, provide accurate information and analytics to support evidenced based decision making, and ensure that the Researcher Academy continues to effectively contribute to the university’s RKE strategies.”
Also joining Research and Innovation in senior new posts are:
- Victoria Crossley – Strategic Lead (UKRI)
- Catherine Allford – Head of RKE Strategic Management & Performance
Congratulations also to R&I colleagues moving into senior roles:
- Catherine Jew – Head of Research & KE Development
- Ali Alshukry – Head of Research Integrity, Risk & Compliance
Pip added “This is a really exciting time for R&I as we come to the completion of the recruitment part of phase 1 of the roadmap. We will now be focusing our research culture, people development processes, management leadership training across R&I and business partnering with Faculties to breakdown silo working to support research delivery and KPIs.
In phase 2 we will be looking in more detail at how we deliver the objectives of IP & Commercialisation and the Researcher Academy. In addition, we will continue the work started in phase 1 to develop a quality management and continual improvement framework within Research Operations”.
Please visit Research and Innovation’s pages for more on the changes, including new roles.
For questions and comments, please contact: bb-regs@exmail.nottingham.ac.uk
Tags: R&I, research, Research and Innovation
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Research culture survey: what you told us and how to help us keep improving
September 20th, 2022
Update from Professor Neil Crout, interim Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange
In April, my predecessor Professor Dame Jessica Corner invited you to take part in our first university-wide survey of research culture at Nottingham.
I am delighted to share the survey’s initial findings and an update on next steps as we work together to better understand how to build a positive research culture and environment, where everyone who carries out or supports research can achieve their very best.
Across the university, 870 colleagues completed the survey and you told us that most people in our sample:
- Feel they are well-led where they work
- Feel that their leadership team cares about them, is accessible and committed to the EDI agenda
- Know what is expected of them and feel able to meet expectations
- Feel they have the support of colleagues
- Feel their ADC (Appraisal and Development Conversation) reviewer cares about their wellbeing
We are very grateful that colleagues from job families across the university took the time to complete the survey. We’ve discovered that there are some really great places to work and areas where support is needed to make them even better.
Many of you are also taking part in further research culture activities – and there will be more opportunities to get involved on the way.
Thank you. Without your enthusiasm, positive input and readiness to challenge, we simply could not progress towards our goal of an inclusive, positive and enabling research community.
There remains, however, much to do. In the survey you also told us:
- A majority of respondents feel pressured to work long hours
- A majority feel they could achieve more here at the University of Nottingham
- Less than half feel mental health is appropriately supported
- Only a minority feel that underperformance or poor behaviours are constructively challenged
- A large minority feel that research processes and systems do not support them in their research
Your ideas and input will help us overcome the challenges we face.
The findings from our survey are informing staff-led working groups, where colleagues are focusing on co-creating practical steps towards improving local research cultures.
By trying out ideas that might scale up, you will help build a positive culture from the ground up and truly bring about change.
Find out more
Data, videos and presentations from:
Get involved and share your ideas
Please contact us if you would like to get involved in our research culture events, share an idea or find out more.
We are meeting with colleagues at school level to discuss the findings of the survey and what we can learn from them. We will also publish School findings where these are available. Please also look out for a series of informal Café Culture get-togethers, where we can spark conversations and share ideas and experiences.
Thank you for your continued support. We want all colleagues from every job family to be heard. Together, we will help shape a research culture where everyone can feel part of a community, thrive, and be supported in achieving their highest ambitions.
Best wishes
Neil
Professor Neil Crout
Interim Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange
Tags: research, research culture, research culture survey
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PVC EDI blog: A new year and a strong sense of belonging
September 20th, 2022
In her latest blog as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and People, Professor Katherine Linehan talks about what the word ‘belonging’ means to her and discusses ways in which we can instil a sense of belonging throughout our university community.
Tags: equality, Equality Diversity and Inclusion, Professor Katherine Linehan, PVC EDI, PVC EDI Blog
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Inaugural Lean event with Getting in Shape Team
September 20th, 2022
The Getting in Shape team held their inaugural Lean event on Wednesday 24 August 2022, with more than 70 people from across the university signing up to attend workshops and network.
On the day, people were able to hear from Dr. Nalayini Thambar, Director of Getting in Shape, about her reflections on the past and where the project is headed.
There was also a talk given by one of our stakeholders about working with Getting in Shape via a Pecha Kucha as well as two interactive workshops that people could get involved in.
Workshop one introduced the concept of Runners, Repeaters and Strangers and how to manage these different customer requirements, while workshop two reinforced the need for good standards and how to create them.
You can read more about the inaugural Lean event on the Getting in Shape Sharepoint site.
The Getting in Shape Team has a vision to contribute to a strong, effective and engaged organisational culture by helping to remove pain points, improve processes and reduce waste in order to invest our time and resources in ways that will address our challenges and build on our strength.
A key part of enabling this vision is to build Lean Capability within the organisation through training and practice, which led to the development of The Lean Community (TLC) – a training group that aims to help colleagues develop their knowledge, skills and learning through regular interaction.
If you would like to learn more about Lean and get involved in future sessions, please contact the Getting in Shape Team.
Tags: getting in shape, LEAN
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Cost of living: support for postgraduate research students
September 20th, 2022
Update from Professor Lucy Donaldson, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Researcher Academy and Researcher Career Development
These are very challenging times for many members of our postgraduate research community. Just as we continue recovery from the pandemic, the cost of living crisis is bringing new pressures to many of you.
I am happy to reaffirm the university’s support for our valued PGR community and outline the help and resources available to you during this difficult time.
All eligible postgraduate research students (PGRs) starting or continuing their studies in 2022/23, who receive stipends from UKRI, the Leverhulme Trust, the Royal Society or through University of Nottingham-funded scholarships, will receive increased financial support from October 2022 to help combat the rising cost of living.
This commitment follows UK Research and Innovation’s announcement that it is increasing its minimum student stipend for the 2022-23 academic year by 13% compared to the 2021-22 stipend. The Leverhulme Trust and the Royal Society have also increased their stipends for this year in line with UKRI.
This means that PGRs who receive UKRI minimum stipend support from the university, either through a UKRI training programme or a university-funded scholarship, will see an increase by £2,059 for 2022/23 compared to the 2021-22 rate.
We welcome UKRI’s initiative and I am delighted that Nottingham has also secured increased stipends for the PGRs funded by university scholarships.
We recognise that many of our postgraduate research community are concerned over rising bills and living costs and we have been liaising with the Russell Group and UKRI over the summer on how to address this. Our colleagues are now working very hard to process the revised payments that are due to you, to get these set up in time for October stipend payments.
Please be patient with us – revisions to the payment schedules for hundreds of individual PGRs across the university will take time. We’d therefore really appreciate it if you could first talk to your supervisors about any individual queries you might have about stipends.
We know that many self-funding PGRs and those with additional responsibilities or expenses who may not benefit from this support will also be facing financial difficulties. There are university hardship funds available for anyone struggling to make ends meet, including a childcare support fund. The online application for 2022/23 is not yet open so if you are in financial difficulties please contact the financial support team.
UKRI’s announcement on 2 September followed a review of the support it offers PGR students. The university is awaiting any additional information from UKRI on its revised support for postgraduate researchers and the New Deal for Postgraduate Research.
Please note that the level and availability of increased support may vary, for example for PGRs who receive enhanced stipends or for those who are not fully funded by the university.
The increase will not apply to stipend payments made to researchers by other external organisations or sources, such as industrial partners. In these cases we suggest that you discuss with your supervisors whether it is appropriate to inform your sponsor of the increase in stipend made by UKRI and the university.
Further support for our PGRs
If you have any concerns, in the first instance we encourage you to contact your supervisors or programme director.
The Researcher Academy, Student Services and SU Advice also offer a range of support and guidance on wellbeing and the challenges of managing your PhD and life at Nottingham. We are working with Students’ Union officers to ensure that together we can provide the support you need.
Best wishes
Lucy
Professor Lucy Donaldson
Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Researcher Academy and Researcher Career Development
Tags: PGR students, Postgraduate research students, support for postgraduate students
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New process for reporting faulty equipment in teaching spaces
September 20th, 2022
Following feedback from colleagues at the university, a new way of reporting faults with technical equipment has been launched.
At the university, we have a wealth of IT (Information and Technology) and AV (Audio Visual) equipment available in our teaching and learning spaces – and we understand how important it is that these are functioning properly and fully optimised to support and enrich the teaching and learning experiences of our staff and students.
We also recognise the frustration teaching staff experience when this may not be the case.
As a result, and following constructive feedback, we have changed the way faults are reported, streamlining the process, and making it easier to report faults and get prompt resolutions.
The new ways to get help are:
Reporting problems with technical equipment
We have dedicated IT support teams across our UK campuses to provide technical support for staff and students experiencing issues with IT or AV equipment.
- All urgent issues, whether IT or Estate related, should be reported immediately on a new number (0115 74) 87777 (between 8:30am-5pm).
- For general enquiries regarding technical equipment and/or non-urgent support, please call (0115 95) 16677 or register a fault via the new form https://nott.ac/room-fault.
You can also find information on the AV systems online at https ://nott.ac/teaching-space
Reporting problems with non-technical equipment
- As above, all urgent issues, whether IT or Estate related, should be reported immediately on a new number (0115 74) 87777 (between 8:30am – 5pm).
- Non-urgent issues involving non-technical equipment, such as furniture, for example, should be reported directly to the Estates helpdesk.
Our estate and Digital Campus Services – formerly known as Campus IT Support (CITS) – are currently conducting room checks, ensuring all technical and non-technical equipment is in full working order, ready for the new term.
This should be completed imminently. The team will endeavour to test the functionality of all teaching and learning spaces and the equipment within them, and ask colleagues to promptly report any further issues once the new term begins to resolve them quickly.
Tags: CITS, Digital Campus Services, equipment, teaching and learning, technical equipment
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University Counselling Service – autumn programme
September 16th, 2022
The university’s counselling service has released its autumn programme of workshops.
The university’s counselling service provides a year-round service including groups and workshops, self-help resources and individual counselling.
Support is free and confidential, provided by professionally qualified counsellors who can offer help with personal and psychological problems. You can arrange a counselling consultation yourself, you don’t need to be referred.
Workshop sessions will have input from the counsellor running it, as well as reflective exercises to allow discussion and sharing of experiences from students attending. They are often focused on finding practical ways of managing specific issues.
Upcoming workshops for staff include:
- Breathe Here Now – Mindfulness for Staff and Students
Monday 10 October, 1.30pm – 2pm
MS Teams live event, Online – 365 Teams Meeting
Register your interest - Breathe Here Now – Mindfulness for Staff and Students
Thursday 8 December, 1.30pm – 2pm
University Park
Register your interest
Registration for each workshop will open 2 weeks prior to the start of the workshop. If you would like to register interest before this, click the booking link and and click the heart on the left side of the Eventbrite page.
For more information, please visit the Counselling Service’s website.
Tags: counselling, mindfullness, staff wellbeing, The University Counselling Service, wellbeing
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New Widening Participation SharePoint sites launched
September 15th, 2022
Three SharePoint sites have been launched providing detailed information and guidance on key outreach and Access and Participation areas.
The new sites will help colleagues understand more about the Access and Participation Plan, the work of the Widening Participation Team and the newly-launched Schools and Colleges Engagement Strategy.
Widening Participation and Outreach
This site provides an overview of the work of the Widening Participation and Outreach team, including guidance on how academic colleagues and their students can get involved in outreach, either in partnership with the WP and Outreach team or independently. You can also find a variety of resources and practical information about running outreach activities.
For more information, please contact Peter Bruce.
Schools and Colleges Engagement Strategy
This site provides an overview of the newly updated Schools and Colleges Engagement Strategy, including how it links to and aligns with other institutional strategies, plans and areas of work. It explores each of the five priority areas to guide current and future University of Nottingham engagement with schools and colleges.
For more information, please contact Peter Bruce.
Access and Participation Plan (APP)
This five-year plan sets out how we will improve equality of opportunity for underrepresented groups to access, succeed in and progress from the university. Universities in England are required to have an APP and they are approved and monitored by the Office for Students (OfS).
The SharePoint site holds essential information about the plan, including:
- an introduction to the APP including what the targets are and progress to date
- details on what we’re doing to address the inequalities that exist at the university
- useful links to data so colleagues can explore data for specific groups of students or by School
- details on the governance of the APP and who is involved in the work
- details how colleagues can apply for funding to run projects which will help us achieve our APP targets
For more information, please contact Grace Patterson-Mik.
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Celebrate Black History Month 2022
September 14th, 2022
Black History Month has been celebrated in the UK for more than 30 years. It acknowledges signature moments in the history of the UK and is a celebration of the magnificence of cultural diversity and the enriching value in peaceful co-existence.
A number of events are taking place at the University of Nottingham throughout October in celebration of Black History Month, acknowledging history is being made not just during October but every minute, every hour, every day, every week and month.
At Nottingham we are committed to supporting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) for our staff and students and we’d like to encourage everyone to get involved, join our celebrations and share details of the programme within their respective areas.
Throughout the month of October, we will be hosting a number of events, workshops, film screenings and interactive discussions as part of our celebrations.
Highlights of the month include:
Action, not words: enabling Black success
Wednesday 5 October, 1.30pm – 2pm
Online event
A panel of Black staff, students and alumni will be exploring what Black success means to them, what barriers they have faced and how they have overcome them. They will also discuss what facilitates Black success in Higher Education.
Born to exist: the woman I know
Tuesday 18 October, from 7.30pm
Djanogly Theatre, Lakeside Arts
The final part of Toonga’s nationally acclaimed Hip Hop Dance trilogy, Born to Exist invites change to overcome societal stigmas held towards ethnic minorities.
Apocalypse not now
Friday 28 October, from 7.30pm
Djanogly Theatre, Lakeside Arts
Finalist of Britain’s Got Talent and star of BBC Radio 4’s Citizen of Nowhere Daliso Chaponda is finally back out of the house and on a stage with a new show of the slickest, sharpest look at life.
Find a full list of events to get involved with for this year’s Black History Month celebrations.
Tags: bhm, BHM 2022, BHM 22, Black History Month, Black History Month 2022, edi
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New Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) global course
September 14th, 2022
If you are currently involved in teaching or supporting learning in higher education and would like to enhance your practice or gain a better understanding of teaching learning and assessment in a global context, our new Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) Global course could be right for you.
This is a professional programme designed for university teachers as well as others who support learning. This includes technicians, learning technologists, academic and information skills support professionals, IT staff, research staff and recently graduated postgraduate research students.
The course aims to develop you as a critically reflective practitioner who engages in ongoing development of your teaching, learning and assessment practices in higher education, informed by theory and practice.
Once completed, you will gain a global perspective of higher education through cross-disciplinary interactions with peers, engagement with a range of literature and critique of policies and professional practices.
Stephanie Manning completed the PGCHE course in June 2022. You can read more about her experience of the course and how it has helped with her professional development.
We are currently recruiting our first cohort to start in January 2023.
For further details, please visit the course page.
Tags: PGCHE, Staff training, Training course
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