Campus News
Offer for unpaid carers at the University of Nottingham
August 23rd, 2022
The University of Nottingham Staff Carers’ Network, in partnership with social enterprise Coaching for Unpaid Carers, are running a series of coaching workshops and 1-2-1 coaching sessions for unpaid carers (anyone who provides help or support to friend, partner or family member who couldn’t otherwise cope).
Workshops and 1-2-1 coaching sessions are free to attend but must be booked in advance by following the links provided below.
1-2-1 Coaching
Whatever your goal as an employee with caring responsibilities, we can help you reach it with 1-2-1 coaching. Your coach will support and encourage you, give you space to think things through and help you create an achievable action plan.
Places are limited and allocated on a first come, first served basis. To register an interest in the 1-2-1 coaching sessions (up to three sessions) please complete this form.
To qualify you must attend at least one workshop. NB: if you have a valid reason for non-attendance you can also register an interest.
Coaching Workshops
1. Managing stress – Thursday 15 September: 12pm-1.30pm
Feeling stressed can be part of life. But feeling too stressed too often can sap your energy, make it difficult to focus and leave you feeling low. Learn simple tips and techniques to manage stress, and leave with a personalised stress management plan to help you feel more resilient.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYvceyhqT8iHtLW7qYFT0fdTZ9KHzZqhMtQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
2. Managing a busy workload – Tuesday 11 October:12pm-1.30pm
Tackle feelings of overwhelm and procrastination habits so you can stay on top of a busy workload, and get some ideas for how you can better plan your day.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErfuqoqDsvH91sCuuCtKSC6jEs6snVIMRM
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
3. Finding time for me/ Time management – Thursday 20 October: 12pm-1.30pm
In this session we will look at how you can make time for the things most important to you, including how to put yourself first sometimes, and how to support yourself with compassion.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0lceGhqT8jEtL6GTA5_QU2AGQhAyCe_LSG
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
4. Assertiveness/asking for what you need – Tuesday 8 November: 12pm-1.30pm
Do you ever feel that someone isn’t really listening or understanding you? Whether at work, with a healthcare professional or someone in your family, being able to communicate clearly, calmly and assertively can help your voice be heard and your needs understood and met.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvf-Guqj0vGtaKyEKMt3QedZ7oq8yahD8I
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Tags: Carer, carers, unpaid carers
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UoN shortlisted for three Green Gown Awards
August 23rd, 2022
The University of Nottingham has been shortlisted in three categories in the EAUC Green Gown Awards.
The Green Gown Awards recognise the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges across the UK.
There are 16 categories and this year the awards are especially looking for examples of the challenges and opportunities that have happened due to the pandemic.
Nottingham’s 2022 finalists and their categories are:
Building Back Better
The World’s First Micro Prospectus
By creating the world’s first micro prospectus, we’re saving more than 72 tonnes of paper and over 18,000kg of CO2. And because every tonne of paper uses 54,000 litres of water, we’re saving the equivalent amount to keep every student at our university hydrated for over six weeks too.
Research with Impact – Institution
The Trent Basin Community Energy Scheme
A pioneering community energy scheme in Nottingham, which enables residents to generate, store and use solar electricity. The scheme has seen 76 low-carbon homes being built on the banks of the River Trent as part of the re-development of a 250-acre brownfield site on the edge of the city centre.
Sustainability Champion – Staff
Lee Hibbett for his work on sustainable labs
Lee plays a key role in improving sustainability and reducing the impact of our labs on the environment. The Technical Sustainability Working Group grew out of Lee’s involvement in a project looking at how reduce the impact of plastic across the university. Thanks in part to his work, we now run freezers at – 70oC rather than – 80oC (saving 25% in energy or £300 per year); support LEAF green lab accreditation, which promotes best practice; and are introducing chiller units and waterless condensers, which respectively cut energy use and save around 1.2m litres of water a year.
More information on all finalists can be found here.
The winners will be announced at the EAUC Annual Conference on Tuesday 8 November 2022, at Loughborough University.
Tags: EAUC, Green Gown, Green Gown Awards, sustainability
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Interim PVC Research & Knowledge Exchange
August 23rd, 2022
Professor Neil Crout has been confirmed as the interim Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange.
He will sit on the University Executive Board and have responsibility for the University’s research portfolio from the departure of Professor Jessica Corner to head up Research England in October until a substantive appointment is made to the role anticipated early in the new calendar year, following a competitive external recruitment exercise.
Professor Crout will be responsible for the initial implementation of the new Research Strategy, which aims to transform our research quality, performance and culture over the next five years and will ensure it is robust and truly reflective of our whole community.
Having co-ordinated the University’s submission to the Research Excellence Framework since 2018, Professor Crout will also chair the University’s REF Steering Group and lead its post-REF2021 review to lay the foundations in preparing for the next exercise. He will also chair the Research and Knowledge Exchange Committees and Nottingham Technology Ventures.
Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement, Professor Robert Mokaya will embed aspects of international research strategy within his current portfolio and represent the University in the continuing discussions on association with Horizon Europe or the UK government’s ‘Plan B’ alternative.
He will also represent research and knowledge exchange issues at Promotions, People & Resources and Nominations Committees. Professor Lucy Donaldson will continue to lead the Researcher Academy and ongoing initiatives to improve the PGR experience and, together with Professor Lynda Pratt, takes responsibility for implementing work to enhance the Research Culture at the University, following extensive staff engagement and consultation.
Congratulating Neil on his appointment to the interim role, Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West said:
“Following the achievement of the University’s excellent REF2021 results under his management, which placed us 7th in the UK for Research Power, I am delighted that Neil will take up Executive Board leadership for the Research and Knowledge Exchange portfolio on an interim basis. We have a significant amount of work to implement the Research Strategy which represents the ideas of many colleagues across our research community to enhance our research quality and performance, and Neil’s expertise and experience in research leadership will prove instrumental in its delivery.”
Professor Crout looked forward to the new role, saying:
“I look forward to working with colleagues across the University’s research community as interim Pro Vice-Chancellor, where together we will continue the work to grow our reputation for research excellence at Nottingham. I am particularly grateful to Robert and Lucy with whom I shall be working closely to support the careers, endeavours, and welfare of research staff across the institution and deliver improvements to our research culture.”
A Professor of Environmental Monitoring, Professor Crout has spent much of his academic and research career at the University of Nottingham, having joined as a post-doctoral researcher in 1989 studying radionuclides in the food chain in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster. His research area focuses on models of environmental and agricultural systems, examining trace elements in the environment to shed light on environmental change and crop yield forecasting.
During his extensive career at Nottingham, he was Head of the School of Biosciences 2012-16, a Senate Member of Council 2013-17 and Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research since 2021, as well as acting as admissions tutor, director of teaching and learning, research director, REF coordinator and Head of Division.
Tags: Professor Neil Crout, PVC, PVC Knowledge and Research Exchange
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Appointment of new Provost and DVC – Professor Jane Norman
August 18th, 2022
Professor Jane Norman has been appointed Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) for the University of Nottingham, taking up her role from 1 December 2022.
A former Consultant Obstetrician, Professor Norman is currently Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Bristol.
As DVC, she will lead operational planning and academic resources across the University and support the Vice-Chancellor in providing strategic leadership for the University.
She will line manage the five Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellors and work with the Provosts of the University’s campuses in China and Malaysia to ensure a joined-up approach to our global operations.
She will also work with the Pro-Vice-Chancellors for Research and for Education and Student Experience to maintain and extend our delivery of world changing research, excellent teaching and outstanding student experience.
Professor Norman began her career in Scotland where, after graduating from the University of Edinburgh, she became a Professor of Maternal and Fetal Health and Consultant Obstetrician for NHS Lothian. Her research focusses on the pregnancy “stressors” of obesity, maternal depression, inflammation and hypoxia, which are largely responsible for the clinical conditions of gestational diabetes, preterm birth and stillbirth, and developing preventive and therapeutic strategies to address these clinical problems.
In 2014 she was appointed Vice Principal of People and Culture at Edinburgh. In that role she supported a culture of high performance in learning and teaching, transforming the student experience as a result. She also led on improvements to the university experience for those with disabilities.
More recently at Bristol she has optimised the performance of the Faculty of Health Sciences – contributing to a rise in all league table rankings, improvements in REF performance, increased student satisfaction and major investment through new research collaborations.
Announcing the appointment, Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West said: “I am delighted to welcome Jane to Nottingham. I have every confidence her knowledge and expertise will help in the delivery of our strategic aims for world-leading research, excellence in teaching and an outstanding student experience, which is so critical to the University’s development and the success of our wider region.”
Professor Norman said: “I am thrilled to be joining the University of Nottingham, with its outstanding reputation for education and research. I look forward to meeting more staff and students in the very near future and hearing their views on how we can best deliver the new strategy.”
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Changes to library opening hours for 22/23 academic year
August 17th, 2022
Three libraries will be open 24/7 from Monday 31 October 2022.
Last academic year, six libraries were open until 2am (Sunday – Thursday) for the majority of term time but we received significant feedback from students asking for the return of twenty-four hours access for both late night and early morning access.
Following a survey of library users last academic year and a review of current opening hours and usage data, University of Nottingham Libraries are happy to confirm that 24-7 term-time opening hours will be returning this academic year in three libraries.
New opening hours
From 31 October, the following libraries will be open twenty-four hours, seven days a week throughout most of the autumn, spring and summer terms.
Our 24/7 libraries will be:
- George Green Library, University Park
- Djanogly Learning Resource Centre, Jubilee Campus
- James Cameron-Gifford, Sutton Bonington
Our other libraries will be open term time hours. Find the latest opening hours on the Libraries website.
The three 24/7 libraries have been selected based on their size, location and facilities. These changes will provide staff and students with extended access to library space on each campus whilst also considering factors such as sustainability and usage.
George Green Library is a short walk from both Hallward and Greenfield Medical libraries and has high-performance computers as well as a postgraduate-only floor and calm space, thereby making the most of the available space for students at all levels.
Libraries offer a range of services to support students with accessing print resources from all library locations, including Click and Collect and providing scans of sections of material by email for personal use.
If you need to access resources but aren’t sure how to do this, you can ask any member of Library staff wearing a blue lanyard or get in touch by phone, email, live chat or social media.
Tags: George Green Library, hallward, James Cameron-Gifford Library, Libraries, Library opening hours
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PVC EDI Blog: Athena swan progress and update
August 16th, 2022
The university’s commitment to gender equality continues through AdvanceHE’s framework of Athena Swan, and the establishment of the new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion themed areas.
In her latest blog, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and People Professor Katherine Linehan provides a key update on the university’s work around the Athena Swan programme, including congratulating Schools and Departments on new awards and demonstrating exactly where and how the programme has benefitted the university community as a whole.
Tags: Athena SWAN, edi, PVC EDI, PVC EDI Blog
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Pay award 2022/23 implementation
August 16th, 2022
The 2022/23 pay award for colleagues at levels 1-3 is in the final stages of consultation with the unions. If confirmed, we expect that colleagues at levels 1-3 will see their pay award increase in their September salaries, backdated to 1 August 2022.
This affects staff in different ways depending on their job family and spine point. All colleagues at levels 1-3 have been emailed directly to update them.
The 2022/23 pay award for colleagues at levels 4-6 has been confirmed, with staff seeing an overall financial benefit of 6%. For most colleagues this will all be consolidated within salary.
Universities have been instructed by the University and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) to implement an increase of 3% to all spine points for levels 4-6.
This is in addition to the annual incremental raise for eligible staff at levels 4 – 6, equivalent to a further 3%. As communicated earlier this year, the maximum spine point has been raised for colleagues at these levels meaning the majority of staff are eligible for an incremental raise.
The 2022/23 pay award increase for staff at levels 4-6 will apply from 1 August 2022 and will be paid in August salaries.
Additionally, staff at these levels who are already paid at or above the new standard maximum level, and so will not receive an increment, will receive a non-consolidated payment equivalent to one increment point (3%). This will be paid within September salaries.
Tags: pay spine points, salaries, staff pay award
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University of Nottingham Malaysia – alternative ownership options being pursued
August 16th, 2022
The University of Nottingham Malaysia has an ambitious five-year strategy for an unrivalled education and student experience in Malaysia, built on the premise of widespread partnerships with the community, industry, government, and non-governmental organisations in the country.
Our vision is to enhance Malaysia’s position as a knowledge economy hub at the heart of the ASEAN region, supporting economic growth that is environmentally sustainable and which benefits all sectors of society. At its core is the principle of giving back to the community that has supported our education, research, and students for the past two decades.
Supporting our ambitions, the university has been working with our joint venture partners Boustead Holdings Berhad (BHB) to finalise the purchase of the BHB shareholding in the University of Nottingham Malaysia.
We recently received news from the Malaysian Government that it would not support a full buy out of shares at this time. However, the Government has indicated that it is open to considering alternative shareholding models which would enable us to realise our extensive ambitions for the campus.
As a consequence, we have begun negotiations on a range of alternative options which would present UNM the same exciting opportunities to continue to deliver high quality British education globally, expand international research partnerships and extend operations in Malaysia and the ASEAN region.
The university will continue to operate as normal, while implementing our ambitious new Strategic Plan – People and Partnerships. Staff and students can expect to continue with their daily activities without interruption.
After more than 20 years in Malaysia, we look forward to the next 20 years with the same enthusiasm as when we first established the pioneering campus in Semenyih.
Tags: University of Nottingham Malaysia, UNM
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Annual Leave Purchase Scheme now open for enrolment
August 16th, 2022
The Annual Leave Purchase Scheme is now open for enrolment until Friday 23 September 2022 for eligible university staff.
The Annual Leave Purchase Scheme is a salary sacrifice scheme whereby staff can exchange salary in return for additional annual leave, up to a maximum of 1 week, pro-rated for part-time staff.
The scheme is open to all employees on permanent or fixed-term contracts except for those on fractional term time only contracts.
Full scheme details including eligibility can be found within the scheme guide and FAQS on the Employee Hub.
Any annual leave purchased through the scheme needs to be booked in line with normal holiday booking processes. If you are interested in applying to the scheme please discuss any plans for taking the additional purchased annual leave with your manager prior to enrolling.
For more information including details on how to enrol please view the scheme guide or instructions below.
How do I apply?
- Your contact details
- Your Payroll number
- Your gross basic pay as per the 31st of August pay(excluding overtime, allowances or bonuses). This is your monthly gross x 12.
- How often you are paid (e.g. monthly)
- The number of hours that you are contracted to work each week
- Your Line Manager’s name
- The number of hours that you wish to purchase
Applications should be made via the Employee Hub and when entering your line manager’s email address please use the external email address i.e. Minnie.Mouse@nottingham.ac.uk.
If you need any help applying you can contact the annual leave purchase hotline run by Sodexo on 01908 303 4980.
Please note: annual leave purchased through the Annual Leave Purchase Scheme must be used in the annual leave year it applies to.
Tags: annual leave, Annual Leave Purchase Scheme, Employee Hub, staff benefits
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New email signature banners
August 12th, 2022
New email signature banners are available via the Brand SharePoint site.
To update your signature, follow the below instructions:
- Click on the file tab
- Select ‘options’
- Select ‘mail’ from the left hand menu
- Select ‘Signatures…’
- Open the attached Word document
- Copy the signature text and image
- Paste into Outlook making sure to retain the source formatting
- Personalise with your details
- Save
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