Staff Briefing

Requests for Studentships

Following a review of the approval and control of studentship budgets, please note that all requests for studentships should be approved by the Dean before being forwarded (with details of the source of funding) to Kevin Knifton, Student Registry.

The funding of the studentships will then be checked with Finance before the studentship letters are issued to the student. If you have any queries, please contact Angela Ackroyd (ext 5042) or Kevin Knifton (ext 3040).

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New Staff Development on-line and CD-Rom resources

The Staff Development Unit have recently purchased 10 on-line Business Skills Courseplans from Reach Online. These Courseplans are a small pilot we are undertaking to assess the benefits of implementing some on-line training in the University over the longer-term. The Business Skills Courseplan includes 50 courses under some of the following headings:

• Grammar Skills
• Maths Skills
• Business Communication
• Time Management
• Stress Management
• Customer Services
• Negotiation
• Motivation
• Project Management

Once a member of staff has been registered to use a Courseplan they can access any of the 50 courses under the Business Skills section for 1 year. Are you intrigued yet? If so, through Reach Online's web-site (www.reachonline.co.uk) you can look at the course plans and you can even try the Project Management course (ignore the prompt for an ID and password) before you commit.

If you are interested, we would like to invite you to discuss the possibility with your manager, then for managers to send nominations to Helen Dennett at staffdev@bradford.ac.uk or a brief note to the Staff Development Unit. At this stage, all we will need is the person's name, department and contact details and a short statement (about 100 words) from the manager explaining how they plan to support the individual. We will then contact the nominees direct. The deadline for nominations is 12 September 2003 and training will be allocated on a 'first-come first served' basis as long as the individual has support from their manager. We will be aiming to register people on the site before the end of September.

Because this is a pilot, at the end of a Courseplan, participants will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire by the Staff Development Unit.

If you have any questions about this, please contact Helen Dennett at: staffdev@bradford.ac.uk or on extension 3096 before 22 August (after which I will be on leave until the deadline).

We also have a number of new CD-rom titles you can work through on your computer either at home or at work. If you wish to use them in work time, please discuss this with your manager first and agree how this can be managed. The following titles are available:

• Your Next Step - career development
• Under Pressure - stress management
• It's About Time - time management
• The Write Way - writing skills

Flyers are available on the Skill Booster's website if you wish to know more about the titles: www.skillboosters.com/downloads These title's can be either booked to take away and view, you can book our laptop and meeting room in the Staff Development Unit or you can take them to the Computer Centre's open access session on Wednesday between 11.00 and 15.00 in J22, Richmond Building.

Please contact the Staff Development Unit either by e-mail at: staffdev@bradford.ac.uk, calling 3096 or visiting K22, Richmond Building.

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Post Entry Training Update

At the beginning of August 2003 all applicants for the Post Entry Training Scheme for 2003/4 applying for external qualifications (up to and including first degree level) and internal NVQ's and the ECDL (European Computer Driving License) qualification were notified of the outcome of their application. I can now confirm that there is £10,000 remaining in the Post Entry Training budget. There are also places still available for internal NVQ's and the ECDL qualification.

Applications will continue to be accepted and considered until this budget is spent.

Applications must be made on the appropriate form available on the web at: www.brad.ac.uk/admin/staffdev/pet/forms.html or from the Staff Development Unit by calling Helen on ext. 3096.

ECDL applications are made on form E1b and internal NVQ applications are made on form E1b. All other applicants should complete a standard E1 form.

Please note that, to be accepted as an ECDL candidate you need to attend a briefing meeting, the next of which is on Thursday 11 September in Room 01.58 Computer Centre. Please contact David Dodwell in the Computer Centre at d.dodwell@bradford.ac.uk or call ext. 5356 for further details after 26 August.

Please send any forms to Helen Dennett in the Staff Development Unit, K22, Richmond Building.

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Heritage Open Days - School of Management

The School of Management is participating in this national initiative on Saturday 13th and Monday 15th September and will be open to members of the public who wish to take the opportunity to visit buildings and grounds which are not usually open to them.

Full details of the Heritage Open Day activities can be found on the School of Management website.

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Forthcoming Bank Holiday

Just a gentle reminder regarding the coming Bank Holiday. I've noticed that Meetingmaker has both Monday 25 Aug and Tues 26 Aug greyed out, Monday as Bank Holiday and Tuesday as Customary day for Technicians and Craft staff. Just in case anyone has mis-read this - for all of us except Technician and Craft staff, only the Monday is a Bank Holiday - we need to come in on the Tuesday. Only Technician and Craft staff get the Tuesday as well.

Hope I haven't spoiled anyones holiday plans!

Best wishes
Helen

Helen Dewhirst
Senior Personnel Officer
Ext: 5169

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Important news from the Library - databased and subject resources

The Library's databases and other subject resources will be accessed via a new information portal called MetaLib from Tuesday 26 August onwards.

MetaLib will be the new gateway to subject databases and web links previously available via the Library's 'Databases' and 'Subject Guide to Online Resources' pages and will standardise and rationalise their presentation.

MetaLib will appear on the Library web home page in place of the previous links and will be joined by a new Quick Search feature for the Library Catalogue. MetaLib will require you to login using your University of Bradford UserID and Password in order to take full advantage of the features it offers. Resources will still be grouped by subject but individual resources can also be found quickly using MetaLib's search or browse features.

Some databases and web resources are 'cross-searchable' within MetaLib, meaning that up to 10 resources at a time can be searched and the results presented in a single, standardised format. Additionally, cross-searchable resources do not require you to log in to them using Athens or other usernames and passwords, MetaLib does this for you. Results from a cross-search can be stored in your own, personal area within MetaLib and alerts set up on a regular basis to inform you of new papers or books in your area.

All of the existing subject databases and web resources you are familiar with are contained within MetaLib.

To login to MetaLib go to the Library home page at: http://www.brad.ac.uk/lss/library/index.php or directly to the Login page at: http://www.brad.ac.uk/library/elecinfo/metalib.php

If you require further information there is a brief guide and also a detailed guide to using MetaLib on the login page or alternatively contact your Subject Librarian via: http://www.brad.ac.uk/library/services/subjlib.php

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Nominations for Honorary Degrees

Members of staff are invited to consider nominating individuals for the award of honorary degrees of the University.

Further details with regard to current policy and associated guidelines can be found at http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/student-registry/awards/Honorary_Degrees.htm

Proposals to include biographical details and a full supporting statement should be sent under confidential cover to Nick Buck, Student Registry by Monday 8 September 2003.

If you are interested in submitting a name for consideration by the Honorary Degrees Committee and would find it helpful to discuss the case further before doing so please telephone Nick Buck on 3038 or email at n.j.buck@bradford.ac.uk.

As you will no doubt appreciate it is most important that persons nominated for the award of an honorary degree should not become aware that there any possibility of consideration being given to the conferment of such a degree.

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Hangers - wanted!

Do you have a surplus of hangers - for coats/trousers/skirts etc?

We need more for use in the UBU Re-cycle Store, Communal Building.

Thank-you.

Rebecca Emmett
R .Emmett@bradford.ac.uk

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Staff Development Events

New course

• Best Practice Marketing Thursday 18 September 2003, 09.15 - 16.45

Places available on the following Staff Development Unit events:

• New Staff Induction : Monday 1 September 2003, 12.00 - 15.00.
• Introduction To Management : Tues 8 and Wed 9 September 2003, 09.15 - 16.30
• Orientation For New Academics : Mon 15 and Tues 16 September 2003, 09.00 - 16.30
• Managing Sickness Absence : Wednesday 24 September 2003, 09.15 - 12.30

To Book on any of the above events

Book Online at http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/staffdev/programmes/booking.html or contact Staff Development on ext: 3102.

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Job Vacancies at the University and College

Current vacancies at the University and College can be found at the Personnel website:

http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/personnel/jobvacancies/

The weekly bulletin can also be found as a pdf from the same page.

All queries should be directed to Personnel: ext: 5347, email: personnel@bradford.ac.uk

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