Staff Briefing - week ending 3 February 2012

Edition 529

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Ask Your Final Year Students to Turn ON their Mobiles

The vast majority of our students carry smartphones, with access to the internet, and this now provides the easiest and most convenient way for them to complete the National Student Survey. By simply taking 5-10 minutes out of your normal learning activity and inviting your students to complete the survey on their phones, laptops or other mobile devices you can vastly increase your National Student Survey response rates. Every course needs a 50% response rate for the data to count and the University is aiming for a 70% overall response rate.

Invite your students to go to www.thestudentsurvey.com at your next session with them.

For further information, visit www.bradford.ac.uk/nss where you can also download a small number of PowerPoint slides which can be used to promote the survey.

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What can ‘social practice’ theory and ‘socio-cultural’ theory contribute to curriculum design?

12.30 pm to 1.45 pm Friday 10 February 2012 in the LearnHigher Room, 01.58 J B Priestley Library

Carole Binns, School of Social & International Studies, introduces her PhD project which intends to discover if assessment-led design can be effectively used in Higher Education.  All welcome to attend.  Full details.

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National HE STEM at the University of Bradford: EDT Students Undertake STEM Training

On Monday 23 January 50 students from the School of Engineering, Design and Technology participated in a STEM training session supported by the National HE STEM Programme. The training was designed to support students in communicating and signposting young people, teachers and the general public to careers and opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Hosted by Joanne Crowther of SEDT, the students were able to watch examples of students working with schools and young people and to find out more about people in STEM careers. All sources used are accessible via the internet, enabling the students to refer others to these sites. They also took part in activities that got them thinking about what words to use, and examples to give, to a variety of audiences when describing and discussing their role and future career aspirations in STEM.

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Tell us how to run the Atrium

The Atrium in the Richmond Building is the focal point of life on the City Campus and the first thing most visitors see. Lots of people want to use it for activities that can conflict. We get complaints about the events that take place there, and about the ones we don't allow.

Now, you have an opportunity to tell us what sort of place you'd like the Atrium to be. Please go to https://www.surveys.bradford.ac.uk/atrium and complete the questionnaire. Although we can't grant every wish, your views will help to shape new usage guidelines for this important space.

Survey: https://www.surveys.bradford.ac.uk/atrium

Further information and help: Patrick Litherland, 6521, j.p.litherland@bradford.ac.uk

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50% off selected Silhouette frames at The Eye Clinic until the end of January 2012 only

Please call for an appointment on 01274 234649.

http://www.bradford.ac.uk/optometry/the-eye-clinic/

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Green Impact is back for 2012

For the past two years Ecoversity has been running a staff engagement project called Green Impact. The project is in an environmental accreditation scheme, helping staff to green their offices, teaching rooms and work spaces. It has been hugely successful with over 15 departments taking part, each year, that's over 600 members of staff from across the University. The project is celebrated with an awards ceremony with certificates and prizes for all. This year we would like to even more people involved!

Staff are given a user friendly online workbook with Bronze, Silver and Bonus criteria to complete. Each criterion is a clear, easy to implement action. You will likely be doing some of the actions already! This year we really want to make sure we communicate with people as well as possible so please fill out this short survey: https://www.surveys.bradford.ac.uk/greenimpactcomms/

To find out more please visit http://www.bradford.ac.uk/estates/environment/advice-news-blog/green-impact/ or contact ecoversity@bradford.ac.uk.

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New School of Life Sciences Website

The School of Life Sciences has just launched a new website to reflect strengths in learning and teaching, research and business.  We would appreciate any feedback from staff.  Please send any thoughts or comments to us at sls-web@bradford.ac.uk

www.bradford.ac.uk/life-sciences

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Policy of the Month – Student Pregnancy, Maternity and Paternity Policy

The Student Safety & Welfare Co-ordinator has been working on some student welfare policies, procedures and guidelines but is keen to consult with as many staff and students as possible. With this in mind there will now be a Policy of the Month.

For February the policy and procedures relate to student pregnancy, maternity and paternity. Please have a look at the policy and the procedures.

If you have any comments or suggestions about the policy / procedures please e-mail: policyfeedback@bradford.ac.uk

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Events on campus

Refreshers Fayre at the School of Management

Students can learn more about what the union does and offers, at the School of Management 10am - 4pm on Tuesday 7th February.

Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/events/290382214354072/

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UBU Rag Week 27 February

There was an error in last week's staff briefing which stated that Rag Week would be taking place during the week commencing 19 March. The correct date is 27 February.

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The Applied Health and Social Psychology Seminar Programme

Our first speaker will be Professor Ian Lubek, Professor (Adjunct), Psychology Department, University of Guelph, Canada, Visiting Professorial Fellow, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia

Professor Lubek had been involved in work which has had a significant impact on tackling HIV in Cambodia. He will be giving a talk and running a workshop on research methods used in his work on Tuesday 7 February, 2.00-4.00, Student Central 0.46

Ten Years of Efforts to Reduce Harm and Influence Policy in Cambodia:
Research-guided Health Interventions (HIV/AIDS and Alcohol-abuse) for Women Beer-sellers and other Risk Groups

For further details email s.e.johnson2@bradford.ac.uk . Please look on our website for details of the full programme for semester 2 which will shortly be posted: http://www.bradford.ac.uk/psychology/Research/TheAppliedHealthandSocialPsychologyGroup/

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Social Entrepreneurship Training

Tommy Hutchinson, former president of the NUS, current CEO and founder of i-Genius is coming to Bradford University to deliver a training on social entrepreneurship. An opportunity not to be missed!

How to make your passion profitable? What is entrepreneurial thinking and how to set up a business that makes a difference? Whether you go on to work for someone or become self-employed, the skills and knowledge you learn during this training will help you immensely – the world is changing and social enterprise is the new “business”. Social entrepreneurs are amazing people doing amazing things. Not just to make money but to change the world, for better!

When? Friday, Feb 10th, 2012; 12.00-19.00

Where? JSB lecture theatre, Richmond building, D-floor (main campus)

How much?
Students: £20
Staff: £30
Others: £50

How to register?

Email Maarja Hallik on peaceliaison@bradford.ac.uk or m.hallik1@bradford.ac.uk as soon as possible to book your place! We have limited number of places so invite your friends and get registered as soon as possible.

Find the event on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/254893421249048/

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Upcoming Research and Knowledge Transfer Seminars and Workshops

Collaborative & Interdisciplinary Research: 15-FEB-12: 13:30 to 16:00 (F35, RICHMOND)

This workshop is aimed at established research staff and will provide an overview of the landscape of interdisciplinary and collaborative working and look at how to go about planning a research project. We will explore disciplinary differences, communication methods, ideas of shared knowledge and team identity, as well as approaches to teamwork and grant writing.

Advanced Grant Writing: 15-MAR-12: 1400 to 16:00 (F35, RICHMOND)

This workshop is aimed at research staff with experience of grant writing who intend to submit a grant application in the next 6 months. It will provide you with all the information you need to write a clear, concise and competitive research grant. We will look at how to make your grant more appealing to funders; how to promote yourself, your team and your expertise appropriately; and the impact of your research beyond your academic field.

To book for either of these workshops please visit the staff development website:

http://www.brad.ac.uk/dev-prog/index.php?section=researchsupport

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Royal Institute of Philosophy lecture

Wednesday 1 February at 4pm (E1, Richmond) Professor Jonathan Ree will give a lecture entitled: The very idea of a history of philosophy

Abstract: The methods of historical inquiry have been transformed over the past century - not only in social and political histories but also specialised discipline histories (histories of music, histories of art, and histories of literature for example). With one exception: 
histories of philosophy are still following recipes that have not changed since the beginning of the nineteenth century. In this talk I will explore the history and function of histories of philosophy, and argue that they have a vast and damaging influence on contemporary philosophy. Philosophy may not have much of a future unless it can get itself a new past.

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Development Opportunities, Courses and Workshops

Mental Health Awareness sessions (New for 2012)

During February and March we will be piloting a series of 6 x Mental Health Awareness workshops (each lasting 1.5 hours) in place of the usual full-day event. Members of staff are welcome to attend any, or all of these sessions.


Date

Title

Description

09 Feb

Identifying Mental Health Difficulties 1

This session will cover Psychotic-type conditions; depressive conditions; anxiety/panic related conditions and how these can affect students or colleagues in their studies/working lives.

16 Feb

Identifying Mental Health Difficulties 2

Includes: Post-Traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD); Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD); Eating Disorders, Personality Disorders and their effect on studies / working life.

02 Mar

Mental Health: Reasonable Adjustments

Students who experience difficulties with their mental health are entitled under the Equality Act, to have reasonable adjustments put in place to mitigate against any impact of their disability upon their studies. This session considers reasonable adjustments in several areas, such as  Admissions & Interviews, Assessments etc.

09 Mar

Mental Health: Fitness to Practice/Study

Mental Health issues can affect a student's fitness to practice/study, especially in cases where there are implications for the safety of patients, carers, service users or colleagues. This session will consider various implications.

14 Mar

Mental Health: Supporting Staff

This session is designed to assist Managers to deal legally, sensitively and professionally with staff who may be experiencing mental health difficulties.

23 Mar

Mental Health: Dealing with Crises/Difficult Situations

This session explores strategies for dealing with crisis situations or difficult behaviours on campus - including the legal position, and involvement of other Agencies.

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Managing Effective Performance Session

Just a reminder that, if you haven’t already attended the 2-day Managing People and Performance course, there is an opportunity to attend the training via 4 separate workshops during the next few months.