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Staff Briefing - week ending 26th February 2010

Edition 437

Staff Briefing home

University news

Events around campus - get involved

Keep up to date - news sources from around the University

Development opportunities, courses and workshops

Lectures, Seminars, Newsletters and Conferences

Works on Campus

Reminders

Jobs


How to add an entry to the briefing


Please keep entries concise with, if necessary, a link to further details on the web. Please check entries for accuracy and timeliness before sending. Deadline for entries is (generally) 12 noon each Friday.

Please keep items concise, 150 words or less with a link to further information online if you have it.

Email: briefing@bradford.ac.uk with the title "For the briefing" in the email subject.


University news


Introduction of PensionFlex for USS members

We are pleased to announce that the University is introducing PensionFlex, a new salary exchange arrangement for pension contributions made to the University's Superannuation Scheme (USS). Regrettably PensionFlex is only available to members of USS, due to the fact that the University is prevented by law from introducing a similar scheme for contributions to the (local government) West Yorkshire Pension Fund.

The PensionFlex scheme will come into operation at the University on 1 April 2010, after successful implementation at the majority of other UK Universities. It will have the effect of increasing the take home pay of the vast majority of affected USS members, whilst at the same time enabling the University to achieve savings through reduced National Insurance Contribution costs. These savings will be retained within the budgets of academic schools where the savings are made.

Members of the USS do not need to do anything in order to participate in the scheme and full details will be sent to all members shortly. It is important to note that there are a very small number of USS members for whom involvement in Pensionflex would be of no benefit at all. Members of staff who fall into this category will, therefore, be contacted separately and will not be enrolled automatically into the scheme.

Pensions contact details: http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/finance/payroll.php

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National Student Survey update

Any final year students who are yet to complete the National Student Survey (NSS) will be contacted by telephone over the next few weeks. They should have also received a paper version of the survey in the post. The current response rate is just over 30 percent which is behind where we were at the same point during last year's survey.

We are aiming for a minimum 70 percent response rate and we need a 50 percent response for any course's entries to be valid. Good NSS scores can help protect the University’s future, affecting our league table positions and promoting us to potential students.

Contact Mark Dolby ( m.dolby@bradford.ac.uk ), Internal Communications Officer, if you require any further promotional materials or support.

Latest response rates by school are now on the intranet at www.bradford.ac.uk/nss

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Haiti appeal update

The Haiti Appeal collection point provided by the Payzone is now closed, with over £500 having been donated in recent weeks. If you would still like to make a donation then you can do this online at (External) http://www.dec.org.uk/

The Student’s Union will be running a variety of events in coming weeks to continue their efforts to raise £10,000 towards the construction of homes and schools in the area.

You can find out more here: (External) http://www.ubuonline.co.uk/news/124773/news_haiti_earthquake_appeal_26012010/

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Nursery request for furniture

If you have a surplus desk or office chair, please contact Sarah or June in the Nursery on ext. 4866.

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Student Experience Forum

Monday 1 March 2010, 9 - 10am, Room D2, Richmond Building

All members of staff involved in teaching and learner support are invited to attend. This year the forum links with the Outduction project ( (External) http://www.outduction.ac.uk ) and is considering aspects of the final year experience. This session will explore how we support and supervise final year project work.

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Events around campus - get involved


Fairtrade Fortnight 22 February - 7 March

The University is hosting a series of events to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight. Events include 'The Big Swap' and 'Fairly Chilled' promoting fairtrade health and wellbeing, debates, a karaoke quiz, film-showings, free fairtrade products, promotions and prizes. A full programme and information can be found at: http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/ecoversity/fairtrade-fortnight.php

All events are brought to you by Ecoversity, the Students' Union and Sodexo.

Contact Ecoversity@Bradford.ac.uk ext: 6929

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This week is National Student Volunteering Week

There's lots of events going on, including our Enterprise Challenge where YOU can get money if you can make money for charity, school teaching experience sessions, sports volunteering tasters, talks by experts on volunteering around the world and lots of 'Give it a Go' volunteering opportunities. We encourage anyone, students and staff to get involved.

For further information contact: ucan@bradford.ac.uk or see: http://www.bradford.ac.uk/ucan/

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Spring charity dinner dance in aid of Yorkshire Cancer Research

Andrea Wilson and Wendy Hudson from the Academic Standards and Support Unit (ASSU) have organised a charity dinner dance in aid of Yorkshire Cancer Research. The event will be held on Saturday 8 May 2010 at Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford from 7:00pm until 1:00am.

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Keep up to date - news sources from around the University


University of Bradford on Twitter

For the most up to date University news and announcements follow us on Twitter (External) www.twitter.com/bradforduni

(External)

Follow us on Twitter.

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Development Opportunities, Courses and Workshops


Development opportunities for staff

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

Course ID Details/Booking form Start date Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Start time End time Venue Leaders CRSS100301
Writing a Critical Literature Review in the Social Sciences
01-Mar-10
-
-
-
13:30
16:30
Horton D0.01
Inna Kochetkova (Graduate School) CRIT100301
Introduction to Critical Thinking
01-Mar-10
-
-
-
09:30
12:30
Horton D0.01
Inna Kochetkova (Graduate School) WEB-CMSC100301
Using Site Manager for Contributors
01-Mar-10
-
-
-
09:30
12:30
Room F29, Richmond Building
Jacqueline Cuthbert STBR100302
Skills for Tutoring: Boundaries and Referrals
02-Mar-10
-
-
-
13:00
14:30
JB Priestley LearnHigher Room 01.58
Peter Hughes, Peter Wakefield MBPP100302
Goal Setting and Action-Planning for Success
02-Mar-10
-
-
-
13:30
16:30
To be confirmed
Catherine Gregory BDAS100302
Basic Data Analysis & Statistics for Researchers
02-Mar-10
-
-
-
09:00
17:00
Horton D0.11
Valentina Zharkova (SCIM) WIYT100302
What to Include in Your Thesis
02-Mar-10
-
-
-
09:30
12:30
Horton D0.01
Judi Sture (Graduate School) and Iqbal Mujtaba (SCIM) CANG100303
Contracts and Negotiation
03-Mar-10
-
-
-
14:00
17:00
D2, Richmond Building
RKTS RSK4100303
Workplace Risk Assessment
03-Mar-10
-
-
-
09:00
12:30
D3, Richmond Building
Graham Seed ADAS100303
Advanced Data Analysis and Statistics for Researchers
03-Mar-10
-
-
-
09:00
17:00
Horton D0.19
Valentina Zharkova (SCIM) EVAC100303
Evac+Chair Training
03-Mar-10
-
-
-
09:30
12:30
Sanderson Room
Steve Wiggins ECDL-W 1009
ECDL / ITQ Workshop
03-Mar-10
-
-
-
09:30
11:00
Room F29, Richmond Building
Elaine Smith INTV100304
Get That Job 1: making effective written job applications
04-Mar-10
-
-
-
12:00
14:00
To be confirmed
Catherine Gregory and Andrea Balderson MSPP100304
MS PowerPoint for Effective Research Presentations
04-Mar-10
-
-
-
13:30
16:30
JB Priestley, Room 2.7
Cath Hooson (LSS) ELLU100304
Introduction to Elluminate
04-Mar-10
-
-
-
14:30
15:30
Not applicable.
Will Stewart, Neil McKeown ELLU100304
Introduction to Elluminate
04-Mar-10
-
-
-
19:00
20:00
Not applicable.
Will Stewart, Neil McKeown MHAW100304
Mental Health Awareness
04-Mar-10
-
-
-
09:30
16:30
To be confirmed
James Moore, Disability Services ENDR100304
Endnote for Researchers
04-Mar-10
-
-
-
09:30
12:30
JB Priestley, Room 2.7
Grace Hudson UIT2.5 1005
NVQ IT Workshop
05-Mar-10
-
-
-
09:30
12:30
Room F29, Richmond Building
Cath Hooson INT1100308
Interviewing Workshop 1
08-Mar-10
-
-
-
09:30
12:30
Horton D0.23
Inna Kochetkova (Graduate School) EDSD100309
Education for Sustainable Development
09-Mar-10
-
-
-
13:00
14:30
JB Priestley Room 01.4
Peter Hughes, Peter Hopkinson ECDL-W 1010
ECDL / ITQ Workshop
09-Mar-10
-
-
-
13:30
15:00
Room F29, Richmond Building
Elaine Smith ECDL 1005
ECDL Tests
09-Mar-10
-
-
-
15:00
16:00
Room F29, Richmond Building
Elaine Smith NSIN100309
New Staff Induction
09-Mar-10
-
-
-
09:30
12:30
To be confirmed
Staff Development and guest speakers WEB-WFW 1002
Writing for the Web
09-Mar-10
-
-
-
09:30
12:30
Room F29, Richmond Building
Jacqueline Cuthbert BDYH100310
Broadening Your Horizons
10-Mar-10
-
-
-
13:30
16:30
Horton D01.28
Heather Marshall (Careers) NSAW100310
Noise Awareness
10-Mar-10
-
-
-
14:00
15:30
To be confirmed
Diane Butterworth WEB-CMSM100311
Using Site Manager for Moderators
11-Mar-10
-
-
-
13:30
16:30
Room F29, Richmond Building
Jacqueline Cuthbert VIVA100311
Surviving the Viva
11-Mar-10
-
-
-
13:30
16:00
Horton D0.09
Judi Sture (Graduate School) EX-ESS 1001
Excel 2007 Essentials
11-Mar-10
12-Mar-10
18-Mar-10
19-Mar-10
09:30
12:30
Room F29, Richmond Building
Cath Hooson, Elaine Smith

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Lectures, Seminars and Conferences


Talk by Nobel Peace Prize winner

Friday 5 March, 5pm Great Hall

The President of East Timor, José Ramos Horta, will be delivering this year's Peace Lecture as part of the PeaceJam project, where young people work with Nobel Peace Prize winners to become effective peacemakers themselves. Horta campaigned for 25 years for his country's independence and a peaceful solution to the bloody war with Indonesia. He will talk about 'The challenges of reconciliation and eradicating extreme poverty after civil war'.

Book your free staff ticket at http://www.brad.ac.uk/peace/NewsandEvents/PeaceLecture/

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Is there a future for participatory democracy? A book launch and discussion

Wednesday 24 February 2010, 4.30 - 8pm (registration from 4.00pm), Norcroft Centre

Amidst fears of a very low turnout in the election and in the wake of the parliamentary expenses scandal, how might we revitalise confidence in our democratic life? The last two decades has seen many experiments in participation and social movement activism. The three books we are launching present empirical evidence (as well as theoretical argument) on how participation happens:

This event is free, but places must be booked in advance. Light refreshments will be available.

More details: http://www.brad.ac.uk/events/pax/2010-02-24.php

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Latest Research Bulletin

The latest Research Bulletin is now available at http://www.bradford.ac.uk/gateway/research/RSU/researchbulletins.php

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Dementia: don’t fear it, learn about it from those who live well with it (public event)

Friday 19 March 2 - 5pm, Otley Courthouse, Courthouse Street, Otley, LS21 3AN

Dr Ruth Bartlett (Bradford Dementia Group) has organised a public event based on her UK-wide study 'Campaigning for Social Change: Understanding the motives and experiences of people with dementia' as part of the National Social Science Festival week (External) http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/esrcinfocentre/fss/ (external link)

The event will involve a tea and cake reception, a photo slideshow on living well with dementia, and a Q&A session with research participants and Claire Goodchild, the National Programme Manager for the National Dementia Strategy in England.

For further information and/or to book a place, please contact: John Chatwin: j.chatwin@bradford.ac.uk or ext. 6494. Places are limited.

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Outcomes and strategies for widening participation and social cohesion amongst diverse, disadvantaged and minority groups in higher education

Two-day conference: Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 September 2010, MacLaurin Building, No.4 Bishops Square Business Park, Hatfield.

Academics and researchers interested in widening participation, intercultural learning and strategies for inclusion, retention and success in Higher Education are invited to submit proposals for the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) dissemination conference taking place at the University of Hertfordshire in September 2010. Subject to peer review, papers and posters arising from accepted proposals will subsequently be published in either conference proceedings or an edited book, distributed free to conference delegates.

The theme "Strategies for Change" provides the focus for keynote addresses and participant proposals for posters and presentations. All proposals must be sent via email attachment to: m.e.thornton@herts.ac.uk

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Works on Campus


Heating problems within Horton A building

The performance of the heating system serving Horton A building will continue to be affected this week. It has been necessary to isolate the main air supply fan which serves the 'blown air' areas. This is needed to enable the removal of asbestos insulating board within the plant room. The perimeter heating systems will remain functional during this work.

Please contact Keith Maven, Mechanical Maintenance Officer, on ext. 3437 if you have any queries regarding these works.

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Communal Building Webcam

See the latest developments at the communal building via this webcam (External) www.ubuonline.co.uk/webcam

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Reminders


Bradford Achievement Forum Conference 2010

Bradford Achievement Forum is holding its first Achievement Conference on Saturday 27 February in the Norcroft Centre. The theme is Raising Achievement: A Whole Community Approach.

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TIMECODE - a seminar series in media. Next event

Wednesday 24 February, 6pm, On Location, National Media Museum

David S. Wall, School of Law, University of Leeds: "Elvis and the Synoptic Panopticon: Intellectual Property and Popular Culture in the Information Age".

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Bradford's got T&LENT - 9th Annual Learning, Teaching & Assessment Conference

From lunchtime Monday 7 June through to teatime Tuesday 8 June 2010.

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Tell us what educational opportunities you'd like to see - SLED Survey

The School of Lifelong Education and Development (SLED) is conducting a survey about what educational opportunities you would like to see made available for you as a member of University staff in whatever area you are employed.

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Updated 'How to Find Us' campus map now available

The new 'How to Find Us' campus map leaflet has now been delivered to the University and copies are available by emailing stock@bradford.ac.uk

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Creative Careers Fair 2010

2-5pm on Wednesday February 24, Atrium.

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The Study China Programme

Members of staff are encouraged to promote the Study China Programme to students.

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N-Able (Disabled Staff Network) is getting fit

Next meeting, 12.30pm, 26 February at Unique: Fitness & Lifestyle.

Email disabilities@bradford.ac.uk or call Helena Jones (ext. 3736) or Cath Hooson (ext. 3320) to confirm attendance.

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Jobs


Job Vacancies at the University

Current vacancies at the University can be found on the Human Resources website .

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

Would you like to receive the weekly vacancy bulletin? Contact HR: ext: 5347, email: human-resources@bradford.ac.uk

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Last Updated:22 February 2010


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