…ernment and launched the first Alliance awards. 16. We secured prominent media profiles in sector and national media including comment pieces and broadcast for UA spokespeople, as well as fielded bids to our members resulting in strong representation from UA members and landing of key messages. 17. We successfully completed our recruitment of over 70 researchers from 27 different countries to the Horizon2020 MSCA Cofund supported DTA3 programme an…
…A Team swiftly mobilised to move our previous in-person training programme online, developing our Zoom facilitation skills as we went. We’ve hosted four online residential training schools, numerous remote elective sessions and a suite of virtual ‘catch up’ sessions that range from informal coffee socials to DTA Director lead subject discussions that provided academic advice to the DTA community. The training programme now also prepares fellows to…
…We have all helped each other throughout the past twelve months and moving online has been challenging but extremely rewarding. We were definitely up to the challenge. We are still putting on a lot of events and volunteering opportunities but these are now online via MS Teams or Zoom. I have lost count of the number of virtual coffees I have had with students over the past few months! I am now working very closely with our Marketing and External A…
…tudents’ unions are raising spirits and maintaining social contact through online events. Over the coming weeks, the Students’ Union at Anglia Ruskin University is holding an online bake-off, mindfulness workshop and an arts and crafts workshop. We’ve been hosting similar activities at UWE Bristol and in February ran a series of feel good events, including a free, stand-up comedy event for students and staff featuring A-list comedians. With the go…
…g ‘festivals’ and working across multiple campuses. At TU, our Digital and Online Learning teams worked with staff to help them consider how to extend the learning environment beyond the conventional spaces. Staff have embraced innovation and delivered novel solutions which will become part of our norm, for example: Use of simulation software to carry out assessed radiography experiments via MS Teams Use of Minecraft to deliver induction activity…
…te, these nationwide communities can play a vital role by increasing their online provision. Virtual drop-in sessions in which researchers can raise anxiety-inducing issues allow staff to quickly settle worries by providing immediate explanations about, for example, the complexity of extension policies. Developing profiles sharing their research interests and contact details are another way of enabling researchers to reach out to one another. Thro…
…in improving their life chances. This might include supporting the work of online resources such as Propel, working with charities such as Stand Alone and Become or holding pre-enrolment programmes targeted at those who have left care settings. What’s needed is a comprehensive package of support, like Kingston University’s award-winning KU Cares, which combines financial support, year-round accommodation and opportunities to gain new skills for ca…
…Additionally, this year due to COVID-19, the competition had to take place online with a virtual background. The real challenge for me was the fact that I had to prepare a script and memorise it to make sure I didn’t say anything too technical for my audience to understand. This was difficult because I have had instances in the past where I memorised a script for a presentation but whilst presenting I forgot something so I started panicking and as…
…tutions are equally represented in the corridors of power and across the media. Our message also needs to be more resolute, more exacting, the ‘Rebel Alliance’ of higher education, holding policy makers to account and engaging with and creating media stories through highlighting the work of our members. Universities are strongest when they are working together as this week’s summit event highlighted. Going forward our goal will be to form a more c…
…in two months of working from home, my living room was an exploded office. Diagrams pinned on the walls, books all over my desk, post it notes littering the dining table, annotated articles spilling onto the floor. Once I was able to consolidate the academic shrapnel, I had more room to breathe. Having space, however, is a privilege. If you are restricted in choice, the best advice I can give is to keep work away from your bed. During the first ye…
