Colleagues are invited to save the date for Monday 4 November 2019 (09:30 – 12:30) for the launch of the new University Inclusion Toolkit. This has been developed to support learning and teaching activities in relation to inclusion and covers a wide range of activities and resources.
Further information including how to register for the event will be made available in due course.
In the meantime, please contact ltworcester@worc.ac.uk for further information.
Times Higher Education, the online higher education news and data magazine, is now available to students and staff. To access the subscription, you will need to register at www.timeshighereducation.com with your University email address. Please ensure that you use a unique password.
Please see the attached document for full details of how to set up your account and log in.
If you experience any access issues, please contact the eresources team.
Our international students will be joining us soon and we will be holding a pop-up charity shop to help them stock up on some home essentials in a low cost way.
Any donations of kitchenware, homeware or unwanted stationery will be gratefully received by the International Experience team in PN G008 from Monday 2 September. All proceeds will be going to Papyrus and Cure Leukaemia. Thank you!
Our blog post this week is from a member of the Housing and Dementia Research Consortium, looking at ways of responding to distress among people with dementia in extra care housing. Take a look at https://adsdementiablog.wordpress.com/.
To contact the Association for Dementia Studies please use dementia@worc.ac.uk
Connect with us on twitter @DementiaStudies and on Facebook @adsuow
Message from Human Resources
Dear Colleagues
Please be aware that there will be building work commencing in Woodbury WB025 from Monday 2 September and continuing through to Monday 16 September.
Whilst we have been assured that the reception area will be safe during this period, there will be some noise and disruption and therefore access will be limited.
Should you need to access HR during this time, please do call ahead so we can authorise access or to arrange a convenient time for you to visit. Our contact details can be found here: https://www2.worc.ac.uk/personnel
Thank you for your support and patience during this time.
The Worcester Award is the University’s employability award, which you can read more about here. To achieve the Worcester Gold Award, students must give a presentation and interview about their award activities. Worcester Gold Award interviews will take place from December 2019 until April 2020.
If you are available to be a member of a Worcester Gold Award interview panel, please contact Neil Laurenson at worcesteraward@worc.ac.uk. Even an hour of your time would be very much appreciated.
Over 100 students have achieved the Worcester Gold Award in each of the previous three academic years. This has been possible because of the generosity and commitment of University staff who have allocated time to help students reflect on the employability skills they have developed by completing the Worcester Award.
From this week onwards, students will start being enrolled onto their modules as they complete their registration. This means that once your students have completed their online registration, they will be able to log in to Blackboard and access the modules they have registered for. If you have not yet updated your new Blackboard site the default welcome message will notify students that their tutor has not added any content yet.
Link: https://www.routledge.com/Nursing-Literature-Reviews-A-Reflection/Lipscomb/p/book/9780415792714
Literature reviews are undertaken by students, researchers, clinicians and educationalists – that is, almost all nurses.
Despite much excellent work, exploring the assumptions and practices that constitute searching for and reviewing literature has merit, and prompting those who undertake these activities to think critically about what it is that they are doing should be encouraged. Widely adopted approaches to structuring reviews (the “standard model”) can detrimentally limit the scope or range of literature that is accessed and appraised. It is further proposed that a lack of professional ambition or confidence invests aspects of the way some nurses engage with the sources that are available to them. Across the book, parochialism is challenged. The crucial roles that values and judgement play in reviews are highlighted. It is argued that humanities and arts texts deserve, potentially, a bigger or more assured place in reviews undertaken by nurses. Difficulties in appraising quantitative and qualitative research reports are identified, and benefits linked with taking a contemplative line through the review process are considered.
This book contributes to debates around evidence-based practice and literature reviews more generally. It will appeal to anyone with an interest in professional issues, research, and the philosophy and sociology of nursing.
With September around the corner, the Technology Enhanced Learning Unit has prepared a checklist to help you get ready for the arrival of your students.
Walking, Wounds and Washing Feet – a theological response to migration from ground level.
Lecturer: Rev’d Dr Susanna Snyder, Ripon College, Cuddesdon
All welcome. No tickets required
Wednesday 11 September, 7.30pm, The Guesten, 15 College Green
Dear colleagues,
I am very pleased to share with you an invitation from Harry Lonsdale, President of Worcester Students’ Union, to participate in the SU’s annual Staff Open Day on Friday 30 August. You will be welcomed by the 2019/20 Officer team – Harry, Meg and Mike – and given a closer insight in to what the SU does, plus find out how the SU can engage with the students you teach or support.
Given the success of the last two years’ events, I hope that you will join me in supporting this initiative and I look forward to seeing you there.
Best wishes,
Ross
Ross Renton
Pro Vice Chancellor Students
Invitation sent on behalf of Harry Lonsdale, President of Worcester Students’ Union
Hello, my name is Harry Lonsdale, new Students’ Union President and I am pleased to invite you to the Staff Open Day at The Hangar on St John’s Campus on Friday 30 August.
Why are we hosting this event?
We feel it is very important to share what we do at the SU to help students to develop and achieve whilst at University. As an organisation, we have grown massively over the last 3 years and part of our strategy is to keep as many University staff and friends as possible abreast of what we are doing and how we continue to grow, so they in turn can help raise students’ awareness of our facilities and services.
Our Open Day has become a successful annual event in the SU calendar and in previous years we have received great feedback, with the overall comment from many University colleagues that they learnt a lot more about the SU as a result of attending. An added benefit is the development of stronger partnerships with departments as a result of staff attending these Open Days.
The Open Day will be running from 10am – 3pm on Friday 30 August, with the SU team hosting information stalls about what they do. You are welcome to drop in throughout the day, however if you are short on time, you might like to head over for one of the short presentations I will be giving with my fellow Officers, Meg and Mike at 11am and 1pm. There will be the opportunity for questions afterwards.
Please follow the link to rsvp for this event: https://worcsu.wufoo.com/forms/students-union-staff-open-day-2019/.
We really hope you are able to come and we look forward to seeing you.
Kind Regards,
Harry Lonsdale
President
Worcester Students’ Union
Dear Colleagues
The time has come for us to carry out the annual Portable Appliance Test (PAT).
Testing will take place between Monday 19 August and Friday 13 September across all academic/office buildings.
The test enables the University to comply with health and safety law and is an important part of fire safety as it can identify faulty equipment which has the potential to cause an electrical fire. All items that you use at the University, including mobile phone chargers, will need to be tested. We will endeavour to notify you closer to the date when your area is being tested so that any items which are stored away can be made ready for the engineer.
For your information, the company carrying out the tests is PTSG and we thank you in advance for cooperating with us and the engineer in ensuring that all items are tested.
Kind regards,
The Estates and Facilities Department
facilitieshelpdesk@worc.ac.uk Facilities Helpdesk: 01905 (54) 3344 Estates, Facilities and Safety Webpage
Worcestershire County Council are working to increase the local sign up to the national Healthy Start scheme. Currently only 56% of eligible families in Worcestershire are signing up to claim their healthy start vouchers for free healthy food and vitamins. We are working to better understand why sign up is low, what barriers are preventing access to the scheme and hope to identify how we can support families to access this great resource.
As part of this work we have created a survey, directed at the public to understand their thoughts, knowledge and experiences related to Healthy Start. If you could help us to circulate this survey to the service users, partners and communities that you work with that would be greatly appreciated.
People can access this survey by clicking here https://www.snapsurveys.com/wh/s.asp?k=156587113130
Following the success of our 2018 Workplace Challenge Mixed Netball tournaments, Sports Partnership Herefordshire and Worcestershire is hosting 2 mixed netball tournaments in Worcester this autumn.
Come and join us for a night of friendly competition! It is also a great chance to network with other businesses across the county, while getting active.
The events will take place at Perdiswell Leisure Centre on 27 September and 4 October 2019. More information and booking can be found at: https://www.sportspartnershiphw.co.uk/events/2019/09/workplace-challenge-mixed-netball—worcester-2019
Two-o-six Pilates Lunchtime Classes in the MPC Building
Pilates (Pi-lart-ees) is a system of exercise that focuses on conditioning your core abdominal and back muscles, so improving overall posture, muscle tone and flexibility.
It does this by centering the mind and body around its eight principles:
Concentration, centering, breathing, isolation, routine, precision, control and flowing movements.
Pilates was developed in the early nineteen hundreds for use by dancers and athletes. However, thanks to the support of current research, it is now being used not only as a excellent form of non-impact exercise and stability training, but also as a very effective form of rehabilitation for low back pain and sports injuries.
Your class will be taken by a qualified Chartered Physiotherapist with over 10 years experience, who is also APPI (Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute) trained. Places will be limited to allow for adequate supervision.
Daytime and evening classes held at the University.
NEW BLOCK STARTING WEEK COMMENCING 2 SEPTEMBER.
For more information or to book a place please ring Mindy Davey on: 07515723554
Dear colleagues,
I am very pleased to share with you an invitation from Harry Lonsdale, President of Worcester Students’ Union, to participate in the SU’s annual Staff Open Day on Friday 30 August. You will be welcomed by the 2019/20 Officer team – Harry, Meg and Mike – and given a closer insight in to what the SU does, plus find out how the SU can engage with the students you teach or support.
Given the success of the last two years’ events, I hope that you will join me in supporting this initiative and I look forward to seeing you there.
Best wishes,
Ross
Ross Renton
Pro Vice Chancellor Students
Invitation sent on behalf of Harry Lonsdale, President of Worcester Students’ Union
Hello, my name is Harry Lonsdale, new Students’ Union President and I am pleased to invite you to the Staff Open Day at The Hangar on St John’s Campus on Friday 30 August.
Why are we hosting this event?
We feel it is very important to share what we do at the SU to help students to develop and achieve whilst at University. As an organisation, we have grown massively over the last 3 years and part of our strategy is to keep as many University staff and friends as possible abreast of what we are doing and how we continue to grow, so they in turn can help raise students’ awareness of our facilities and services.
Our Open Day has become a successful annual event in the SU calendar and in previous years we have received great feedback, with the overall comment from many University colleagues that they learnt a lot more about the SU as a result of attending. An added benefit is the development of stronger partnerships with departments as a result of staff attending these Open Days.
The Open Day will be running from 10am – 3pm on Friday 30 August, with the SU team hosting information stalls about what they do. You are welcome to drop in throughout the day, however if you are short on time, you might like to head over for one of the short presentations I will be giving with my fellow Officers, Meg and Mike at 11am and 1pm. There will be the opportunity for questions afterwards.
Please follow the link to rsvp for this event: https://worcsu.wufoo.com/forms/students-union-staff-open-day-2019/.
We really hope you are able to come and we look forward to seeing you.
Kind Regards,
Harry Lonsdale
President
Worcester Students’ Union
Dear Colleagues
The time has come for us to carry out the annual Portable Appliance Test (PAT).
Testing will take place between Monday 19 August and Friday 13 September across all academic/office buildings.
The test enables the University to comply with health and safety law and is an important part of fire safety as it can identify faulty equipment which has the potential to cause an electrical fire. All items that you use at the University, including mobile phone chargers, will need to be tested. We will endeavour to notify you closer to the date when your area is being tested so that any items which are stored away can be made ready for the engineer.
For your information, the company carrying out the tests is PTSG and we thank you in advance for cooperating with us and the engineer in ensuring that all items are tested.
Kind regards,
The Estates and Facilities Department
facilitieshelpdesk@worc.ac.uk Facilities Helpdesk: 01905 (54) 3344 Estates, Facilities and Safety Webpage
Careers & Employability are pleased to introduce myCareer, our brand new online platform for all things careers related. This is an exciting development as students and graduates will be able to search for job vacancies, book a careers appointment or event, and complete the Worcester Award all in one place!
If you would like to explore the site as a member of staff, please email careers@worc.ac.uk with your UW username, i.e. abcd1 and we will create you an account.
You may have noticed some posters popping up around site and you will soon notice some changes happening in several of the catering areas around the University.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is happening?
Throughout the summer, some of our catering outlets are getting a facelift and some exciting new offers will be opening at the start of term.
Elgar Café will see possibly the most exciting changes, with a new 53.3 Degrees coffee bar and we can’t wait to welcome you in.
For this work to take place Elgar Café will be closed from Thursday 22 August and will re-open on Sunday 8 September. During this time of closure, Rock Café (Starbucks) will be open for longer.
Please note, that your Costa Loyalty Card will be accepted at Rock Café whilst the works are going on and then in Elgar Café when the works are complete.
Whether we are your first stop in the morning for your much-needed flat white or whether you are taking a break away from your studies or desk at lunchtime for a bite to eat, we will always have plenty on offer here for you.
And here’s a little bit about us
Our name, 53.3 Degrees is the latitude in which our beans are roasted and provides the origin for our name. Our brand is based upon connecting people from around the world, creating a special coffee experience.
We have met the farmers who grow your coffee and what’s integral to us is that we support them and their families. To do so, not only do we buy 100% Fairtrade, but 53.3 pence from every kilo of coffee we buy is donated back to the coffee farming communities in Anserma. This money is spent on local community projects which support a sustainable future for the farmers and their families.
What’s on offer
To give you a flavour of what we are about, we hope you enjoy trying our Fairtrade single origin coffee, grown and handpicked in Colombia or our much-loved House blend, comprising of coffee from some of the finest coffee growing regions.
Don’t love coffee? Don’t worry, we have plenty more on offer. Standing strong alongside our hot drinks is our cold refreshing drinks range. The range includes indulgent frappes, light lemonade coolers, shaken iced tea and of course the well-known favourites on ice. And let’s not forget the British favourite – tea! This will always be a staple on our menu board and is supported by a range of herbal and fruit infusions. Also Fairtrade, the range of teas we offer are either bagged in silk pyramids or loose leaf dependant on the environment.
Keeping it fresh each season – To spice it up a little more our seasonal drinks range will delight each quarterly drinks promo. In September, be treated by our Autumn flavours and when Christmas comes along expect gingerbread, spiced hot chocolates and festive favourites to appear on the menu.
From this week onwards, students will start being enrolled onto their modules as they complete their registration. This means that once your students have completed their online registration, they will be able to log in to Blackboard and access the modules they have registered for. If you have not yet updated your new Blackboard site the default welcome message will notify students that their tutor has not added any content yet.
With September around the corner, the Technology Enhanced Learning Unit has prepared a checklist to help you get ready for the arrival of your students.
Are you interested in participating in staff basketball?
Staff basketball is aimed at all levels and abilities so all people are welcome, if you are interested or want any further details please contact r.wheldon@worc.ac.uk. For any newly joined staff it would be a great opportunity to meet people outside of your team or department.
Staff basketball takes place on a Tuesday, from 5-6pm, at Riverside. Both male and female staff are welcome and people with any experience can attend. The main objective is for people to enjoy themselves and have a fun game of basketball.
Our blog post this week is a version of a presentation on ‘Shifting stereotypes in supporting people affected by dementia’ that Professor Dawn Brooker gave at a conference a few weeks ago. Take a look at https://adsdementiablog.wordpress.com/.
To contact the Association for Dementia Studies please use dementia@worc.ac.uk
Connect with us on twitter @DementiaStudies and on Facebook @adsuow
A gentle reminder that there are no Lovetree Yoga classes running on Tuesday in August. Classes will resume in September.
If you would like to start practicing yoga or get back into it following a break, please stay in touch on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on classes. Alternatively, please feel free to get in touch with any queries at katy@lovetreeyoga.co.uk.
firstpoint will be closed for staff training on Wednesday 31st July 2019.
The PCs and study area remain open as normal, with access via the 24-hour entrance.
Clinics are for Injury Assessment, Rehabilitation and Massage
| Dates Available | Clinic Time (1 hour treatment slot) |
| Monday 5th August | 09.00 – 11.30 |
| Wednesday 14th August | 09.00 – 11.30 |
| Monday 19th August | 09.00 – 11.30 |
| Wednesday 28th August | 09.00 – 11.30 |
| Monday 2nd September | 09.00 – 11.30 |
| Monday 2nd September | 13.00 – 15.30 |
To make an appointment call: 01905 542333
OR
Book in directly at St Johns Sports Centre Reception
This is a student-led clinic supervised by experienced staff
We are unable to process any new inter library requests at the moment, whilst our new library system is configured.
We will let you know when we are ready to receive your requests again. Any queries, please email ilr@worc.ac.uk.
Our shiny new catalogue is now available. Check out the Books and other media tab on our Library Search page.
Our General search won’t include print books and some ebook records for several weeks, while we refresh the data. Please use Books and other media in the meantime to find books on the shelves in The Hive and across Worcestershire County Council Libraries.
Thanks for bearing with us while we install our new library catalogue. You can now add to and edit resource lists for the new academic year.
Please note that if you are looking for print books you’ll need to use the Books and other media tab while we refresh our data. The General tab will continue to show our ebook and journal article subscriptions. We’ll be back to normal service with everything available under the General tab in a couple of weeks.
Our blog post this week is from one of our PhD students looking at her work around uncovering the hidden voices of women in respect to dementia, sport and reminiscence https://adsdementiablog.wordpress.com/.
To contact the Association for Dementia Studies please use dementia@worc.ac.uk
Connect with us on twitter @DementiaStudies and on Facebook @adsuow
The Students’ Union is currently recruiting for the position of Student Trustee. Trustees sit on the SU Board of Trustees, which is responsible for the management and administration of the Students’ Union, including responsibility for governance, finances, and overall strategy.
Student Trustees will be expected to attend all Board meetings, usually six per year, and participate in these meetings as fully as possible. They will play an important role in all aspects of the Students’ Union administration and management.
Student Trustees must be current University of Worcester students and will be appointed for a period of two years (final year students are therefore unable to apply for this position).
If you know of any students who may be suitable for this role, please let them know about the position and direct them to our website for further information – https://www.worcsu.com/jobs/vacancy/54/
From the beginning of August, PAPYRUS will be the Students’ Union’s RAG charity of the year. PAPYRUS was chosen by our students following an online nomination process and vote.
PAPYRUS is a national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide. PAPYRUS aims to reduce the number of young people who take their own lives by shattering the stigma around suicide and equipping young people and their communities with the skills to recognise and respond to suicidal behaviour.
Throughout the year the newly recruited RAG Committee, made up of student volunteers, will work together to create fantastic events and come up with innovative fundraising activities in order to raise money for such a great cause.
For more information about PAPYRUS, visit https://papyrus-uk.org/
And keep an eye on the RAG Facebook page and Instagram, for further updates on their plans for Welcome Week 2019 and RAG Week 2019, as well as other fundraising activities.
Thank you to everyone who has attended a yoga class or two with me over this year – it has been fab! Please note that there will be a break in classes on a Tuesday from 30 July for the rest of the summer. I look forward to welcoming you back on the mat in September, details to follow.
If you would like to start practising yoga or get back into it following a break, please stay in touch on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on classes. Alternatively, please feel free to get in touch with any queries at katy@lovetreeyoga.co.uk.
Sent on behalf of the University’s Charity of the Year: Cure Leukaemia
June & Stuart King in honour of Dr Shafeek’s Charity Cure Leukaemia are holding a summer concert on:
Saturday 31 August 2019
Sunday 1 September 2019
3.30 p.m. – 7.00 p.m.
Access 2.30 p.m. Bring your picnic and chairs whilst listening to music by
Shulah Oliver
Twangers String Band (Sunday Only)
Other musicians to be announced
Adults £14
Under 12 £10
Family 4 £40
Tickets From: June King, 01905820436 Sounion, Old Road North, Kempsey WR5 3JZ Email: sounion@usa.net. Tel: 01905820436
Raffle Drinks Lucky Dip Cakes
Donations to: Cure Leukaemia c/o June King
Date & Time: Tuesday 30 July – 13:00 – 16:00
Venue: WB023
Overview; in this practical workshop we will consider the use of a coaching approach in your interactions with others. Coaching has been defined as “the art of facilitating the performance, learning and development of another” (Downey, 2003).
Participants; those who have an interest in applying coaching skills with others; this might include colleagues with whom you work and also students. Also welcome to those who are aspiring to have management responsibilities.
Prior experience required; none required.
Preparation before the session; to complete the Online training ‘Diversity in the Workplace’, available in LearnUpon.
Future opportunities; there is a 2 day programme where coaching skills are further developed and participants can then become an ‘internal coach’.
Session facilitator/s; this workshop will be supported by members of the HR team and others who have experienced the benefits of using a coaching approach.
If you have a health condition or disability which requires arrangements or equipment to be available to you during your workshop, please contact Aimee Longbottom.
This workshop is available to book a space through the Staff Development Workshop System or by contacting the HR Training Team (training@worc.ac.uk).
Date & Time: Wednesday 24 July – 13:30 – 14:00
Venue: EEG031
Overview; this course is suitable for those with little or no prior knowledge of OneDrive for Business. It is a practical course and will take place in a computer lab. We will cover the basics of OneDrive for business, why we use OneDrive, data security, how to log in, uploading/downloading, creating files/folders, deleting and recovering items.
Participants; all members of staff who have completed their Information Security Awareness training.
Learning outcomes; at the end of this course you will be able to login to OneDrive, upload/download documents and files, create files/folders, delete and recover items.
Prior experience required; none required.
Preparation before the session; none required.
Future opportunities; OneDrive Sharing, OneDrive Scenarios, Encryption and BitLocker.
Session facilitator/s; various members of the IT team.
If you have a health condition or disability which requires arrangements or equipment to be available to you during your workshop, please contact Aimee Longbottom.
This workshop is available to book a space through the Staff Development Workshop System or by contacting the HR Training Team (training@worc.ac.uk).
