OD&PL development roundup - February 2025

Welcome to our February 2025 roundup

Explore a roundup of upcoming development opportunities and the latest news from across Organisational Development & Professional Learning (OD&PL).

📅 OD&PL Programme and Events Calendar: Don't forget to also check out our full calendar of events and programmes (requires login), as new opportunities are added regularly!

The February OD&PL development roundup is also available to read on the Staff Intranet, and some of the links in the following updates may direct you to the intranet.

Access the February roundup article on the Staff Intranet (requires UoL login)

 

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All staff 

Become a LinkedIn Learning curator to drive learner engagement and take LinkedIn Learning to the next level for you, your colleagues and students. Curator roles are available to all staff, making it an ideal opportunity for anyone focused on teaching or leading the development of others. As a curator, you can upload your own content, use LinkedIn Learning resources, or combine both. Easily share collections and learning paths, and track engagement with insightful data. If you’re already a curator and looking for inspiration for your collections or learning paths, check out our most popular courses of 2024 to see what we’ve been watching.

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Join us for our upcoming lunch and learn sessions for mentors to share insights, expertise and peer support. Open to all mentors, these online sessions feature speakers from the University-wide Mentoring Scheme, but you don't need to be part of the scheme to join.

• 📅 12 February, 1-2pm – Toolkit Carousel: Wheel of Life
• 📅 20 March, 12noon-1pm – Strengths-based approach to mentoring and coaching
• 📅 26 June, 12noon-1pm – Creating psychological safety in a mentoring or coaching setting

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📅 11am to 12 noon, 20 February

Join our next online Pedagogical Power of PebblePad workshop, featuring two presentations from colleagues sharing innovative uses of PebblePad at Leeds:

• Redefining English studies in PebblePad – Dr Emily Bell (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Culture)
• Using PebblePad to signpost resources for personalised skills development – Dr Wendy Harrison (Faculty of Medicine and Health)

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📅 10 February, 10-11.30am 📅 20 March, 10-11.30am (Online)

New to Leeds? Join us for upcoming online welcome events for new staff to find out more about the University, meet new colleagues and explore the range of benefits, support and advice available.

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📅 5 February, 10-11am (Online)

Join us for our next online introduction session to the Jisc Discovery Tool. Learn what digital capabilities are and how this tool can help you assess your own strengths, identify areas for growth and access tailored resources and development opportunities to achieve your goals.

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📅 27 February, 3-5pm (On campus)

Sign up for this in-person Facilitation Skills workshop, open to all colleagues. Whatever your role at the University, you may need to use facilitation skills in a variety of contexts. In this session, we’ll discuss the role of the facilitator, modes of facilitation, good practice and overcoming challenges, then provide a safe space for you to practice your facilitations skills in small groups and receive constructive feedback from participants.

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Grades 2-5

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⏰ Deadline 28 February

Apply for the next Navigator development programme for men in grade 2-5 roles, running from March to June 2025. Navigator was developed in response to the success of the Springboard development programme and supports participants in developing the skills and action plans needed to achieve their goals, while also helping manage stress, change and work-life balance.

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Register for our upcoming career development programmes for colleagues in grades 2-5 roles:

• 📅 Sign up for our April First Steps session, helping you consider where you are in your career, reflect on your achievements, identify future goals and start career planning.
• 📅 Join the Careers Information, Advice, and Guidance programme in March to explore effective CVs, skills profiles, job applications and interview techniques.

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📅 25 February, 10-12noon (drop-in anytime)

Our next monthly drop-in session at the Wellbeing Hub will take place on 25 February between 10am and 12noon. These drop-in events provide an opportunity to explore learning and development opportunities for colleagues in grades 2-5 roles. Managers and supervisors of staff in these roles are also welcome to attend to find out more about the support available. Drop-in sessions take place on the fourth Tuesday of each month, except when this falls on a University closed day.

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Leadership and management

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Over the past decade, the Aurora Women’s Leadership Development Programme has supported over 390 women at the University. Colleagues can now read an Aurora impact report and attend these upcoming events to find out more:

📅 Aurora Impact Workshop – Thursday 13 February 2025, 9.30-11.30am (Online)
For Aurora alumnae, in collaboration with the Equality and Inclusion Unit. Explore how we can build on Aurora’s success to advance gender equality, both locally and institutionally. You'll also hear about ongoing initiatives supporting gender equality at the University.

📅 Aurora Impact Study Briefing – Monday 17 February 2025, 10-11am (Online)
An overview of key report findings, open to all interested in Aurora’s impact and gender equality at the University.

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📅 25 February, 10-11am (On campus)

Sign up for our next information session about our full range of leadership development programmes. During the session, we'll guide you through each of our leadership programmes, providing an overview of course content and objectives, details about the application process and guidance on who each programme is suitable for. There will also be an opportunity to ask any questions you might have. Dates are also available to book in March, April, June and July.

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Connected Leadership Programme

The Connected Leadership Programme is designed for established leaders seeking to explore leadership from the perspective of the individual, team and organisation. With a flexible structure, you can tailor your leadership development to meet your specific needs.

• ⏰ Core pathway: Deadline for the next cohort is 24 March – The core pathway is designed for experienced senior leaders, offering an intensive exploration of your leadership practice.
• 📅 Specialist modules: Dates available throughout the year – The specialist modules run across three workshops and are designed to develop specific skills and address key leadership challenges you’re facing.

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📝 Join the waiting list for future cohorts

Cohorts for 2024/25 are now fully booked for our Establishing your Leadership and Discovering your Leadership programmes. You can express your interest to be notified when new dates for 2025/26 are open for booking.

• Discovering your Leadership is designed for early stages of leadership development for aspiring and new leaders.
• Establishing your Leadership is designed for leaders who are typically 12 months into a leadership role and are just starting to find their feet in a new leadership role but still feel in transition.

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Management Essentials

We currently have available spaces for our Management Essentials sessions on the following dates. Visit our Management Essentials webpage to find out more and secure your place!

• 📅 Introduction to Management – 18 June
• 📅 Sustainability: Role of the Manager – 24 February, 20 June
• 📅 Health and Safety: Role of the Manager – 13 February, 15 July
• 📅 SRDS Reviewer Training – 11 February, 25 April, 12 May, 11 June
• 📅 Introduction to Recruitment – 28 April, 5 June
• 📅 Supporting Excellence – 18 June
• 📅 Using Psychological Perspectives to Manage Professional Relationships – 24 June
• 📅 Having Difficult Conversations – 10 June
• 📅 Supporting Stress and Mental Health – 9 June

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Researcher development and research culture

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The BOOST programme  has reached an exciting milestone, welcoming over 300 participants to events during 2024/25. With over 30 events running this year, BOOST supports researchers at all career stages, covering topics such as professional development, career planning, job applications, communicating skills, fellowships, grants, and funding.

Here are some of the upcoming events with spaces remaining:

• 📅 4 February, 1-3pm (online) – Career options
• 📅 6 March, 3-4.30pm (on campus) – CV drop-in session
• 📅 7 April, 10am-1pm (online) – Planning your First Fellowship
• 📅 9 April, 2-3.30pm (online) – CV drop-in session
• 📅 11 April, 9.30-12.30pm (online) – Career planning and making good decisions

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⏰ Deadline – midnight, 14 February

Register your interest in the Building Impact Momentum Programme to help develop concrete ideas for impact that can be applied to research projects or in grant applications. The programme, which runs from March to July, is open to research, academic and professional support staff and consists of six webinars, additional reading, partner work and impact practice.

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🎧  Podcast celebrates its 100th episode!

Join the Research Culture Uncovered Podcast team as Emma Spary, Ged Hall, Ruth Winden, Nick Sheppard, Taryn Bell, Emily Goodall, and Heledd Jarosz-Griffiths review and reflect on a particularly eventful and award-winning year.

• 🌟 In this special episode, the team reflect on winning a Vitae Impact Culture and Engagement Award, welcoming new team members and marking Tony Bromley’s retirement.
• 💬 The hosts also discuss career support expansions, UKCGE accreditation, major conferences and launching the University of Leeds Open Research Hub.
• 🔮 Looking ahead to 2025, they discuss their predictions, key challenges and trends.

Listen now to ‘Celebrating 100 episodes: Research Culture Uncovered Reflecting on 2024 and Looking Ahead’.

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Our next three Research Culture Cafés are specifically designed for different groups of colleagues, with sessions tailored for professional services staff, technical staff, and postgraduate researchers. While these events are usually open to all staff and focus on broader themes, the upcoming sessions are tailored to the unique perspectives of those in specific roles. This approach offers a dedicated space for discussion and insight-sharing within each group. These cafés provide a supportive, peer-focused environment to share experiences and contribute to shaping a positive, inclusive research culture. We will use insights from the Research Staff Survey and PULSE Surveys to help guide discussions.

• 📅 12 February, 11am-12noon (online) – For research professionals
• 📅 23 April, 2-3pm (online) – For technical staff who support research
• 📅 10 June, 10-11am (on campus) – For postgraduate researchers (PGRs)

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There are still some spaces left on the following events as part of our Quest programme. These workshops provide valuable opportunities for PGRs to engage in discussions, share insights and learn collaboratively.

• 📅 27 February,  10am-12.30pm (online) – Developing Good Supervisor Relationships
• 📅 6 March, 10am-12.30pm and 20 March, 1-3pm (online) – What does Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) mean to me?
• 📅 27 March, 2-4pm (on campus) – Your Viva

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📅 Information webinar, 27 March, 11-11.45am ⏰ Programme deadline, 5pm on 4 April

Get support to apply for the UKCGE Recognised Associate Research Supervisor Award, which celebrates the vital impact of postdoctoral researchers, technical colleagues and professional services in doctoral supervision, recognising your essential contributions to the research journey. Join a programme of workshops featuring reflection on your supervisory practice, peer discussions and practical guidance for applying.

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Student education development

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⭐ Celebrating excellence in student education

⏰ Applications are open until 5pm on 14 March for the University of Leeds Teaching Awards 2025. Celebrating excellence in student education, the awards are open to all colleagues involved in teaching or supporting the student learning experience.

🏆 Winners receive: a monetary award to support professional development and scholarship, a certificate and an invitation to a celebratory event.

📅 Teaching Awards Briefing Event, 5 February, 10-11.30am –Book your place for an online briefing event, taking place from 10.30-11.30am on 5 February, to find out more about the awards. A recording of the event will be made available to watch.

💡 Find out more: Discover ways to gain recognition for your work through initiatives like the University of Leeds Teaching Awards. Read the latest 15 to 1 Staff Profile featuring Dr Jane Dalton, Senior Head of Student Education Development in OD&PL, where she also highlights outstanding personal and professional development opportunities at Leeds.

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Sign up a series of SoTL-informed Praxis Workshops, part of the Build your Scholarship Practice (BYSP) programme.

🔎 What is BYSP? BYSP is a university-wide Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) development programme that helps staff enhance and share scholarly teaching practices and scholarship projects, informed by Curriculum Redefined. In 2024/25, the practice and scholarship of developing co-created/partnerships-led approaches to assessment and feedback will be a key theme.

Upcoming SoTL-informed Praxis Workshops: BYSP will be partnering with the CR-funded ‘Partnerships in Assessment and Feedback Network’ to host a series of 90-minute praxis workshops on the theme of partnerships in assessment and feedback.

• 📅 10 February, 2–3.30pm – ‘Co-creating assessment rubrics with students’, Dr Chahna Gonsalves, King’s College London
• 📅 25 February, 2–3.30pm – ‘Co-creating assessment questions with students’, Professor Amanda Millmore, University of Reading

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• 📅 27 February, 1-2pm (online) – Transformative teaching - the educator as activist
• 📅 28 March, 10.30-11.30am (online) – Exploring collaborative practice

➡️ You can sign up for the TIPS TLCs on the TIPS Community webpage.

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Academic personal tutors can sign up for a range of development opportunities from OD&PL and Student Support. New sessions are added regularly – check the APT Development Opportunities webpage to stay up to date:

• 📅 5 February, 9.30am-4pm (on campus) – Supporting students through menopause
• 📅 6 February, 9.30am-4.30pm (on campus) – Essential skills for supporting students
• 📅 17 February, 9.30am-4.30pm (on campus) – Rapid support for students in distress
• 📅 19 February, 9.30am-4.30pm (on campus) – Bereavement training
• 📅 6 March, 10-11.30am (hybrid) – Accent bias for APTs
• 📅 20 March, 10.30-11.30am (on campus) – Active listening for APTs
• 📅 7 April, 9.30am-4pm (on campus) – Supporting students through menopause
• 📅 28 April, 9.30am-4.30pm (on campus) – Bereavement training
• 📅 21 May, 1.30-3pm (Hybrid) – Supporting international students in summer through APT

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Sign up for our next Leading in Student Education Development workshops, starting this month, with additional sessions available in June. The workshops are designed for colleagues in leadership roles within student education and are organised into three themes:

• 📅 12 February, 10am-12noon (online) – Understanding the system
• 📅 26 February, 10am-12noon (online) – Influencing others and building consensus
• 📅 6 March, 10am-12noon (online) – Creating presence and authenticity in your leadership  

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Register for our online, self-paced Foundations in Teaching (FiT) course, providing essential guidance for staff, postgraduate students and researchers new to teaching or new to teaching at Leeds. After the course, you'll be invited to sign up for Developing in Teaching sessions which offer further support for teaching development in specific areas.

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External development opportunities

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Applications are now open for the Leeds Legacy Programme, taking place on 18-19 February in-person in Leeds. This free event empowers 18–25-year-olds to build leadership skills, connect with peers and city leaders, and make a lasting impact. Funded by the UK Government and supported by local partners, participants will also have the chance to enter the prestigious 25Under25 awards, which are given each year globally to those young Legacy alumni who can best demonstrate their social impact in their work.

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Are you an aspiring senior leader from a global majority background looking for targeted career development? Applications are now open for the White Rose University Consortium’s Equity in Leadership programme. The programme is for staff from global majority (sometimes known as BAME or minoritised communities) backgrounds at grade 8 (Sheffield, Leeds) or grade 7 and above (York). You will engage in three in-person workshops, each hosted at a different White Rose institution (Thursday 15 May at Leeds, Wednesday 9 July at Sheffield, Wednesday 17 September at York), as well as other opportunities for coaching and networking with participants and senior leaders across our community.

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