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OD&PL Development Roundup – March 2025

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OD&PL development roundup
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Welcome to our March 2025 roundup

Explore this month's roundup of upcoming development opportunities and the latest news from Organisational Development and Professional Learning (OD&PL). Each month, we release a new roundup article showcasing events, programmes and resources to help you develop new skills, advance your career and support your personal development.

This March 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 March roundup article on the Staff Intranet (requires UoL login)

 

All staff 

Ways to stay connected with OD&PL

Last month, we introduced two new ways to keep up with all things OD&PL:

🌐 LinkedIn: Connect with us on LinkedIn to find out about the latest development opportunities, practical advice and insights from our team. We’ll be sharing what we’re working on and showcasing how staff across the University are developing their skills and careers with our support, giving you a better understanding of our work and the support we offer.

📱 Bluesky: Follow us on Bluesky to stay informed with quick updates on new opportunities, news and insights to help you make the most of what’s available.

How colleagues are using LinkedIn Learning for their development

Hear from colleagues across the University as they share how LinkedIn Learning has become a key resource in their personal and professional development. Discover how they're using the platform to acquire new skills, build confidence, support their team members and make a significant impact in their roles.

Explore our collection of LinkedIn Learning case studies.

If you'd like to the most popular areas of development amongst colleagues at Leeds, explore the top courses of 2024 to get inspiration for your own learning.

PebblePad: Sharing good practice

📚 Case study: Encouraging ePortfolio use to record professional experience

PebblePad has released their latest case study featuring the University of Leeds, showcasing several examples of how colleagues are using the tool to provide engaging induction and training content for staff in an interactive, web-based format with functionality for monitoring and tracking engagement.

📅 Workshop series: Pedagogical Power of PebblePad

In this series of PebblePad workshops, colleagues from across the University will share the innovative and interesting ways they've been using PebblePad. The upcoming sessions on 20 March, 10 April and 22 May cover a range of topics and themes, including how PebblePad is being used to support student learning and staff development.

Strengths based approach to mentoring and coaching

📅 20 March, 12noon-1pm (Online)

Join us for our next online lunch and learn session to explore a strengths-based approach to mentoring and coaching. Learn about the benefits of this approach, explore practical tools like StrengthsFinder, and take part in interactive discussions to enhance your skills. There’s no need to be part of the University-wide Mentoring Scheme to join. You can also sign up for the June lunch and learn session, which looks at creating psychological safety in mentoring and coaching. Sign up via the mentoring workshops and events webpage.

International Women’s Day 2025: Accelerate action through LinkedIn Learning

Explore our curated collection of LinkedIn Learning resources inspired by International Women’s Day and this year’s theme of #AccelerateAction. You can access these courses using your free University of Leeds LinkedIn Learning account.

More opportunities to explore:

Grades 2-5

Career development programmes (Grades 2-5)

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

First Steps: Sign up for the next First Steps session, starting in April. This session will help you consider where you are in your career, reflect on your achievements, identify future goals and start career planning.

Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG) programme: Our next CIAG programme starts in May to explore effective CVs, skills profiles, job applications and interview techniques.

Next monthly development drop-in session (Grades 2-5)

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

Our next monthly drop-in session at the Wellbeing Hub will take place on 25 March 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.

Leadership and management

Leadership development for established leaders

The Connected Leadership Programme emphasises connected, collaborative, and values-driven leadership, helping you develop self-awareness, improve strategic thinking and lead and inspire teams more effectively. The programme is designed for colleagues who have been in a leadership role for at least 12 months and contribute to advancing the University’s strategic goals.

With a flexible structure that includes a core pathway and six specialist modules, you can tailor your leadership development to meet your specific needs:

📅 Specialist modules: Dates available throughout the year: The specialist modules, running across three workshops, develop specific skills and address your key leadership challenges.

⏰ 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.

Explore all our leadership programmes at an upcoming information session

📅 19 March, 2-3pm (Online)

Sign up for our next information session about our leadership programmes. During the session, we'll guide you through each programme, sharing an overview of course content and objectives, and details about applying. There will also be an opportunity to ask any questions you might have. Dates are also available to book in April, June and July.

More opportunities to explore:

Researcher development and culture

Research Culture Cafés

Our next two Research Culture Cafés are aimed specifically at different groups of colleagues, with sessions tailored for technical staff who support research and postgraduate researchers. This approach will provide a dedicated space for discussion and insight-sharing within each group. These events offer a supportive, peer-focused environment to share your experiences and contribute to shaping a positive, inclusive research culture.

📅 23 April, 2-3pm (online) – For technical staff who support research

📅 10 June, 10-11am (on campus) – For postgraduate researchers (PGRs)

UKCGE Recognised Associate Research Supervisor Award

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

Join us to find out about support available 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 on the research journey. This programme of workshops features reflection on your supervisory practice, peer discussions and practical guidance for applying. If you can't make the programme starting in April, bookings for the July-October programme are also currently open.

Careers Day for Research Professionals

📅 7 May, 9.15am-4pm (Deadline to register: 25 April)

Our inaugural Careers Day for Research Professionals takes place on 7 May. This exciting new event features insightful workshops, engaging discussions and valuable networking opportunities, all designed to support your career development. Hosted by OD&PL in collaboration with colleagues across the University, this event is tailored for those who play an integral role in supporting research. Places are limited and filling up quickly, so early registration is recommended.

More opportunities to explore:

  • BOOST career development: Explore the range of events available to book as part of this programme which supports researcher career development.
  • Quest development for PGRs: Book upcoming sessions for postgraduate researchers, topics include Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), research culture and viva preparation.
  • Research Culture Uncovered Podcast: Catch up on the latest episodes of our Research Culture Uncovered Podcast, , including our newest episode, which explores navigating the evolving landscape of doctoral supervision.

Student education development

⭐ University of Leeds Teaching Awards 2025 ⭐

⏰ Deadline: 5pm on 14 March.

There’s still time to apply 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.

Watch a recording Teaching Awards Briefing Event: Learn more about the awards, hear from a previous winner and find out how to apply. You can access the recording via the Teaching Awards webpage.

Assessment Matters Conference 2025 

📅 23 April (Sign up deadline: midnight on 4 April)

Register for the Assessment Matters Conference on 23 April, a one-day internal event exploring innovative approaches to assessment and feedback. Hear from colleagues sharing research and scholarship from across the University, and explore best practices and challenges in designing effective assessments. Open to all staff, with both in-person and online options to attend.

Academic personal tutors: Development opportunities

APT Bitesize: Supporting academic personal tutors (APTs)

Watch APT Bitesize, a series of short videos designed to support APTs to develop their practice by exploring approaches to personal tutoring, sharing experiences and offering practical advice. Hosted by Dr Ruth Payne, the first three episodes cover personal tutoring in relation to belonging, new students and meaningful conversations.

📅 Upcoming APT events:

Explore these upcoming events in March and April. All available sessions can be found on the APT Development Opportunities webpage.

  • 6 March, 10-11.30am – Accent bias for APTs
  • 20 March, 10.30-11.30am – Active listening for APTs
  • 7 April, 9.30am-4pm – Supporting students through menopause
  • 28 April, 9.30am-4.30pm – Bereavement training

TIPS Community: Teaching and Learning Chats (TLCs)

Join colleagues from across the TIPS Community for our Teaching and Learning Chats (TLCs). These sessions provide a chance to connect across roles and disciplines, exchange tips, ideas and inspiration for everyday teaching practice. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic, encouraging participants to share experiences and support one another.

📅 28 March, 10.30-11.30am (online) – Exploring collaborative practice

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

Explore more opportunities:

If you have any questions about our development opportunities or news, please get in touch with us at [email protected].

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