OD&PL development roundup – October 2024
Explore a roundup of upcoming development opportunities and the latest news from across Organisational Development & Professional Learning (OD&PL). You can also view our full calendar of events and programmes on the Staff Intranet, with new opportunities added regularly, so remember to check back often for the latest updates.
All staff
Mentoring Scheme - Deadline for November matching process
Apply to be a mentor or mentee as part of the University-wide mentoring scheme. The mentoring experience allows colleagues to share knowledge and skills with others, supporting them to achieve their individual objectives. Available to all colleagues, you can apply throughout the year, with new partnerships set up in May and November. Apply before midnight on 25 October to be included in the November matching process. OD&PL provide a series of events and workshops for mentors and mentees to support your development and to help you get the most out of mentorship.
Getting started with your LinkedIn Learning account
Explore our staff guide to LinkedIn Learning to find out how to make the most of your free account. With over 21,000 expert-led courses available, LinkedIn Learning helps you to enhance your personal and professional development. The guide provides practical tips for getting started, curated content suggestions and advice on creating learning pathways for yourself and others. You'll also learn how you can set a ‘Career Goal’ to get a personalised learning plan and explore recommended content to help you develop skills relevant to your chosen career path.
We also have guides available for students and researchers:
Enhance your digital capabilities with the Jisc Discovery Tool
Available to all colleagues, the Jisc Discovery Tool can help you understand your digital capabilities and identify development opportunities to build your skills. Digital capabilities are the skills needed to live, learn and work in a digital world and make best use of the systems and technologies you encounter. Answer question sets designed specifically for colleagues in higher education to see a detailed assessment of your current capabilities and areas for development, along with suggested learning resources to help you reach your goals.
We can offer bespoke sessions for your team or department, helping your colleagues to learn more about using the tool to enhance their digital capabilities. You can email peopledev@leeds.ac.uk to arrange a tailored session.
University welcome event for new staff
Join us for the next welcome event for new staff on 6 November to find out more about Leeds, meet new colleagues and explore the range of benefits, support and advice available to you.
Psychosocial Resources Workshops
Bookings are open for our series of psychosocial resources workshops. Delivered by OD&PL and the Staff Counselling and Psychological Support Service, these workshops support colleagues to develop self-awareness and self-management skills.
Supporting our community: Guidance and resources
Check out the new Supporting our community page on the Staff Intranet, centralising support and resources available to our colleagues from across the University. From development opportunities to policies and guidance, the page highlights key information for our community to consider.
Grades 2-5
Career Development Programmes
Bookings are currently open to join two programmes focussed on providing career development support for colleagues in grade 2-5 roles:
- First Steps Session – Dates are available in November and December for the First Steps session, giving you the opportunity to look at where you are in your career, reflect on your achievements, identify any future goals and start to create a career plan for yourself.
- Careers Information, Advice and Guidance – Bookings are now open for the January cohort of our Careers Information, Advice and Guidance programme. Starting in January 2025, this comprehensive programme consists of three modules providing essential career planning and development support. You will learn how to create effective CVs, develop skills profiles, write successful job applications and enhance your interview skills.
Next monthly drop-in session
The next monthly drop-in session at the Wellbeing Hub (formerly the LOGIK Centre) will take place on 22 October between 10am and 12noon. These drop-in events offer colleagues an opportunity to explore learning and development opportunities for those working in roles graded two to five. Managers and supervisors of staff in these roles are also welcome to attend find out more about the support available to their colleagues. These events take place on the fourth Tuesday of each month, except when this falls on a University closed day.
Leadership and management
New Core Pathway launches | Connected Leadership Programme
The Connected Leadership Programme now features a new Core Pathway for experienced senior leaders, offering an intensive exploration of leadership your practice. This pathway includes interactive face-to-face workshops, 360-degree assessments, and action learning groups, all centred around the theme of connection.
You will engage in a structured, in-depth exploration of core leadership practices, fostering greater self-awareness, enhancing strategic thinking, and improving your ability to inspire teams. The Core Pathway will be available three times in 2025. The deadline to join the first cohort is 5pm on 6 December 2024.
Tailor the programme to your unique needs:
The programme has two flexible components, and the Core Pathway complements the existing six Specialist Modules, which allows you to focus on specific skills. You can choose to complete just the Core Pathway, focus solely on specialist modules, or combine both. This allows you to tailor the programme to meet your unique needs.
Find out more at an upcoming information event:
Join us for an upcoming information event on 23 October or 26 November to learn more about the programme.
Establishing Your Leadership Programme
Register for Establishing your Leadership, designed for leaders who are just starting to find their feet in a new leadership role but still feel in transition. The programme features modules focused on developing your leadership, building team effectiveness, leading across the University, and navigating uncertainty.
- Cohort 15: This cohort is fully booked
- Cohort 16: 5 December 2024- 5 March 2025 (online)
- Cohort 17: 30 April - 22 May 2025 (on campus)
- Cohort 18: 25 March - 10 June 2025 (online)
Management Essentials
Book your place on upcoming Management Essentials sessions in October. This series covers a variety of topics crucial for new and existing managers to equip them with the essential tools and knowledge for effective team management and understanding of their responsibilities.
- 1 October – Managing Stress and Mental Health
- 7 October – Supporting Excellence
- 16 October – An introduction to having difficult conversations
- 16 October – Health and Wellbeing
A full list of sessions throughout 2024-25 are available on the events section of our OD&PL intranet site and on our Management Essentials webpages.
Researcher development and research culture
Research Culture Uncovered Podcast wins Vitae ICE Award
Colleagues from OD&PL and the Library Research Services Team have won a prestigious Vitae Impact, Culture, and Engagement (ICE) Award in recognition of their significant contribution to the researcher development community. The team behind the Research Culture Uncovered Podcast celebrated winning the Research Culture Impact Through Researcher Development Award at the Vitae ICE Awards Ceremony on 23 September. The award recognises the podcast’s impactful and innovative work within the researcher development community, emphasising the importance of enhancing research culture. Congratulations to the podcast team, which includes Dr Emma Spary, Dr Ged Hall, Ruth Winden, Dr Taryn Bell, Dr Tony Bromley and Katie Jones from OD&PL, along with Nick Sheppard from the Library Research Services Team.
REDS Conference | Developing research leaders fit for the future
There's still time to book your place at the 10th annual Researcher Education and Development Scholarship (REDS) Conference, which we're hosting on 10 October. You can view the REDS Conference programme, and register for this free online event, which will explore the theme of ‘Developing Research Leaders Fit for the Future’.
Upcoming Research Culture Cafés | Open Forum with Professor Luke Windsor
Book your place for our upcoming Research Culture Cafés in October and December. These events are part of ongoing efforts to foster a positive, inclusive research culture. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about research culture, engage in insightful discussions, share experiences and explore ideas.
- 16 October (11am-12noon, Online) – This session will focus on professional and career development, research integrity and responsible research and innovation.
- 11 December (10-11am, On campus) – In December, join us for an open forum with Professor Luke Windsor, Research leader and Dean of the Doctoral college. Luke will give a short presentation about his roles and then will answer your questions on the topics of opportunities and support for engagement with postdoctoral researchers in PGR supervision, leadership and positive work culture.
Introducing Quest | A new development programme for postgraduate researchers (PGR)
Welcome to Quest, a new OD&PL programme supporting the PGR research journey. These workshops provide opportunities for PGRs to engage in discussions, share insights and learn collaboratively. It covers topics including developing good supervisor relationships, research culture, responsible research and innovation, leadership skills and viva preparation.
The first workshop of the programme, Your Viva, is now available for booking and will take place on 6 November. The session will prepare you for your viva by offering a practical experience of answering viva questions and reflecting on your performance. It covers both the transfer viva stage and the final doctoral viva.
Building Impact Momentum Programme
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 next runs from December to April, is open to research, academic and professional support staff and consists of six webinars, additional reading, partner work and impact practice. Closing date for expressions of interest is midnight on 1 November.
BOOST Programme | Career Development for Researchers
Explore these upcoming October BOOST events, designed to support researchers in their career development. Running throughout 2024/25, the programme offers a range of workshops, resources and discussions to help you build the skills and confidence needed to advance your career. Topics include career planning, professional development, communicating your skills, job applications, fellowships, grants and funding.
- 2 October – Career Conversations for Research Leaders
- 3 October – Being More Entrepreneurial
- 7 October – Uncovering Your Career Saboteurs
- 30 October – Narrative CV (R4RI) Drop-in
Funding award | Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) activities
The RRI Funding Scheme offers up to £500 to support researchers, including postgraduate researchers, and staff that support research to organise RRI activities. Aligned with UKRI’s AREA framework, it encourages proposals that anticipate research impacts, foster deeper reflection of societal relevance, engages diverse stakeholders and enables researchers to act on insights gained. Applications close on 2 December. For further details on the scheme, book your place at our information webinar on 22 October, from 10-11.30am.
Policy Engagement Kickstart Programme | Deadline 4 October
There's still time to book your place on the online autumn Policy Engagement Kickstart programme before midnight on 4 October. The programme starts on 22 October and is aimed at researchers and research support staff, providing the knowledge and skills to engage with policymakers. You can also register for the winter Policy Engagement Kickstart programme before midnight on 17 January 2025. This programme will run on campus from February 2025.
Student education development
Teaching Awards Celebration Event 2024
We recently hosted a special celebration on campus recognising excellent practice in delivering high-quality teaching and learning at Leeds. The gala event on 10 September showcased the achievements of colleagues who received highly coveted accolades during the past 12 months, including winners of the University of Leeds Teaching Awards 2024. Read about the winners and watch the awards video.
TIPS Community recognised in University of Leeds Teaching Awards
Talking about their award, the team said:
“Colleagues in professional services who aren’t conventional teachers sometimes talk about feeling almost like imposters in that space, so having that work recognised gives validity to what we’re doing.
“It’s really rewarding to be recognised for all the energy we give to support colleagues who are at the forefront of student education. It really helps with our confidence to keep going forward in what we’re doing.”
Student Education Development: Overview of opportunities in 2024/25
As part of this month's OD&PL development roundup, the Student Education Development team is pleased to present an overview of opportunities for the 2024/25 academic year. Whether you’re new to teaching or looking to enhance your practice, we offer a variety of resources and support. For a comprehensive look at our provision throughout the academic year, please read our detailed overview of opportunities in Student Education Development (Opens in Sway). In the following sections, you’ll find specific, upcoming opportunities and deadlines for October that are not to be missed!
Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP)
The PGCAP supports colleagues to enhance their teaching practice, explore different approaches, connect them to peers and challenge their thinking. It’s also one route available to gain Advance HE Fellowship (FHEA).
Congratulations to our recent graduates
We are celebrating the latest colleagues who have graduated from the PGCAP and received FHEA. Their achievements were recognised at the recent Teaching Awards Celebration Event.
Applications are open for our February 2025 PGCAP cohort
You can now apply for the February 2025 PGCAP cohort, with applications open until 5pm on 18 November. Colleagues can sign up for an online event to find out more about the PGCAP on 24 October.
Leading in Student Education Development
New dates are now available to book for our programme exploring leadership in student education. Aimed at colleagues in leadership roles within student education, the course is built around three themes: understanding your role within the wider landscape, influencing others and building consensus, and creating presence and authenticity in your leadership. The next workshops start on 13 November and further opportunities are available throughout 2024-25.
Foundations in Teaching course
Register for the online, self-paced Foundations in Teaching (FiT) course from OD&PL, providing information and advice to those new to teaching or new to teaching at Leeds. The course is available to staff, postgraduate students and researchers. The course is self-paced and is delivered online, with no time-limit to complete it. The core of the course is estimated to take 3 hours, with an additional 2-4 hours of optional activities and the chance to explore related links. Following FiT, participants will be invited to sign up for optional focused synchronous sessions to further support teaching development in specific areas.
Build your Scholarship Practice
Book your place on upcoming writing communities and reading groups as part of the Build your Scholarship Practice programme. The programme enables you to develop and share scholarly teaching practices and scholarship projects informed by Curriculum Redefined. Over the coming year, a key theme will be the practice and scholarship of developing co-created, partnership-led approaches to assessment and feedback. Bookings are currently open for the following:
- BYSP Writing Community Group – Deadline to apply is 5pm on 7 October.
- BYSP Reading Group – These groups will run from 3-4pm on 14 October, 14 November and 12 December.
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Theme for 14 October session: The why of CR Paperwork: the case for aligning learning outcomes, assessment and feedback
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The third strand of the programme, themed SoTL development workshops, will run in semester two.
Academic personal tutoring development opportunities
Explore a series of upcoming events for academic personal tutors:
- 14 October - Supporting students through menopause (Delivered by Student Support)
- 17 October - Core guidance for supporting students in distress workshop (for APTs and PGR supervisors)
- 4 November - Understanding mature students (Delivered by Student Support)
- 8 November – Supporting international students through APT
- 11 November - Rapid support for students in distress
- 20 November - Equity in Academic Personal Tutoring
- 21 November - Essential skills for supporting students
TIPS Community and LITE event | Rethinking our work with international students
Sign up for this hybrid event on 22 October, from 1 to 3pm, and join guest speaker Dr Sylvie Lomer from the Manchester Institute of Education for a workshop focused on rethinking our work with international students. You’ll explore how homogenisation, stereotypes, deficit narratives and conceptual nationalism shape our classroom interactions and consider ways to reframe these narratives. Discover inclusive practices to better support international students. The event is hosted by the TIPS Community and the Leeds Institute of Teaching Excellence (LITE).
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