OD&PL development roundup – September 2024
Welcome to our September 2024 roundup
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
Staff Guide | Make the most of Your LinkedIn Learning account
Explore our guide to fully utilising your free LinkedIn Learning account. With over 21,000 expert-led courses available, this resource helps you to enhance your personal and professional development. The guide provides curated content suggestions, practical tips for account navigation, and advice on creating learning pathways for yourself and others. Courses span technology, business, and creative subjects, accessible anytime, anywhere via the LinkedIn Learning app.
Don't miss our Beginner's Guide to LinkedIn Learning event on 26 September from 10-11am. During the session, our LinkedIn Learning expert will share strategies to help you maximise the platform’s features and boost your learning and professional growth. Whether you're looking to acquire new skills, stay updated with industry trends, or curate content for your team, this guide and event will equip you with the tools to succeed.
New online module: Preparing for Mentorship
Access our new Preparing for Mentorship module to explore the essentials of effective mentoring. Aimed at anyone new to mentoring, this module shares what to expect from your mentoring experience and provides valuable insights and tools to make the most of your mentoring journey. There are no pre-requisites to this training module, which is open to all colleagues. The module is highly recommended for new mentees and mentors before starting your first mentoring partnership. To find out more visit the OD&PL mentoring webpage, which provides information on the University-wide mentoring scheme, resources for mentors and mentees, development workshops and events, FAQs about mentoring and guidance for line managers.
University Welcome Event for New Staff
The next welcome events for new staff take place on 26 September and 6 November. Sign up for one of these upcoming events to find out more about Leeds, meet new colleagues and explore the range of benefits, support and advice available.
Mentor Development Sessions:
Sign up for upcoming lunch and learn sessions for mentors. These sessions provide mentors from across the University to share their learning, expertise and offer peer support. These sessions will explore a variety of topics and speakers for these sessions are all active mentors on the University-wide Mentoring Scheme.
- Thursday 5 September, 12noon-1pm – Disability, Neurodiversity and the Mentoring Journey – This session will focus on disability, neurodiversity, and the mentoring journey. Mentors Alice Lyford and Heledd Jarosz-Griffiths will share their personal insights on supporting mentees with a disability or neurodiversity. The session will include an introduction to the Social Model of Disability, reflections from the speakers on their lived experiences, and a time for discussion and Q&A.
- Tuesday 8 October, 11am-12.30pm – Job Crafting to Empower Mentors – The focus of the session will be ‘Job Crafting to Empower Mentors’ with Charlotte Axon from Tailored Thinking. We will delve into the latest science and research on job crafting and explore practical ways in which mentors can utilise this concept to better support their mentees’ professional and career development.
PebblePad onboarding resource
A standalone mini workbook is now available for staff to incorporate into their module workbooks, offering essential guidance for students on using PebblePad. This resource covers key topics such as dashboard navigation, asset uploading, portfolio creation, and alumni account setup. Colleagues can easily integrate this workbook into their modules. A preview of the PebblePad onboarding workbook is available, and copies can be requested from Patricia Quinn (p.quinn@leeds.ac.uk).
Psychosocial Resources for Personal Wellbeing and Professional Competence
New dates are now available for a 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. New dates are currently available for the following sessions:
- Understanding grief, loss and setback in everyday life
- Setting limits and saying no in the workplace
- Supporting people in distress
- Working with stress and emotion
- Working with change and uncertainty
- Self-care and self-organisation for flexible or hybrid working
Grades 2-5
Grades 2-5 development drop-in sessions
The next monthly drop-in session at the Wellbeing Hub (formerly the LOGIK Centre) will take place on 24 September. 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. Drop by anytime between 10am and 12noon on the fourth Tuesday of each month, except when this falls on a University closed day.
Fresh Steps Development Programme (Grades 2-5)
Join the next cohort of our Fresh Steps Development Programme. The programme is designed for colleagues working in roles graded two to five who want to reassess where they are in their lives and careers, review their priorities, explore new possibilities and set new goals. This programme consists of three full-day sessions and will run on campus, starting with the first session on 8 October.
Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (Grades 2-5)
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.
Leadership and management
Connected Leadership Programme
Bookings are currently open for the 2024/25 Connected Leadership Programme. The first modules begin in September, and some spaces are still available. Additional dates are available throughout the year and can also be booked now. We are also hosting an online information session on 4 September, providing an opportunity for you to learn more about the programme.
This programme is designed to equip established leaders with essential specialist leadership skills. There are six modules to choose from, supporting you in developing a connected, collaborative and values-driven approach to leadership:
- Understanding Systems and Culture (First module starts 17 September)
- Values-led Leadership (First module starts 25 September)
- Optimising a Coaching Leadership Style (First module starts 26 September)
- Leading Change (First module starts 24 September)
- Translating and Developing Strategy (First module starts 18 September)
- Leading and Developing Teams (First module starts 19 September)
Establishing Your Leadership Programme
The Establishing your Leadership programme is for leaders who are just starting to find their feet in a new leadership role but still feel in transition. There's still time to join our first cohort, beginning this September, with additional cohorts scheduled throughout 2024/25. The programme features modules focused on developing your leadership, building team effectiveness, leading across the University, and navigating uncertainty. The cohorts run on the following dates:
- Cohort 14: 10 September - 2 October 2024 (on campus)
- Cohort 15: 3 October - 4 December 2024 (online)
- 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)
Discovering Your Leadership Programme
Discovering your Leadership is aimed at aspiring and new leaders. It includes five sessions on key topics like conflict management, collaboration, communication and transformational change. Participants will receive a certificate of achievement and a 12-month membership to the Chartered Management Institute upon completion. This programme will run over four communities in 2024/25, with the first community starting in September.
- Community 1: 9 September – 28 October 2024 (on campus)
- Community 2: 31 October - 12 December 2024 (online)
- Community 3: 21 January - 18 March 2025 (on campus)
- Community 4: 7 April - 2 June 2025 (on campus)
Management Essentials
Dates for our Management Essentials sessions in 2024/25 are now available to book. 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. Sessions include: Introduction to Management, Sustainability, Health and Safety, SRDS Reviewer Training, Recruitment, Health and Wellbeing and Supporting Excellence. Dates are listed on the events section of our OD&PL intranet site and on our Management Essentials webpages.
Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship
Apply for the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship, starting in February. This programme enhances the leadership skills of managers, focusing on the theory and practice of management as well as essential business concepts. It also prepares you to advance to more senior roles, with course fees paid by the University. Spaces for staff are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. It is recommended to apply as soon as possible by 11 September.
Researcher development and research culture
BOOST Programme – Career Development for Researchers
Join us for a series of new events as part of our BOOST Programme, 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.
Upcoming highlights for September:
- 10 September: Career Development for Postdocs: An Introduction to Prosper
- 17 September: Narrative CV (R4RI) Drop-In
- 19 September: Career Networking
- 25 September: Career Conversations (Postdocs)
Research Culture Uncovered Podcast
Catch up with the latest episodes of the Research Culture Uncovered Podcast. In August, the podcast team released three new episodes:
- Series 8, Episode 8: Research Impact Heroes: Stories and Learning from the AESIS Conference
- Series 9, Episode 1: Show Some Appreciation and Change Your Research Culture for the Better, with Ruth Winden
- Series 9, Episode 2: LIBER2024: New approaches to measuring prevalence and impact of Open Science
Policy Engagement Kickstart Programme
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.
Research Culture Cafés
Bookings are available for our 2024/25 Research Culture Cafés. These events are part of ongoing work to create and promote a positive and inclusive research culture. They provide insightful discussions on various aspects of research culture, serving as a platform for us to share experiences, discuss challenges and propose ideas.
Narrative CVs/R4RIs: The Top 5 Mistakes Researchers Make
The narrative CV, also known as the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI), is a format increasingly adopted by major funders to assess applicants' track records. It's also being used by some universities for recruitment and promotion. In this short article, Dr. Taryn Bell, Researcher Development Adviser at OD&PL, highlights the most common mistakes and offers tips to help you craft an effective narrative CV.
Student education development
2024 Teaching Awards Celebration
This month, the University is hosting a special event celebrating the exceptional achievements of our colleagues in student education for the 2023/24 academic year. We will recognise the recipients of the 2024 University of Leeds Teaching Awards, Principal Fellowship and the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) and the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE). We will also celebrate those who have gained recognition through the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) and the Professional Recognition in Student Education (PRiSE) scheme. We'll be sharing highlights from the event later in September and in next month’s OD&PL development roundup.
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.
Professional Recognition in Student Education (PRiSE)
The PRiSE scheme supports colleagues to achieve professional recognition for their contributions to student education. You can apply for Associate Fellowship, Fellowship or Senior Fellowship and the next submission deadline is in October. Subsequent submission deadlines are in January, April and July. PRiSE is an inclusive scheme, meaning that anyone involved in student education can engage with it - we support professional services colleagues, academics, technicians, PGRs and others from across the University to achieve Fellowship. You can find out more about the process on our PRiSE webpage.
PebblePad's international conference for education users
PebbleBash, held in Edinburgh from 11-13 June 2024, brought together the global PebblePad community. This international conference for education users featured inspirational stories and showcased outstanding work from institutions, primarily in higher education, while highlighting its positive impact on students. A team from the University of Leeds also presented at the event. To find out more, you can now watch the PebbleBash 2024 highlights video. More resources from the conference will also be available soon.
Coming soon | Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP)
Applications for our February 2025 PGCAP cohort will open later this month, with a deadline of 18 November 2024. The PGCAP is designed for colleagues involved in student education to enhance academic practice, connect with peers and challenge thinking. It’s also one route available to gain Advance HE Fellowship (FHEA). In the meantime, you can find out more on the PGCAP webpage.
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