Wednesday 17 January 2018

Student Newsletter Issue 60

Contents

• Announcements
• University news
• What's on
• Academic Skills Centre
• Careers
• Opportunities
• Requests for help
• Blogs
• Recently on social media
• From the editors

ACTIVEmate at ISE - members can take friends for free in Jan

It’s ACTIVEmate time again!

Until Sunday 28 January all members of the Institute of Sport & Exercise can take friends, flatmates or family members for free. This includes all sport and swimming, plus the gym and exercise classes for anyone aged 15 years or over.

For more ACTIVEmate information contact ISE on 01382 384122, email ise@dundee.ac.uk or visit the ISE Facebook page.

There will be events throughout the month, and if you do take a friend you can enter the members' prize draw. Sports clubs will be offering come-and-try sessions during the week of Monday 22 January too - for more information please check the Sports Union Facebook page or email sportsunion@dundee.ac.uk. 

Health Service opening hours

Until further notice, the Health Service's opening hours are Monday to Friday, 10:00 - 16:30. 

The service is unable to run STI testing drop-in clinics until further notice. 

IT ch-ch-ch-changes

Look out for the IT newsletter next week that will let you know about the many changes heading your way, including:

• a new and improved IT website
• a new VPN (Virtual Private Network) for remote access
• changes in the way you report spam.

2018 Stephen Fry Awards Winners

The annual Discovery Days took place last week and, along with some of our newest professors' talks, the winners of the Stephen Fry Awards were announced. 

The 2018 Public Engagement Project of the Year was won by Hands of X, a collaboration that designs made-to-order prosthetic hands in a range of materials and colours according to the wearers’ preference. The team included Dr Graham Pullin, Dr Andrew Cook and Eddie Small.

Dr Daniel Cook was named Engaged Researcher of the Year in recognition the role he has played in bringing the works of Mary Shelley, H.G.Wells and Jonathan Swift to life for new audiences in Dundee as part of the national Being Human Festival.

Read the full story.

Submit your University events online

Don't forget you can submit your University events online to feature them in the What's On listing and weekly email circular. (Remember to check it hasn't been submitted by someone else first!)

Digital Friday

Last Friday saw the launch of the Digital Friday initiative - each week will feature a digital application or tool which can assist with teaching, assessment, research, administration, or just help to make your working life easier. So, get organised, get creative and be more digital in 2018.

Scottish Country Dance classes every Wednesday (start 24 Jan)

Scottish Country Dance classes take place every Wednesday evening at the Station Arts Centre (Riverside Drive, DD1 4DB) and everyone is welcome. 

Classes are from 19:30-21:00, cost £4 (students £3), and start on Wednesday 24 January. Please wear casual clothes, soft shoes, and take a bottle of water.

Find out more.

Join the Dundee University Scottish Country Dance Society's Facebook group.

Wellbeing Regardless every Tuesday (start 13 Feb)

This free course is for any student with a long term condition (for example, but not limited to: arthritis, ME, epilepsy, MS, IBS, fibromyalgia, depression), and aims to give advice on how to manage your condition, take charge of your life, and improve your wellbeing. 

The course will give practical tips, peer support, and fun, and will cover topics including pain, diet, exercise, relaxation, stress, confident communication, resilience, and managing change.

Starting on Tuesday 13 February at 12:30-13:30 for four weeks (until 6 March), in Dalhousie Room 2G14. 

Book by Monday 5 February by emailing Dr Gaye Manwaring.

New website!
Check out the re-designed website; it’s simpler and clearer and it should now be a lot easier for you to find the information you are looking for, from booking a one-to-one appointment with an academic skills tutor to a reminder of where to access the online Exam Revision Toolkit.

Quick Query drop-ins
Do you have an academic skills related question that could be quickly answered? If so, pop into the Library to see a specialist tutor in the ASC Zone, opposite the café. Various times are available during the week.

Undergraduate of the Year Awards 2018

We know Dundee has the best students! So why not enter the @targetjobsUK Undergraduate of the Year awards? There are twelve amazing prizes on offer (including work placements and overseas trips), and the awards celebrate the best undergrads in specific areas. Closing date 29/01/18. Find out more. 

CVs and cover letters to be proud of

Market yourself to potential employers and internal positions: come along to this seminar on Tuesday 20 January on how to write effective tailored CVs and cover letters for job applications. Sign up.

Please complete the Careers survey (first years)

The Careers Service aims to help you with your next career steps, whatever stage you're at. They are keen to find out more about what our first years need from us, and are taking part in a national study to understand your previous experiences of careers support and advice, current views on careers and employability, and future plans.

Please help us by completing the survey - your views will be used to help develop and improve the careers support for students.

Student Support Assistant Vacancies 2018-19

The Residences Support Team provides pastoral care and welfare support to students in University accommodation. In return, Student Support Assistants (SSAs) are offered 60% discount in rent in their first year in the role, and 75% discount when continuing in the role in future sessions. SSAs also benefit from training which help to increase transferable skills.

Applications for Student Support Assistants for 2018-19 are invited by Wednesday 14 February (interviews will be held on Wednesday 28 February). Further particulars and an application form are available online. For more information please email Pat Michie.

Alcohol consumption habits questionnaire

Verity is a 4th-year student doing a dissertation looking at different alcohol consumption habits between generations and the role of alcohol in British culture. If you have a few minutes to spare, please complete her questionnaire. 

Campus facilities survey

Caitlin is this year's Facilities Representative for the Student Representative Council. On behalf of her group, she would be grateful to anyone who had 5-10 minutes to complete her online survey, which is based on the facilities available to you on campus, your knowledge on the sustainability of the campus, and student housing around Dundee. 

8 Things to do in Dundee this January

Feeling the blues after a fun-packed festive season? We’ve rounded up our top eight things to do in our beautiful city this January. 

Read the blog post.

IStructE Speech Competition: Women in STEM

Stephanie Anani, a 2nd-year Civil Engineering student, tells us about her participation in an Institute of Structural Engineers speech competition, where she spoke about Women in STEM. 

Read the blog post.

From Dundee to Dubai

Just before Christmas, a group of our students, selected for the Common Purpose scheme, travelled to Dubai for this year's Global Leadership conference. 

They documented their experience in a variety of ways, and we'll be sharing these with you.

Read Cara's blog.

If you wish to communicate around the University, this fortnightly newsletter is just one way to do that. Please check our Methods of Internal Communication webpage, and feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

The next newsletter will be distributed on Wednesday 31 January - the deadline for information to be included is 16:00 on Friday 26 January.