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University Updates
Welcome to your regular update
This week in University Updates...
The Festival of Discovery is here! You can find out more information on the events that are taking place across the week. There is also news on the Respect Festival, our Decolonising the Curriculum Survey and much more!
COVID-19 – virtual student Q&A event with NHS vaccine experts
We’re urging all of our students to take up the offer of getting a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you are contacted by the NHS.
The vaccine is over 80% effective at reducing the likelihood of hospitalisation - it will help protect you and help keep our whole University community safe. It doesn’t matter where you’re registered with a GP, at University or at home, you’ll be contacted as soon as vaccination places for your age range open up.
We’re holding a virtual student Q&A event, with NHS vaccine experts, on Thursday 10 June, 6-7pm, so you can find out more about the vaccination programme and ask any questions you may have. An invitation, which will include a link to join the event, will be sent out shortly so please save the date and look out for this email. We’re also running a short online survey to help us to understand how you feel about getting vaccinated, provide you with an opportunity to raise any questions you have in advance, and understand whether there are any specific areas you’d like us to focus on during the event. The short survey only takes 2-3 minutes to complete and will be open until 5pm on Tuesday 1 June.
Don’t forget to pick up COVID-19 home test kit
You can now test yourself regularly in your own home by collecting a home test kit from our collection points on our Penryn Campus.
You’ll need to book a time to pick up your kit from the Penryn Sports Centre or Falmouth Camus Reception.
If you haven’t taken a test before, please book three tests at your nearest test centre before collecting your home test kit. This will ensure you understand how to take your test and get the most accurate result.
You must report your home test results to the Government’s online LFD result registration. Details on how to do this and what to do if you test positive, can be found on our testing website
Remember, if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, the test you need is different. Please contact our Rapid Response Hub to book your HALO/PCR test. For more info on testing and FAQs, visit our testing website
Meningitis: be aware of the symptoms
Meningitis is a life-threatening condition, so it’s important to make sure you know the signs and symptoms. Symptoms can appear in any order. Some may not appear at all. Early symptoms can include: fever with cold hands and feet, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain and stomach cramps.
If you think you or someone you know has these symptoms, call NHS 111 or your doctor straight away. If you or the person concerned becomes seriously ill, then dial 999.
The Festival of Discovery starts today!
The Festival of Discovery opens today and will run until Friday 4 June. There are now over 70 events taking place at the Penryn Campus and more than 130 events available to join online. The Festival offers exciting academic and social events for you to attend, including keynote speakers, career support, society-led events, sport activities and entertainment, as well as the chance to reconnect with your friends and academic departments.
From workshops about science and communication, visual story-telling and the Cornish language to gym sessions, campus discovery tours and growing your own wild flowers, there’s something for everyone, including a Creative Dialogues event with writer and director Amma Asante MBE and keynotes from our Vice-Chancellor Professor Lisa Roberts, and Molly Dineen and Owen Foster who graduated early last year to join the fight against COVID-19.
Find out more and book your place here.
There will be a photographer capturing images of the festival on Thursday 27 May. Please make yourself known to the photographer or the member of staff accompanying them if you would rather not be included in any images taken. Images may be used for general marketing and publicity purposes.
Festival of Discovery: Digital Hub speaker sessions
Visit the Digital Hub during the Festival of Discovery for exciting speaker sessions and hands-on workshops. Some of our fantastic speakers include the Exeter Chiefs rugby team, British Red Cross, IBM, Finisterre Clothing, and many more.
While you’re listening get a free drink and doughnuts too - just visit the Digital Hub stands at Streatham and Penryn campuses.
Discover The SU
To coincide with University of Exeter's Festival of Discovery, the SU will be running our their student-led 'Discover The SU' programme for both Falmouth University and University of Exeter Cornwall students.
This will be your chance to enjoy a variety of on-campus events and discover what The SU has to offer. Many student groups will be hosting activities for you to join, alongside special events from the SU! Did someone say crazy golf?!
Respect Festival on Campus
Join us for the Exeter Respect on Campus Festival, taking place virtually from Monday 24 May to Thursday 27 May 2021. Returning for the third time, the festival marks our commitment to equality and inclusion. To see what's on and book a place, check out the webpage.
Wellbeing Survey – last chance to send your feedback!
As part of our ongoing effort to continuously improve our services and support, we would like to invite you to fill out our short survey on the Wellbeing Services at the University. This survey should take no more than 5-10 minutes to complete. All data collected in this survey will be treated anonymously. More information regarding data protection at the University can be found here.
Online Module Change
Over the summer you will have the opportunity to request changes to your module allocation via the ‘Online Module Change’ process. The key dates are:
For 2021/22 returning undergraduate Module Changes will open at 9am (BST) on Monday 12th July and close at 12 noon (BST) on Monday 19th July.
Find out more on our Online Module Change web page.
APACs explained
Have you ever wondered how your degree is awarded? To explain this process, we have created a new webpage about the work of the Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committees (APACs), and how they ensure assessment marking and the qualification awarding processes are fair for you. For more information about the stages of an APAC, please watch the video below and visit our new webpage here.
Decolonising The Curriculum - We want to hear your thoughts!
Do you want to shape the University’s approach to decolonising the curriculum? If so, you can (anonymously) complete this survey, which seeks to understand students’ thoughts, experiences, and aspirations with respect to ongoing decolonisation work at the institution. The survey is being run by a student-staff collaborative group and funded by the Centre for Social Mobility. You can submit your responses at any time over the next three weeks. Upon completing the survey you will be able to indicate whether you are interested in participating in subsequent focus groups.
G7 Summit disruption
The G7 Summit is taking place between 11-13 June and will host world leaders in St Ives, with Falmouth and Newquay Airport also providing support venues for the event.
Devon & Cornwall Police and Cornwall Council have launched a campaign around the impact of the G7 Summit on people in the affected areas, including the installation of security fences around key venues; road, rail, aviation, maritime and footpath closures and restrictions and some diversions; all of which are being put in place to ensure the safety and security of the event for both residents and the delegates.
Further information can be found online, and a dedicated G7 Summit website has been created to provide up-to-the-minute information so that you can stay informed.
Join our panel on World Environment Day
In the run up to the G7 in Cornwall next month we are organising a series of events, including on 5 June - World Environment Day - an interview with Ade Adepitan MBE about his latest series on climate change, followed by a panel discussion with scientists and activists focused on how we can restore the environment.
Making Space for Nature photo competition
To celebrate their Making Space for Nature project, which aims to bring more wildlife to the ‘green deserts’ of small urban public open spaces, Cornwall Council and the University of Exeter are joining forces to create the Making Space for Nature Photo Competition 2021. Get out and explore our green spaces this summer by photographing urban nature within walking distance from your house. For more information, and to find out how to enter, visit the website.
New sustainability newsletter
The Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) is an interdisciplinary institute on the Penryn campus whose academic staff lead 9 interdisciplinary Masters programmes, training the sustainability champions we need for the future.
They have produced a short online newsletter to celebrate the work being done by their Masters students and to tell our undergraduate community more about what they are doing. You can find it here.
Have your say to be in with a chance of winning £300!
Tell us about your student experience and you could be in with a chance of winning £300 cash or £100 of Dominos vouchers!
Our all-student surveys are a great opportunity to talk to us about your experience throughout the academic year. We act on your feedback to ensure that our priorities and campaigns are reflective of the student voice and we seek to make quick, impactful changes wherever possible.
Minding your own business: what TikTok can teach entrepreneurs
TikTok, the short-video app has taken the social media world by storm, with many people using it to build start-ups and personal brands. So are we clocking an easy way to build a successful business and if not, what other benefits does being an entrepreneur on Tik Tok bring at a time of global change? In this episode, we discuss this and more with Raphael Dennett, the Deputy Director at our Centre for Entrepreneurship. You can listen to the podcast on either Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
MA Applied Security Strategy relaunched for September 2021 entry
The MA Applied Security Strategy (MStrat) is now open for applications, starting in September 2021. Designed to develop future leaders and decision-makers, this programme will help you to become a confident strategic thinker, able to execute policy and strategy calmly under pressure at the very highest levels. Following an Ends, Ways, Means, Implementation structure the programme is designed to meet the needs of current and future strategic practitioners and anyone who wishes to understand strategy-in-action. Visit our programme page for more details.
Completing your studies in 2021? Review your HEAR soon
When you complete your studies this year, in addition to your Degree Certificate you’ll receive an enhanced, electronic transcript – your Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR). As well as providing details of your academic results, it will include some of your extracurricular/co-curricular achievements from your time at university. You’ll have the opportunity to review these activities and report corrections, omissions and exclusions. All eligible students should have received an email inviting them to review their HEAR. As we said in the last newsletter you have until 6 June 2021 to review your HEAR. You can find more information about HEAR on this webpage.
Virtual Summer Recruitment Fair, Thursday 27 May, 11am – 2pm
Our Virtual Summer Recruitment Fair is happening on Thursday 27 May, 11am - 2pm. If you’re interested in graduate roles, placements, internships, part-time and casual work, or postgrad study, you won’t want to miss out. Whatever your course, year or campus, you’re welcome to come along. We’ve got over 50 companies attending, including Abercrombie & Fitch, CCUSA, IBM, and Savills. The Fair’s on Handshake, so if you haven’t activated your account, now is the time to do it. In Handshake just register to attend the fair, then book the sessions you’re interested in. It’s really easy, but if you need help email careers@exeter.ac.uk.
All of the following events will be held online:
Monday 24 May, 18:30 – 20:00, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lisa Roberts in conversation with author Sir Michael Barber. Please register here.
Every Tuesday, 2:30pm, Free online yoga sessions as part of your Students’ Union Together Wherever campaign. Sign up here.
Tuesday 25 May, 18.30, BAFTA award-winning screenwriter and director Amma Asante MBE. Places are limited so follow the link for more info and to book.
Thursday 27 May, 5pm – 6:30pm, Panel Event: Can we live in harmony with nature? Please book here.
Thursday 27 May, The Career Zone will be holding their first Virtual Summer Recruitment Fair. Don’t miss out – register now!
A full list of Festival of Discovery events can be found online. It's another busy week at the Students' Union - check out their events here.
Tell us what you think of this newsletter:
Get in touch with your feedback or news stories at: studentcomms@exeter.ac.uk
