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University Updates
Welcome to your regular update
This week in University Updates...
There's information on the first of our Strategy 2030 Big Conversations and the Career Mentor Scheme. You can also find out about this week's Mind Over Natter event.
A statement following the death of Sarah Everard
Many of you will have been following the truly terrible and shocking story from London over recent days, surrounding the disappearance and death of Sarah Everard. Our thoughts are with Sarah’s friends and loved ones and all those who have been affected. We have published a full statement on our Speak Out webpages. (TRIGGER WARNING: content involving violence and sexual violence.)
Our first Big Conversation is going live
The first in a series of three Big Conversations, which will enable us to work together to shape our future strategy, will be live tomorrow, Tuesday 16 March. The first conversation focuses on what the future of education and research, and universities as a whole, could look like and will be open until 5pm on Monday 29 March. Once you’ve received your unique username and password, which will be sent to you tomorrow morning via email, you will be able to login and share your ideas and suggestions. Please do take the time to get involved in the development of our new strategy. Visit the website to find out more.
Get regular tests to stop the spread of COVID-19
Thank you to those of you who have engaged with regular testing for COVID-19. Following government guidance we expect everyone who is taking part in in-person activities, or using facilities on our campuses to book free twice-weekly rapid tests, to protect those around us and to ensure that we can continue to offer in-person activities.
If you are coming onto the campus irregularly, please get a test each time you come.
Booking is simple and the tests are free. Schedule your slots and book in advance:
Book your tests - Penryn Campus
For students currently on placements, please continue to use the testing facilities available to you through your placement and utilise the campus testing facilities when on campus.
Further information about our rapid twice weekly COVID-19 tests can be found on our dedicated student COVID-19 testing webpages.
If you receive a positive test result, we ask you inform the University via the form here.
IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 THE TEST YOU NEED IS DIFFERENT
Remember if you develop COVID-19 symptoms, such as a high temperature, new continuous cough or a loss of taste/smell, you must self-isolate and request a HALO PCR test through our Rapid Response Hub.
Hope programme
The Penryn welfare team are currently linking in with Cornwall volunteering as part of the Viva Wellbeing project. The project will shortly be running the HOPE course, which is designed to help participants to:
- Feel more able to support and share your experiences with others to help you feel less isolated.
- Feel reassured and able to recognise your own potential and enhance your happiness and quality of life.
- Feel more confident in dealing with emotional issues such as anxiety, anger, depression and uncertainty.
- Increase your ability to handle stressful situations.
- Discover how to use relaxation techniques to refresh your mind and body.
- Learn how to make plans and achieve goals that can help you make changes for the better.
- Use the skills from the course to improve and self-manage your life.
If you are interested in participating, please contact a.lewis2@exeter.ac.uk.
Mind Over Natter… You’d be barking to miss it
Get your free ticket to Mind Over Natter on Wednesday 17 March to find out how we can improve our physical and emotional health by hanging out with dogs and learning from the way they meet their wellbeing needs. Whether you have a dog or not this talk by Dogs for Good is sure to inspire and entertain.
Shared study spaces
Spaces have been identified on campus to enable group study for students in a COVID-safe way. These spaces do not need to be booked and will be available from Wednesday 17 March. The group study spaces in Penryn are the booths in the Exchange, Exchange Courtyard and the lower Stannary. At Falmouth, Fox upper and lower courtyard can be used for group study. These spaces are for working together on an activity directly related to your course, and everyone in the study group will need to check-in using the QR code. Please wipe down the surfaces before and after use and do not move the furniture. As a general reminder, please wear your face covering and continue to get tested twice weekly.
Graduate Route visa
From 1 July 2021 anyone with a Tier 4 or Student visa who is graduating from a UK degree programme will be able to apply for a Graduate Route visa. With this visa, you will be able to remain in the UK and work, look for work or be self-employed for two years (or three years if you are a PhD graduate).
You must apply for this visa from within the UK. If you are not currently in the UK, the date you need to arrive here by will be different depending on your situation; you can find a list of the dates on our website. If you need advice about your individual circumstances, you can contact us in a digital drop-in or via email: visaadvice@exeter.ac.uk
Celebrating the hard work of our Educators and students
Over the last year, colleagues across the University have worked alongside our graduates and current students to transform our teaching into blended and online learning, delivering some innovative teaching approaches along the way.
Two education-focused blogs have now been launched to share some of these stories, and the experiences of both students and academic staff. The Auditio blog is run by current students and is designed to share and learn from our experiences of blended and online learning. Our new Excellence in Education blog highlights examples of innovative education at Exeter.
Student Handbook for exams
Last week we released your timetable for the April/May examinations, which you now can access via MyTimetable. Please remember to read the updated Student Handbook for Online Exams to learn more about how the different exam formats operate, submitting an exam paper, and the support available to you during the examination period. You can also find more information on the Exam FAQ page.
Anti-Racism Education Innovation Lab Projects 2021/22
The Exeter Education Incubator is looking for project teams of up to three students who want to work to make our University anti-racist. You will need to have identified a clear challenge or problem that you are willing to explore and look to find responses to or solutions for. To apply, you will also need to be available for at least four hours per week from 4 May to 9 July.
Each project will benefit from a supported and structured approach to designing and implementing a solution to address racism affecting students.
In addition to paying you for your 4 hours per week, we will also fund up to 30 days of work on your project (7 hour days, paid at £10.65), which can be distributed flexibly across weeks and the three applicants. We can also fund up to £750 project costs (which must be spent by 31 July 2021).
You can find out more here. The application deadline is midday, Wednesday 31 March. If you have any questions about the project, please contact educationincubator@exeter.ac.uk.
Have your say and you could win £300!
Your Students' Union wants to find out more about your experience of university life and where there might be opportunities to make improvements. This follows on from the survey you completed last term. Your updated feedback will contribute to the Students' Union's planning and campaigns. Plus there's £300 cash and £100 of Dominos vouchers up for grabs! Please complete the survey here.
University of Exeter Online Postgraduate Open Day - Wednesday 24 March 9 – 11:30am & 4 – 6:30pm
If you're still deciding what you want to do next, you might want to consider a postgraduate degree here with us. We offer a wide range of Masters programmes, many of which can be studied without a background in the subject, giving you the chance to change direction. Our research expertise is vast and we offer over 100 funded PhD studentships annually in addition to advertised PhD projects and the opportunity to create a PhD thesis of your choosing. if you’re currently studying with us your application will be fast tracked and you’ll get fee reductions.
Book your place to the open day and find out more information about all levels of postgraduate study on our website.
Widening collaboration project
As part of the "Widening collaboration in gendered educational settings" project (supported by the Centre for Social Mobility), researchers are looking to know more about your academic experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. All undergraduate students from the University are invited to participate. The online survey won't take more than 10 minutes, and all the participants will enter a raffle to win one of the three £80 Amazon vouchers.
You can access the survey here and find more information about the project on the Centre for Social Mobility website. If you have further questions, please send an email to dpf204@exeter.ac.uk.
Sign Up for Challenges Online
Are you passionate about tackling global sustainability problems? Do you want to boost your transferable employability skills? Then don’t forget to sign up to Challenges Online, a fantastic project week running from 7-11 June 2021 where you can network with top academics and other like-minded students on a topic that matters to you.
Challenges Online allows you to work in interdisciplinary groups to tackle real-world issues relating to the climate emergency, food sustainability, social inequality, planetary health, and fake news.
Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Trade Up Programme
When we emerge from these challenging times, social enterprise will play an important role in helping re-shape society for the better. This programme is for people with a commitment to helping those in need or improving the environment. It is also for those that have set up an effective social enterprise already, and plan to increase their impact in the year ahead. Maybe their business and trading income has been affected by the pandemic? We’ll get them back on track.
There are 20 places available on this programme which runs from October 2021 and includes:
A learning programme: 14 days spread over a year
Up to £4,000 Trade Back grant
One-to-one mentoring
Peer support from a community of social entrepreneurs
Applications are open until Friday 16 April. Find out more and apply online here.
Online Module Fair
Are you interested in taking a module outside of your chosen degree? The Online Module Fair is still open and is your chance to see all of the modules available for you to select outside of your degree programme. Selecting up to 30 credits outside of your discipline can enhance your employability prospects, broaden your student experience, and widen your research skills. Please check out the website and see if you can benefit from the Online Module Fair before module selection closes on Friday 26 March.
Visitor Economy Survey
A group of researchers based at the Environment and Sustainability Institute are exploring innovations for the future success of the visitor economy in Cornwall. They would like to test some ideas with residents and visitors and hope that you can complete this brief survey. It will take no more than 5 minutes of your time. Please send this on to your friends who live in Cornwall, as well as those who visit you here.
Reduce Plastic Bottles in the Campus Shop - survey
Plastics are a huge concern to the health of the planet and FX Plus has many schemes in place to reduce single-use plastic on campus. Despite their widely-understood negative environmental impacts, single-use plastics are still the most sold items in the Penryn Campus Shop. FX Plus is undertaking a survey of campus users to find out their views on alternatives to single-use plastic water bottles, and you can take part here.
Exeter tops sustainability 'teach-in'
The University has topped the 2021 list of universities pledging to include the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within teaching, learning and assessment. Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS-UK) ran the annual SDG "teach-in" campaign from 22 February to 5 March, encouraging educators and students to work together to focus on activism and education around the climate crisis, environment and social justice. Find out more online.
Have you registered to vote in your local elections?
You must be on the electoral register (also known as the electoral roll) to vote in an election. If you haven’t already done so, you can register online. It only takes 5 minutes and you’ll need your National Insurance Number.
Have you considered becoming a local Councillor?
It is important that the Council represents a cross-section of all walks of life and that councillors have different levels of education, knowledge and experience.
Falmouth Town Council would welcome nominations to stand for Councillor in the upcoming elections. Find out more about what the role entails and how much time it will take by reading the prospective councillor pack, which includes info about COVID-19 secure campaigning.
The ward-specific nomination packs will be available shortly. Nomination papers are available from Monday 22 March and need to be submitted by 4pm on Thursday 8 April, direct to the Election Office. Please contact Town Clerk Mark Williams if you need any assistance with the nomination process.
Virtual Councillor Fair
For anyone considering becoming a Penryn Town Councillor, the Town Council will be hosting a Virtual Councillor Fair on Thursday 18 March from 1-2 pm. The Town Clerk, Penryn Mayor and other Councillors will talk about a range of topics including how the council works, planning and climate emergency activities.
The programme will be:
- Welcome and Introduction by the Mayor – Cllr Chaz Wenmouth
- General Council business/information – Town Clerk
- Planning with Neighbourhood Plan – Cllr John Langan
- Climate Change – Cllr Jo Garrett
- Town Events – Cllr Mary May
- Civic duties – Cllr Chaz Wenmouth
- Governance – Town Clerk
- Q & A – questions from attendees – answered by the council members
If you are interested in attending, please contact Cllr Jo Garrett for more details and the Zoom link for the meeting.
SID ONLINE - PLANNED OUTAGES
Due to an essential system upgrade, SID Online will be unavailable from 6pm Friday 26 March until 9am Monday 29 March.
During this time, no new enquiries can be logged, but emails sent to SID@exeter.ac.uk will still be received and processed once the upgrade has completed.
For urgent out of hours welfare support during this time, please visit this webpage.
If you have any questions regarding the SID Online upgrade, please contact sid-upgrade@exeter.ac.uk.
Class of 2021 - yearbook deadline approaching
The Class of 2021 Yearbook Deadline is Friday 19 March. If you haven’t finished (or started) your Yearbook entry online, please do so here. If you have any problems uploading your pictures online or you have forgotten your login details, please email admin@gradfinale.co.uk.
Career Zone Podcast - New Episodes
We’re always looking for new ways to let you know the best and most up-to-date careers information and guidance; that’s why we’ve added even more episodes of the Career Zone Podcast. Recent episodes have covered a diverse range of topics, including learning from failure, careers wellbeing tips, de-stressing job hunting, support for International Students and Assessment Centres. The podcast is hosted by Rae, one of the Careers Consultants; past guests have included current students, Exeter alumni and top employers. You can listen to the podcast here.
The Career Mentor Scheme is open
The Career Mentor Scheme brings students together with an experienced professional of your choice, to provide you with one-to-one careers advice and guidance over six months. Applications are open now, and you can apply even if you have previously participated in the scheme. There are over 250 mentors from a range of job roles, companies and sectors to select. The application process is first-come, first-served, so don’t delay in checking out who might be right for you! Please go to My Career Zone and search under ‘Job Type’ and click on ‘Career Mentoring Opportunity’ to view the full list. For further information about the scheme, please visit this webpage.
All of the following events will be held online:
Wednesday 17 March, 12:45 – 1:30pm, Mind Over Natter: What has 4 legs, a tail and a knack for helping wellbeing. Please register here.
Wednesday 24 March, 9-11:30am & 4-6:30pm, Postgraduate open day, please book your place here.
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
