No Images? Click here University Updates Welcome to your November newsletter, packed with advice, news and information. Want to feedback on this or other communications you receive from the University? If so, please contact us. Stay healthyWith another month to go til the end of term it's important to keep yourself well, follow these tips: Check in with the doctorRegister with a local doctor - you can contact Penryn Surgery or go to a doctors’ surgery close to where you're living – the NHS website can help you find a local doctor. There are some serious health conditions which can spread rapidly across universities - please read the info below about symptoms and vaccinations: Measles and mumps are around - have you had your MMR vaccination?Mumps and measles are circulating in the UK and Europe, particularly among 15-25 year olds; both are serious conditions which can have a long term impact. Mumps tends to cause non specific viral symptoms such as mild fever but with tender swelling on the one or both sides of the face. Measles starts with cold-like symptoms and sore red eyes followed by a high temperature and a red-brown blotchy rash. You need two MMR vaccinations to be protected - book with your doctors' surgery if you have not had both. MeningitisMeningitis is a very serious, life-threatening and life-changing condition. Symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia include: a blotchy rash that doesn’t fade when a glass is rolled over it, fever, aching muscles and joints and a stiff neck. Men W can also include diarrhoea and vomiting. If you experience these symptoms call NHS 111. Contact your doctors' surgery now to have the free Meningitis ACWY vaccination. Guard against fluFlu is very common at this time of year and can be very serious for those with chronic health conditions. The flu (influenza) vaccine is free on the NHS to patients with a range of chronic conditions including asthma and other lung conditions, diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease and patients taking medication that may suppress their immune system. If you're eligible (and you can read more on the NHS website) we strongly advise you to book an appointment and receive this immunisation. If you're not eligible you can still get the vaccine from your local pharmacy (it should cost around £8-10). Beware of scamsUnfortunately, some criminals try to get money from students, particularly our international students. Some of these scams will be very authentic and persuasive and it can be frightening. Please don’t give out any personal details, especially banking details. If you’re contacted by someone and it seems unusual, unexpected or just odd, please end the call/communication. You should then contact the Penryn Info Point who can offer you advice on what to do next. If the person who contacted you is genuine they won’t mind you checking this and then getting back to them. Exam timetableThe exam timetable for students who take exams in January will be released towards the end of November. As you may be aware, unfortunately a draft version of the timetable appeared on iExeter last week but it has now been removed. Please disregard that draft timetable as it contains inaccurate information and is likely to change. If you can still see the draft exam timetable, please pull the page down to refresh and it will disappear. The exam period for most students is Monday 7 January until Saturday 12 January inclusive. If you are planning your Christmas break, please remember you are required to make yourself available for the entire exam period. Please use the lifts and secure your bike consideratelyOn behalf of our disabled students, who have reported increased waiting time for lifts on campus, please only use lifts if you have to. This is particularly an issue with the lift from the Lower Stannary to DdM. Please also take care when parking your bike and do not lock it to handrails, as this can mean people to have to let go of the handrail, putting themselves at risk of falling. We want your feedbackPlease complete this short online survey about university reputation. This is a project managed by The World 100 Reputation Network, a group of leading global universities, to which we belong. The survey takes about 5 minutes to complete. and you will be eligible to enter into a prize draw to win one of two £100 gift vouchers or 16 £50 gift vouchers. The feedback you provide will be extremely valuable to us, so we would be very grateful if you could take the time to complete this survey. Frazzled CafeSometimes you might just feel a little frazzled and need a place to go and rant, drink some tea, or just get away from it all for a bit. Frazzled Café is a place to come and talk about whatever you want in a safe and welcoming environment. Drop-in with Harry Bishop, your Students’ Union President Community & Welfare, and guests from 13:00 to 16:00 on various dates. Outside the FXU office on Penryn Campus. Why Not WednesdaysWednesday afternoons are free from lectures for Falmouth and Exeter students. Make them worthwhile by coming along to one of FXU's Why Not Wednesdays sessions. With everything from bouncy castles to yoga retreats to fitness classes, there's something for everyone. SERSF us up a new nameWe're giving you the chance to vote for the name of our newest building, adjacent to SERSF, which will soon be finished. Three names of Cornish female scientists have been put forward. Please go online to register your vote between now and Friday 23 November. Get support with your academic writingMichael Bird (pictured below) is the new Royal Literary Fund Fellow at Penryn Campus. Michael is an arts writer and broadcaster. He is based at the Peter Lanyon Building and is here to work with you on your academic writing, including essays and longer dissertations. Whatever level you are working at, and whatever subject you're studying, including humanities, sciences and arts, you can make an appointment to discuss your writing. One-to-one appointments last about 45 mins, are confidential and free. Book an appointment to start at 10, 11, 12, 2 or 3 on Tuesdays or Wednesdays by emailing Michael. Developing our new Education StrategyThis term we're engaging the whole University community in shaping our new Education Strategy. Please come along to our open session, led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education), to discuss the strategy, on Friday 23 November, 12:30-13:30, Exchange Lecture Theatre, Penryn Campus We were delighted with the level of interest in helping lead the consultation and have now appointed teams around the strategy themes. These themes and the students helping to lead them, are:
We are keen to involve as many students from our Cornwall campuses as possible in the consultation, and would welcome any further expressions of interest. If you would like to nominate yourself, please see the consultation pages on ELE and register interest here. EdTech Exeter - examining our digital teachingWe have launched a new programme to look at how we deliver digital education across our disciplines. We are gathering feedback on ELE, our current Virtual Learning Environment and looking at improving the current system. This will enable teaching to be delivered in new and innovative ways. The focus is to enable you to learn more flexibly with a mix of online and face to face learning opportunities, and there will be 24/7 support services to support your digital needs. This programme will enhance the experience of students at Exeter and allow our world-class academics to deliver teaching in the most up to date, innovative ways. Check out the EdTech Exeter webpage for information on how you can give your feedback and be involved in shaping your education. Champion your libraryInterested in influencing library decision making and shaping the resources available for your subject? As a Library Champion you'll have access to a resources budget and will represent the views of your peers. You’ll develop valuable skills to boost your employability while gaining volunteering hours for the Exeter Award. We have a few remaining vacancies for 2018/2019, find out more and apply today. History in the makingThe Library's been investing in new resources for your learning and research. You can now access over 50 new primary source collections from ProQuest including historical newspapers, parliamentary newspapers and ancient books. Discover the resources today SilvercloudSilverCloud offers secure, 24/7 access to online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy programmes, tailored to your specific needs. The programme has received a lot of positive feedback from student users and improved outcomes for those with depression, anxiety and stress. SilverCloud also has a programme on body image and self-esteem. Learn more and sign up TheFreshList - read about transition to boost your moodTheFreshList is a list of mood-boosting books designed to support students with the transition to University. Each book explores the themes of transition or mental health, and how the characters deal with challenges in these areas. The list was compiled by a group of students, based on research they carried out as part of the Grand Challenges programme. Check out TheFreshList on Facebook or Instagram. Learn how to tread lightly on the earthOur demand for food from natural systems is changing the world we live in from the soil beneath our feet to the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea. Un-sustainable practices of production (overfishing or monoculture) and consumerism are to blame. Widely publicised examples include mere decades of soil fertility for crop growth and drastic declines in pollinating insects. This free, online course is open to all and aims to educate you in the way that every human being can reduce their impact on our planet and inspire you to make global connections to tackle sustainability issues. Travel bursaries for Cornish studentsThere are a limited number of travel bursaries available to students at Penryn who were born in Cornwall and currently live in the county, through the Carolyn and Andrew Trevorrow Memorial Fund Travel Bursaries. The funds will help with the costs of field trips and project work and are open to eligible students on any degree programme. Depending on application numbers others may also be considered. Find out more about these travel bursaries. Get a scholarship for postgraduate studyWe are pleased to offer University of Exeter graduates beginning postgraduate study with us in 2019 a scholarship towards the cost of their tuition fees. Apply for a funded PhDWe have over 100 funded PhD courses for 2019 entry. The studentships are competitive and are open for application at different times, so if you think a PhD may be for you, use our PhD projects search to view the latest PhD funding available and check back regularly over the coming months for new awards. Many of the awards are available due to ours and our partners’ success at winning funding through UK Research and Innovation. We are a member of 13 funded Doctoral Training Partnerships/Centres across a broad range of subject areas. WhatUni Student Choice AwardsSubmit your review of the University to the WhatUni Student Choice Awards by 1 December and you could win a £200 food shop. Your review will help prospective students and will contribute to our WhatUni rankings. Access to Internships (A2I)Access to Internships (A2I) can help you arrange your own paid internship anywhere in the UK. We can provide information, support and generous funding to assist. For further information please visit the A2I webpages. All funding is issued on a first-come-first-serve basis. International Festival 2018 - this week!Join our International Festival; a celebration of our wonderful international community and experiences available on and off campus. All events are listed in the events section below and are open to all students, international or not! The Stannary and Koofi will be serving a range of international foods and you can send a free postcard home from the Library. International Festival 2018: Bangra Dance Workshop - Monday 12 November, 18:00, AMATA International Festival 2018: International quiz and meet up - Tuesday 13 November 18:00, Fox Café, Falmouth Campus International Festival 2018: various events - Wednesday 14 November, 11:00 to 16:00 International Festival 2018: Film Night - Thursday 15 November, 18:00 to 19:00, Peter Lanyon Lecture Theatre, Penryn Campus EXIMPACT! Build your startup. Change the world - Friday 23 and Saturday 24 November Tell us what you think of this newsletter: Get in touch with your feedback or news stories at: studentcomms@exeter.ac.uk |