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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 Streatham and St Luke’s Campuses.
There are a number of collection points where you can drop in and collect your kit – please check the website for collection points and opening times.
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 almost 200 events across our campuses and more than 130 events available to join online. The Festival offers exciting academic and social events for you to attend including keynote speakers, sports activities, career support, society-led events, food stalls and entertainment, as well as the chance to reconnect with your friends and academic departments.
From coding workshops, simulated assessment centres, Black History tours and language taster sessions to mindfulness, Tai Chi and classic sports day activities, there’s something for everyone. Talks to look out for include; a Creative Dialogues event with writer and director Amma Asante MBE, and keynotes from our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lisa Roberts. Dr Molly Dineen and Owen Foster, who graduated early last year to join the fight against COVID-19, will also be delivering a keynote talk.
Find out more and book your place here.
There will be a photographer capturing images of the festival on Tuesday 25 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.
Mind Over Natter at the Festival of Discovery: Wednesday 26 May at 12.45: XFi Building, Streatham campus
As part of the Festival of Discovery, professor Andy Brown will be delivering a Mind Over Natter talk on how time in, among, or up a tree can do us good. Expect tree, art and wellbeing chat. Join us on Wednesday 26 May behind the XFi Building on Streatham Campus. Find out more details and get your free ticket now.#manintree
Festival of Discovery: Employability event
As part of the Festival of Discovery, SRS Recruitment & Employability Experts will be delivering a mock assessment centre on the Streatham campus. SRS design and facilitate recruitment processes for a range of graduate employers. They use this experience to provide a realistic recreation of an employer’s assessment centre where you can learn and practise in a safe environment.
Participants will complete a group task, a pre-prepared presentation and a 1:1 interview. For each of these exercises, you will receive detailed and personalised feedback which will help you to become career ready. To find out more visit handshake here.
Give it a Go with your Students' Guild
Your Students' Guild Give it a Go campaign launches this week as part of the Festival of Discovery from 24 May – 4 June! After a long year of lockdowns, zoom calls and online lectures, your Guild are pleased to offer you the opportunity to meet again in-person for a range of exciting activities and events. From live music and games, to fitness classes and guest speakers, there are lots for you to get involved with! Go to our website for more information and to see all the events that you definitely don’t want to miss👀
Re-discover sport at the Festival of Discovery
Throughout the Festival of Discovery fortnight we have a range of sporting opportunities for you to discover more about what your University and its community has to offer. The Festival of Discovery will provide you with a chance to re-engage with sport through a range of activities. You can book your events now. For many events booking will be essential.
Discover a hidden oasis of peace at St Luke's campus community garden!
Join us for the (re)opening of the St. Luke’s campus community garden!
Wednesday May 26th 11am – 2pm (or longer!)
11am – 12pm Shared poetry readings (all welcome)
12:00 - 12:15pm Opening ceremony followed by free tea/coffee and cake
12:15 – 2pm Creative activities in the garden – planting, art, crafts, stone painting, cairn of remembrance
Drop in at any time during the day. You will find the garden behind South Cloisters, along from the bike storage area (back entrance of Raleigh Road parking area, up from the corner of College Road).
Led by St. Luke’s Volunteer Garden committee and volunteers, in partnership with members of the University’s Multifaith Chaplaincy team.
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.
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.
Apply to be a Student Community Warden
Supporting our local communities and staying safe has never been a greater priority. Do you want to be part of an innovative team, supporting students and working in the local community? Are you interested in a flexible, part time job that provides experience in working with community organisations?
We are currently seeking to recruit Student Community Wardens to work with our Community Liaison Team throughout 2021/22.
Visit Handshake before midnight Sunday 30 May to submit your application. You can also contact us communitywardens@exeter.ac.uk to find out more about the role.
Students on the Move 2021
We are excited to announce that Students on the Move scheme will be returning this year in time for Term 3!
The scheme allows students living in private accommodation to have non-recyclable waste collected for FREE- in addition to their normal bi-weekly collection. This scheme has helped to reduce fly-tipping and has taken the stress out of the busy 'moving out' period.
Look out for our Student Community Wardens, who will be issuing 'Students on the Move' envelopes containing collection stickers for marking extra waste in the next few weeks. You can also collect from the reception areas at Streatham and St Luke’s campuses.
The stickers will allow you to mark your refuse for collection between your normal collection times. These collections will take place every Monday and Friday on these dates:
4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28 June
And 2, 5, 9, 12 July.
Please follow the instructions on the back of the sticker. For more information you can visit the Community page or email communitywardens@exeter.ac.uk.
Coat donation in Devonshire House
Need to get rid of stuff before the summer? Shrug off any unwanted coats to CoLab charity. As part of our ‘Students on the Move’ campaign, the university has set up a donation point on campus for you to donate no longer needed coats. Your donations will be given to the CoLab team and will help homeless people and families in need.
You can find the donation spot in Devonshire House (DH2 opposite the large meeting room near the Exeposé suite). For more information please contact communitywardens@exeter.ac.uk or visit the Community page.
Need help recycling your glass?
Got a pile up of glass? The hugely successful Glass caddy scheme has returned to transport student’s glass waste to recycling points. This collection service is only offered to students living in private housing who don’t have access to a car or don't live within walking distance to a bottle bank. You can find out more on this scheme on our Community page or contact communitywardens@exeter.ac.uk on available collection dates.
Furniture Returns Project
Over the summer vacation months a large scale furniture moving project is taking place on our Streatham and St Luke’s campuses. Some 10,000 items that were removed in summer 2020 to help with social distancing will be delivered back to the buildings and rooms they came from.
There’ll be a marquee on car park B to house furniture arrival and dispatch. Car park B will be unavailable for parking from Wednesday 26 May to Friday 24 September.
Drama Students Collaborate with the Northcott Theatre
From Thursday 27 - Saturday 29 May, you can watch a rarely performed version of Antigone by Bertolt Brecht. Created exclusively for digital streaming by the Exeter Northcott Theatre, the performance includes a chorus of students from the University's Drama department. See the teaser trailer and find out more here.
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.
Some 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.
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.
Wednesday 26 May, 11-2pm (or longer!), Join us for the (re)opening of the St. Luke’s campus community garden!
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. Don't forget to also keep your eye out on events and activities run by your Students’ Guild.
Tell us what you think of this newsletter:
Get in touch with your feedback or news stories at: studentcomms@exeter.ac.uk
