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University Updates
Welcome to your regular update
This week in University Updates...
There's information on the Vice-Chancellor's live talk and the second week of the Festival of Discovery. You can also find out about an upcoming online postgraduate open day and a climate change action panel.
Vice-Chancellor live talk and Q&A
Join our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lisa Roberts, and Students’ Guild President, Sunday Blake, for a live talk and Q&A via Teams from 6:15 - 7:15 pm on Wednesday 2 June. As well as discussing our COVID-19 response and providing a Guild update, Lisa, Sunday, and other senior members of staff will talk about; teaching and learning, our current operations, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, and wellbeing. The panel will then spend the remaining time answering as many questions as possible.
If you’re not able to join live, you will be able to watch the talk by clicking on the event link afterwards.
Our third and final Big Conversation takes place next week
Don’t forget our third and final Big Conversation will run from Monday 7 June to Friday 11 June. You will be able to view the draft of our new 10-year strategy and check and challenge the assumptions which have been made. Look out for an email which will be sent to you on Monday 7 June, as this will include a reminder of your Big Conversation login details and all of the information you need. You can also visit the Strategy 2030 website to find out more about how we are working together to shape our future and create a strategy of which we are all proud.
Festival of Discovery
We’re now heading into week 2 of the Festival of Discovery and there’s still plenty on offer!
This week, look out for keynotes from the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lisa Roberts, who will be sharing her insights from across her varied career, Professor Andy Jones on how his input helped the likes of Eliud Kipchoge and Paula Radcliffe smash world records and break marathon barriers many thought were impossible, and Professor Richard Toye’s talk ‘Churchill's Great Game: Rethinking the Origins of the Cold War’.
There’ll also be live music and events from your Students’ Guild, sport taster sessions at the Sports Park, food tents and wellbeing events, including yoga and mindfulness.
Digital Hub workshops
Visit the Digital Hub during the Festival of Discovery for exciting speaker sessions and hands-on workshops. This week we have speakers on topics such as ‘Diversity in Tech’ (KPMG), ‘A Digital Mindset’ (British Red Cross), ‘Digital Resilience in an Always-On World’ (UnPlug) and more. While you’re listening, we are giving away free drinks and doughnuts too. Just visit the Digital Hub stand on our Streatham campus. You can find more information and booking details here.
COVID-19 – virtual student Q&A event with NHS vaccine experts
We urge you 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 doctor - 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 Q&A event, with NHS vaccine experts, on Thursday 10 June, 6-7pm, so you can find our more and ask questions. An invitation, with 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 questions 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.
Success for All Students Forum update
The Success for All Students’ Forum is a space created for your Students’ Guild reps to meet with staff representatives from the Success and Inclusive Education Working Group. The latest meeting heard of updates surrounding Inclusive Education, including the development of an Academic Lead for a Student Support role in Colleges, a framework to support Decolonising the Curriculum and Inclusive Education. There were also discussions with students about how we should be supporting those of you affected by local and global humanitarian crises and what your expectations are from the University. To find out more, please contact your Equality rep or Tinashe Verhaeghe (t.y.verhaeghe@exeter.ac.uk). A big thank you to Penny Dinh (Students’ Guild VP Education) for creating this group.
Decolonising the Curriculum Student Survey
We’ve launched a survey about your experiences of higher education, decolonisation and decolonising the curriculum. The results will help create a bespoke suite of materials tailored to support academic staff who wish to review and revise their curriculum through the lens of decolonisation. The survey only takes a few minutes to complete and is suitable for anyone, regardless of their knowledge of the topic. All responses are anonymous and will be vital for shaping the trajectory of the toolkit. You can access the survey here. If you have any questions, please email academicdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk
Climate Emergency: Action on the frontline panel
On World Environment Day, Saturday 5 June, 11:15 am -12:30 pm, join Ade Adepitan and a panel of environmental activists and experts to find out what we can do to build a greener future as part of the G7 digital event series. Ade Adepitan MBE, British television presenter and Paralympic wheelchair basketball player, will talk to Leo Hickman, Editor and Director of Carbon Brief, about his experiences on the frontline of climate change based on his BBC TV series Climate Change: Ade on the Frontline. He will then join a panel to discuss what individuals and communities can do to make a difference in our world. Register now and find out more about our other events during G7.
Stay safe from loan sharks
Loan sharks offer loans, often in cash, with high predatory interest rates and they sometimes target students. They typically do not provide any paperwork, can be threatening and operate illegally.
SHARK is an interactive online film that has been produced by Perception Theatre to highlight the dangers of loan sharks on social media and has been launched by the England Illegal Money Lending Team. You can also visit the Stop Loan Sharks website to find out more and to access support if you have been affected by illegal money lending.
Study testing whether mobile apps improve wellbeing in young people
Are you aged 16-22? Do you want a better understanding of your emotions and help to improve mental health for young adults? Signing up to use the MyMoodCoach app regularly could help you look after your mental health and help us understand how we can best support others. There is an opportunity to earn up to £60 in shopping vouchers while supporting cutting-edge science. To sign up for this large-scale international study run by the University of Exeter and the University of Oxford, please visit the website. You can find more information on the MyMoodCoach Facebook and Instagram accounts.
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.
EU Settlement Scheme deadline
EU/EEA and Swiss students resident in the UK on or before 31 December 2020 must apply for a status under the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021 if they wish to remain in the UK without a visa past that date. Applying for a status under the EU Settlement Scheme also ensures that you will have the option to live in the UK permanently as long as you maintain continuous residence in the UK. Detailed information, and how to access specialist advice from International Student Support, is on our website.
Online Postgraduate Open Day
If you're still deciding what you want to do next, you might want to consider a postgraduate degree here at the University. 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. As a current student, you are also eligible for fee reductions and fast track applications.
The open day is Wednesday 16 June between 9am - 11:30am and 4pm -6:30pm. Find out more and book your place on our website.
Students on the Move 2021
We are excited to announce that Students on the Move scheme will be returning this year. The scheme allows students living in private accommodation to have non-recyclable waste collected FREE in addition to their normal bi-weekly collection. This scheme has helped reduce fly-tipping and aims to take 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 Streatham 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?
Need to get rid of your glass? The successful Glass Caddy Scheme has returned to help it reach 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 of a bottle bank.
Big Guild Survey
Your Students' Guild, has your best interests at heart and is looking to gather your feedback on your experience here in Exeter this year. From academic support, communications, to society and group involvement, they want to know what you think, what you would change about your Guild and what they can do to improve the student experience in years to come. Take the survey now, and you could win a takeaway voucher.
Find an online tandem partner for language and intercultural exchanges
If you’d like to find a tandem partner, the European University Tandem (EUniTa) project can match you with a student from one of our partner universities in Brazil, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. You can sign up for free to find a partner for practising speaking any foreign languages and engage in intercultural exchanges. The EUniTa online platform was co-developed by our Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, and is open to everyone. If you want to find out more, please contact Christian Mossmann (c.mossmann@exeter.ac.uk).
Creative Dialogues Recording - Amma Asante MBE
The College of Humanities welcomed BAFTA award-winning screenwriter and director Amma Asante MBE to Exeter (albeit virtually) for the second Creative Dialogues of 2021 earlier this month. Exploring her distinguished career as a filmmaker, Amma was in conversation with Professor Linda Williams from the University's Department for English and Film. It was a hugely inspiring conversation. You can now watch the recording of the talk here.
Class of 2021 Yearbooks available to order
There’s still time to order your Class of 2021 Yearbook. Filled with student profiles and full of memories of your time spent at University, it will serve as a valuable memento of your student days for many years to come. Order here.
Careers Events at the Festival of Discovery
We’re very excited to be hosting a range of employability events during the Festival of Discovery, which runs until Friday 4 June. Whatever your course or year there’ll be something for you, either on one of our campuses, or online. Some events are College-specific, and others like ‘Time and Stress Management Strategies’, ‘Presentation Skills’ and ‘Online Networking Essentials’ are open to everyone. Search employability events and book your place via the FoD website.
Some of the following events will be held online:
Wednesday 2 June, 6:15-7:15pm, Vice-Chancellor live talk and Q&A. Please join the event here.
Saturday 5 June, 11:15am – 12:30pm, Climate Emergency: Action on the frontline panel. Please book here.
Thursday 10 June, 6-7pm, virtual student Q&A with NHS vaccine experts. An invitation will be sent to you via email.
Wednesday 16 June, 9-11:30am & 4-6:30pm, Online Postgraduate Open Day. You can book your place and find out more information here.
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
