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I S S U E 01 M AY 2 01 2
Well done to all our long
serving members of staff
NEWS
This year’s Long Service Award Ceremony, which
took place on 14 March, saw 21 members of
staff honoured for 25 years and nine more staff
honoured for 35 years’ service at DMU.
The ceremony was hosted by Deputy ViceChancellor Professor David Wilson and Director
of People and Organisational Development Ben
Browne, with Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic
Shellard making a special appearance via video
link.
The 30 staff members were awarded with a
certificate and £250 to spend on a gift of their
choice. There was an interesting range of gifts
selected, ranging from cameras, a sofa and
jewellery, to a handmade longbow.
Professor Rob Baggott, Director of the Heath
Policy Research Unit, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed
the presentation event and it was particularly
good to see some familiar faces from the
Scraptoft days.”
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Jackie Davisworth, Finance Officer for Estates
and Commercial Services’ said: “When I started
working here it was Leicester Polytechnic,
so I have seen a lot of developments and
improvements during my time at DMU. I am really
pleased to have gained my 35 years service
award and will be using my gift money to buy
vouchers so I can take some time to choose
something special to mark my achievement.”
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NEWS
IT’S ALL CHANGE...
Welcome to the new look DMYou.
We have recently introduced an internal
communications team to help us provide
consistent and regular updates to you and our
students. As a result we are pleased to announce
the following:
Professor David Wilson - who presented me
with the certificate - actually interviewed me for
my first job, at the then Leicester Polytechnic.
I would like to pass on my thanks to everyone
involved in the event. I think that the awards’
scheme is excellent and long may it continue.”
Online and interactive DMYou: This monthly
publication will include useful information, training
opportunities, up and coming events and news
about what’s happening on campus. It’s your
magazine, so please send us stories, information,
news and anything else that you think would be
interesting for your colleagues to read.
Professor David Wilson said: “It’s always a
great pleasure to host the presentations at our
Long Service Awards. The enthusiasm and
commitment of staff, and their contribution
to the ongoing development of DMU as a
university of quality and distinctiveness’ is
something we all greatly value. Well done to you
all!”
Staff internet pages: A new area on our website
has been set up for staff, which includes news
and information you’ll need in your working and
social life at DMU. This area replaces the landing
page and should used as your first port-of-call for
information.
Congratulations for 25 years’ service to:
• Rob Baggott
• David Smallwood
• Mary Prior
• Christopher Maughan
• Richard Jenkins
• Miranda Mercik
• Vasilios Pavlidis
• David Reeder
• Anil Kumar Bakrania
• Patricia Barrow
• Susan Newman
• Krishna Patel
• Jean Simpson
• Sheena Savage
• Lynne Dyer
• Meena Thaliwal
• Andrea Bonsor
Congratulations for 35 years’ service to:
• Nick Salter
• Danny Pertab
• Abdul Razaaq
• Brian Darlaston
• Michael Pashley
• Christine Boulter
• Jackie Davisworth
• Sue Colledge
We also welcomed back Tony Kendall, Leszek
Zarzycki, Alec Robertson, Ian Kirkwood and John
Uttley who had left the university this year.
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Designated feedback channel: we are
committed to open and two-way communications
and have therefore set up an email address –
[email protected] – so that you can ask any
question about any aspect of DMU. We will
find the appropriate person to respond to every
question. Find out more on the staff internet
pages.
David Wilson and Rob Baggott
These are the three main areas of improvement,
but there are more planned such as improved
notice boards and better use of the plasma
Find out more about The OSCAR Awards
coming to DMU on page eight.
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screens around campus. We will keep you
up-to-date with all the developments but in
the meantime, if you have any suggestions or
feedback, please email [email protected].
New phone and communications system
A new phone system is being introduced across
the university to add extra features such as
instant messaging and video conferencing, and
improve our current services. The deployment
of Microsoft Lync 2010 to all staff, will provide
integrated voice, email, instant messaging and
video conferencing facilities, using features in
Microsoft Office.
Stage 1 of the project is the preparation of
training materials and deployment of Lync
to small groups of staff. Staff focus groups
have started and departmental champions are
currently being identified to provide support.
Stage 2 of the project, the deployment of new
Lync phones, is planned to start in the summer.
You can read more information about the
development of the project on the intranet,
under the ITMS project pages or email the
team for more information.
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CAN YOU HELP CHANGE STUDENTS’ LIVES?
Twice a year, staff and students get together in
a dedicated call room to speak to our alumni,
to raise money to support our students through
scholarships for our Vice-Chancellor’s Fund.
These donations help to fund scholarships and
important research projects and are vital to the
continued success of many of our students.
VICE-CHANCELLOR’S DISTINGUISHED TEACHING
Members of our executive board are also keen
to support the scholarships, as Andy Downton,
Pro Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning
explains.
Since 2005 students have been asked to
nominate their favourite lecturer for our annual
Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching
Awards.
This year we have received a record 731
nominations, which is a big improvement from
around 150 nominations last year. We are really
pleased with the increase, so a big thanks to
you for giving our students the opportunity to
nominate.
The Vice-Chancellor’s Fund, a scholarship
scheme set up by Professor Dominic Shellard,
awards between £1,000 and £2,000 to
deserving recipients each year.
But it’s not just alumni who support the scheme,
a number of staff at DMU make a difference by
financially supporting our fundraising initiatives.
Rachel Selfridge, a member of DMU’s
development and alumni relations team and a
DMU graduate, thinks it’s important that staff and
alumni donate to help current and future students
who otherwise may not be able to study.
Rachel Selfridge
“As a student in the 1970s, I had free university
tuition, and my electronic engineering degree
started me on a satisfying and rewarding
graduate career in industry and academia.
Many of us graduates who are now working
have come from a generation who paid little
or nothing for our higher education, and it’s
now our responsibility to give back to current
students to help give them the start that we
largely took for granted.”
In February 2012, the first group of students to
receive Vice-Chancellor’s Fund awards had the
chance to meet and thank the donors who have
helped them to continue their studies.
Danica Brassington, who is studying media,
told us how she helps her mother care for her
13-year-old niece Liliana, who was born with half
a brain and requires round the clock care.
She said: “My mum was worried when I said I
was going to university because of the financial
situation. Thanks to this scholarship I can go
home at weekends and help my family.”
“I make a monthly contribution to the Business
and Law Scholarship Fund, as I want to allow
students at DMU to have the same great
university experience I did regardless of
their financial circumstances. Working in the
development office, I see on a daily basis
the impact of collective support on
the lives of students.”
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All that remains now is the unenviable task of
paring down the list of 240 lecturers who were
nominated to a final shortlist which will go to
an awards panel in May. The winning lecturers
will receive their awards at a ceremony in Trinity
House during the summer graduations.
If every member of staff at DMU gave just £1 a
month to support our students we would be able
to provide more than 30 scholarships, enabling
talented individuals to continue their education
here at DMU.
We want to celebrate the quality and
distinctiveness of our staff, and the VCDTA is the
perfect opportunity to do this.
Watch this space for the full list of winners in
May’s issue.
IS YOUR LECTURER ONE IN A MILLION?
PALLIATIVE CARE CENTRE AT A HOUSE OF COMMONS
We are looking for academic staff who have
made a real difference to you and your studies.
Our school of Nursing and Midwifery, in
Your nominations will help us to recognise DMU’s
partnership
withcelebrate
the Leicestershire
and Rutland
outstanding
lecturers and
their achievements.
Hospice LOROS, launched The Centre for
the simple
Promotion
of Excellence
in Palliative
Care
It’s quick and
to nominate,
just visit
survey.dmu.ac.uk/vcdta
by Friday 2(CPEP)
March 2012
in this card.
late or
lastfillmonth.
CPEP aims to improve the quality of palliative
care by enhancing the education and skills
of those practitioners dealing with advanced
illnesses. The aim is to make sure people are
treated with dignity and respect as they move
towards
the end of their life.
VCDT 2012 A5 flyer V2.indd
1
The launch of the centre also sees a new addition
to the team with the appointment of Professor of
Palliative Care, Jayne Brown, who takes up her
new post at DMU in May.
14/02/2012 16:31
CPEP also forms part of DMU’s
Care and Compassion Initiative which
champions care andcompassion in all aspects of
patient and client care.
If you want more information or to make
a donation, contact Claire Shaw in the
Development Office.
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THE ROYAL VISIT
In words
Eleanor Wood – Event Organiser:
“Seeing five weeks of planning and preparation
come together was amazing. The whole
day went seamlessly and the hard work and
commitment from colleagues across the
university really showed. For an event organiser
a Royal Visit is the ultimate event!”
We’ve seen the photos, watched the videos,
waved the flags and eaten the breakfasts, so
now we can give you an insight to some of the
numbers from the Royal Visit, and what staff
thought about it.
In numbers
Event
• 5,000 souvenir programmes
• 2km of bunting
• 6 pairs of shoes for the Duchess
• More than 4,000 people at DMU
• 400 fashion show visitors
• 10,000 flags
• 5 face painters, 2 bag pipers, 1 juggler, 1 magician and a stilt walker!
Breakfast
• 1,924 breakfasts served including:
• 4,000 sausages
• 2,600 rashers of bacon
• 3,000 eggs used for scrambling and frying
• More than 2,000 juices and over 2,000 cups
of tea and coffee
Julie Flett, lecturer in DMU’s Youth and
Community Division and involved with the
Square Mile project:
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was really
exciting and what was really inspiring was the
students having such a great opportunity to
showcase their work.”
Donna Houghton and Nicola Cream
Jacqui Williams, Midwifery Lecturer and Admissions Tutor:
“My 14-year-old was disappointed that she couldn’t come for the visit, so she helped
design a posy of tulips for the Queen and we wrote a congratulatory card. But I wasn’t sure
how the Queen could receive them, so I gave them to two students right at the front and
asked them to present her gifts to the Queen.
“Anyway, when the Queen unveiled the plaque, the red tulip posy was the only bunch of
flowers in sight and the Queen walked straight towards them. She thanked the student and
Caption
said a few words to her and I found out later that the Queen had a slight tear in her eye as
she took them. Fantastic – one very chuffed daughter plus Mummy smarty points!”
Media
• 778 million people saw DMU on the news or
in the press
• More than 1,000 publications ran the story
• 13 countries featured us in their news
including the USA, China, Pakistan and the
United Arab Emirates
• 800 new people followed us on Twitter
• 14,500 users clicked on one of our Royal
Visit Facebook posts
• 8,000 people viewed our Royal Visit videos
on Youtube
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Jaqui Williams (centre)
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GET INTO LEARNING
PEOPLE AND ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Social Commitee
We are pleased to announce that a Staff
Social Committee has been set up.
We are taking part in Adult Learners’ Week
2012, a national initiative which promotes and
supports work place learning and the importance
of learning and acquiring new skills.
The week will take place from 14–18 May, with
activities across the campus, including taster
sessions in robotics, jewellery making, golf
and workshops in creative thinking and neuro
linguistic programming.
We received a number of enthusiastic
applications from staff and are delighted that
you see this as a positive step. We are in the
process of finalising committee details and
will tell you about the launch event to staff
very soon.
On Thursday 17 May there will be a series of
displays and activities in the Campus Centre
Atrium from 8am–2pm. Organisations attending
include Leicester College, Open University,
Unison Learn and information on internal DMU
training opportunities.
For more information about what help and
support they offer, visit the POD section
on the staff internet pages.
Welcome to DMU
We are really pleased to announce the
appointment of two new senior posts in
Student and Academic Services in July.
For more information and to see the five day
programme please visit the POD pages on
the new staff internet pages.
Jon Lees is taking up the role of Head of
Academic Services and will be responsible
for the strategic and operational management
and direction of academic services. He joins
us from Warwick Business School where he
has been responsible for their MBA.
CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE
The OSCAR Awards
DMU is a university of quality and
distinctiveness and these qualities are
reflected by our staff. In the 2010 Staff
Survey you told us you wanted a staff
recognition scheme, so this month we launch
our Outstanding Service Contribution and
Achievement Recognition Awards (The
OSCAR Awards).
These first-ever DMU staff awards are your
opportunity to tell us about individuals or
teams who have impressed you with their level
of service, commitment and achievements over
and above what might normally be expected,
within categories that reflect the university’s
mission and vision.
Nominees will be shortlisted by a selected
judging panel, and the winners of the
categories will be announced at a special
awards evening on Wednesday 11 July.
For more information about the categories
and how to nominate please visit the POD
section of the new staff internet pages.
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HEaTED
Following last year’s staff survey, in which our
technical support staff identified a need for
assistance with their learning, development
and career progression opportunities, we
are pleased to announce that we have
subscribed to HEaTED – a national training
and career development organisation for
technicians and specialist staff in higher
education.
Congratulations to the following staff who
have successfully completed the Institute of
Leadership and Management Level 2.
Award in Team Leading: Amy Weir (Nee
Simmonds), Sarah Rose, Ben Miles, Lynda
McLaughlin, Nicola Johnson, Alison Jackson,
Kally Blow and Denise Wainwright.
Lucy Madahar has been appointed as the
Head of Careers and Employability, where
she will take the lead role in shaping careers
and employability at DMU. Lucy comes
from Birmingham City University, where
she worked as the Assistant Director of
Student Services with responsibility for
careers, employment, student finance and
international student advice.
Congratulations to the following staff
who have successfully completed their
Management and Leadership Development
Programme: Jo Burt, Carl Winfield, Kev Toone,
Andrew Dexter, Joyce Frank, Penni Robson,
Lis Clarke, Gavin Kew and Davina MooreRead.
A warm DMU welcome to them both!
Have you taking part in an event or want to
tell us about an achievement?
Have you or a team member recently
achieved something that needs
celebrating?
In the meantime, if you have any queries,
please do not hesitate to contact
Stephanie Humphrey, Senior Policy and
Projects Officer within POD (shumphrey@
dmu.ac.uk).
Please email [email protected] and let
us know.
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Also Sarah Lee, our current Research
Council and Charities Officer, has been
appointed as the new REF Director. Sarah’s
wealth of experience and her research work
made her an ideal candidate for this role, and
we wish her all the best.
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT...
20 Questions has always been a popular
section of DMYou, so in the first re-vamped
issue we are questioning our Head of
Marketing and Communications.
the women’s Premiership and I travel all over
the country to watch her play every weekend.
I’d really like to get involved in the coaching of
DMU’s women’s team.
What is your name?
Keith Perch
What is the best piece of advice you have
been given?
Relax.
What is your role at DMU?
I head up the marketing and communication
teams.
How long have you been with us?
Not long – I started in the middle of
November.
Describe your average working day…
That’s not easy as my days are very
varied. During March I was swamped with
preparations for the Royal Visit, overseeing all
the promotional material and media enquiries.
Of course, all the promotional work was done
by the Marketing Operations team and the
Corporate Communications team actually
handled the media – I just took the credit! It is
difficult to encapsulate the amazing coverage
the university achieved, but we have been able
to track more than 1,000 articles across the
world which highlighted the fantastic work of
DMU.
My role also includes attending Executive
Board and Directors meetings and advising
the university’s senior people on internal and
external communications.
What interests you most about your work?
The variety and the people I work with. Having
spent the past 30 years working in the media,
I am loving the opportunity to work in a
completely different culture. I particularly enjoy
working with students.
What do you do in your spare time?
I have a wife and family who take up most
of my spare time. I love football – watching,
playing and coaching. I especially enjoy
coaching and watching women’s football. One
of my daughters plays for Newcastle United in
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What achievement are you most proud of in
your life?
Highlighting an injustice which had seen a
woman locked up from the age of 16 to 72
just because she had given birth to a child
outside of marriage. After I reported on the
issue, her family came forward and she
eventually went home to live with them. She
had not been outside the mental institution
for more than 56 years. The woman, Florrie,
was not the only person to be treated in this
way and my campaigning on the issue led to a
number of people going back to live with their
families.
Who would you like to see playing you if a
film was made of your life, and why?
Pumbaa from the Lion King – he shares my
philosophy of life and would be typecast as
me! Hakuna Matata.
If you could only eat one type of food for
the rest of your life what would it be?
Chocolate.
What has been your most embarrassing
moment?
Apart from filling this form in? I suffer from face
blindness which means that I don’t recognise
people out of context. I’ve lost count of the
number of times that I have bumped into
somebody I know well and had absolutely no
idea who they were. It’s not a great condition
for a journalist!
When you were a child, what did you want
to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be in the Navy.
If you were stranded on a desert island
who would you most like to be stranded
with?
Apart from family? I don’t know. I quite like
being alone.
Tell us something about yourself not many
people who work with you would know…
My real name is Michael Puchalla. No, really,
it is. My great grandparents were immigrants
from Hungary who arrived in England in 1899.
My grandfather, Jossef Puchalla, changed his
name to Joseph Perch during the Second
World War because people were suspicious
and hostile towards people with foreignsounding names. He was interned during the
war simply because of his name.
What scares you most?
Not much really – something happening to one
of my children.
Keith Perch
What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
Nothing that would make it into the papers!
Thank you Keith (or should that be
Michael!)
What has been your greatest
extravagance?
Travelling all over Europe watching football.
I’ve been to most major tournaments in the
past 30 years: I’ve seen England knocked out
of virtually every one of them! I even managed
to see England women knocked out of the
World Cup in Germany last summer.
If you would like to be in the spotlight
please email [email protected]
What are you not very good at?
Doing what I’m told. Following rules.
What music would you choose as the
theme tune to your life?
I don’t get music. I am tone deaf. It would
probably have to be silence … or a football
chant.
Who do you most admire and why?
Anyone with principles or a solid religious
belief because I am sadly lacking in both!
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TRAINING
All the following training course will take place during May
Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Contact Kelly Perrin T: 6435
• Health and Safety Surgeries Wednesdays 3–4pm Book a session with one of our officers to chat about any health and safety area you have concerns
about. Call 7854 or 7683 to book an appointment.
• Occupational Health Surgeries Various dates Various times. Cholesterol tests, blood pressure,
lung function tests, vision screening for computer users and much more. Call 8833 to arrange an
appointment.
• Risk Assessment Tuesday 1 May 10am–3pm
• Evacuation Chair Users Training Thursday 3 May 2–4pm
• Health and Safety Corporate Induction (for new staff) Wednesday 9 May 1.30–4pm
• Events Management Tuesday 22 May 10am–12.30pm
Academic Professional Development
Contact Nila Patel T: 7626
• How open education can enhance teaching and learning Tuesday 1 May 9.30am – 12.30pm
• Thinking about the MA in Education Practice? Thursday 3 May 1 – 2pm
• Can HE provide education for employable, sustainable and responsible global citizens?
Wednesday 9 May 9.30am – 12.30pm
• Certificate in Research Supervision – Session 2 Thursday 10 May 9.30am – 12.30pm
• Certificate in Research Supervision – Session 3 Thursday 10 May 1.30 – 4.30pm
• Examining and improving the student experience Tuesday 15 May 10am – 12pm
• CRS Refresher ‘Sharing Good Practice’ Friday 18 May 12.30 – 2pm
• Creative Writing and Student Engagement Wednesday 30 May 10am – 12pm • “I don’t get feedback!” Thursday 31 May 12pm – 1pm
Procurement Services
Contact Jyoti Mistry T: 6338
• Procurement Cards Wednesday 2 May 1.30–3pm You must attend one of these sessions to
qualify for a card.
• Manual Handling (toolboxtalk) Tuesday 29 May 2–3.30pm
Data Management and Business Intelligence
Contact Charlotte Barton T: 8302
• Qls Introduction Wednesday 9 May 10am–12pm
• Introduction to Academic Database Thursday 10 May 10am–1pm
• Qls Assessment Mark Input and Progression Tuesday 15 May 2–4pm
• iCapella Reporting Wednesday 16 May 2–4pm
• Qls Attendance Monitoring Tuesday 22 May10–11.30am
• Qls AdmissionsWednesday 23 May 10am–12pm
Training and Development
Contact Kelly Perrin T: 6435
• ADR for Professional Services Reviewees Tuesday 1 May 10am–12pm
• ADR for Academic Reviewers Tuesday 1 May 2–4.30pm
• Building Trust and Working Through Conflict Thursday 3 May 9.30am–12.30pm
• DMU Induction (for new staff)Wednesday 9 May 9.15am–12.30pm
• Managing large or complex projects (2 days) Friday 11 May Friday 1 June 9.30am – 4.30pm
• Making the Most of Your Money – Finance Seminar Wednesday 16 May 12pm–1pm
• Business Writing Skills Tuesday 22 May 9.30am – 4.30pm
• Questioning and Active Listening Wednesday 23 May 9.30am–12.30pm
• Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) Part 2 – Workflow Tuesday 29 May 1.30pm – 4.30pm
• ADR for Academic Reviewees Wednesday 30 May 2–4pm
Financial Information Systems (FIS)
Contact ITMS Service Desk T: 6050
• Introduction to QL-x Financials and GL Code Enquiries Monday 21 May 9.40am–12pm
• Entering Purchase Order Requests in QL-x Monday 21 May 2–4pm
IT Training (These sessions are two half days)
Contact IT T: 7160
• ECDL Revision – Word Processing Monday 30 April and Tuesday 1 May1–4.30pm
• PowerPoint 2007 Wednesday 2 and Wednesday 9 May 1–4.30pm
• Excel 2007 – Getting Started Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 May 9am–12.30pm
• ECDL Revision – Spreadsheets Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 May9am–12.30pm
• Visio 2007 – Getting Started Wednesday 16 May 9am–12.30pm
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More information can be found on the staff internet pages under staff development.
Please gain prior agreement from your line manager before booking any of these events.
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EVENTS
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NOTICE BOARD
Wednesday 9 May:
DMU Black and Minority Ethnic Staff Consultation group
Come and get involved with this staff group. From 2.30–4pm.
Animals on campus…
Are the gorillas at the Hugh Aston Building
happy? What about the penguins at the
Campus Centre? Wondering what on earth
we are talking about? If you have an iPad or
iPhone you can find out by downloading the
new Greenview app, developed by the IESD,
free from iTunes.
Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 May:
University Dance Festival
Held at Curve theatre, the festival showcases some of the most
innovative dance in the country.
Alumni magazine
Don’t forget to check out the latest issue of
The Gateway, our alumni magazine.
Saturday 12–Thursday 17 May:
Art and Design Foundation Degree Show
A celebration and exhibition of outstanding student work
produced on the Art and Design Foundation course. Find out
more about the show online.
Continue developing yourself online from
your desk or in your own time
We have launched a new e-learning resource
including:
• Challenging behaviour – dealing with
bullying and harassment in the workplace
• Presentation skills
• Communication skills
• How to fill out your annual development
review (ADR) form
• Health and safety and skills training videos
including, manual handling, coping with
stress etc
The site also features more than 30 e-books
covering interviewing, managing people and
performance, public speaking and many more
Visit www.estaff.our.dmu.ac.uk to access
these resources and much more.
Contact
Do you have a story to tell? Do you know
a faculty, or staff member that should be
recognised for their achievements?
DMYou is always looking for good stories
about projects and people who make DMU
a success.
Friday 18 May:
DMU Disabled Staff consultation group
Come and get involved with this staff group. From 9.30-11am.
Research
Re-launched DMU research pages have been
developed dmu.ac.uk/research
Academic staff profile photography
sessions for dmu.ac.uk
We would like all staff to have a head and
shoulders photograph for the website. We
will be holding drop-in sessions, run by
undergraduate photography students, from
12noon–2pm every Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday until 1 June. A small studio has
been set up in the Portland Building Room
0.04. Please let us know when you are likely
to attend by emailing [email protected].
Thursday 24 May:
Mental Health Awareness Day
A university-wide event to promote good mental health.
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Send us your photos, stories and
announcements, and if you have any ideas,
suggestions or feedback on how we can
make this newsletter better, please contact
the internal communications team:
Sarah Lee and Ross Tarbard at
[email protected] or ring ext 6999
Follow us on:
facebook.com/dmuleicester
twitter.com/dmuleicester
youtube.com/DeMontfortUniversity
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