News for Durham University Staff & Students
RECORD NUMBER OF SUBJECTS IN WORLD TOP 50
Mar | Apr 2018
RESEARCH INSIGHTS Bringing history to life with the BBC
HR HIGHLIGHTS
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welcome
Welcome to a new issue of Dialogue. I have shared some thoughts recently on DOES and the industrial dispute, but there is much else going on around the University and a lot to report.
Most of all, I am delighted that the University has recorded its highest ever number of Top 50 results in the prestigious QS World University Subject Rankings 2018 – nine subjects in all. Theology and Religion has been ranked 3rd in the world, Archaeology 5th, and Geography has improved its global ranking to 6th in the world, up one place since the previous year. These rankings are testimony to the truly world class research and education which Durham carries out. I am hugely grateful to all of our staff members for making these achievements possible. The implementation of our Estate Strategy is continuing apace, with construction work well under way for the Centre for Teaching and Learning on South Road and planned to start on the extension to our Maiden Castle facilities. Council has also approved the development of a new building for Mathematics and Computer Science at Upper Mountjoy: this is due to open in summer 2020.
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I am pleased to announce that Liz Waller has been appointed as our new Director of Library Services and University Librarian. Liz is currently Head of Library and Archives at the University of York. She will join us on Monday, 23 April 2018. I know everyone will give Liz a warm welcome. Finally, many congratulations to Durham Student Theatre, which will perform four of the 16 shows at this year’s National Student Drama Festival, and to all of our sporting teams who have performed so well in this year’s BUCS Championships. And a huge thank you to all our musicians who performed so well in the concert for HRH Prince Charles and in the Parry concert that followed in the Cathedral. With all best wishes,
Professor Stuart Corbridge Vice-Chancellor and Warden
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Tell your story. Please continue to send your contributions and feedback to dialogue@durham.ac.uk News for Durham University Staff & Students
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Editor Ulrike Klaerig-Jackson Communications Co-ordinator
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GET SOCIAL
13 STUDENT COMMUNITY ACTION
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DELIVERING THE STRATEGY
14 MUSEUMS AND ATTRACTIONS
Contributors Harriet Williamson, HR&OD; Yvonne Flynn, Greenspace; Daryl Dowding, Event Durham; Claire Hall, Karen Frost, Nicky Sawicki, Mark Tallentire, Becs Grundy, Eugene Grant and Leighton Kitson, Marketing & Communications; Angela Marciano, CIS; Isabelle Culkin, Student Theatre; Andy Cattermole, Staff Volunteering & Outreach; Florianne Humphreys, Experience Durham; Hannah Drew, Experience Durham; Charlie Parkin, Estates and Buildings
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RESEARCH INSIGHTS - BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE WITH THE BBC
15 HR & OD NEWS
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STAFF VOLUNTEERING
16 24 HOURS IN VAN MILDERT COLLEGE
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MAIDEN CASTLE EXPANSION
17 TEAM OUTREACH
10 NATIONAL STUDENT DRAMA FESTIVAL 2018 11 SEXUAL VIOLENCE & MISCONDUCT OPERATIONS GROUP UPDATE 12 DURHAM UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY FUND
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18 GREENSPACE 20 QS WORLD SUBJECT RANKINGS 2018 22 CIS NEWS 23 AN INSIGHT INTO 24 WHAT’S ON
Durham University and Durham University logo are registered Trade Marks of the University of Durham. Unless otherwise stated, all material in this publication is copyright of the University of Durham. The University makes every effort to ensure that the information contained here is accurate. Please note that the University’s website is the most up to date source of information and we strongly recommend that you always visit the website before making any commitments.
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YOUR VIEW
Our favourite posts, tweets and videos over the past two months to show you what has been happening around the University!
TOP
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Major upgrades are coming: The second phase of our Maiden Castle sports complex development has been approved by @DurhamCouncil earlier today http://fal.cn/ qcX9 @TeamDurham #DUmakeithappen pic. twitter.com/zY7Be5ue6g
Durham alumni celebrating the 50th anniversary of their graduation in 1968, are guests of @durhamalumni at our Winter Congregation ceremonies this year #DUmakeithappen #DUCongregation http://fal.cn/qjrB pic.twitter.com/ RKP3KbsNRd
Don't forget you can see Cosmoscope at Lumiere London this weekend. The installation was inspired by the work of our cosmologists! http://fal.cn/qa6A @artichoketrust #LumiereLDN #DurhamResearch pic.twitter. com/xR9fMfcpYA
Innovative #3D #cell culture technology developed @DurBiol is giving scientists the ability to grow realistic human tissues for more effective drug testing and reducing the need for #AnimalResearch http://fal.cn/ qMJJ #Alvetex pic.twitter.com/ Pwhn6XRzaw
How did you celebrate Christmas? 200 of our international students who stayed in Durham for the holidays, got to experience a spectacular Christmas Day lunch in Durham Castle with all the traditional fun and games! http://fal.cn/qbo7 pic.twitter. com/obTRPQRdrO
SCOTTISH SOLDIERS FACIAL RECONSTRUCTION
VIDEO OF THE MONTH
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
Find out how the incredible facial reconstruction of one of the Scottish Soldiers was achieved. www.youtube.com/ watch?v=JXOL_kw9sB8
SNOWY DURHAM This stunning photo, taken by student @tom.o.b, shows Durham looking particularly picturesque in the snow this winter. www.instagram.com/p/ BeQSL6ilMSc/?taken-by=durhamuniversity
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News for Durham University Staff & Students
Durham University Strategy 2017-2027
Queen’s Campus Transition Transition programme As the academic year progresses, so do the plans for the final transition of departments and colleges from Queen’s Campus to Durham City, and the final move of Medicine students to Newcastle University. It is timely, therefore, to remind ourselves of the reasons for the relocation of these activities and of the role all staff and students have during this transition period. The decisions to relocate academic and college-based activities from Queen’s Campus to Durham and to transfer the School of Medicine, Pharmacy & Health (SMPH) were taken nearly two years ago, with a view to: • improving the student experience; • addressing imbalances between the two campuses; • facilitating improved research performance; and • establishing an International Study Centre, thereby growing our international student numbers. Underpinning these criteria has been a continued commitment to Queen’s Campus and the Tees Valley area.
Estate development To enable the smooth transfer of activities, work is ongoing in a number of areas and at varying scales. Preparations in Durham to welcome the arrival of relocating staff and students, as well as increasing student numbers overall, include: • a new building at the Howlands Site to establish a dedicated space for John Snow College; • remodelling of the Psychology Building and Rowan House (providing reconfigured offices, an IT lab, research labs, hot desking facilities for PDRAs, student common rooms and more); • enabling works at Mill Hill Lane and Leazes Road for Business School and Education students; • additional study space and catering provision at the Bill Bryson Library.
and schools to reach the size needed to develop world-class education and research. With more colleges, and therefore students, in Durham City from the next academic year, there will be an increased demand on certain facilities, including for teaching and extracurricular activities. It is because of this growth that we are investing in the new Learning and Teaching Hub on Lower Mountjoy and the new Sports Centre at Maiden Castle. As these facilities are built, there will be a need for all staff and students to be supportive of each other, to adapt and even to compromise at times to ensure the fair and equal treatment of all. Moreover, to help achieve the objectives of the relocation programme, it will also be important to learn from each other – to share the knowledge and experience that has been developed in specific areas – so that the University moves forward as a unified community.
Update on other estate development It has been an exciting few months for the development of our Estate Strategy. In addition to the enabling works for the Queen’s Campus Transition mentioned above, the second phase of our £35 million investment to upgrade our sports facilities at Maiden Castle was granted planning permission in February. Work will begin on site this spring. For more details, see www.durham.ac.uk/estates-developments/projects/mc Construction is well under way on the new £40 million Centre for Teaching and Learning. A new pedestrian route has been developed for people passing the site between South Road and St Mary’s College and passers-by can keep an eye on progress via a series of porthole-style viewing windows in the hoardings on South Road.
Working Together
More information
The relocation of students and staff from Queen’s Campus to Durham forms one part of future student number growth associated with the new University strategy. This growth is to enable targeted departments
Photos and other Estate updates are being posted at www.durham.ac.uk/estates-developments
Mar | Apr 2018
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RESEARCH INSIGHTS
Bringing history to life with the BBC Dr Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough is an associate professor in Medieval History and Literature in the Department of History. She has presented programmes on BBC Radio 3 and 4 including Free Thinking, Costing the Earth and Open Country. We found out more about how her relationship with the BBC has shaped the way she communicates her research. How did you get involved with the BBC? This was via the New Generation Thinkers (NGT) competition in 2013. I was at Oxford University, travelling to far flung places researching medieval Viking travellers, and my mentor suggested I apply. Six months later, I was invited to Broadcasting House for a day-long finalists’ workshop where we pitched our research ideas to the producers from the Free Thinking programme, who provided invaluable feedback and suggestions. Technically it was a competition, but it was a very encouraging and supportive atmosphere. I was chosen as one of ten New Generation Thinkers, which involved spending a year working with Radio 3 presenters and producers to develop my research and ideas into broadcasts. Has working with the BBC changed how you approach, and communicate, your research? Yes. I have had to learn how to communicate in a way that feels natural and conversational, and to present complicated
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ideas in a way that isn’t convoluted or reliant on technical academic language. My first documentary, Supernatural North, was linked to my research into Old Norse sagas. I traced the route originally taken by Ohthere, a ninth century Norse trader and explorer, around the North East Coast of Norway and down towards the White Sea. We looked at how Norse sagas and the places discovered by Ohthere, connect with Game of Thrones, Sami Shamans, witch burnings – and I interviewed A S Byatt and Philip Pullman. This helped me realise the way my research has all these connections I hadn’t really thought about before, and how history connects to the present day.
Most enjoyable was being knighted with a walrus penis bone in Hammerfest to become a member of the Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society!
My current research is on the cultural history of ice, and as my work gets more icy and Northern this has been framed by my radio work – it’s a very symbiotic relationship. Last year I went to Svalbard and stayed in Longyearbyen the world’s most northerly town, to report on climate change and the thawing of the permafrost for BBC Radio 4’s Costing the
News for Durham University Staff & Students
RESEARCH INSIGHTS
Dr Eleanor Barraclough (centre), with members of the Norwegian Polar Bear Club, credit BBC Radio 3 Earth. I’ve recently written and presented several short essays as part of the ‘Time Travellers’ series on Radio 3’s Essential Classics. For example, I’ve written essays on the history of frost fairs on the Thames and the image of the snowflake in popular culture, both of which inform and shape my academic research. You have been involved in many diverse activities as a presenter – what was the most challenging and what was most enjoyable? Most challenging was definitely ice bathing in Norway. My producer suggested it as part of the Immortal North programme I presented about historical and contemporary ideas of immortality in cold climates. There is a
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Russian saying: “A day spent in the ice is a day you don’t age”, and within this context we worked with a Norwegian amateur cryogenicist who is also president of the Norwegian Polar Bear Club – an ice bathing club. They cut a hole into a frozen lake using a saw and we had to slide in – but saw-cut ice is very jagged and sharp and everybody had cuts on their backs, because we weren’t wearing wet suits. I was wearing my mum’s swimming costume! To become a member of the Club I had to stay in the icy water for 30 seconds including five long seconds with my head completely submerged. The moment I hit the icy water my first words were unbroadcastable! I’m not sure I’d do it again without a good reason, but I am very proud that I stayed in the water for a full minute.
Most enjoyable was being knighted with a walrus penis bone in Hammerfest to become a member of the Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society!
The New Generation Thinkers is an annual competition run by BBC Radio 3 and the Arts and Humanities Research Council to select ten early career researchers who can turn fascinating research into stimulating programmes. 7
STAFF VOLUNTEERING
A Hat-Trick for Staff Volunteering The University’s commitment to volunteering has just received a major independent endorsement with the Staff Volunteering & Outreach (SVO) programme being successfully reaccredited with the prestigious Investing in Volunteers for Employers (IiVE) national quality standard. The award follows a rigorous three-day assessment process in November 2017 during which the assessor audited SVO systems and processes as well as interviewing a wide range of University staff, including staff volunteers, community partners and senior officers, including the Vice-Chancellor and PVC (Colleges and Student Experience).
…this certainly puts Durham at the forefront of university employer supported volunteering in the UK IiVE Assessor The SVO team has been here before – Durham was the first of any of the leading, research intensive universities in the UK to attain the standard in 2012, was then reaccredited in 2015 and is now the first UK University of any kind to receive the award for a third consecutive three-year period.
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Dr Andy Cattermole, the University’s Head of Staff Volunteering, said: “This is a tribute to the University’s unequivocal long-term commitment to staff volunteering over the last 10 years. It’s also recognition of the many hundreds of University staff who volunteer in our communities every year. The University is world renowned for its teaching and research excellence but this award also highlights the world class depth of quality, skill and commitment of our employees. We’re immensely proud of the work that our volunteers undertake and hope that this will in some way put the spotlight on their fantastic efforts.” Dane Gould, IiVE Assessor said: “We are pleased to reaccredit Durham University’s Staff Volunteering team for its third consecutive Investing in Volunteers for Employers quality standard, a unique achievement amongst UK universities. Since receiving the initial award in 2012, Durham University has demonstrated a continued commitment to Staff Volunteering as part of its strategy, with clear support from senior management and ongoing resources for the SVO team. The ever increasing volunteer numbers, activities and impact at Durham are very impressive and this certainly puts Durham at the forefront of university employer supported volunteering in the UK.”
Information All members of staff have the opportunity to apply to take up to five days of volunteering a year, in work time (subject to line manager approval and operational requirements). Each year the SVO team runs over 60 Team Challenge days, along with a wide range of other activities supporting the University’s commitment to volunteering. If you would like to get involved or find out more please see www.durham.ac.uk/volunteer or email community.engagement@ durham.ac.uk News for Durham University Staff & Students
WORK BEGINS TO EXPAND MAIDEN CASTLE
The University is making a £35 million investment in its sports facilities, for both student and community use.
A new rubber crumb pitch has already been installed in the middle of an existing athletics track at Maiden Castle and a hockey pitch upgraded. Works to improve parking facilities and access to the site from the A177 are nearing completion and a second hockey pitch will be upgraded this summer. A second phase of the programme, comprising major indoor facility developments and two beach volleyball courts, is set to begin in April 2018, after Durham County Council approved the proposals at its meeting on Tuesday 6 February. Developing new sports facilities available to students, community groups and local residents is part of Durham’s University Strategy, 2017-2027, to deliver world-class research-education and wider student experience. Maiden Castle currently hosts 15 community clubs, engaging more than 2,000 local residents each week. In addition, the University hosts and delivers many junior development programmes, including the Durham County
Mar | Apr 2018
Institute of Sport, an initiative that supports around 100 of the County’s most promising young athletes. The new investment will benefit both staff and students and enhance the University’s role as a hub for local and regional sport. Community use of Maiden Castle will increase from around 250 hours per week to over 700 hours per week in University term-time and over 800 hours per week during University vacations. The University's Chief Operating Officer, Jane Robinson said: “We are proud that Durham University combines world-class research and education with an outstanding student experience. “Sport is key to that, with over three-quarters of our students participating in sport at some level. This new investment will both allow our high-performing athletes to compete at the top levels of university sport and beyond, whilst creating more space for students to take up a new sport or enjoy physical activity in their leisure time. “We know Maiden Castle is also extremely popular with many local residents and
MAIDEN CASTLE
community groups, and we are proud of the positive role we play bringing people together through sport and physical activity. “This development will increase community use of Maiden Castle by over 450 hours per week, across sports and activities such as cricket, martial arts, badminton, volleyball, indoor hockey, basketball, netball and fitness classes. We have a number of specific community sport initiatives that we are looking forward to launching with National Governing Bodies and local and regional partners - this facility development will truly be transformative. “We are very pleased that Durham County Council has supported our vision for Maiden Castle. We are looking forward to work on phase two beginning on site and all the new facilities being ready for September 2019.” The new indoor space will include a 12 badminton court sports hall with spectator provision, a five-lane cricket hall, a purposebuilt martial arts studio, a 90-station fitness suite with additional strength and conditioning provision and a sports laboratory, which will house the University’s academic Sport Degree programme. There will also be social learning and club room spaces including an expanded café. A changing pavilion and two beach volleyball courts will be developed to the south-east of the sports centre building.
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NATIONAL STUDENT DRAMA FESTIVAL
Four Durham University shows selected for the National Student Drama Festival 2018 Durham Student Theatre is thrilled to announce that Durham University will be returning to the National Student Drama Festival (NSDF) this year – with four productions selected by the NSDF panel.
Over the past few years, Durham University has won many awards at the festival, including The Cameron Mackintosh Award and both awards for Spotlight Most Promising Actor – all of which were awarded in 2017. Last year, Durham won nine awards including the Festgoers’ Award for Best Show. Over 60 Durham University students will be involved in the NSDF – as either part of the selected shows or commended for their work on other productions.
NSDF has selected shows from Durham University for the last three years, but this is the first time that as many as four shows have been chosen. Durham remains one of the most successful and represented of any university at the festival.
The NSDF is a wonderful opportunity to engage with creatives and industry professionals across the country.
Hatfield College’s Lion Theatre Company had two shows selected: Grounded and MOSCOS. Written by George Brant, Grounded is a one-person show about a female fighter pilot. MOSCOS is written by student Jasmine Price and features storytelling, puppetry and clowning. Durham Drama Festival 2018 recently featured another new writing show by Price, called Aqua Spectacula. Durham University also returns to the NSDF with another musical. Tone Deaf Theatre Company’s The Last Five Years tells the story of a five-year relationship. Cuth’s Drama Society’s production of The Events was also chosen for the festival. Written by David Greig, The Events follows the aftermath of a massacre. As well as these selected shows, seven Durham University shows in total were longlisted for the festival. Many of the individuals from these shows have been invited to attend as company members. Clockwise from top left: The Events, MOSCOS, Grounded, Last Five Years
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Some 74 student productions from across the country were submitted to this year’s NSDF in the hope of being selected. Of these, only 16 shows were chosen to be performed at the festival. The NSDF is open to anyone aged between 16 and 25. Many shows are put on by theatre companies, drama schools, and universities with academic programmes dedicated to the performing arts. A quarter of this year’s shows at the NSDF come from Durham University – a significant achievement.
News for Durham University Staff & Students
SEXUAL VIOLENCE UPDATE
Sexual Violence & Misconduct Operations Group – an update from the Chair Owen Adams, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Colleges and Student Experience) gives an update on the work of the Sexual Violence & Misconduct Operations Group, which he chairs. In addition, training sessions in responding to sexual violence and misconduct were made available to staff in November, February and March, and a training day for College Principals, Vice-Principals and other College staff was held in January. More training will be made available in the coming weeks. Supporting students Messages around the University’s attitude and approach to sexual violence and misconduct were prominent during the 2017/18 Induction Week. All new starters were encouraged to complete the Consent Matters online training course, which covers sexual consent, communication and relationships and bystander intervention; brochures outlining our new Sexual Violence & Misconduct Policy and Procedure were circulated to Colleges and Departments; and the Respect Matters campaign, launched last summer, was refreshed. Since our last update in Dialogue 53, the Sexual Violence & Misconduct Operations Group (SVMOG) has made some important steps forward in our work to prevent and respond to sexual violence. Resources for staff A new online course for staff, titled Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence, is now available. Since it was launched in October, over 200 colleagues have completed the training. One academic department said it felt the course was ‘worth everyone’s time and had strongly encouraged all its academic and professional support staff to participate’. To support this course, we have produced a form for staff to record having received a disclosure of sexual violence and misconduct. This can be found on the Sexual Violence web pages: www.durham.ac.uk/sexualviolence/getsupport
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I am pleased to say that in addition to the University having trained investigators in place to investigate formal reports of sexual violence and misconduct, every College now has staff trained to support and respond to disclosures.
raising tool. Keep an eye out for further updates on this next term. We are proud that in November the work of the Sexual Violence Task Force, which preceded SVMOG, was Highly Commended in the Outstanding Support for Students Category at the 2017 Times Higher Education Awards. As I said at the time, we have made a number of positive steps forward, but we recognise that this is just the beginning of a programme of change. We communicate updates through the University’s Sexual Violence web pages, through Dialogue Signposts and elsewhere, including in October a blog I wrote for Universities UK on tackling sexual violence. If you have questions or comments, please email: durham.svmog@durham.ac.uk
For more information, please visit: www.durham.ac.uk/sexualviolence
Other developments The University has made an extra investment in the specialist, external counselling available to staff and students of all genders through the Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre, increasing provision from 2.5 days per week to 3.5 days per week. This is in addition to the support offered by the University’s Counselling Team. SVMOG is currently considering guidance for managing incidents involving allegations of staff sexual violence or misconduct. Further consultation is planned. The Group is also working with the Students’ Union, as it seeks to develop an awareness
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COMMUNITY FUND
Durham University Community Fund As an employee of the University, you have the opportunity to contribute to charities through our payroll giving scheme. The County Durham Community Foundation (CDCF) is the local charity who manages our scheme, and is one of the charities you can choose to give to through payroll giving. By contributing to the CDCF managed Durham University Staff Community Fund, you will be creating a central pot of funding matched by both the University and CDCF. You will then be able to help decide which local charities are supported through your generous donations.
In recent years, our charity has become more involved in responding to disadvantage in the form of poverty and crisis. Consequently, our activity includes projects such as Emergency Food provision and support around debt, welfare and mental health. Examples of projects include: - Food Emergency East Durham (FEED): effectively a foodbank distributing around 70 food parcels a week.
In December 2017, an all staff vote helped to determine Children and Young People as the first of four themes of the fund for the next year.
- The People’s Takeaway: A service delivering hot meals to people in crisis situations, often without gas and electric.
County Durham Community Foundation works with a large number of organisations on the ground who are so important for the young people and communities in need in our area.
- Stop Poverty in East Durham (SPIED): A multi- faceted project which includes a “holiday hunger” element providing food in community venues during school holidays.
One example of these organisations is East Durham Trust who has previously received funding from a variety of CDCF funds to help them continue the crucial work they do in East Durham. We spoke to Malcolm Fallow, Chief Executive of East Durham Trust who gave us some insight into what life is like in that part of the County. 1. Can you tell us about the work you do in County Durham? Much of the work of East Durham Trust is focussed around the adverse social and economic issues in the area.
- Chit Chat: A telephone befriending service contacting lonely and isolated people on a regular basis. The Trust also runs a number of projects aimed at improving levels of physical activity, arts engagement and social inclusion. 2. What are some of the key issues facing children and young people in our region? Being based in East Durham, it is difficult to look beyond the fact that over 30% of our children are officially classed as living in poverty. From my perspective, this creates both financial and cultural issues that are often blurred but present barriers in terms of social mobility and the potential to escape the poverty trap. Economically, there are obvious issues that we all understand such as the property ladder and the problems young people have but there are other “ladders” at a more practical level, such as the transport ladder, that are becoming increasingly apparent and lead to polarisation on an alarming levela (i.e. the most valuable qualification you can have when seeking employment is a driving licence but if you live
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in poverty, acquiring one is generally unachievable). Culturally, ambition and aspiration is being sucked out of our young people, which I find heart breaking. 3. Do you see this getting better or worse? Things are getting worse – recent legislation around welfare and public spending cuts have exacerbated the problems we face. 4. How can we help support the work to prevent/ improve this? We have to be realistic; the factors that produce disadvantage and inequality are generally not within our control and are unlikely to change anytime soon. Therefore, our strategies need to be intervention based and targeted towards individuals. Realistically, we are unlikely to change the fate of a generation at a stroke – we are more likely to achieve success “one young person at a time”. 5. Is there an individual story that has had a lasting input on you? I have lots! For example – in October, we gave a food parcel to a single mother with two children. Her case was brought to our attention by a member of the public who had witnessed her struggling to carry her kids to nursery in driving rain. It turned out that she was carrying them because she had sold her pushchair to get money to put her gas and electric back on. On the one hand, I was disappointed and dismayed that things had come to that but on the other hand, I was pleased we were there to offer our services. As well as providing emergency food, we were also able to sort out her welfare, debt and accommodation issues and help her get back on her feet.
www.durham.ac.uk/communityfund and community.fund@durham.ac.uk
News for Durham University Staff & Students
STUDENT COMMUNITY ACTION
STUDENT COMMUNITY ACTION
There is no doubt that Student Volunteering Week, which ran from Monday 19 February to Sunday 25 February, was a huge success this year! The event drew in an incredible 300 students who participated in 50 separate events across the Durham and Queen’s campuses to carry out over 700 volunteering hours. On average, that is over 100 hours of volunteering per day of the week. Student Volunteering Week is a nationwide initiative that celebrates the impact of volunteering and aims to encourage university students to engage in social action in their local communities. The week is beneficial for both volunteers and service-users as the events held make a difference to enhance communities, whilst also providing students with opportunities to meet new people and learn new skills. Across the week, Colleges, Team Durham Community, Durham Student Theatre (DST), Music Durham and Student Community Action held a number of outreach sessions as part of the Student Volunteering Week initiative. Durham Student Theatre collaborated with Music Durham to perform the famous ‘Carnival of the Animals’ at Finchale Primary School and teach children about classical music. Grey College did some fabulous
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conservation work at Stockton Road Cemetery. Music Durham also joined forces with Student Community Action (SCA) to arrange a tea party for the elderly. Attendees enjoyed cakes and a dance to upbeat tunes from the University’s Jazz Band. The tea party was only one of 38 events Student Community Action organised as part of Student Volunteering Week 2018. SCA Durham events included a conservation event in the beautiful Auckland Castle, an Olympic sports day event for disabled adults, and various classes in coding and foreign languages for school children. At Queen’s campus, students organised events such as a circus-themed children’s party and made bird boxes to encourage biodiversity as ‘one-off events’ for the week. The responses from the community were incredible, evidenced by one child who left the children’s party saying it had been “the best part of [her] week” with a huge grin. First-time volunteers nodded vigorously when asked if they would return to volunteering projects and get involved next year. Regular volunteers, such as Jessica Setiawan and Bella Zhang, agreed that by the end of the week they couldn’t wait for next years’ event. We couldn’t agree more!
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MUSEUMS AND ATTRACTIONS
SHATTERING PERCEPTIONS: THE WOMEN OF ARCHAEOLOGY Museum of Archaeology at Palace Green, Durham University 14 June 2018 – 4 November 2018 This year marks the 100th anniversary of women getting the vote. To celebrate this momentous year, a group of Masters students from Durham University’s Department of Archaeology, is curating an exhibition to explore the diverse achievements of women in archaeology. This exhibition challenges perceptions about what archaeology involves and who does it. It will showcase the many different aspects of archaeology, as well as women who shape history through their exceptional work. The exhibit will feature Dame Kathleen Kenyon and others who lived or worked in the Durham area, such as Gertrude Bell and members of the Archaeology Department today.
THE HILLS ARE HIGH This photographic exhibition is exploring the everyday lives of people in South Korea. Western media coverage of Korea tends to focus on politics and potential conflict. This exhibition goes further to reveal some of the challenges and joys of life for ordinary South Koreans. The exhibition title The Hills are High is taken from a Korean poem written in the 1500s which expresses not only the importance of the mountain landscape in Korean life but also the spirit of perseverance of the Korean people ‘by climbing, climbing, climbing still’. Modern South Korea is a country of contrasts and challenges where traditions coexist with technology and nature completes with an ever-expanding cityscape. The exhibition highlights this mixture of historic local customs, food and friendship alongside the incredible pace of change and modernisation. The exhibition runs until 9 September 2018 at the Oriental Museum. For more details please visit the museum website at www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum
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News for Durham University Staff & Students
HR & OD NEWS
HR Highlights Recruitment Team The 2017/18 Academic Recruitment Campaign was launched on 14 September 2017 with the aim to recruit to 111 academic vacancies across the University. The campaign was advertised globally in HE and BAME specific media and is underpinned by a social media campaign and supporting website with videos and images. All submissions have now closed and the Recruitment team has received 4251 applications from 122 countries. Interviews have now commenced in earnest and the first offers to candidates have been made.
successfully gained a qualification from a course organised by CAROD/ Accommodation Services. This celebration recognised the hard work and achievements of 130 colleagues from across the institution who had successfully completed one of the 13 nationally recognised development programmes. Realising your Potential Approach Realising your Potential continued to grow in stature with many parts of professional services using the approach in recruitment, induction, development and staff celebration events.
UKVI Team
Leadership Development
Two new schemes have been introduced to support international colleagues with the immigration costs associated with working in the UK. The Tier 2 Visa Cost Reimbursement Scheme provides reimbursement for the cost of a Tier 2 visa and the Immigration Health Surcharge. The Staff Interest Free Loan Scheme supports international colleagues with costs associated with applications to permanently live and work in the UK and assist with UKVI costs with dependants.
The Durham Leadership Summit on 17 May 2017 was an opportunity to discuss the new University Strategy; to focus on what we are going to be doing and why; and, crucially, to discuss the role senior leaders have in engaging teams in the implementation of the Strategy and in disseminating key information. CAROD worked closely with UEC to ensure that this inaugural event was a success. An Academic Leaders’ Programme was also run successfully for those who are about to take up an academic leadership role and a ‘Future Leaders’ Programme allowing staff from academic departments and PSS departments to work together on strategic projects identified by UEC. Three Institute of Leadership and Management programmes have been designed and delivered, which align with the Realising Your Potential Approach.
Repurposing of Queen’s Campus HR support was provided across the University for a number of change initiatives, including the relocation of departments and colleges from Queen’s Campus. In partnership with the trade union representatives a support package for staff was developed. The team also engaged with HR colleagues from Newcastle University and trade union representatives to facilitate the TUPE transfer of the School for Medicine, Pharmacy and Health to Newcastle University. Change Workshops CAROD has developed and launched a series of workshops which focus on Change and Transition. By the end of the 2017 over 300 people had attended one of the workshops. Staff Celebration Event In March 2017 there was another fantastic Staff Celebration event. The VC presented staff with certificates having
Mar | Apr 2018
Academic Promotion and Probation Our Business Partner and Advisor team has worked with departments to implement the new progression and probation system for academic staff. This includes consistent benchmark criteria at the three levels of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor across three tracks. (Academic, Research and Teaching.) All academic and teaching staff who are on our tracks will be reviewed annually (replacing the old system of self-nomination). Terms and Conditions Changes to the Terms and Conditions of staff have been agreed, which will increase the hourly rate for most staff in grades 1 and 2 and will reduce the working week for colleagues in grades 1 and 2 from 37 to 35 hours. The changes will also introduce greater flexibility in ways of working. Job Families for Professional Service Roles HR is in the process of developing a Job Family Framework for professional services roles. This will result in template job descriptions, greater consistency in job titles and more transparency of grades. Job families will also provide a more visible career paths and development opportunities for staff in professional services roles. For more details please visit www.durham.ac.uk/strategy2027/local/ information/durhamdoes/jobfamilies
Staff Survey Last year the University Staff Survey resulted in an impressive 71% employee engagement score. An action plan has been put in place to increase engagement with staff across the University and HR is actively working on their department action plan. Staff Rewards The Reward team launched My Durham, a great staff benefits scheme, which provides a wide variety of offers and discounts for our staff including discounted cinema tickets and discounts at a range of retailers and supermarkets.
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VAN MILDERT COLLEGE
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hours in Van Mildert College
Owen Adams, Pro-ViceChancellor (Colleges and Student Experience), reflects on 24 hours spent helping out in Van Mildert College. I have a confession and an apology to make. In fact, I have two – of each. The first confession is that I am dire at DIY. To me, screws and nails are indistinguishable and I wouldn’t know the difference between a Phillips or Flat-Head, a ball pein or claw hammer if they walked into my office and introduced themselves to me. This leads me to my second confession: I am not always the quickest of learners when it comes to trying new things. The apologies will come later, but all four are connected. Earlier this month I spent 24 hours ensconced in Van Mildert, as part of a whirlwind secondment with the College’s cleaning, maintenance, and general support staff. I supervised its reception, shadowed the porters,
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and observed a sitting of the College’s disciplinary panel. I cleaned soiled toilets – using the wrong cloth not once or twice, but three times, and rightfully earned the scorn of
respectable. It was a privilege to meet and work with Trevor Reed – Van Mildert’s longstanding, all-knowing maintenance porter. A plumber, electrician, and handyperson, Trevor is a polymath whose efforts and skills keep everything running smoothly. Thank you, Trevor. The biggest reward was seeing the energy and passion exuded by staff like Sue and Trevor. I was buoyed by their sense of purpose, their bond with the students, and their desire to ensure the Van Mildert students get the best experience. Their jobs are not easy and to see them go the extra mile, in what can be challenging circumstances, was heartening.
my colleague, Sue, on the Van Mildert’s cleaning staff. Sorry, Sue. I helped to unpack boxes in the kitchen – and so my second apology is to the fantastic kitchen porter staff, who probably spent the following few days figuring out where I put everything. I wouldn’t be surprised if I accidentally left the cereal in the freezer. Cleaning toilets was not a highlight, but it did leave me full of respect and admiration for our tireless cleaning staff who quietly and diligently ensure our University is clean, tidy, and
My time at Van Mildert was brief, but it fortified my connection to what we do here, and why. My calendar is packed with meetings and events, so I relished the chance to talk with staff and students when I might not otherwise get such an opportunity. Most of all, the experience helped to anchor me; I have a better understanding of the reality on the ground and the way that people work together. I would very much like to repeat the experience – ideally, once a term. That is, of course, if Sue and Trevor are still willing to write me a reference.
News for Durham University Staff & Students
TEAM OUTREACH
Holiday Camps During the Easter and summer holidays, Team Durham will be running a whole range of Holiday Camps for local children across County Durham between the ages of 4-18. These camps include a 'learn to row' week, sport specific camps in tennis, cricket, netball and football, themed adventure sport weeks, dance and drama camps, a residential performance sculling camp and the ever-popular mini and multi-sports camps. Holiday Camps are led by a team of qualified student coaches and Team Durham athletes, alongside members of staff from the community outreach team. From only ÂŁ12 per child per day, there is a wide variety of sporting activities in which to get involved, from basketball, cricket and volleyball to archery, fencing and lacrosse. This Easter the Holiday Camps will be running from Tuesday, 3 April to Friday, 13 April and will offer mini and multi-sport, tennis, learn to row and an adventure week. Bookings are now open and full information is available on the webpage at www.teamdurham.com/holidaycamps along with the link to the booking site. For further information please contact Tom Kitchen at teamdurham.holidaycamps@durham.ac.uk or follow the team on Facebook www.facebook.com/TeamDurhamHolidayCamps
Calm to the Core, Pilates, and Barre Most people experience some form of anxiety in their lives. It is not only an intense and overwhelming experience that seems unmanageable but it can have a great and debilitating effect on day-to-day life. Calm to the Core is an innovative course that seeks to alleviate anxiety by approaching it through the body. It targets the roots of anxiety, found in our thoughts and feelings. Each session guides you through breathing exercises and movements to restore a sense of calmness and control to the body. Calm to the Core is not a therapy group, so participants are not asked to disclose anything personal about their own anxiety or well-being. Open to staff and students, these sessions take place on Wednesdays, 4pm – 5pm. The Adult Community fitness classes are open to staff, students, and the general public. These include Pilates, from 12pm 1pm on Mondays, which is aimed at strengthening the body, particularly core strength. On Thursdays 12pm - 1pm, there is the opportunity to take part in Barre Concept, which is a creative work out that tones the arms, lifts the bum, sculpts the lefts, and flattens the abs. Please contact Deborah Cairns on 0191 3342165 or email deborah.cairns@durham.ac.uk for more information on these and other courses offered by Team Durham.
Mar | Apr 2018
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GREENSPACE
New environmental vision and policy The University has recently approved a new Environmental Sustainable Vision, Policy and Strategy. We are committed to making the University one of the most environmentally sustainable in the UK. This will require the active commitment of every member of the University community. We are already: • Providing environmental policies and procedures; • Promoting awareness with the award-winning Greenspace icons; • Enabling behavioural change; • Actively reducing our carbon dioxide emissions; and • Working with our academic and student environmental champions. But we could do so much more. Looking ahead, we are committed to:
Celebrating Environment Week
• Introducing more environmental sustainability into the research agenda, the teaching curriculum and the Durham Award scheme;
The University staged a range of activities to mark Environment Week, which ran from 26 February to 4 March. There were events, promotions and competitions – all aimed at raising awareness of how to live, work and travel in sustainable ways.
• Improving governance regarding environmental compliance;
Local free range eggs were sold across University catering outlets, with the proceeds going to St Cuthbert’s Hospice. Environment Week coincided with Fairtrade Fortnight, and staff and students took part in a Big Fairtrade Bake. Fairtrade flour and sugar were donated by Bidfoods and participants were challenged to guess the Fairtrade ingredients in the ‘Vice-Chancellor’s Muffin’. Throughout the fortnight, staff and students also received a discount on Fairtrade clothing bought through the University's Retail office.
• Reducing our waste, energy and water consumption proportionally against our growth in staff and student numbers; • Better monitoring of and enhancing the biodiversity of our estate; • Reducing both local and national emissions and pollutants from our travel; and • Creating a smart, sustainable approach to the University Strategy and Estates Masterplan. Find out more at: www.durham.ac.uk/greenspace/policies/strategic-plan
Finally, staff and students were challenged to make an ‘Every Small Step’ pledge on reducing personal environmental impact. Thanks to everyone who took part. Due to snowy conditions during the week, representatives from Arriva, Northern Rail, Durham County Council and Living streets have agreed to return in the near future to advise on reducing food waste, walking and sustainable travel. O'Brien Waste Recycling Solutions will provide guidance on recycling.
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News for Durham University Staff & Students
GREENSPACE
Going green with offshore wind The University recently switched to receiving its electricity supply from the new Blyth Offshore wind farm. This switch was possible after the University changed its supplier to Clean and Green which meant, working with its energy partner The Energy Consortium and its supplier EDF Energy, it was able to choose the source and technology of its electricity. The wind farm turbines are located 5.7km off the coast of Northumberland and are capable of supplying low carbon electricity to satisfy 34,000 homes. There are currently five turbines, with a total generating capacity of 41.5MW. Consent is in place for up to ten more.
Colleges go head to head on reducing energy All Colleges competed to see which could reduce its electricity use by the greatest percentage in the annual Inter-Collegiate Energy Competition, which took place from 29 January to 11 February. Information was collated on the Greenspace Energy webpage, where you can also find energy saving tips and an energy awareness quiz. Congratulations to winners, Van Mildert for the second year running. Further details on energy awareness is available at: www.durham.ac.uk/greenspace/energy/energyawareness
This has been a tremendous piece of work by the three parties. Renewable electricity is supplied through Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) under which an agreement has been reached specifying Blyth as the source and wind as the technology. For more information, please visit www.durham.ac.uk/greenspace/renewable
Every small step leads to big change Nov/Dec 2017
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QS WORLD SUBJECT RANKINGS
Record number of subjects in World Top 50 The University has recorded its highest ever number of subjects in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2018. Nine Durham subjects are now in the World Top 50 of the prestigious international table, up one from last year, including three that maintain their places in the World Top 10 - Theology & Religion (3rd); Archaeology (5th) and Geography (6th).
Across broad subject areas, Durham is 31st for Arts and Humanities (up from 45th in 2017); 59th for Natural Sciences (up from 72nd); and 78th in Social Sciences and Management (up from 98th).
Classics is included in the rankings for the first time and Durham is ranked 25th globally.
Durham University is consistently ranked as one of the world’s leading universities as shown by its Top 100 position in both the overall QS World University Rankings 2018 and the THE World University Rankings 2018.
Earth Sciences, Anthropology, English, History and Law also feature in the World Top 50. A further seven subjects – Chemistry, Languages, Philosophy, Physics, Politics, Psychology and Social Policy– are listed in the World Top 100.* In total, 16 subjects are ranked in the World Top 100, up from 14 last year.
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One of the world’s leading universities
Nationally, Durham is one of the UK’s top performing universities and is ranked fourth in the Guardian University Guide 2018, fifth in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018, and sixth in The Complete University Guide 2018.
News for Durham University Staff & Students
QS WORLD SUBJECT RANKINGS
This is the second year running that Durham University has achieved its highest number of subjects in the QS World University Subject Rankings. World class research & education Professor Stuart Corbridge, Vice-Chancellor said: “To surpass our achievements in this respected international ranking is wonderful and testimony to the truly world class research and education we provide at Durham. “Our students are taught by some of the world’s leading researchers as part of a rounded educational experience that enables them to develop both their knowledge of their chosen degrees and their skills and talents, whether that is in drama, music, sport or volunteering. Our students are rightly in great demand by employers around the world. “We aim to build on success with an ambitious strategy that is seeing us invest in new facilities that will enhance research, teaching and the wider student experience while continuing to attract some of the world’s best academics to Durham. “Everyone at the University can be rightly proud of these rankings and their contributions to Durham’s continuing success.” Academic & employer reputation The QS World University Subject Rankings are published annually and bring together the world’s top universities in a range of subject areas. The rankings are based on academic and employer reputation, research citations and the productivity and impact of the work published by academics. To compile this year’s league table, QS analysed over 22 million research papers, producing close to 200 million citations. A total of 1,130 institutions from 151 countries were ranked and the rankings looked at 48 subjects in five broad subject areas.
Mar | Apr 2018
* Please note that at Durham University: • Languages is called Modern Languages & Cultures; • Politics is part of the School of Government and International Affairs; • Social Policy comes under the Department of Sociology.
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CIS NEWS
To protect against new and emerging security threats, CIS monitors and fixes issues on the IT systems and services they manage. However, there are some actions only we as individuals can take to protect our information – so make it your business to practise good cyber hygiene at work, study and play. 5 exercises for good cyber health Always install the latest software updates and maintain an antivirus Make sure you regularly apply all vendor recommended updates for your personal devices and any University-owned devices you look after. These updates fix weaknesses in software and apps to keep devices secure. Don’t ignore the messages telling you when one is ready to be installed – a few minutes could save you from identity theft later. You can choose to install updates overnight or to enable automatic updates. Use an antivirus software and keep it up to date. Lock your screen Whether you’re at work, in the library or elsewhere - when you need to walk away always lock the screen on your device using a password or PIN to prevent unauthorised access. Use a strong, separate password for email accounts Think of this password as the front door key to your information. Cyber criminals can use email to access other accounts holding personal and financial details. Create a strong, separate and memorable password so
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that if the password for one of your less important accounts is stolen, it cannot be used to access your email account. Use a combination of three random words and include numbers and symbols. Back up your data Get into the habit of backing up important data, such as key documents and photos. This means that should the worst happen, your device is hacked or infected by a virus or malicious software (malware), you have another copy you can always access. For work and study we recommend using CIS provided systems where this is done for you. Mind how you share your data Keep a constant eye out for suspicious emails and websites - both can be faked to look genuine. If an email is unexpected or unusual, don’t reply to it or click on any links and attachments. Use a known email or phone number to contact the company or individual directly. Ensure that the website address of any site you’re using is correct before sharing any data. Use a trusted search engine to confirm the official company website.
For junk mail please use your spam filters so you no longer see unwanted messages in your inbox. If you suspect an email scam, provide a copy of the message to phishing@durham.ac.uk. For immediate advice, or if you think your University account has been compromised, contact the IT Service Desk on 0191 33 (41515). For more guidance visit www.durham.ac.uk/cis/security.
News for Durham University Staff & Students
NAME: Charlie Parkin JOB TITLE: Electrician DEPARTMENT: Estates & Buildings
What achievement are you most proud of? DJ’ing for nearly 20 years. All over the North East, winning local competitions, and in a UK Northern Final. Entering various events on my own with no wingmen and nothing but my skills and music choice endlessly pleasing the crowds. I would spend many hours in HMV, searching the shelves for the latest vinyl tunes, hours on HTFR and Juno Records, getting them delivered at £80+ a week. It was awesome. So, tunes on vinyl, probably Binary Finary – 1999, The Space Brothers – Legacy and Gouryella – Gouryella. What was your best subject? Psychology. I got 100% in one of my AS Level exams.
Have you got any pets? No. What are you reading at the moment? Haven’t read a book in a long time. What would you like your epitaph to be? All round nice guy, Charlie Parkin, a gentleman and a scholar. One time superstar DJ. A huge loss to his wife and kids. Which historical figure would you most like to be? To be honest I was never very good at history so I wouldn’t want to be anyone else. What was the first record you bought? On cassette it was Michael Jackson – Heal The World or 2 Unlimited – No Limits Album. But, as an aspiring DJ way back in the late 90’s,
Mar | Apr 2018
What did you want to be when you were a child? Footballer. Where will you be going for your next holiday? Nothing planned yet. What skill or talent would you most like to acquire? Music Production to make my own music. Give me a picture of your ideal day: Full English, sun, sea, chill, sunset, drinks, romantic meal with my future wife and watching the stars. Or seeing the Northern Lights. And no mobile phones in sight. On a scale of 1-10, how much do you care what other people think of you? Probably my own worst enemy. I am a perfectionist at heart so I am probably more self critical than anyone else. It's human nature to be liked so I would say 7 as I can take things personally.
What’s your greatest vice? Coming out with the comment that everyone was really thinking. What’s your favourite film? The Goonies, Forest Gump, Home Alone. Any nicknames? Parlie Charkin, Nabimba, Challa. What’s the worst job you’ve ever done? Kitchen Staff. How I did it I don’t know. Spent two weeks cleaning dishes and making the worst pizzas you have ever seen. What’s your favourite place in the world? Haven’t found it yet. Hope to get to Australia one day soon. What luxury item would you take to a desert island? Drinkable water will do.
What’s your greatest indulgence? Crisps or Sweets. Pass the buck: Finally, who would you like to see in the hot-seat? Neil Reed, Porter, Collingwood College.
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what’s on at the University
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march THE HILLS ARE HIGH VENUE: Oriental Museum DATES: 9 February – 9 September 2018 TIME: 10am-5pm ABOUT: An exhibition by curator/photographer Lauren Barnes, illustrating the everyday lives of South Koreans over the course of a year.
MAMMOTH EASTER BOOK FAIR DATES: 30 March 2018
INSTITUTE OF MEDIEVAL AND MODERN STUDIES: 13TH MEDIEVAL LECTURE
TIME: 10am-4pm
VENUE: Blackfriars Banquet Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4XN
ABOUT: Bigger and better than ever, the Durham Palestine Educational Trust Easter Book Fair returns for its 5th year. Around 12,000 high-quality new and used books at bargain prices during the ten day sale! Find books that include all academic subjects and leisure interests plus children’s books, art, cookery, fiction, nature, adventure and travel, religion, music, poetry, drama, and humour.
DATES: 21 April 2018
VENUE: Pemberton Rooms, Palace Green
april EASTER CHICK HUNT VENUE: Botanic Garden DATES: 1 April – 2 April 2018 TIME: 10am-4pm
TIME: 11am ABOUT: We are delighted to welcome Dr Adrian Green, Department of History from Durham University, to discuss: 'Exploring Blackfriars and its immediate history after the Middle Ages'. The monastic buildings of Blackfriars were converted after the Dissolution of the Monasteries into meeting halls for some of Newcastle’s craft guilds. This talk is about how the architecture of Blackfriars was adapted by the guilds, and relates the building to the other guild meeting halls around the town.
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ABOUT: Easter Chicks are hiding in the Garden. Pick up your spotter sheet and see how many you can find in this fun family event. Self-led activity.
A SENSE OF PLACE? PILGRIMAGE AND THE SENSES, PAST, PRESENT - AND FUTURE: DR DEE DYAS
NATURE TALES AND LEGENDS
VENUE: Palace Green Library
VENUE: Botanic Garden DATES: 5 April 2018 TIME: 11am-3pm ABOUT: The Garden is beginning to come to life after the winter. Join storyteller, Elizabeth Baker, to hear some stories and legends about the natural world - we might even hear a few Durham legends - then enjoy some nature inspired craft.
DATES: 2 May 2018 TIME: 5.30pm-6.30pm Routes are mapped, shrines described, saints and cults analysed, pilgrim communities compared, the rise and fall of sacred sites recorded. What is it that makes 'place' so alluring and why have human beings across otherwise diverse cultures and periods so often been inclined to identify places as special and map meaning on to them?
For more information on University events go to www.durham.ac.uk/whatson