Noticeboard

Leeds-Beijing design link
The School of Design has strengthened its links with Tsinghua University in Beijing, one of China’s most prestigious universities, through a joint agreement that will see up to 20 students from Tsinghua studying design at Leeds each year, starting from September 2009.

Our lecturers will also go over to Tsinghua University to teach a number of design modules. The agreement follows a visit to China in May by Professor Stephen Westland, Mike Sheedy and Fabio Fragiacomo, where they presented design students with a challenge called ‘Making the invisible visible’. The artwork (right), An Appreciation of Wind, was produced by Jiang Shan, a third year graphic design student at Tsinghua University.

13, lucky for some
The University of Leeds has finished 13th overall in the latest rankings of the British Universities Sports Association (BUSA), climbing two places to achieve our best position for ten years.

In recent weeks our students have won BUSA national titles in equestrian, biathlon, squash, trampolining, gymnastics, and foil, as well as international honours in rugby union, cross-country and lacrosse. To read more visit http://tinyurl.com/5pr6ay

Leeds now has its sights set on becoming one of the UK’s top 10 sporting institutions.

Train ticket offer
Train commuters who travel to Leeds from outside West Yorkshire can take advantage of a new staff benefit that becomes available from 1 August.

The benefit means you could be entitled to an interest-free loan for an annual train ticket, if you travel into work from places such as York, Hull, Manchester, Sheffield or Skipton.

The University will make an up-front payment on your behalf, which you pay back directly from your salary over a 10-month period.

Look for further details on Campusweb, www.campus.leeds.ac.uk, or phone Human Resources on ext. 34146.

Pop culture still kicking
Tim Mercier, director of the television soap EastEnders, will be one of the keynote speakers at a conference held at the University of Leeds on 10 September, ‘New directions in popular culture: Locating popular cultures’.

The conference, organised by the Leeds Popular Cultures Research Network, based in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures, will bring together academics and arts and media professionals.

The other keynote speakers include renowned cultural sociologist Professor Jim McGuigan (University of Loughborough), and Professor of English Lawrence Rainey (University of York). For details see www.leeds.ac.uk/smlc/popcult3.htm and www.leeds.ac.uk/smlc/popularculturesresearchgroup.htm

Honorary degree nominations
Members of the University are invited to submit names for consideration by the committee on honorary degrees when it meets in October. The criteria specify that honorary degrees may be awarded to persons:
(a) who are distinguished by excellence and outstanding and sustained achievement in research, scholarship, education, the creative arts, public service, medicine and health, social progress, business and the economy, government, administration or any other area of human activity of lasting value and significance; and
(b) who have a prior connection with the University or the region, or whose distinction lies in a field with which the University itself is identified.

Nominations and any supporting comments (not essential) should be sent to: Helen Pickersgill, Secretariat, by Monday, 15 September under confidential cover.