News round-up
THE-QS world league table
Leeds has risen five places to 99th in the Times Higher Education’s (THE) – QS world rankings which were published as we went to press. The full table is available at http://www. topuniversities.com
The University’s also risen two places to 26th in the THE’s table of UK tables issued in September and two places to 24th in the Sunday Times’ rankings. See Campusweb for more information.
And THE awards
Two Leeds entries have been short-listed in this year’s Times Higher Education awards. Professor John Fisher’s team in the Institute
of Medical and Biological Engineering have been short-listed for Outstanding engineering research team of the year. The Staff and
Departmental Development Unit are finalists for the Outstanding contribution to leadership development award. The winners will be
announced on October 15.
Readerships
Applications are invited from members of academic staff who wish to be considered for the title of Reader. For more information please visit the human resources website, http://www.leeds.ac.uk/hr/progression/index.htm
Further opportunities to apply for the title of Reader will be available during 2010/11 and will be advertised on Campusweb.
Equality rewarded
Leeds has secured the Athena SWAN charter Bronze award for the support we provide for career development of women working in the traditionally maledominated fields of science, engineering and technology. This is the highest level of award made to a whole university; the silver and gold awards are only open to individual schools or faculties. Discussions are already under way to explore the scope for one or two schools to prepare a submission for a silver award over the next year.
In preparing our submission, a group identified good practice and developed an action plan for further initiatives across the campus to support women’s career development in research and learning and teaching.
The judging panel were impressed with the wide range of activities already taking place at Leeds. In particular, they noted the
University’s promotion procedures and the way work-life balance policies are drawn together.
Read more at http://www.equality.leeds.ac.uk
IT review
A University-wide review of information technology (IT) is in its final stages and proposals for a better and more efficient service will be published in the new year. Background to the review and an update on progress is available on Campusweb, see http://www.campus.leeds.ac.uk/newsincludes/newsitem6581.htm
Construction starts for Law
Work on a new building for the School of Law is under way on the Western Campus. The £12 million project is due to open in early 2011.
Head of School, Professor Roger Halson, says: “The new Law Building will offer stateof- the-art facilities to our staff, students and visitors. It will allow us to expand provision for postgraduate students and researchers, pro bono initiatives, Innocence projects
and court technologies through which we increasingly engage with legal practitioners, school students and other groups.”
Read more about the project at http://www.law.leeds.ac.uk/about/new-building/
