AMBLESIDE CAMPUS
NEWSLETTER
Issue 004
January 2024
cumbria.ac.uk/Ambleside
this ISSUE Welcome from the Pro Vice Chancellor
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Campus Manager Welcome
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Student Network Coordinator Update
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Welcome Back Community Breakfast
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January 2024 Enhancement Week Timetable
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Bi-Weekly Campus Updates Starting January 2024
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Choose Becoming a Change Maker this New Year
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Get to Know Director of Student Services Emma Bales
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Get to Know Academic Registrar Cathy Lambert
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Involvement Opportunity: Students for Biodiversity
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Upcoming Postgraduate Route Events
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UCSU Elections
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Applications are still open: Virtual Apprenticeships
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Big Ticket Events Coming Up
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Your Frequently Asked PAD Questions Answered
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Reporting an Estates & Property Requests
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Submitting an Online StEP Enquiry
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Welcome from the Pro vice Chancellor Welcome to the beginning of 2024 at Ambleside Campus. The new year will bring a number of exciting new opportunities at Ambleside and across the University of Cumbria as a whole. We are developing a new Learning, Teaching & Assessment (LTA) Plan for launch later in 2024. The new LTA Plan will set a new direction for how we develop innovative approaches to learning and teaching, including how we work in partnership with the student body, prepare our graduates for sustainable success in the workplace and grapple with the implications of the rapid evolution of generative artificial intelligence. Sustainability, including mitigating the impact of climate change and the global decrease in biodiversity, will be an integral component of the new LTA Plan and is the subject of a new cross-University project to explore how sustainability issues can be most effectively woven into curricula and across the wider student experience. The Ambleside Campus has a key role to play in this initiative, with more information to follow over the coming months. Final year undergraduates will shortly receive an invitation to complete the National Student Survey to provide feedback on your experiences studying at the University of Cumbria. Student feedback helps us to continue to enhance your learning experience.
Dr Jonathan Eaton Pro Vice Chancellor
I hope that you and your loved ones had a peaceful break over the festive period, and that you return rested and enthusiastic about pursuing your studies further over the coming months.
Campus Manager Welcome I would first of all like to wish you a Happy New Year, and we are looking forward to welcoming you back for semester two. As we get ever closer to Spring, you will hopefully notice some work starting on campus as we start to deliver our community and biodiversity projects as outlined in our Students for Biodiversity Plans. If you are interested in supporting this in any way, you will be joining a continually growing team of staff and students who volunteer towards the delivery of this project and I strongly encourage you to get in touch. More information about this can be found on page 11. Plans are well underway for our upcoming Spring Fair! As we had to unexpectedly cancel the Christmas Fair due to adverse weather conditions, we really hope to make the Spring Fair even better. Watch out for more details coming soon. On Tuesday 6 February 2024 from 08:30, we look forward to welcoming you to our community breakfast. These community breakfasts are a great way to meet new people, both students and staff, in a friendly and welcoming environment. They also present an opportunity to get to know one another a little more outside of the classroom or offices in an informal environment. It can be a struggle to get back into your stride after Christmas, so make sure you seek any support you may need. The online Student Enquiry Point (StEP) portal gives you access to self-referrer to a range of services including, but not limited to, mental health, wellbeing, money advice and skills support. The support is there for you, so please do come forward and utilise the resources to help you thrive, enjoy, and excel while you are with us at the University of Cumbria. While bad weather is still to be expected over the coming months, I hope that on brighter, clearer and sunnier days you are able to take the opportunity to get out and about to enjoy the great outdoors that we are all so fond of at Ambleside – this is one of the many bonuses of living, studying and working in the Lake District National Park!
With best wishes Rob Wilson Ambleside Campus Manager 4
Student Network coordinator Update Welcome back and I hope you have had a happy and healthy Festive Period and New Year. I hope that, by the time you are reading this, those students who have had a lot of assignments due over January have come out of the ‘Assignment Mist’ and you are able to start enjoying the cold and crisp weather we are currently experiencing in Cumbria (note it is mid-January at time of writing this and I sincerely hope the weather comment ages well!). This issue of the newsletter outlines some very exciting events and projects coming up. It is recognised that, for some, coming back in January after the Christmas Break can be quite daunting and it is our hope that we can support you through this with the events we have coming up. From our Welcome Back Community Breakfast to our Spring Fair before the Easter Break, there is some good stuff coming. In a recent re-shuffle of feedback mechanisms, we will no longer be running a Student Panel on the Ambleside Campus. All Students will now be formally invited to a Campus Forum twice a semester; for those who are looking for something a little more formal and involved, please see page 8 which outlines how you can get involved with the Newly Formed Student Services Consultative Committee. If you have any questions about this, please email SSCC@cumbria.ac.uk.
All the best Max Young Student Network Coordinator
wELCOME BACK Community BREAKFAST tUESDAY 6 fEBRUARY 2024 We would like to invite you to our start of year community breakfast to welcome you back after the Festive Break. Join us from 08:30 to 10:00 on Tuesday 6 February 2024 for a free breakfast and catch-up with both staff and fellow students. You can pick up your voucher from the Barn in the Week Commencing Monday 29 January 2024. We look forward to seeing you there.
January 2024 enhancement week timetable
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The timetable for our January 2024 Enhancement Week (W.C. Monday 22 January) is now available. For further information, including location and how to subscribe to the BlackBoard Site, please scan the QR Code.
Date
22 Jan
23 Jan
24 Jan
25 Jan
26 Jan
Time
Session Title
10.00-10.45
Navigate your career path: what to do if you don’t know what you want to do
11.30-12.00
Get a job in science
14.30-15.00
Unleash your niche: how to turn a hobby or skill into a profitable small business
16:00-16:30
Careers in the Arts
15.00-15.30
Further study - finding and applying for postgraduate study
16:00-16:30
Virtual Internships: what are they and how to apply
14:30-15:00
Finding your freelancing feet: essential first steps for the self employed
15:00-15:30
Virtual Internships: what are they and how to apply
10.00 - 10.30
Work Ready Digital Skills: working remotely - what to expect.
12.00-12.30
Making a difference - volunteering & how it can help develop your career
10.00-10.30
All about Grad schemes
14.00-14.30
How to ace video interviews
15.00-15.30
LinkedIn: building your professional brand
10.00-11.00
Get into Teaching
15.00-15.10
10 minutes on... how to be more commercially aware
16.00 - 16.30
Get a job in Business
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Bi-weekly campus updates Starting January 2024 Commencing on Monday 15 January 2024, we will be sending a bi-weekly update to all staff and students across the Ambleside Campus. For students, the message will be stored on the Campus BlackBoard Site and through the Mini-Site on the StaffHub for Staff. This is to give you any of the key messages you need to know about what is happening on campus and in the local community. If students or colleagues have something they would like to contribute to any of these updates, please email ambcampusmanagement@cumbria.ac.uk.
Choose Becoming a Change Maker this New Year Apply to the Student Service Consultative Committee We have a unique opportunity for 3 students from each of our campuses to join the following Sub-Consultative Committees: Library and Skills (One Vacancy per Campus) Student Support (One Vacancy per Campus) Student Life (One Vacancy per Campus) You will have the opportunity to improve on and co-create services from across the Student Services Directorate, giving you the opportunity to feed-in yours and others views. For Ambleside, this will be a part of the merger taking place with the Student Panel, This Consultative Committee and the Campus Forums we run each semester. If you have any questions you would like answered about this, please email max.young@cumbria.ac.uk
Applications open NOW Scan me
Scan the QR Code to register your interest before Friday 9 February 2024.
Get to know
Director of Student Services Emma Bales If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I’m pretty well rooted in Morecambe, having traced my family here back to the 1700’s, but I’d really like to live somewhere with proper seasons – I love the sun but also like cold crisp winter days and in the NW of England we seem to have been living under a perpetual rain cloud over the past year!
What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
I think possibly achieving my MBA. Undertaking a Masters degree as a part time student, in a full time job, with 2 small children and not having previously completed an Undergraduate degree was quite a challenge. However, it gave me an insight to the challenges many of our UoC students face and I’m really grateful for the support and encouragement I got from my line manager.
What motivates you to work at the University of Cumbria? The people – both our students and my colleagues. Its particularly rewarding to see students we have supported crossing the stage at their Graduation ceremonies.
If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?
When I dropped out of my UG law degree and went to be a trainee retail manager I never thought my career would lead me into HE and Student Services, but all experiences are useful so take opportunities as they arise, and believe that things will work out as they are meant to.
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What is the most important life lesson you have learned?
That today’s front pages will be tomorrow’s fish and chip wrappers. By that I mean the importance of keeping things in perspective and recognising that things that feel really significant in the moment are likely to feel less so with the passage of time.
Get to know
Academic Registrar Cathy Lambert What is the most important life lesson you have learned?
My granny always used to say that when one door closes another one opens. I strongly believe that things happen for a reason.
What is the proudest moment of your career so far? I’ve worked in five different universities and have had a very fulfilling career. I am very proud of the work I have done to build teams of staff who are committed to providing services to students from the moment they apply to when they finally graduate surrounded by their families, friends and supporters.
What motivates you to work at the University of Cumbria? If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Definitely in the UK, and somewhere by the sea where I could swim at least 6 months of the year.
I’ve worked at the University of Cumbria for 16 months now. I continue to be impressed by the University’s sense of purpose and the ambitions for its students, staff and the communities it serves.
If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be? I’d like to tell my younger self lots of things. If I had to choose one thing it would be to be true to yourself. *Ts & Cs and travel dates apply. Scan for details.
Involvement Opportunity: Students for Biodiversity This semester, we are looking to further operationalise our Students for Biodiversity Management Plan across the campus. To do this effectively, we are looking for students who are willing to volunteer! We have several opportunities available to those from across our Campus Community. These include, but not limited to, bulb planting, biodiversity planning, trail making, interpretation board writing and much, much more! This is one of our most exciting and ambitious projects to date and we hope you’re able to find something here you can help us with. To subscribe to the volunteering opportunity mailing list and teams channel, please email ambcampusmanagement@cumbria.ac.uk with the Subject Line “Students for Biodiversity”.
Upcoming Postgraduate Route Events In person Events Careers Fair Ambleside Fusehill Street Lancaster
Scan me Wednesday 7 February Tuesday 6 February Wednesday 13 March
PGCE Routes into teaching Fusehill Street and Lancaster
Wednesday 24 January Thursday 9 May
Virtual Events Progression to post graduate
PGCE NON QTS
Wednesday 01 May
Tuesday 12 March Tuesday 26 March Wednesday 15 May Tuesday 21 May Wednesday 10 July Tuesday 6 August
18:30 - 19:30
Literature, Romanticism and the english lake district Wednesday 31 January 13:00 - 14:00
Sport and exercise rehabilitation Wednesday 24 January 18:30 - 20:00 Wednesday 28 February 18:30 - 20:00 18:30 - 20:00 Wednesday 27 March 18:30 - 20:00 Wednesday 24 April 18:30 - 20:00 Wednesday 29 May 18:30 - 20:00 Wednesday 26 June
11:30 - 12:30 18:30 - 19:30 11:00 - 12:00 18:30 - 19:30 11:00 - 12:00 11:00 - 12:00
UCSU Elections The University of Cumbria Students’ Union (UCSU) is in search of their next Officers to lead in 2023/24, could you be the one? UCSU hosts Officer Elections annually to find leaders for the next academic year. All students are welcome to apply, and no experience is required! There are three different officer positions available: Academic, Activities and Welfare. All of them are unique roles that represent an important aspect of the university experience. The role is a paid, full-time position. Students can take a sabbatical or campaign for election during their final year of their education, taking up the role in the summer. Nominations begin on the 22 January.
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applications ARE STILL OPEN: virtual apprenticeships Gain fantastic work experience working on real-life projects for a global business in the career field of your choice! In this new era of international employability and remote working opportunities, the job market is more saturated than ever with thousands competing for the same roles. Make yourself stand out and gain the experience and professional skills you need to land your dream job with a remote internship. By interning remotely with an approved company in 150+ countries, there’s no need to relocate, spend excessively on travel, or jeopardize your social life and studies. Apply now for a 120-hour internship starting in May 2024.
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Further Information
Application Link
bIG tICKET eVENTS cOMING UP Community Breakfast Join us for a free breakfast from 08:30 to 10:00 on Tuesday 6 February 2024 and catch-up with both staff and fellow students. You can pick up your voucher from the Barn in the Week Commencing Monday 29 January 2024. Spring Fair We are currently working towards planning our Spring Fair for Staff and students on the Ambleside Campus. We are looking to hold this in March and further details will be coming your way soon. Watch this space! GNAR In May 2024, we will be supporting the Institute of Science and Environment with the Great North Adventure Race and the party that comes afterwards! Stay tuned for further information coming soon, including dates and times.
Frequently Asked Questions about Everything! At the desk in the barn, our Campus Assistants are there to support you with any enquiries you have relating to Student Life, Library and Skills and Student Support. This in person version of the Student Enquiry Point should be the first port of call for any enquiry you would like to make in person. Below is some additional information about some of the specific services they are able to offer.
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Student Enquiry Point Video
Student Enquiry Point Online
Student Support Appointments
Also present at the Student Enquiry Point Desk in Ambleside are members of our Programme Administration Team. This team are there to provide a wide range of services, information, advice and guidance relating to different aspects of your course and study. Linked below is some additional information
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Contact Programme Admin
ICON Access Information
Assessments Information
Reporting AN ESTATES & property request “Richmond” is the system that hosts our IT and Estates Helpdesk. Logging a ticket/maintenance request with our estates team in Ambleside is very simple, as outlined in the step-by-step instructions below. If you have any further questions about reporting Richmond Requests, please speak to a member of staff at the Student Enquiry Point desk in the barn. 1. Search: cumbria.ac.uk 2. Select “Current Students” 3. You will then be required to sign in with your University Account 4. Once in the StudentHub, select the “Practical Help – Tools, Forms and Information”, then select IT or Estates Helpdesk 5. When you are logged into the Service Desk, there are options for ‘IT Support’ and ‘Estates and Property Support’. Select Estates and Property Support. 6. From here, the system requires various bits of information from you.
Please fill these in with as much information as possible so your request can be filtered and prioritised appropriately.
submitting an online STEP* Enquiry 1. Search: cumbria.ac.uk 2. Select “Current Students” from the top banner 3. You will then be required to sign in with your University Account 4. Once on the StudentHub, simply select the “Student Enquiry Point” tile 5. The First page will ask whether or not you are a current student
6. You will then be prompted to enter a few details, for example Your Name, Student Number and Pronouns.
7. From here, you will be able to enter the information about the support you are looking for. This includes the services that are available from services across the University.
Further Info
*STEP - Student Enquiry Point
cumbria.ac.uk/Ambleside