College of Arts and Law
November 2015 Edition
Welcome to CAL Staff e-newsletter
News and Notices
CAL Undergraduate Research Scholarships Scheme 2016
Would you like a research assistant to help you start a research project or advance a project towards completion?
The College’s Undergraduate Research Scholarships scheme gives non–finalist students the opportunity to work on a member of staff’s own research for five weeks during the summer vacation. This year’s students described the scheme as “extremely rewarding” and “great for CV building” and professional development. We have funding for 25 Scholarship projects to run in the summer of 2016.
Academic colleagues described the scheme as “absolutely brilliant” and commended their Scholars for having brought “energy, creativity and fresh ideas” to the projects they worked on.
If you would like to apply for an undergraduate Scholar, you need to go to the student experience webpages and download the project proposal form. On completion, please return it to Sam Noakes (s.noakes@bham.ac.uk) by Weds 16th December 2015.
Proposals will be selected for funding by Tony Arnull (CAL Director of Education) and Andrew Davies (CAL Deputy Director of Education). Decisions will be based on the interest of the project and its value to the academic and the student. The 25 proposals that receive funding will be advertised to non-final year undergraduate students in term 2 and a selection process will follow. If your project is funded, you will be invited to participate in the student selection process for your School. Typically, this will involve reviewing and, if necessary, ranking the applications for your project and liaising with your Student Experience Officer in the finalisation of Scholarship allocations.
Should you have any queries, please contact
Rachel Canty (Operations Manager, Student Experience)
Modern Languages on The Gadget Show
Can language gadgets and apps now match human translators and interpreters?
Are jokes in German funny if they are told by a machine?
Such were the questions considered by Channel 5’s Gadget Show during a day–long shoot earlier this term with students and staff from the Department of Modern Languages, which culminated in a machines–versus–humans translation and interpreting encounter in the Muirhead Tower.
The episode was screened on Channel 5 on Monday 26 October, and is available to watch below (see particularly minutes 16.45-23 and 42–47).
Many thanks to the various admin colleagues in CAL who helped facilitate the shoot.
BUAFTAs 2016 – Nominations close at Midnight
Message from CAL BUAFTA Champion for 2016, Sarah Stimpson
Don't miss your chance to nominate colleagues or teams who you think do an outstanding job. You can nominate teams or people from within professional services for a variety of different awards, including ‘Idea of the Year’ and ‘Unsung Hero’. This is the perfect opportunity to let someone/a team know how much you think of them and to thank them for going above and beyond.
This year, all nominees will receive a copy of their nomination, which is an even better reason to nominate someone as they will now be able to see how much people appreciate their hard work.
You can find more information including the nomination form the web link below Nominations close at midnight on 28th October 2015.
Events and Seminars
The Department of Drama & Theatre Arts Presents: Light Shining in Buckinghamshire
This is the story of men and women who went into battle for the soul of England. Passionate, moving and provocative, it speaks of the revolution we never had and the legacy it left behind.
Produced by Caryl Churchill.
Directed by Daniel Tyle
Enquiries: dramaboxoffice@contacts.bham.ac.uk
Box Office: 0121 414 5676
Website: Online shop
Saturday, Oct 31, 2015, 07:30 PM
Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham,
‘Intersecting Discourses on Migration in the UK, Germany and Russia’
ESRC–funded International Conference, co-hosted with the Institute for Research into Superdiversity.
Keynote speakers:
Professor Christian Joppke (Univeristy of Bern)
Professor Ruth Wodak (Lancaster University)
Attendance is free but you need to register in advance on the online booking page below
Thursday, Nov 5, 2015, 09:15 AM
School Of Education, Birmingham,
CAL Birmingham Professionals Fora
Guest speaker: Prof Michael Whitby, Head of College
To Professional Services Staff: Dates for your diary
These provide opportunities to hear the latest news in the College, targets for the Term and network with colleagues.
Wednesday, Nov 11, 2015, 10:30 AM
Barber Institute of Fine Arts Foyer
Birmingham Centre for Translation – Research Seminar Series 2015–16
Autumn Term Programme: Tuesdays, 1–2pm, Ashley 121a
17 November 2015
‘Borrowed Words: Brodsky’s Collaborative Self–Translation’
Dr Natasha Rulyova (Birmingham)
1 December 2015
‘Translating Zola and Bernard Noël: when can signifiers and signifieds ‘play’?’
Prof. Andrew Rothwell (Swansea)
For further details contact Dr Hilary Brown (h.j.brown.1@bham.ac.uk)
Public Lecture: Lady Hale ‘Appointing Judges to the UK Supreme Court’
Lady Hale, Deputy President of the UK Supreme Court will deliver a public lecture on appointments to the UK Supreme Court at the University of Birmingham on 6 November at 2.15pm. The event is open to the public and free to attend, however registration is recommended via Eventbrite page.
Lady Hale, the first and only female Supreme Court Justice, is one of the most important judicial voices of her generation across the common law word. Through both her judgments and her extra–judicial writings and speeches, she has spearheaded the diversity debate over the last twenty years not just in the UK, but internationally.
Contact Erika Rackle
Friday, Nov 6, 2015, 02:15 PM
Bramall Music Building, Birmingham
Are Public Service Professions in Crisis?
The event will comprise of a debate with leaders of selected public service professions who will summarise the challenges facing them in the next 3-5 years and their profession's responses to those challenges. A question time-style debate will follow. Please circulate to anyone who might be interested. Please register online for this free event
Website: Register online
Wednesday, Nov 11, 2015, 05:00 PM
Avon Room, University Centre
Teaching Academy Seminars in CAL
Please find the schedule of seminars below.
All are welcome, including academic staff (full-time, part-time, and PGTAs) and Professional Services staff. All sessions to be held in Arts Lecture Room 1. Sessions will primarily be aimed at CAL staff but all are welcome. Refreshments available.
To register please email Ann Evans at teachingacademy@contacts.bham.ac.uk
Any queries, please email Elaine Fulton: e.k.fulton@bham.ac.uk
‘The Inclusive Curriculum and LGBT Students’,
Saturday, Nov 21, 2015, 09:00 PM
Arts Building, Lecture Theatre 1
Keeping students on track: Managing a student crisis with pro-active welfare support in CAL
Wednesday, Dec 2, 2015, 09:00 PM
Arts Building, Lecture Theatre 1
Staff-Student Collaboration
Wednesday, Feb 10, 2016, 09:00 PM
Arts Building, Lecture Theatre 1
Part of the team: enhancing the CAL PGTA experience
Sunday, Mar 27, 2016, 09:00 PM
Arts Building, Lecture Theatre 1
How welcoming is 'Welcome'? New perspectives and initiatives on undergraduate induction in CAL
Sunday, Mar 27, 2016, 09:00 PM
Arts Building, Lecture Theatre 1
Finance and Facilities
Maintenance Reporting
Payment of staff expenses
Please note that staff expenses are now being paid on a weekly basis and should credit bank accounts on Fridays. To enable the College Finance team to process the claims without delay please ensure the following before submitting to Finance:
- Original detailed VAT receipts are attached – Visa/Mastercard credit card slips or bank statements are not sufficient evidence for HMRC
- When entertaining, guests names and organisations must be listed. If in exceptional circumstances, there are more UoB staff than guests in attendance then a note must be attached from the Head of School giving justification
- Account codes are entered on the claim form
- Claims are signed by the relevant budget holder ie Operations Manager/Head of Service