News
Nominate someone now – Bristol Teaching Awards 2024!
The nomination period for this year’s Bristol Teaching Awards is from now until 25 March at 9am. We welcome nominations from both students and academics, with six different awards categories:
- Outstanding Personal Tutoring/Academic Support Award
- Inspiring and Innovative Teaching Award
- Inspiring and Innovative Teaching Team Award
- Outstanding Support Award
- Outstanding Support Team Award
- Outstanding Research Supervision Award
Read more about nominating criteria and access the nomination platform via this page.
Student Research Festival – book tickets!
Tickets are now available to book for our annual Student Research Festival! Taking place on April 25, we are excited to host presentations on the theme of ‘Conflict vs Resolution’. This is a fantastic event for both students and academics alike and gives our undergraduate and taught PG students a rare chance to present their research. Presentations will range across the disciplines and gives attendees a brilliant opportunity to learn about something they may not have come into contact with before.
You can book for the morning session, afternoon session or whole day (includes lunch provided) and it is taking place in the Global Lounge.
Full details of the schedule and link to booking is available via this page.
Calling International Students (please share!)
One of our brilliant Student Fellows, Ivory Wang, is conducting an important study exploring international students’ experiences regarding language differences at university and is seeking the input of international students.
She is inviting international students (non-native speakers, specifically) to participate in her research through a confidential online questionnaire. This should take just 10 minutes to complete. Participants will have a chance to enter a prize draw of three £20 vouchers at the end of the survey.
We are looking to find out more about:
- Language Learning Tools & Resources: Share how various tools and resources have aided your academic journey.
- English Proficiency Preparation: Discuss your preparation journey for English proficiency exams and its impact on your university life.
- Language Support Services Usage: Reflect on your experiences with university language support services and their effectiveness in your academic and daily
To learn more or participate in the International Student Experience Questionnaire, please click here: https://acreg.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/pilot-v4-international-student-experience-language-differ
If you have any other questions about this research, do not hesitate to contact the lead researcher Ivory Wang at mq21312@bristol.ac.uk. We greatly appreciate your time and insights!
New funding for civic engagement activity
Civic Connections is a new funding scheme led by the Civic Engagement team to support new and existing civic engagement activity at the University. The aim is to provide seed funding in targeted areas of our civic mission and to have a positive local impact.
The first call, in collaboration with the Engaged Learning team, aims to create opportunities within the space of community engaged learning (CEL)* at the University of Bristol (call opens 12th March, deadline 26th April).
To find out more, join us at the launch event on 12th March, 12-1pm.
*CEL describes opportunities for students to work in partnership with local, national and international community organisations to engage with real-world questions as part of their curriculum through applying theory to real-world contexts.
New blogs and resources
- Feedback Fundamentals
Joe Gould shares his thoughts on feedback literacy in the latest post in this series, highlighting three key aspects to ensure that students can make the most from the feedback they receive.
- ‘The Regenerative Structural Engineer’ available via Libby
We followed the story of this book from idea to publishing in this blog series and now the book is now available to everyone at the University though Libby!
- Together from the start: can a residential field trip aid students sense of wellbeing when arriving at university?
This post shares an inspiring video about the residential field trip all first year students attend when starting their degree in Biological Sciences with a supporting infographic outlining the potential impact on students.
- Variety is the spice of life: using varied feedback mechanisms to improve learning
Dr Oghale Ayetuoma has written a summary of the brilliant event hosted by Ania Udalowska in the Faculty of Engineering on feedback last week.
Upcoming events
Show Tell and Talk – AI and assessment
Our next session, Show, Tell and Talk: Designing for all –AI and assessment takes place at lunchtime on Wednesday 20 March.
We’ll be running two more workshops covering the key BILT themes for this academic year between now and May 2024, and they are all available to register now.
Visit our blog post to read more about this series and book your place on upcoming events.
Introduction to Principal Fellowship workshop
This workshop is for those interested in, or already engaged in, applying for Advance HE’s Principal Fellowship and takes place on Tuesday 16 April from 2 – 4pm (in person).
Advance HE’s Principal Fellowship (PFHEA) recognises substantial strategic leadership and influence in learning and teaching in higher education. It is aimed at individuals who are highly experienced and able to show a sustained record of impact on teaching quality through their strategic leadership institutionally, and/or (inter)nationally. We recommend using Advance HE’s Fellowship Category Tool to check Principal Fellowship is relevant to you.
Read more details and book your place via this page.
Career Development Seminar Series – The Third Way
Join us for a series of Career Development Seminars – The Third Way, aimed specifically at academics on education pathway. The intention behind this seminar series is to inspire career development for colleagues on Education pathway (P3), learn about various professional journeys and different strategies/approaches to develop as an academic on education pathway and of course to build a community and a network of like-minded colleagues across the country.
We have an exciting line of external and internal speakers from different schools from across the country. These are lunchtime events that run predominantly via Zoom with one seminar being on-campus.
The final three seminars of this academic year are as follows:
Prof. James Norman from University of Bristol: Creating Your Own Route to Promotion.
Monday 11th March 2024, 12-1pm in Howard House 1.01. Book here.
Dr Chahna Gonsalves from King’s College London: Crafting a Career on the Education Pathway: Story, Strategies, and Scholarly Pursuits.
Wednesday 20th March 2024, 12-1pm on Zoom. Book here.
Dr Rachael Lamb from University of Bristol: Creating Connections, Shaping Futures: Building professional networks as an education-focused academic.
Wednesday 12th June 2024 12-1pm on Zoom. Book here.
Community Engaged Learning Forum and call launch
12th March, 12:00-13:00, Careers Service, 5 Tyndall Avenue.
To sign up please fill in this form.
More details about the funding call are now available ahead of the launch event on the 12th of March on SharePoint and in the ‘News’ section of this Briefing.
Case studies
Are you doing something innovative or exciting with your large group teaching this year? Or even something relatively ‘normal’ but is receiving a good reception? We are looking to share good practice of large group teaching – get in touch with us if there’s something you can share with us!
We’re also always looking for case studies on:
- Decolonising the curriculum
- Assessment, particularly group assessment, inclusive assessment and engaging with the AI revolution
- International students’ experience
Contact us at bilt-info@bristol.ac.uk.
