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15 August 2013 |
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 News
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Rise in Student Satisfaction at LSE The results of the 2013
National Student Survey have been published and LSE has posted its best ever
results with an overall satisfaction level of 88 per cent.
The findings continue the School’s record of year-on-year improvement,
confirming a three percentage point rise in overall satisfaction from last
year and a 12 percentage point rise since 2009. This trend can also be seen
across the specific categories of ‘Assessment and Feedback’, ‘Academic
Support’ and ‘Personal Development’.
Conducted annually since 2005, the National Student Survey canvasses
final year undergraduate students at all publicly funded universities in the
UK on their feelings about their courses and institutions.
Professor Paul Kelly, pro-director for teaching and learning, commented:
"I am very pleased to see that, overall, student satisfaction at LSE has
risen for the fourth consecutive year and moved further ahead of the
national average. The Teaching Task Force, established in 2007, and the
resultant extra £3 million invested each year in teaching, are clearly
reaping results.
"However it is important to recognise that improvements can still be
made, particularly in areas such as feedback, to ensure that LSE remains a
world-class institution."
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Equality and diversity in LSE's Public Lecture
Programme As a world-class educational institution which encourages people
to "Join the Global Debate", it is appropriate that the School actively
addresses the issue of equality and diversity with regard to events.
While it is clear that there are fewer women and other under-represented
groups in top positions to choose from, this cannot be an excuse to exclude
such groups, including ethnic minorities and
those with disabilities, from public debates altogether.
If organisations in politics, media, business and civil society aim to
contribute to the public debate, the School has a duty to think first about
whether they are including a properly mixed range of voices in discussions.
With a view to increasing awareness and hosting a more diverse events
programme,
over a period of time, LSE has:
- A goal of a minimum 40 per cent of speakers from either gender at
School events to be achieved by the start of the 2016-17 academic year.
- A formal monitoring system managed by the LSE Events Office starting
in 2013-14. This will monitor events which are part of the School’s
public events programme.
- A requirement that academic departments and research centres discuss
equality and diversity in regard to events and speakers at departmental
meetings on a regular basis. This is at the discretion of the department, but we
would suggest at all meetings when forthcoming events are to be
discussed.
- A requirement to ensure that chairs for lectures which are part of
the public events programme are briefed to take questions (and
proactively encourage questions) from a balance of those in the
audience, including women and minority groups, and encourage academic
departments and research centres to do the same at their own events.
For more information,
click here.
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LSE staff member featured on Channel 4's Undercover Boss
LSE security officer
Daniel Beckley (pictured) has appeared on an episode of
Undercover Boss on Channel 4.
In the programme, Eleanor Kelly, chief executive of south London's
Southwark Council, goes undercover to see how slashed budgets are affecting
the borough's services, residents and an often under-appreciated staff.
While Eleanor is visiting a block of flats with a member of council
staff, Daniel takes the opportunity to ask why his block is not kept clean,
despite his many complaints to housing staff.
Since the programme aired, Daniel has also been featured on
Liberal Democrat councillor
Graham Neale's website, who commented that: "Daniel sums up in one
sentence how many Southwark tenants feel".
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International History marks the loss of former student
The Department of International History is sad to announce that
Tadeusz Jagodzinski (pictured), a former LSE master's student, has died.
Tadeusz, who completed an MSc in History of International Relations in the
Department in 2007, died tragically in Czestochowa on Friday 5 July. A
journalist by profession, he worked for the Polish section of the BBC until
it closed in 2005. At that point he made the decision to complete a master’s
degree at LSE which he did with merit. At the time of his death he worked
for the Polish Embassy in London.
For more on Tadeusz,
click here.
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 Notices
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Introducing Internet Explorer 10 -
IMT web browser upgrade
On Tuesday 27 August, IMT will be upgrading Microsoft Internet
Explorer to a new version, known as IE10.
This will provide you with faster browsing, improved security when online
and continued software support from Microsoft. IE10 offers virtually the
same functionality as its previous versions and will have the same look and
feel.
The upgrade will take place automatically on Tuesday 27 August. You will
need to reboot your PC to see the change take effect. If you experience any
technical issues with the new browser, contact the Service Desk on ext 5000.
To learn more about Internet Explorer 10,
click here.
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New Global Centre for the Social Sciences: the centre buildings
newsletter Plans to redevelop several existing campus buildings are
gathering momentum.
This newsletter provides an update on the progress of the School’s latest
major campus redevelopment project: the new
Global Centre for Social Sciences.
To read the newsletter,
click here.
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Activities for staff Do you organise group activities for LSE
staff such as walking groups, exercise classes, knitting circles, book
clubs, etc? If so, LSE would like to hear from you.
The School is looking to create a single 'Well-being' webpage or portal
to post information on activities for staff, so please get in contact
with Suzanne Christopher at
s.p.christopher@lse.ac.uk with any information.
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Inform Anniversary Conference: call for papers
Minority Religions: contemplating the past and anticipating the future
Friday 31 January - Sunday 2 February
New Academic Building, LSE
Inform is celebrating over a quarter of a century of providing up-to-date
and unbiased information about minority religions with an anniversary
conference at LSE.
Submissions of papers (maximum 200 word abstract and 150 word CV) on
topics relevant to the title of the conference are now being accepted.
Unfortunately no subsidies can be offered to participants, who will be
responsible for making their own arrangements for accommodation.
The deadline for papers is Tuesday 1 October, with decisions by
Friday 1 November.
Abstracts should be emailed to Inform at
inform@lse.ac.uk. For more information, visit
www.inform.ac.
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LSE Perspectives August's edition of LSE Perspectives is now
online. You can view the
gallery here.
The gallery features 12 striking images submitted by LSE staff and
students. Each image reflects a unique perspective on a particular scene.
LSE Arts is always looking for submissions for future galleries. If you
have taken any artistic images on your travels, in your home town or even
just here in London, why not submit them for LSE perspectives so that they
can be shared with the LSE community.
For information on how to submit your photographs, visit
LSE Perspectives submissions. Missed July’s gallery? Previous galleries
can be
found here.
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Three and half hour body combat marathon
Are you a fitness fanatic? Would you like to be part of an event to raise
money for a good cause?
Fist and Feather® will be hosting a three and half hour body combat marathon
in aid of The Bethany Chiddle Fund on Sunday 27 October.
Bethany is five years old and was born with Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy.
Funds are needed so that she can have pioneering surgery on her spine in the
USA. All profits from the marathon's ticket sales will go to The Bethany
Chiddle Fund.
If you are interested in participating in this event and raising funds for
Bethany, tickets are available to purchase at £20. To purchase your ticket,
email Amy Mamawag at a.mamawag@lse.ac.uk.
For more information about the event and Bethany, visit
www.combatmarathon.co.uk.
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 LSE
in pictures
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This week's picture features Katharina Fritsch's blue cockerel sculpture
'Hahn/Cock' on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square.
For more images like this, visit the
Photography Unit.
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 Research
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New research contradicts link between mobile phones and car accidents
The widely-held belief that talking on a mobile phone while driving
increases the risks of car accidents has been contradicted by new research
from LSE and Carnegie Mellon University.
In a study published in the American Economic Journal: economic policy,
researchers from the two universities produced statistics which raise doubts
about the veracity of claims connecting mobiles to car crashes.
Lead author Saurabh Bhargava, Assistant Professor of Social and Decision
Sciences from Carnegie Mellon University, and his LSE colleague Vikram S Pathania, say
their findings reveal that increased mobile use by drivers has no
corresponding effect on crash rates.
More
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British Academy: funding opportunities 2013-14
Various deadlines throughout 2013-14
The British Academy has confirmed application details and deadlines
for competitions in 2013-14. There are a variety of opportunities ranging
from small research grants, funding for new academics and awards for Senior
Research Fellowships.
More |
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 Events
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Forthcoming LSE events include....
Turnaround: third world lessons for first world growth
On: Thursday 5 September at 6.30pm in the Sheikh Zayed Theatre,
New Academic Building
Speaker: Peter Blair Henry (pictured), dean of New York
University’s Stern School of Business and former professor of
international economics at Stanford University.
State of the World Economy: a view from an emerging market
On: Wednesday 11 September at 6pm in the Hong Kong Theatre, Clement
House
Speaker: Felipe Larraín Bascuñán, minister of finance of Chile in the
government of President Sebastián Piñera.
The Undercover Economist Strikes Back
On: Tuesday 1 October at 7pm in the Old Theatre, Old Building
Speaker: Tim Harford (pictured), senior columnist for the
Financial Times and the presenter of BBC Radio 4’s More or Less
and Pop-Up Economics With Tim Harford
This event is free and open to all but a ticket is required. LSE staff
can request one ticket via the online ticket request form from around 6pm on
Monday 23 September until at least 12noon on Tuesday 24 September.
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Podcasts of public lectures and events
The Great Stagnation: what can policy makers do?
Speakers: Professor David Webb and Dr Sushil Wadhwani
Recorded: Friday 19 July, approx. 71 minutes
Click here to listen
Social Movements in the US: from the American revolution to Obama
Speaker: Professor Craig Calhoun
Recorded: Tuesday 23 July, approx. 78 minutes
Click here to listen
The Great Crash of 2008: causes, consequences and the future of the world
economic system
Speaker: Lord Meghnad Desai
Recorded: Thursday 1 August, approx. 60 minutes
Click here to listen
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 60
second interview
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with..... Telly Maukonen
My name is Anna-Kaisa Tellervo
Maukonen but you can call me Telly.
I’m a Finnish national but I've
spent most of my life abroad. I
spent much of my childhood in Kenya
and left to come to the UK for
university. I moved to London after
I graduated and eventually decided to stay. I started working
at LSE’s Department of Economics ten
years ago, moving to the Graduate
Admissions Office six and half years
ago, where I continue to this day.
You have recently become the
first Finnish woman to swim the
English Channel, please tell us
about your preparation and the swim
itself.
I started training properly for
the Channel in early May 2012. The
main thing to train for was the
cold. But like the endurance aspect
of this sport, fighting the cold is
a matter of getting to know your
mental demons and pushing yourself a
little further each time.
For more on my swimming and the
Aspire charity I swam for, have
a look at my
Just Giving page (there are a
few pictures and a little video
too).
My swim started from Shakespeare
Beach, Dover, at 4.28am on Wednesday
17 July. I was a big bag of tired,
fearful nerves in the run-up but I
tried my best to keep my thoughts as
simple, as small, and as happy as
possible.
The first six hours were more of
a struggle than I had anticipated,
but I kept giving myself practical
reasons why I had to keep going such
as: 1) I had done six-hour swims
before and it would be embarrassing
to stop now; 2) my support crew
drove all the way to Dover in three
cars and it would be a waste of
petrol if we turned back now; 3) my
brother had flown in all the way
from Cameroon to be my support
swimmer, the least I could do was
swim for four hours to give him the
chance to swim (he was only allowed
in after three hours); 4) we’d
brought so much food for my support
crew that if I gave up before
lunchtime they wouldn’t get to eat
their sandwiches, and so on. After
the seventh hour of swimming I just
kept thinking, if I swim for another
hour it will be the most I’ve ever
swum continuously, and I maintained
those simple thoughts until I saw
the French coast.
It wasn’t really until I was
within the French Inshore Waters,
after about 11 hours,
that I started to believe that
landing in France was achievable. At
this point I was told by my pilot to
put more effort in as I was on a
good tide and I enjoyed a few good
hours of speedy swimming, as I was
being buoyed by my two brothers’
on-board singing and dancing.
Around the 13th hour, however, I
started drifting laterally along the
coast in a north-easterly direction
with the changing tide. I tried not
to look ahead as every house and
every detail I could see on the
shore seemed to suddenly disappear
and I just didn’t seem to be getting
any closer.
My brother joined me in the water
again and we raced at ‘pool speed’
for an hour together, but after his
hour was up, I still didn’t seem to
be getting any closer. I was told to
continue at the same pace for
another hour or I’d risk missing Cap
Gris Nez and end up drifting into
Wissant Bay for another five hours
of swimming. My only option, which
has worked out quite well in all my
training to date, was to do as I was
told (although, I’ll admit, I wasn’t
particularly happy about it.)
The last half hour was a harder
physical struggle than any I’ve ever
known and, in all honesty, I don’t
really know how I did it or where
the energy came from. Eventually, I
started to see the outlines of
boulders underwater and only then
did I know that it would be ok. I
finally scrambled onto a big dry
rock on Cap Gris Nez and stood up on
dry land having finished the swim in
14 hours and 10 minutes. I heaved a
huge sob of relief from somewhere
deep in my stomach that flooded out
like I’d never cried before. I don’t
think I’ve ever felt so relieved in
my life. Or so tired! Or so
reluctant to move my arms ever
again!
How has your achievement been
recognised and celebrated?
I was completely overwhelmed by
the response to my swim on Facebook
and on my Just Giving page when I
returned home after the swim. I
always knew it would mean a lot to
me, but I didn’t think it would have
such an impact on other people. I
was truly touched.
The Finnish newspaper
Helsingin Sanomat contacted me
for an interview on the Friday
following the swim and I got my
picture in the paper, which was
nice. I suppose it was of some small
historical significance that I was
the first Finnish woman to finish
the swim, but it was never my reason
for doing it, nor does it make my
achievement any greater than those
of my fellow Channel swimming
friends who have tried to get to the
other side. Anyway, I’ve still got
the Finnish record to break. There’s
always next year.
If you could change three
things about LSE, what would they be
and why?
1) I would install showers for
cyclists in the Towers’ basement; it
would benefit everyone in these hot
summer months n'est-ce pas?
2) I would establish a four-day
working week: I reckon people would
be more productive with half of the
staff working Monday to Thursday and
the other half Tuesday to Friday,
don’t you think?
3) I would actively encourage
answering the phone in song, at
least one day a week. I think this
would, in turn, encourage the
completion and staging of ‘SITS: The
Musical’. |
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 Training
and jobs
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Jobs at LSE Below are some of the vacancies currently being
advertised to internal candidates only, as well as those being advertised
externally.
- Administrator to the Teaching and Learning Centre Director’s Team,
Teaching and Learning Centre
- Deputy Head of Counselling (Disability and Wellbeing),
Teaching and Learning Centre
- Events Executive, Conference and Events
- Executive Officer to the Deputy Director and Provost, PCPD:
Directorate and Support Team
- Head of TRIUM Recruitment and Admissions, TRIUM
- Institute Manager, Institute of Public Affairs
- JIB Approved Shift Electrician, Estates Division
- LMS Project Support Officer, Library: collections services
- LSE Fellow, Management
- LSE Fellow in Political Sociology, Sociology
- Lectureships in Management, Management: EROB Group
- National Bank of Greece Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship,
Hellenic Observatory
- Programme and Events Administrator, Management
- Project Manager, Information Management and Technology
- Project Officer, Information Management and Technology
- Research Officer, PSSRU
- Research Officer (part time), Statistics
- Research Team Coordinator, Anthropology
For more information, visit
Jobs at LSE and login via the instructions under the 'Internal
vacancies' heading. |
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